KERRISDALE HAPPENINGS

It is hard to believe that it is already May and we only have two months left of school. It is a busy month ahead with several exciting field trips planned and events happening, including our Grade 7 Farewell and PAC Carnival! We also have Elevate Ultimate coming to teach the dynamic game of Ultimate frisbee to our students. Please take the time to update your calendars and read the emails and newsletters that come out. You don’t want to miss out!

Our children are exposed to more and more information online and it is hard sometimes to always be on top of it, especially when us as adults are not familiar with the types of apps and social media platforms that our children are using. At Kerrisdale, we continue to teach our students safe online behaviours which include:

1. Protect Personal Information: Avoid sharing personal details like full name, address, phone number, or school name online.
2. Use Strong Passwords: Create complex passwords and change them regularly. Avoid using easily guessable information like birthdays or names and never share your password with anyone except a trusted adult.
3. Be Cautious with Links and Downloads: Only click on links and download files from trusted sources to avoid malware and phishing scams.
4. Respect Others: Treat others with kindness and respect online, just as you would in person. Avoid cyberbullying and report any inappropriate behaviour.
5. Think Before You Post: Remember that anything posted online can be permanent. Consider the long-term impact of your words and images.
6. Keep Privacy Settings Updated: Regularly check and update privacy settings on social media and other online accounts to control who can see your information.
7. Report Suspicious Activity: If you encounter anything suspicious or uncomfortable online, report it to a trusted adult or platform moderators.
8. Limit Screen Time: Balance online activities with offline ones to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

However, we cannot do this alone! Monitoring your child’s internet use can help you protect your child from harmful interactions, prevent your child from accessing inappropriate content (such as violence, pornography, hate speech, or misinformation), as well as promote your child’s healthy and responsible internet use. Key ways to monitor your child’s internet use are: Familiarize yourself with various media outlets, set up parental controls, (one example is HERE for Apple devices) and talk to your child. No amount of monitoring can protect your child from everything, and your child may find ways to get around your monitoring. That is why it is essential to foster a trusting and respectful relationship with your child and to educate them on how to be a smart and safe internet user. Safer Schools Together has several great parent resources you can access free online.

Our final extracurricular sporting event is Track and Field. Students were given permission forms and practices have started on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 8:00 AM for intermediate students and Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 8:10 AM for primary students. Extra permission forms with the schedule are just outside the office if your child has not brought one home.

 

REMINDERS OF UPCOMING DATES:

Thursday, May 8 – Big One at 2

Wednesday, May 14 – Class Photos

Monday, May 19 – Victoria Day (school will not be in session)

Friday, May 23 – Sports Day

Thursday, June 26 – last instructional day for students

 

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT

STUDENT VOTE: Some of our classes took part in Student Vote which is a program that teaches students about Canadian democracy, our electoral system and the importance of civic engagement. It helps students understand the significance of their vote and prepares them to be informed and active citizens in the future. Students voted in their own Federal Election parallel to the real one on April 28. You can see Kerrisdale student’s vote along with the rest of the country by going to the Student Vote website.

 

SALMON RELEASE: Our kindergarten classes spent the morning at Spanish Banks releasing Chum fry into Spanish Banks Creek. This activity is part of the Salmonids in the Classroom program, which educates students

about the life cycle of salmon and trout, their habitat needs, and the importance of conserving aquatic ecosystems. Students raise salmon from eggs to the fry stage and then release them back into the wild. This initiative is part of a program by Environment Canada and the City of Vancouver aimed at reestablishing lost streams as original salmon spawning grounds. Last year, we saw the first Chum salmon return to spawn in this very creek, thanks to this program and the efforts of students like ours!

 CLASS PLACEMENT PARENT INFORMATION FORM

As the end of the year approaches, teachers begin planning for the next school year, including the placement of students into classes. Classroom teachers carefully and thoughtfully assemble classes, considering various factors such as student/teacher learning styles, a balance of academic, social and emotional abilities, leadership abilities, cohesive student groupings, and specific student needs. Objective criteria are used to assess students’ abilities and needs, including class size, student-teacher ratio, and the overall composition of the class, all which can impact student learning and performance.

At Kerrisdale, we value parents as partners in education and recognize their important perspective in the class-placement process. Parents can provide valuable insights into their child’s strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. It is important to note that information provided by parents is just one component of this process. This year, I have created an online form for parents to share any important information they feel is relevant. While we will give due consideration to your request, the complexity of organizing our classes means we cannot always fulfill every preference. Filling out this form does not guarantee placement, and we do not accept input or requests for specific teachers nor for combined classes versus straight classes. You can visit the VSB website for more information on combined classes.

Please click HERE for the Class Placement Parent Information Form.

If you child is in grade 7 and going onto Secondary school, you do not need to fill out this form.

 

GOOD-BYE ZIPLOC BAGS

Dear Families,

In our efforts to reduce single-use plastic at Kerrisdale, Division 5 and the Grade 4 students from Division 11F are launching a campaign against Ziploc bags. After carefully studying which single-use plastics can be reduced, the students have decided that Ziploc bags can be completely eliminated and replaced with reusable containers.

Starting this month, we will be launching a campaign featuring posters, announcements, and a strong commitment to making a difference in the world. We encourage families who still use Ziploc bags to consider alternative products such as:

• Beeswax wrap
• Reusable metal or plastic containers
• Reusable food storage bags (available at Costco for $29.99 for 14 pieces)

Thank you for helping us make Kerrisdale a Ziploc-free zone!

Mme. Bonilla

 

GARDEN BEDS

Students are very excited about seeing their hard work growing in our garden beds.  A number of divisions have been learning about where our food comes from and how to grow our food.  Besides the garden beds, classes have also been part of a project called “spuds in tubs” where they are growing potatoes in pots.  To learn more, click here.  As tempting as it is for kids to explore and play in the garden beds, we would appreciate your support in reminding your children that our garden beds are part of our outdoor classrooms and that they need to be respected.  Our teachers and students are very proud of our garden and would like to see their hard work rewarded with a bountiful crop to harvest.

 

SPRING WEATHER

As the weather hopefully gets nicer, so does the need to dress and prepare ourselves for the sun.  Please remember to send your child to school with a hat, cool clothing, and suntan lotion already on. We will not be able to apply suntan lotion to children.  Do not forget their water bottle as well.  Thanks for your support!

 

BIG ONE AT 2

The safety and welfare of our students and staff are our highest priority at the Vancouver School Board. As such, we practice safety drills throughout the year to help our students know what to do in an emergency.

On Thursday, May 8, 2024 the VSB will be conducting its annual district wide Big One @ 2 emergency drill.  As a part of this year’s drill at 2 pm, we will be conducting a school student release. This means that if parents are able to come to the school between 2:00 – 2:30 pm, they will be able to be part of the drill and take part in what we call our student reunification procedure. This is a voluntary activity and if work schedules do not allow you to come to the school early, students will be dismissed at 3:00 pm as per our normal practice.

If you choose to be part of our drill, students will only be released to parents and/or alternates listed on the emergency information forms you provided to the school (yellow forms you filled out at the beginning of the year). These are the ONLY people who will be allowed to sign for the release of a student in an emergency situation (and on the day of the drill).  It is MANDATORY that the parent/guardian picking up the child MUST show government issued ID.  No child will be released to a parent/ guardian without it.

Please be sure that this information is current and accurate. Alternates should live within walking distance of the school as transportation disruption is a possibility if a real emergency occurs.

During the drill on May 8, students will be released from the designated evacuation area at the school.  Parents or alternates will be expected to:

1. Identify and report to the Student Reunification table located at the back of the school in front of the red playground where you will show your ID. Please line up in front of the tables according to your child’s last name.
2. Obtain a release slip from the Student Reunification table that you bring to supervising staff members who will go and collect your child from the student holding area.
3. Leave the grounds with your child(ren) and not allow your child(ren) to play on the playground while the drill is still occurring until after 3:00 pm.

*Please be prepared to show identification, as it is an expected requirement for student release.

It has been a while since the school has done a full release, so we ask that those of you who wish to participate please be patient with us. It will take some time to go through the procedures so you might have to wait to pick-up your child. We also ask that everyone not arrive right at 2:00 pm but stagger your arrival, just like in a real emergency.

Please see this attachment for more information on the student release procedures for parents/guardians.

If you have any questions regarding the procedures for student release on May 8, please contact your child’s classroom teacher or Mme. Steele at ssteele@vsb.bc.ca.

This is a great reminder to review your own emergency preparedness at home and talk about what you as a family would do if there was a natural disaster.

SUMMER LEARNING

Please visit the VSB website for more information. Please note that Kerrisdale Elementary IS NOT hosting Summer Learning programs this year. Our closest school sites would be either Maple Grove Elementary or Trafalgar Elementary.

 

GRADE 7 FAREWELL

We are excited to be able to plan for our Grade 7 Farewell this year. Please save the date for Thursday, June 19, 2025 at 3:00 PM. More information will be sent home to grade 7 families once plans have been finalized.

 

PAC NEWS

Make sure you stay up to date on all that is happening with Kerrisdale PAC. Please visit their website https://sites.google.com/kerrisdaleschoolpac.ca/kspac/home for all the news! We look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday, June 12 for the year-end PAC Carnival! Everything you need to know can be found on the PAC website.