KERRISDALE HAPPENINGS

As we approach the final month of the school year, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the parents and guardians for their unwavering support in our classes and events. Your dedication and active participation have truly made a difference in fostering a vibrant and thriving school community.

We extend a special thank you to those who attended and supported our recent events, including the Winter Sale, Lunar New Year Celebration, Carnival, PAC meetings, On Our Way to K event, sports team events, and various field trips as well as helping in the classroom and library. Your presence and encouragement added immense value to these occasions, making them memorable experiences for our students. We deeply appreciate the time, effort, and enthusiasm you have invested in supporting our school.

Thank you to our amazing Sports Day Committee for an action packed and very well organized day. We are also grateful to our Grade 10 student helpers that did a fantastic job. We could not have run the day without you! Thank you to the parents and family members who came out to cheer everyone on and contributed to the positive and fun spirit of the day!

This is a reminder that students need to return their washed uniform to Mme. Isabel’s classroom ASAP. We need all the uniforms back by the end of the year so they can be used again next year. Thank you for your cooperation with this.

School Calendar 2025-26 – please visit our website to download the school calendar for the 2025-26 school year. This calendar includes holidays, our school professional development days when school is not in session for students, as well as early dismissal dates for student/parent conferences.

School Fees 2025-26 – please visit our website to download the school fees for the 2025-26 school year. The Board of Education is committed to ensuring that no school-age student will be denied an opportunity to participate in a course, class or program because of an inability to pay fees. Parents and guardians unable to pay some or all school fees are invited to speak to their child’s teacher, school counsellor, and/or the school Principal.

Grade 7 Farewell – Grade 7 Farewell will be held on Thursday, June 19 at 6:00 pm. Students are asked to arrive by 5:30 pm in their homeroom. If you would like to take photos before the ceremony, you can arrive no earlier than 5:00 pm and take photos in the gym. The students will be transitioning right after the ceremony to the dance. We kindly ask that parents and family members leave by 7:15 pm. Students are to be picked up by an adult at 8:45 pm. We cannot let a student go home alone so please arrange pick-up with another parent if you cannot come to pick up your child.

Summary of Learning Update – Our final CSL report card, called the “Summary of Learning”, will be going home to families on Wednesday, June 25. This is different from the last two learning updates as this one will reflect your child’s learning for the whole year. For more information, please speak to your child’s teacher or visit the VSB website.

Are you moving? We are asking families to reach out to the office if you know you will not be attending Kerrisdale in the Fall. It is very helpful for us to know before September if you are leaving Kerrisdale so we can offer a space for those families on our waitlist.

The last day of school for all students is on Thursday, June 26. This is a full day and school will be in session from 9:00 am until 2:58 pm. If your family will be leaving school early, please call our Safe Arrival line. We will hold the report card to be picked up in September. We are not able to mail report cards or give them to anyone but the legal parent or guardian of the student.

IN THE CLASSROOM

Our MACC class has been studying propaganda and its impact throughout world history. Using this knowledge, they created their own posters with silk screen techniques to highlight topics important to them, such as environmental conservation, vaccinations, mental health awareness, and the right to vote. Their original posters are displayed in front of the office.

NOTICE OF LATE RETURN FORM FOR SEPTEMBER 2025

The first day of school for Grades 1 -7 is Tuesday, September 2, 2025. Notice of Late Return Form is to be completed for any student expecting to return to school LATER THAN noon on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 but prior to September 30, 2025. Please note: if the school cannot verify your child’s attendance at school by noon on September 2, 2025, your child’s space may be given to another student on the school’s waitlist. Please use the following link to complete the form: https://forms.office.com/r/mHuJUigtWQ.

If you child(ren) is returning on the first day of school in September than there is no need to complete the form.

WALK & WHEEL EVENT – June 2-6

Bike to School Week is an annual celebration where we encourage students of all ages to bike, roll, or walk to school. Active travel to and from school is associated with positive environmental, social, and safety benefits for students of all ages.

Join us for some fun activities throughout the week. Our student leaders will be in the front of the school handing out snacks and awesome prizes to those students who are showing their best school spirit! There will even be a station to decorate your bike or scooter or give it a tune-up! Hope to see everyone participating, even if it is just parking 5 minutes away and walking a few blocks to school.

TRAFFIC CONCERNS

With Bike to School Week next week, this is also a great time to remind parents and guardians about the traffic rules around the school and considerations we need to take into account for our neighbours. Please take careful note of the no-stopping areas in and around the school. We strongly encourage parents/guardians to drop off their children away from the school and walk a block or two to school or else leave the car at home (if you live in the neighbourhood) and walk as a family. This will allow the students to create independence by walking to school themselves and build some healthy habits.

When school is in session, a 30 km/h school zone speed limit is in effect from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every school day, unless otherwise posted.

HERE ARE A FEW REMINDERS:

Plan ahead and be alert. Driving routes with less traffic in the summer may now face congestion, so give yourself extra time to get to your destination. Take your time and don’t rush – especially through intersections. Look for children especially near or around crosswalks and intersections.
Our crossing guards do an excellent job making sure students cross the street safely. Please use the crosswalk and thank them for volunteering their time as student leaders.
Always yield to pedestrians (it’s the law).
Never make a U-turn or back-up in the lane or in driveways, this is very dangerous and could lead to someone getting seriously hurt. Drive around the block instead.
When dropping off children in a School Zone, stop and allow them to exit onto the sidewalk side of the car. Never allow a child to cross mid-block.
If a vehicle is stopped in front of you or in the lane next to you, they may be yielding for a pedestrian, so be prepared to stop.
The staff parking lot is for STAFF ONLY, there is no dropping-off or picking-up of students. This includes before and after school for the YMCA childcare.
Always watch for pedestrians when you’re backing up. Before you get into your vehicle, make it a habit to walk around your vehicle to ensure no small children are behind it. And remember, children will notice your driving behaviour, so set an example and drive smart.

Parents and guardians dropping-off and picking-up their children are very often seen committing several traffic offences. Please be advised that the City of Vancouver parking enforcement and VPD traffic authority could visit the streets around Kerrisdale Elementary and the Annex to issue tickets and fines.

School Zones

As Vancouver’s school population grows, so do the traffic and parking problems around schools. For the safety of children, and to avoid traffic congestion, motorists dropping off or picking up students should pay attention to the following restrictions.

All the following rules are enforced under Street and Traffic Bylaw 2849. Please visit the City of Vancouver website for more information.

No Parking

Effective from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on school days
For use by motorists dropping off and picking up students
Limit of 5 minutes

No Stopping

Effective from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on school days
For students to safely get in, and out of school
Zone must be clear of vehicles

Vehicles parked in No Parking and No Stopping zones in a school area can be ticketed and towed under section 17.1 of the bylaw.

Vehicles that block pedestrians and motorists

Vehicles blocking pedestrians and motorists in school zones, and elsewhere, will be ticketed under Street and Traffic Bylaw 2849 as follows:

Sections 17.5 (b) and (c): Parked or stopped too close to a corner
Sections 17.4 (a) and (b): Stopped on, or within 6 m of a crosswalk
Section 18.1 (b): Parked in the wrong direction
Section 18.1 (c): Double parked

POLITELY REMIND OTHERS IF THEY ARE ILLEGALLY STOPPING OR DROPPING OFF STUDENTS.

LET’S KEEP KERRISDALE SCHOOL SAFE FOR ALL STUDENTS.

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. Don’t forget their water bottle as well and to still wear comfortable shoes that they can run in. Thanks for your support!

MESSAGE FROM OUR LIBRARIAN, MME. BONILLA

In order to organize the library for the end of the year, all library books have to be returned next week. Last day to return books is Friday, June 6. The first classes to return the books will enter a draw to win an ice cream party! Thank you for helping to make sure library books are returned promptly.

Mme. Bonilla

VPL SUMMER READING CLUB

The VPL children’s librarian from the Kerrisdale branch will be coming on June 17 to talk about their great summer reading program for kids. The Vancouver Public Library’s Summer Reading Club 2025 is set to be an exciting and engaging program for children aged 5-12. Starting on June 16, the club encourages kids to explore the joy of reading through various activities, such as reading books, listening to audiobooks, writing stories, and creating art. Participants can track their progress using an Online Reading Tracker or a printed Reading Record, aiming to complete 49 days of activities to earn a medal. The program also features special events, including a virtual launch with graphic novelist Shauna J. Grant and interactive sessions with local creators

It’s a fantastic opportunity for families to foster a love of reading and creativity throughout the summer!📚✨

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. This years AGM is Wed., June 18 – PAC AGM (6 pm – 9 pm) main school library. All are welcome to attend.