KERRISDALE HAPPENINGS

Well, we made it! I want to begin by expressing my gratitude to the students, parents, and caregivers at Kerrisdale for an incredible year. This community is truly special, and the staff here are proud to be a part of it. I am truly grateful to be back at Kerrisdale and I can honestly say I can’t wait for September and the year ahead! I wish everyone a safe and relaxing summer, filled with new adventures and quality time together.

A special shout-out goes to our Kerrisdale PAC. Your dedication and support have provided us with numerous opportunities and resources that we are incredibly fortunate to have. Thank you for your countless volunteer hours! A huge thank you to the Grade 7 Leaving Ceremony Committee as well. You made the night unforgettable for the students and their families, and we truly appreciate all the countless hours you dedicated to it. I also want to extend my thanks to all the parents and family members who have supported our teachers during field trips, in-class activities, and events. We are deeply grateful for your support.

Lastly, a special thank you to Ms. Susan Nichols. She stepped into an unfamiliar community and ensured everything ran smoothly, making my transition here in January seamless.

I am delighted to introduce our new Vice-Principal, Olivier Salvas, also known as M. Oli, who will be joining us in September. Below is a brief introduction. He is very excited to join Kerrisdale and looks forward to meeting everyone.

I would also like to take this opportunity to say goodbye to some of our amazing staff members:

To Mme Mountali, we wish you all the best in your new role at the District as a Curriculum Enhancement teacher. Your expertise will be greatly valued, but we will miss your boundless energy and compassion for our youngest primary students. You have been a valuable member of our staff and you will be greatly missed.

M. Philip, you will be truly missed. Thank you for everything you did with your students in the classroom, as well as the extra efforts like coaching teams and stepping in at the last minute to attend Grade 5 camp. Your dedication and enthusiasm for teaching will be greatly missed. L’École Bilingue is lucky to have you!

Ms. Erin Sullivan, you were only here for a short time, but you quickly became a big part of our community. Thank you for your dedication to your students and the opportunities you provided them. Your calm demeanour and support of some of our most vulnerable students really made a difference. We wish you all the best in your new school.

To Jennifer Cotton (SSW), thank you for the support of all our students here at Kerrisdale but especially for our special friends. Your humour, quick thinking and endless patience has made a really difference to the success of our students. You will be missed but hope to see you back here soon!

We will also miss the support of our Speech and Language Pathologist, Sasha Fonarev, and our School Psychologist, David Ki who will be at different schools next year. Thank you so much for your support and expertise. We really appreciated everything you did for our students here at Kerrisdale.

Lastly, I want to say a personal thank you and best wishes to our beloved Vice-Principal, Mme Louise. She has been an amazing leader for the Kerrisdale Community with her compassion, support and genuine ability to listen, no matter how big or small the concern is. She was a huge support for me, coming into the school as a new Principal and I quickly saw how much the students, staff and parents relied on her for guidance. Her move to a new school is best for her journey as an administer, but she will be genuinely missed by everyone here. Tous mes vœux de réussite et votre nouvelle école a beaucoup de chance de vous avoir!

A special farewell and thank you to our Grade 7 students. We wish you great success in Secondary School. You have been true leaders in our school, and we will miss you next year. We hope you will return to visit us and share your continued growth and learning. And to all the students and families that are leaving us as well. We hope that Kerrisdale will hold a special place for you, as you do for us.

Please note that we are looking forward to seeing all our students and families back at Kerrisdale on September 2, 2025. School will be in session for one hour. Parents and caregivers, we invite you to reconnect with our PAC Executive over coffee and muffins. They will be set up In the activity room at 9 am.

Kindergarten families, your first day will be Tuesday, September 3. Look for an email or visit our website that will outline Gradual Entry for your child.

Enjoy your summer with family and friends and stay safe!

MESSAGE FROM MME LOUISE

As this year ends, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Kerrisdale community for the warm welcome and incredible support I’ve received over the past two years. Kerrisdale is truly a special place, and I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to work alongside such dedicated, passionate, and talented students, staff, and parents.

I will deeply miss being part of this wonderful community. Kerrisdale will always hold a special place in my heart.

Thank you again for everything. I hope our paths will cross again someday.

Wishing everyone a restful and enjoyable summer!

Madame Louise

MEET M OLI!

Originally from Montreal, I have been dedicated to the field of education for the past twenty years. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Teaching French as a Second Language from McGill University and the Université de Montréal, as well as a Master of Education from the University of British Columbia in Media studies. My academic background also includes a degree in Psychology with a focus on youth and adolescent development, along with a Fine Arts degree.

For the past 15 years, I have been teaching in K–7 French Immersion classrooms in Vancouver. My teaching practice and academic research have led me to contribute to both national and international projects, including ARTPORT making waves and the UNESCO Decade for the Ocean. I have also had the opportunity to speak at conferences, including with the Commissioner of Official Languages, to discuss the realities and opportunities of French Immersion education in British Columbia. I continue to facilitate workshops and present for educators across the Vancouver School Board, with local universities and with national organizations.

My key interests as an educator include fostering inclusive learning environments, integrating the maker movement and STEM education into the classroom, and promoting social justice. Outside of school, you can often find me running along the Seawall, at a spin class, or attending an art event.

I’m thrilled to be joining the Kerrisdale community this September as Vice-Principal and look forward to connecting with students, staff, and families.

SUMMARY OF LEARNING REPORTS

Summary of Learning reports. If you have left early for summer vacation, the office is open on Monday and Wednesday for families to come by if needed. If not, we will hold your child’s report and other items until September. We do not mail report cards or give them to anyone except the child’s legal guardian.

NOTICE OF LATE RETURN TO SCHOOL

Please call our Safe Arrival line or email kerrisdale@vsb.bc.ca if your child will not be returning on the first day of school, Tuesday, September 2, 2025. Please note:  If the school cannot verify your child’s attendance at school by noon on September 3, 2025, your child’s space may be given to another student on the school’s waitlist.

ARE YOU MOVING?

We are asking families to reach out to the office at kerrisdale@vsb.bc.ca 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.

THIS YEAR’S MATH COMPETITION WINNERS

 Congratulations to our Mathematica Competition winners!
Euler – Stephen Liu, Gr. 7
Pythagoras – Rebecca Lovell, Gr. 6
Fibonacci – Steed Cu, Gr. 5
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If you’re interested in participating in the Gauss, Mathematica or other math competitions or coding, Mme Barber will have information about how to sign up in the fall.