KERRISDALE HAPPENINGS
WELCOME TO A NEW SCHOOL YEAR!
It’s been wonderful to see everyone back at Kerrisdale, and we’re excited to welcome many new faces to our community. Kerrisdale is a place where meaningful learning thrives, and we truly value your engagement and contributions. By working together this year, we’re confident we can accomplish great things!
We will be having an Open House Meet the Teacher Week from Mon., Sept. 15 – Fri., Sept. 19. You will receive a welcome email from your child’s classroom teacher with the specific time and date for their Open House.
Student packages will be going home next week. Please read through them carefully as there are some forms that need to be signed and others that are just for your information. This year the VSB is working towards a digital solution to collecting consent from students and parents/guardians. Instead of all the paper that is printed and distributed at the beginning of the year, the VSB has digitalized these forms (see list below).
Step-by-step instructions will be sent home on how to access and complete these forms.
- CASL – Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation
- External Use Media Consent
- K-3 Student Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)/ Gr. 4 – 12 Student Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
- Neighbourhood Walk Consent
- VSB Internal Use Media Consent
Our athletic season is starting with Junior Boys/All gender soccer for grade 6 students and Senior Girls/All gender soccer for Grades 6 and 7 students.
RESPECTFUL WORKPLACE
We all feel very fortunate to be in such a respectful and supportive community, but it is always a good reminder to remember that the Vancouver School Board is committed to fostering safe schools that promote mutual respect, cooperation, and social responsibility. There is zero tolerance for violence, harassment, or disrespectful behaviour in the school community. We strive to make our schools and sites welcoming places for everyone in our community. You will see new posters in the office that highlight this.
As we begin a new school year, we ask that you pause and remember VSB staff are valued community members. Be considerate, and ask, will my actions or words hurt someone?
It is our shared responsibility to ensure interactions are conducted safely and respectfully. Students learn here, and together we can be models for those that are watching.
KINDERGARTEN PARENTS & GUARDIANS
I want to extend my deepest appreciation for the dedication you’ve shown in readying your child for this exciting new journey over the past five years. The entire staff and community are thankful for your confidence in allowing us to collaborate with you in your child’s educational process. This transition is significant, and we want to acknowledge our sincere thanks for selecting Kerrisdale as your child’s school. You classroom teacher is always your first point on contact, but please reach out to M Oli or Mme Steele in the office if you have any questions or concerns.
DISTRICT CALENDAR
Please take a moment to download our updated School Calendar, which includes dates when school is not in session and Professional Development Days. This can also be found on our school website under the Announcement side bar. Our first Professional Development Day will be on Friday, September 19, 2025 (no school for students). Additionally, Monday, September 30 is National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, and school will not be in session.
School Calendar – we will be keeping our online calendar through our website updated. You can subscribe to this calendar, and it will automatically be downloaded to your own calendar. Please follow this link here for instructions on how to subscribe.
SAFE ARRIVAL
Thank you to families for using our safe arrival system. When your child will be late or away for the day, please call the Safe Arrival line at (604) 713-5159 and press 41 to reach the voicemail system to leave a message. When leaving your message, please speak slowly and clearly as we will be writing all the information down. The details we require are your child’s full name, their teacher’s name and their division and how long they will be absent for.
If the school has not received a message from you by 9:15 am then we will begin calling parents or guardians on the child’s emergency contact list. Please ensure that the phone numbers you have provided us will reach a person who will answer the phone. If this information changes at any point in the school year, please contact the office.
As this is a voice mail system, please call at any hour as soon as you are aware of the absence or lateness as the system takes calls on a 24-hour basis.
If you child arrives past 9 am, please have them come to the office to sign in. They also need to sign out if they are being picked up early. We appreciate your cooperation!
PICK-UP AND DROP-OFF OF STUDENTS
More specific information will be sent home to parents regarding safe routes to school as well as drop-off and pick-up traffic reminders. For now, I would like to strongly encourage you to park 1-2 blocks away from the school and walk in to drop-off or pick-up your child. This lessens congestion around the school and is a healthy way to start and end the day! Please obey the no stopping and parking signs and refrain from backing out of lane-ways and doing U-turns in the middle of the street. The staff parking lot is for staff ONLY. Please do not drop off or pick up your child there. We all want to keep our children safe! This is also a reminder that students must walk their bikes and scooters while on school properly and that roller skates or rolly shoes are not permitted.
Students are never to leave the school property without a permitted adult. Only designated adults that are indicated on your child’s emergency contact form will be allowed to pick up your child. If you need to pick up your child early or take them out of school, please come into the office to either sign them out or sign them back in. If your child has your permission to go home at lunchtime, we must have a written letter or email on file and they must sign in and out at the office.
ARRIVE ON TIME, LEAVE ON TIME
It is very important for students to arrive at school on time and to start the day together as a class. The warning bell rings at 8:55 am for the students to make there way to their classes and should be in their rooms by 9:00 am. If you child arrives past 9 am, please have them come to the office to sign in. They also need to sign out if they are being picked up early. We appreciate your cooperation!
Morning Supervision: 8:40 pm
Warning Bell: 8:55 am
Welcoming Bell: 9:00 am
Recess: 10:30 am – 10:50 am
Lunch: 12:10 pm – 12:55 pm
Dismissal Bell: 2:58 pm
Afterschool Supervision: 3:20 pm
If you are going to be late to pick-up your child, please call the office and we will have your child wait in the office until you arrive. No child can be left unsupervised on the school grounds after 3:20 pm.
PERSONAL DIGITAL DEVICES
To ensure a focused and respectful learning environment, students are expected to follow the Vancouver School Board’s guidelines regarding personal digital devices. At the elementary level, personal devices such as cell phones and smart watches must remain off and out of sight during instructional time, unless explicitly permitted by a teacher for educational purposes. Any student that does not follow this policy may have their device removed and it will be stored safely in the office until 3 pm. There is a phone in the office for student use if they need to call home.
This aligns with Administrative Procedure 350, which outlines the district-wide expectations for digital device use. The policy is designed to support student safety, minimize distractions, and promote responsible digital citizenship.
For full details, you can view the VSB’s Administrative Procedures Manual here.
LIBRARY PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
If you are looking for an opportunity to volunteer at Kerrisdale, our librarian is looking for parent volunteers. Ideally, volunteers can pick a shift once a week. However, parent volunteers are needed all throughout the year. Your help greatly supports the organization of the library, so more services are provided to students through different programming/activities.
Some of the tasks you might be involved include:
- Checking in books.
- Shelving books.
- Processing books: laminating, putting barcodes and tags, etc.
- Tidying up. Picking up books. Straighten up shelves.
- Decorating Library for Halloween, Winter festivities and other themes.
- Putting up bulletin boards
- Volunteering during the Scholastic Book Fair in December.
- Setting up book displays
If you are interested in any of these tasks, please come to the Library next Friday September the 12th at 9:00am for a parent volunteer orientation. If you are not available at this time, please come to the Library anytime to discuss your availability or email Mme. Bonilla at abonillagomez@vsb.bc.ca
Thank you so much for your support,
Your Teacher Librarian – Mme Angela Bonilla
MEDICATION
If your child has a medical condition requiring medication that must be administered at school, a parent will need to fill out a Request for Administration of Medication at School. We also have a form for those requiring a Medical Care Plan such as administration of an EPI PEN. Students are never to self-administer medication at school without supervision and all medication must be stored in the office. This includes “over the counter” medications as well as prescription medications. Please contact Ms. Adriana in the office for these forms if your child has a medical condition that requires medication. If you already given medication to the school last year, please come by the office to check that it has not expired,
Parents are reminded that medication cannot be administrated by school staff until these forms are completed. Staff are trained by the Community Health Nurse for the administration of medication as well as an EPI PEN in case of an emergency.
The VSB uses School Cash Online as its preferred method of payment for school fees. This secure system helps parents/guardians and community members pay school-related fees safely, quickly, and easily online. You will be receiving detailed instructions that outline how to register and create your profile if you have not used this system before. Please read the documents carefully and let us know if you have any questions. You can find information on our school website here as well as our School Fees for 2025-26.
VSB DOG POLICY
Notice: No Dogs Allowed on School Grounds
Dogs are not permitted on school grounds, play fields, or inside the school between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, or during any organized school events outside these hours, except for service dogs. Please review the VSB’s Dog Code, posted on the bright green signs on the fences, for more detailed information.
Our school is a busy place with many children playing and moving around. Some children are afraid of dogs or allergic to them. Additionally, children may unintentionally put themselves at risk and get hurt by a dog. Unfortunately, dog feces have been found on our playgrounds, posing safety and hygiene concerns for our students during outdoor play and creating unpleasant odours. Allergic reactions, hygiene issues from pet feces, and the potential for unpredictable aggression are reasons for the School District’s decision to prohibit dogs on school property during the school day.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school grounds and play fields safe for all students.
STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE
The VSB is offering parents access to two voluntary student accident plans which offer coverage for students and their families against accidental injury, unexpected medical/dental expenses, and critical illness. The two companies that are offering this product are Insuremykids and Industrial Alliance (The Family Accident Reimbursement Plan). Families can find more information and register online to purchase and participate in any of these insurance plans by using the URL provided here:
https://insuremykids.com/schoolresources/
https://www.solutionsinsurance.com
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, October 9 for our first General Meeting in the Library from 7:00 am – 8:30 pm.