KERRISDALE HAPPENINGS
Happy November! The crisp autumn air and vibrant fall colours remind us of the beauty of this season—a time for reflection, gratitude, and growth. Students and staff have truly settled into their learning routines, and there’s a wonderful buzz in the hallways!
Thank you to all families for participating in our recent goal-setting conferences—we hope you found them informative and helpful in supporting your child’s learning journey.
Looking ahead, our first written learning update will be sent home on December 17, 2025. Your child’s classroom teacher should have already contacted you, and you should be signed up for SpacesEDU. This year, all written learning updates will be shared electronically through SpacesEDU. It is important to ensure you can log into your child’s account. Please connect with your child’s teacher if you have not yet done so. Additional details will be provided closer to the date, but completing this first step is essential. If you do not have access to SpacesEDU, please follow up with your child’s teacher as soon as possible.
Please note our next Professional Development Day is on Friday, November 21, 2025. There will be no school for students.
I would also like to extend my gratitude to the teachers who led our Cross-Country teams. Special thanks to M Bullard and Mme Bonilla. Our students demonstrated their Kerrisdale spirit with outstanding sportsmanship and athleticism! Additionally, congratulations to our Kerrisdale Senior Soccer team for securing SECOND place in the City’s. Thank you to our coaches Ms. Hundel and M Mattias and the team for an excellent season! Our volleyball season will be starting soon with both teams as well as noon hour extramurals.
As we know, Vancouver weather can change rapidly, and rain is a common occurrence on the West Coast. Our teachers embrace the outdoors and conduct many lessons outside, regardless of the weather. Please ensure your child has appropriate rain gear when needed. Recess and lunch will also be held outdoors unless the weather is severe and poses a safety risk.
If families would like some assistance with raincoats, muddy buddies or boots please contact your child’s teacher or Ms. Steele in the office and we can help.
Did you know: VSB now has a central location for family and community information. Find what you need, all in one place. Explore programs, policies and school supports through VSB’s Family and Community Information page.
PRIORITY KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
Kindergarten registration for children born in 2021 begins on November 1st.
All kindergarten applicants who were born in Canada are required to apply to their English catchment elementary school. This includes families who wish to apply for choice programs (French Immersion, Montessori, etc.) and/or a cross-boundary placement. The priority registration period for kindergarten opens on November 1st and closes January 31st. Students who submit an application within this priority period will be accommodated before late applicants.
Please note: Students born outside Canada must first register at the Newcomer Welcome Centre (NWC). Please see the NWC website for more specific information about registration procedures.
Applying for Kindergarten is a 2-Step Process:
Step 1: First, register your child online at https://vsbapplynow.vsb.bc.ca/. The online tool automatically locates the English catchment school based on a family’s primary home address.
Step 2: Once information is submitted online, families need to complete the application process with a visit to their neighbourhood catchment school with their child and the required documents before January 31, 2025. Please note: all applicants must go to Kerrisdale ANNEX to register. The main school does not process any Kindergarten applications for the English program.
Supporting Documents Needed:
The following original documents must be presented to complete your application:
- Proof of British Columbia residency
- The original birth certificate of the child
- Applicable Immigration/Citizenship/Permanent Resident Documentation
- Immunization Records if available
[Note: Some schools may request additional identification as proof of residency.]
If you wish to apply for a Kindergarten Choice program, you must first apply to your English catchment elementary school.
For more information, please visit the VSB website using the link below:
www.vsb.bc.ca/page/5195/priority-kindergarten-registration
REMEMBRANCE DAY
This year’s ceremony will explore the legacy of John McCrae’s iconic poem In Flanders Fields, now 110 years old. The event will take place on Monday, November 10. For families new to Canada, Remembrance Day is dedicated to honouring those who gave their lives in service to our country. We recognize this topic may be sensitive for some families—please reach out if you need support.
Parents are invited to join us as we commemorate Veterans from all wars in which Canada has participated, as well as those affected by war. As this is a solemn occasion, we kindly ask that attendees refrain from taking photos or videos during the ceremony.
Two ceremonies will be held in the school gym on November 10:
- First Ceremony: 11:00 a.m.
- Second Ceremony: 11:40 a.m.
Parents may enter through the parking lot doors.
We will be collecting donations for the Poppy Fund, which will be directed to our local Legion. Families can contribute through SchoolCash Online starting November 3. Please note that there will be no school on Tuesday, November 11, in observance of Remembrance Day.
UPCOMING EVENTS
We have two upcoming in which the whole school has the opportunity to participate in. Shout out to Ms. Kudryk for organizing these event for our school.
- Earth Rangers Show – This year’s show is styled like a fast-paced game show where students team up to answer questions, make eco-decisions, and tackle environmental challenges. With audience participation, storytelling, and loads of surprises, kids have a blast – while learning key science concepts.
- Vancouver Hawks Field-Hockey Program – In our student’s regular gym time throughout the week, field-hockey coaches (made up of Canadian National Team and UBC athletes) will be providing free field-hockey lessons to all our students. They will wrap up the week with a whole-school assembly on Friday with skills demo by coaches, student challenges and mini-competition and inspiring stories from elite athletes about their journey in sport.
SAFE ARRIVAL
Thank you to families for using our safe arrival system. When your child will be late or away for the day, please continue to 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!
Also, if your family is planning an extended vacation, please contact the office as well as your child’s classroom teacher. Please note that teachers are not obligated to provide school work for students who are not in attendance at school.
PHOTO ORDERING AND RETAKE DAY
Students who had their photo taken on photo day should have received a photo card with their photo and instructions on how to order prints. If you would like your child to have their photo redone, they can bring the photo card with them on photo day and ask for a free retake. Any student who missed the original photo date will have their photo taken on Friday, November 14.
IMMUNIZATION CLINIC
On Tuesday, November 25, we will hold an immunization clinic for Grade 6 students. You will receive a letter from our VCH school nurse indicating which immunizations your child is due for. Please complete the form and return it to your child’s teacher as soon as possible after receiving it.
STUDENT COUNCIL
A special thank you to M. Toula and our class representatives for their fantastic efforts in hosting a Fall Celebration on October 30th at lunch recess for all K-G4 students in the main gym. The party included a Freestyle Dance Party, and other games such as Musical Chairs, Corn Hole, Arts and Crafts and much more. Look out for additional activities and events throughout the year. Thank you students for your leadership!
DIGITAL LITERACY FOR PARENTS & CAREGIVERS
We are pleased to welcome you to the next virtual session in our digital literacy series. This conversation will discuss social media awareness, digital citizenship and cyber-bullying.
The event details are below:
When: Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Virtually through Teams.
Who: Hosted by Safer Schools Together, through VSB
Registration: Please register by 9 pm on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 using this link: Registration for VSB Virtual Info Session-Nov 4.
LOST & FOUND
Even though we are only into the third month of school we already have many lost items of clothing and containers including several coats and sweaters. Please come into the school on the first floor (outside the gym) and have a look and claim any items that might belong to your child. We are going to donate any left-over items by the end of December. It is also a good reminder to label your child’s clothing, so it is easier for us to return any items. Thank you!
VOLUNTEER DRIVERS
The District recognizes the occasional need for transporting students in privately-owned vehicles for field trips and sporting events. To safeguard the District, employees, parents, and students in matters of liability, the District seeks confirmation of excess third-party liability insurance for teachers, parents, officers of the District or volunteers while transporting students in their own vehicles in the course of a school-related activity, provided such use is authorized by the District.
Click HERE for the fillable pdf form that parents, guardians or volunteers must fill out and return to the office before transporting any student in their vehicle for school sanctioned events. The driver must also submit a photocopy of their driver’s license and a copy of their vehicle insurance showing that the vehicle has a minimum $1,000,000 Third Party Liability Insurance.
KERRISDALE PAC
Make sure you stay up to date on all that is happening with Kerrisdale PAC. Please visit their website for all the news and to sign up for their fabulous revamped newsletter! It includes important information about our upcoming Winter Sale!