KERRISDALE HAPPENINGS

It’s hard to believe December is already here! The past few months at Kerrisdale have been full of learning and excitement. Students have settled into their routines and are showing great enthusiasm in their classrooms—it’s wonderful to see their progress!

The recent cold snap is a reminder that winter has arrived. Please make sure your child is dressed warmly for outdoor play. We only move recess and lunch indoors when the weather is extremely poor and could pose a safety risk.

With cold and flu season upon us, we’re seeing more absences, which is common at this time of year. Please continue to check your child daily for symptoms of respiratory illness, encourage regular handwashing, and practice good respiratory etiquette. If your child is unwell, please call the our Safe Arrival Line if your child is going to be away.

Please note that school will be closed for Winter Break from Monday, December 22 and reopening on Monday, January 5.

If you are wondering about the feature photo of the owl, our students found this little guy in the bushes. This is a Northern Saw-Whet Owl. He was perfectly content watching the student play while hang out on his branch. Aren’t our grounds amazing!

VANCOUVER HAWKS FIELD HOCKEY PROGRAM

Last week, we had a fantastic time learning all about field hockey! Did you know that in most parts of the world, when people say ‘hockey,’ they’re actually talking about field hockey—not ice hockey?” Huge thank you to Ms. Kudryk for organizing this amazing program as well as an assembly on the Friday.

More Fun Facts:

Field hockey is one of the oldest team sports in the world, dating back over 4,000 years to ancient civilizations.
It’s played in more than 100 countries, making it one of the most popular sports globally.
In Canada, field hockey is especially popular in British Columbia, where many schools and clubs offer programs.
Canada’s women’s field hockey team has competed in multiple Olympic Games and is ranked among the top teams in the Americas.
Unlike ice hockey, field hockey is played on grass or turf with a small, hard ball and curved sticks—and players don’t wear skates!

SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD WITH CONFLICT

As parents, it’s natural to want to step in and fix things when your child is hurt or upset after a conflict with another child or children. However, conflict is a normal part of life, and children need opportunities to learn how to handle these situations on their own. Research shows that when adults solve problems for children, it can unintentionally send the message that they cannot handle challenges themselves. Sometimes, children don’t even want the problem solved, they just want someone that will listen to them.

Instead, we want to give children the confidence and tools to manage conflict and advocate for themselves and that all starts with developing healthy relationship skills.

How can I help my child develop healthy relationship skills?

It starts with the parent-child connection. Developing a strong, supportive relationship with your child helps them feel loved and safe.

The foundations of a healthy relationship include:

finding time for play
listening to your child
providing validation
repairing conflict when it arises

Being able to:

name emotions
pay attention to the feelings of others and put oneself in another’s shoes
communicate effectively
cooperate with others
deal with conflict

These are all important and necessary to build healthy relationships.

To help your child build these skills, try the following:

Encourage your child to express their feelings according to their stage of development.
- Share a situation that invoked a particular emotion (e.g. happiness, sadness, fear) and invite your child to do the same.
- Encourage your child to name their own emotions throughout the day.

Respect your child’s feelings.
- Don’t assume how they’re feeling; ask them.
  - Let them experience the emotion without jumping in to fix it.

Help your child understand their own, and other people’s feelings.
- Draw together. Ask your child to draw people feeling different emotions.
- Discuss why the characters may feel that way.

How can I help my child to navigate conflict?

All relationships have conflicts at times. Learning to manage conflict with peers is a core part of your child’s social development.

Tackle feelings first. Help them identify a feeling and ask them to reflect on why. Validate and accept your child’s feelings.
Pinpoint the source of conflict. Help your child get to the root of the issue so they can resolve the problem.
Brainstorm solutions. Empower your child to come up with their own ideas. Encourage them to step back and see the whole picture rather than jump to conclusions.
Help your child communicate their feelings about the conflict. Teach them to use “I” statements. Focusing on “I” and not “you” removes shame and blame from the other person.
Role-play with your child. Act out situations and conversations to instill confidence in them.

Understanding how to develop healthy relationships can also help your child to notice signs of unhealthy relationships.

It is important for your child to understand and identify when their experiences in schools require intervention and support from staff.
It is important to support your child in understanding which behaviours are not okay and help them understand the difference between peer conflict, mean behaviour and bullying. You can find a helpful guide on our school website under Announcements that explains these differences.
If you feel that your child is experiencing bullying at school, it is important to be an advocate or support their self-advocacy

Helpful resources

As always, if you have any concerns, please reach out to your child’s classroom teacher. We are here to support you and your child.

BE IN THE KNOW, WINTER IS HERE!

VSB has procedures in place for when severe weather, like heavy snowfall or extremely high winds,

may affect schools.

During severe weather events, all schools in the Vancouver School District will remain open, if possible. If a District-

wide closure is necessary, that will be decided and publicized by 6:30 a.m.

District-wide school closures will be announced through the media, the District website, school websites and the our social media channels.

Follow our socials for updates:
Facebook: Vancouver School Board
Instagram: @vsb39X: @vsb39VSB website: vsb.bc.ca

How are decisions made about school closures:

We monitor forecasts and conditions, and work with the City of Vancouver and other partners to assess safety when there may be:

heavy snowfall
extreme cold
freezing rain
extreme heat
other hazardous weather/emergency conditions that pose risks to student and staff safety

We coordinate with neighbouring school districts to align our decisions where possible. The decision to close schools is made in consideration of safety, equity and well-being.

We would like to remind you to slow down and remain alert in and around school zones.

We consider other impacts weather conditions may have, like transit delays, meal programs for students, other essential student supports and impacts to learning. If weather conditions begin or worsen during a school day, usually, schools will remain open until the end of the school day.

Except under extreme circumstances, all schools and offices will remain open, if possible. Typically, no announcement will be made that schools are open. Only cancellations, closures or delayed school openings will be announced.

Extra-curricular activities, school events and field trips may be cancelled because of weather – even when school remains open.

Remember to dress for the weather and take extra care when traveling between school and home.

What if I don’t think it is safe for my child to go to school due to weather conditions?

Student safety is our top priority. If for any reason a parent/guardian feels that a child cannot travel safely to/from school, they can notify their child’s schools about the expected absence. Students will not be penalized.

OUR SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR STARTS TODAY!

The Book Fair kicks off Monday, December 1 and runs through Friday, December 5. Students will have scheduled times to browse and shop during the week.

Every purchase helps our school earn Scholastic Dollars, which we use to buy books and educational resources for our library—thank you for supporting literacy!

Join us for Family Afternoon on Wednesday, December 3. Come shop after school and enter for a chance to win $25 in free books!

Happy reading!

Mme Bonilla

COMMUNICATING STUDENT LEARNING

On Wednesday, December 17, your child will receive their first written report in SpacesEDU. Communicating Student Learning (CSL) aligns with BC’s redesigned curriculum, allowing us to report to parents in more flexible ways. The Vancouver School Board (VSB) aims to create a reporting process that is clear, responsive, and encourages greater student ownership and parent involvement.

This is an excellent opportunity to discuss your child’s learning with them. These reports are designed to be strength-based, highlighting their accomplishments this term and focusing on what they “can do.” Consider asking your child what they are most proud of, what they feel they need to work on or learn next, and what steps they need to take to achieve their goals.

If you have any questions about your child’s CSL report, please feel free to reach out to their classroom teacher. Our school website has more information on CSL reporting as well as the ministry website:

K-12 Student Reporting Information for Parents and Caregivers

https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/reporting/resources-for-parents-and-caregivers

Coffee & Chat Invitation
Join M. Oli and Mme Steele for a relaxed coffee and conversation on Wednesday, December 12 at 3:30 pm in the library. Bring your questions—and a reusable mug!

Please note: We kindly ask that children are picked up or cared for elsewhere, as childcare will not be provided. Thank you for understanding, and we look forward to seeing you!

SpacesEDU

Please make sure that you have set up your account and logged into the platform as your child’s CSL report will be shared through this site. You will receive notification through email when it is ready. Please reach out to your child’s classroom teachers if you have any further questions. You will not receive a written report card this year unless you request it. You will need to download it and save it for your records as it will not remain on the site.

TRAVELING OVER THE HOLIDAYS

Please report any absence to our Safe Arrival Line or contact the office at kerrisdale@vsb.bc.ca before December 19 if your child will be travelling over the holidays and will be returning to school AFTER Monday, January 5. Please note that the school does not provide schoolwork for students whose family choose to extend their holidays.

TALENT SHOW

We are excited to announce our Talent Show, which will take place in the evening of Thursday, December 18 at 6 pm. Parents and guardians are welcome to attend. Your child will inform you if they have been selected to perform.

PRIORITY KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Kindergarten registration for children born in 2021 begins on November 1^st.

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 1^st and closes January 31^st. 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

STUDENT COUNCIL

In Support of WCK – This year, our student council is proud to support the West Coast Kids Cancer Foundation. Thank you to everyone who joined in our Hot Chocolate Sale—it was a great success!

To continue showing our support, we invite all students to wear their PJs this Friday. Many children who are sick or in the hospital spend a lot of time in pajamas, so this is a simple way to show solidarity and care. Your participation means a lot and helps raise awareness for an important cause. Thank you for being part of this effort!

LOST & FOUND IS OVERFLOWING!

We’ve collected so many items—it’s like a treasure chest waiting to be claimed! If your child is missing clothing, water bottles, or containers, please stop by and take a look.

Our Lost & Found is located outside the gym by the South stairs. Please check before Monday, December 17, as any unclaimed items will be donated after that date.

To help prevent lost items in the future, please label your child’s belongings. Thank you for your help in keeping our Lost & Found manageable!

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 on Friday, December 12! The PAC is still seeking donations.