Important Dates:

May 22            PAC meeting at 6 pm in the library
May 23            Track&Field Mini Meet (pm)
May 23            Earthquake Drill (students dismissed from field)
May 27            Pro D – Classes not in session
May 30            District Track Meet at Bear Creek Park
June 7            Welcome to Kindergarten
June 14           Games Day
June 20           PAC BBQ
June 20           Theme Day: Tropical Thursday
June 25           Grade 7 Assembly @ 10:30 am
June 26           Year End Assembly @ 10:30 am
June 27           Last Day of School- Early dismissal at 1:27 pm

Track & Field

The Pacific Heights Track&Field team will be participating in a mini meet tomorrow at the South Surrey Athletic Park.  The meet give our athletes an opportunity to participate in many events against some tough competition!  We ask that each participant be ready for all types of weather – bring water, appropriate clothing, sunscreen, hat, etc.  If your child is participating in this mini meet he/she would have received a permission form yesterday.

Parent Drivers will meet in the gym at 11:45 am so we can organize the rides to be at the South Surrey Athletic Park by 12:30 pm.

The rescheduling of this meet happens to fall on the same day as our Earthquake Drill.  This means that the participants of the mini meet will not be present for our Earthquake Drill.

Earthquake Drill

A reminder that our Earthquake Drill is tomorrow.  Your child(ren) will only be released to you and to anyone that you designate on the Emergency Contact Card.When a person comes to pick up your child, they will have to identify themselves and your child will have to confirm their identity.

Please read the previous blog post (May 1, 2019) for additional information.

Welcome to Kindergarten

Our Welcome to Kindergarten session will be on Friday, June 7th at 9 am.  This session is for the students who have already registered for September 2019.  The students who have registered will have receive an email indicating the colour group they are assigned for this day.  

During Welcome to Kindergarten the students will get to visit all Kindergarten classrooms.  Please take note of your child’s colour as it will help you find the appropriate starting point.  You will be entering through the outside classroom doors at the Kindergarten end of the building (closest to 26th Ave.).  We will have student leaders helping you navigate on that morning.

Track & Field Mini Meet Cancelled

Due to the weather, the mini meet that was scheduled for this afternoon has been cancelled.

Important Dates

May 3                Pro D – classes not in session
May 6                Grade 4&5 Biking Workshops
May 9                Grade 4&5 Biking Workshops
May 10              We Walk for Water
May 13-15        Grade 6&7 go camping
May 13-31        Tennis lessons in the gym (4 lessons for each class)
May 16             Theme Day: Crazy Hair Day
May 10              We Walk for Water
May 20              Victoria Day Holiday – Classes not in session
May 23              Earthquake Drill (students dismissed from field)
May 27              Pro D – Classes not in session
May 30              District Track Meet at Bear Creek Park

We Walk for Water

On Friday, May 10th the Student Leadership Team will be holding a We Walk for Water event.  This is to raise awareness and a positive change on global water issues. Classes will sign up to walk around our big field carrying water jugs.  This is to give our students an idea of what children around the world have to do on a daily basis instead of going to school.   Children in countries like India, cannot go to school because they need to fetch water for the family from a water source that is far from home (sometimes more than 10 km away) and most times the water source is contaminated.

We ask that students donate $1 on May 10th for our We Walk for Water event. 

Facts and Stats:

Water is a basic human right, yet more than 840 million people do not have a basic drinking water service. More than 260 million people, mostly young girls, have the daily task of collecting water from distant sources—time that could be spent in school or earning a livelihood. By cutting the time and distance to fetch water in half, girls’ school attendance increases by 12 percent. Poor sanitation and contaminated water can lead to diseases like cholera, hepatitis A and typhoid. But with access to clean water, families are able to send their girls to school, watch their crops flourish and improve their personal health

Every day women and children around the world spend 200 million hours fetching water from the only sources available—distant and often polluted lakes, rivers or streams.

Learn more:

Earthquake Drill

We will be having an Earthquake Drill on Thursday, May 23th at 1 pm.  Children and all staff will evacuate the school and wait outside on the big field until a designate on the Emergency Contact Card comes to pick up your child.  Parents will be able to pick up their children anytime after 1:30pm during the drill.

Teachers will be sending home the Emergency Contact Cards for parents to fill out or to edit this week.  These cards will be placed in the classroom emergency backpack. If an emergency should happen while you are out of the neighbourhood, school staff will remain with your child(ren) for as long as necessary. Your child(ren) will only be released to you and to anyone that you designate on the Emergency Contact Card. It is best if the adults on the list live nearby and can walk to school to pick up your child in your absence. The purpose of this is both to reunite you as soon as possible, and to keep your child safe. When a person comes to pick up your child, they will have to identify themselves and your child will have to confirm their identity.

Prior to the drill we will be discussing with the students why we are practising and what is going to happen.These are the steps we will carry out:

1.  An “alarm” will sound over the P.A. system (a series of earthquake sounds)
2. Students will be directed to get under a heavy object (desk, chair, table, etc.), crouch and protect their heads. Students will be directed to stay away from windows and glass.
3. Once the “rumblings” have stopped, students will count to 60, and then evacuate the building (as they do in a fire drill) and assemble on the big field.
4. Teachers will take roll call of their division and then drop students off into last name groupings on the field.  However, our Kindergarten students will be grouped with their siblings and will remain with the Kindergarten teachers. Students will be wearing their Emergency Contact Cards around their necks (on a lanyard)
5. At this point parents/guardians will arrive at the school to pick up their children.  We will have parents line up and allow them into the field to pick up their children. For those parents who are waiting in line, we will also have teachers being “runners” taking down names and bringing children to the designated adult.  Since children are organized into last name groupings, a parent has to go to one section to collect his/her children.  The adult(s) in charge of the children will ask the  adult to identify him/herself and then the check to see if the adult is listed on the child’s Emergency Contact card.  The parent takes his/her child and hands the lanyard to the staff member in charge.

We had this Earthquake Drill last year and it ran smoothly. The important thing to remember is that we need to be patient.  We are aware that in a real earthquake there are many factors and our plan may have to drastically change.  The purpose of the drill is to have our students understand the basics of :

• drop, cover, hold
• staying with an adult during an emergency (it is safe)
• where to evacuate and how to stay together in a group
• to follow teacher directions until an adult picks them up.

Please arrange to have yourself (parent/guardian) or one of the adults on your child’s Emergency Contact Card be able to come and pick up your child(ren) between 1:30 – 2:25 pm.  Just as in an emergency, teachers will remain with your child(ren) for as long as necessary.

Here a list of questions that parents had last year:

Questions and Answers:

1.  If the parent/guardian is NOT listed on the Emergency Contact Card, but comes to pick up their child, will the child be released to the parent?  The answer is YES.  The individuals listed on your the Emergency Contact Card should be the adults who would  be able to come to the school and pick up your child.  If the legal guardian is not listed on the Emergency Contact Card but comes to pick up his/her child, the school will allow the parent to take their child because the parent is listed as the legal guardian on the official contact information at the office.
2. I have not arranged to have anyone pick up my child for the Earthquake Drill as my child usually walks home by himself at the end of the day.  When will my child be allowed to go home if no one comes to pick him or her up?  At 2:45 pm, we will conclude our Earthquake Drill.  The students that are left on the field will go to their teachers (also on the field) and then head back to their classrooms.  Teachers will then follow the regular dismissal procedure they have all year.  So that means, the intermediate students will be dismissed from class and the primary students will follow the protocol teachers have set (K’s and 1’s are dismissed to an adult).
3. Where do we go to pick up our child(ren) from the field?  You will line up in the parent parking lot by Ms. Beale’s portable.  Please remember this is a practise drill and that will require patience.
4. The drill starts at 1 pm but we are to pick up the students at 1:30 pm?  Yes that is correct.  This is because if this were a real drill, we would need time to get the students safely on the field before we released them to adults.  Moreover, it would take a minimum of 15-20 minutes for adults to get out of their homes safely and come to the school if there were a natural disaster like an earthquake.

If no one has come to pick your child by 2:45 pm, we will then call the parent/guardian first, and if we are unable to get a hold of the parent, we then go down the Emergency Card Contact list for pick up.  If your child is picked up by a day care provider, we will release your child to the daycare at the 2:27 pm dismissal bell.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ms. Chohan.

Important Dates

April 25             PAC meeting at 6 pm in library
April 26             Fishy Friday
May 3                Pro D – classes not in session
May 6                Grade 4&5 Biking Workshop
May 9                Grade 4&5 Biking Workshop
May 10              We Walk for Water
May 13-15        Grade 6&7 go camping
May 13-31        Tennis lessons in the gym for all students
May 16             Theme Day: Crazy Hair Day
May 10              We Walk
May 20              Victoria Day Holiday – Classes not in session
May 23              Earthquake Drill (students dismissed from field)
May 27              Pro D – Classes not in session
May 30              District Track Meet at Bear Creek Park

For the LOVE of READING

Reading takes on many forms at Pacific Heights. Students read with partners and in groups, they read to teachers and friends. Students may read books, poems or articles as part of their language arts learning alongside activities such as literature circles or guided reading. They may also read in conjunction with other curriculum studies including science, social studies or math.

Reading on a sunny day!

One important way students engage in reading from Kindergarten to Grade 7 is read-to-self (also known as quiet reading or sustained silent reading). For emergent readers this may involve reading the pictures or retelling a familiar story to yourself. Enjoying a book is not only a great way to pass time in a waiting room read-to-self is a literacy foundation and sets students up for success as lifelong learners  who are independently motivated.

Learning read-to-self takes practice and over time students build their reading stamina. Just as one trains for a physical challenge such as a marathon, children improve their ability to read to themselves by setting manageable goals. Someone training for a marathon might first ensure they can run 5km, then 10km and so on until they are able to run longer distances. Likewise, readers may begin with a goal of 5 minutes where they can stay focused and content with a book of their choice. Once this goal has been met and acknowledged a new goal of 7 minutes might be set. This way students build their stamina gradually and feel successful.

Reading with Friends on a Sunny Day

Ways to support children with their reading stamina

• set aside time for read-to-self  where adults read as well – it is important for children to see teachers, parents, siblings etc. also reading for pleasure
• set reasonable goals
• celebrate success as readers build their stamina
• encourage children to choose books that are a good fit for their interests and current reading strengths
• vary the way reading is done and make it fun

Grade 6 & 7 Students Reading on the Spacenet!

In the video below grade 2 students are enjoying their read-to self time with the image of a campfire and ocean wave sounds.  On a rainy day this was the perfect way to make reading extra fun. There really are endless ways to enjoy a good book!

Good afternoon,

It has been brought to our attention that there is no crossing guard on 168th Street and 26th Avenue.  We all have seen Bernie at the crosswalk each morning and after school ensuring our students cross the street safely.  Bernie is away sick and will be off for a bout a week or more.  The crossing guard is not employed by the school district- it is the Commonwealth Frontiersman who volunteer at school crosswalks such as ours.  Please talk to your children about crosswalk safety .  Even if the sign says it is safe to walk, children need to look both ways before crossing the street.  If you have any other questions or concerns, please call the school office.

Sincerely,

Ms. Chohan

Important Dates

April 1               Schools open
April 2               Gr.6&7 parent mtg.@6pm re:Grandview Heights
April 4               Ruben’s Shoes Assembly 1 pm
April 5               Fishy Friday 2:27 pm
April 8               Pro D (classes not in session)
April 10             Talent Show for primary audience only 1 pm
April 11            Talent Show for parent and intermediate audience 1 pm
April 12            Class and Panorama pictures
April 12            Fishy Friday 2:27 pm
April 18            Jersey Day (school theme day)
April 18            Fishy Friday 2:27 pm
April 19            Good Friday Holiday (schools closed)
April 22            Easter Monday Holiday (schools closed)
April 26            Fishy Friday

Grade 6&7 Parent Meeting re: Grandview Heights Secondary Timeline

Dear Parents or Guardians of Grade 6 and 7 Students,

We would like to invite you to an important meeting on April 2^nd at 6pm in the Pacific Heights gym.

As you are aware, your child will become a student of the new Grandview Heights Secondary School.  The school was originally scheduled to open in September 2020.  This timeline has been amended and is now scheduled to open in September 2021.  This will have implications for your children in their grade 8 or Grade 8 and Grade 9 year (for Grade 6 or Grade 7 students respectively).

Lynda Reeve, our Assistant Superintendent will be at the meeting to discuss the information in the agenda below:

Agenda:
1.   Introductions
2.   Review of the Grandview Heights Timeline and Anticipated Amendments
3.   Review of enrollment data
4.   Timetabling and Space Challenges at EMS
5.   Proposal to mitigate EMS challenges
6.   Important Dates
7.   Questions

Following the April 2^nd meeting we will tentatively schedule a second meeting on April 9^th to answer any questions and receive your feedback.

Sincerely,

Ms. Chohan

Ruben’s Shoes

For the first two weeks of April, our school community is continuing to pay if forward by supporting Ruben’s Shoes.  In countries like the Dominican Republic, children are unable to go to school because they have no shoes to wear.  Adults in some of these countries have difficulty going to job interviews because they do not own a pair of shoes.  Please donate your gently used shoes to help families in need.

Each of our classrooms has a box for shoe collection.  Take a look through your closet and donate those shoes that your children have outgrown and shoes that you no longer wear.  Give your shoes a second life and someone in need a new beginning.

Important Dates

March 6                 Grade 6/7 Parent Camp Meeting in the gym at 6 pm
March 7                 Interactive Fairytales Performance 1:30 pm
March 7                  Blaze Pizza fundraiser
March 11-15          Talent Show auditions at lunch
March 11-15          CSL reports go home and ready on-line (FreshGrade)
March 13                Early dismissal 1:27 pm for Student Led Interviews
March 14                Theme Day: Green Day
March 15                Last day of classes before Spring Break
April 1                     Schools open
April 1-12               Ruben’s Shoes
April 5                     Fishy Friday after school
April 8                    Pro D – classes not in session
April 10                  Talent Show (primary audience) at 1 pm
April 11                  Talent Show (parent audience & intermediate students) at 1 pm
April 12                  Fishy Friday after school
April 18                  Theme Day: Jersey Day
April 18                   Fishy Friday (on a Thursday)
April 19                   Good Friday holiday – classes not in session
April 22                    Easter Monday holiday- classes not in session
April 26                    Fishy Friday

Sports

Well done to both our girls and our boys basketball teams.  Our girls team came in first place on their Play Day.  They not only won all their games but also one the team shooting competition.  Simone from division 2 won the individual shooting challenge.  A BIG thank you to our two coaches Ms. Champion and Ms. Chong

Our boys basketball team came in second place on their Play Day.  Their final game was so close!  The boys have one more tournament left before the season ends.  A big thank you to Mr. Henderson for coaching the team.

Our badminton season has started!  We have a grade 5/6 team and a grade 7 team.  Thank you to Ms. Chamberlayne and Ms. Beale for coaching the grade 5/6 team and thank you to Ms. Song and Ms. Burrell for coaching the grade 7 team.

Grade 5/6 badminton team:

• practises are on Mondays 2:45 – 3:30
• games on Tuesdays 3:00 – 4:00 pm

Grade 7 badminton team:

• first practise is on Tuesday, Feb. 19
• Tuesday and Wednesday practises 7:45 – 8:25 am **no Wednesday practise until March
• games on Thursdays 3:00 – 4:00 pm

Talent Show

The Talent Show will take place after Spring Break on April 10th and 11th.  Parents are asked to be part of the audience on April 11th.

Talent show auditions will take place March 11 – 15th during the lunch hour in the Multipurpose Room.  Students are encouraged to think outside the box when thinking about a performance.  In the past we have had students perform comedy acts, dancing, singing, martial arts, and gymnastics.
Auditions Schedule:
March 11 – Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2
March 12– Grade 3, Grade 4
March 13 – Grade 5, Grade 6
March 14 – Grade 7
March 15 – Any missed acts

If you have any questions, please talk to Ms. Chohan.

Student Leadership

A big thank you to all of our students and parents who purchased cupcakes for our WE Bake for Change fundraiser. We raised a total of $904

For the first two weeks of April, our school community is continuing to pay if forward by supporting Ruben’s Shoes.  In countries like the Dominican Republic, children are unable to go to school because they have no shoes to wear.  Adults in some of these countries have difficulty going to job interviews because they do not own a pair of shoes.  Please donate your gently used shoes to help families in need.

Each of our classrooms has a box for shoe collection.  Take a look through your closet and donate those shoes that your children have outgrown and shoes that you no longer wear.  Give your shoes a second life and someone in need a new beginning.

PAC Fundraisers

On Thursday, March 7th we ask our Pacific Heights families to save themselves a night of cooking and treat themselves to a pizza night at Blaze Pizza.  Come to Blaze Pizza (located in Grandview Corners) between 5 – 9 pm on March 7th and show the flyer that was emailed to you, to the cashier before you pay.

February 27, 2019

Dear Parent / Guardian

I want to ensure you are aware of an Internet-safety issue that has recently surfaced.

You may also soon see news media reports about something called the “Momo challenge”. The challenge invites users on social media platforms to message an account called “Momo”. The account may then send disturbing images and instructions for self-harm, as well as threats if the instructions aren’t followed. It also warns not to discuss the challenge with adults. The challenge may also involve messages hidden in seemingly child-friendly games and videos.

Parents should have a conversation with children about safe Internet use and the risks associated with any “challenges”. Below are links to a district brochure that may assist you.

Sincerely,

Sundeep Chohan
Principal
Pacific Heights Elem.

Internet Safety brochure (English):

https://www.surreyschools.ca/ParentServices/ParentInfoBrochures/Documents/InternetSafety-English.pdf

Internet Safety brochure (Punjabi)

https://www.surreyschools.ca/ParentServices/ParentInfoBrochures/Documents/InternetSafety-Punjabi.pdf

Construction Update

If you are dropping off or picking up tomorrow, please note that on 26th Avenue, there will be construction occurring on the north end of the sidewalk (where the site access point is).  The north end of the sidewalk will be dug up tomorrow between 9 am and 2 pm.  The work should take day or two to complete.  There will be fill put in place or a plate to cover the hole where students walk.  There will also be flag people around the site to ensure student safety.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call the office and speak to Ms. Chohan or Ms. Fadum.

Thank you.

Upcoming Events

February 21          We Bake for Change – Cupcakes $2 each
February 21          Theme Day- Twin Day
February 22          Pro D – classes not in session
February 26          Basketball Play Day (boys) 12-4 pm in the gym
February 27          Pink Shirt Day – Assembly at 1 pm
February 28          Basketball Play Day (girls) 12-4 pm in the gym
March 6          Grade 6/7 Parent meeting re: Camp @ 6 pm in gym
March 7          Duffle Bag Theatre performance at 1:30 pm
March 11          Communicating Student Learning Reports go home this week
March 13          Early Dismissal at 1:27 pm for Student Led Conferences
March 14          Theme Day
March 15          Last Day of classes before Spring Break begins
April 1          Classes back in session

Student Leadership

Video produced by Li Hung (Div. 2 student)

Every year our school supports a foundation called ME to WE. The WE foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1995 that is set to make places better in a variety of ways. They come together and tackle major problems in undeveloped countries, trying, bit by bit to make the world a better place. They focus on 5 different pillars which are water, food, health, opportunity and education. They have a numerous amount of movements /charities that help make doing good doable. Many of these movements include We Walk for Water, a charity that helps raise money and awareness for water in undeveloped places, We Are Silent, a charity to raise awareness for those who go unheard and (amongst the others) We Scare Hunger, a food drive that sends unperishable foods to places with famine. In a nutshell WE make’s doing good doable. Our school participates in these movements and charities; donating and raising money whenever we can.

Our school has also focused on multiple different countries and pillars and this year is no exception. This school year we are focusing on tackling opportunity in India with the help of WE. The Grade 6/7 Student Leadership Team is focusing on a $250 farm bundle that goes to rural Indian villages and helps them generate money and food for their consumption, this bundle contains 3 goats and 15 farm animals that can produce milk and eggs. This helps give men and women in poverty the opportunity to start a small business or the opportunity to consume fresh food. This is our plan for this year. https://www.we.org/ is the official WE website.

This year we plan to participate in the following

• WE Scare Hunger, a food drive where we sent food to our local food bank two times already this year (October and December)
• WE Walk for Water, a charity where we walk and raise money for water in places that need it.
• Rueben’s Shoes, where we donate shoes for children to go to school.
• WE Bake for Change, a bake sale that raises money for education and opportunity.

Written by Arman Nangia (Div. 1 student)

Sports

Our basketball season has only two more weeks to go.  The students have played exceptionally well and have continued to develop their basketball skills every week. We are all looking forward to the basketball play days on February 26th and 28th.

Our badminton season is starting soon!  We have a grade 5/6 team and a grade 7 team.  Thank you to Ms. Chamberlayne and Ms. Beale for coaching the grade 5/6 team and thank you to Ms. Song and Ms. Burrell for coaching the grade 7 team.

Grade 5/6 badminton team:

• first practise is Tuesday, Feb. 26
• practises are on Mondays 2:45 – 3:30
• games on Tuesdays 3:00 – 4:00 pm

Grade 7 badminton team:

• first practise is on Tuesday, Feb. 19
• Tuesday and Wednesday practises 7:45 – 8:25 am **no Wednesday practise until March
• games on Thursdays 3:00 – 4:00 pm

Construction Update

We are sure your children have been keeping all of you up to date with the types of construction trucks they are seeing on site.  The site has been dug up and there is a lot drilling!  In the next 6-8 weeks the sanitary foreman installation will be happing – it will take at least two months to complete the underground utility works.

This means there will be a trench/tunnel dug up along 26th Avenue.  It is important to note that work times will be between 9 and 2 pm.  This is to minimize disruption to drop-off and collection times.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call the school office.  Your input is important.

Grade 6/7 Camp Meeting for Parents

Our grade 6 and 7 students are going camping this year at Camp Imadene for three nights (May 13-15).  It is important all grade 6 and 7 parents attend the information session on March 6th at 6 pm in our school gym.  During this meeting we discuss the transportation, parent volunteers, student expectations, what students need to bring, the cost of the trip (expenses are broken down), and much more.  It is imperative that at least one parent attend with his/her grade 6/7 child.

After the camp meeting ends, we will ask that Grade 7 parents stay and we will go over the year end activities for Grade 7’s.  Please take a look at the agenda items listed below.  The year end celebration for our grade 7’s requires planning and volunteers.  We need grade 7 parents to attend this meeting so the planning can begin!

Agenda

• Year end field trip
• Parent drivers
• Costs- budget for events
• Freezie Fridays
• Yearbook costs
• Legacy Gift Ideas
• Donations- for year end celebration (photo booth, etc.)

Visitor Sign In at the Office

Please be aware that all  visitors, including parents, must sign in at the office.  We understand that many times students forget lunches, supplies, water bottles, and so many other items.  We appreciate parents and family members who drive to the school to drop items off.  It is important that all visitors sign in at the office for the following reasons:

• Instructional time cannot be interrupted.  If you are dropping off a lunch or other item for your child, you can let the clerks (Ms. Batista and Ms. Williams) at the office know.  The clerks, call the classroom and the student is sent down to the office to get his/her supplies.
• For safety reasons, we must know of all adults in the building. Once the adult has checked in at the office, they receive a visitor badge.  Our clerks are aware of the adult in the building and the reason why the adult is in the building.