Happy Retirement!

As many of you may already know, we have a couple of staff members who are happily retiring after very successful and fulfilling careers in teaching – Ms. Holmes, Ms. McIntyre, Ms. Powell, Ms. Ecclestone, and Ms. Gauthier.  All of these educators have been integral in creating the positive school culture at Pacific Heights.

Ms. Holmes has modelled kindness to all of us – never have I met such a kind soul.  You could always count on Ms. Holmes and her witty humour (best known for her puns) to lighten any situation.  Ms. Holmes taught our students much about sea critters and the importance of keeping our planet green.  One of the most challenging parts of teaching is getting students involved and excited for what they will learn about – Ms. Holmes never had this problem.  She would do the neat things in her class like dissecting a salmon or planting tomato seeds from Mars!

Ms. McIntyre and her team spirit attitude is what we appreciated most.  We will miss the flair she brought to our theme days.  She just knew how to get the students excited and would come to work with the best theme day costume of all!  We will miss the fantastic classroom plays she had her students put on – all the time and effort Grade 2’s spent making props, backdrops, and practising their lines.  The end product has always been amazing. We have so appreciated the sewing club that Ms. McIntyre started with Ms. Ecclestone.  Both these lovely ladies saw that some students were interested and voila – sewing club started!

Ms. Powell came to our school this September and we are sad to see her go.  In the short time she has been here, she worked her magic as a Teacher Librarian with great book recommendations ready for the readers that entered her library.  She built a sense of community in the library with the mosaic wall, and engaged students with activities like coding using Scratch Jr., and book tasting.  Teachers would ask Ms. Powell for a resource and end up with way more.  Ms. Powell shared her love of books and reading with us all.

Ms. Ecclestone is a TTOC at our school but one would never know that as she volunteered countless hours with the primary students working on arts and crafts.  I am certain every student in this school has an art project in his/her home that was made with Ms. Ecclestone.  She has always been a part of our primary wing by the Kindergarten classes ready to lend a hand and help a student.  As if being a TTOC and volunteer art teacher was not enough, Ms. Ecclestone also decided she wanted to give our community more – so she led the sewing club with Ms. McIntyre!

Ms. Gauthier has been an Education Assistant at our school for over 6 years.  She has demonstrated such compassion with all the students she worked with.  Ms. Gauthier was always there in the classroom helping out with the social issues that students were having and helping them problem solve. She worked well with all our teachers and had an approach where she could look at any situation and try to think outside the box.

Thank you to these wonderful educators for the time and commitment they invested in our learners.  You have made a lasting impression on the world through the lives of the students you have taught. Thank you and happy retirement.

Students have been busy practising their team cheers for Games Day this Friday, June 14th.  Students are encouraged to dress in their house team colours for Games Day.  Please ensure your child is dressed for the weather on Friday:

• sunscreen
• hat
• water bottle
• running shoes

Games Day Itinerary

There will be no parent parking in the roundabout or in the parent parking lot on this day.

We will have a primary rotation and an intermediate rotation on the field.

8:30 am     Bell and attendance
8:45 am     House Team Cheers in the round-a-bout
9:00 am    Bike Parade in the round-a-bout

**If you would like your child to participate in the Bike Parade, please have your child decorate his/her bike in their house colours.  Bike’s will be parked in the parent parking lot (by Ms. Beale’s portable). Once the parade ends, bikes are kept in the gym or in the parking lot.

9:15 am     Students rotate through stations(primary or intermediate rotation)
10:15 am  Recess Break – students will take their break at their station
10:30 am  Games Day Stations resume
11:40 am  Lunch – students go into class to eat
12:45 pm  Grade 7 Egg Toss on the grass field
1:15 pm    Running Races (pre-schoolers to Grade 7)
1:45 pm    Tug O’War
2:25 pm    Dismissal

Important Dates

June 7               Welcome to Kindergarten
June 14              Games Day
June  20              Theme Day: Tropical Thursday
June  20              PAC barbeque
June  25              Grade 7 Assembly 10:30 am
June  26              Year End Assembly
June  27              Last Day of School – Early Dismissal 1:27 pm

School Fees

Each school year, parents support their child(ren)’s formal learning experiences in a wide variety of ways.  We appreciate all that you do to ensure a successful year!

In addition to providing the school supplies itemized on a grade list, parents are periodically asked for monies to cover specific items and/or special events.  No student will be denied the opportunity to participate in any school activity due to the inability to pay.  Please contact the Principal should you require any financial assistance.

As we plan for the upcoming school year, we anticipate the following costs:

Student Planner:  We encourage all students in Grades 1-7 to purchase a School Planner at a cost of $5.00. Included in the planner is our school code of conduct, school calendar and school district information. We find this to be an excellent tool for facilitating home/school communication, as well as for developing our students’ organizational skills.  However, using our school planner is optional as a parent may purchase their own version.

Field Studies and Field Trips:  Classes often enjoy educational visits to community facilities which extend and enhance the curriculum.  While we use school monies or fundraise to cover the costs of such activities wherever possible, there are times when parents are asked to contribute towards the cost of the trip.  If you choose to have your child not participate in a field study, a suitable program will be provided at the school.

Please note:
*Kindergarten school fees will not exceed $45
*Grade 1-7 school fees will not exceed $60

Primary:
Optional field studies      $30.00 (maximum)

Intermediate:
Optional Field studies     $30. 00 (maximum)
Grade 7 Sweatshirt         $26.00 (purchase is optional)

Musical Instruments: Grade 7 students who take band either purchase or rent an instrument.  Costs vary depending on the instrument.

School Supplies
Parents have the option of purchasing their child’s school supplies on their own utilizing the grade supply list or for your convenience you may wish to purchase supplies as a package through EduPac.  Payment is made directly to EduPac.  Costs for supplies vary based on grade.

**The school supply lists are found on our school website

2019/20 Calendar Dates

*these dates are also on our school website

September    3        Schools Open
September    19       Meet the Teacher & Terry Fox Run
September    20       Individual Photo Day
September    27       Terry Fox Run
September    30       Non-Instructional Day

October    2         Early Dismissal 1:27 pm
October    11        Harvest Day
October    14        Thanksgiving Holiday
October    23        Interim Reports go home
October    25        Non-Instructional Day
October    31        Halloween Parade and Primary Dance

November    1       Photo Re-takes
November    7       Remembrance Day Assembly
November    8       Non-Instructional Day
November  13       Remembrance Day Holiday

December    11      CSL Reports go home
December    13      Winter Breakfast
December    17      Early Dismissal 1:27 pm
December    18      Winter Concert – even divisions (afternoon)
December    19      Winter Concert – odd divisions (afternoon)
December    20      Last Day of Classes before Winter Break

January       6       School Back in Session
January    20-21      Maker Faire Intermediate
January    27-28      Maker Faire Primary

February    3           Canada-thon Testing Week
February    12         Canada-thon Game Show (Intermediates)
February    17         Family Day Holiday
February    21         Non-Instructional Day

March    9           CSL Reports go home
March    11         Early Dismissal 1:27 pm
March    13         Last Day before Spring Break
March    30         School Back in Session

April      5         Non-Instructional Day
April      7        Talent Show – primary audience
April      7        Talent Show – intermediate and parent audience
April      9        Class and Panorama Pictures
April      10        Good Friday Holiday
April      13        Easter Monday Holiday

May       1         Non-Instructional Day
May       18        Victoria Day Holiday
May       25        Non-Instructional Day

June      4          Welcome to Kindergarten
June      12        Games Day
June      19        Games Day Rainout
June      23        Grade 7 Assembly
June      24        Year End Assembly
June      25        Early Dismissal 1:27 pm

Note: Not all Calendar events re listed.  Some scheduled events are subject to change.

Bell Schedule for 2019-20

*this information is also on our school website

8:30 am         Welcome Bell
8:35 am         Classes in Session

10:15 am       Recess
10:30 am       Classes in Session

11:42 am        Lunch (students play outside)
12:12 pm        Lunch (eating inside)
12:27 pm        Classes in Session

2:27 pm         Dismissal Bell

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.