Newsletter #3

 October 2^nd Edition of

The Kindergarten Class News

Hello Everyone!

It was an interesting week with the break in the middle! Here are some highlights. 

 

We started the week off noticing the seasonal changes and signs of fall. We have started learning about the 13 Moons calendar and talked about the harvest moon. 

 

Tuesday was Orange Shirt Day! It was amazing to see almost everyone in the school wearing something orange and this important message! We participated in a school wide “read-in” with an Indigenous theme where the kids signed up to hear books in multiage groups. 

 

We continue becoming familiar with our letters and numbers through a variety of games and activities. You can help at home by having your child identify the letters in their name and practice writing their name “the school way” (Capital first letter and the rest lowercase).

 

Thursday the class had their individual photos taken. There will be re-takes in November for those who missed it or need to try again. 

Friday the fire fighters came to talk about fire safety and set up a fun obstacle course in the gym! 

 

Thank you for returning the library books. Our regular exchange day is every Wednesday. 

 

Next week is our Harvest Lunch! Our class will be preparing apple crumble! I am looking for 2-3 parent helpers on Wednesday, October 7^th from 12:40-1:20pm to help peel and chop apples with the kids. If you have a completed district criminal record check, and want to come help, please email me and let me know! The kids will also need a bowl and spoon for the shared soup and crumble on Thursday. We will still have 2 large snack times, so they’ll still need food that day. 

 

Regular Show and Tell will start next week and we will be focusing on bringing items that begin with the letter of the week (Next week is the letter A). Here is your child’s day, repeating every week for the year:

Mondays (or Friday if Monday is a holiday): Arden, Aruna, Ayala, Benjamin and Boden

Tuesdays: Clara, Deama, Emma, Eoin and Evan

Wednesdays: Freya, Henrik, Jojo, Juno and Kailea

Thursdays: Paige, Riley, Ryan, Skaii and Weston

Please send one item each week on this day. If it is NOT your S&T day, please leave all toys at home. Thank you for your help with this.

 

Please remember to fill out the criminal record check (if you haven’t already) if you are thinking about volunteering your time in class or on fieldtrips. To access the online request, go to: https://justice.gov.bc.ca/eCRC/. Access Code: DNW8SBGDPQ Thank you!

 

Important Dates to Remember This Month:

October 7^th  – Making apple crisp

October 6^th Pancake breakfast before school (thank you fire fighters!)

October 8^th - Garden Harvest Lunch

October 12^th – Thanksgiving- No school

October 16^th – Friday school day

October 26^th -Early Dismissal for learning update

October 29^th  - Halloween at school- dress up for school, class party!

October 31^st Halloween 

Have a great weekend!

Ara Van Riel

avanriel@sd64.org

 

 

 

 

Newsletter #2

 September 24^th Edition of

The Kindergarten Class News

 

Hello Everyone!

The children continue to do an excellent job with school routines and expectations. Everyone is getting used to the morning sign in routines and they are learning to listen well and share with their friends.

 

This week we continued learning about patterns, the letters in our names, apples and numbers to 10. We also started working on letter printing practice. We will work through all the lowercase letters first and follow the order suggested by Printing Like a Pro. As the children begin to learn to write, I encourage proper pencil grip as it makes writing and drawing so much easier. Here is a video that shows the proper pencil grip so you can reinforce it at home: https://youtu.be/Eq6ggYR-aeY

 

We also had our first garden lesson from our great garden team, played a sink or float game and ended the week off with the Terry Fox run! 

 

We also combined math and art and made fun pictures inspired by the book, “Ten Apples Up on Top” by Dr. Seuss. 

 

We are enjoying the All About Me projects. Thanks for all your hard work! Please send in your poster when it is ready for the class to enjoy. If you missed your date, please send in the photo board whenever it is ready. 

 

Tuesday, September 29th is Orange Shirt Day. This is a day students and staff are encouraged to wear orange in spirit of reconciliation and hope because every child matters. Here is a link to give you more information. https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/what-is-orange-shirt-day

 

Important Dates to Remember:

September 29^th - Orange Shirt Day-in support of Truth and Reconciliation 

September 30^th - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

October 1^st School Photos!

October 5^th Pancake breakfast

October 8^th Garden Harvest Lunch

October 12^th – Thanksgiving- No school

October 16^th – Friday school day

October 26^th -Early Dismissal for Student Led Conferences 

October 31^st Halloween 

 

If you are interested in volunteering in some capacity, please be sure to complete the criminal record check required by the district. Here is the link:

To access the online request go to: https://justice.gov.bc.ca/eCRC/home.htm

Access Code: DNW8SBGDPQ

 

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

Warmly, 

Ara Van Riel

avanriel@sd64.org

 

 

 

 

Newsletter #1

 September 17^th Edition of

The Kindergarten Class News

Hello Everyone!

We had an exciting first week as a whole class.  Everyone is learning about our rules and routines such as sitting in the circle, following the group plan, cleaning up, or forming a line at the door.  I am impressed with how quickly everyone is adjusting! I expect many tired children! It is a big adjustment and will take a little while to settle into a routine. 

 

The students have enjoyed getting to know one another this week and have had lots of fun learning about similarities and differences. 

 

We have been working on learning the letters of our names, all about apples, patterns, becoming familiar with the school grounds, learning how to share and take turn, how to treat others’ how we would like to be treated and more. 

 

The kids were very excited to go to the gym! We are learning how to play safely and cooperatively in the gym. 

 

Next Thursday we will have our Terry Fox run! There is a collection pot going to raise funds for cancer research. It is called, “Two Toonies for Terry”. If you want to send in any donations, it goes to a good cause.  

 

Thank you to those of you who have already returned the student information forms and class fees. Marcie needs them all back by Monday.

 

Next week our All About Me presentations will continue. If you missed your date, just send it in when it is ready. Here is a reminder about who is scheduled for the week:

Monday- Eoin, Evan and Freya

Tuesday- Henrik, and Juno

Wednesday- Kailea, Paige and Riley

Thursday- Ryan and any missed projects.

 

A note on pick-up. We are nearly always outside in the afternoon and will be around the sandbox area by 2:45pm Please feel free to come a few minutes early to avoid the busy after-school crowd. Most kids catch the bus so those waiting can get a little anxious if you run late. 

 

Just a reminder to please keep your child home when sick. Some easy tips to remember are: 

-stay home for 24 hours after vomiting, diarrhea, or a fever. 

-stay home if mucus is thick, green and needs constant blowing.

-stay home if they have a persistent cough (lingering coughs are understandable) or a sore throat.

Once energy levels are back up and cold symptoms have lessened, come on back! 

 

Other reminders:

-Please use the planner to communicate after school plans (if they change from the norm) as I am still getting used to 20 different schedules. Thank you!

 

I am looking for a parent who would be willing to take on the position of class rep. This person would communicate info from the PAC and attend PAC meetings. Please let me know if you would like to be this person. I will take the first to respond.

 

Important Dates to Remember

September 30 Truth and Reconciliation Day – No School

October 1 Individual school photos

October 2 School Day

October 8 Harvest Lunch

October 12 Thanksgiving- no school

October 16 School Day

October 26 Early dismissal for learning update

October 29 Halloween celebrations at school

 

Please be sure to download the SD64 app to stay up to date with district and school updates. Here is a link to the district calendar to copy and paste: https://media.sd64.bc.ca/media/Default/medialib/sd64-2026-2027-school-calendar-revised-june-2026.9f40cb7764.pdf

 

This is a wonderful group of children and I know that it will be a happy and exciting year for all of us!

 

Warmly,

Ara Van Riel 

avanriel@sd64.org