Hello families,

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend. On Friday, staff had a great day of planning together for the upcoming year and we are looking forward to some great learning opportunities. We focused on the new District Strategic Plan and aligning our learning plan with the strategic priorities of connected and lifelong learners, creating caring and inclusive learning cultures, and focusing on cultural identity and career development For more info, you can check out the District website: https://engage.sd8.bc.ca/sd8-strategic-plan. More info to come on our school plan as we finalize details in the upcoming weeks

Last week was another great week of learning.

Some highlights include:

• Our Kindies were here full time and settling into all day routines
• Gr. 5 Forestry Day at Kokanee Creek for Mrs. Sparks and Mrs. DeSousa’s classes
• Several classes engaging in regular outdoor learning programming in and around the neighbourhood and local forest
• Kokanee Creek field trip and salmon lifecycle learning for Mr. Marsh and Mrs. Bonikowsky’s class. They partnered with local WKTEP (West Kootenay Teacher Education Program) and students had the opportunity to work in small groups with teacher candidates learning about the life cycle of salmon
• Some great writing samples and “all about me” projects and artwork
• Online math program through Dreambox has started for our intermediates (thanks to PAC for your support of this program!)

A few pieces of information/reminders for you:

1. School fees –Thanks to everyone who has already paid their school fees of $40. If you haven’t, please do as soon as you can. This can be paid cash, cheque, or debit in our office. Alternately (and more conveniently!) you can pay online here: https://southnelson.sd8.bc.ca/pay. If you need some support with this, please contact me directly.
2. Terry Fox Run – (Tuesday, Sept. 26) Students can bring some coins/cash and we will have a jar in the office. Alternately, you can make an online donation here: https://schools.terryfox.ca/32045
3. Hot lunch update – Thanks for your patience as our PAC has worked with some new regulations for our hot lunch program. We hope to send out some information and be up and running soon! Huge thanks to our parent volunteers who have been working behind the scenes over the last few weeks. Watch for more info to come.
4. Lost and Found – With the shift in weather these days, students are coming to school with sweaters, but then taking them off at recess/lunch on the playground! We have a large collection of clothing items in our lost and found as a result. Please come by and have a look for what might be yours.

Some upcoming dates (you can also find these posted on our calendar: https://southnelson.sd8.bc.ca/events/calendar)

1. Sept. 26 -Terry Fox Run (1:30) –Please feel free to join us!
2. Sept. 29 – Truth and Reconciliation assembly (9:30am) – Parents are welcome to join us!
3. Oct. 2 – Truth and Reconciliation stat holiday – NO SCHOOL
4. Oct. 9 – Thanksgiving holiday – NO SCHOOL
5. Oct. 20 – ProD day NO SCHOOL

Family learning resources:

Here are some resources to help you support the learning at home this week:

1. Terry Fox – There are some great videos/resources and information you can use in discussions with your children at home: https://terryfoxschoolrun.org/
2. Truth and Reconciliation – This can be a difficult conversation to have with young children, however it is important to address in a developmentally sensitive way. Here are a few links that will help you support their child in their learning:

Monique Gray Smith – “Speaking our Truth – Why we need to learn” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJFnNgRx0vU&list=PLSlNvFav9OEZX-SufX1R7gKbUG6hphb9N&index=9  

What is Orange Shirt Day? https://www.cbc.ca/kids/articles/what-is-orange-shirt-day

Acts of Reconciliation to do with your child: https://schools.healthiertogether.ca/en/get-the-latest/resources-for-families/articles-for-families-with-children/acts-of-reconciliation-you-can-do-with-your-child/

That’s it for now. Have a wonderful week and don’t forget – no school next Monday, Oct. 2!

Mrs. Snell

Dawn Snell | Principal

South Nelson Elementary School

School District 8 Kootenay Lake

Phone: 250-354-4139

Email:  dawn.snell@sd8.bc.ca

Web: https://southnelson.sd8.bc.ca/