E-mail Address: uplands@summer.com Web Site…Address: http://sd67.bc.ca/schools/Uplands Phone: 250-770-7678
Calendar at a Glance
December 3
December 3
December 8
December 9
December 9
December 9
December 10
December 11
December 11
December 16
December 16
December 18
December 19
January 4
Kindergarten soccer
10,000 Tonight Food Drive
Popcorn Day $1
Report Cards home
PAC meeting
Choir at the Shatford Centre
Final Public Mtg. regarding Facilities options 7-9 pm at Queen’s Park
Santa’s Workshop
PAC Skating Party
Choir at Lakeside Luncheon
Kindergarten Christmas 1:45 pm in the Gym
Winter Sing-a-long
Christmas Break begins
Schools re-open
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
It’s hard to believe that December is here! Despite the hustle and bustle that we all feel at this
time of year, it is important to slow down and reflect on all of the positive things going on Uplands
Elementary. Within the building we are embracing opportunities to work and learn together by
collaborating with other classes and during special buddy activities. Students are also spreading joy
in many ways in the Penticton community as well. The Choir recently shared their voices at the first
annual “Community Toy Drive”, The Hudson’s Bay Gala and will soon sing at a special community
luncheon. There are many new “club” opportunities for students this year at Uplands. Please see
the information included in this newsletter for information and volunteer opportunities.
Working together makes such a positive difference in our children’s lives and the
lives of those around us. I would like to take this time to wish everyone a
wonderful holiday break. May you spend time together sharing laughter and
celebrating the magic of the season!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Lisa Edwards
Principal
SAFE ARRIVAL
Please contact our office at 250-770-7678 to advise if you child is going to be away or late for
school for any reason. Please feel free to leave a message on our answering machine
before or after school hours. Mrs. Kerr’s office hours have changed and
therefore she will not always be in the office to answer the phone.
WARM CLOTHING
We can’t stress enough the importance of children coming to school dressed
appropriately. Students are expected to remain outside until the morning bell. In
addition, recess and lunch outdoor breaks, with exercise and fresh air, are extremely
important. We expect all students to take advantage of this break, dressed for the
weather. When we have snow, students must have snow pants, hats, mitts, jackets and
boots in order to slide on the hill. If you have not already done so, please ensure your child has
proper indoor footwear at school.
10 000 TO-NIGHT FOOD DRIVE
This year Princess Margaret Secondary will be hosting 10,000 tonight, the annual food
drive for the Salvation Army Food Bank. This program has been happening for
approximately 16 years alternating between Pen High and Princess Margaret as hosts.
This year is Princess Margaret’s turn to host. Students will be dispatched throughout
the City of Penticton on Thursday, December 3rd, 5:00-9:00pm, collecting cans, boxes and bags of
food for the food bank. Each year there is more need than the year before. Let’s help them out and
make this the best year ever to help our needy families. Thank you.
UPLANDS SCHOOL MARATHON – 2nd ANNUAL
We are once again looking for sponsors for the Uplands Marathon which
will be on Monday May 30th, 2016. So far we have three business that
have committed for a second year (Niina Di Lorenzo Designs, Wildstone,
Benjamin Moore True Colours) and one new one (Investors Group). If you
are interested in sponsoring this fantastic event please contact Ann Hurst
at canadann@yahoo.com. We appreciate the community support to
recognize the efforts of our kids to be healthy and active!
LEGO CLUB
Our Lego Club is up and running thanks to the hard work of Mrs.
Moura. We are hoping to have the cost of the entire supply of Lego
and bins covered by a Healthy Schools Grant. Students will have
opportunities throughout the winter months to spend a noon hour
building with their grade level peers. Parent Volunteers are needed.
Please visit volunteer spot to sign up.
Yo-Yo Club
Uplands students are also enjoying Yo-Yo Club once or twice a
week in the gym under the supervision of Mrs. Edwards. Student
leaders came up with the idea, promoted it at a weekly assembly
and work with their peers each week. Aside from demonstrating and
teaching “tricks” they give hints about how to fix yo-yo bearing and
string problems as well as suggestions for routine maintenance. It’s
great to see everyone working together as a team!
CHESS CLUB
Beginning the first Friday after Winter Break the Chess Club will meet in the Music Room on
Fridays at noon. Students of all ages are welcome to join the club and learn the game. Experienced
players will enjoy challenging each other and possibly even entering a Chess Competition in the
Spring if they are interested. Thanks to Ms. Crockett for once again organizing and supervising the
Chess Club.
LOST AND FOUND
Please take the time to stop in or have your child look in our lost and found box
before the Christmas break. Unclaimed items will be donated before the Christmas
Break. There are several hoodies, jackets and other clothing of importance that
your child thinks may be lost but are in the box. Our lost and found is located
near the gymnasium entrance.
With snowy weather come many opportunities to have fun. Here are some reminders to
students and their families about how we can play safely in the snow at school. Many of the
activities that may be appropriate in your own backyard are not suitable nor safe for 300
students on school grounds. Please help us to reinforce these important reminders at home.
Winter Weather Expectations:

No snow is permitted to be thrown at school (snowballs, chunks of snow etc.) Students
throwing snow will visit Mrs. Edwards and outside play may be restricted.

Snow fort and snowmen building is encouraged, however, snow creations are not to be
destroyed by anyone, at any time. This includes at the end of recess, lunch and the after
school. Let’s see how many we can make and how long they can last!

Primary students will continue to play on the Primary side and Intermediates on the
Intermediate side. This includes the sliding hill and playing field.

All staff, students and parents are reminded to wear appropriate footwear around the school.
We sprinkle “ice-melter” on slippery areas but there are always spots that we are not aware
of. The parking lot, playground and Sports Court are areas to be extra careful in.

Sledding – we are fortunate to have a wonderful sledding hill at Uplands but there are some
guidelines that need to be followed so that no one gets hurt:
o To slide you must wear
o
o proper clothes including snow pants, gloves, boots and a jacket
o Plastic school sliders must be used (no knees, stomachs or sleds from home)
o Single sliders only and no pushing others up or down the hill
o Always walk up the hill away from the sliding area – do not climb up when others
are coming down
o No jumps are to be built on the hill
o At times when the conditions warrant the sliding hill will be closed

Please slow down in our school zone. Road conditions are not ideal and extra caution is
requested. Also, please park in permitted areas only.
In the words of an Uplands student - Play Safe and Be Kind!
SANTA REC RUN
Local schools are encouraged to get involved and tell their friends and family to sign up under their school, as
100 per cent of their registration fees will be donated to the recreation programming for their school.
Who Races?
 Participants of all ages including families with strollers/tyke bikes,
grandparents and kids!
 Like-minded Individuals who want to enjoy a fun morning with
peers
 Those looking for an atmosphere where everyone can be a winner!
 Those who want to give back to the youth in our Community at a
time when we should all be focusing on creating leaders and
encouraging positive and healthy lifestyles!
When: December 12, 2015 at 9:00am
Where:
 Start at the Skaha Lake end of the Channel Parkway
 finish at Okanagan Lake in the Loco Landing Parking Lot
 totaling approx. 7kms.
Costs: $15 per person $40 for a Family of 3-5 (with kids)
WHY are we doing this?
Classrooms that donate over $200 in participation fees will not only get to do a super fun race with
their peers, receive a Santa hat and a chance at some great draw prizes but they will get their
class name in an additional draw to receive one free Outdoor Recreation Program designed
specifically for them!
BC Youth Writers Camp
For a week in early July, young writers from across the province and
beyond gather at the Penticton campus of Okanagan College to challenge
themselves and explore their creative potential at the annual BC Youth
Writers Camp. Since its beginning in 2008, the one-week day camp has
offered these aspiring authors a chance to meet professional illustrators,
fiction and non-fiction authors, poets, and others, who strive to pass
down inspiration and knowledge. Most importantly, the camp provides a
space for encouragement, friendship and community among like-minded
kids, and support for their creativity for years to follow.
As an early seasonal gift, from now until Christmas we are offering a
discounted price of $100.00 for camp registration, which includes all
lunches and snacks throughout the week, as well as courses and
presentations from professionals in the art of writing. The BC Youth Writers Camp for 2016 will run July 38. Registrants may also send in a five-page short story or poem(s) to be published in the annual Gems of
British Columbia anthology. For deadlines, registration and anthology rules, or more information, please go
to www.penwriters.com.
“Make it a December to
Remember!”
FRENCH IMMERSION
Registration for 2015/2016
INFORMATION MEETINGS
For Parents of current Grade 5 students:
For parents of current Grade 5 students:
Information sessions for parents of Grade 5 students regarding registration for September 2016 Grade 6
Late French Immersion classes will be held as follows:
Thursday, January 21, 2016, 7:00pm, KVR Middle School
Thursday, January 21, 2016, 7:00pm, Summerland Middle School
A letter, along with an application form, regarding next September’s Grade 6 French Immersion classes will be
available January 22, 2016 at all elementary school offices, the Okanagan Skaha School District No. 67 Board
Office (425 Jermyn Ave., Penticton) or on the district website at www.sd67.bc.ca
Deadline for applications is 12:00 Noon
Monday, February 1, 2016
The program is available to all students residing in the Okanagan Skaha School District entering Grade 6 in
September of 2016. Students outside the district are permitted to enroll on a space-available basis (i.e. after
Okanagan Skaha School District students have been accommodated).
Please note: these will be the only information meetings scheduled regarding French Immersion.
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
Requires
HOMESTAY FAMILIES FOR 2015-2016
FAMILIES COMPENSATED $750/MONTH
School District No. 67 is looking for prospective homestay families in Penticton and Summerland to host
international students for one year, one semester, or on a short term basis. Placements are needed for both male
and female students from Germany, China, Mexico Columbia, Spain, Japan and Korea who will be attending one of
our local secondary or middle schools. Host families must be English-speaking and have a desire to welcome the
student into their home as part of the family. Close proximity to a secondary or middle school is an asset.
Host families are expected to provide:

a fully furnished private bedroom;

a clean, safe, caring environment conducive to student studies;

meals,

the opportunity to participate in Canadian family life; and

a completed criminal record search for all adult members residing in the home.
School District No. 67 will provide:

support and guidance by a homestay coordinator who will monitor the student/homestay experience;

monthly compensation at $750.00 and

temporary placement/respite homes for host families, if required, for holidays and emergencies.
If you are interested in this great opportunity to exchange cultural experiences with an international student,
please pick up an application form at the School Board Office, 425 Jermyn Avenue in Penticton, download the form
off the District website at www.sd67.bc.ca, or contact Ms. Brenda Kotzian, Homestay Coordinator at (250) 490
0422, or by email bkotzian@summer.com.
FSA Information for Parents of Grade 4 and 7 Students
Updated November 2016
The Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) is an annual province-wide assessment of British Columbia students' academic skills, and
provides a snapshot of how well British Columbia students are learning foundation skills in reading comprehension, writing and
numeracy. The main purpose of the assessment is to help the province, school districts, schools and school planning councils to
evaluate how well students are achieving basic skills, and make plans to improve student achievement. The FSA is designed and
developed by British Columbia educators. The skills tested are linked to the provincial curriculum and provincial performance
standards. The assessment is administered each year to Grade 4 and Grade 7 students in public and provincially funded
independent schools.
FSA Requirements
The Student Learning Assessment Order (Ministerial Order 60/94 as amended) (the “Order”) requires school boards to ensure that
the FSA tests are administered to and completed by students in accordance with the assessment protocols, instructions and
invigilation procedures established by the Ministry of Education. In accordance with the School Act, only the Principal has the
authority to exclude children from participating in the Foundation Skills Assessment. Principals may excuse a student in the event of
a family emergency, a lengthy illness or other extenuating circumstances. In such circumstances, parents must discuss their request
with the Principal.
The following is an excerpt from the Ministry’s 2016 “Foundation Skills Assessment (FAS) Administration Instructions 2016” about
participation guidelines:
Who Should Write the Assessment?
All students write FSA including:





All students enrolled in Grade 4 or Grade 7 of the English program, French Immersion program or Programme
francophone, including students enrolled in a distributed learning program.
All students enrolled in non-graded programs who were born in:
- 2006 write Grade 4 level
- 2003 write Grade 7 level
English Language Learners (ELL) – formerly known as “English-as-a Second Language (ESL)” students.
Students with special needs who require adaptations, as documented in their Individual Education Plans (IEPs).
Students receiving learning assistance services.
Exceptions include:




Students who have previously written the FSA. Students write the FSA for a specific grade once only. If a student is retained,
s/he does not write a second time.
Students who have IEPs documenting a disability that significantly impacts their performance in reading, writing, or numeracy
and who cannot meaningfully participate in all or part of the assessment, even with adaptations.
Students with IEPs who would need extensive adaptations or who would need such extended periods of time as to create a
hardship for the individual student.
Those students who are reported and funded as receiving English Language Learning (ELL) support who have not yet reached a
level of proficiency sufficient for them to provide meaningful responses to the reading or writing or numeracy sections of the
FSA.
Principals identify which students, if any, are excused from one, two or all three components of the FSA. Principals must notify a
parent or guardian if they intend to excuse a student from participating in one or more components of the FSA. Such notification
should be made prior to the administration date by letter or telephone call. Principals may excuse a student in the event of a family
emergency, a lengthy illness or other extenuating circumstances. Principals of public schools are to send a list of excused students to
their superintendent.
PAC NEWS
The next PAC meeting is:
December 9th at 6:30 pm in the library.
Everyone is welcome!!
FESTIVE FUNDRAISERS
Start checking off your Christmas list by shopping at
www.munchalunch.com!
Shop local by Choosing from any or all of our Festive Fundraisers,
each supporting our Uplands PAC!
Shopfunds Gift Cards
Browse our huge collection- you're sure to find something for
everyone on your list! Or simply purchase gift cards for your
regular retailers and earn money for the PAC simply by picking up
groceries!
Gardenworks- Christmas Poinsettias
3 Options to choose from- Standard or Premium in Red, pink or white!
*NEW* Mumsettias! (A combination of a White Chrysanthemum and Red Poinsettia)
Check the Flyer and Munchalunch for pricing and more details.
Paper forms for Poinsettias available! Please put in the PAC drop box before Thursday
each week for delivery the following Wednesday!
LAST DAY FOR ORDERS: Thursday Dec 3rd 2015
Thank you for supporting your Uplands PAC!
SANTA’S WORKSHOP
Santa’s Workshop is December 11th when all students will purchase items for
their family! The students LOVE this event as they shop for gifts for their loved
ones! PAC is starting to collect new and used items for the Santa's workshop please bring clean, quality items to the school before Tuesday, December 8th.
We especially need items for dads! Volunteers are needed on Dec 10th and 11th.
Please see PAC bulletin board to sign up!
“Like” our Uplands PAC
Facebook page for regular
reminders and updates!
UPLANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
DECEMBER 2015
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
1
Friday
2
Saturday
3
4
5
Hot Lunch
Casa Deli Bistro
Pizza Friday
Lego Club
10,000 Tonight
Food Drive
Yoyo Club
Lego Club
6
7
8
PopcornTuesday
$1
Lego Club – listen to
announcements for your day!
9
10
Hot Lunch
Booster Juice
Lego Club
Report Cards Home
13
14
PAC Meeting 6:30 pm
15
16
Final Public
Meeting 7-9 pm
Queen’s Park
School
17
Hot Lunch
Pizza Friday
PAC Family
Skating Party @
SOEC 5-6:30 pm
18
19
10:45 am
Lego Club
Last Day of School
Choir Lakeside
Luncheon with Ms.
Street
Yoyo Club
12
Winter Sing Along
Burger 55
Kindergarten
Christmas
Gingerbread
Houses
this week
11
SANTA'S
Workshop
9:00-12:00
Lego Club
Yoyo Club
Lego Club
20
21
22
23
24
27
28
29
30 New Year’s Eve 31
25
Christmas Day
School reopens January 4, 2016
26