E-mail Address: uplands@summer.com
Web Site…Address: http://sd67.bc.ca/schools/Uplands Phone: 250-770-7678
Calendar at a Glance
January 4
January 4-7
January 11
Schools re-open
POPARD here
FSA window opens
January 13 PAC Mtg. 6:30pm
January 13, 20 & 27 Div. 1 & 2 Cross Country Skiing
January 20 Performance 9:00am
January 20
January 21
January 22
January 27
Open School Board Meeting – facilities review decision announced
French Immersion Meeting KVR 7:00 pm
French Immersion forms available in the office and online at sd67.bc.ca
Family Literacy Day 8:45 – 9:30am
February 1
February 8
February 25&26
March 11
Early Dismissal
Family Day – schools closed
Pro-D Day/Winter Games – schools closed
Last Day before Spring Break
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
Happy New Year to all Uplands students and their families!! I trust that everyone enjoyed their break and is ready to return to the routines of school. As planned, I spent time with family and friends – something I truly cherish!
Our “school with a view” is always a very busy place with wonderful teachers and support staff, supportive and caring parents and of course fabulous students learning and growing together.
There are a number of clubs running at Uplands right now – please see this newsletter for details.
A huge “Thank you” to the staff, parents and students who are organizing, promoting and running these clubs. They add so much to the sense of belonging in our school and bring together students of a variety of ages.
With all of these activities it is so important to resume our good lifestyle routines for everyone’s sake. Kids learn best when they are well-rested, well-fed and focused. Please talk as a family about small changes you can make that will make big differences in their learning. I challenge everyone to go to bed a little earlier, eat a few more fruits and veggies and try to get fresh-air every single day outside of school. Good Luck!
Have a great 2016 everyone!
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.
UPLANDS SCHOOL MARATHON – 2 nd ANNUAL
We are once again looking forward to the Uplands Marathon which will take place on Monday May 30 th,
2016. A huge thank you to the following businesses that have committed to sponsor this year: Benjamin Moore
True Colours, Locolanding, Wildstone, The Bench Market, In vestors’
Group, Omland-Heal Accountants, Niina Di Lorenzo Designs, Poplar
Grove Cheese, Sole Mats, and Penticton Dental .
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 teachin g “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.
CHOIR
Ms. Street is starting a new session of choir focusing on Musical Theatre. The group will meet on
Mondays at 8:00am, Thursdays from 2:45 – 4:00pm and one lunch hour each week as needed.
New students are welcome. More information and how to sign up will be provided at our weekly assembly.
BASKET WEAVING
– gr. 4/5
Mrs. Ava Allison, one of our Aboriginal Support Workers, will be offering lessons on Paper Basket
Weaving to grade 4/5 student on Mondays at lunch. Listen for announcements if you are interested.
Thanks you for sharing your cultural skills with us, Mrs. Allison!
3 rd
Annual SOEC Tanzania Skating Party
The 3 rd Annual SOEC Tanzania Skating Party will take place on
Sunday, January 17 th from 5-8pm at the SOEC.
Cost is by donation with a $5.00 minimum.
Hot dogs, Hamburgers and Hot Chocolate will be sold.
Skates are available on a very limited basis.
All proceeds got to supporting School District # 67 Humanitarian work in Tanzania!
Family Literacy Day
On Wednesday, January 27 th from 8:45 –
9:30 am we invite all parents, guardians, caregivers, and grandparents to come and join us for “Family Reading Time” in recognition of Family Literacy Day.
Students are invited to find a comfy spot around the school to read with their guests. Have fun with this special day
For Family Literacy Week, Unplug and Play event is at Cherry Lane Shopping Centre on
Saturday, January 23 rd
from 10 am – 3pm!
Is your child too sick to go to school?
Keep your children at home if they have…
A fever of 38C (100F) or more – and then keep them home for 24 hours after the fever is gone
Vomiting or diarrhea-and then keep them home for at least 24 hours after the last episode
A severe sore throat – particularly if you can see white or red spots on the back of the throat or if your child also has a fever
A seep, hacking cough – along with a runny nose and headache
Untreated infections of the eye, ear or skin- watch for symptoms such as redness, swelling or discharge
Different behavior from normal (acting unwell)
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 proper clothes including snow pants, gloves, boots and a jacket o Plastic school sliders must be used (no 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.
Kindergarten Registration
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
K INDERGARTEN R EGISTRATION
Children born in 2011 are eligible to enter kindergarten in September 2016. Parents, who feel their child is not yet ready for kindergarten, may defer enrollment for one year. Please contact
Wendy Hyer (250-770-7700) at the School Board Office for information on this.
Placement in your neighborhood school kindergarten is based on your address and registration date. The earlier you register, the more likely your child will attend a school close to your home.
Register at your neighborhood school during regular school hours. A birth certificate will be required as well as your child’s BC Care Card, parental BC Care Card and proof of address (i.e. driver’s license, utility bill, lease agreement).
French Immersion
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 Transfer Requests
The window for students requesting transfers from their catchment / current school to another school in
School District No. 67 for the September 2016 / 2017 school year is 8:00am, February 1, 2016 to 4:00pm ,
April 15, 2016.
Transfer requests received prior to February 1 will be date / time stamped as “February 1,
2016, 8:00am” and transfer requests received after April 15 may not be considered until September 2016.
Although a sibling’s attendance at a school will be given priority as per Choice and Flexibility Policy #305, it should not be assumed that the transfer is approved. A transfer request still needs to be completed and must go through the transfer process. If you are unsure, please check with your school secretary.
Homestay Families
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
Requires
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 Englishspeaking 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.
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.
January 13 th at 6:30 pm
.
th
th
3
Monday Tuesday
Thursday Wednesday Friday
1
4 5
6
7 8
BACK to
SCHOOL
Saturday
2
9
10 11 12 13
Cross Country
Skiing Div 1&2
PAC Meeting
6:30 Library
14 15 16
17
24
31
18 19
26
20
Performance
Hot Lunch
Hot Dog Day
Cross Country
Skiing Div 1&2
Farm Bag Pick up
Open School
Board Mtg –
Decision
Announced
27
Hot Lunch
Hokuto
Cross Country
Skiing Div 1&2
Family Literacy
Day
21
French
Immersion
Meeting KVR
7:00 pm
28
French
Immersion
22
Forms Available
23
30
8:45 – 9:30am
Family Reading
SAFE ARRIVAL 250-770-7678 Students arriving after 8:40 am must check-in at the office! Thank you