Calendar at a Glance :

advertisement

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.

In the words of an Uplands student - Play Safe and Be Kind!

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

FRENCH IMMERSION

Registration for 2016/2017

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 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

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 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.

FSA Information for Parents of Grade 4 and 7 Students

Updated November 2015

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.

The next PAC meeting is:

January 13 th at 6:30 pm

in the library

.

Everyone is welcome!!

PLAYGROUND

Our playground installation is almost complete, however the final opening will be delayed due to our winter weather. We will keep you posted on the progress as the ground begins to thaw. It is so exciting to see it almost ready for kids!

SANTA’S WORKSHOP

We would like to thank Mrs. Moura and the many volunteers who made Santa’s Workshop such a success! We were able to give to many local families in our community have a brighter Christmas. As this is an annual event we encourage you to tuck things away to donate to us next year

HOTLUNCH

Please place your hot lunch orders online at Munch-a-Lunch on our school website. All orders are due January 12 day will be January 20

th

.

th

. The first hot lunch

“Like” our Uplands PAC

Facebook page for regular reminders and updates!

3

UPLANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Monday Tuesday

JANUARY 2016

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

Download