We Grow: In Knowledge. In Love. In Faith.
Mr. K. Hanson
Principal
3722 Centennial Drive
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7L 5K4
(306) 659-7210
(306) 659-2068 (fax)
Newsletter #1
Mr. D. Todos
Vice-Principal
September 4, 2015
www.gscs.sk.ca/studentsandfamilies/schools/vac
TRUSTEES:
Ron Boechler
Diane Boyko
Jim Carriere
Administrator’s Message
Welcome Back!
It is my sincere pleasure to welcome you to the 2015-2016 school year. I hope that the summer holidays have
provided you with rest, relaxation and the opportunity to renew your spirits. We welcome some new faces to
our school, both staff and students, and I am confident and hopeful that they will soon feel very comfortable
at Father Vachon. Each month our school community will be focusing on a Gospel virtue. The virtue for
September is Hospitality and the school will be devoted toward making everyone feel welcomed, valued and
accepted.
Next week is Welcome/Western Week at Father Vachon. Many activities are planned for students and families
including: Meet the Teacher Night and the CSCC AGM (Tues), Opening Mass (Wed), In-motion Western Games
Day (Thurs) and the Pancake Breakfast (Fri) featuring the Fiddler’s Four. I look forward to seeing you at some
of the upcoming events. Please consider joining the Catholic School Community Council, your help and effort
would be much appreciated.
Several forms are attached to this newsletter. Please complete them and return to the school as soon as
possible. This information is confidential and necessary to best care for the students. My door is always open
so please stop by anytime. May this school year be the best yet in the lives of our students.
Mr. K. Hanson - Principal
WHAT’S HAPPENING??
Monday September 7th................................ NO SCHOOL – Labor Day
September 8 - 11th ...................................... Welcome/Western Week
Tuesday, September 8th .............................. Meet The Teacher & CSCC AGM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday, September 9th ......................... Opening Mass – St. Patrick Church – 9:30 AM
Cross Country Practice – 3:15 – 3:45 PM
Friday, September 11th ............................... Pancake Breakfast – 7:30 AM
Wednesday, September 23rd ....................... Picture Day
Thursday, September 24th .......................... Picture Day for Tues/Thurs Kindergarten
Friday, September 25th ............................... Book & Breakfast – 8:30AM - Library
Wednesday, September 30th ....................... Cross Country Practice Meet – 4:00 – 5:30 PM Diefenbaker Park
Wednesday, October 7th ............................. Cross Country Championship Meet – 4:00 – 6:30 PM - Diefenbaker Park
Friday, October 9th...................................... NO SCHOOL - Professional Learning Day
Monday, October 12th ................................. NO SCHOOL – Thanksgiving Day
IMPORTANT INFO –
 A mauve colored Family Information Form is being sent home with the youngest student in the
family today. The information on this form is used for emergency situations, as well as on a daily
basis. Please return this form please as soon as possible. If you did not receive one of these forms,
please contact the school secretary at 659-7210.
 Your child should also be bringing home 4 other forms for you to sign. These forms are: 1) Student
Technology Acceptable Use Agreement 2) Noon Lunch Policy form, 3) a Student Media Release
Consent form, and 4) an optional Student Insurance form. Please complete and return these forms
to your classroom teacher as soon as possible.
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FATHER VACHON SCHOOL STAFF - 2015 - 2016
Welcome to all our staff.
Mr. K. Hanson --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Principal
Mr. D. Todos ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vice Principal
Mrs. L. Gabruch ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Office Coordinator
Ms. C. Kowaluk ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Mrs. S. Smith --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kindergarten Teacher (Mon/Wed/scheduled Fridays)
Mrs. S. Smith --------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------- Kindergarten Teacher (Tues/Thurs/scheduled Fridays)
Mrs. M. Unruh -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grade One
Ms. J. McMurphy ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grade One/Two
Mrs. J. Thachuk ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------- Grade Two
Mrs. L. Pek ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grade Three
Mrs. M. Irlbeck-Vandale -------------------------------------------------------------------Grade Four
Mr. J. Baptist ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grade Four/Five
Mr. M. Loran ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grade Six
Mr. O. Serhyenko ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grade Six/Seven
Mr. D. Todos ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grade Eight
Mrs. C. Munroe ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Early Intervention Program
Ms. T. Balon ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Release Teacher
Mr. B. Fahlman---------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- Release Teacher
Mrs. J. Schulte --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Release Teacher
Mrs. E. Hilbig---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learning Assistance Teacher
Mrs. C. Ens --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- Learning Assistance Teacher
Mrs. R. Cherniawsky -------------------------------------------------------------------------Teacher Librarian
Mrs. K. Berzolla---------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- ELO Catalyst Teacher
Ms. T. Anderson ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Band Teacher
Mrs. C. Mulhall-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Educational Assistant
Mrs. S. McLaughlin --------------------------------------------------------------------------Educational Assistant
Mrs. K. Walker -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Educational Assistant
Mrs. J. Kitzul ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Educational Assistant
Mrs. D. Holman ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Educational Assistant
Mr. M. Mendoza ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Educational Assistant
Ms. J. Kowalchuk ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Educational Assistant
Mr. G. Thorpe --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- School Counselor
Mrs. W. Senick ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aboriginal Student Retention Worker
Mrs. L. Sutherland ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aboriginal Student Achievement Coordinator
Mr. D. Vinish ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Head Caretaker
Mrs. J. Astargo-Cuevas ----------------------------------------------------------------------Evening Caretaker
A special welcome to our new staff who have joined us at Father Vachon this school year.
SUPERINTENDENTS
Mr. G. Martell
Mr. J. Lloyd
Superintendent of Education
Superintendent of Administrative Services
306-659-7000
306-659-7020
SCHOOL HOURS
8:40 AM
8:45 AM
10:15 AM
10:30 AM
11:45 AM – 12:07 PM
12:07 PM - 12:30 PM
1:45 PM
2:00 PM
3:15 PM
Warning Bell
Classes Begin
Recess Bell
Ending Recess Bell
Lunch Break
Lunch Recess Bell
Afternoon Recess Bell
Ending Afternoon Recess Bell
Dismissal Bell
STUDENT NEWS
NUT ALERT – We have a number of students at our school that are highly allergic to peanuts and nut products. Anaphylaxis is a
medical condition that causes a severe reaction to specific foods and can result in death within minutes. Because of the seriousness of
this danger, we ask that you are careful to avoid sending food to school that contain nuts. A reminder that if you have a child that
needs medical treatment that is life threatening, please contact the principal at the school. Thanks for your understanding and
cooperation.
WELCOME BACK PANCAKE BREAKFAST
- Friday, September 11th– 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM featuring the Fiddler’s Four!!!
Everyone welcome.
MEET THE TEACHER NIGHT & FATHER VACHON CATHOLIC SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCIL AGM
On Tuesday, September 8th we will be hosting a Meet the Teacher evening. Also, the Catholic School Community Council
annual general meeting will be held following the classroom sessions. You will have the opportunity to meet your child’s
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classroom teacher and teaching staff of Father Vachon as well as attend our CSCC annual general meeting. The Father
Vachon Catholic School Community Council is a great way to get involved in the events of Father Vachon School. Nomination
forms are available at the office.
The schedule for this evening is as follows:
6:00
6:30
Formal Classroom Presentation # 1 – 15 min.
Formal Classroom Presentation #2 – 15 min.
Catholic School Community Council AGM in the library.
We look forward to seeing you there.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE/ABSENCE: Please notify the office (659-7210) if your child is away from school. Please leave their
name, their grade, their teacher’s name and a reason for the absence. Thank you.
MILK SALES: Milk is sold at Father Vachon School daily. Milk may be purchased for 75 cents each or a milk card can be
purchased for $15.00.
CROSS COUNTRY: We are excited to let you know that our cross-country team ( opened to grades 3 – 8 students) will begin with
our first practice on Wed. September 9th. Our school has had tremendous success in the past and we are looking forward to once
again working with your children. Practices will be twice a week – on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:15 – 3:45pm. Athletes
will need to come prepared with the appropriate running gear (i.e. runners/shorts or track pants/t-shirt) and a water bottle. Our two
meets are once again at Diefenbaker Park:
Wed. Sept. 30th – Practice Meet -
4:00 – 5:30pm
Wed. Oct. 7th – Championship Meet
4:00 – 6:30pm
We would love your support. You are more than welcomed to come out and cheer on our cross-country runners! See you
there!
EDUCATIONAL MATTERS
FIRST STUDENT RIDERS –Father Vachon School has been allocated two busses to assist in transporting students in
our attendance area. Students must live the minimum distance of 800 meters from the school to qualify. Eligible families will receive
a call from the bus driver. Drivers are responsible for sharing information about the bus stop locations and times. It is also important
that First Student has your bus registration form. If you have not turned one into the office at school, please do so as soon as
possible. For the safety of all students, please regard the NO PARKING ZONE in front of the school.
ROOM PARENTS - We will be looking for Room Parents for each classroom. Room parents serve as a link to our CSCC and to
assist the teacher if needed in the planning of special classroom events. Please let your classroom teacher know or the front office if
you could help out by serving in this capacity.
SPEED ZONES - The 30 km/h speed limit is in effect from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, September to June – including
statutory holidays. School zones are marked by reflective, fluorescent yellow-green signs, and begin at these signs, and end at a sign
indicating a greater speed limit (normally 50 km/h). The city will be monitoring the effectiveness of school zone speed limits to allow
for additional education and enforcement in problem areas. It’s up to you to obey the rules of the road and drive courteously. Twelve
seconds – the difference could save a life.
TUESDAY MORNING MEETINGS – On two Tuesday mornings per month our staff meets for prayer and to collaborate for
student learning. We ask that on those Tuesdays, students arrive at the school a little later – 8:30 AM at the earliest. The door from
the mudroom will be locked until that time. Thank you for supporting us in better serving your children.
IAP Kids Plus Accident Insurance Forms: SEE ATTACHED FORMS TO THIS NEWSLETTER. FOR MORE
INFORMATION VISIT www.iapkidsplus.com
SCHOOL COUNSELOR
My name is Glenn Thorpe and I am excited to be the new School Counsellor at Father Vachon School for the upcoming school
year. With my background in counselling, youth leadership, and education, I look forward to having the chance to meet and get to
know the wonderful students and families of Father Vachon School and the community at large. I can be reached at (306) 659-6706.
ABORIGINAL STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COORDINATOR
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all our families to Father Vachon. My name is Lauralee Sutherland and I am the
Aboriginal Student Achievement Coordinator. My office is located on the north east side of the school and my door is always open
when I am at Father Vachon. My schedule at Father Vachon is as follows: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday mornings. You can also
reach me at 306-659-7742 or email me at lsutherland@gscs.sk.ca. I look forward to working with our families and students here at
Father Vachon and I hope you have a great school year!
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