Lord Byng Elementary School
3711 Georgia Street • Richmond, British Columbia • V7E 6M3 • Tel: 604.668.6649 • Fax: 604.668.6657
Don Dixon, Principal • Andrew Ferguson, Vice-Principal • Donna Sargent, Trustee Liaison
Email: byng@sd38.bc.ca • Web: byng.sd38.bc.ca • Twitter: @Byng_Elementary
NEWSLETTER # 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------October 9, 2015
Curriculum Support Plan
On September 28, the Ministry announced a wide-ranging support plan so districts and teachers get
the information and training they need to bring BC’s new curriculum to life in our classrooms.
Highlights of the support plan include $1 million to fund targeted training this school year. The
funding will be used to support training for 2,000 teachers across the province on the new
curriculum, and provide for additional professional inservice for teachers.
Our district is currently deciding about how to best approach this important opportunity.
The curriculum news release and background information can be viewed at
https://news.gov.bc.ca/ministries/education.
Terry Fox Run
The weather cooperated and we had a very successful run. With the help of our many parents and
our RCMP liaison officer, Cst. Adam Carmichael our students participated in a very meaningful and
important event. We are pleased that while some money continues to arrive we have collected over
$400 to donate to cancer research.
Hallowe’en Dance – October 22 – 6 – 9 pm
Do not miss this annual Hallowe’en costume party featuring an evening of fun music, dancing and
family time. Our PAC has invited a DJ, planned a photo booth and organized pre-ordered food. Flyers
have been circulated to facilitate planning for this great evening. If you did not receive one please
contact the office or check the PAC table at the front door.
D.A.R.E. Program
The Grade 5 students have started the D.A.R.E. program which is being presented by our liason
officer Cst. Adam Carmichael of the Richmond RCMP. Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) is
a comprehensive school-based drug prevention program taught by police officers to children at the
Grade 5 level. The officers partner with classroom teachers to build protective factors for children
by providing information and social skills needed to live drug and violence free. The program is
delivered over an 8-week period, and each lesson is presented in a fun and factual way, designed to
maximize student participation using an interactive workbook.
Parents are very influential in their children’s lives, and D.A.R.E. is more effective with parental
participation and support. D.A.R.E teaches topics that can be shared and built upon at home.
D.A.R.E. is an effective crime prevention program and it provides opportunities to establish positive
relationships between police, children, parents, teachers and other community members. Parents
will be invited to the “Graduation” ceremony during the last session, which will be scheduled in late
November.
Happy Thanksgiving
Byng wishes all of our families a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. The brilliant colored trees and
our students harvesting the last “of their crops” are just a few indicators of what we can be thankful
for this holiday weekend. As a school we are certainly feeling very thankful for a great beginning to
the year and for the many wonderful activities and opportunities that this school year will provide.
On the subject of thanks! Thank you to our parents, staff and PAC members for the success of our
Scholastic Book Fair and Bake Sale!
Photo Day
On Friday, October 16 Mountain West Studios will be at our school to take individual student
photos. Order forms will be sent out with the proofs. Students are reminded not to wear green or
bright white as these pictures are taken with a green screen. Background selections can be made
when ordering prints. Photo retake day is on Wednesday, Nov. 4th.
Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill
Over 30 million are registered to participate in Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills in 2015 and Byng will
be participating in this year’s drill. More than than 20 million students will be holding their drill right on
Oct. 15th! Our participation counts in a total that exemplifies the power of coming together and
improving our safety so we can all prepare to survive and recover from a damaging earthquake. We're
all in this together! This is a good opportunity to review at home plans!
EARLY WARNING SYSTEM - 604-668-6587
The Early Warning System is designed to inform parents immediately if their child fails to arrive at
school. The program is voluntary, but those parents who do not wish to participate must inform the
school.
If a child is going to be absent or late from the school, the parent should call the early warning
number 604-668-6587, stating: the date, child's name, child's division and teacher's name, expected
duration of absence
Election Day , Mon., Oct. 19
There will be a polling station in the Byng gym on election day.
Parking will be very busy on this day, please walk your child to school if possible.
Important Dates This Term:
12th
Mon., Oct.
Tues., Oct. 13th
Wed., Oct. 14th
Thurs., Oct. 15th
Mon., Oct. 19th
Thurs., Oct. 22
Fri., Oct. 23
Wed., Nov. 4
Wed. Nov. 11
Wed. Nov. 18
Mon. Nov. 30
Thanksgiving Day - School is closed
Pizza Day
Cross Country Run at Minoru 3:25pm
PAC Meeting at 6:30 in the Byng Library
Zero Heroes Performance in the gym 11:00am
Election Day, Polling in our gym- Please walk to school!
PAC Halloween Dance
Provincial Professional Development Day - School is closed
Photo Retakes
Remembrance Day – School is closed
PAC Meeting at 6:30pm in the Byng Library
Professional Development Day – School is closed