Sept. 29, 2017

Dear Families,

September has been a flurry of activity, as we settled into classes, got our routines underway and are focused on the many rich learning opportunities in our classrooms. Once again, we have 13 divisions, including the Intensive Literacy Program class. We continue to have students on our waitlist, and will accommodate them as space becomes available. Home-School Communication Communication between home and school is key for the success of your child’s education. Please call the school or make an appointment if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for checking your child’s planner daily.

All activities and events for the year have been posted on our calendar on the school website. Please check the calendar regularly, as updates will occur. Click on View All.

Currently, we are updating all of our information on the website as well as sending home notices regularly. You should expect a newsletter at the end of every month.

I apologize for the length of this newsletter–thank you in advance for taking the time to read the September communications! Staffing Update Welcome to our new staff:

§ Kindergarten: Mrs. Dhillon o (Full-time until January, and into the new year as Mrs. Phagoora

gradually returns to work) § Kindergarten: Mrs. Deo (job-share with Mrs. Anderlini) § Grade 3/4: Mrs. Uchida-Hicks (job-share with Mr. Quigley) § Grade 7: Mrs. Hara § Integration Support Teacher: Mrs. Rempel § Learning Support teacher: Mrs. Ainscow has joined LST team for 1 day/week § Music: Mr. Cumblidge § Band: Mrs. Newman will be teaching with Mr. Bredenholler § French teacher: Seeking a suitable candidate.

§ Education Assistant: Ms. Clemis (ILP program) § Education Assistant: Ms. Henderson § Education Assistant: Ms. Quesnelle § Education Assistant: Ms. White § Simon Fraser University Student Teachers: Ms. DesLauriers (Mr. Calbick) & Ms.

Vleeming (Mrs. Ryan)

Terry Fox Thank you for your generous donations to the Terry Fox Foundation! We passed our goal of $1,800 and raised $1,939 for cancer research! Congratulations to Mr. Calbick and Mrs. Lagore/Odabasigil’s classes who raised the most money per class. Orange shirt Day Thank you for your support of this important day to remember and recognize the legacy of Indian residential schools in Canada. Our Assembly featured grade 7 students from the Spirt Day team reading a story called “When I was Eight,” as well as a presentation about Child Rights by the grade 2 students in Mrs. Hayes and Eurich’s classes.

Communicating Student Learning In the Surrey School District, teachers have choice about how they communicate student learning. They can either use the CSL paper template which you received last year, or they may choose to use an online digital portfolio for each child. Several of our staff have chosen to use FreshGrade, the digital portfolio system used by the Surrey School District. It is a safe and reliable, Canadian-based platform that requires a login to access. Your teacher will let you know which format they are planning to use.

Student Second Language Survey On Monday, October 2 surveys be sent home with all students who are in Grades 2, 3, and 4 across the Surrey school district. Parents can choose to complete the paper copy that they will receive from their child, or they may choose to complete the online version as described on the paper copy. The online version will be found on the Surrey Schools site. We are only looking for one response per family. We are asking that all responses, paper or online, be completed by October 13. Thank you for your support with this. Parent Advisory Council (PAC) Thank you to all of the parents who attended our first PAC meeting! We will be alternating between evening meetings (6:30pm) and morning meetings (8:45am) so that more parents can participate. For a complete schedule, please check the school website. My PAC report included our goal of replacing our iPad 2s, and equipping every classroom with a new laptop, projector and document camera or Apple TV. All classes now have laptops, and almost all have projectors. We are focusing on purchasing the remaining document cameras and updating our iPad cart to replace our iPad 2’s which the District no longer supports. Thank you to the PAC parents who organized our uniform swap and shop, supplied cookies for Meet the Teacher Night, provided every child with a fresh apple after the Terry Fox run, and are updating all of our school earthquake kits. And it’s only September - We love our PAC! PAC News Class Representatives: We are looking for classroom representatives from each division. These classroom reps will be responsible for communicating up and coming events, and fundraisers to their classroom. You can email Bobbi Taylor at bobdoble@hotmail.com with your child’s division so that we can help you to gather emails and such from your classroom parents. Diwali: We are looking for a few parent volunteers to help the Primary students decorate their diyas to take home. That will be happening on October 19. Details to follow. Halloween: Our annual pumpkin carving contest is coming up for Halloween. There will be prizes for the different categories. More information will be going out closer to Halloween.

Winter Movie Night: Our annual Winter Movie Night is on November 24. Families will all be able to enjoy making crafts, and getting a photo with Santa for a sitting fee. Tickets to enter the crafts and movie night will be $5 for all elementary school aged children. Children must be accompanied by an adult/guardian. PAC Meeting: Our next PAC meeting will be October 25 at 8:45am in the library. We will be discussing the budget. This is a great opportunity to see and hear and have input into how PAC fundraising funds are spent. All parents are members of PAC at CTS, and we strongly encourage you to attend to see the many ways that the PAC supports student learning. School Improvement We are always trying to make our school as safe and user-friendly as possible for each child and family member. Recently, we have had the blacktop at the front of the school patched to make a smooth walkway for anyone with mobility concerns. The students finally got their wish as the basketball courts also got a fresh coat of blacktop! Our picnic tables are being moved onto cement pads, to keep them from sinking into the ground. The nails and weather stripping on the front steps have been replaced, just in time for the rainy season! Thank you for your patience as we continue to keep our 96-year-old building safe and happy!

CTS Uniforms A reminder that students should always be in their CTS approved school uniform at school, unless we communicate about a special/Spirit Day. Inside shoes for Primary students, and runners for Intermediate should be black. A small white trim of white is acceptable, but please do not send your child in colourful shoes for indoor wear. As

the weather turns chilly, a CTS logo sweater is required for wearing inside. If your child is in need of one, please contact Unimax @604-575-7758 to purchase. Online Payment System Coming! School Cash Online is an online parent portal that offers a safe, fast and convenient way to pay for school activity fees. We will be starting with online payment one division at a time. Soccer Teams The Boys and Girls soccer season has begun. The girls have already successfully played their first game! Thank you to Mr. Calbick and Mr. Calbick’s father who are working together to coach this season. Volleyball Coach Needed We are looking for a parent or grandparent to coach one of our Volleyball teams. There will be a sponsor teacher with you at all times. If you are familiar with the game and have a little time to help out, please contact the school. Practices can be set before school, at lunch or after school. Thank you! Supervision Aides Required for all areas of Surrey The District is looking for noon hour supervision aides to work 5 hours per week. The rate of pay is $20.58 per hour. Please note that the District will place you closest to your home school, not at our school. Please contact Penny Beamish in Human Resources for details (604-595-6145). Thank you! The Cloverdale Traditional School community is a truly special one! I am really enjoying getting to know all of the children, and look forward to continued opportunities to work with you over the next year. Calendar of Events Oct 9 Thanksgiving Holiday Oct 12 First Interim report; Early Dismissal at 1:25pm Oct. 19 Great BC Shakedown (Earthquake Drill); Diwali activities Oct. 20 Non-Instructional Day (school closed) Oct. 24 Photo Retakes Oct. 25 PAC Meeting 8:45am Oct. 31 Halloween Parade