October 28: Popcorn Day November 2 & 3: Parent/Teacher Conferences (students dismissed at 1:45 pm) November 10: Remembrance Day Assembly (Gym – 11:00 am) November 11: Remembrance Day (no school in session) November 21: Report Card Prep Half Day (students dismissed at 11:36 am) November 21: PAC General Meeting (Library – 6:30 pm) November 28: Ready, Set, Learn #1 (StrongStart Centre – 10:00 am) November 29: Collaboration Afternoon #2 (students dismissed at 1:30 pm) December 2: Pancake Breakfast

WilloughbyElementarySchoolNewsletter#8October27,2016

20766–80thAvenueLangley,B.C.,V2Y1X6Phone:604-888-6033/Fax:604-888-9598https://willoughby.sd35.bc.ca Principal:Mrs.PhillisGiovani

VicePrincipal:Mr.AdamMoore AdministrativeAssistant:Mrs.MelissaNichols

ImportantReminders

November2&3–Parent/TeacherConferencesStudentsdismissedat1:45pm;schoolbuseswillberunningonehourearlierthanusual.

Parent/TeacherConferences:Parents,pleaseremembertosignupon-line fora timetomeetwithyourchild’s teacher. It is especially important that a home/school connectionbemadeearlyintheschoolyearandbeforeyourchild’sfirstreportcardisissuedinDecember.Itwouldbegreatifwehad100%parent/caregiverparticipation!

SchoolAppointments-ParentInstructions

1. Gotoourschoolappointmentswebsite:http://willoughby.schoolappointments.com2. Registerforanaccountbyclickingthe“REGISTER”menutabandfillingintheon-lineform.Choosea

useridandpasswordforyourselfandthenclickthe“RegisterNow”button.3. Add your children into the system by clicking the “Add a Student” button. Click the “Insert New”

buttontoaddmorechildren.4. Clickthe“date” iconbesideeachchild’snametoscheduleappointments.Selectthestaffyou

wishtobookappointmentswithandthe“ViewCalendars”button.5. Clickonavailable timeslots tobookyourappointmentsand thenclick the"BookAppointments" to

saveyourbookings.

Staff Update: Please join us in welcoming Ryan Penner and Jennifer Taylor to our support staff team!

Halloween at School: Students are welcome to wear their Halloween costumes on Monday. Please ensure that your children do not bring costume pieces that could get lost or broken. Please exercise good judgement. For example, masks should be left at home as it is hard for children to see when wearing them, and often young children are scared by them and/or scary make-up. Children cannot bring “play” weapons to school. That includes toy guns, knives, axes, or other items that represent a weapon. Thanks for your cooperation

CongratulationstoLastWeek’sWayto Winners! Div.1John&Selena Div.9Ryan&Sophia Div.2Sarah&Jasper Div.10Charlotte&Oscar Div.3Luka&Catherine Div.11Matias&Emma Div.4Sophie&Shafin Div.12Emma&Marcus Div.5Jonathan&Reese Div.13Gaetano&Jordyn Div.6Skyla&Nathan Div.14Aveena&Greyson

Div.7Ghian&Inaaya Div.15Felix&Hailey Div.8Averi&IanIf Your Child Is Ill: If your child is not well… fever, runny nose, cough, sore throat… please keep them at home until they are feeling better and are no longer contagious. Let’s keep our school healthy by being diligent in recognizing early signs of cold and flu. Also, please help your child practice and maintain proper hand washing to keep those germs from spreading!

Weather and Appropriate Clothing: We are sure you have noticed that the weather has become a little chillier lately, and wanted to remind you to ensure your children are appropriately dressed for the cold and wet days ahead. Please be advised that we send our students outside for fresh air, even during rainy days. We know you would agree that fresh air and exercise are good for

children, but they need to be dressed appropriately. It is a very good idea to keep an extra change of clothes (shirt, pant, and socks) in your children’s backpacks in case they get wet during recess or lunchtime play. We appreciate and thank you for your attention to this matter.

Holiday Market: Please take a look at home for any new or gently used and clean items you would like to donate and bring them to school as soon as possible. We are relying on your donations to help run this fabulous store. The students will have a great time shopping and having their gifts wrapped for a loved one!

Some great ideas include: books, jewelry, CD’s, vases, toys, flower pots, items for Dad, candles, photo frames, DVD’s, puzzles, games, small sport items, odds and ends, ties, stationary, garden items, kitchen gadgets, pet gifts and any other fun knick knacks you can find! We need approximately 350 gifts for Dad, 350 gifts for Mom, and 350 for sisters, brothers, grandmas, grandpas, and family pets. We also need gift wrap/bags and ribbon!

Itemsshouldbeneworgentlyusedandclean.Nostuffies,clothes,pillowsorblanketsplease.

ItemsareduebyDecember1st.Thanksforyourhelp!

Long Term Student Absences: During the school year, parents sometimes take their children out of school to accompany them on business trips or on a holiday. We understand that at times these extended absences are necessary. What is difficult for teachers is when they are asked to prepare homework packages for students so they do not “fall behind” while they are away. No matter what homework package is prepared, parents must realize that when children miss school for long periods of time, they will be behind. The learning that happens in the classroom, on a day- to-day basis, cannot be duplicated. Teachers have long- range goals and unit plans, which are changed and modified on a weekly and sometimes daily basis to reflect the needs of the class. This daily assessment and teaching is impossible to duplicate in a homework package. For these reasons, when you make the decision to take your child out of school for an extended period of time to accompany you on a business trip or for a vacation, teachers are not in the position to provide assignments for your children. Remember that the experiences your children have while away with you cannot be duplicated in a classroom either. When you decide to take your child out of school what are some ways you can help them? Here are some ideas you may want to consider as you plan for your children’s educational needs while you are away: Read. Set aside some time each day to read. Visit the bookstore before you leave and make some choices together. Read with your children. Please remember that classroom books and school library books are not loaned out to students who are on extended absences for holidays during school time.

Keep a journal, create a scrapbook or, have them make a sketchbook of the special places you visit and the things you see and do. You will be amazed how creative your children can be while at the same time reinforcing their writing skills.

Use technology. Have your children take digital pictures and/or movies. Keep a diary of when and where the pictures were taken and once you are home have them create their own slideshow. Apply their math skills in practical ways. Give them a certain amount of money to spend and plan a day’s activities. If you are driving, keep track of the cost of fuel. Compare and contrast the prices between cities and countries and tabulate the total cost of fuel. Converting money from one currency to another and learning the different time zones are other valuable learning opportunities. Once your children are back at school, they are welcome to bring and share what they have done with their classmates. As teachers have not assigned the work nor set the criteria for the assessment, they will not be marking or evaluating your children’s work. As parents, it is your right to decide to take your child out of school during the time they are scheduled to be in school. Once you have made that decision then you must also accept the responsibility for your children’s education during that absence. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call Mrs. Giovani.

Ready, Set, Learn: Parents/caregivers with their 3 and 4-year old children are invited to attend our Ready, Set, Learn sessions. There is no fee to attend any session, but you must pre-register. Sessions will take place from 10:00 – 11:00 am in the Willoughby Strong Start Centre on November 28/16, January 16/17, and March 6/17.

TRICK OR TREAT PARADE

October 31 5:00pm to 6:00pm

Register at 4:30pm at the following

entrances: Sport Chek, Swimco, Tim Hortons, Sashimi Sushi, and Sears.

Just $2 (cash only) per child up to age 12. Proceeds benefit the

Langley School District Foundation.

SHOPWILLOWBROOK.COMCUSTOMER SERVICE 604.530.4492FRASER HWY & NO. 10 HWY, LANGLEY

A TRICK OR TREAT PARADE.