WEST COAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

2618ASPEN RD.
SQUAMISH, B.C. V0N1B4
PHONE: (604) 676-7016
FAX: 676-7015

December 1st, 2015

Principle Ian Stuart

West Coast Elementary School

Home of the Eagles
Message from the
Principle
Happy December! We have many
things going on with the school that
Id like to share with you, so please
read on! I encourage you to follow
our website www.westcoastelementary.com
to keep yourself updated on weekly
happenings around the
school/community. If you dont have
access to tech. please check the
message board at the front entrance of
the school or check your childs
agenda daily. Feel free to contact me

West Coast Elementary School Mission

Statement
Our ultimate goal is to foster a safe, caring environment for
students, providing them with tools to be life long learners and to
meet potential challenges in the real world. Students will have
opportunities to experience success, develop strong self-confidence
and become cooperative, responsible members of society.

at anytime! You can reach me best at

Istuart.sd48.bc.ca

New Student Teachers

We would like to give a warm
welcome to our student teachers Ms.
Panek and Ms. Receveaux. Ms. Panek
will be working with Ms. Johnstons
K/1 spilt and Ms. Receveaux will be
working with Ms. Carols Grade 5
class. They will be visiting
periodically!

Changing Seasons
Just a friendly reminder, we play outside rain/snow/shine! As
the weather gets colder please remember to bring appropriate
outdoor gear (Toque, mittens, warm jacket, snow pants,
umbrella, snow boots, warm socks, scarves, inside shoes, etc).
*Anything that will keep your child/children nice and warm.

Save the Date!

Holiday Concert
(Dec. 1st)
Grades K-3:
Concert will be
held in the gym at
1:00pm.
Grades 4-7:
Concert will be
held in the gym at
6:00Pm

Gingerbread Contest PJs & Pancakes

(Dec. 14th)
School-wide
gingerbread
house contest! All
parents welcome.
Draw for prizes!

(Dec. 18th)

Fun for everyone!

Holiday pancake
breakfast and movie
in the gym. Be sure
to wear your coziest
pajamas!

DECEMBER NEWSLETTER 2015

Parent Involvement
December is a busy time; we are ALWAYS looking for parent
volunteers. Parent involvement is very important! There are
many ways you can get involved: Classroom visits, setting
your child up for success with strong attendance, daily
checking their backpacks for important letters/homework,

Changing Seasons

participation in events/activities, volunteering, supporting

Just a friendly reminder, we play

fundraisers and community events, giving feedback,

outside rain/snow/shine! As the

communication between you and your childs teacher!

weather gets colder please remember

to bring appropriate outdoor gear

P.A.C.

(Toque, mittens, warm jacket, snow

The Parent Advisory Council meets on the second Monday of

pants, umbrella, snow boots, warm

every month from 6:30pm-7: 30pm. We are currently looking

socks, scarves, inside shoes, etc).

for a secretary, the job includes: Taking notes during the

*Anything that will keep your

meeting. If you could spare some time and are interested or if

child/children nice and warm.

you are just looking to get involved please come to our next
meeting! (Monday, Dec. 14th).

Holiday Scholastic Book Fair &

Book club order
Its that time again! Ms. Jennings (our
school librarian) alongside parent volunteers
is running this months book fair. Please
come check out the awesome selection of

We know that all families live a hectic lifestyle, but any

positive involvement at school and home can make the
world of a difference. Check out this link for more positive
research on parental involvement in education
http://www.nea.org/tools/17360.html

booksall proceeds go to the school library.

Book fair dates: Dec. 4th-15th before school
7:30-8:30am and at lunch hour 11:30am12:20pm.
Winter Book club orders due: Dec 4th, 15.
Please remember to write out cheques
directly to the school with Div. #/or make
payment online.
http://scholastic.ca/clubs/clubsonline/

Nut Free Zone!

Friendly reminder that we have a strict nut
free policy as several students have life
threatening allergies. Awesome alternatives
include: WOW butter/seed butters!

DECEMBER NEWSLETTER 2015

rs. Charmings Kindergarten Classroom

Happenings

Gift of Giving Class Announcement

This time of year always brings lots of cheer! As a part of the new B.C. E.D. Curriculum, we have been
working on the core competencies (https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/competencies). This month, we brainstormed
ways we could incorporate personal and social learning into this holiday season. The students expressed
interest in reaching out and helping others in their community by giving a helping hand. We all came up with
doing a giant bake sale (Dec.15th at recess and lunch hour). All proceeds from the bake sale will go towards
food bank items. Later in the month (Dec.17th), we will also be doing a classroom trip to deliver cookies to
retirement homes and homeless shelters. It has been a complete pleasure to see the children making efforts to
contribute positively to their family, community, society, and the environment; to resolve problems peacefully;
to empathize with others and appreciate their perspectives; and to create and maintain healthy relationships this
holiday season! *Please make sure permission slips are signed and handed in before Dec.17th. Parent
volunteers are welcome to come along!
http://mywcss.org/programs/food-bank/
http://www.retirementhomes.com/Community/Squamish/British%20Columbia/Squamish%20Senior%
20Citizen%20Home.html

Work Smarter AND Harder

The children have a choice at the start of every school day
1) Put in your best effort and work at school 2) Put in your
best effort and work at home. If your child gets sent home
with homework it is because they chose to work at home
that day. We are trying to instill best time management
practices. If time is used efficiently, no homework is
needed! If you feel your child needs to be challenged check
out this website for some awesome resources!
http://www.education.com/
Any questions/concerns you can contact me best at
Ncharming@sd48.bc.ca or pop in after school!
3

DECEMBER NEWSLETTER 2015

What we are up too

Holiday ConcertDec.1st
It was a complete joy to see the Kindergartens
belting their hearts out and dressed to the nines
during the holiday concert. It was a great way to
start off the month and bring the community
together. Bravo!

The Giving Door

Dec.1st
We hung a curtain with

Teachings from our

pockets for each child on the

EldersDec. 8th

back of our classroom door. If I

notice an act of kindness, that

The children will learn about various

child/children may receive a little

animals and plants that live in the

something in their pocket.

area, listen to the Legend of the

Wountie, and will even learn how to
make and prepare bannock.

Holiday GiftsDec. 16th

The children will be creating snowmen out of

Gingerbread Houses
Dec.14th

different shaped blocks. These will make the

Please remember to send your

windowsill.

perfect holiday keepsake for your

child to school with a bag of

gingerbread house
candy/decorations. No need to
worry about the gingerbread
house/icing that will be provided.

School-wide PJ & Pancake DayDec.

18th
What better way to end the last day of school
before winter holidays then with pancake,
pajamas, and a holiday movie?

Created by: Haley Panek & Ines Receveaux Eagle Illustration by: Tynan
Salmon