Welcome to 2023! Hoping everyone had a safe and restful break. Looking forward to a healthy and enjoyable 2023, people. Cheers!

Flags at SD83 school will be flying at half-mast on Tuesday, Dec. 6 to mark The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

It has been over 30 years since the murder of 14 young women at Polytechnique Montréal (December 6, 1989). This act of violent misogyny shook our country and led Parliament to designate December 6 as The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

This day is about remembering those who have experienced gender-based violence and those who we have lost to it. It is also a time to take action. Achieving a Canada free from gender-based violence requires everyone to educate themselves and their families and communities on gender-based violence, centre the voices of survivors in our actions and speak up against harmful behaviours.

More information is available here
Premier’s statement on National Day of Remembrance

Mr. Styles and Yuri’s class is heading to Haida Gwaii this May. This will be a massive trip for our crew, with rich learning opportunities once they get there. Getting there, and keeping 19 teenagers fed, will be two expensive pieces of the trip;) You can help by buying some Christmas chocolates from Purdy’s through the class’ Campaign! Here’s how:

-head to the Purdy’s page: https://fundraising.purdys.com/1588840-99398

-follow the online prompts to register yourself for the Campaign

-if prompted, use the Customer Number 65052

Remember that buying and giving and eating chocolate is one of life’s greatest pleasures. You owe it to yourself to buy and eat some delicious chocolate.

Cheers,

Jared King

1. Several classes off site tomorrow — please make sure your kid(s) are dressed appropriately
2. Hot Lunch Friday — Spaghetti and meat sauce — vegan and gluten free options available; please sign up online to order and bring plate and utensils — volunteers encouraged!
3. Remembrance Day assembly Nov 9 at 11:00 AM
4. Pro D Nov 10 – no school for students
5. Nov 11 — Remembrance Day
6. Next PAC meeting — Nov 21; time TBD but it will be later in the evening and via Zoom
7. Please drop kids off on time; we’re slipping LOL

SD83 would like to make parents and students aware of an incident which took place in Sicamous on Friday afternoon.

According to an RCMP press release a 14-year-old youth was sexually assaulted near Parkview Elementary School and Parkland Mall in Sicamous.

Sicamous RCMP say the victim, a 14-year-old youth was walking with her 13-year-old friend when the assault occurred on October 21 at 4:30 pm. They were approached by an unknown man who asked them, Hey, do you know… Without finishing the sentence, he grabbed the 14-year-old. Both youths began screaming and the man released his grip allowing them to be able to run away.

Police are now looking for the man who is described as: Caucasian, approximately 40 years of age, no facial hair, wearing a black toque, black zip-up jacket, and sunglasses.

These youth did everything correctly by screaming and running free. They were able to provide a description of the man. We commend their bravery, says Sgt. Murray McNeil in the press release, in charge of the Sicamous RCMP Detachment. Anyone with information on the incident, or who may have been in the area, is asked to call the Sicamous RCMP at 250-836-2878.

Superintendent of Schools Donna Kriger adds because of the concerning incident in Sicamous, a letter is being sent home to parent/guardians/caregivers and supports are being put in place in Sicamous schools. She is also asking that parents/guardians/caregivers please have a conversation with their child(ren) regarding what to do if approached by a stranger.

View RCMP Release Here

A reminder that Friday Oct 21 is a professional development day for teachers. We have several teachers who will be presenting at the Classrooms to Communities Conference in Revelstoke tomorrow and Saturday. This is a conference with an outdoor learning focus and we are happy to have staff presenting and sharing their experiences with others.

Starts at 9 AM. If your kid missed the first time around or would like redos, this is the day to do it.

Student-Teacher-Family Conferences play an important role in establishing student learning goals for the year. This year, in-person Student-Teacher-Family Conferences will take place on October 26^th, 2022, at all Elementary and Middle Schools in SD83. Students will not be in attendance this day, except during their scheduled conference time. 

The Student-Teacher-Family conferences serve as an informal learning update (previously an “interim report”) and provide an opportunity to establish and build relationships where the student, teacher, and family collaboratively discuss meaningful goals for student growth. Areas of strength, areas for growth, and next steps will be identified for each student. 

WHAT TO EXPECT:  

• Your child’s school will share information about how to book a conference time with your child’s teacher 

• Conferences will be around 15 minutes in length for each student and will be held in your child’s classroom  
• During the conference, opportunities will be provided to share examples of learning, reflect on areas of strength, and identify areas of further growth  
• Student goals may be developed as part of the conference preparation in advance and then reviewed together during the conference, or discussed and completed together at the conference 
• Any support required to meet the goals will also be identified during the conference 
• Teachers will follow-up with all parents who are unable to attend on the October 26^th Conference Day (options include: scheduling a conference meeting on another day, facilitating a virtual conference using Microsoft Teams, or discussing student growth and goals over the phone)  

• Conferences will look and feel different based on the developmental stage and readiness of the child; for example, a student in Grade 1 may be more supported through the process than a student in Grade 8 
• Student voice and participation are valued at all developmental stages; teachers and families will work together to support students as needed during these conferences 

The Ministry of Education and Child Care’s K to 12 Reporting Policy Framework provides an overview of the upcoming changes to the Student Reporting Policy, set to be fully implemented in the 2023/24 school year.