Gabriola Elementary School
680 North Road, Gabriola, BC V0R 1X0 Phone: (250) 247-9342 Fax: (250) 247-8639
Principal: Dave Travers
Secretary: Joanne Pick April 28th, 2017
GABRIOLA SCHOOL SCHEDULE
Monday 8:40 – 1:32
Tues – Fri 8:40 – 2:32
Principal’s Message
We are beginning the process for building the school year for 17 – 18. In preparation for next year, if you are not planning having your children attend next year please stop in and talk to me. I will be taking parent class requests and have outlined more information under the heading “Letters requesting class placement.” At present time, we are anticipating a similar number of divisions like we have this year. Having parents sign up, especially for Kindergarten, early helps set the number of divisions at gives us a great start next year.
Here are just a few of the events that have been going on in the school and a few starting up
- Ready Set Learn starts April 7th – see flyer at back of newsletter
- NS3 – science events happened in April. Thanks to PAC for supporting the school. Students were very engaged in the learning of science
- Jump for Heart and Stroke
- Welcome to Kindergarten May 11th
- Track meet May 18th
- Grade 7 swim to survive – 3 sessions starting May 19th
- Rock to Hip Hop School concert May 25th
Dave Travers
Here are some more in depth events that are happening.
School Track meet
May 18th grade 3 – 7 students and teachers are heading over to the Rotary Bowl in Nanaimo to participate in Track and Field. We are teaming up with Hammond Bay elementary and we are in charge of track events. I need around 12 volunteers to make this a success. We will be on the 8:50 am ferry. Call the office and give us your name if you can help. It is a whole day event. Dress for the weather. There is a concession or you can bring your own lunch.
Letters requesting class placement
Parents who have children with specific medical or valid educational needs should pass this information to the school in written form, (addressed to Mr. Travers), for consideration in the class organization process by May15th. Please note that teacher assignments could change in September. Please take this into account if you decide to write a letter to Mr. Travers regarding your preference for student placement. Make a request based on learning needs, social needs or other needs that may not be readily apparent. It is not always possible to honour parent requests.
Susanna Furnell – Student teacher
I am currently in my third year of the Bachelor of Elementary Education program at the University of Victoria. I am very happy to be back on Gabriola for my second practicum, as I attended Gabriola Elementary from K-7. I care deeply about Gabriola Island and the Islanders that call it home. It is an honour to be working with the children of a community that I admire so much. My interests include biking, birdwatching, playing music, and biology (local flora and fauna). Upon graduation, I hope to work as an educator on one of the Gulf Islands. The opportunity for rich, community supported, placed-based learning is what excites me most about working in a rural environment, such as Gabriola.
Rock and Roll and Beyond – Spring concert
On May 25th, Gabriola Elementary School students will be putting on a historical musical extravaganza called “Rock and Roll and Beyond”. Buddy classes will be singing songs spanning the past 70 years accompanied by our very own G.E.S. rock band. Special guest performances by Elvis , the Summer Singers, the Rollo Stones and Ms. Mara’s Dancers. There will be one matinee show only (12:45 to 2:00 p.m., on Thursday, May 25th)
Book Fair
Gabriola Elementary PAC is proud to host their first Scholastic Book Fair. Come and browse the latest and greatest books that Scholastic is offering this Spring and enter to win free books for your child’s classroom! The hours are:
Wednesday May 31st
11:45 am- 12:15pm
2:15pm-3:15pm
Thursday June 1st
10:30 am-12:15pm
1:45pm- 3:15pm
Friday June 2nd
11:45 am- 12:15pm
2:15pm-3:15pm
The PAC could also use a few parent volunteers to help out with the book fair. If you are interested in helping out contact April Hilland at
Ready Set Learn
Ready Set Learn has been running for the last couple of weeks thanks to the efforts of Karen MacDonald. It has been very busy here on Friday morning with many age 3 and 4 future Gabriola elementary students attending with their parents/caregivers. It is free and you can come to one or all of them.
Welcome to Kindergarten
Ms Gurr is getting all set for welcoming our future kindergarten students on May 11th from 12:30 to 2:00 here at the school. If you know of someone who has yet to sign up for kindergarten for next year please have them visit the office and we will help them register. They will also get an invite to the May 11th day.
Basketball
Well the season has ended for our basketball teams. I was very impressed in the growth in sportsmanship and skill development over the season. Many thanks to our coaches: Kevin Smith, Mike Culbertson and Catherine Gilroy for the boys and Jessica Smith, Miranda Culbertson and myself for the girls.
BookFest 2017
BookFest 2017is taking place Saturday, May 6thin downtown Nanaimo. The hub of activity will be in the Diana Krall Plaza, while thepresenter sessions are held in theVancouver Island Conference Centreand theHarbourfront Library.Tickets are $10 per childfor 3 sessions, to a maximum of $25 per family. Featured books will be available for purchase and author book-signing will be held at the end of the day. www.bookfest.ca
Read about ourpresentersand check out the BookFestschedule at Bookfest.ca. Tickets will be available for purchase on the morning of the event, or buy your tickets in advanceonline, over the phone or in person through The Port Theatre (250.754.8550).
Addictions lessons
Intermediate teachers have been busy collaborating to create lessons for Grade 4 – 7 students on the theme of addictions. The main addictions that we are addressing will be: Sugar, Screen time and Smoking. Each lesson will be adapted to the specific audience. These lessons will start in April and continue for three Mondays in a row.
April 20th Earthquake simulation
Well we pulled it off. If you didn’t hear about it, or feel it, Gabriola elementary had an Earthquake simulation on April 20th at 1:50. In preparation for a real event, we had staff being trained in shelter building, search and rescue, and student release. Thanks to the many parents who came early to help us try out our student release process. In the event of a real Earthquake, parents will need to check in with staff and go through an orderly sign out process to receive their children. This will be stressful situation and the more prepared we all are the better. Many thanks to the fire department, SD 68 district safety staff for attending, Gabriola staff and our students. I especially want to thank our EA Diana Moher for her expertise and her leadership.
We learned a lot and we plan to make such an exercise an annual event.
In addition, parents should note that in the event that students are off island on a field trip and an Earthquake happens that the muster station will be 4951 Rutherford rd. This is behind North Town centre. Your child can be safe and supervised in this location and this would be a student release to parent location. PAC has approved this location.
Track and Field and Gymnastics
April 13th in the morning all students grade 3 – 7 had the opportunity to try the various events in track and field while our K – 2 students learnt about gymnastics. Many thanks to our coaches from the community that put on a high quality event. I was very pleased to see how all the students were so engaged.
Grade 6/7 Initiatives
Division One has received their second set of reusable bags for sale. They have five new designs, all student created and it’s a 100% cotton, gusseted bag instead of a sleeve this time. The price is still $6.00, which is a bargain! Please feel free to email Ms. Gilroy at if you would like to order one (or a few), or send a cheque into the office with your request.
Let’s work together to create a zero-waste island! Our children’s futures will be brighter as a result.
Hay ch q’a
Ms. Gilroy
Canada 150 Project
Are there any masons/tile setters out there who would be willing to donate their time to help put a tile installation on the outside of the gym wall? It is a welcome blanket, out of tiles, that the whole school has participated in making (out of gabriola clay) and we need to install it before the end of June. Please let us know at the office if you have any expertise and time to share.
SD 68 is looking for Homestay Families
Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools is currently seeking caring and supportive homestay families who would welcome the opportunity to share their home with an international student.
The students are generally 15 to 18 years of age and would attend the high school in your neighbourhood. The district pays a stipend to homestay families.
If your family is interested in this rewarding experience to share our Canadian culture, and offer support and guidance to young international students, please contact Diane Carswell, Homestay Coordinator at .
e-Registration
The district has centralized the registration of students. All new students planning on attending Gabriola elementary will register by going to the school district website and clicking register in the top right corner of the webpage. Joanne, our secretary, can help you out.
Grade 7 students going to NDSS Do Not need to register we will transition them to NDSS, If you are planning on going to a different high school next year, you will need to e-register.
Also if you are planning on attending an academy next year you will need to look into signing up.
Learn68 accounts: Read&Write
Consent forms for the program read&write went out last week. This program boost reading and writing confidence. It is a powerful support tool to help students with learning difficulties, dyslexia and new learners such as ELL/ESL. Please read and sign the consent form and then return it to your child’s teacher
Rainbows
Gabriola Elementary is offering a Rainbows Program which is designed to guide kids through life storms. What is a Rainbows Program you might ask? Rainbows program works to support children who have experienced a loss or painful transition such as: death, separation, divorce or family changes. When something significant happens in a family the entire family is affected. Rainbows peer support program offers the possibility for children tolearn fresh perspectives on how to deal with changes and heal from them, in a safe and understanding environment. Through this peer support group, we hope to assist your child in expressing and understanding his/her feelings, to feel acceptance for what has happened and to feel a sense of belonging. Please call GES at 250 247-9342 to speak with our Child, Youth & Family Support Worker, Wenda Allan to learn more about Rainbows.
Volunteer Driver Forms and Criminal Record checks
It is great to see so many parents helping out with school events. Please remember that a criminal record check needs to be done if you plan on helping and if driving students volunteer forms need to be completed.
Telephone Messages
Please try to use the planners for messages and reminders of dentist, doctor appointments
and after school arrangements for your children. If there is a change and we receive a call in the office, we will page the students come down to the office before lunch recess or at the end of the day to inform them. There is a phone in the front foyer for students to contact parents – however, we encourage students to make play dates prior to coming to school in the morning. We do our best to get the message out but pre-planning is the best way to communicate with your child
School closure due to weather
Please listen to 106.9 or 102.3 for school closures due to weather. SD 68 website will also let you know if schools close due to weather.
Newsletter Distribution/Updates
One small way that you can help us reduce paper usage and save the costs of printing is to sign up to receive the newsletter by email. Our school newsletter will be emailed near the end of the month.
Have you subscribed for our email newsletters and Updates?
Please visit our website and subscribe for our school Subscription News Listsrv. J
You can find a link to sign up on our school webpage, or you can email
.
IMPORTANT: When you sign up, you will receive a confirmation email with a link that you need to click to complete your subscription. If you do not do this step you will not be signed up yet on school listserv for any school information, newsletters etc.
If you don’t receive the confirmation email, be sure to look in your Spam or Junk folder.
ERASE* Bullying! (*Expect Respect And a Safe Education) You can help ERASE bullying by using the new on-line Reporting Tool. http://www.erasebullying.ca
Allergies
At GES we have a number of children who have serious, life threatening
allergies to food such as nuts and seafood. Please avoid sending foods to school
with nuts and peanut butter.
If you indicated the presence of serious allergies or existing medical conditions on your child’s Student Verification Form, you will be receiving an additional form to be completed and returned to the school. You will be asked for the details of your child’s condition. This information is kept on hand to assist our first aide personnel in the event of an emergency.