We Grow: In Knowledge. In Love. In Faith.

Mr. K. Hanson 3722 Centennial Drive Mr. S. Cole

Principal Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Vice-Principal

S7L 5K4

(306) 659-7210

Newsletter #1 (306) 659-2068 (fax) September 9, 2016

www.gscs.sk.ca/studentsandfamilies/schools/vac

TRUSTEES: Ron Boechler Diane Boyko Jim Carriere

Administrator’s Message

Welcome Back!

It is my sincere pleasure to welcome you to the 2016-2017 school year. Together with the new Vice-Principal Steve Cole, we hope that the summer holidays have provided you with rest, relaxation and the opportunity to renew your spirits. We welcome many new faces to our school, both staff and students, and I am confident and hopeful that they will soon feel very comfortable at Father Vachon. Our school community has grown significantly this school year and we are over-joyed to be able to serve more students. Father Vachon School is always devoted toward making everyone feel welcomed, valued and accepted.

Please consider joining the Catholic School Community Council, your help and effort would be much appreciated. Nomination forms are available at the office and the first monthly meeting takes place on Tuesday, September 20th at 6:30 p.m. at the school – child care provided.

Volunteer Driver Registration – all parent drivers who may be involved in transporting students to and from sport games/activities must register at the office. Please bring your driver’s license and proof of insurance to the office and sign a form to complete the process.

Several forms are attached to this newsletter. Please complete them and return to the school as soon as possible. This information is confidential and necessary to best care for the students. My door is always open so please stop by anytime. May this school year be the best yet in the lives of our students.

Mr. K. Hanson - Principal

WHAT’S HAPPENING??

Tuesday, September 20th Picture Day

C.S.C.C. Meeting -6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, September 21st Picture Day for Mon./Wed. Kindergarten

Wednesday, September 28th G.S.C.S. Cross Country Practice Meet – Diefenbaker Park

Friday, September 30th P.H.C.A. Poker Night @ Father Vachon – 6:00 – 6:45 p.m. – registration

Poker Games start @ 7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

IMPORTANT INFO –

Ø  A STUDENT DATA VERIFICATION FORM is being sent home with EACH STUDENT. The information on this form is used for emergency situations, as well as on a daily basis. Please review and make any necessary changes on the form. Return to the school as soon as possible.

Ø  Your child should also be bringing home 3 other forms for you to sign. These forms are: 1) Noon Lunch Policy form, 2) a Student Media Release Consent form, and 3) an optional Student Insurance form. Please complete and return these forms to your classroom teacher as soon as possible.

FATHER VACHON SCHOOL STAFF - 2016 - 2017

Welcome to all our staff.

Mr. K. Hanson Principal

Mr. S. Cole Vice Principal

Mrs. L. Gabruch Office Coordinator

Ms. C. Kowaluk ------Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

Ms. T. Balon Kindergarten Teacher (Mon/Wed/scheduled Fridays)

Ms. T. Balon ------Kindergarten Teacher (Tues/Thurs/scheduled Fridays)

Mrs. M. Unruh Grade One

Ms. J. McMurphy Grade One/Two

Mrs. J. Thachuk ------Grade Two

Mrs. L. Pek Grade Three

Mrs. M. Irlbeck-Vandale Grade Three/Four

Mrs. J. Kimberley Grade Four/Five

Mrs. C. Munroe Grade Five

Mr. S. Cole Grade Six/Seven

Mr. M. Loran Grade Seven

Mr. J. Baptist Grade Eight

Ms. K. Domoslai Early Intervention Program

Mr. Serhyenko Release Teacher

Mr. B. Fahlman------Release Teacher

Mrs. J. Schulte Release Teacher

Mrs. E. Hilbig Learning Assistance Teacher

Mrs. C. Ens ------Learning Assistance Teacher

Mrs. R. Cherniawsky Teacher Librarian

Mrs. K. Berzolla------ELO Catalyst Teacher

Ms. T. Anderson Band Teacher

Mrs. C. Mulhall Educational Assistant

Mrs. S. McLaughlin Educational Assistant

Mrs. K. Walker Educational Assistant

Mrs. J. Kitzul Educational Assistant

Mrs. D. Holman Educational Assistant

Mr. M. Mendoza Educational Assistant

Ms. J. Kowalchuk Educational Assistant

Ms. M. Bykowy Educational Assistant

Mrs. K. Troesch School Counselor

Mrs. W. Senick Aboriginal Student Retention Worker

Mrs. L. Sutherland Aboriginal Student Achievement Coordinator

Mr. D. Vinish Head Caretaker

Mrs. J. Astargo-Cuevas Evening Caretaker

A special welcome to our new staff who have joined us at Father Vachon this school year.

SUPERINTENDENTS

Mr. G. Martell Superintendent of Education 306-659-7000

Mr. J. Lloyd Superintendent of Administrative Services 306-659-7020

NEW 2016- 2017 SCHOOL HOURS

8:35 AM Warning Bell

8:40 AM Classes Begin

10:10 AM Recess Bell

10:25 AM Ending Recess Bell

11:40 AM – 12:02 PM Lunch Break

12:02 PM - 12:25 PM Lunch Recess Bell

1:40 PM Afternoon Recess Bell

1:55 PM Ending Afternoon Recess Bell

3:10 PM Dismissal Bell

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STUDENT NEWS

CROSS COUNTRY: We are excited to let you know that our cross-country team (opened to grades 3 – 8 students) will begin with our first practice on Wednesday September 12th. Our school has had tremendous success in the past and we are looking forward to once again working with your children. Practices will be twice a week – on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:15 – 3:45pm. Athletes will need to come prepared with the appropriate running gear (i.e. runners/shorts or track pants/t-shirt) and a water bottle. Our two meets are once again at Diefenbaker Park:

Wed. Sept. 28th – Practice Meet - 4:00 – 5:30pm

Wed. Oct. 5th – Championship Meet - 4:00 – 6:30pm

We would love your support. You are more than welcomed to come out and cheer on our cross-country runners! See you there!

Word on the Street - Saskatoon Book and Magazine Festival

The 6th annual festival will take place:

Sunday, September 18, 2016 10:30 am to 5 pm

Downtown Saskatoon - 23rd St E and 4th Ave

FREE ADMISSION

The festival celebrates reading and advocates literacy. There are activities and events for all ages.

Kidstreet: This year the feature guests are David Suzuki and the creators of Fancy Nancy series in the Treasure Island Reading Tent and lots of fun activities in Literacy Lane.

Posters and information available at the school office.

thewordonthestreet.ca/Saskatoon

R. Cherniawsky

Teacher-Librarian

NUT ALERT – We have a number of students at our school that are highly allergic to peanuts and nut products. Anaphylaxis is a medical condition that causes a severe reaction to specific foods and can result in death within minutes. Because of the seriousness of this danger, we ask that you are careful to avoid sending food to school that contain nuts. A reminder that if you have a child that needs medical treatment that is life threatening, please contact the principal at the school. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.

STUDENT ATTENDANCE/ABSENCE: Please notify the office (659-7210) if your child is away from school. Please leave their name, their grade, their teacher’s name and a reason for the absence. Thank you.

MILK SALES: Milk is sold at Father Vachon School daily. Milk may be purchased for 75 cents each or a milk card can be purchased for $15.00.

EDUCATIONAL MATTERS

FIRST STUDENT RIDERS –Father Vachon School has been allocated three busses to assist in transporting students in

our attendance area. Students must live the minimum distance of 800 meters from the school to qualify. Eligible families will receive a call from the bus driver. Drivers are responsible for sharing information about the bus stop locations and times. It is also important that First Student has your bus registration form. If you have not turned one into the office at school, please do so as soon as

possible. For the safety of all students, please regard the NO PARKING ZONE in front of the school.

ROOM PARENTS - We will be looking for Room Parents for each classroom. Room parents serve as a link to our CSCC and to assist the teacher if needed in the planning of special classroom events. Please let your classroom teacher know or the front office if you could help out by serving in this capacity.

SPEED ZONES - The 30 km/h speed limit is in effect from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, September to June – including statutory holidays. School zones are marked by reflective, fluorescent yellow-green signs, and begin at these signs, and end at a sign indicating a greater speed limit (normally 50 km/h). The city will be monitoring the effectiveness of school zone speed limits to allow for additional education and enforcement in problem areas. It’s up to you to obey the rules of the road and drive courteously. Twelve seconds – the difference could save a life.

TUESDAY MORNING MEETINGS – On two Tuesday mornings per month our staff meets for prayer and to collaborate for student learning. We ask that on those Tuesdays, students arrive at the school a little later – 8:30 AM at the earliest. The door from the mudroom will be locked until that time. Thank you for supporting us in better serving your children.

IAP Kids Plus Accident Insurance Forms: SEE ATTACHED FORMS TO THIS NEWSLETTER. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.iapkidsplus.com

CATHOLIC SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCIL NEWS

Meeting will take place Tuesday, September 20th, 2016 @ 6:30 p.m.

Everyone is welcome!

ABORIGINAL STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COORDINATOR

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all our families to Father Vachon. My name is Lauralee Sutherland and I am the Aboriginal Student Achievement Coordinator. My office is located on the north east side of the school and my door is always open when I am at Father Vachon. My schedule at Father Vachon is as follows: Tuesdays, and Friday mornings. You can also reach me at 306-659-7742 or email me at . I look forward to working with our families and students here at Father Vachon and I hope you have a great school year!

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