Dear Families, 

As the week of November 11th approaches, we want to recognize the significance of both Remembrance Day (November 11th) and Indigenous Veterans Day (November 8th). These days are dedicated to honour the courage, service, and sacrifice of all Canadian veterans, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people, who have served in our Armed Forces. We encourage you to use this time as an opportunity to discuss the importance of peace, gratitude, and remembrance with your children at home. 

Honoring Our Veterans 

This past week, our school community focused on age-appropriate activities to reflect and learn about the sacrifices made by our veterans. Our students engaged in meaningful, classroom-based activities, including: 

• Read Alouds: Teachers shared books to introduce the concepts of peace, service, and the symbolism of the poppy. 
• Poppy Activity: Students created poppies and participated in discussions. The poppies were displayed on each classroom door or bulletin.  
• School-Wide Moment of Silence: We held a moment of silence across the school, with the playing of the Last Post and the Rouse over the intercom to mark our respect and commemoration. 

These activities helped our students develop a deeper understanding of these important historical events and the values they represent. 

Student Voice: Gathering Insights 

This week, Ms. Dharamsi and Mr. Todos met with our Student Voice group to get a temperature check on how students are feeling. Many students reported feeling happy and excited about learning. We also acknowledged that some students felt nervous and a bit overwhelmed to be back at school, and we stressed that these are all normal feelings. There was, however, collective excitement for being part of Student Voice and contributing to the school community. 

We also discussed the plans for our outdoor learning space and gathered their valuable feedback. Many students liked what they saw and asked excellent questions. A key part of the conversation was the suggestion to incorporate a medicine wheel with natural stones/boulders into the final design, and the students shared great insights on this. 

Finally, we discussed how we can best celebrate students who consistently follow the school commitment. Many ideas focused on acknowledgements both in and out of the classroom, including having certificates and being recognized during assemblies. All student feedback is valuable, and we will incorporate their ideas as we plan for both our outdoor classroom and our school culture. 

Fall Break Notice 

Please note that next week is Fall Break, and there will be no school for students. 

• School is closed from Monday, November 10th, to Wednesday, November 12th. 
• School will officially resume on Thursday, November 13th. 

We wish all our families a safe, restful, and reflective break. 

Upcoming Dates: 

Early Dismissal at 12:10 PM (Grades K-6 attend; Tues/Thurs Science Kindergarten attend) 

Tuesday November 18 – Photo Day + School Council Meeting/Annual General Meeting (AGM) at 6:00 p.m. (Link to be shared that morning)