NEWSLETTER #9

JUNE 2016

Lord Strathcona Elementary School

592 East Pender Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6A 1V5

Tel: 604-713-4630
Fax: 604-713-4633

THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL YEAR OF LEARNING

Principal:
Ms. Harjinder Sandhu
Vice Principal:
Mr. Jesse Brown

Director of Instruction:
Ms. Ellen Roberts

School Trustee:
Mr. Christopher Richardson

PAC Chairs:
Ms. Francesca Benedetti
Mr. David Chen

It is hard to believe that another year is drawing to a close. It has been a very busy year!
This year has been full of exciting learning, projects and fun - our first French
Immersion Group is now in Grade 7 and they had a wonderful overnight cultural camping
experience, followed by Stanley Park and Aquarium Overnight trips for two of the Gr. 6/7
classes, Growing Chefs, Project Chef, Geering Up Workshops, Bicycle safety, Fun
friends, Ice skating, Multicultural Open House, Fair and Dinner, Things on the Shoreline
Project, The Iyoli Water Project, Cardboard Challenges, Project Opera, Volleyball, Badminton, Basketball, Mini Sun Run , Splash n Dash, Spring Fair, iPad Learning projects, .
. . Just to name a few. And of course, we are under seismic construction.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, the entire community of students, staff
and parents, for your contributions. Because of you, there is this wonderful sense of
community and a nurturing environment for learning and teaching. This year we had to
be very flexible in our work together.
It never ceases to amaze me all the gains and growth that occur over the course of a
year. I am proud of all the efforts and achievements. I hope all students are as proud of
their accomplishments as we adults are. There is no greater joy than to watch our
children discover their passions, solve problems, learn new skills, gain knowledge,
achieve their best, and enthusiastically participate in all the opportunities that have been
provided.
To the families and staff that will be leaving Strathcona this year, we wish you all the best
in your new communities.
Good luck to our grade 7s as they begin their high school careers. We know they will
take with them many fond memories of their years at Strathcona. We wish them all much
happiness and success.
And to our retiring teachers, thank you for all that you have done to help prepare and
successfully set up our students for life long learning. You have truly made a difference
in the lives of many children and families. Your contributions will always be remembered.

Wish everyone a safe and fun filled summer !

Ms. Sandhu

PAGE 2

The end of our year also means the departure of some

staff.
Leaving us this year are: support workers and temporary contracted teachers Mr. Scott
Jensen, Teri Coleman, Elnaz Shirazi, Dorothy Chiu and Christable Sarkar. Teachers: Cristina
Fogale and Gavin Grandish are moving on to new school assignments. Our Vice Principal Mr.
Jesse Brown is moving to Kerrisdale Annex. Finally, we have staff who are retiring and
embarking on new journeys this year: Grade 6/7 teacher Mr. Reid McInnes, Grade 1 teacher
Ms. Chris Judge and Margot McBride from our Library. We thank them all for their
contributions to the Strathcona community and wish them all the best! They will be missed!
We are welcoming to our staff Vice Principal: Ms. Margie Trovao Teachers: Ms. Bronwen
Keddie (FI Gr. 4/5) and Mr. Alex Mitchell (Music) and SSAs: Benjamin Chudnovsky and
Cecilia Colucci. Vivian Cai (Div.3) and Caitlin Stewart (Resource FI) will be staying on to cover
for teachers on leave and Andrea Millman (Div. 11F) will also be joining is for the year.

Each child is an adventure into a better life-an opportunity to change the old
pattern and make it new. -Hubert H. Humphrey

The First Phase of Seismic is expected to continue into the fall. However, as of September
1st the Auditorium and Cafeteria are expected to open! The Junior building will remain
closed until sometime in November.
Construction will continue on in the summer with the Auditorium, Cafeteria and Junior Building.
They will also be working on the surface of the courtyard. Please note there will be no access to
the courtyard for the duration of the summer.
For more information about our school seismic project please go to the following link:
https://www.vsb.bc.ca/strathcona-renewal
When we arrive back in September the Vancouver Public Library will have moved
out and we will have only our
school library located in the same area. There will no longer be any public access.
The new library hours for students only will be established and be posted.
We will continue having two sittings of lunch next year as all students
will eat in the cafeteria. Intermediate students will eat first at 12:10pm and the primary students will have play time first.
Primary will come line up for lunch at the second (hockey) bell.
Intermediate students served lunch @ 12:10pm
Primary students served lunch @ 12:30 pm

We will be returning to a hot lunch on Thursday, September 8th. For the first full day of school on Wednesday please
send your child to school with a lunch.

PAGE 3

NEWSLETTER #9

Late Returning Students

If a student currently enrolled in a
Vancouver school, expects to
We will be hosting our Grade 7 Leaving Ceremony at 1:30 pm in return to their Neighbourhood
the gymnasium on
School later than Tuesday,
Tuesday, June 28th,
Sept. 6, 2016 but prior to Sept.
30th, the parent or legal guardian
2016 .
must fill in a form by June 30,
A Luncheon will also
2016 in order for the student to
be happening at
remain enrolled in the school.
12:00 near the JackForms are available from the
school office. If we are unaware of
son Ave entrance to
late returns, due to limited space
the Sr. Building.
and resources all student
attendance must be verified by
noon Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016,
otherwise spaces may be filled
with other students on waitlists.

A childs life is like a piece of paper on which everyone who passes by

leaves an impression.
STUDENT PLACEMENT 2016-2017
We are unable to comment on the placement of
students for the upcoming school year. One of the
main reasons for this, at this time, is the ebb and
flow of students in and out of the school. We will be
unsure of the exact placement of students until the
children are all counted on the first day in
September. As well, although we know that everyone
is anxious to know who their classroom teachers may
be next year, any changes that take place due to
enrollment may not only affect the students but the
teachers teaching a particular grade. At this time,
the division of classes and the classroom teachers are
as follows:
Division 1, Gr. 6/7: Mr. Doug Sherrett - Room A105
Division 2, Gr. 6/7: Ms. Maryann Persoon - Room A108
Division 3, Gr. 6/7: Ms. Anna Chudnovsky - Room A107
Division 4, Gr. 6/7: Mr. Craig Larson - Room A202
Division 5, Gr. 6/7 FI: Karen LaRochelle - A209
Division 6, Gr. 5/6: Ms. Eileen Deforge - Room A201
Division 7, Gr. 4/5: Ms. Melissa Anema - Room A206
Division 8, Gr. 4/5: Ms. Betty Friesen - Room A106
Division 9, Gr. 4/5: Ms. Patti Parry - Room A204

Division 10, Gr. 4/5 FI: Ms. Annie Simard - Rm A208

Division 11, Gr. 4/5 FI: Ms. B. Keddie/TBA Rm A205
Division 12, Gr. 3/4: Ms. Karen Nesmith - Room A207
Division 13 Gr. 3: Mr. Thomas Dodd - Room E300
Division 14, Gr 3: Ms. Stella Lee - Room E300
Division 15 Gr. 2/3: Ms. Jenny Albutat - Room E300
Division 16, Gr. 2/3 FI: Ms. Pamela Buis - Room E300
Division 17, Gr. 2 /3FI: S.Langlois/A. Cristall - Rm D102
Division 18, Gr. 2: Karen Yu/Debbie Brown - Rm D106
Division 19, Gr. 1/2: Ms. Jane Quon - Room D107
Division 20, Gr. 1: Ms. Evelyn Tam - Room D103
Division 21, Gr. 1 FI: L. MacGregor/C. Gagne D101
Division 22, K: Ms. Lilliana Matelich - Room E200
Division 23, K: Ms. Colleen Sturrock - Room E200
Division 24, K FI: Ms. Helene Bouchard - Room E200
These grades are subject to change based on our
enrollment in September. This is one of the reasons it
is imperative for us to know if students are returning
to the school, moving or returning late. Thank you for
your consideration.

Lord Strathcona Elementary School

592 East Pender Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6A 1V5
Caring, Achieving Your Best, Respectful, Responsible

Parent Advisory Committee

I would like to thank the 2015-2016PAC Executive Members: Francesca Bernadetti, David Chen, Jenny Ryu,
Caitlin Pencarrick Hertzman , Miranda Reece, Judy MacInnes, Jen Eby, Stacey Bonienfant, Trudy ODonaghey,
Cindy Merritt, Tiffany Kindrid, Erica Xu, Evan Sam and Collen Boudreau, for your commitment and dedication to
your roles and our school. We are lucky to have you! I would like to thank the Parent Reps: for your work
communicating information to and from the parents to the PAC Executive. There are many other parents who
have volunteered with fundraising efforts, assist the safe arrival program, go on field trips, serve as one-toone tutors, read with students, and help in the classroom. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I hope many of you
will consider being involved next year as well. Your contributions help make this a great learning community.

If you want to touch the past, touch a rock. If you want to touch the
present, touch a flower. If you want to touch the future, touch a life.
HOW I CAN HELP MY
CHILD READ:

Get your child to talk

Help your children understand the

story

Praise your child

Encourage your
child by listening

NEW PAC
EXECUTIVE
2016-2017
PAC Chair:
David Chen
Treasurer:
Alexandra Harris
Secretary:
Currently not filled
Fundraising Chairs:

Relate the book to your life

Ask your child good questions

while reading

With younger children, point to

words when you read

Seismic:
Caitlin Hertzman

With older children, take turns

reading

Volunteer & Events Coordinator:

Vicky Huang

Let them practice

Choose books
carefully

Communication:
Colleen Boudreau
Past President:
Francesca Bernadetti

Income Equity:
Tiffiny Kindrid
Aboriginal Enhancement:
Trudy ODonaghey

Let your child re

-read favourite stories to you over
and over again

Have fun!

Hoo/Wong

Education and Outreach:

Currently not filled
Members at Large:
Kennedy Goodkey
Erica Xu
Paul Welch
Eva Sam

SCHOOL CALENDAR
2016-2017
Please note that our calendar has
now been approved as previously
published. If you would like another
copy please contact the office and
we would be happy to send you one.
Thank you.
School re-opens for
the 2016-2017 school
year on Tuesday,
September 6th.
All students are expected to arrive
at 9:00 am and report as follows:
Last years Grades K - 6 to last
years classroom or as posted on
the next page
All new students Grades 1-7 to
the library
All new Kindergarten students
to the gym.
We will be in session for only a
short time. Dismissal will be at
9:30am. We hope to have students
settled into their new classrooms
by the end of the first week.
Wednesday will be the first full day

PLEASE REMEMBER TO COME AND CHECK THE LOST AND FOUND IF YOUR CHILD IS MISSING ANYTHING!