Lord Strathcona Elementary School

592 East Pender Street

Vancouver, B.C. V6A 1V5
Tel: 604-713-4630 Fax: 604-713-4633
webpage www.strathcona.vsb.bc.ca
NEWSLETTER #3 - NOVEMBER 2015
Director of Instruction: Mr. David Nelson
Principal: Ms. Harjinder Sandhu
Liaison Trustee: Mr. Christopher Richardson
Vice Principal: Mr. Jesse Brown
PAC Co-Chairperson: Ms. Francesca
PAC Co-Chairperson: Mr. David Chen

On Wednesday of this week, our Junior Boys brought home our schools
second championship in two years! Our Senior Girls also gained entry to
the City Championship tournament and we will have their results by the
end of today, Thursday, Oct. 29th. This year we had 3 teams participate in
the Vancouver Elementary School Soccer Leagues: Junior Boys, Senior
Boys and Senior Girls. All of the student athletes were committed, showed
great sportsmanship and skill development. The coaches were very
pleased with the students efforts and we are all very proud of them.
Thank you to all the teachers and parents that were able to support our
teams this year by driving and cheering. A huge thank you to all of our
school and community coaches: Steve Valente, Ciara Martin, Bilan Hersi,
Lexy MacGregor, Doug Sherrett, Conor Murphy, Pamela Buis and Marvin
Garcia. Way to go Strathcona!!

Our Cross Country Team recently finished their season with their participation in our District Meet
at Trout Lake on Thursday, October 22nd. We were fortunate to have great weather for this event
as it included all Vancouver Elementary Schools. Our team was relatively small compared to some
but our runners were enthusiastic and we paired up with our neighbours from Seymour. It was a
great experience running with so many dedicated young athletes. Thank you to our coaches Ms.
Lee, Mr. Jensen, Mrs. Leung and Ms. Sandhu. We hope these runners will join the Running Club
in 2016. Keep a look out for more information in the new year!

.
Tuesdays after school is an exciting time for
several of our Strathcona students who head
down to Britannia Rink with our Community Links
Youth and Family Worker Greg Goodall and
Strath Community Centre staff member Lorraine
Holubowich. This is when some of our students
get to go to Heros Hockey for the Future Stars
Program! Vancouver was the first city to host
HEROS in 2000 , a program using the game of
ice hockey to help deliver lessons to build up self
esteem and life skills. Because of where we are
situated in the Downtown Eastside, our students
face many challenges, and this program helps our
students develop positive connections in the community by offering them fun
and supportive educational programs that help them make the right choices in
life. The program supports students as they make their way up the intermediate grades and into high school. It is wonderful to watch our students out in the
community having fun, showing determination and persistence as they develop
their on ice skills and positive relationships. Watching the student efforts is
most rewarding for all involved. It is wonderful to see the sense of pride in both
the students and their parents.

The Growing Chefs Program

pairs volunteer Chefs with
elementary schools to give
students hands-on
experience on planting,
growing and harvesting
vegetables and cooking their
own meals. Both Nevaeh
and Van experienced
Growing Chefs last year in
Ms. Chudnovskys class. The three
of them were invited to a very
successful evening at the Pacific
Culinary Arts Institute. The students
were great ambassadors for
Strathcona at the fifth Farm To Forks
Gala. They were the stars of
the night as they shared their
thoughts on the Growing Chefs
experience with a crowd of
several hundred guests. This
innovative program is currently
in 34 classrooms across the
district, getting kids thinking
about urban agriculture and
where their food comes from.

Inspired by the short film, Caines Arcade, the Global Cardboard Challenge is an annual event
presented by the Imagination Foundation that celebrates child creativity and the role communities
can play in fostering it. This September, kids of all ages were invited to build anything they could
dream up using cardboard, recycled materials and their imagination. Then on Saturday, October
10th, 2015, a day that commemorates the flash mob that made Caine's day in the short film, communities came together and played. At Strathcona we had our own Cardboard Challenge. Some of
our Grade 4 and 5 students worked in their classes to build and create using cardboard. Below are
some of the creations from Ms. Friesens and Ms. Nesmiths classes.

Do you have a child born in 2011?

Kindergarten registration starts on November 2nd
------All Kindergarten applicants are required to submit an application to their English catchment
elementary school. This includes families who wish to apply for choice programs and/or a cross
boundary placement.
The priority registration period for Kindergarten opens on Monday November 2nd and closes at 4
pm on Monday February 1st. Students who submit an application within this priority period will be
accommodated before late applicants.
In a few Vancouver schools there may be more in-catchment applicants than the school can
accommodate. In this event, applicants who applied within the priority registration period (Nov 2 to
Feb 1) will be included in a draw for available spaces. Students with siblings already in attendance
at the school (and who will be attending next year) will be given priority ahead of the draw.
When registering your child please bring:
Proof of residence in Vancouver
Childs birth certificate
Immigration documentation (if applicable)
Immunization records

For more information on Kindergarten registration please visit:

http://www.vsb.bc.ca/kindergarten

Kindergarten Registrants living within International Village Catchment:

For 2016-17 registration the Internationally Village catchment will be in effect for incoming
kindergarten students and for children who will be going into grades one and two. Families living in
the International Village catchment with a child entering Kindergarten in September should register
for the International Village at Seymour program, at Seymour School (1130 Keefer St, Vancouver).

Note: The International Village catchment is the portion of the current Strathcona
catchment WEST of Main Street.
Kindergarten Registrants living within the Strathcona Catchment:
Currently Lord Strathcona School is experiencing an increase in the number of students living within
our catchment area. For the 2016-17 school year we may not have space to accommodate all
in-catchment Kindergarten students. In the event that we receive more Kindergarten applications
than we can accommodate the process outlined below will be followed.

Kindergarten Registrations Received Between November 1st and February1st:

In-catchment Kindergarten registrants who have a sibling currently attending and who will
continue to attend their in-catchment school in 2016-17 will be enrolled first.
The names of all other in-catchment registrants will be entered in a random draw, should one be
necessary, for the remaining Kindergarten spaces.
Students who cannot be accommodated will be placed on a waitlist in numbered order.

Kindergarten Registrations Received AFTER February 1st:

All in-catchment Kindergarten registrations received after February1st will be added to the
existing waitlist by date and time of application. Please Note: There will be no priority given to
registrants with siblings already attending Strathcona after February 1 st.
When will I be informed as to the status of my childs application?
Families will be contacted by mid-February regarding the status of their childs Kindergarten
application. Students who could not be accommodated will be placed on an ordered waitlist. The
district will identify an alternate school placement for all waitlisted students. Students placed at an
alternate school location will be offered a space back at their catchment school, when one becomes
available, based on their numbered order on the waitlist.
Families who could not be accommodated and wish to apply to other schools should note that the
cross boundary application process is open from February 2nd to February 27th. Unlike in previous
years, cross boundary applications within equivalent priority groupings will be accepted by draw not
by date and time of application.

Cross Boundary Applications to Strathcona:

Strathcona School may not be able to accept any new cross boundary students for the 2016-17
school year. This may include new cross boundary applications from students with siblings
already attending Strathcona School. This is essential to ensure spaces are available for
current and future catchment residents.
We understand this could be disruptive to families with children already attending Strathcona
cross boundary, particularly to families living west of Main Street in the International Village.
catchment. If this change impacts your family please contact Harjinder Sandhu, Principal,
directly so we can discuss your situation.
We will continue, through newsletters, to keep parents informed as to our Kindergarten
numbers as the registration process continues.
Applications for Choice Programs
The district offers a variety of choice programs including French Immersion, Mandarin Immersion,
Fine Arts, Aboriginal Focus School, International Baccalaureate and Montessori. If you are
planning to apply for Choice Program(s) you still need to register for kindergarten at your English
catchment school first. The online application process opens in mid-January and closes in
early February. http://www.vsb.bc.ca/kchoice
There will be a district supervised draw to select applicants for the available program space.
Offers for program spaces will be made by late February. You will be given a formal offer of a space
in a Kindergarten choice program or an indication of where you sit on the waitlist.
FRENCH IMMERSION ADMISSION PROCEDURES FOR 2016/2017
The most common point of entry for French Immersion is Kindergarten. Students may enter in Grade
1 if space is available. Registration for Kindergarten can be found on the VSB website:
http://www.vsb.bc.ca/programs/early-french-immersion

The first step for everyone is to register with your neighbourhood English catchment school
regardless of whether you plan to send your child there or not. The application process for the
Kindergarten French Immersion Program will be online beginning mid January. To apply, you will
need your childs Personal Education Number (PEN) which you will receive in early January IF you
have registered for kindergarten at your English catchment school. A random computer draw will
determine the successful applicants. Applicants will be notified as to placement in late February. An
information session for parents/students interested in District French Immersion program at
Strathcona on January 12th @ 7:00pm in our Library.

We are very excited to be working with our Aboriginal Education Department and the Vancouver
Opera to develop a mini Opera in our school. The four classes selected to participate in this
wonderful program were Mr. Sherretts, Mme. La Rochelles, Ms. Anemas and Ms. Parrys. Our
VBE Knowledge Keeper, Shane Pointe, has visited us to teach us all about the importance of
storytelling that reflects the stories and history of aboriginal people. Aboriginal perspective on
important issues such as social justice, the community and the environment were shared. We are
thankful for Shanes guidance. We also worked with Rory Cowal and Eva Tavares from the
Vancouver Opera. The books that the classes will be working with on this project have an
Aboriginal focus: Little Bears Vision Quest and Roy Henry Vickers Orca Chief, Raven Brings
the Light and Cloudwalker. The students will be ready to present their project on November 19th.
We look forward to seeing and hearing them!

In our school plan for 2015-2016, we have identified the following goals:

To improve achievement for every child in reading through school wide targeted strategic
instructional practices.

To increase knowledge, acceptance, empathy, awareness and appreciation of Aboriginal

histories, traditions, cultures and contributions among all students.

FUN WITH BOOKS

Two of our classes
Mr. Jensens and
Ms. Judges had the
opportunity to
spend a Friday
Immersed in story.
Our friends from the
Community brought
Tiffany Stone, a
Childrens poet.
Tiffany did a
Poetrypalooza Interactive readings
of poems, using
props and puppets,
with the students.
For more about the
author, you can visit
her website:
www.tiffanystone.ca
Thank you to our
librarian Ms. Jen
Hong for
co-ordinating this.

Bedtime Routines A Part of School Readiness!

Learning is hard work and requires a lot of
energy. Children who are
well rested are better
prepared and ready for
learning at school. Some
children will need extra
sleep to adjust to the new
routines and demands of
school. Although some
children need less sleep and others more, most
feel and act better when they go to sleep at a
regular bedtime. Most children need between
10 and 12 hours of sleep per night. Children
often become cranky, impatient or have a
shorter attention span when they are not
getting enough sleep. A routine bedtime helps
to set regular sleep patterns and good sleep
habits. Please help support your childs learning
by establishing a bedtime routine that consists
of 8 pm or 9 pm bedtime.
Keep your eyes open for our Book Tree that will begin
growing outside our office. Ms. Hong will be collecting
book recommendations from students after each book
they have read. These reviews will be represented on
leaves. We look forward to seeing our tree grow many
leaves!

Every Wednesday afterschool, our students

are invited to our Aboriginal Education
Enhancement Worker, Donna Lokhorsts
room to meet with her and Kat Norris. During
this time students are led in song, drumming
and dancing. Students have the opportunity
to connect, learn and share their culture. The
room is always filled with positive energy, a
sense of fun and belonging.

On Mondays, Donna partners with Red Fox bring activities to the

students. We are so thankful our students, families and
community member have this opportunity.
The evening ends with feasting in the community center.

Volleyball season is now upon us. We have teams competing in all four divisions of our elementary
schools extracurricular league. All teams practice several mornings a week
to prepare for weekly matches. If you are interested in supporting the teams,
you can catch all the action as follows:
Mondays Junior Boys
Tuesdays - Junior Girls
Wednesdays - Senior Boys
Thursdays - Senior Girls
Thank you to all our coaches: Greg Goodall, Tracy Kong, Karen LaRochelle,
Pamela Buis, Craig Larson, Steve Valente, Ciara Martin, Tom King, Deanna
Lee, Mike Rourke and Jesse Brown.

Family Movie Night. Nov. 3 - Strathcona Gymnasium.

Doors 5:30 Movie 6:15
All families should have received their flyer for the family movie night
and returned the bottom portion for a chance to win a combo pack.
Winners will be announced at recess on Nov. 2nd
Parents are required to attend this event with their children.
Next PAC Meeting
Tuesday November 10, 9:15am - Family Room
Please join us for our next PAC meeting. Everyone is welcome.
Earthquake Preparedness Seminar - Nov. 25, 6pm - Location TBD
In conjunction with the City of Vancouver, the PAC is planning to bring
an earthquake preparedness seminar to our community. In the
workshops, you will learn how to prepare for, respond to, and recover
from earthquakes, tsunamis, heat waves, and other disasters. You can
also learn how to reduce possible damage to your property.
These workshops are offered through the Neighbourhood Emergency
Preparedness Program (NEPP). They are two hours long, and are
held regularly in community centres throughout Vancouver.
The workshops are free to attend. Please email
info@strathconapac.org if you would like to attend.

Strathcona Winter Craft Fair November 28th 10am - 4pm

In the Strathcona Gymnasium.
Come and shop for unique affordable gifts for the holiday season
from local vendors. Strathcona students are vendors at this fair:
The Hamster Wheel Jewelry by Josie & Quinn (gr. 5), Travelling
Treasures by Aija & Sailor (gr. 4 & 5, and Stella Bellas Awesome
Gifts by Stella Sikorski (gr. 5). We have school moms Laurie
Bricker, of Kiln Ceramic Jewelry and Sharilyn Kuehnel of Plain
Jane Designs.
As well as a school grandmother, Jennie Pencarrick! The
Strathcona Backpack Program will have a table and dont forget
to eat at ASAs Pirate Kitchen. See you there!

Mark Your Calendars!

October 30th
- Halloween Costume
Parade @ lunch
- SCC Halloween Carnival
and Haunted House after
school
November 3rd
- Grade 2 Dental Screen
- PAC Family Movie Night
November 5th
- VSO for all Gr. 4-7
November 6th
- Heart of the City
performance at 1:30pm
November 10th
- PAC Meeting @ 9:15
- Remembrance Day
Assembly @ 11:00
November 11th
- Remembrance Day (No
School)
November 13th
- K Dental Screening
- Peer Helper Training
November 19th
- Project Opera
Presentation
November 27th
- Professional Day (No
School)