October 31

A message from the Principal:

Hello parents,

The energy is high in the building today as students look forward to their Halloween evenings! There were lots of fantastic student and staff costumes today on display. We are completing another busy week, with our final Pumpkin Patch field trips, Grade 4 students completing their FSA’s, and Mr. Zigar’s class is hard at work preparing for our Remembrance Day assembly. Ms. Forde’s class also had a lovely harvest lunch and her students (with help) prepared a delicious soup which was shared with many in the school.

As we look ahead to next week, a reminder to adjust your clocks before going to bed on Saturday night, and please try to adjust your child’s bedtime routine accordingly so that they can be rested and ready to learn on Monday morning. We know how dark the mornings can be at this time of year, and have students come into our building well rested is one of the most important factors to ensure they are ready to learn.

There are a few key pieces of information to pass along as we look to the week ahead:

• Volleyball Season has begun. Our first home game is Thursday, November 6^th against Valleycliffe Elementary. Game begins at 3:30pm and parents are welcome to attend.
• Remembrance Day Assembly: On Friday, November 7^th at 11:00am, we will be having our Remembrance Day assembly. Parents are welcome to attend.
• A reminder that Monday, November 10^th is a Pro-D day and school will not be in session. Tuesday, November 11^th is Remembrance Day and school is not in session.

A few general things to think about this time of year:

• Getting to and from school. There are still a number of students that are biking, riding scooters and walking to and from school every day. With the dark and wet mornings, it can be very difficult to see children on the roads and sidewalks. Please have a conversation with your child about how to remain safe while getting to school. Staying on sidewalks and bike lanes, double checking before crossing any street, wearing bright clothing, having lights on their bikes, etc…It can all help keep children safe. As drivers, please remember to drive the speed limit through school zones and expect children to do unexpected things.

• Appropriate clothing. As the temperature drops and we are seeing wetter days, we still have a number of students who arrive at school without appropriate clothing. Students must have clothing that can keep them warm and dry, even on a rainy or snowy day. It places a significant burden on BRE staff when children come in from recess soaking wet, and cold. Please ensure your child arrives at school prepared to be outside on even the wettest days.

• Wildlife. We have had a number of flocks of Canadian geese grazing in our upper fields. We are trying to give the animals space, but a number of children have been approaching the geese, and in a couple of cases, throwing sticks and rocks at the birds. As a staff, we are speaking with our students about respecting the wildlife, but it would be great to have that message reinforced at home. Any wild animal on our property should not be approached.

Antony Blaikie – Principal

Brackendale Elementary School

Sea to Sky School District, SD48

I am honoured to be living, working, and learning on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Sḵwxwú7mesh Nation.