Queensbury Elementary School

2020 Moody Avenue, North Vancouver, British Columbia, V7L 3V3 Phone: 604-903-3730 Fax: 604-903-3731
Queensbury School Mission Statement Education at Queensbury is directed towards providing all children an equal opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to maximize their potential in intellectual, social and physical development. Queensbury School Code of Conduct Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Cooperative. Believe in Yourself and Others Please visit our school website: www.nvsd44.bc.ca school links: Queensbury School

Friday, Sept. 7/12

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!

I would like to extend a warm welcome back to all staff, students and families! I hope everyone had a restful and relaxing summer break. With the start of the new school year, I would also like to welcome all of the new students and families to Queensbury. We have a number of new staff members joining us this year as well. I am sure you will help welcome Lise Smith (Vice-Principal, Grade 3 teacher, LAC), Brenna Kelly (Educational Interpreter), Gail Stein (Learning Support Worker), and Susan Reid (Temporary Supervision Aide) to the Queensbury family. It has been a busy first week as students moved into their new classes on Wednesday and have been busily getting to know new teachers and classmates. The transition has gone very smoothly and I am pleased to say everyone is settling well into the new routines. Today we had a welcome back assembly and it was an opportunity for everyone to meet as a whole school and review some school expectations. To help get the school year off to a successful start, Grade 1 to 7 teachers will be hosting Meet the Teacher Night on Tuesday, September 11th. Other important events that are coming up quickly in this first month are Terry Fox Run on September 21st, Grade 4 Bighouse Program on September 24 th and 25th, and Grade Six Outdoor School at the beginning of October. Please be sure to look for upcoming information. This year the school will be looking at playground improvements with the infusion of Ministry money. A committee has been struck with staff and parents involved. More information will be shared at a future PAC meeting. I welcome parents to contact me anytime during the school year if they have questions, comments, or would like to discuss their childs progress or other educational matters. I am looking forward to another wonderful school year! Yours truly, Rick Chan Principal

PROFESSIONAL DAY FRIDAY, SEPT. 28 No School for Students

Forms, Forms, Forms!

Your child will by now have brought home a stack of forms to fill out. Please do so as soon as possible and return them to the teacher. This helps us update our records and also means that we will be able to contact you in an emergency as quickly as possible. The forms sent home with the old comfort kits must be returned by Friday, September 14 Earthquake drills will be taking place later in the school year. Having complete forms will expedite your childs release from school should it be necessary in an emergency. Your attention to this important matter is appreciated.

Volunteer Forms For Parents If you are planning to volunteer in the school or to drive on a field trip this year, please come by the school office to pick up the volunteer application package. Please complete and return to the office as soon as possible. Thank you to all the parents who devote countless hours supporting the students of Queensbury. SMILE! Student Photos
Individual student photos will take place on Friday, October 12. Mark your calendars!

SCHOOL HOURS
There is no formal supervision before 8:50 am. Students will be allowed into the building beginning at 8:40. There is a first bell at 8:45 to signal to the students to begin preparing for the start of the day. The 8:50 bell is the start of instruction in the classes. To assist with morning routines, we ask that you have your child here at school on time. Everyone is to enter through the front door with the exception of the students in the classes downstairs who may use the door on the south side leading into the lower level. We would also appreciate it if parents can be prompt with the drop off and to exit classes by the second bell to allow instruction to begin.

Allergy AwarenessPeanuts, Sesame Seeds, Kiwi Fruit!

We have a number of students in the school with life-threatening allergies to peanuts, peanut butter, and sesame seeds as well as a few with allergies to various fruits. Parents and students in all of the classrooms affected have been notified of the allergies, and the Community Health Nurse has reviewed with all staff the proper use of the epi-pen. If your child is registered in a class where students with severe peanut or other allergies are also enrolled, please remember to keep it a nut/sesame/kiwi free zone.

Medications at School
If your child is anaphylactic and you have not yet completed medical forms or do not have an epi-pen at school, please inform the school immediately. New Students - Forms will be sent home the first week of school. Please take to your family doctor and return forms to school as soon as possible. Returning Students - A form will be sent home the first week of school. Please complete the form indicating no change in your childs medical plan. IF THERE ARE CHANGES, a new form signed by the Dr. must be brought to the office. Our priority is to keep your child safe at school!

Lunch Time Routines We remind parents at this time that you are welcome to take your child home for lunch hour to give a much needed break or to spend quality time, if you are able. Please be sure that students sign out prior to leaving school grounds, and check in upon their return. It is important that we know which children are physically in the school so that if there is an emergency, we do not waste precious time looking for a child that is not present. Parents must provide a note to the office indicating that their child has permission to go home at lunch time. One note for the year is fine if the child goes home every day. If your child will be going home only occasionally, please provide a note for that particular day. For students who wish to go to a friends for lunch, a permission note from both sets of parents is required. If there is no note, the child must remain at school. Children staying for lunch will have from noon to 12:25 pm to eat their food. The bell at 12:15 will allow students ready to go out to do so. All students must head outside at the 12:25 pm bell. Students will re-enter the school at the 12:50 bell. Instruction will begin promptly at 12:55 p.m. During the first six to eight weeks of school, the kindergarten childrens lunch hour will be different from that of the rest of the school in order to teach the children the procedures, rules and expectations of lunchtime. They will be Playing First (from 11:30 to 12:00 being supervised by SEAs) and Eating Later in their classroom (from 12:00-12:25 being supervised by SEAs and Grade 6/7 lunch monitors)

GETTING TO SCHOOL NEW PARKING RULES

As far as getting to school goes, the best way to get here is to walk. This is good for the environment and good for fitness too. It also reduces the number of cars here in the morning, which increases the safety for our students. Do not use the staff parking lot for either drop-off or turning around. If you have to drop your child off, please consider doing so on either 21st Street or on Queensbury Avenue behind the field. There are gates through the fence, and it is much less crowded and therefore much safer.

Dogs at School
Please remember that your family pet does not belong at school. Dog walkers should not tie the dogs to the fences. We are concerned that children may be nipped as they walk by. Ask a friend to remain with the pet, while you come inside, or allow your child the independence of walking in the front door on his/her own.

Personal Effects at School

From time to time, students like to bring personal effects to school. Unless it is for a specific activity like show and tell, it is best that anything of value be kept at homeit is just too easy for cherished items to get broken or lost. Cell Phones Some parents have provided their children with cell phones for the purpose of staying in touch before and after school. As it relates directly to student safety, cell phones are permitted. However, they must be dropped off at the front office, so they do not become a disruption in the class, and to help keep the cell phones secure.

Queensbury School Staff 2012- 2013 Administrative Staff:

Principal Vice-Principal Mr. Rick Chan Mrs. Lise Smith Mrs. Judy Hudson Mrs. Marie Ellis Mrs. Patty Smith Room 1 3 4 6 8 4 5 7 14 11 12 13 Teacher Mrs. Joanne Rittich / Mrs. Lauren Startup/ Mrs. Jennifer Young* Miss Heather Duncan Mr. David Harris Miss Megan Hoodspith Mrs. Gerri Karr Mrs. Lise Smith/ Mrs. Biro Dhaliwal Ms Laurie Kennedy / Mrs. Beverly Grantham Mrs. Kathy Garford Mrs. Judy Galpin Mrs. Kerri Battrum Ms Brenda Bennett Ms. Heather Williams/ Mrs. Lauren Startup

Office Staff: Administrative Assistant Office Assistant Supervision Aide Teaching Staff: Division E01 E02 E03 E04 E05 E06 E07 E08 E09 E10 E11 E12 Grade 7 6 5 4 3/4 3 2 2 1 1 K K

*Mrs. Young will return in January from Maternity Leave. Non-Enrolling Teaching Staff: Library/ NIT Music ESL Learning Assistance Gifted Counsellor Band Learning Support Worker Special Education Aides: Mrs. Sandy Dodimead Mrs. Darlene McIntosh Mrs. Poupak Toufanian Miss Brenna Kelly Mrs. Gail Stein (LSW) Custodial Staff: Mr. Chris Bustamante
Mr. Manjit Sidhu

Mrs. Wendy Evans Mrs. Joanne Rittich Ms. Cheryl Yasayko Mrs. Biro Dhaliwal/ Mrs. Lise Smith/ TBA TBA Ms. Enzula Tavormina Mr. Steve Toren Ms. Gail Stein

(day 7:00 to 7:30 am and 10:00 to 11:30)

(evening 3:00-11:00 p.m.)

CONTACTING QUEENSBURY STAFF If you wish to contact staff at Queensbury School, you may use email as follows: First initial, last name, @nvsd44.bc.ca (example mellis@nvsd44.bc.ca ) You may also leave a message at the office at 604-903-3730

2012-2013 BELL SCHEDULE

8:45 8:50 10:20 10:40 12:00 12:15 12:25 12:50 12:55 3:00 Warning Bell Instruction Bell Recess Break Begins End of Recess Bell Lunch Bell (students may begin to go out to play) Bell (all students to go outside) End of Lunch Bell Afternoon Instruction Bell Dismissal

Queensbury School Band Schedule

Tuesdays Continuing Band Beginning Band Continuing Band Beginning Band 1:00 1:40 pm 1:40 2:20 pm 8:00 8:40 am 8:40 - 9:20 am

Fridays

Library Fundraiser: Used Childrens Book Sale Time and Location: Friday, September 14th at 3:00 pm at the front entrance of the school All books 25 cents If you have gently used childrens books you would like to donate to the sale, please drop them off at the library anytime before the Friday sale.

SEPTEMBER 2012 DATES

Please note: The complete school calendar is accessed through the school website. It is
recommended that you refer to it on a regular basis as it is updated frequently. The information below gives a glimpse of activities taking place in September. In future newsletters, this feature will not be included as all updates will be available on the website calendar. Sept. 7 Sept. 11 Welcome Back Assembly 9:15 am Meet the Teacher Night
Schedule of Events 5:30 6:00 6:30 6:30 7:00 Bighouse Meeting for Grade 4 parents Meet the Intermediate Teachers Meet the Primary Teachers Outdoor School Meeting for Grade 6 parents Location: Room 6 (Gr. 4 to 7) classrooms (Gr. 1 to 3) classrooms Location: Room 3 Location: Library

Parent Advisory Council Meeting Everyone is Welcome!

Sept. 12 Sept. 21 Sept. 24 Sept. 26 Sept. 28

Kindergarten First Full Day of Class 8:50 3:00 Terry Fox Run for all students 2:00 pm Grade 4s to Big House - Return on Sept. 25 Shakewood Annie Friday - School Based Professional Day - NO SCHOOL ATTENTION PARENTS! IAP Kids Plus Accident Insurance

This is a great, inexpensive way to protect your child every day. Applications are available at the office. You can apply online as well at www.iapkidsplus.com/applynow.

2012/ 2013 School Fees

The following fees will be collected at a later date: Student Planners Enrichment Activities: (gymnastics, fine arts, badminton, science workshops) Kindergarten Grades 1 to 7 Grade 3 Three day Outdoor School Program Grade 4 Big House Program Grade 6 Five day Outdoor School Program $6

$32 $37 $140 $95 $250

Field Trip fees vary by trip and are determined at the time of planning.