Principal’s message
Here we are then at the start of a fresh new school year with a clean slate (or exercise book, or white board or laptop) to start to fill. Our school is ready to go with the custodial team of Stan Strebchuk and Zave Reinhart turning the school into a gleaming palace of learning and the staff having put their heads together to find even better ways to collaborate together over class and school activities. Outside, the new Neighbour Learning Centre a.k.a. ‘the greenhouse’, has been installed and is ready for Fall growth. What words can therefore sum up our thoughts on the year ahead, what we must achieve and what our priorities are for the students in our school? We all know that our children are our future and so for us all, parents and staff, I think that I will borrow some words from a man from Hudson, Quebec: “So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.”
Welcome to new faces
We are excited to welcome a new teacher in our Grade 2, 3&4 class. Heather Jenkins joins us from Nakusp Elementary School. She has been busy preparing her new classroom, Room 148, downstairs by the gym ready to start the year off in a dynamic way.
Our new Kindergarten students are Keara, Kieran, Drew, Tasia, Kayden, Taylor, Rylen, Jay, Maddy and Zander: in Grade 1 we have Cassandra and Hannah: in Grade 2 Sakura joins us again: in Grade 6 Elizabeth returns and in Grade 7 we are joined by Teo and Jeda. In the secondary school we are joined by Ali, Sophie, Sagen, Lily, Kate and Darren with Noah and Margaret joining us as part time students at Lucerne.
Noon-hour supervision
Our new Grade 12 class have decided to take on board again noon-hour supervision of elementary students in order to help them fundraise for their graduation year. They understand the responsibilities required for this important role of school service and have committed themselves to being reliable and diligent. However, as it is a small class we also are sending a call out for adult volunteers to supervise one lunchtime a week between 11.51 and 12.51 with the youngest students. Last year a team of volunteers did this and fundraised for the pre-school. If you are able to commit to one day every week please contact Mrs. Miles or Katrina Sumrall.
Field trips in September
Secondary school students are all heading to Alberta during the week September 19th to 23rd to take part in a cross-curricular fieldtrip in which they will experience learning activities from the Socials, Science and English curricula. This is the second year Lucerne School has planned one field trip for all students and we are looking forward to it tremendously. At 6.15pm at the welcome back barbeque on Thursday September 8th there will be a meeting for secondary students and parents with teachers to tell you all about the field trip and to distribute consent forms. The meeting will be in the library.
The Grade 5-7 class with Katrina Sumrall are heading to Slocan Lake for four days from September 13th. The trip will see them build the all important leadership skills that are required for our eldest intermediate students and include some hiking. Consent letters have already gone home. At the welcome back barbeque Katrina would like to meet her class and their parents at 6.15pm in her classroom to talk about this fieldtrip.
The school district requires all volunteers on field trips to have completed ‘criminal record check’ forms with the RCMP each school year so please ask for a form at school or at the RCMP station. Also, all volunteer drivers must have gained a drivers abstract from ICBC in order to drive students at the start of each year. These can be instigated at RHC insurance or phoning 1800 950 1498. There is a volunteer driver application form available at school that must also be completed.
Communication with the school office
If a student is unable to attend school for the day it is the responsibility of the parent to inform the school office, not for the school secretary to phone home to make an enquiry. Parents should also let the school office know of appointments during the day so that we know who has permission to leave school. The school office phone takes voice mails so messages can be left before 8.15am.
School hours
Our elementary school had lessons from 9am until 11.51am and then from 12.40 – 3.06pm this year with a 15 minute morning recess. Our secondary school has lessons from 8.55-11.51 and then from 12.40-3.06pm, again with a 10 minute morning recess.
PAC Meetings
The AGM of PAC will take place on Tuesday 4th October at 7pm. At this meeting the executive is elected. If you would like to run for the positions of Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer and Secretary, please let Paula Shandro (the current Vice-Chair) know. This will be our first meeting of the year as there are two field trips taking place in September which will involve parents and staff who are regular PAC meeting attendees.
Terry Fox Run
The 31st Annual Terry Fox Run will take place on Tuesday 27th September at 9am. This is the community event and so everyone is encouraged to come to school to take part. Students will come home with pledge sheets nearer the date. This summer Betty Fox, Terry’s mother, died and in the tributes following her passing away we were reminded of the importance of the foundation established in his name to raise over $500 million for cancer research. Many of us know someone who has been able to beat cancer because of the research that has taken place. Please take part on the day but if you are unable to, please make a donation to the appeal.
BCTF Strike Action
The teachers’ union has issued notification of strike action to start on Tuesday September 6th. Teachers at Lucerne reassure students and families that they will continue to ensure that the learning that takes place in their classrooms is priority and that our students are safe. If you have questions about the strike action please refer them to Nicol Suhr, the president of Arrow Lakes Teacher Association at lp10@bctf.ca
And finally…
…our ‘Welcome Back to School Barbeque’ takes place on Thursday, September 8th between 5 and 7pm in the school garden. All students and their families are welcome to join the staff of the school.
