This is the time of year when our students in grades 4 & 7 begin participating in the Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA). This annual provincial assessment, measures students’ academic skills and provides the district with a snapshot of students’ foundational skills in literacy and numeracy. All students in grades 4 & 7 are required by the Ministry of Education and Child Care to participate in the FSA.
The results of the FSA serve as an important tool to support student learning in SD83 which will be particularly important as we continue to determine the impact of COVID-19 on student learning. The district also uses the assessment data to support the alignment of resources during our annual budget discussions. FSA data is not part of the formal student evaluation process and is not included in student report cards.
“Eighteen-year-old Terry Fox of Port Coquitlam, BC never saw himself as remarkable. Granted, he displayed an unusual determination to achieve the goals he set for himself but his orbit was local – family, school, sports and friends. But Terry’s cancer diagnosis of osteogenic sarcoma just above the knee, the subsequent amputation of his leg and experience in the children’s cancer wards changed all that. A newly nurtured reservoir of compassion, combined with a fierce determination to bring an end to the suffering cancer causes, set Terry on a path that, quite simply, changed the world.”
Bastion Elementary will be participating in the Terry Fox School Run on Friday, September 23rd. All classes will join the run, which will begin at 12:30. A special thank you goes to Mme Valerie and Mrs. Goshulak for organizing the event!
Students and staff are encouraged to bring a “Toonie for Terry” to school, and donations will be passed on to the Terry Fox Foundation. To help reduce the amount of contact with money, we will also be collecting donations online. The Terry Fox Foundation has set-up a website, specific to Bastion Elementary, to collect donations. Please click on the link below, if you’d like to donate online. Thank you for your support!!
Recently there have been rumours about “cameras in student washrooms” that have generated some calls and emails to School District No. 83 (North Okanagan-Shuswap) and some of its schools.
“I want to assure everyone that these rumours are untrue and unfounded,” states Superintendent of Schools Donna Kriger. “SD83 is committed to student safety, privacy, well-being and learning. We are grateful for those concerned stakeholders who reached out to us from a place of positive intent.”
S83 is currently enjoying a school start up filled with renewed optimism and hope. “Our intention is to continue this positivity through the 2022-23 school year as we focus on keeping students first.”
Kriger asks that if parents do hear these types of rumours/information please take the time to check with your school principal to ensure the information is indeed accurate.
We certainly hope all of our Bastion families have had a wonderful summer! Whether you had a stay-cation or travelled beyond the borders of our province, we hope everyone was able to create some special memories with family and friends.
Only five more sleeps and then we get to begin a brand new school year!! Many teachers have been in the school, getting their classrooms ready and they are looking forward to reconnecting with the students they taught last year, and they are excited to meet the students who will be in their class for the 2022 – 2023 school year. Hopefully all of our students are looking forward to starting a new school year (even if they say they’re not… deep down they really are)!!
Sincerely,
Joel Menzies (Principal) and Megan Weir (Vice-Principal)
The September newsletter will have lots of important information for families to review, and you can expect that newsletter to come home near the end the first week. In the meantime, here is some information about our school start-up:
First Week of School
The Grade 1 – 5 students will start school on Wednesday, September 7th. When the Welcoming Bell rings at 8:05, the students will line-up at the exterior door of last year’s classroom. The students will spend the first day in their last year’s classrooms, so we can determine who has moved away and who has recently registered. All students new to Bastion can meet Mr. Menzies and Mme Weir at the stairs, by the main entrance of the school. On September 7th, the students will be at school for a full day and be dismissed at 2:07 pm (please note the new dismissal time). On Thursday (maybe even Friday), the students will be able to go to their classrooms for the year and meet their teachers.
On Wednesday evening, families will receive an email from Mr. Menzies. The email will state one of the following:
On Thursday, September 8th, the students will remain in their last year’s class until the School District gives Mr. Menzies the “OK” to have students go to their new classroom.
or
On Thursday, September 8th, the students will be able to go to their new classrooms and meet their new teachers. The email will let families know who their child’s 2022-2023 teacher will be, as well as the Division and Room Number.
In the past, we have had an email issue where some families did not receive the email, stating which class their children were in. If this happens again, and you do not receive notification on Wednesday evening, several staff members will be available on Thursday morning to tell families which classes their child(ren) will go to. Due to privacy protection, schools are no longer allowed to post class lists. We apologize in advance if families do not receive this important information in a timely manner.
Kindergarten students will begin their Gradual Entry on Thursday, September 8th. Information about the Kindergarten Gradual Entry, including the students’ group, was emailed to families on June 30th, 2022. We are very excited to meet all of our new Kindergarten students!!
School Supplies
Families do not need to go to the store and purchase school supplies for their children. The school has already purchased supplies for each child, and we charge a School Supply Fee. Feel free to click on the Bastion Fee Schedule link, to view the breakdown of School Supplies Fees and Activity Fees.
Each family will receive a Supply and Activity Fees invoice, which will be sent home the second week of school. Kindly wait until you receive the invoice before paying the fees. Once you have received the invoice, you may issue payment via e-transfer, cheque or cash.
Please remember to bring indoor shoes, a backpack and a snack on the first day!
We’re look forward to seeing many happy smiling faces on Wednesday, September 8th!! Enjoy your long-weekend!!
École Élémentaire Bastion Elementary School 