To access our School Improvement Plan in full, click here.
Student Led Conferences - April 24th or 25th
Please sign up using Parent Connect for a student led conference time. Please access the notice that went home here. Please contact Dani at the school, 250-379-2320, if you need help.

Access Parent Connect here.
Athletics - Cross Country Running
Cross Country will be starting for students in grades k-8. We will be holding practices at our school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays starting Wed. April 8th. Practices will be from 11:45 - 12:15 with eating time to follow in the school from 12:15 - 12:30. We have two cross country meets scheduled for the season. The first is the Salmon River Run on Wednesday, May 1st at Silver Creek School. The second is the Little Mountain Stomp in Salmon Arm Sports Field (beside the Fire Hall) on Thursday, May 9th.

Due to the large number of students involved in the past (especially younger students), the PAC is willing to provide busing to the cross country meets and back to our school. Parents of participating students will be asked to contribute a voluntary fee to help offset the cost.

Click here to access the information letter recently sent home.
Parents are welcome to ride the bus as well to attend the meets but unfortunately siblings are not allowed to ride the bus, unless registered as a k-12 student in SD83. If you do plan on driving yourself to the meets, please ensure that you have a police information check on file at the school in order to drive children other than you own. This is school district policy for driving at any school related activity.

Permission forms will be coming home soon to interested students. Please contact the office if you are able to volunteer during practices or at the meets. Help with team jerseys, snacks, etc. are always appreciated.
Ministry of Education - Student Learning Survey (for students in Grades 4 and 7)
On an annual basis, the Ministry of Education has asked B.C. Schools to participate in a survey process that requires grade four, seven, ten and grade twelve students and their parents as well as all school staff to complete a Student Learning Survey.

The primary objective of the Student Learning Survey is to provide information that will support discussions about improving student achievement at each school. The survey gathers perceptions from students, parents, and staff on areas including achievement, human and social development, and safety. The information collected by the survey will help schools, school districts, and the Ministry set goals and establish priorities for future school years.

Students in grade 4 and 7 will take the survey with Mrs. Cull on Friday, April 12th.

Parents can click here to access this survey. Parents will NOT require a logon number to access the survey and can use the direct access option to logon to the survey. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.

The satisfaction survey needs to be completed by the end of April. We thank you in advance for your participation. The more completely our school is represented, the more useful the information will be.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact Shelly Cull at the school, 250 - 379 - 2320, or email at fal@sd83.bc.ca.
Our School Improvement Plan in action-
Update on our Numeracy Goal
Teachers are working hard on addressing student needs related to Numeracy. I am very pleased with our coordinated efforts through inquiry and other professional development initiatives. Soon, teachers will be administering a grade level assessment to students (developed by our District Numeracy Committee) to check on their understandings related to the critical concepts shared in the last newsletter. Click here to view the critical concepts for each grade level. Following the assessment, teachers will be meeting with Val Edgel, to delve deeper into the assessment results and explore instructional strategies.

We are excited to announce a Numeracy Night designed for parents at Falkland School with Val Edgel, District Numeracy Coordinator, myself (Shelly Cull) and Ms. Barker on Tuesday, April 16th. PAC is providing dinner from 5 - 5:30 and the session will take place in the gym from 5:30 - 6:30. Babysitting will be provided and door prizes will be given.

Please call Dani at the school, 250-379-2320, to register so we can plan materials, babysitting and dinner accordingly.

Click here to access the notice that was sent home with students before Spring Break about our Numeracy Night.

Soon, you will be receiving a school developed survey link, just like last year, to provide feedback on how you think we are doing in relation to our school improvement goals AND provide input into our school improvement plan for next school year 2019-2020.

To access our school improvement plan for the 2018-2019 school year, click here.
Grade 8 GRAD News
Our first grad planning meeting will take place on Monday, April 29th after school from 2:30 - 3:30 PM. All parents of students in grade 8 are encouraged to attend. We are eager to get our planning started and need help to make their graduation celebration from Falkland School a memorable one. The Grade 8 Graduation Celebration will be on Wednesday, June 26th. Please save the date in your calendars. Traditionally, students in grade 7 and their parents have helped to serve the grade 8 students and their families.
Information from PAC
Thanks to the following for taking on executive positions with PAC.

President: Yvonne Logan
Vice President: Adina Clements
Treasurer: Jill Pruner
Secretary: Rebecca Budac
Directors: Jody Boland, Karoll Brosnan, Christine Leclerc
DPAC rep: Yvonne Logan and Jill Pruner
Hot Lunch Coordinator: Jodi Boland

Next PAC meeting is Wednesday, May 1st at 2:30 in the Staffroom. All parents welcome and babysitting will be provided.

Please contact Yvonne Logan (778-930-0224) Adina Clements (250-463-5750) or Shelly Cull (250-833-2806 or 250-379-2320) to discuss ways you can get involved and contribute to your child's school experience.

HOT LUNCH DATES:
Wednesday, April 17th
Wednesday, May 8th
Wednesday, May 29th
Wednesday, June 12th
PAC Cookbook
PAC is still accepting any last minute recipes. Students have been asked to submit art work related to the theme of food or school spirit. Students whose artwork is selected will get a cookbook for free. Click here to access further information. Click here to access the form to submit a recipe. Thanks Megan Jackson for leading this fundraising initiative for PAC. The cost per cookbook is yet to be determined and will depend on the amount ordered. Please indicate on the form if you plan on purchasing a cookbook.

PAC MEETING DATES:
Wednesday, May 1
Wednesday, June 5 - cancelled
You can keep updated on PAC initiatives and events by liking or visiting their Facebook page here.
FALKLAND STAMPEDE PARADE
PAC is looking for students and parents to join them in representing Falkland School in the parade this year. The PAC is looking at possibly providing a bag of candy to participating students. Please contact Adina at 250 - 463 - 5750 if you are interested.
Community Rodeo Pancake Breakfast
The PAC is looking for helpers to help host a community breakfast at Falkland School on Thursday, May 16th. Please contact Adina at 250 - 463 - 5750 if you can help out with this annual tradition.
PITCH IN Day - Friday, April 26th
PAC has signed our school up to be part of the Pitch In Canada wide initiative. On the afternoon of Friday, April 26th, students will be out in areas of the community to pick up garbage. This initiative connects well to our focus on the environment and reducing waste at school. We are excited to get out in the community and make a difference.

If you are able to help us collect garbage and sort it, please let your child's classroom teacher know. The more help we have the greater our presence in the community.
Falkland School Annual
Plant and Flower Fundraiser
Click here for more information from our website and to print off an order form at home.
If you would like an order form to support this annual fundraising initiative, please call Dani at the office. Students are not encouraged to go door to door without a parent present. Also, it is the sellers responsibility to ensure their buyers get their product delivered to them when they arrive.

Due date for orders is April 25th and delivery date is Monday, May 6th.

The student with the highest sales gets to go for lunch with a friend and a staff member of their choice.
Lunch Time Activities
We have a variety of activities planned at lunchtime to help keep students positively engaged.

Mondays - Cross Country Running Practice with Mrs. Cull, Dani, Katelyn, Wes Sandy and parent volunteers.

Tuesdays - Mrs. Cull hosts Dodgeball with students in grades 6, 7, 8 (sometimes grades 5s too) and a parent volunteer (Lisa Colebank) has Lego and looming available for students on a rotational basis.

Wednesdays, there is cross country running practice (K-8)

Thursdays, there is basketball for students in grades 4 and 5 outside with Mrs. Baker, a Games Club (led by students) for students in Div 1 and 2, supervised by Mrs. Cull and a skipping club supervised by leadership students outside.

Friday there is homework club with Kelly Stalker (LHS) and Cross Country Running Practice (K-8).

Ms. Barker and Mrs. Cull are looking at providing soft ball for students at lunch time for students in grades 5 - 8 starting soon.

If there are lunch time activities that you would like to offer students at our school, please contact Mrs. Cull. Parent volunteers are more than welcome in our school.

Personal electronics are not permitted to be used outside at recess and lunch time. Personal devices are encouraged to remain at home for students in Div. 2 - 5. Personal devices can be used to support learning in our Div 1 and 2, with teacher consent.
Gymnastics - back by popular demand
PAC has agreed to cover the cost of gymnastics for all students again this year. We are excited to have Shawnee Venebles and her team from Momentum Gymnastics return to Falkland School. They will be here at our school on the following days: Tuesday, May 7th, Wednesday, May 8th and Thursday, May 9th and again on Tuesday, May 14th and Wednesday, May 15th.

Please remember to wear appropriate clothing for movement.
The swim at school program continues to be important to our school community. The following dates have been booked at the Vernon Recreation Center for our annual swim at school program. Students attend 8 times. PAC approved to fully fund transportation for students again this school year. This is equivalent to approximately a $45 savings to parents.
Swimming - Grades k-5
Lessons are on Tuesdays and Thursdays and are scheduled from 9:30 - 10:30 AM.

May 28th and 30th
June 4th, 6th, 11th, 13th, 18th, and 20th

Permission forms and more information about cost and busing will be sent home closer to the date. Cost is typically around $40.00.

Please ensure your child comes to school with their swim suit and towel each session.
School District No. 83 Dress Code
With the warmer weather approaching, please find information regarding our dress code. This same information was in our initial September Newsletter which outlines a variety of important information.

The North Okanagan-Shuswap School District expects all students to dress in a respectful manner which is appropriate and conducive to a positive as well as safe learning environment.
Appropriate dress is considered to be that which:
Is safe and respectful of self and others;
Is free of any reference which promotes alcohol, drugs, gangs, hate, obscenity, profanity, racism/discrimination, sex and/or violence;
Is not disturbing or distracting to others within the school setting;
Is similar to office or retail workplace attire.

At Falkland School appropriate coverage is expected in all learning environments (playground, classroom and gymnasium). Students wearing clothing which is too revealing including bare backs, bare midriffs, spaghetti straps, plunging necklines or muscle shirts or not suitable for the task at hand will be asked to wear something more appropriate, or be given something to wear. Underwear needs to be under your outerwear, and therefore, should not be visible. Footwear must be worn at all times.

Inside shoes are mandatory for all students to be sure our school stays clean.
We ask that hats and hoods must be removed once students enter the building. Hats and hoods may be worn during breaks and lunches while outside. Students who violate the hat policy may have the hat confiscated and held in the office until the end of the day. In conclusion…please, Dress For Success.
Upcoming Events at Falkland School
Please click here to access a pdf (printable) copy of our upcoming events. Please take note of the upcoming events pertinent to your family and record them in your calendars. While an email is sent home weekly as a reminder of upcoming events, this list will always be much more comprehensive.  
FALKLAND SCHOOL  | 5756 TUKTAKAMIN ROAD, FALKLAND BC

250 - 379 - 2320| fal.sd83.bc.ca | fal@sd83.bc.ca