Dear Falkland Families;

Welcome to the 2019-2020 school year at Falkland School. I hope that you had a relaxing, safe and enjoyable summer. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed seeing all the students today, filled with excitement as they reunited with friends and staff. Our Falkland School staff prides itself on our sense of team, community and commitment to the success of your children. It is an honour to serve as Principal at Falkland School and work closely with your children.

At this time, we welcome 14 new kindergarten students and 7 new students to the community which brings our total student enrolment to 104. A special "Welcome to the Wolfpack" to these students. We wish our 12 students heading off to PVSS best wishes as they transition into high school. We also wish our 3 students, along with their families, who have moved to other communities, the very best. You all will be missed.

There are several ways we keep parents informed of the happenings at our school: monthly e-newsletters, weekly emails, our website , and Facebook . Posts on our website automatically go on our Facebook page so please LIKE or FOLLOW US on Facebook. Please feel free to email me or Dani if you require information or have questions. We can also be reached by phone 250-379-2320 between 8:00 pm and 2:30 pm.

School fees which include school supplies for classroom use are due on September 27th. Your prompt payment is appreciated as it allows us to replenish our budget quickly for the purchase of learning resources needed for the start of the 2019-2020 school year. Click here for our fee schedule.

This e-newsletter, being the first newsletter of the school year, contains important information about the routines and procedures for students and parents at our school. Please ensure you read through them so you can help your child find success.

As always, I welcome your thoughts, questions, suggestions, or any concerns regarding all aspects of Falkland School.

Mrs. Cull
Staffing Update
Mrs. Cull will be teaching music this school year to students in Division 2, 3, 4, and 5. Although Mrs. Cull encourages parents to pop in to see her to discuss matters, an appointment made in advance will guarantee her availability. The opportunity to address matters promptly is ideal in any problem solving scenario. A complete list of our 2019 - 2020 staff and their roles can be found here.
Welcome back to Bob King who is returning as school counsellor. We also welcome Dawn Dunstan, Indigenous Support Worker. The successful candidate for the part time teaching position for Division 2 and Explorations as well as the Custodian position will be announced once the hiring process is complete. Click here for a recent staffing update.
We are required to provide a minimum amount of instructional hours in the school year. In kindergarten, the minimum hours are 859. This is less than other grades in order to accommodate a gradual kindergarten entry. In grades 1 - 7, the minimum hours are 878. In grade 8, the minimum hours are 952.

The number of minutes per day is dependent on the number of calendar days there are in the school year. In order to meet the minimum requirements, we added 2 minutes extra to each school day. Also, in order to provide district wide agreed upon time for morning and afternoon instruction, our break times have been adjusted.
Bell Schedule 2019 - 2020
Please refer to our bell schedule for the 2019-2020 school year. In order to promote a classroom community in Division 1 (home of grade 8s) all students in the class follow the schedule set out for the grade 8 students. This helps to build a more cohesive classroom culture.
2019-2020 Calendars
Click here to access our local calendar that outlines statutory holidays, professional development days, reporting schedule, along with early dismissal times. Click here to access a list of upcomings event dates and times for Falkland School. Click here to access the 2019-2020 School District 83 calendar.
Student Placement
At this time our current configuration consists of five divisions with 104 students. Staff work very hard, given the constraints of class size and composition, on a variety of scenarios to best meet the educational needs of our students school wide.           
When one grade is split into two classrooms, we work hard as a staff to consider the best learning environment for your children. Our goal is to create balanced classrooms taking into account social emotional factors, friendship issues, sibling issues, class size, and then the strengths and needs for the overall composition of the class. Academic reasons are also considered, however, learning outcomes from all the grade levels in a class will be addressed. Providing a rich, meaningful educational experience is important in every classroom. We know that change is difficult, but your trust in our staff and their rationale in student placement is important to us and much appreciated. Thank you to the parents who contacted me in June to provide input about their child's placement.
 
Division 5 (Grade K and 1)             
Division 4 (Grade 1 and 2)              
Division 3 (Grade 3 and 4)              
Division 2 (Grade 4, 5 and 6)               
Division 1 (Grade 6, 7 and 8)     
2019-2020 Fee Schedule - Due Fri., Sept. 27th.
Information from PAC
Our next PAC meeting is on Wednesday, September 11th in the staffroom. Elections will be taking place for several of the following positions:

President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Directors
Student Planning Council
DPAC rep
Hot Lunch Coordinator

All parents are welcome and babysitting will be provided in the StrongStart space, Rm. 29.

Please contact Yvonne Logan, President (778-930-0224) Adina Clements, Vice President (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.

We need help with various PAC events and school activities. If you would like to help with our Terry Fox Run, explorations programming, coaching volleyball (October/November) or basketball (December/January/ February), cross country running (April/May/June), our school Mascot, fundraising support, yearbook, please let Mrs. Cull know. We are also looking for donations of bales of straw for our sliding hill once the snow comes.
Falkland School Routines and Procedures
Supervision

Please note there is no supervision at the school prior to 8:00 am and after 2:25 pm. 

MORNING : Students are welcome to arrive anytime after 8:00 am. Breakfast Club is open to all students each morning at 8:00 am. If not in breakfast club, students are expected to
remain outside until the morning bell rings.

AFTER SCHOOL : Students still at the school at 2:25 pm will be asked to head for home or wait inside near the office for pick up. Due to the volume of phone calls at the end of the day, the phone in the office is not available for students to make after school arrangements.  Please ensure after school plans are in place in advance for students. We are more than happy to deliver a message to your child regarding after school arrangements if necessary.  
Student Use of Office Phone
Students are able to access the office phone to make calls home if deemed necessary by the classroom teacher. Phone passes are provided by the classroom teacher and we prefer calls are made home during the break times. Due to the amount of calls at the end of the day, students are not permitted to use the phone to make social arrangements. The arrangements are best made in advance.
If you need to reach your child during the day while at school, please call the office and leave a message if no one picks up. Our school secretary will deliver the message to your child. Please do not leave messages regarding transportation after 1:30 pm as we cannot guarantee we will be able to get the message to your child before the end of the day.
Arriving to School - Pick Up and Drop Off
WALKING: Students are expected to enter and leave the school grounds by using one of the three openings in our chain linked fence.  Please DO NOT have your child enter using the parking lot entrance at any time . Students are expected to use pathways and avoid walking through the parking lot.
BY VEHICLE:  Due to limited parking for staff, we ask that parents do not enter the parking lot to drop off their child, unless of course you plan on staying. It is encouraged that parents drop their children off on the school side of Tuktakamin Road near one of the three openings in our chain linked fence. Students are expected to enter the school grounds immediately using the openings in our chain linked fence, not the parking lot entrance please.

BY BIKES/SCOOTERS/SKATEBOARDS: Students are expected to dismount their bikes/scooters/skateboards at one of the three openings in our chain linked fence and walk their bikes/scooters/skateboards along the pathways. Helmets must be worn. Bikes must be locked up at the bike racks. Scooters and skateboards can be stored in the office if there is no room in the classroom. Students are not allowed to ride their bikes/scooters/skateboards on school grounds during the school day. Students are asked to walk their bikes/scooters/skateboards along the pathway to one of the openings in out chain linked fence to leave the school ground at the end of the day.
Student Attendance Matters - Reporting Absences
The success of the educational process is predicted on the continuity of instruction. In accordance with School District Policy, BC Ministry of Education and the School Act, at Falkland School we expect that students shall attend school on time every day school is in session.
Regular participation with classmates on school work is the best way we know for a child to learn and develop in the competencies identified in the curriculum as important in becoming an educated citizen. If we notice your child has missed an excessive amount of school, Mrs. Cull will contact you and a review meeting will be scheduled.

We also recognize that good health is necessary for effective learning. Please keep your child at home if they are too unwell to participate in regular learning activities. To report your child's absence due to illness or otherwise, please contact the office by phone 250-379-2320 or by email fal@sd83.bc.ca. This is very helpful with our safe arrival process. If we don't hear from you, you will be contacted by the office to ensure your child is accounted for.

If your child becomes ill during the school day, the office will contact you to arrange pick up. If you cannot be reached, your emergency contact will be contacted. Please ensure that the school has your most recent contact information for your home, cell, work and in case of emergency.
Leaving Early and Arriving Late - please check in at the office
Falkland School is a closed campus which means that once students arrive at school they must remain on school grounds for the rest of the day. Students are not permitted to leave school grounds during the instructional day, unless accompanied by their parent. If you need to pick your child up early or are arriving late, after the first bell, please ensure you sign them in or out at the office.
Use of Computer, Internet and Personal Devices
Falkland has a computer lab of 28 desktop computers, 10 IPads and 5 Chromebooks to assist with learning. Students have access to the internet on all computers as a support for their academics. This service is for educational purposes only. At no time should students be accessing social media sites.

Wi-Fi is available throughout the school and can be accessed on personal devices. In order for students to access it on their personal device, parents must give their consent on Parent Connect and students on Student Connect after agreeing to the Digital Citizenship Policy. Students are not permitted to share their login password or use another student's login and password to sign in.
We support the use of personal devices for educational use in our older grades. However, if students choose to bring their device to school, the school is not responsible if it gets lost, broken or stolen. We encourage students in our younger grades to leave all technology at home.
If students bring technology to school, it should not be visible at any time during the school day, including recess and lunch. Personal devices should be kept in backpacks or lockers (Gr. 8) unless they have the expressed consent and supervision of their teacher for its educational use in class.
Smoking/Tobacco/Vaping Products
Healthy school and workplace environments are essential to the quality of learning and working. In accordance with School District policy, Falkland School and its grounds are smoke-free (including our parking lot while in your vehicle) at all times - evenings and weekends. The use or possession of tobacco or vapour products by any student is a Bottom Line Behaviour and is immediately referred to school administration where, as with all bottom line behaviours, School District Policy, 1030.10, Student Suspensions, will be implemented. Please see information regarding our Student Code of Conduct here.
School Volunteers and Volunteer Drivers
Thank you to ALL our volunteers at Falkland School. Many of our programs can only happen because of you. Our district guideline requires all volunteers to complete a Police Information Check, when working alone with students. This includes driving children other than your own on field trips and sporting events during and outside the instructional day. If you have questions about the process please contact Dani or Mrs. Cull at the school. If your check on file at the school is more than three years old, we will be contacting you for a more recent one.
In addition to the current Police Information Check, there is a new policy for volunteer drivers for school related events. In order to be eligible to drive, parents need to complete a checklist (available at the office) that contains Driver's License information, recent Driver's Abstract (obtained online from ICBC and can be emailed directly to fal@sd83.bc.ca), vehicle registration and insurance information. For more information on this policy and other School District Policies, click here and scroll through the document to find Regulation 8050.01 - Private Vehicle Use.
All guests volunteering at the school are required to sign in at the office, except at pick up and drop off times. This is to ensure not only that we have all the required eligibility documentation on file for student safety but that you are included in our count in case of emergency. If you are dropping off lunches, homework, etc. for your child, please leave it at the office.
First Aid and Administration of Medication
Serious first aid will be administered by staff with First Aid Training. In the event of a serious injury or illness, parents will be contacted. If parents cannot be reached then the emergency contact person you identified will be contacted.
If your child has a medical condition and has been prescribed medication that needs to be administered during the school day, please contact the office to complete the required forms. We are unable to administer any medication without the required documentation in place. Please do not send medications to school, prescription or otherwise, with your child, unless it is part of a school medical plan developed in collaboration with the school principal.
Pokemon Cards
Just a reminder, in continuation from last school year, students have been asked to keep all Pokemon Cards out of the classroom. If they feel the need to bring them to school, they must remain in their backpacks while at school. To preserve the learning time, please encourage your child to keep their cards at home.
Peanuts are allowed at school
We did not receive notice of any life threatening peanut allergies this school year. So until such time that we do, students ARE allowed to bring food containing peanuts to school.
Meal Programs
Thanks to the continued support of the Rotary Club, we are able to keep our breakfast and lunch top up program in place for the 2019-2020 school year. Donations of eggs, milk, bread, yogurt, fruit, cereal and other healthy options for breakfast are welcome as well. All students are welcome to attend breakfast club from 8:00 - 8:13 am each morning in Rm 29. Full bellies make for better learning.
We are Scent-Aware
Spray deodorant and perfumes are not permitted to be used in the school due to potential allergic reactions from students and staff. We ask that students and guests in the school be mindful, before entering our building, of the impact strong smells have on others and avoid the use of strong perfumes. Thank you!
Indoor footwear
Students are expected to have a pair of indoor shoes available to wear while inside the building only. Non marking running shoes are preferred so they can be used in the gymnasium during PE. This helps to keep students safe and our school much cleaner.
Thank you for your cooperation. In case of emergencies, shoes must be worn at all times, stocking feet are not permitted.
Nutrition and Healthy Choices
There is an established link between good nutrition, healthy development and academic achievement. In accordance with School District policy, Falkland School supports and promotes healthy nutrition. This is a responsibility shared with parents. We will continue to educate students about the benefits of eating nutritious foods and encouraging nutritious food choices.
To this end, we ask that you not send foods/drinks with large amounts of sugar to school. Please do not send your child to school with candy or pop or pop like drinks, such as ice tea, some flavoured carbonated and non-carbonated waters, including vitamin water, sports drinks, etc. Did you know there can be as much sugar in fruit juice as a can of pop? We kindly request you send your child to school with water in a reusable water bottle. Water is recommended as the drink of choice in the new Canadian Food Guide 2019.
We Go Green
Last school year, our Me to We Leadership group started a We Go Green initiative to help our students learn ways to reduce their impact on the environment.
We now have compost bins available in each class as well as recycling bins for students to do their part. Recyclables must be rinsed and sorted. Students not wanting to participate or unable to do so independently, can take their waste home. Anything you can do, such as using containers in your child's lunch for food and drink, to help reduce waste and support our go green initiative at school is appreciated. Click here for more information on waste free lunches.
Weather Policy
Students stay healthier and learn better with opportunities to play in fresh air during play times. It is important that students come to school prepared for the weather - sun, rain, snow, warm, cold, hot. In the winter months particularly, please send your children to school with gloves, toques, winter boots and warm coats. It is up to the Principal to decide whether conditions indicate that students should stay indoors (ie. too wet, windy, smokey or cold). If students are too sick to play outdoors, they may be too sick to be at school. Our guideline for weather too cold for outside play is colder than -13.
Emergency Preparedness
Each year, we conduct safety drills to ensure we practice and are prepared in the event of a real emergency. Each year we conduct 6 fire drills (3 in the Fall and 3 in the Spring), 2 earthquake drills, and 1 Lockdown drill.
Lost and Found
Please check our lost and found bin frequently for your child's belongings. At the end of the last day of school before the Winter and Spring breaks, items in the lost and found box get donated.
Student Code of Conduct and Violent Risk Threat Assessment
Click here to access information about our Student Code of Conduct, Discipline Philosophy and Bottom Line Behaviours.

Included is a Fair Notice document outlining our Violent Risk Threat Assessment protocol and procedure in School District 83. To keep our school and community safe staff, parents, students and community members must report all threat-related behaviours (verbal and/or written, online and/or on paper) to the school principal to ensure a response, utilizing the appropriate authorities, occurs. Threats are taken seriously, investigated thoroughly and responded to accordingly.
Dress Code
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, muscle shirts, or clothing 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 be removed once students enter the building. Hats and hoods may be worn during breaks and lunches while outside. Students who violate the hat rule may have the hat confiscated and held in the office until the end of the day.

In conclusion…please, Dress For Success.
Information on Upcoming Events
Orange Shirt Day - Mon., Sept. 30th
Students and staff are reminded to wear an orange shirt in support of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come. Teachers, with the support of our Indigenous Support Worker, Dawn Dunstan, will be providing age appropriate learning opportunities to better understand the impact residential schools had on children and families.

Click here for more information on Orange Shirt Day
2019 Terry Fox Run - Thurs., Sept. 26
All parents are welcome to join us in the gym for our annual Terry Fox Run on Thursday, September 26th at 12:45 pm. We will start with an inspirational video followed by our traditional run to the gate at the end of Gyp Road. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Mrs. Cull at the office. Help at various points along the way would be much appreciated.
Traditionally, our school sends a small donation each year to the Terry Fox Foundation. If you can send your child to school with a loonie or toonie on that day, it would much appreciated.
FSA Administration - Sept. 30th - Nov. 8th
The Foundation Skills Assessment is an annual province-wide assessment of all B.C. students’ academic skills in grades 4 and 7, and provides parents, teachers, schools, school districts and the Ministry of Education with important information on how well students are progressing in the foundation skills of Reading, Writing, and Numeracy. Administration of this assessment starts on or after Sept. 30th and will be completed by Nov. 8. A schedule and more information will come out at the end of September to parents of students in grades 4 and 7.

Picture Day - Tues., Oct. 8th
Lifetouch photography will be at our school on Tuesday, October 8th to take individual photos of students and staff. StrongStart will be included as well. Retakes are scheduled for Tuesday, November 5th.
Information about StrongStart in School District No. 83
StrongStart is a parent participation program for children 0 - 5. We are excited and very fortunate to have our facilitator Cathy Steigleder returning again. StrongStart at Falkland School is open Tuesday and Thursday, 8:15 - 11:15 am. The first day of StrongStart at Falkland School is on Tuesday, September 17th.
Mother Goose is Returning to Falkland
Mother Goose is returning to Falkland School on Mondays starting Monday, October 7th at 8:30 - 9:30 am in Rm 29. More information will be coming soon.

The Parent Child Mother Goose Program uses songs, rhymes and storytelling with parents and their children to promote oral language, social competence and emotional regulation in young children. Parents play with their children by engaging in songs and games with trained facilitators. Mother Goose strengthens the bond between parent and child and provides parents with the tools that make daily life with a young child more fulfilling while enhancing their child’s development.
FALKLAND SCHOOL  | 5732 TUKTAKAMIN ROAD, FALKLAND BC

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