Dear Falkland School Families,

It's hard to believe we are nearing the middle of May. We have been busy securing our enrollment for the 2021-2022 school year in order to provide projections to the district that are as accurate as possible. This task is never easy but this year it is presenting even more challenging based on the uncertainty on what September will bring. Projections are important for determining staffing (number of divisions) and grade configurations in each of our classrooms. At this time, we are planning as though September will be normal. Having said that, much can change between now and then.

At this time, we have 15 students registered for kindergarten for the 2021-2022 school year. If you have a child going into kindergarten or know of a family in the area with a child turning 5 before January 2022, please encourage them to contact our office at 250-379-2320 to register. Anyone new to the area or thinking of moving to the area should contact our office to ensure we have space. Thank you for helping get this message out.

Also, please encourage anyone with children 0-5 to register and attend our StrongStart Program at the school. This program is open on Tuesday and Thursdays from 9-11 by appointment only. Please click here to access our StrongStart Facebook Page. If you would like to attend this parent participatory program for children 0-5, please contact our fabulous facilitator Christy "Conch" Konschuh at 250-379-2320.

We are excited to host a virtual TALENT SHOW this school year. Please scroll down for the details. This virtual approach, while different, opens up many new possibilities of talents for our students to showcase. Please remember to register your act with our office - 250-379-2320.

A reminder that students do not attend school on Friday, May 21. This is a school-based Professional Development Day for teachers which means no school for students. Monday, May 24 is Victoria Day holiday. I sure hope you enjoy this extra long weekend with immediate family and can find ways to connect safety with extended family and friends as per the restrictions in BC's most recent Public Health Order. Stay safe everyone.

More information about our 2020-2021 Yearbook will be emailed home soon. We are looking into changing our practice and using a program through LifeTouch, our photographer. This would mean a delivery date in September in order to include pictures taken in May and June. Our plan is to continue with pre orders and a cover page contest. Stay tuned for more information.

Keeping with traditions, we are exploring COVID friendly ways to make several year end events a possibility. We are going to provide a pancake breakfast for our students on the morning of Thursday, May 20, which is our Cowboy and Cowgirl School Spirit Day - this is typically a community event to kick off the Falkland Stampede. Planning for our Grade 8 grad celebration is underway and while we will not be able to have all of our typical grad events occur, we are exploring ways to ensure the accomplishments of our Grade 8s are recognized. In addition, we are looking at options for a year end Fun Day on Tuesday, June 22. More information about these plans will be forthcoming in the next few weeks.

Keeping parents informed is important to us at Falkland School. There are several ways we keep parents informed of the happenings at our school: 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. You can always call myself or Dani at the school (250-379-2320); we are more than happy to answer any questions you might have.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Cull
Student - Led Conferences
Our second informal report took place April 26 - 30. Students should have brought home an agenda with statements about their learning and samples of their work to celebrate their learning with you. If you have questions about your child's progress or educational program, please contact your child's teacher. Keeping you informed is important.
As you are aware, your child set a personal goal at the November reporting conference. At school we continue to be working with students on their goals and helping them participate in the collection of evidence as they progress. Thanks for being part of this process at home. The student - led conference format connects well to our School Improvement Goal Area #3 in that students are given the opportunity to collect evidence of their learning, reflect on and communicate about their progress. If you haven't yet, please return the reflection paper with your parent portion completed.
Student Placement for 2021-2022
At this time our current configuration consists of six divisions with approximately 119 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. Thank you for your trust in our staff and their rationale for student placement. Classroom placement is a complex process. If you have input as a parent about your child's placement for September 2021, please email Shelly Cull at scull@sd83.bc.ca with PLACEMENT in the subject line by June 1. Parental input is always welcome. However, the final decision rests with school staff for the purpose of meeting the needs of all students while building balanced classrooms.

Based on our projections at this time, the following grade configurations are most likely to occur. Having said that, this scenario could easily change with additions or losses to our student population.

Division 6 (Grade K/1 )
Division 5 (Grade 1 and 2)
Division 4 (Grade 2 and 3)
Division 3 (Grade 3 and 4)
Division 2 (Grade 5 and 6)
Division 1 (Grade 7 and 8)
No Name Calling Initiative - Division 1 and 2
We have recently become aware of some ongoing name calling among students in grade 5, 6, 7, and 8. We have discovered that the names being used vary in terms of severity. In some cases, they seem to be used among groups of friends and permitted only to be used by those friends. In other cases they are used out of habit to express a rather minor frustration - missing a play or opportunity in physical activity. They have also been used in a retaliatory way after feeling offended or experiencing perceived unfairness.
In very rare occasions, name calling is being used in an effort to be intentionally hurtful to others - whether said directly to an individual or about an individual to others. Whatever the reason, students are using name calling to exercise their power or sense of belonging in the group.
While not everyone is name calling, it seems to be affecting everyone - impacting the overall tone and sense of belonging in our school, particularly in the upper grades. We don’t want our students to experience any undue pressure of being called names or hearing name calling happening to others. Sometimes students are calling themselves names. We have explained that if the name is not okay to call someone else, it is not okay to call themselves that same name. It appears name calling has become somewhat acceptable and we are working hard to change this perception with our students.

On Friday, May 7 I talked to students in Division 1 and 2 about the need to stop all name calling. Accompanied by our lunch time supervisor, teachers and support staff, our intention is to encourage more appropriate interactions with others and about others while at school. We have described our school, their learning environment, as a work setting. As a workplace, respecting self and others while exhibiting positive standards of conduct is important to ensure student wellness and overall sense of belonging.

Students have been asked to report name calling they become aware of immediately to the nearest teacher or supervisor. Students have been taught the difference between tattling and reporting.  Typically, tattling is to get people INTO trouble. Reporting is important to keep people OUT of trouble.  Silence is condoning, and we all have a role to play in helping create a more positive space for learning. 

While we don’t know the short term or long term effects of name calling, results from the most recent Student Learning Survey (April 2021) indicated that in grade 7, only 60% of student reported that school is a place where they feel they belong many times or all of the time. Only 30% report that they never get teased or picked on. Only 50% are reporting they feel good about themselves all of the time or many times. While I feel our results are in line with students in grade 7 in our district and across the province, for our students in our small community school, our wish is for all students to feel like they belong, all students to never feel teased or picked on, and all students to feel good about themselves most, if not all, of the time. It is important to share also that 90% of students indicated a minimum of 3 adults at school care about them and 60% indicated 4 or more adults at school care about them.

We are currently in the process of finalizing a whole school survey (similar to the one administered in May 2019) to get a more wholistic view from ALL our students’ perceptions in a variety of topics. While the purpose is to collect information about students' perceptions surrounding our efforts in relation to our School Improvement Plan, we can glean important information like that shared above.

While name calling wouldn’t automatically be considered bullying, it is unkind and a form of harassment, if continued and unwanted. Our District Code of Conduct ensures that students have the right to feel safe and to be treated with respect and courtesy. Students are expected to demonstrate positive standards of attitude and behaviour. Our Falkland School Code of Conduct ensures students are respectful, responsible and safe. Everyone at Falkland School has a role in maintaining a safe, caring, and orderly environment, in accordance with School District Policy 1010, Wellness in Schools and 1030, Safe and Caring Schools.  Harassment (reg. 1010.01) is considered as unwelcome and persistent behaviour that is improper to display toward another person including bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, intimidation, threatening or violent behaviours while at school, at a school-related activity or, in other circumstances, where engaging in the activity will have an impact on the school environment.  

Schools in British Columbia are striving to develop positive and welcoming school cultures, and are committed to fostering optimal environments for learning. School District No. 83 and Falkland School is committed to maintaining safe, caring and orderly schools (reg. 1030.01). All students have the right to feel physically and psychologically safe, and have a responsibility to neither harm nor threaten others. 

If you have questions or would like more information on this topic, please contact Shelly Cull, Principal at 250-379-2320.
Information from PAC
Thanks to the following parents for taking on executive positions with PAC.

President: Adina Clements
Vice President: Megan Jackson
Treasurer: Mami Peterman
Secretary: Rebecca McDougall
Directors: Trisha McLean, Shelby Jacobi, Jodi Boland
DPAC rep: Jill Pruner
Hot Lunch Coordinator: Trisha McLean

Next PAC meeting is Wednesday, June 2nd on TEAMS. A link will be sent to parents by email on Tuesday evening to access the online meeting on TEAMS. CLICK HERE to open instructions on how to access a meeting on TEAMS on a mobile or desktop without signing in. Because you are a guest, click on open link in browser. Do not open in TEAMS.

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

TREAT DAYS for STUDENTS:

PAC expressed interest in providing a treat for our students at the end of each month at no cost to parents. Led by Trisha McLean, our Hot Lunch Coordinator, treat options will be purchased pre packaged and provided to students by their teacher on the last day of each month.

Thank you to SunRype for the donation for the April treat day. Our next treat day is Friday, May 28. If you choose to have your child not participate, please call and let the office know.

KRISPY KREME DONUT PICK UP INFO

The response to this fundraiser has been overwhelmingly positive. Thanks to our fabulous community of Falkland for the support. Thanks to PAC for all your efforts to make this fundraiser happen. A special thank you to Megan Jackson for all the coordination and communication in regards to this fundraiser. Pick up will be available - drive through style - at both entrances of the Falkland Community Hall. The drive through will be open from 1:00 - 3:30 PM. If these times do not work for pick up, please contact Megan Jackson at 250-379-2527 to make alternate arrangements. You can also reach her through Facebook Messenger.
PAC MEETING DATES:

Wednesday, June 2
Wednesday, September 15

PAC FACEBOOK PAGES:

CLICK HERE for information specific to parents - parents only page.

CLICK HERE for PAC's community page - anyone can join.

Tell your Friends and Family....
If you shop at Cobs Bread in Vernon and mention that you are supporting Falkland School, 5% of your purchase will be donated back to Falkland PAC.

FLIPGIVE

Looking for an easy way to support the PAC? Try online shopping. Download the FlipGive app and continue to shop at your usual favourite stores. Join our team now using our invite code KBQVBV in one of two ways:

  1. Click here to download the FlipGive app.
  2. Click here to Join online or to acquire more information.
Our PAC meeting agendas, minutes, Treasurer's Reports and Principal's Reports can be found here.

SHUSWAP COFFEE FUNDRAISER

Coming soon (end of May)
Our PAC group and staff are working to raise money to improve our outdoor space. We are looking to expand the seating area at the front of the school to include 2 more blue tables. We are looking to resurface our basketball court, build a covered structure as well as naturalize some parts of the play area. If you have ideas to improve our space or suggestions on grants or fundraising ideas, please contact Shelly Cull or Adina Clements, our PAC President.
School Improvement Planning Process

Determining our improvement efforts for the 2021-2022 school year involves many steps and many groups of people consulted.

Week of May 10—14: school based survey administered to students
Wednesday, May 19: whole staff presentation (with follow up survey)
Tuesday, May 25: parent presentation 1:00 PM (with follow up survey)
Week of May 31—June 4: small group meetings with staff
End of June: Draft School Improvement Plan to be shared with district

It is important to Mrs. Cull to share data connected to our efforts and seek feedback/input from students, parents and staff into our improvement efforts for next school year.

Please contact the office 250-379-2320 if you would like to participate in a school planning meeting for parents. Our plan is to provide a face to face option with minimum participants with access available online through TEAMS for those who prefer to participate from the comfort and safety of their home. To review our current School Improvement Plan, CLICK HERE.
2021-2022 School Fee Notice - DRAFT
We almost have 100% of fees for the 2020-2021 school year collected. If you haven't yet paid your school fees, please contact Dani at the office. To access this information on our website, CLICK HERE.
2021-2022 School Calendar
CLICK HERE to access the district calendar for the 2021-2022 school year.

Due to the fewer instructional days between our start day on Tuesday, September 7th and end day on Thursday, June 23rd, in order to meet the required minutes of instruction schools will need to add a few minutes to their bell schedule. Our 2021-2022 bell schedule will be shared with families once it is finalized with staff.
Falkland School Virtual Talent Show
Year End Awards
Wendy Van Hoof Award

The Wendy Van Hoof Award is for any age and is given for achieving Personal EXCELLENCE. The criteria is as follows:
  • Embodies the spirit of citizenship
  • Helping at lunch hour, school events, and in class
  • Doing work beyond what is required for class
  • Always a part of school functions, participates in school life
  • Adds something extra – positive, encouraging
  • Serving the school beyond what is expected, does not do it all for credit or to be recognized
Vivian Buan Award

The Vivian Buan Award is for a grade 8 student for Social Responsibility – going above and beyond to make a difference by contributing positively at school (or even beyond). If there are no grade 8 students who meet the criteria, then we look at our grade 7s, then 6s, 5s, and so on.


CLICK HERE to view the presentation to last year's recipient of our Vivian Buan Award - Infinity Brosnan.

CLICK HERE to view the presentation to last year's recipient of our Wendy Van Hoof Award - Presley Munk.
Dress Code at Falkland School

As the weather warms please be reminded of our dress code. At the April PAC meeting, our dress code was shared and feedback requested. The following is from our September Newsletter:

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 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. Flip flops are not appropriate for school.

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.

In conclusion…please, Dress For Success.
No DOGS allowed on SD 83 grounds
Dogs are not permitted on our school district grounds at any time - even while on a leash. Signage will be posted soon.

We are noticing more messes recently and we are hopeful that this reminder will help keep our fields mess free and ready for our students and their play.

While this has always been the expectation, we acknowledge that appropriate signage and enforcement has been inconsistent.
FALKLAND SCHOOL  | 5756 TUKTAKAMIN ROAD, FALKLAND BC

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