Our Weekly

November 8, 2024

Dear Families,

Lest we forget, we held a Remembrance Day ceremony today. Our students recited In Flanders Fields and paid respect to those who have served with expressions in art and music.

• Our early dismissal is on Thursday, Nov. 21st. Home time is at 11:40 and buses will run at this time. Our teachers are reaching out to let families know informal and shared learning times. 
• Action Item: Student Information Contacts are now published to MyEd BC family portal, please login to the portal and check for correct phone numbers, addresses, and pick up people using this link: https://www.myeducation.gov.bc.ca/aspen/. Please let us know of any changes by emailing us at ashea@sd62.bc.ca. These changes will be made until November 22nd, 2024.
• When your Black Bear is going to be late, away, or if you need to pick up your child early, please email us at poirierattendance@sd62.bc.ca. You can include the classroom teacher as well. Please do not use this email for any other communication. Thank you.
• Don’t forget to download our app using this QR code. Ms. Shea will keep the calendar updated on the app. You also get engaging information like this!

Information from our PAC:

• Get those orders in on Munch A Lunch before the deadline!  The menu will be live on Tuesday, Nov 5, 2024. 

New parents/guardians can quickly sign up for Munch a Lunch here 

https://munchalunch.com/register to create an account. 

Returning parents/guardians, your login awaits you here 

https://munchalunch.com/login

• • A message from Wild Wise Society:
    • We are hearing an increase in Bear activity over the past few weeks in neighbourhoods surrounding the school. When fall arrives, black bears enter hyperphagia—a phase where they eat nonstop to build up the fat they need to survive winter hibernation. During this time, bears are foraging for nutrient-rich foods like berries, nuts, and fish to prepare for the months ahead. During this time bears typically consume around 26,000 calories per day – that’s the equivalent of around 76 cheeseburgers.Bears are opportunists and scavengers with a sense of smell two thousand times stronger than a human, they will take advantage of easy and readily available food sources like unsecured garbage and accessible unpicked fruit!
    • Securing our attractants is the best way to avoid habituating wildlife – please refrain from putting garbage out until the morning of pick up, consider investing in a bear resistant bin, keep your garbage bin inside a garage or other secured space. It’s important to secure our attractants at all times and not exclusively when sightings are posted.
    • Please also remember that bird feeders are attractants, we suggest bringing them indoors at night or when you’re not home. Avoid feeding pets outside and clean your BBQ after every use.
    • With children walking to and from school in combination with our daylight hours growing shorter, it is vital that attractants are secured to ensure bears are motivated to hibernate with the lack of natural food availability. When bears have consistent access to non-natural foods like garbage, they will often avoid hibernation as it disrupts their natural cycles.
    • Consistent access to attractants leads to escalations in behaviours which can lead to risks to public safety and ultimately cost bears their lives. It is not fair for an animal to lose its life due to the human convenience of storing our garbage outside. Please do your part to prevent this outcome from being an option…

• If you see a bear posing a threat to public safety, please contact the conservation service at 1-877-952-7277. 

Attached to our Weekly:

• Walking School Bus Information
• Santa Breakfast Dec. 7th
• Lions Winter Clothing Drive

Dates Ahead:

November 11, Monday Remembrance Day -No School

November 19-21 Book Fair

November 21, Thursday Early Dismissal for Shared Learning Dismissal 11:40

November 22, Friday Professional Development Day -No School

December 20, Friday Last day before winter break

Thank you to our Canadian Military past and present. We appreciate you.

From Everyone at Poirier.

Have a very nice weekend. 

Tess Vally and Grania Bridal