November 15, 2024

Dear Poirier Families,

We have early dismissal on Thursday at 11:40 (buses will run at this time). Teachers have let their families know how they are sharing information with you. Please reach out to the classroom teacher if you are unsure.  

Next week we have our PAC sponsored Book Fair in the library. The book fair will be open Tuesday and Wednesday at lunch and after school (for one hour – students must be accompanied by an adult) and Thursday at the early dismissal, 11:40, and again in the evening. Friday is no school for professional development. 

• Dressing for the weather: As we move into winter, our weather can be beautiful and wet and cold. Please ensure your child is dressed for the weather and has a change of clothes if needed. We go outside in almost all weather, rain, sleet, snow, wind, or shine.
• Camp Thunderbird for Gr. 4s and 5s is on June 18, 19, and 20th this school year. If this is your child please read the important information attached. Thank you.
• Wild Wise: Monday we are happy to welcome Wild Wise to our Grade 1 to 5 classes to help us be Bear Aware. Thank you Wild Wise for offering excellent information to our school and community.
• 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. Changes and updates will be made over the next few weeks. These changes will be made until November 22nd, 2024. Safety Reminder: When our school staff does not recognize someone picking up a student we may ask for ID. If the person is not on the contact pick up list, we will need to contact family before releasing our student. Please make sure that your contact list is up to date for pick up people. 
• The École Poirier Choir sang beautifully at our Remembrance Day assembly last Friday! We are beginning our winter choir season now, and new members are welcome to join. We will be learning some holiday songs in preparation for an event at the Sooke Museum.. The choir has been invited to sing at the Sooke Winter Market on Saturday, December 7th at 1pm. If your child is interested, please watch for details on a form which will be sent home with all choir members next week. Families can indicate their child’s intent to participate in this performance by returning the form to Mme Arts at the school. For info and updates on choir happenings, follow the CHOIR group on the Poirier App! 

PAC Information:

“Created By Kids” art cards MUST be back on MONDAY if you have placed an order for art items.  Please make sure cards have been labeled with a minimum of Child’s name (First and Last) and teacher’s name.  Cards will be sent back to the company for scanning and item printing and then will be returned with the items in December.  Delivery of items is set the week of December 9th, just in time for Christmas.  We normally distribute to the items to classes to go home, however, if you wish for your child’s item to be a surprise or a gift, please email ep.pac.fundraising@gmail.com to make other arrangements for pick-up.

 Our school apparel and swag store is almost complete! Keep an eye for the link that will be sent out when it’s live.  Also, if you drop by the Book Fair sales on the 21st, we are planning to have a computer setup and the online store available to view and order items!

 Attached to our Weekly:

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

Dates Ahead:

• November 19-21 Book Fair
• November 21, Thursday Early Dismissal for Shared Learning -Dismissal 11:40
• November 22, Friday Professional Development Day -No School
• November 25, Monday Lock down drill
• November 28, Thursday PAC Hot Lunch
• December 7, Tuesday PAC Meeting 7pm MS Teams
• December 12, Thursday PAC Hot Lunch
• December 16, Monday Kindergarten Hearing Screening (Public Health)
• December 20, Friday Last day before winter break
• January 6, Monday Back to School! Full Day

Have a wonderful weekend, Tess Vally and Grania Bridal

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