Blog Posts

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Most of us understand that time is a precious commodity. There is no going back when a moment, a week, or a year has passed. So how we spend our time ought to be a key consideration. What is more, the demands of life and career are such that it can often feel as if there is not enough time to do the things we want or need to do. Time pressure is real, and I am certainly not immune.

At École Clearbrook Elementary, we understand that students’ emotional well-being is the foundation of learning and success. When a student feels regulated, safe and has a sense of belonging at school, building literacy and numeracy skills takes flight. Teachers at Clearbrook intentionally target and teach social-emotional learning skills and strategies that positively impact our students’ social-emotional well-being.

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

The school year is well underway, and most of us are feeling settled into our routines and feeling comfortable with the day-to-day happenings of school and family life. Reconnecting with the people we know and care about is reassuring as we get to know community members that we aren’t yet familiar with and create new connections and friendships with those around us. Our hope is that all students are finding their comfort-zone and are feeling that sense of belonging that is so important to Bondar.

At Semá:th Elementary, we encourage all our students to become lifelong learners and take responsibility for their learning. A big part of what we do here is build strong literacy skills through engaging and interactive activities. We also focus a lot on self-regulation, teaching kids how to understand and manage their feelings and actions. In our classrooms, we use group discussions, teamwork, and personalized feedback to help students see what they’re good at and celebrate their achievements.

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

We are so pleased to be welcoming all of you and your children back to Bondar this fall. As you are all well aware, Dr. Roberta Bondar Elementary is a special place, full of intelligent, creative and resilient children. Our school staff are ready to support students and to facilitate their growth and learning this fall and throughout the school year.

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

School is officially out for summer and the shift in the daily routine is beginning. I hope that you are all able to find some adventure, some fun and some relaxation over the next 9 weeks! It is time to celebrate after a successful year of learning😊

And with the closure of the school year, we are saying goodbye to some of the staff members that worked with us this year:

Ms. Davies is retiring.

Mrs. G. is retiring.

Miss Sohl is taking a job at another school.

Mr. Zed is taking a job at John Maclure.

At Kandal, we are committed to strengthening our family partnerships in our school community. It’s no secret that the more parents are involved in their children’s lives, both at home and at school, the more they will be in the ‘know’ about how best to support their children. To this end, our kindergarten and grade 1 teachers and our English Language Learners (ELL) teachers initiated the “Parents as Partners” program.

Many years ago, as I trained for my first marathon, one of my mentors—a seasoned runner with countless marathons behind him—shared invaluable wisdom about the importance of finishing strong. He emphasized the need to maintain enough energy to cross the finish line with a smile and a strong pace, regardless of how the race began.

I can still recall his words echoing in my mind: “Remember, it’s not about how you start the marathon; it’s about how you finish. Finish strong.”

As part of the district’s unwavering commitment to Indigenous Education, Blue Jay is dedicated to expanding our understanding of Indigenous ways of learning. The last part of May and the beginning of June, known as tem’elile or Salmonberry Time according to the Stó:lō Seasons of the Moon calendar found on the Indigenous Education website, marks the start of the berry season and the return of the Salmon to their home.