Welcome Back to Falkland School
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year. The staff at Falkland School are excited to welcome back our students. I am so grateful to be returning to Falkland School again as Principal and eager to continue working alongside students, staff and parents to create an environment for all to flourish. The impact of the wild fires on families in our area is varied. The safety, security and wellbeing of our students remains our top priority. If you are experiencing hardship or require support from our school, please contact me. CLICK HERE to read a recent letter to SD83 families from our Superintendent, Donna Kriger. CLICK HERE to learn more about adjustments made to school start up in some communities within SD83 due to evacuation orders and alerts that remain in place – Falkland School is not affected.
At Falkland school we strive to build a community where everyone feels like they belong. Students play a big role in contributing to a culture of belonging by the way in which they interact with each other. All students at Falkland school are expected to contribute positively by demonstrating respectful, responsible and safe behaviours. Our first Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) Meeting of the school year is scheduled for Tuesday, September 19th at 2:30 in the staffroom. All parents are invited to this meeting. Childminding will be provided for those attending the meetings.
Start Up
We look forward to welcoming our students in grade 1 – 8 back for a half day on Wednesday, September 6th. On this day, students will be dismissed at 11:11, 3 hours earlier. Busses will make their usual stops, just three hours earlier. The first full day for students in grades 1 – 8 will be Thursday, September 7th. We look forward to welcoming our new crew of 21 kindergarten students on Thursday, September 7th to start their gradual entry. CLICK HERE to access the gradual entry schedule for our new kindergarten students. CLICK HERE to access the SD83 calendar that contains several important dates, like professional development days, early dismissal days, holidays, student conferences, etc. for your planning purposes. Please check our website and “like” our Facebook page for posts, school information and an ongoing list of important dates and upcoming events.
Classroom Configuration
Our classroom configuration is dependent upon the number of divisions assigned to our school. The number of divisions is based on student enrollment. Student enrollment is tight with our existing 6 divisions. We do not have many spaces left in our school and almost no space in grades k-5. It is very important that if you plan on moving out of the area, please let me know (scull@sd83.bc.ca) . If you know of anyone new to the area with school aged children, again, please let me know. At this time, it looks like students will be returning to their previous classrooms on the first day of school and possibly the second. If you are new to Falkland School, I will be in contact to let you know what classroom to go to. This is a common practice when enrollment remains in flux and provides an opportunity for students to reconnect with their previous teacher. It is also important that you advise the office if you are away on this day and the reason for your absence so you continue to be included in our count.
Student Placement
Staff work very hard, given the constraints of class size and composition requirements, on a variety of scenarios to best meet the educational needs of our students school wide. When one grade level 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, friendships, siblings, class size, and the strengths and needs for the overall composition of the class. Academic reasons are also considered, however, learning standards from all the grade levels in a class will be addressed. Providing a rich, meaningful educational experience is important in every classroom at every grade level. Thank you for your trust in our staff and our rationale for student placement. Classroom placement is a complex process; meeting the needs of all students while building balanced classrooms.
Once decisions around configurations and student placement have been made, parents of students in classrooms where a grade level is split into more than one classroom, will be contacted about student placement. We are hopeful you will receive this information on the evening of Wednesday, September 6th so students are in their assigned class for the year on the first full day, Thursday, September 7th. If we are unable to proceed into assigned classes for the year on Thursday, parents will be notified.
Staffing
At the end of last school year we said farewell to Ryan Smithson, temporary teacher and Tara Vandenbrink, casual CEA. Since then Marley Ulmer, CEA, resigned from SD83 and we wish her all the best as she embarks on her next big adventure. New to Falkland School this school year is music teacher, Julie Wormald, returning teacher, Honey Williams in a part time role teaching explorations and grade 7/8, returning Indigenous Support Worker, Wes Sandy and CEA, Trisha McLean. We are unsure of our counsellor and Speech Language Pathologist at this time. More information on staffing will be included in our September Newsletter.
2023 – 2024 Information
As usual, please do not purchase school supplies for your children. The school will purchase supplies and charge a fee to parents to recover the cost. Students fees are due Friday, September 29th. We thank you in advance for your prompt payment. CLICK HERE to access the Student Fee Notice.
Please CLICK HERE to view the 2023-2024 Bell Schedule.
Please CLICK HERE to view the Gradual Entry to Kindergarten Schedule.
Please CLICK HERE to view the 2023-2024 District Calendar.
Please keep watch for the September Newsletter (coming soon) that outlines many of the processes, routines and procedures in place at our school to ensure our students are safe and our learning environment is warm and welcoming for all.
CLICK HERE to access a video of our whole school performance of Sweet Child of Mine from the Parent Appreciation Tea on June 19th, 2023. This performance fills my heart. Enjoy the long weekend ahead.
Warmest regards,
Mrs. Cull