Bon Vendredi, 

Happy Friday, 

This week we’ve visited most classrooms to welcome our new students, catch up with the returning students and talk about our Chinook Park Values. Classes are settling into their new routines and diving into learning. This morning was our first school-wide assembly, where we introduced staff and shared some pictures from the first week at school. 

Since the beginning of June, we have been welcoming new staff to our building. Ms. Robin Hirst is replacing Mrs. Joyce as our attendance secretary in the office. Ms. Joyce remains with us as our lead lunch supervisor. We have also welcomed Ms. Craig in Grade 3-4 and Ms. Gibson in Music.

We will have our first fire drill this Wednesday afternoon. We have 6 fire drills, and 2 lockdown drills each year. Staff will go over procedures with students in their classrooms.  

Drop off, Pick-up and Parking 

A huge thank you to parents who are following our before and after school procedures! Un gros merci! The last few weeks have been busy on the roads around our community. School procedures are available on our website. Here are some reminders: 

• Supervisors are present on the field at 7:45. A bell rings at 7:57 am for students to head to their designated entrance and classes begin at 8:00 am. 
• If you are running late in the morning, please bring your child to the front office doors to check your child in and alleviate any attendance issues. 
• School ends at 2:35 pm Monday-Thursday (12:01 pm Friday). 
• No parking in the crosswalks or bus zone. 
• No U-Turns. 
• No student drop-offs/pick-ups in the staff parking lot. 
• Please be mindful of where you park and do not block driveways or park on a corner.  
• The alleyway is a great location for drop off! It is a ‘hug and drive’ zone. Please look at the picture below for more information. 
• This heightened awareness will increase and ensure our students’ safety. We appreciate your support!   

Message from School Council 

Welcome Back Picnic 

Join us for a welcome back picnic on Wednesday, Sept 11 from 5:30 – 7:30 PM in the field beside the school. Bring a blanket and a picnic and we will have a cold treat for the kids. All family members are welcome. This will also be a chance to meet the school administration and the School Council Executive. While we love your furry friends, please note that pets are not allowed on school grounds during this event. 

School Council Needs Your Help! 

The Ecole Chinook Park School Council organizes a number of events, programs and initiatives throughout the year that enhance student experiences and build a strong sense of community around the school. In order to put on all of these great programs and events, we rely entirely on volunteers from the school community.  

This year we are looking to fill a few executive positions on School Council as well as volunteers to lead individual events and committees. If you are interested in volunteering or are curious about what might be involved, please reach out to Katie McKinnon, School Council Chair at chinookparkchair@gmail.com. 

Transportation 

New and returning students need to register for bus and noon supervision services. It usually takes one to two weeks before the student can ride the bus. Please ensure that you complete the registration for both noon supervision and bus via MyCBE parent account. You will receive an update with the bus stop and effective date on your parent account. 

Online Forms 

Families can help us get ready for the year by completing, reviewing and updating some information via SchoolEngage. Directions on how to access forms through your MyCBE parent account was sent out from the CBE earlier this week 

Please submit the Demographic Verification, Citizenship Information Update and Annual Authorization forms in School Engage for your child by Monday, September 16, 2024.  

Don’t Miss Out on School Messages! 

Most school messages are sent to parents via email through SchoolMessenger. You must subscribe to receive these communications. Click here for instructions on how to subscribe. 

If your contact information changes or needs updating, please: 

• Tell your school 
• Subscribe online again, if your email address changes 

French Learning for Parents! 

Chinook Learning Services offers courses specifically designed for parents and caregivers of CBE French Immersion students. For Fall 2024, Chinook Learning Services is once again offering French for Parents – Level 1 classes at Georges P. Vanier School. This eight-week course will help parents of bilingual students learn or refresh their French language skills, build their network of bilingual parents, and support their children’s learning at home. 

This course would also be beneficial for any Support Staff who are interested in learning along with parents! 

Here is the link on the Chinook Learning Services website: French for Parents - Level 1 

Here is the link for the course content: Course Outline - French for Parents - Level 1 

Reaching out 

To get in touch with your child’s classroom teacher, email is the preferred method of communication.  Please refer to the updated contact list. 

Upcoming Dates 

Please reach out to us or to your child’s teacher if you have any questions or concerns. We want to hear from you; please be involved and seek us out when it comes to supporting your child’s education. 

All the best, 

Bien à vous, 

Guillaume Comeau & Danielle Godbout 

Leadership Team, Chinook Park School