The crisp air and changing colours are a sure sign that fall is here, and with it comes a busy and exciting time at Buckingham Elementary!
**Orange Shirt Day – Monday, September 30th**
A reminder that Orange Shirt Day will be held on Monday, September 30th. This is a day for our school to stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities and reflect on the history of residential schools in Canada. We encourage everyone to wear an orange shirt to show support.
**Ice Cream Treats – Each Wednesdays of the month of October**
Treat Wednesday’s will continue throughout October with $2 ice cream available at lunch!
Due to high demand, we’re excited to keep this sweet tradition going. Thank you for your support—proceeds will go toward enhancing our arts and theatre programs.
**Monthly School Virtues – Friday, October 4th**
B.E.S. continues to promote a positive school community through its monthly virtues program. In September, the focus was on positivity, and students who exemplified this virtue will be recognized at the upcoming assembly on October 4th. For October, the virtue is Effort, and the staff is excited to witness acts of kindness and celebrate the ongoing commitment to building a strong, supportive community. The monthly virtue calendar is attached for your reference.
** School fees- October 7th, 2024**
The 2024-2025 school fees will be available on the parent portal starting the morning of October 7th. A reminder email along with instructions on how to pay the school fees online will also be sent out that day.
**WQSB Soccer Tournament – Thursday, October 10th**
We would like to wish our Cycle 3 students the best of luck at the upcoming soccer tournament at Onslow Elementary in Quyon! These dedicated students have been practicing hard over the past few weeks, and we are thrilled to be sending two full teams to represent B.E.S. This is a wonderful display of initiative and commitment to our school community. Enjoy the day and represent the Bisons with pride!
**Pizza Day – Friday, October 11th**
Get ready for Pizza Day on Friday, October 11th! Order forms will be sent home and collected early next week. Please be sure to complete these forms and return them to your child’s homeroom teacher. It’s a fun way for students to enjoy a delicious lunch together! We want to extend our gratitude to the fundraising committee for organizing this initiative, with all proceeds going toward supporting school programs, assistive technology, alternative seating furniture, and more.
**Progress Reports – Friday, October 11th**
Progress reports will be available on the parent portal on Friday, October 11th! These reports play an important role in fostering collaboration between home and school, providing an overview of how students have started the school year in both their learning and behaviour. For learning, this first report uses colour codes instead of specific grades to reflect the teacher’s overall assessment of the student’s submitted and observed work. Similarly, behaviour is also represented with colour coding, highlighting areas such as motivation to learn, compliance with rules, and relationships with others. Parent instructions for accessing the portal have been distributed several times. Please refer to the guide to troubleshoot any issues with logging into the web-based program. Term 1 reporting will conclude in early November, with parent-teacher interviews scheduled shortly after.
**Thanksgiving Holiday – Monday, October 14th**
Please note that the school will be closed on Monday, October 14th, in observance of the Thanksgiving statutory holiday. We wish all our families who celebrate a wonderful time filled with family, friends, and gratitude.
**October PD Days – Thursday, October 17th & Friday, October 18th**
We’d like to remind everyone of the upcoming PD Days on Thursday, October 17th, and Friday, October 18th. These are board-wide professional development days, and while school will be closed for students, our Kids’ Club will remain open with an additional fee for those enrolled in the program.
**Picture Day – Monday, October 21st**
Mark your calendars! Picture Day is coming up on Monday, October 21st. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to capture memories from the school year, creating keepsakes that you and your family will cherish for years to come. Be sure to have your children prepared for their school photos. Additional details about ordering photos will be sent home soon. Don’t miss this chance to preserve these special moments for later in life!
**Subway Day – Friday, October 25th**
We’re excited to announce Subway Day on Friday, October 25th! Order forms will be sent home soon, and we encourage you to fill them out and return them to your child’s homeroom teacher by the deadline. This is a great opportunity for students to enjoy fresh and healthy sandwiches together, giving parents a break from making lunches for the day!
**Halloween Dance – Evening of Friday, October 25th**
Get ready for a spooktacular evening! The Parent Participation Organization is excited to host a Halloween Dance on Friday, October 25th, after school. Students and their parents are encouraged to attend and join in the festivities. This event is a fantastic way to strengthen the home-to-school connection while having fun celebrating the fall season. If you’re a parent interested in volunteering, please reach out to PPO president Nicky Fournier. We look forward to seeing everyone there in their creative costumes!
**Term 1 Ending – Friday, November 1st**
As we approach the end of Term 1, we want to remind parents that report cards will be available online in early November. With plenty of time remaining in the school year, this is an excellent opportunity for parents to collaborate with the school on ways to support their child’s improvement moving forward. We encourage open communication and partnership to help our students reach their full potential!
OTHER INFORMATION & REMINDERS:
**Fall Weather Reminder**
With the fall season upon us, we ask that you ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the cooler temperatures. Students will be heading outdoors for recess and other activities even if it’s lightly raining, so please send them with jackets and rain gear to stay comfortable.
**2024-2025 Standards and Procedures – Available Online**
We are pleased to inform you that the 2024-2025 Standards and Procedures (Cycle Courses Overview) is now available on our school website. This document, prepared for the general assembly and presented to the Governing Board at their September meeting, provides valuable information regarding the evaluation process, the cross-curricular competencies that will be assessed, and details about the subjects covered. To access this important document, please follow this link: Standards and Procedures.
**BAS Testing Underway**
As we kick off the school year, B.E.S. is conducting BAS (Benchmark Assessment System) Testing. This assessment helps us evaluate each student’s reading level and understanding, allowing us to tailor our instruction to meet their individual needs. Please note that this testing omits Kindergarten students, while Cycle 1.1 (Grade 1) students will be assessed later in the school year. We appreciate your support as we work to ensure that every student has a strong foundation for a successful year ahead!
**2024-2025 Code of Conduct Adopted – Available Online**
We are pleased to announce that the 2024-2025 Code of Conduct was adopted by the Governing Board in a recent meeting. This policy is an important resource for parents to review with their children, as it outlines the expectations for being a good citizen in our school environment. Additionally, it sets clear guidelines for the various members of our larger school community, helping to foster a positive and respectful atmosphere for everyone, which is a continued work in progress. The staff and administration appreciate everyone’s collaboration in addressing situations that arise. To access the Code of Conduct, please visit here.
**Terry Fox Run – A Great Success!**
Last week, our students and staff came together for the annual Terry Fox Run. We’re so proud of everyone for their participation and support of this important cause. A special thank you goes out to Mr. Jason Legault, owner of Giant Tiger, for his generous monetary and food donation that helped make the day even more special. We are still tallying the total donations, and we will share the final results soon!
**La Cantine pour tous**
Healthy school lunches you can afford. Enjoy peace of mind knowing your child has access to delicious, healthy lunches, no matter what your budget is. Lunches are delivered directly to the school every day. Each lunch includes a main dish and a dessert. To create an account log in at commander.lacantinepourtous.org, create a beneficiary per child, select delicious meals for the days that suit your child’s preference and pay according to your budget. Multiple days/weeks can be ordered at one time depending on your meal preference. All orders must be completed 5 days in advance. Is this your first order with La Cantine dans les écoles? We offer you your first meal for free with the promo code NOUVEAUCLIENT (valid for a limited time)
**Fire Drill Conducted Sept. 26th**
This past week, our school conducted a fire drill, and we’re happy to report that it went extremely well! The students and staff vacated the building quickly and efficiently, maintaining excellent behavior throughout the drill. We’re so proud of our Bisons for their great work and teamwork in ensuring a safe and smooth procedure!
Thank you for your continued support of Buckingham Elementary. We’re looking forward to a fantastic fall season filled with learning, growth, and exciting events.