December 2023 BVE Newsletter
DEAR BVE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES,
December, here we come! This is a favourite time of the school year, when wonderful progress and growth in students’ learning can be observed day by day. Teachers are just finishing assessments and learning updates, and students are reflecting on their own growth and goals. Along with other ways of communicating student learning, the first written learning updates provide families with a window into your child’s progress to date. Look for a written report to come home around December 15th.
As we approach the holidays, with all of the excitement of the season, we here at BVE wish you and your family the very best!
Sincerely,
Ariel McDowell
Principal, BVE
Upcoming Dates:
- Dec. 1 Assembly 8:40-9:10 (everyone welcome!)
- Dec. 4 December PAC meeting @ 6:30pm
- Dec. 8 Buddy classes make crafts & decorate boxes for our Food Drive 8:40-9:10
- Dec. 15 Assembly 8:40-9:10 (everyone welcome!) & First written learning updates sent home
- Dec. 19 BVE Christmas Concert in the BVE Gym. Two showings: 10:30 am and 6:30 pm – please come to ONE performance rather than both as it will be a full Gym
- Dec. 21 PAC Green Christmas (detail in this newsletter)
- Dec. 22nd Last day before Winter Break, Pajama and Stuffie Day, with hot chocolate and cookies from PAC
- Dec. 23 – Jan 7th Winter Break
- Jan. 8th School resumes
- Jan 12th Assembly
Leadership at BVE
• Thank you to everyone who dressed up (and to everyone who dressed someone up!) to make the November 24th Jersey Day such fun! The next Spirit Day will be Pajama and Stuffy day on Dec. 22nd
• BVE Grade 6 and 7 students have been leading Primary Games at recess in the Gym. The Primaries look forward to the games, and the older students do a great job helping get the teams organized, equipment ready, and Gym cleaned up at the end.
• On December 8th buddy classes will come together to create seasonal crafts and to decorate boxes for the Food Drive.
Christmas Food Bank Drive
The Revelstoke Food Bank is experiencing very high need for their services this year, not surprisingly. Here at the school we are collecting non-perishable food items in each classroom to be taken to the Food Bank before Winter Break. Canned fruit and vegetables are always a need, as are high protein items, and seasonal treats like boxes of crackers and cookies. Donations of gift cards are also welcome. The Winter Concert this year will be admission by donation (suggested $2 donation), with proceeds going to the Food Bank.
BVE Winter Concert!
This year our Winter Concert will return to the BVE Gymnasium, after being outside for two years. We will have two showings: a matinee at 10:30, and an evening performance at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, December 19th. Please bring a small monetary donation for the local Food Bank (suggest $2 per person). The concert will run approximately one hour.
For the daytime performance, doors will open at 10:00. For the evening performance, students are to be dropped off at their classroom at 6:00 pm. The doors will open at 6:00 pm. There are approximately 250 chairs, with additional standing room for about 60 spectators. Please give seating priority to elderly or mobility impaired guests, and those carrying small children. If you or someone in your family will require special accommodation for seating, please call ahead to the office so we can arrange: (250) 837-3085.
Parking will be very limited, so we encourage you to walk to the school. If you must drive, please park along 9th Street.
BVE Drop Off and Pick Up
THANK YOU to everyone who continues to drop off and pick up on Ninth Street. If you have gotten out of the habit of dropping off on Ninth, please remember: only families with children in Cornerstones childcare, Kindergarten or Grade One may enter the BVE cul-de-sac by car for drop of AND pick up.
RESPs and Saving for your child’s education
Your child may be able to receive a $1,200 training and education savings grant. Children are eligible if you and your child, are BC residents. Once you open an account, known as a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP), the Government of British Columbia will deposit a $1,200 BC Training and Education Savings Grant into the RESP for your child. Students can use the money to pay for their education expenses (e.g., books, tools, rent or transportation) in an apprenticeship program, a trade school, CEGEP, college, or university. You don’t actually have to put any money into the RESP for your child to receive the $1,200.
- Step 1: Get Social Insurance Numbers (SINs) for you and your child. Go to www.canada.ca/social-insurance-number or call 1-800-622-6232 to find out how.
- Step 2: Make an appointment with a financial organization that offers RESPs. Bring the SINs for you and your child.
School District No. 19 – Middle-years Development Index (MDI)
The Middle-years Development Index (MDI) gives children in Grade 5 and 8 the chance to tell researchers (and parents and teachers), about their experiences inside and outside the school. The MDI is not used to assess a child individually, but to understand how groups of children are doing in areas of their life related to social and emotional well-being, health and academic achievement. The information collected helps schools, communities and governments understand children’s health and well-being during middle childhood. Grade 5s will complete the MDI in January or February. Both of these measures help BVE, the School District, and our community and families understand the strengths and needs of the children of Revelstoke. You can see past reports for both the EDI and MDI for Revelstoke here: sd19.bc.ca/district-reporting/.
PAC NEWS
Thank you to the PAC who have recently purchased two ping pong tables for our school!
The December PAC meeting is Monday, December 4th at 6:30 pm in the BVE Library. Childcare is available for FREE, provided by two Grade 7 students in the BVE Gym, so come on out. The Begbie View Elementary Parent Advisory Council (BVE PAC) supports BVE events, activities, equipment and more throughout the year….and you might not be aware that every BVE parent is a member of the PAC. There are many opportunities throughout the year to contribute – you can help as much or as little as you are able. There are two ongoing fundraisers that your family can benefit from, and which also benefit our PAC: Lovable Labels and TrueEarth.
A message from the BVE PAC about Green Christmas:
A reminder that Thursday, Dec 21st is Green Christmas! Families are asked to donate handmade crafts or items that can make nice little gifts, and our students get to “shop” for Christmas. Each class comes through the fair, and students can purchase gifts at a very reasonable price and have them gift wrapped for free. All items will cost between 25 cents, up to a few dollars.
Please start thinking about what items your family would like to donate. These items can be homemade crafts or recycled items that you would like to receive yourself. Please do not donate broken items. Ideas are kitchen utensils, dish towels, jewelry, magazines, mugs, sunglasses, books, etc. The possibilities are endless! We ask that each family donate about 10 items per child if possible. You are also welcome to donate more than that. We kindly ask that donated items are not too large, as children will be transporting them home. Donations of wrapping paper or gift bags are also appreciated.
You can start dropping off items on Monday, Dec 18th, just inside the BVE entry doors on one of the carts provided. We will also be looking for volunteers to help sell the items and wrap them – sign up on the PAC board near the office, or on the BVE Parents Facebook page.
Please send a small amount of money with your children the morning of December 21st so they may go Christmas Shopping! Items are tailored to your child’s budget. Also please send along a bag so that your child can take home their gifts. Merry Green Christmas, Everyone!
District Grade-specific Sports Activities:
Each year the School District supports a variety of activities within the community for each grade to participate in. Grade 3 and 6 students will head to Revelstoke Mountain Resort for Alpine skiing/snowboarding instruction with the RMR ski school.
The Grade 4’s will be heading to Mt. MacPherson for Nordic ski lessons with the Revelstoke Nordic club coaches. Please watch for notices sent home for these events which will be occurring early in January.
As the year progresses, each grade will again be offered a different sports exploration opportunity in the community. Kindergartens have done Gymnastics, Grade Ones will go skating, Grade 2s and 5s will swim, and Grade 7s will try curling and golf. The school district provides financial support for the programs and therefore there is no fee for students for any of these activities.
SD 19 Indigenous Education focus for December
(by Erin England, Indigenous Education Lead)
Tanshi,this December we are grateful for Arts Revelstoke and the Art Alleries installations that provide our community with so many opportunities to interact with progressive, socially-conscious art. This month we offer classes a tour of the Art Alleries with featured stops to highlight the works of Ric Gendron, Delrée Dumont, and Zuzana Rhia. Each of these works explores a facet of Indigenous histories, cultures, and stories.
If you would like to explore some of the Art Alleries installations, please consider the following resources:
Delrée Dumont – The Matriarch Origin of the Jingle Dance
Zuzana Rhia – Flight of Light
Screen smart program along with unplug and play is getting busy!
Revelstoke Screen Smart have organized a community Screen smart Scavenger hunt – Winter edition, starting- Dec 1st – Dec 21. There will be prizes drawn on Friday, Dec 22nd/2023.
Donations from our partners, City of Revelstoke Aquatic centre! Completed forms need to be submitted by Thursday, Dec 21st! The form is attached below, with copies available at the school office as well.
We have also scheduled a guest speaker for January 2024. Scott Rothermel will be hosting 3 presentations! More detail to follow soon.
Stay connected!
Please visit our website begbieview.sd19.bc.ca
