<p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><figure><img src="/images/6657a885-30a9-4977-9003-5bd1db8d51a8" alt="Late French Immersion" width="459" height="355" style="width:459px;height:355px;display:inline-block;float:left"><figurecaption>Photo credit: Amanda Tait</figurecaption></figure><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Did you know that the K̓wsaltktnéws ne Secwepemcúl’ecw School District 83 (SD83) offers a program called Late French Immersion? This program offers students an opportunity to enter French Immersion at a later age.&nbsp;The District’s program is housed at Shuswap Middle School and is going into its 21st year! Late French Immersion represents a joyful, transformational learning opportunity open to all Grade 6 students in SD83. Late French Immersion (LFI) allows Grade 6 students the chance to learn to speak, read, and write French in just one short year.&nbsp;Students do not need to be able to speak or know any French, nor do their parents for that matter. LFI students are motivated, hard-working and determined learners. All subjects are taught in French in Grade 6 and English is reintroduced in Grade 8. LFI students then go on to J.L. Jackson and integrate seamlessly with students from Early French Immersion.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">LFI is more than just your average language experience. It is a type of learning experience that supercedes the “norm.” Where do you get the chance as a learner to be absorbed into a close-knit community where everyone has chosen to come together for the same goal: learn French, speak French, dream in French? The happiness that emanates from the room in LFI is contagious. They’re a team and a family and they work hard to achieve their goal. That doesn’t mean that they don’t have tough days, because they do. Taking a risk is hard. But in the end, it is always rewarding. Students feel like they have been on this journey together resulting in this beautiful, bilingual landscape that they would have missed out on if they hadn’t taken the challenge.&nbsp;&nbsp;LFI is a life-changing program. Few educational programs do what LFI does for students. LFI empowers students in believing that they can do anything and be anything that they choose in life. The best kind of learning is that which transforms the learner. LFI does just that.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A parent information evening will be held on </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thursday, January 15, 2026,&nbsp;at 6:00 p.m. at Shuswap Middle School</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> for parents and students who wish to learn more about the program. A sign-up link for the program will be given to parents directly following the meeting, so it is important to attend. The same link will go live on websites shortly after the meeting for those unable to attend on a first come first served basis. If you have any questions, please forward them to Mme Rita Tedesco at Bastion Elementary, 250-832-3741 or Ms. Val Edgell Principal at SMS 250-832-6031.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><i><em class="editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Rita Tedesco is the District French Programs Coordinator for SD 83.</em></i></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">For more programming details, read the</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </strong></b><a href="/documents/10d770dc-c0ef-4db6-b255-81f27b1ad0b4/2026-Late-French-Immersion-Brochure.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Late French Immersion Brochure</strong></b></a><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/145e89ab-014b-490a-a2bf-e58511a279a7" alt="Late French Immersion Poster" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Highland Park Huskies, </span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As we wrap up our first term of the 2025-2026 school year, I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support and partnership in making our school a vibrant and caring community.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As we head into the holiday break, I hope you find time to relax, recharge, and enjoy special moments with loved ones. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in the new year, ready for more learning and growing together. See you on Monday, January 5, 2026.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Wishing you peace, joy, and good health this season and always.&nbsp; If you need to reach me over the break, I can be reached at </span><a href="mailto:scull@sd83.bc.ca" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">scull@sd83.bc.ca</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In the meantime, here are some reminders for the rest of the week and new information for January.&nbsp; </span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Mrs. Cull 😊</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">SPIRIT DAYS</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: Tomorrow is Whoville Day and this Friday is PJ Day. </span><a href="https://hpe.sd83.bc.ca/news/spirit-days-at-hpe-%E2%80%93-highland-park-elementary-school-1761685030494" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">CLICK HERE</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> for all our Spirit Days. </span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">WINTER CONCERT DETAILS</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: </span><a href="https://hpe.sd83.bc.ca/news/winter-concert-information-thursday-december-18-20251202175634" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">CLICK HERE</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> for more information about the time of our concerts, what students have been asked to wear and where to enter when you arrive and where to park.&nbsp; Our students are very excited to perform their winter concert selections for you.&nbsp; A big thank you to Ms. Lelond and Ms. Julie, our HPE music teachers, for providing this opportunity for our school community.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">HUSKY STRONG HOMEWORK</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> for over the break: In our last school wide assembly, our topic was “Taking Care of Each Other,” connected to the “T” in what it means to be Husky S.T.R.O.N.G. You can </span><a href="https://hpe.sd83.bc.ca/documents/d60bcb9d-da67-4f5f-8d43-c464ef4d0a06/HUSKY-STRONG-ASSEMBLIES-2025-2026.pdf" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">CLICK HERE</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> for our 2025 – 2026 assembly dates and topics. All students were invited to participate in some homework over the holidays related to “Taking Care of Each Other.” They were asked to draw or write about a time, over the break, they were helpful to show their generous spirit.&nbsp; Students have been asked to return their homework to the office when they return, on Monday, January 5, 2026.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">NUMERACY NIGHT</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: If you are interested in learning games to support your child’s learning in the area of numeracy, </span><a href="https://hpe.sd83.bc.ca/news/family-numeracy-games-night-january--20251216190611" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">CLICK HERE</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> for more details.&nbsp; This year it will be at Shuswap Middle School on January 12, 5:30 – 6:45 pm. Please register by January 8.&nbsp; Use the link to access the QR code for registration.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">CAREER FAIR volunteers</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: Please </span><a href="https://hpe.sd83.bc.ca/news/career-fair-volunteers-needed--20251216180723" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">CLICK HERE</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> to read more about our upcoming second annual career fair at HPE.&nbsp; Our date is still being determined but will be in the week of February 9 – 12.&nbsp; We are looking for volunteers for our career day.&nbsp; Please email </span><a href="mailto:mmacdona@sd83.bc.ca" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">mmacdona@sd83.bc.ca</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> if this is something you are interested in.&nbsp; Email </span><a href="mailto:hpe@sd83.bc.ca" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">hpe@sd83.bc.ca</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> to request the link to complete in order to become an approved volunteer in SD83.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">UNPLUG AND PLAY</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: January 24 – January 31, 2026 is Unplug and Play Week.&nbsp; &nbsp;</span><a href="https://shuswapliteracy.ca/unplug-and-play-2026-save-the-date/" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">CLICK HERE</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> for more information.&nbsp; A detailed schedule of events will be shared once available.&nbsp; Our school will be hosting a family read night on Tuesday, January 27 from 5:30 – 6:30 pm.&nbsp; We will have author and retired teacher/librarian, Chris McMahen at our school to start off the evening.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">INDIGENOUS FAMILY NIGHT:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="https://hpe-sd83.cmdesign.imagineeverything.com/news/indigenous-family-night-pvss-20251216182718?hash=hpL25ld3MvaW5kaWdlbm91cy1mYW1pbHktbmlnaHQtcHZzcy0yMDI1MTIxNjE4MjcxOA%3D%3D" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">CLICK HERE</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> to learn more about our upcoming Indigenous Family Night for SD83 families from Falkland, HPE, AES, LWMS and PVSS on Tuesday, January 13 from 5 – 7 pm at PVSS.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: Kindergarten registration for the 2026 – 2027 school year opens on Wednesday, January 14.&nbsp; </span><a href="https://hpe.sd83.bc.ca/news/2026-Kindergarten-Registration" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">CLICK HERE</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> to read more about it.&nbsp; Knowing our enrollment numbers in Kindergarten is our first step in preparing for next school year. &nbsp;We encourage our catchment families to register their school age children as early as possible.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">LEARNING UPDATES</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: You should have received an email with instructions on how to access your child’s learning update on Tuesday, December 16.&nbsp; A hard copy should arrive in your child’s backpack on Wednesday, December 17.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">THANK YOU to McDonalds</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: This is the fourth year in a row that McDonalds has provided pancake breakfast for our Kindergarten students.&nbsp; Thank you for your ongoing generosity of the annual Breakfast with Santa kindergarten event.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/771f3237-4b40-4eb0-9eca-f910a0f3d80d" alt="Image 11 " width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Please register using the QR by January 8, 2026.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/9d7f6563-07c6-479d-ba0e-e705afc930d2" alt="Family Math Games Night" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p>