Newsletter #3
Newsletter #3 – October 27, 2025
The weather sure got cold quickly. Please ensure you dig out all those warm jackets, toques, mittens and warm boots for the wet and cold temperatures. It’s important that students have the gear they need to stay warm and dry when outside at recess and lunch.
Interested students from Ms. MacDonald and Ms. Bergman’s class have started to help me out with announcements last week. We take approximately 2 minutes each day to welcome our Husky Pack and guest teachers to our school as well as provide reminders about what it means to be Husky STRONG and talk about important details for the day. Grade 4 and 5 students from our other classes have been invited to help out as well and those who express interest will help at some point throughout the school year.
For ongoing information pertaining to the happenings at HPE please visit our website: www.hpe.sd83.bc.ca. If you have questions or inquires with regard to any and all aspects of Highland Park School, please contact me 250-546-8723.
Warmest Regards,
Shelly Cull
Pick Up and Drop Off: Our kiss and ride lane at pick up and drop off has improved considerably and I appreciate all the feedback in regards to our efforts with this. It is really important when using the kiss and ride lane to drop off students at the start of the day and pick up students at the end of the day that you are using your signal to pull in and out. It is also important that everyone pulls up to the very end of the kiss and ride lane so that other drivers behind can follow suit and stay in your vehicle to move up in the line as drivers exit out of the kiss and ride lane. If you notice that a vehicle in front of you is almost ready to exit the kiss and ride lane, wait and move up before allowing your children to get out of the vehicle. This allows for us to maximize the space available in the kiss and ride lane. It is also important to be quick. Ensure your children have everything they need to hop out of the vehicle with ease. It is recommended that children exit the vehicle from the passenger side of the car so they are not exiting into the congested traffic. Unless you are the first driver in the kiss and ride lane, all traffic should signal left to leave the kiss and ride lane and use the through lane to exit the parking lot. No left turns are permitted onto Wood Avenue before school between 7:40 and 8:00 am and after school between 1:50 – 2:10 pm. Thank you for your help and cooperation following the instructions and ensuring that anyone you have put in charge of drop off or pick up knows the routine. CLICK HERE to read the information about ALL aspects of our parking lot. The angled parking as you exit the parking lot or as you access the kiss and ride lane is designated for staff only. This is to prevent cars from backing out during times when traffic is congested (see diagram below).
If you are choosing to walk your child, please use the cross walks provided. We added several to ensure our students and families have a safe route.
Photo Retake Day: If you wish for your child to have their individual school photo retaken, please contact the office. We will keep a list of students in need of retakes. Retakes will take place on Wednesday, November 5.
Restoration Update: The flooring and wall improvement in Mrs. Coombs classroom is now complete, including her project room. On Friday, October 24, SD83 Operations workers were at our school installing the cubbies that they recently completed building. Just in time to store all the winter wear. They look great and the students are loving them. Restoration will be back the first week of November to begin the repairs in Ms. Fassbender’s class. Students from Ms. Fassbender’s class will be moving to their temporary location at the end of this week. Their line up spot and pick up spot at the end of the day will be out front near the StrongStart entrance.
Colder Weather is here: The weather is getting colder and wetter so I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you to ensure your children have what they need in their back packs for all kinds of weather conditions. We value the importance of fresh air and outside time but staying warm and dry is a must so we can keep our priority on learning during our learning times. Thank you very much. In addition to water resistant outdoor gear (ie. puddle pants, gloves, warm winter jacket, rain jacket, toque, snow pants, boots, etc.), ensuring your children have extra clothing in their back packs including dry socks and pants is important. As it gets colder, water resistant gloves are important and even an extra pair. Thank you for your attention to this. As we head into the winter months, please know that we consider many aspects of the weather before calling an inside day. During the winter, typically if the temperature is colder than -14, we will keep students inside.
Volleyball: A big thank you to Ms. Bergman and Mr. Byrnes for providing an introduction to volleyball for our grade four and five students. Currently on Wednesdays, the grade 5 girls are in the gym at lunch and on Thursday, our grade 5 boys are in the gym. Grade 4s will have an opportunity to participate in the last couple weeks of practices. The last practices are Nov. 26-27.
Performance: Blues Rock is scheduled to come to our school on Thursday, Oct 30 at 8:30 am. The performance is about 50 minutes and students will get to learn about the progression of blues music as a genre. CLICK HERE for more information about the performers and their performance.
Costume Parade: On Friday, October 31 HPE will be having a costume parade for our students and staff starting at 8:20 am. Please CLICK HERE to review the rules in place when choosing a costume appropriate for school. This will help ensure safety and belonging remain a priority at our school.
- NO weapons or weapon like items or accessories – if it’s meant to harm others, it’s a weapon, please leave it at home. Weapon or weapon like items are not allowed on school property at any time. Even if fake.
- Masks are allowed in classroom spaces ONLY. Please leave masks off while outside or in common spaces like the hallways and washrooms. This is to ensure students are identifiable and feel safe.
- Keep the gore to a minimum and content appropriate for a k- 5 elementary school setting. Blood splatters, gore and very scary costumes can be too frightening for some children.
- Be respectful of our existing dress code in SD83. Choose a costume that does not limit your participation in school activities, including participating in gym, recess and lunch. Ensure your costume choice does not degrade, denigrate, incite hatred, prejudice or discriminate based on race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical status, physical or mental disability, sex or sexual orientation and gender identity or expression (prohibited grounds set out in the BC Human Rights Code).
Student/Teacher/Family Conferences: I received some very positive feedback about the Student/Teacher/Family Conferences held on Monday, October 20 and look forward to reviewing the goals that students have set for themselves, with input from the teacher and family, of course. These will be included in the First Written Learning Update that will be made available to parents online on Tuesday, December 16. Please review this goal with your child regularly to keep it at the forefront of their thinking.
Communicating Student Learning: Our written learning updates will be available online on Tuesday, December 16, Tuesday, March 10 and Thursday, June 25. At HPE, informal learning updates will happen on Thursday, April 30. Most of our classroom teachers have opted for student led conferences. More information will be coming home about this open house celebration. If your child’s classroom teacher plans to do a different format, they will notify you of the format they plan to use by the end of October.
If you wish to read information on Communicating Student Learning from the Ministry of Education and Child Care, CLICK HERE and HERE for information on the recent changes.
HPE School Learning Plan Update: Our School Learning Plan is based on priorities identified in our SD83 Strategic Plan 2023 – 2028. Please CLICK HERE check out the most recent working copy of the HPE 2025 – 2026 School Learning Plan. Our goal areas are similar to last year. However, you may notice greater specificity. These goal areas are based on an analysis of many sources of data. We included data related to our goal areas and we are hoping, that while we have areas in need of growth, you will notice areas that we have improved upon. Our staff have worked hard aligning our sources of data and strategies to our goal areas and this document should represent our collective efforts when it comes to student learning. If you have questions, please contact me. If you are interested in learning more about our School Learning Plan for the 2025 – 2026 school year, parents are invited to attend a meeting on Thursday, November 20 at 7:00 – 8:00 pm.
GOAL ONE: To improve student Literacy skills, in particular, the specific writing areas of STYLE (impact of language – sentence fluency, word choice, voice) and CONVENTIONS (spelling, grammar, punctuation).
GOAL TWO: To improve student Numeracy skills through the development of critical concepts as identified at each grade level:
Grade K – Subitizing to ten (essential for number sense – how amounts are composed of smaller parts without counting and “how many more to ten”).
Grade 1 – Addition and Subtraction to 20 – doubles facts (automatic) and near doubles strategy.
Grade 2 – Subtraction to 100 – decomposition and compensation strategies.
Grade 3 – Subtraction to 1000 – decomposition and compensation strategies.
Grade 4 – Multiplication of 2- or 3-digit numbers by 1- digit number using area model and distributive property strategies.
Reporting Absences: We ask that you continue to contact our office by phone 250-546-8723 or email hpe@sd83.bc.ca to report any absences. When reporting absences remember to include your child’s first and last name, teacher’s name and reason for the absence. Thank you for your assistance in helping us ensure all students are accounted for each day. The time it takes to track down this information can take away time from other important tasks in our office. We thank you for making the reporting of student absences an ongoing priority throughout the year. Also if arriving late or leaving early, students must check in at the office. Attendance is taken first thing and if students are arriving after 8:03, they may get missed by the teacher. The secretary is the only person who will adjust attendance during the day so signing in and out at the office is important. Thank you.
Grade 5 – Multiplication of up to 3- digits by 3- digits using area model and distributive property strategies AND Division of up to 3- digits (dividend) by 1- digit (divisor) using repeated subtraction and decomposition strategies.
GOAL THREE: To improve students’ sense of belonging at school by focusing on respectful student to student interactions including making choices that are expected and managing emotions in support of solving problems in peaceful ways (social awareness and responsibility).
GOAL FOUR: To improve students’ sense of well-being at school by focusing on goal setting, monitoring and assessing intra-personal skills that build perseverance, resiliency and greater responsibility/ownership for their choices (personal awareness and responsibility).
GOAL FIVE: To improve students’ skills in becoming self-directed learners by developing competencies necessary to be successful in a career pathway of their choice.Engage students in goal-setting and self-assessment related to core competencies, career pathways, and programming.
Code of Conduct: We are working hard school-wide on developing student belonging (self-regulation for social awareness and responsibility) and student wellness (self- regulation for personal awareness and responsibility). We are focusing on appropriate play at school; play that promotes respect, responsibility and safety in order to build a safe, caring and orderly environment that prioritizes learning. Everyone has the responsibility to contribute positively to a learning environment that is welcoming and builds a sense of belonging for all students. Keeping hands and feet to self, our bodies in our own space, especially when frustrated, is an expectation for all students. CLICK HERE to view the Problem Solving Wheel that is used to support students to solve conflict with peers. We have lots of adults outside at recess and lunch to support students in solving problems in peaceful ways. You can CLICK HERE to read more about our Student Code of Conduct. Keeping parents informed of their child’s behaviour at school, the impact it had on others and related consequences is a priority. Thank you for your efforts at home to promote a sense of understanding and compassion when it comes to the behaviours of other children. Please make us aware of problems sooner than later so we can help create a more positive school experience for all.
Does your child have a water bottle and inside shoes?: Please remember to send your child to school with a water bottle each day and inside shoes. Inside shoes are important for safety while inside the school and they also help to keep our school clean. They are also very important for gym time. We are finding that our floors are getting marked up with black scuff marks from black soles. Please consider choosing white soles to help keep our floors scuff free.
Foundational Skills Assessment: Our grade four classes have been busy completing the required Foundational Skills Assessment, which is an assessment tool developed by the Ministry of Education and Child Care. To read more about this assessment, CLICK HERE. Sample questions can be found HERE. A promise that I have made to myself, our students and our school community is to ensure our students get the time they need to fully complete the various portions in Literacy and Numeracy. This will enable us to extract greater meaning from the assessment results and ensure students feel good about their work. The assessment results are used by the province, our district and our school. We look at the results as a grade 4 cohort and by individual students with grade 4 classroom teachers and plan school improvement efforts accordingly. Each child will bring home their completed assessment booklets along with their individual results before Winter Break. Students complete a similar assessment in grade 7 as well.
Scholastic Book Fair at HPE Library: I am excited to announce that we have a Scholastic Book Fair planned for the last week in November. A big thank you our PAC, in particular Emily Huxter. Students will have an opportunity to view and purchase items in their assigned library times. More information on the hours of operation will be coming home soon.
HPE Staff and Students Remembers: On Friday, November 7th we will welcome Mr. Shawn Coady to our school to lead our School Remembrance Day Assembly. He plans to engage students and staff in a very informative assembly about why we remember, the symbols of remembrance and Canada’s contributions and efforts in both past and present peace keeping initiatives. A remember that National Indigenous Veterans Day on Friday, November 8 as well. Ms. MacDonald and Ms. Berman’s class as well as Mr. Byrnes class will be participating in the No Stone Left Alone project as an act towards remembering.
Remembrance Day Legion Contest: Please CLICK HERE to read more information about a poster contest for students in grades K – 12, a literacy contest for students in grade 4 – 12 and a video contest for students in grades 7 – 12. The due date for all entries and accompanying parental consent form is due to our office on Friday, November 21st. We will ensure they get to the Legion for judging. Thank you.
Winter Recreation: We are working hard on confirming dates for Winter Recreation for our students in grades 4 and 5 to participate in either down hill skiing or snowboarding. The TENTATIVE dates are: Tuesday, January 20, Friday, January 23 and Tuesday, February 3. A letter will be emailed home soon to confirm with parents of grade 4 and 5 students along with the registration link and instructions. It will be very important that when you register you include the correct level. Read the descriptions carefully. It is our hope that ALL students will participate as all of our teachers will be accompanying students to the mountain on these dates. If you are experiencing hardship, please contact Shelly Cull, Principal. Registration and payment will be due December 16th.
Several other classes are scheduled to participate in skating. Stay tuned for more information from your child’s classroom teacher.
Spirit Days: Show your Husky pride on the following HPE SPIRIT Days planned by our Spirit Day Committee. CLICK HERE to read more about our upcoming events. Canadian Lumberjack Day is coming up next on November 20th. This year, as a fun addition to our spirit days, staff are also participating in staff specific secret spirit days to see if students notice something different is going on.
Safety Drills: Each year, we are expected to have 6 evacuation/fire drills, 1 earthquake drill, and 1 lockdown drill. A lock down drill is designed to practice our procedures when a threat or intruder is in our building. With staff only we will conduct a Hold and Secure drill to practice our procedures when there is a threat outside in our general vicinity. Please be reassured that these are introduced to students as important practices for what to do in the case of a real emergency situation. We generally post the dates of our drills on our website. However, towards the end of the school year, we may introduce drills with little to no warning. This helps to improve our emergency practices and routines.
School Fees: School fees are trickling in nicely. Thank you so much for getting these paid on time. If you need more time or are experiencing financial hardship, please contact me at the school, 250-546-8723. We have several options in order to support our families who may be experiencing hardship. CLICK HERE to access our fee schedule.
Update from PAC: Our next PAC meeting will be on Wednesday, November 12 in the library at 2:30pm. It’s been so great to have so many parents participate in our meetings. The more the merrier, so please consider attending. Child minding will be provided for parents who are attending the meeting. PAC is looking for additional helpers to serve soup on Wednesday soup days. If you are interesting in participating in the Purdy’s fundraiser, CLICK HERE and use campaign number 59491. Deadline to place orders is November 19 and orders will be delivered to school the week of December 5. CLICK HERE to access the PAC’s Facebook Page. CLICK HERE to view Minutes of PAC meetings and the Principal’s Reports.
See below for a list of important dates and upcoming events including hot lunch dates and even our Winter Concert Date:
Monday, October 27
Buster the Bus – Safety Presentation to Ks (Div 14, 13, 12)
Tuesday, October 28
Kalf’s class to PVSS/Memorial Park
Wednesday, October 29
PAC Hot Lunch – Taco Soup
Thursday, October 30
Performance – Blues Rocks, 8:30 am – 9:20 am
MacDonald and Byrnes’ classes to Cemetary (No Stone Left Alone project)
Friday, October 31
Costume and/or Fall Colour Parade 8:20 am
Wednesday, November 5
School Photo Retake Day
PAC Hot Lunch – OPA
Friday, November 7
Remembrance Day Assembly at HPE
Last day to complete the FSA (Grade 4)
Kalf’s class to cenotaph 12:45 pm
Monday, November 10
PRO D Day (School Based) – No School for Students
Tuesday, November 11
Remembrance Day – No School for Students
Wednesday, November 12
Assembly 8:15 am
PAC Meeting 2:30 HPE Library
PAC Hot Lunch – Chicken Pesto
Skating – Kalf’s class 8:30 – 9:45
Thursday, November 13
Skating – Daughtry’s class 8:30 – 9:30, Benge’s class 1 – 1:45
Friday, November 14
Skating – Ricard and Coombs’s classes 8:30 – 9:45
Wednesday, November 19
PAC Hot Lunch – Subway
Thursday, November 20
HUSKY STRONG SPIRIT DAY – Lumberjack Day
School Learning Plan Information Meeting 7 pm
November 24 – November 28
Book Fair Week/Career Week
Wednesday, November 26
PAC Hot Lunch – Mac and Cheese
Thursday, November 27
Kalf’s class to City Hall
Tuesday, December 2
Skating – Byrnes’ class 8:30 – 9:30, Fassbender’s class 1 – 1:45 pm
Wednesday, December 3
Whole School Assembly 8:15 am
PAC Hot Lunch – Askews
Thursday, December 4
Skating – Daughtry’s class 8:30 – 9:30, Benge’s class 1 – 1:45
Friday, December 5
HUSKY STRONG SPIRIT DAY – Christmas Sweater Day
Skating – Ricard/Coombs’ class 8:30 – 9:45
Tuesday, December 9
Movie at Centennial (PAC)
Wednesday, December 10
PAC Hot Lunch – Bacon and Corn Chowder
PAC Meeting 2:30 HPE Library
Monday, December 15
Movie at Centennial (PAC)
Wednesday, December 16
Written Learning Update #1 Available online
Breakfast with Santa – Kindergarten
Wednesday, December 17
PAC Hot Lunch – Jealous Pizza
HUSKY STRONG SPIRIT DAY – WhoVille Day
Thursday, December 18
Winter Concert – times TBA
Friday, December 19
HUSKY STRONG SPIRIT DAY – PJ Day
Last Day of School before Winter Break
Monday, January 5
School Reopens today
Wednesday, January 7
Whole School Assembly 8:15 am
Tuesday, January 13
Skating – Byrnes’ class 8:30 – 9:30, Kalf and Fassbender’s classes 1:00 – 1:45
Wednesday, January 14
Skating – Cooper and Terrell’s classes 8:30 – 9:45
Thursday, January 15
HUSKY STRONG SPIRIT DAY – Wacky Tourist Day
Lockdown Drill
Skating – Daughtry’s class 8:30 – 9:30, Benge’s class 1 – 1:45