Inside this Issue. Volume 9 Issue 15 May 1, 2017

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1 Volume 9 Issue 15 May 1, 2017 On Wednesday, May 17 at 7:00 pm the PAC will hold its AGM. This is the time when planning for next year begins. I encourage all parents to get involved with the PAC, come to meetings and maybe even stand for a position. Your input is one of driving forces behind our school s success. On the staff s behalf I want to thank all those parents who have served on the PAC this year for their time and energy. We really appreciate all you do for us. Inside this Issue Rugby Jamboree 2 K Orientation 2 Bonjour, Bonne Nuit Calendar 3 Reunification Drill Info 4 Class Photo Day 5 Gr. 5 Transition Day 5 Lansdowne Student Placement Bike to School Week 7 Need Your Help 7 Blossom Festival 8 May Calendar 10 6 This is a reminder that when you are dropping of your children please do not drive into or through the staff parking lot. We want to keep this clear for staff so that they can quickly and easily get off the road. Today we had a car stopped and others behind them trying to get out, by backing up. This simply makes it unsafe for all of us. Please leave this clear for staff and the Oak Bay Rec bus that brings the children to school. Thank you for your cooperation. Dates to Remember Wed. May 3 Gr. 3 Emergency Preparedness Training Fri. May 5 Kindergarten Orientation Tues. May 9 Reunification Drill Wed. May 17 PAC AGM in the library at 7:00 Thurs. May 18 Gr. 5 Transition Thurs May 18 Blossom Tree Festival Fri. May 19 Pro D Day

2 We will be hosting our annual Kindergarten orientation on Friday, May 5th. We are really looking forward to meeting the students and their parents. We will be hosting our new families at 9:00 and again after recess at 10:50. On Friday, May 12 our Rugby team will be taking part in the annual Jamboree. As in the past we will be sending some very excited students. Students will leave the school just after attendance and return in the afternoon for dismissal. This is always an exciting day for our team who have trained so hard. On Thursday, April 20th our library hosted the third Bonjour, Bonne Nuit evening put on by Canadian Parents for French. Grade one French Immersion students were invited to put on their pajamas, grab their favourite stuffie, and come to the library for bedtime stories. The stories were read by a group of grade six French Immersion students from Lansdowne Middle School. This year most of the grade 6 students were former Willows students it was great to have them back in a mentor role. Parents were offered coffee while the children got cozy. Once the stories had been read milk and cookies were served all round. As you can see, listeners and story readers were totally engaged. Thanks to the families that joined us and to the students, and their teacher, from Lansdowne for making this a very special evening. Thanks everyone.

3 Calendar for Schools open on Tuesday, September 5, 2017 Thanksgiving is Monday, October 9, 2017 Remembrance Day is Saturday, November 11, and the Statuary holiday is Monday, November 13, 2017 The last day prior to the Winter Break is Friday, December 22, 2017 Schools re-open on Monday, January 8, 2018 Family Day is Monday, February 12, 2018 The last day prior to Spring Break is Friday, March 16, 2018 Good Friday is Friday, March 30, 2018 Easter Monday is Monday, April 2, 2018 Schools re-open on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 Victoria Day is Monday, May 21, 2018 Thursday, June 28, 2018 is the last day of school for students Friday, June 29, 2018 is an Administrative Day Pro. D. Days for the school year Monday, September 18, 2017 Friday, October 20, 2017 Friday, November 24, 2017 Friday, February 23, 2018 Friday, April 20, 2018 Friday, May 18, 2018 School Chosen Date to Come

4 On Tuesday May 9th, from 1:20 2:50 Willows will be participating in a Student Release/ Reunification Drill. The purpose of this reunification drill is to practice the procedures that will be carried out should an earthquake (or an equally serious event) occur during school hours. A predetermined, practiced reunification method ensures that the reunification process will not further complicate what would already be a chaotic, anxiety filled situation. More detailed information regarding this drill will be sent to all of our parents. A brief overview of the process is as follows: 1) We will begin with our standard earthquake drill at 1:25. Students will duck and cover and then make their way outside with their backpacks. 2) Classes will proceed to the Student Holding Area (Musgrave field) and form into their buddy circles. Now your part 1) Parents/guardians will make their way to the school and make their way to the Parent Check In Area on the blacktop at the back of the school 2) Parents/guardians will enter the school property through designated entrances only. Please do not go directly to get your child. 3) Parents/guardians will self sort by the initial of the child s last name and give the name of the student(s) being picked up to one of the staff members at the table. 4) Government issued picture ID will be verified by the Reunification Team Members to ensure that the person requesting the student(s) is authorized on the Student Release Form. If you need to add a name, delete a name, or add Oak Bay Rec Afterschool Care etc. please come in to the office or Veronica at vwhitehead@sd61.bc.ca as soon as possible. In your please indicate your child s name, division, and the name of the person you wish to add or delete. If you are adding a person, please make sure that you provide us with their phone number. 5) Parents/guardians will take their form to runner who will go to the Student Holding Area and get the student(s ) requested by the Parents/guardians, and escort the student(s) to the Student Release Area. 6) Parents/guardians will be asked to sign the School Release Form indicating they picked up the student(s). The date, time, and destination will be indicated on the pick up form and give it to the staff member at the Release Gate. (by the large silver containers on the Musgrave field) 7) Students who are not picked up during this drill will be released from the Musgrave field at the bell to make their usual way home. If children are going to an after school care program they will wait on the Musgrave field for their leaders to pick them up. Other students will make their way to their usual spots for pickup. We would like to see as many parents/guardians as possible coming to the school so that we can get a real sense of what works, what we need to change, and how to improve. If you have any questions, please call the school.

5 On Wednesday, May 17th class photos, our grade 5 student photo, and the whole school photo will be taken. The class photos will start at 8:50 am. Photos will not be retaken if children are late and miss their class photo, so please have your children at school on time. The whole school photo will be taken at approximately 11:30. There is no cost for class photos or the grade 5 photo. The whole school photos can be purchased. Order envelopes for the whole school photo will be available at the office closer to the date. Our track season is off and running. Staff members have been working together, organizing and coaching the students in grades 3, 4, and 5. Grade 4/5 girls practice on Mon. and Wed. at 3:00, Grade 4/5 boys practice Tues. and Thurs. at 8:00 am, and Grade 3 students practice Tues. and Thurs. at 3:00. Our school meet is taking place at UVIC on Wednesday, May 24th at 10:00 am. All students will be travelling by bus there and back. The City Finals will be held on Thursday, June 1st We welcome any parents who would like to join in and support our runners. Each year the District sets aside one afternoon to enable all students moving from elementary to middle school an opportunity to visit their new school. This year that date is Thursday, May 18th. The individual middle schools host our students with a variety of activities and the children come away with more of an understanding of what they can look forward to when they arrive. Each year the children come back to Willows excited about the time they have spent. The grade 5 teachers will be arranging a trip to Lansdowne or Monterey Middle schools. They will be accompanying them on their walk over, the visit there, and the walk back. Unfortunately they can not arrange to be with students if they visit a middle school other than our pathway schools. So, if your child is going to another middle school it will be up to parents to transport them to and from their middle school.

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7 Calling all biking enthusiasts!!! It is time to pump up your tires, pull out your bike locks and dust off your helmets for this year s Bike to School Week! As we do every year, we encourage all kids to ride their bikes to school and take part in the fun. There will be daily prize draws AND a chance for riders to win a pizza lunch for their class. Draw tickets will be handed out at each of the bike rack areas of the school from 8:25AM until the morning bell. This year we will also be encouraging ALL STAFF to ride and participate and will have a separate draw for those staff members that pedal to school! We will run the BIKE TRAIN on Thursday, May 11th. These trains will be led by the Oak Bay Police. Maybe Mayor Nils Jensen will join us again this year. The trains will follow last year's routes and stop along the picking up kids all the way to Willows School! See link to maps below The South Oak Bay Train will leave Monterey Middle School at 8:15AM, and the North Oak Bay Train will be leaving Allenby Park at 8:15AM, both to arrive well in time for the 8:42AM bell. Please arrive at the starting place on time! Bike to School Week Allenby Park to Willows School Bike Train: Bike to School Week Monterey Middle to Willows School Bike Train: The BIKE Roadeo (for Grade 4 students only) will be held on Friday, May 12th in the afternoon. This year our Grade 5 students will once again be serving tea at our annual Victorian Tea Party. It will be held the Friday before the Oak Bay Tea Party. BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP. We need to increase the number of teacups we have at the school and are hoping our community can give us a hand. If you, your relatives, friends, or next door neighbours have teacups that you no longer use, or want, please consider donating them to the school. If we can build our collection it makes it much easier to hold our tea each year and be able to set lovely tables. We promise to care for them and thank you in advance for your continued support. The grade 5 students and their teachers.

8 Consider yourself cordially invited to the Willows PAC Blossom Tree Festival on the 18th of May. Start your four day Victoria Day weekend with us. You ll notice NOT ONE blossom on our poster. That s because this piece of marketing genius is plastered all over the school and you know how much kids love emojis. They re going to be begging you to come best not disappoint them otherwise it could be a Very Long Weekend. Manipulation aside:-) this is our best and biggest event where parents get to chat over a Deadbeetz burger or PV Amigos burrito whilst kids have fun playing games for prizes. Looking forward to seeing you. Each year the Oak Bay Fire Department comes to Willows and holds an Emergency Preparedness Training session with all our grade 3 classes. This year the training will be held on Wednesday, May 3rd between 9:00 2:00. Students enjoy this session and the Fire Department does a great job reviewing with students how they can be prepared and play a role.

9 May 2017 mai 2017 Sun dim Mon lun Tue mar Wed mer Thu jeu Fri ven Sat sam 1 Guest author Alex A. 9:00 Grades 3, 4, 5. 2 Tennis lessons for Grade 2 students begin today. 3 Gr.3 Emergency Prep 9:00 12: Kindergarten Orientation First session 9:00 Second session 10: Bike to School Week 9 Reunification Drill 1:30 10 Grade 5 s go to Camp. Staff Meeting pm Bike Roadeo for Grade 4 Rugby Tournament Day Class and school photo day PAC AGM 7:00 Library 18 Grade 5 Transition visit to middle school p.m. Blossom Tree Festival 19 Pro D Day. No school in session Victoria Day no school in session Zone track meet UVIC 10:00 2: Pizza/Sushi Author Talk Chris Tougas Grades K, 1, June 1 City finals UVIC 6:00 June 2 Heritage Tea