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John Muir Weekly April 17th

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Friday Newsletter – Thursday April 17

Grade 4 Student Learning Survey

Emergency Drills

Throughout the year, our school participates in several emergency drills: fire, earthquake, lockdown, and hold and secure.

Today our school practiced a lockdown drill. A lockdown is used when there is an immediate threat to the school. It minimizes access to the school and secures students and staff in rooms. Everyone must remain in their rooms until the situation has been declared safe. Our drill involved everyone staying quiet in their room until an all clear is given.

Vaccine Status Reporting Regulation

Please see the attachment from Island Health regarding vaccine reporting.

Grade 4 Learning Survey

The Grade 4 Student Learning Survey is still open! Parents, guardians and caregivers of Grade 4 students are encouraged to participate in the survey as the results are important in identifying and celebrating current strengths, as well as determining where the school needs to focus improvement. The survey contains standard questions for the Province – in addition, questions from the school and/or district that focus on local conditions or issues may be included.

The survey can be completed electronically and can be accessed on the Internet at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/support/student-learning-survey.

The e-survey site will be open until May 2, 2025.  

Victoria Food Rescue Society

The Christian Life Assembly has partnered with the Victoria Food Rescue Society to provide rescued food to people at no charge A market will be set up at the parking lot of the church on Monday’s from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm. The market is open to everyone. The address of the church is 6851 West Coast Rd. Sooke.

Important Dates

Friday, April 18 – Good Friday – NO SCHOOL

Monday, April 21 – Easter Monday – NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, April 22 – Lahal Tournament for Div. 9 & 10

Thursday, April 24 – Journey Middle School to visit Gr. 5’s

Thursday, April 24 – Hot Lunch: Pizza

From the PAC:

Hot Lunches:

April 24 – Pizza (order by April 16)

May 8 – Hara Sushi (order by May 30)

May 15 – Popcorn $1.00 and Smencils $2.00

May 22 – Chompkins (order by May 14)

June 5 – White Spot (order by May 28)

June 12 – Popcorn $1.00 and Smencils $2.00

June 19 – Pizza (order by June 11)

Make sure to order the rest of the Hot Lunches for the year HERE!

Thank you everyone for your continued support in our fundraisers!

John Muir PAC

 
 

Literacy Newsletter #6

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Literacy Newsletter #6
April 15, 2025
“Non-fiction texts are powerhouses of information and wonder” – Sharon Callen
Reading Non-Fiction
Many kids love to read about science and nature as well as real people, places, and events. Nonfiction books present information in engaging and interesting ways. Find out how you can help your child learn to navigate all the parts of a nonfiction book — from the table of contents to the diagrams, captions, glossary, and index.
  1. Talk about nonfiction
Non-fiction books are books that provide information that is true. Non-fiction books focus on a specific topic or idea. Before you begin reading a non-fiction book, explain to your child that the book is non-fiction and how it differs from fiction books. The great thing about non-fiction books is that they don’t need to be read from cover to cover. Your child can start at any point in the book. Check out the information below from Reading Rockets on the different text features in non-fiction books:
  1. Look at the parts
Most good non-fiction books will have helpful features that are not a part of most fiction books. These parts include a table of contents, an index, a glossary, photographs and charts with captions, and a list of sources. Share the purpose of the features with your reader.
  1. Table of contents
Located at the front of a book, the table of contents displays a list of the big ideas within the book and where to find them.
  1. Index
An index is an alphabetical list of almost everything covered within the book, with page numbers. Readers can use the index to look up specific terms or concepts and go right to the specific information they’re looking for.
  1. Glossary
Located at the back of the book, a glossary contains key words that are related to the topic and their definitions. These definitions provide more information about new vocabulary words.
  1. Captions
Captions are usually right under photographs, figures, maps, and charts. Captions give a quick summary of what information is presented in the graphic.
  1. Photos and charts
A lot of information can be found by “reading” the charts and photos found within nonfiction text. Readers will first need to figure out what information is presented. Then they’ll need to discover how to navigate the information. Some charts use clear labels, others require more careful examination. Help your reader learn more about the different ways information can be displayed.
 
 

Read and Ride Event 2025

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Dear Caregivers,

Ready, Set, Learn is a program designed to support young children and their families as they prepare for the exciting transition to kindergarten. Through hands-on, play-based activities, children will explore, create, and connect in a welcoming environment that fosters curiosity and learning. Use the link below to register.

Join us for:
✅ Engaging activities designed for preschool-aged children
✅ Opportunities to connect with educators and other families
✅ A warm introduction to your child’s future school community

📍 Find Your Read & Ride Events below:
Visit the inside of the school and a school bus. Spend a fun hour with us and receive a free book. Check the registration details below for specific dates and times at your future catchment school. 

Click here to register for Read and Ride

Read and Ride RSL 2025_
John Muir’s Read and Ride Event is happening on April 17 from 1pm – 2pm.
 
 

STRONG START ALERT

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Monday April 14th – Closed

Tuesday April 15th – Outdoor program ending at 2:00 pm

Friday April 25th, Super Pod – come join in the fun at Eagle Ridge Community Centre – 1089 Langford Parkway – 9-11.

 
 

Strong Start Alert

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Monday April 14th – Closed

Tuesday April 15th – Outdoor program ending at 2:00 pm

Friday April 25th – Strong Start Super Pod will be a Eagle Ridge Community Centre 1089 Langford Parkway 9 – 11 am

 
 

Read and Ride

/ School News

John Muir’s Read and Ride Event is on Thursday, April 17 from 1pm – 2pm.

 
 

Bannock and Books

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Pop-Up Play Events for Children Entering Kindergarten in Fall 2025

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Join us for one, or all, of our drop-in Pop-Up Play Events.  This is an opportunity for Sooke children entering Kindergarten, in Fall 2025, to join a Kindergarten play time outside.  Please come to any school, not just your future school.  Come meet other children entering Kindergarten as well as current Kindergarten students, teachers, and staff.

Siblings are welcome!

Upcoming dates:

John Muir Elementary School – February 20th – 1:15 to 2 pm/June 12th – 1:15 to 2 pm

Saseenos Elementary School – April 24th – 1:15 to 2 pm

Poirier Elementary School – May 15th – 1:15 to 2 pm

Sooke Elementary School – March 6th – 11:00 to 11:45 am

 
 

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

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Kindergarten Registration

As we prepare for the new year, we are excited to share important information about kindergarten registration for the 2025-26 school year.

If you are not registering a child for kindergarten next year, please disregard this email. If you know someone who needs to register their child for kindergarten next year, please share this information with them.

Eligibility for Kindergarten Registration

A child is eligible for kindergarten registration if they turn 5 years old on or before December 31, 2025. This means the child must have been born in 2020. No exceptions can be made to this requirement.

Kindergarten Registration Dates

All children must register at their in-catchment school, determined by the family’s primary address. To find your in-catchment school, visit the School Locator tool. If you have a unique circumstance, you can submit a school change request form (click the link to view the dates). Please note that you must first register at your designated in-catchment school before submitting a school change request. Kindly be aware that school change requests are not guaranteed.

Nature Kindergarten

  • Registration opens: January 13, 2025, at 8:00 AM
  • Registration closes: January 17, 2025, at 4:00 PM
  • Attendance at an information session is a mandatory requirement for completing the registration process specifically for Nature Kindergarten. Click the link below to view the dates and locations of upcoming information sessions.
  • Learn more: Nature Kindergarten

French Immersion Kindergarten

  • Registration opens: January 13, 2025, at 8:00 AM
  • Registration closes: January 17, 2025, at 4:00 PM
  • An optional online information session will be held on January 8, 2025, at 6:30 PM.
  • Learn more: Kindergarten French Immersion

Note: If the number of registrations exceeds the available seats, a lottery will be conducted in accordance with our Student Enrolment Priorities. Families will be notified of the outcome before the Regular Kindergarten registration period begins.

Please note that families may not register for both Nature Kindergarten and French Immersion Kindergarten. If you are unsuccessful in securing a seat in one of these programs, you will need to register your child for Regular Kindergarten.

Regular Kindergarten

  • Registration opens: January 29, 2025, at 8:00 AM
  • Registration closes: February 5, 2025, at 4:00 PM
  • If registrations exceed the available seats at your in-catchment school, a lottery will be conducted following our Student Enrolment Priorities. Families will be notified directly if they do not secure a seat and will be provided information about the designated overflow school.

After February 5, 2025, registration will continue an ongoing basis and will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, also following our enrolment priorities.

Need Help?

If you have questions or need assistance with kindergarten registration, please contact us at info@sd62.bc.ca.

Information from School

Our schools will reach out to families registered for kindergarten in September before the end of May 2025.

Thank you for reviewing this information. We look forward to welcoming our newest learners to the Sooke School District!

 
 

Nature Kindergarten Parent Information Sessions

/ School News

Nature Kindergarten is a program of choice that takes place at Saseenos
and Sangster Elementary Schools. Parents/caregivers must attend a
mandatory information session to receive program information and a
registration form. Both sessions will offer the same information, so you
can attend either one.

Please click on link for the date and time of these information sessions.

Nature Kindergarten Parent Information Session – 2025

 
 
 
 
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