Friday Newsletter – April 25

Dear Families,

On Wednesday, April 23, our two grade 4/5 classes attended and participated in the Sooke Lahal Tournament at Poirier Elementary School. Lahal is a traditional guessing game of the Indigenous People of the Pacific Coast. The game is played by two opposing teams sitting in lines facing each other. There are two pairs of “bones”. Two bones are marked and two bones are unmarked. The game also uses a set of scoring sticks (10) as well as a “King” stick – an extra stick won by the team who gets to start the game.

Out of the four schools that participated in the tournament, the John Muir team came in second! Well done to our students and a big thank you to Ms. Horen, Mr. Guitard, Ms. Armstrong, and Ms. Carolina who supported the students during the tournament.

Earth Week

As it was Earth Day on April 22, our students spent some time this week learning about ways to protect the Earth. Our Kindergarten/Grade One class came up with some suggestions on ways that we can be Earth friendly:

• I can pick up my garbage
• I can use both sides of a piece of paper instead of one side
• I can recycle
• I can donate my toys
• I can take care of the ocean

A big thank you to our classes that went out to the playground and the beach to do garbage clean up!

Garden Plant Sale & Fundraiser 

Please join us in the garden on

Thursday, May 8th from 2pm to 4pm

Friday, May 9th from 2pm to 4pm

Saturday, May 10 from 10am to 12

Students, staff and parent volunteers have grown a beautiful variety of tomatoes, peppers, vegetable greens, herbs and flowers to raise funds in support of our little garden.

Also, we are celebrating the addition of a wonderful new greenhouse. Please come and see the new garden addition, which happened only due to the generous support of the Sooke Rotary Club!

Come see what is growing and enjoy some fun at the craft table, cold refreshments of lemonade or iced tea. Listen to music, play some garden games and share some gardens tips with our community of students, friends & their families!

Grade 4 Learning Survey   **DEADLINE EXTENDED**

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 9, 2025. 

Important Dates:

May 2: Revolutionary Dance Studio Performance 9am

May 5: Music Monday 1pm-2pm

May 8 -10: Plant sale in the John Muir Garden

May 9: Grade 4 Student Learning Survey – parent survey due

May 12: Professional Development Day – NO SCHOOL

From the PAC:

Hot Lunches:

May 8 – Hara Sushi (due April 30)

May 15 – Popcorn $1.00 and Smencil Day $2.00

May 22 – Chompkins (due May 14)

June 5 – White Spot (due May 28)

June 12 – Popcorn $1.00 and Smencil $2.00

June 19 – Pizza (due June 11)

Please make sure to order before the cut off day https://munchalunch.com/schools/johnmuir

Fundraising:

Cookies are $2.25 and orders are due May 8. Cookies will be delivered May 16.

If you would like to order some to take home, please pick the “Take Home” option on munchalunch.

PAC Meeting:

Have you ever wanted to be a part of the PAC executive? 

Our AGM is May 26 at 9:00am in the school library.

All positions are open for election:

1. Mandatory positions of the Executive, which must be held by different individuals,

include:

a. President;

b. Secretary; and

c. Treasurer.

2. Additional non-mandatory positions of the Executive may include, but is not

limited to:

a. Vice-President;

b. Fundraising Coordinator(s);

c. SPEAC Representative(s);

d. Food Day Coordinator(s);

e. Emergency Preparation Coordinator(s);

f. Garden Liaison(s);

g. Community Liaison (s);

h. Director(s); and

i. Advisor(s)

Thank you everyone and have a great weekend!

John Muir PAC

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

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.

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

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

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 20^th – 1:15 to 2 pm/June 12th – 1:15 to 2 pm

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

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

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

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.
  • Join the session here: Link to Join Meeting
• 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 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