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SD62 Schools Open Today – February 4

Our team has been assessing road conditions since early this morning, and SD62 schools will remain open today. We understand that neighboring districts have made different decisions, and we respect that every family’s situation is unique.

As always, the decision about what is best for your child rests with you as a parent/guardian, and we fully respect and support whatever choice you make. If you choose to keep your child home, we kindly ask that you follow your school’s usual absence procedure.

If your child is attending school today, please make sure they are dressed appropriately for the weather conditions.

All SD62 buses will run today with the exception of routes 2, 51 and 60. Notifications have already gone out to families impacted by those cancellations.

 
 

Message from the district:

Reminder to everyone: Stay safe on your way to school today.

With the snowy conditions, be sure to give yourself extra time today to get to school safely. Please dress appropriately for the weather.

At this time, all bus routes except for route 60 are running today. Changing road conditions can affect our bus schedules, please ensure you are prepared for the weather and potential delays as traffic begins to pick up this morning.

 
 

Strong Start is closed

 
 
Friday Newsletter – January 17
Dear Families,
Next week, we are celebrating Literacy Week! Our Literacy Week Committee has planned a variety of activities:
Monday – Staff Reader’s Theatre of “Smelly Socks” by Robert Munch. Wear your crazy socks to school!
Tuesday – Book Explore: students visit various classrooms and read/explore books focused on a specific theme
Wednesday – Author Visit from local author Breanna McMahon who will read her book “Scuttle Buddies”.
Thursday – Staff Read Aloud: staff will be set up around the school reading their favourite story and students can choose to listen to any read aloud.
Friday – Pancake Breakfast, PJ Day and Flashlight Friday: students and staff can wear their PJ’s. Bring a flashlight to read a favourite book in the gym after lunch.
  **Please Note**
If you do not want your child to eat pancakes, please email Ms. Rasheeda and let her know.
If your child requires gluten free pancakes, please email Ms. Rasheeda at rhaverty@sd62.bc.ca Thank you to our parent volunteer, Katelin Pietarinen for making gluten free pancakes.
Literacy Week Contest
Take a picture of your child/ren reading with a favourite stuffie or a pet and send it to Ms. Cook at ancook@sd62.bc.ca. Pictures will be displayed on the bulletin board by the office and your child/ren’s name will be entered in a draw to win a book prize.
 
Pop-Up Play Events for Children Entering Kindergarten in Fall 2025:
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 January dates:
Poirier Elementary School – January 23rd – 11 – 11:45 am
John Muir Elementary School – February 20th – 1:15pm – 2:00pm
Reading Partners Program
The Victoria Literacy Connection will be offering a reading partners program for our students for 5 weeks between February and March and for 8 weeks between April and May. The Victoria Literacy Connection is looking for volunteers to support this program at our school. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please see attachment for more information.
Late French Immersion at Journey
Late French Immersion is a program where students enter in Grade 6 and learn to become fluent in French. By Grade 8, they are at the same fluency level as Early French Immersion students (who enter the program in Kindergarten or Grade 1). If you have a child entering Grade 6 in September 2025 and is interested in joining the French Immersion program, there is an information session at Journey Middle School on January 20th at 6:00pm. Please see attachment for more information.
Code of Conduct
Please refer to the Sooke School District’s Code of Conduct. Our district believes that it is a shared responsibility of students, staff, parents / guardians and the broader community to demonstrate positive conduct while attending any school or district related activity, at any location.
Sooke Library Offerings
Please see the following offerings from the Sooke Library:
All-Ages Family Storytime: January 25 @ 11:00am -11:30am. This recurring family events includes songs, rhymes, and stories.
Sooke Crafts for Kids: January 25 @ 11:30am – 12:30pm. This recurring event is in the multipurpose room. This is a free drop-in event and does not require registration. This event is suitable for ages 3 -12.
Important Dates
January 20 – PAC Meeting 9am in the library
January 20 – 24 – Literacy Week
January 24 – Pancake Breakfast
From the PAC:
The PAC would like to hear from the parents and caregivers at John Muir Elementary. We have created a google form with some questions to give us more info on what we have going on, and what you would like to see. Fill out the form for a chance to win a $15 credit to your child’s munchalunch account. Forms due January 29 and the draw will be January 30.
Click here to fill one out!
Hot lunches for January – March are open for ordering:
January 23 – Popcorn ($1.00, can be purchased day of)
January 30 – Pizza (orders due January 22)
February 13 – Chompkins (orders due February 5)
February 20 – Popcorn
February 27 – Hara Sushi (orders due February 19)
March 6 – Popcorn
March 13 – White Spot (orders due March 5)
Orders can be made here https://munchalunch.com/login
Fundraisers:
Created By Kids art cards: Items have all finally made it into Sooke. We will have everything sorted and ready to go home by Monday afternoon. Please send us an email if you would like it sent home with your child at pac.johnmuir@gmail.com.
Next PAC Meeting:
Monday, January 20 @ 9:00 am in the school library. If you would like to join online, please click here.
If you have any questions regarding any PAC related topics, please send us an email at pac.johnmuir@gmail.com
John Muir PA
 
 

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 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 PrioritiesFamilies 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

  • 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

Nature Kindergarten Parent Information Session – 2025

 
 

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 January dates:

Saseenos Elementary School – January 16th – 1:15 to 2 pm

Poirier Elementary School – January 23rd – 11 – 11:45 am

 
 

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

 
 

HOURS

Mon. 8:30-11:30 – John Muir Classroom

Tue. 11:45-2:15 – Ed McGregor Park

Wed. 8:45-11:45 – John Muir Classroom

Thur. 8:30-11:30 – outdoor day John Muir Nature Playground

Fri. 8:30-11:30 – John Muir Classroom

The John Muir StrongStart Program operates five days each week and is open to parents/caregivers and their child(ren). It is a drop-in program for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Please bring your child’s birth certificate to register for the program.

Weather restrictions for outdoor StrongStart Programs:

If the administration and/or StrongStart Facilitator feel that the program participants are at risk due to weather including high winds (30 km/hour + and swaying tree tops); persistent, strong rainfall; lightening; and/or temperatures below -5 degrees C, then program will end/close for the day.

strong start registration form

 
 

Calendar 2024-25 – FINAL

Colour Calendar 2024-25