To celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, our school came together to recognize and honour the diverse cultures, traditions and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada. Students took part in four engaging stations that highlighted different aspects of Indigenous culture: creating Coast Salish- inspired bookmarks, building Inukshuks, exploring Metis art, and creating talking sticks. Each activity offered students a hands-on opportunity to learn, reflect, and connect with the rich histories and ongoing contributions of Indigenous communities across the country.
Report Cards
Report cards will be available to read in MyEd on Tuesday, June 24. If families have difficulties accessing MyEd, please connect with Ms. Rasheeda in the office.
Mini Food Market
On Thursday, June 26 after school, there will be a selection of dry goods and dairy items available to all families. The mini market will be set up on the hockey court. Please bring a bag to carry items.
Flourish Food Program
Flourish is excited to invite families to participate in our weekly Family Food Markets. We will arrive at set locations with fresh food offerings for families to take home and enjoy, no questions asked, no qualifications required, all for free. Dates and locations detailed below.
For information about where you can go to access community food support, please see:
During our Family Food Markets, we will be sharing locally gleaned foods from our friends at the Food Share Network; think carrots, lettuce, potatoes, berries, bread and more! Flourish will also be purchasing food to share thanks to some generous community donations we have received.
We will also be inviting families to try out some recipes at home, to help us build resources to share with classroom teachers in the coming school year. Feedback gathered from families who choose to participate will be crucial to building connections to our gardens and food systems in schools.
💐 FAMILY FOOD MARKET SCHEDULE 💐
Edward Milne Community School
Mondays from 11-2
July – 7, 14, 21, 28
August – 11, 18
Royal Bay Secondary School
Tuesdays from 11-2
July – 2, 8, 15, 22, 29
August – 5, 12, 19
Belmont Secondary School
Wednesdays from 11-2
July – 9, 16, 23, 30
August – 6, 13, 20
Savory Elementary School
Thursdays from 11-2
July – 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
August – 7, 14, 21
Thank you for supporting school food program development this school year
From all of us at Flourish! School Food Society
Free and Low-Cost Summer Programs
Please see the attached poster for information for programs offered through the Village Initiative.
Important Dates
June 24: Grade 5 Leaving Ceremony
June 24: Reports published to MyEd for caregivers to read
June 26: Last day of school
From the PAC:
School supplies for the 2025/26 school year can be ordered here. Items will be delivered to the new classrooms in time for the new school year. If you are unable to pay this way please email us.
If you need financial support for school supplies, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Ms. Rasheeda at rhaverty@sd62.bc.ca.
Hot Lunches:
We are done for the year!
Thank You, Hot Lunch Volunteers!
A huge thank you to all of our amazing Hot Lunch volunteers who dedicate their time each month to help sort and distribute lunches and popcorn. Your support is invaluable, and we couldn’t do it without you! We truly appreciate everything you do.😊
We are excited to invite you to our Parent Appreciation Celebration as a heartfelt thank you for all that you do. Your ongoing support of your children and our school community means so much to us. Whether it’s helping with learning at home, volunteering, or encouraging your child each day – your care and involvement make a real difference.
Please join us as we take a moment to honour and celebrate you – our amazing parent community!
Date: Friday, June 13
Time: 8:00am
Location: Front of the school by main doors
As part of our commitment to supporting families, we will also have tables set up with groceries available for any family that would like to partake, made possible through our Student and FamilyAffordability Fund. If you wish to access this, please remember to bring a shopping bag.
We look forward to showing our appreciation and sharing this special moment with you!
“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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Captions
Captions are usually right under photographs, figures, maps, and charts. Captions give a quick summary of what information is presented in the graphic.
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.
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.
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
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 yearsold 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.
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!
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