Principal’s Message

WELCOME BACK AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope you all had a restful and fun-filled time over the holidays. Christmas can be a very busy and hectic time and the staff at AHE appreciates families who took the extra time to wish us Happy Holidays as well as spoiled us with so many cards and gifts. It was so nice to see everyone at our 2024 Christmas Concert. Thank you for joining us and for your generous donations to the Revelstoke Food Bank.

January is always a busy and productive month and 2024 is starting off with many outdoor opportunities for our students: Alpine skiing for grade 3 &6, Nordic Skiing for grade 4, Curling for Grade 7, Skating for grade 1.

As you know, our school social/emotional goal is to create a place of Belonging. This month, we will be focusing on Inclusion. Inclusion teaches the values of equity, respect and dignity from an early age, layering the foundation of a more inclusive society.

Mrs. Pam Mair

Principal, AHE

 

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Winter Expectations

The SNOW is coming!! We have been reminding our students of the following playground expectations:

• Come prepared with appropriate winter/snow wear: mitts, hat, snow pants, jacket.
• Snow stays on the ground unless directed at our snowball targets.
• Ensure no one is behind the targets or between you and the targets when throwing.
• Only one person at a time when sliding.
• Slide feet first and on your bottom.
• Walk up hills in a safe spot beside any sliding areas.
• Invite others to play and take time to explain the game/activity.
• Respect others’ creations; break things only if you’ve made them.
• Report all dangerous and slippery areas.

 

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District Grade Activities

• The Grade 3 Alpine Ski/Board Program runs Mondays: January 6th, 13th & 20th.
• Skating for Grade 1 students will be on Wednesdays: January 8th, 15th & 22nd.
• Nordic Skiing for Grade 4 runs on January 17th, 24th, February 7th and 13th.
• The Grade 6 Alpine Ski/Board Program runs on Mondays: January 27th, February 3rd & 10th.
• Grade 7 will have two sessions of Curling on February 3rd & 10th.

Please remember to send your child(ren) in the appropriate outerwear for the activity and the weather. we do have some items at school to lend. Please let us know if you are in need of anything!

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Revelstoke Adaptive Sports Program

The Ski program can be accessed by a wide range of students with diverse needs and includes a lesson, rentals and a day pass at RMR for a total of $15. The lessons can be offered 7 days per week based on availability of the instructors.  Lessons are adapted to the needs of the participant, sometimes more than one instructor is assigned. The instructors are volunteers who have received a high level of training in coaching skiing from Canadian Adaptive Snowsports (CADS)  which offers liability insurance coverage.  As well,  in class training on students with ASD and other barriers. The organization has  a number of sit skis, outriggers and sensory equipment that will allow different opportunities for students who may just wish to have the exposure or spend time up at the hill. She is hoping to offer more options for sports throughout the year. If you have students who you think would like to take advantage, families need to sign up online and book a time on the calendar (There is a one time $55 fee for the insurance). Please contact Sandra at inforevelstokeadaptive@gmail.com

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Indigenous Education

Art Installation at AHE

Delree Dumont, and indigenous artist from the Onion Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan will be working on a mural in the entryway at AHE during the week of January 13th. Known for her stunning pointillism creations, Delree creates intricate pieces featuring wildlife and flora and fauna. Delree will be incorporating the 4 animals that are central to the teaching of BC’s Core Competencies through the Circles of Learning Program used at AHE: Bear, Salmon, Swan and Coyote.

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Kindergarten Registration

We are excited to welcome parents and guardians to register all children turning five years old in 2025 for Kindergarten starting this September! Revelstoke School District wants to ensure that staff and resources are in place at our neighbourhood schools to meet the needs of all Kindergarten students in our community. Registering new Kindergarten students during Jan. 27th – Jan. 31st, 2025 helps us to be ready for our new young learners!

How to Register for Kindergarten

Parents and guardians of new students must register at your neighbourhood school. If a placement to another school is desired, please still register at the neighbourhood school and request to apply for a cross-boundary placement. To register your child online, go to www.sd19.bc.ca and click “Register” along the top menu.

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POPS and PALS

PALS (Parents as Literacy Supporters) and POPS (Parents of Primary Students)

This is an afternoon of fun and learning for you and your Kindergarten and Grade 1 child!

The program brings together parents, students, and their primary teacher(s) so that everyone can be actively involved in learning. You will go home with some tips and tricks on how to support your child’s learning at home.

POPS – Grade 1 (both classes) January 27th 12:50-2:30

PALS – Kindergarten (Tedesco) January 23rd from 12:50-2:30

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Battle of the Books

Students in Grades 3 to 7 students have been eagerly taking up the challenge and have been reading up a storm. The books are available at our library and at the public library.  Reading aloud by parents or teachers, reading e-books, and listening to audiobooks also counts!  Teams for the District Battle of the Books will be selected in March based on knowledge and number of books read, so good luck to all of our readers. The District Battle takes place on March 5th at C.P.E.

The school competition (BOBFEST) is coming up at the end of February. Everyone who reads at least one book can be part of BOBFEST on Feb. 25 (Gr.4/5),and Feb. 26 (Gr. 6/7) and Feb. 27 (Gr. 3/4). It’s not too late to read a couple of books and join a team!  Practice sessions are starting in the second week of January. If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Draboczi at gdraboczi@sd19.bc.ca.

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Numeracy News

Why teach numeracy outdoors?

There’s no doubt that getting outside is good for us, and we know the key benefits of outdoor learning for improving child development; supporting mental health and wellbeing; and promoting a more inclusive and engaging learning system. But why is it so valuable to teach numeracy specifically outdoors?

Taking Numeracy outside isn’t just about making the subject fun. Research shows that there are several core requirements that children need in order to make connections with math– all of which can be found outside! These important requirements are:

Access to concrete materials – for example, rocks, sticks, and leaves for counting, comparing, and measuring
A pictorial understanding – by learning outside, children can experience mathematical ideas in 3D and from every angle in real life, for example using a measuring tape to measure our snow sculptures!
An understanding of the language and symbols of numeracy – the real life context of the outdoor classroom can make tricky language a lot easier to get to grips with.

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Road Safety

As we embark on a new school term, it is important to remember the importance of some basic road safety rules around school. Schools can be very busy places at drop off and pick up time, and your courtesy and patience are appreciated.

Please drive carefully remembering the 30km/h speed zones and refrain from doing U-turns in front of the school. Be mindful of children and their parents walking and cycling to school, as well as those students catching buses or waiting to be picked up by parents in vehicles. The area of road towards Moose Park where the sidewalk ends can be a crowded area with parked cars and pedestrians. When walking that way, please consider using the pathways through the forest that come out at Moose Park.

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Book Character and PJ Day

BOOK CHARACTER DAY & Pajama Day- January 27

To celebrate Family Literacy Day, students may dress as one of their favourite book characters or in Pajamas on January 27.  We ask that students try to bring a book featuring their character, to school that day.  In the morning, students will have the opportunity to share with their school reading buddies.

Family Literacy Day is a national awareness initiative held annually in January to raise awareness of the importance of reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family.  More information can be found at http://abclifeliteracy.ca/

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Ski After School

Our Grade 4-7 students will once again have the opportunity to participate in Nordic skiing at the Mt. MacPherson Cross Country Ski Trails after school one day per week. This program is provided in partnership with the Revelstoke Nordic Club and Stoke Youth Network with AHE teachers also volunteering their time. AHE and EDG will be skiing after school on Tuesdays Jan. 21, 28, February 4, 11, 18. The bus leaves AHE at 2:30 and arrives back at school at 4:30. Snacks and rentals are provided!

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Parent/Caregiver Series

 

The January session in our Parent/Caregiver series is hosting Understanding Teen Sexual Health (geared toward caregivers of teens aged 11-18) with Jessica Wyslouzil. Sessions are held in person at the RSS library, or can be watched online. Link to follow!

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PAC News

Happy New Year, Arrow Heights families! We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season.

December was a busy month for PAC fundraisers. PAC would like to thank all the families who purchased Purdy’s chocolates, and to those who created beautiful crafts for the AHE Holiday Craft Fair. Your contributions helped make these events a great success!  A big thank you goes out to Save on Foods for the donation of cookies and oranges that the kids could enjoy while shopping.

Looking ahead, PAC will be hosting a Subway hot lunch on Friday, January 17th. Order forms will be sent home in student planners.  Please keep an eye out for them! We ask that all orders are returned by the specified date, as we are unable to accept late forms.

Our next PAC meeting will be Monday, January 6th at 6:30 PM in the AHE Library. Childcare will be provided.  PAC is always looking for volunteers to help with events, so please don’t hesitate to reach out at pacarrowheights@gmail.com or come to the meeting on the 6th if you’re interested in getting involved.

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Upcoming Dates in January

 

January 6 – Back to School!

January 6 – Whole School Assembly

January 6 – PAC Meeting 6:30-7:30

January 6, 13, 20 – Grade 3 Ski/Snowboard Program

January 8, 15, 22 – Grade1 Skating

January 9 – Hot Lunch (Community Kitchen)

January 21, 28 February 4, 11, 18  – Ski After School

January 17 – PAC Subway lunch

January 17, 24, Feb. 7, 13 – Grade 4 Nordic Ski

January 20 – Whole School Assembly

January 23- PALS (Kindergarten) 12:50-2:30

January 23 – Hot lunch – Community Kitchen

January 27 – Family Literacy Day – PJ and Favourite Book Day

January 27 – POPS (grade1) 12:50-2:30

January 27, February 3, 10 – Grade 6 Ski/Snowboard Program