Boundary e-News - North Vancouver School ...

ÉCOLE BOUNDARY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
                      750 26th Street East, North Vancouver, B.C. V7K 1A4

                      Phone: 604.903.3260                  Callback: 604.903.3264
                      Email: boundary@sd44.ca              Website: boundaryelementary.ca

Boundary e-News
February 15, 2021

Dear Boundary Families,

We hope everyone had a wonderful long weekend and took the opportunity to spend some time together on
Family Day. We couldn’t have asked for better timing with the snow this weekend. Two fun filled snowy days
with one day to thaw out before we all returned to our regular schedules. We did a quick drive by of the school
on Monday to see what we were walking into on Tuesday morning. It looked like a few families decided to
spend some time at Boundary to shovel some snow. This is what makes Boundary great, everyone pitching in to
keep our school and community safe. Thank you again!

We would also like to thank everyone for continuing to follow the Provincial Health Orders and keeping
Boundary safe and open. Please continue the hard work and sacrifices you are all making in order to keep
yourselves, your families, and your community healthy.

Although this coming week is a short one, it will continue to be a busy learning time for students and staff.
Please keep in touch with your child’s teacher for updates or special projects connected to Black History Month,
Indigenous Peoples world views and experiences, and preparations for our Saleema Noon personal health
lessons. Also, remember to “get your math on” with our latest “Puzzle of The Week” below.

Sending you all our best wishes for a fun, cherished Family Day long weekend!

Calendar
Tuesday February 16 – FSA Begin (grades 4 & 7)
Tuesday February 23 – District Wide Lock Down Drill
Tuesday February 23 – Saleema Noon Parent Evening (6:30)
Wednesday February 24 – Saleema Noon Student Workshops
Wednesday February 24 – Pink Shirt Day
Thursday February 25 – Saleema Noon Student Day
Friday February 26 – District Professional Development Day
Friday March 5 – Reports Home
Tuesday March 9 – Conferences (Early Dismissal at 1:50 / 2:00)
Wednesday March 10 – Conferences (Early Dismissal at 1:50 / 2:00)
Friday March 13 – Spring Break Begins

Boundary News
Teacher / Parent Conferences – MS Teams – Term 2
Teacher / parent conferences will have an online sign-up with a calendar link to a MS Teams meeting with the
classroom teacher. Conferences begin the week of March 8 with early dismissal on March 9 and March 10 at
2:00pm for the Intermediate and 1:50pm for the primary. The conference sign-up will begin on March 1 at 8pm
and will end on March 7 at 8pm. Sign-up will not be available outside of these time slots. Term two reports will
be uploaded on March 5. More information regarding the sign-up will be in next week’s newsletter with more
specific information for each division.

Saleema Noon
Every other year, the Boundary PAC supports Boundary Elementary by providing funding to bring instruction
in sexual health. This information is included in the Physical and Health Education program mandated for all
BC students by the Ministry for education. On Tuesday, February 23 at 6:30 there will be a parent information
session through Zoom. Student’s will be involved in sessions on Wednesday and Thursday. Zoom links will be
emailed separately on Monday, February 22 and again on February 23 in the afternoon.

Pink Shirt Day
On Wednesday, February 24, Boundary will be showing support by wearing pink for Pink Shirt Day. This Pink
Shirt Day, our focus is working together and treating others with dignity and respect. The COVID-19 pandemic
has affected us all and has shown the importance of helping one another and advocating for those who need it.
Help us “lift each other up” and support programs, attitudes, and actions, that encourage healthy self-esteem and
teach empathy, compassion and kindness.

Puzzle of The Week #11
This week’s puzzle is now posted. Please see the end of the newsletter or click on this link;
https://bit.ly/334qWWz for the latest question.

BPAC News
New Fundraiser – Coffee!
We have partnered with Ethical Bean for a new fundraiser selling whole bean and ground coffee as well as single-
serve compostable K-cups. The PAC will earn between 30-40% of all sales! To order, go
to boundary.hotlunches.net (see “Register” below if you’ve not yet registered for an account this year). Note that if
you have a credit balance on hotlunches.net you are able to use this to pay for the coffee. There are eight different
types of roast to choose from – see attached pdf listing the options. This fundraiser will run for only a short
window - February 15 to March 3, with pick up on March 11/12 (pick up details to follow) – so get your orders in
now!

West Coast Seeds Fundraiser
This is the last week of the fundraiser with West Coast Seeds - closing date is February 21st. There are over 70
different types of seeds, from flowers to vegetables and fruits. Boundary will earn 40% of all sales so let your
family and friends know about it! This is a great chance for budding and diehard gardeners to get some amazing

seeds. West Coast Seeds are untreated, non-GMO, and suitable for sustainable organic growing. To order, go
to https://fundraising.westcoastseeds.com/collections/all. Once you've selected your seeds, choose Ecole
Boundary at checkout and make sure you enter your child’s name and division in the participant’s name
box.

Register
Please remember to register your children on boundary.hotlunches.net (code: BEHL) to receive PAC news and
make fundraising orders.

Reminders
Late French Immersion
The Late French Immersion Program is a two-year intensive program offered to all students who have
successfully completed Grade 5. In Grade 6, 100% of instruction is delivered in French with an emphasis on
oral French, to ensure effective language acquisition. English Language Arts are re-introduced in Grade 7 and
represent 20% of instruction time, while all other subjects continue to be taught in French. In Grade 8, Late
French Immersion students join their Early French Immersion peers for continuation of the French Immersion
Program at the secondary level through to Grade 12.

This highly popular second language program is offered subject to space availability and the requirements of the
North Vancouver School District enrolment and registration process. In the past, the District has offered an in-
person information session in the evening. This year, the presentation will be posted on the District website at
http://bit.ly/2FoTo9q starting January 13, 2021. Last week, grade 5 students at Boundary watched an online
information video regarding the program.

Even though one of the two school sites for the program is at Boundary, Boundary students do not have priority
for enrolment. Please carefully read the information on the District website regarding registration procedures
and student selection process. If you have any question regarding the program, please see the FAQ section
(http://bit.ly/2LaoJU7) of the LFI website.

Elementary Band and Strings
2021/22 Elementary Band and Strings - Registration Opened January 15th

Elementary Band and Strings program opened on Friday, January 15th. The NVSD webpage (http://bit.ly/2LFPAre). for
the Band and Strings has been updated and now contains the information for the 2021/22 school year. Late
registration may not be available and where offered, will be based on program availability and class size at your
school site. Please note that Ecole Boundary School hosts a Band Program.

Mask Grade 7 Fundraiser Continues
Get your Boundary Bobcat Spirt mask for just $10. We still have quite a few small and medium masks
available. A medium fits most adults. To order please use the following link; https://forms.gle/P21kPsRK6Hevrydp9

Appropriate Weather Attire - Keep Warm and Dry!
Please make sure your child(ren) come to school with the appropriate clothing to manage the ever-changing
weather we are experiencing. The students are expected to be outside for recess and lunch to get some free time
and fresh air; students need warm jackets, boots and other clothing to keep them warm and dry.

Winter Weather Info 2020-2021
With a snowfall in the forecast, we want to remind parents/guardians, students, and staff of the North
Vancouver School District's winter weather procedures and announcements.

All schools in the North Vancouver School District will remain OPEN, if at all possible, during winter weather,
including snowfalls. For more information please go to; http://bit.ly/2KPyLX3

School Plan
Our school plan is now online. Please take a look at the new format which clearing articulates our goals around
math learning, responsibility, diversity and Indigenous worldviews. The school plan can be viewed on the
Boundary website (https://bit.ly/31fq8NK).

Daily Check Reminder
Parents are required to assess their child(ren) for symptoms of COVID-19 prior to sending them to school for
the day. This is the same checklist that NVSD staff must also complete. Parents are required to sign /
acknowledge a one-time submission through School Cash Online. This form indicates a daily responsibility to
assessing your child(ren) before sending your them to school. You can find the screener on the School District’s
website (https://bit.ly/2FKU78R).

Have a wonderful week!

Tim MacLeod           Ilona Wardas
Principal             Vice-Principal

Puzzle of the Week                                   Date: _______________________

Worked on by: ______________________________        Working together to solve a puzzle can be
                                                    fun, not to mention helpful. To give credit
_______________________ _______________________     where credit is due, list all the people who
                                                    worked together on this puzzle. (They
_______________________ _______________________     could be friends, classmates, and/or family
                                                    members.) Please include last names and
_______________________ _______________________     division numbers (for students).

                                                                             Show your work!

A shop sells one chocolate for $1. You can also exchange 3 wrappers
for one chocolate. How many chocolates can you get for $15?

                                          We would like to thank bit.ly/mathwalks2020 for this puzzle.

Dear Parents/Guardians of Boundary Elementary Students,

Each year, students in all elementary grades throughout BC receive instruction in sexual health
education. This information is included in the Physical and Health Education program mandated for all BC
students by the Ministry for Education. From time to time, schools bring in experts in the field to address
this topic with the school community. We are excited to inform you that this year we will be using
Saleema Noon Sexual Health Educators’ online learning platform, Body Science Online, in our school to
work with parents and students Kindergarten to Grade 7. In addition, all parents will have access to
Saleema’s online learning platform, Body Science Online, for 30 days so they can see exactly what their
children will learn in class. To obtain access to Body Science Online, please submit your email
using this link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Dygadd4N60X8iD_OgSoB4RNSfj6dhg183aBwtub-fRE/edit

DEADLINE: FRIDAY FEB. 19
Saleema Noon earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Family Sciences at UBC. She then researched the
quality of sexual health education in B.C. high schools, earning her a Master of Arts degree in sexual
health education in 1997, also from UBC. Since then, Saleema has been teaching not only in the field of
sexual health, but also in the areas of empowerment, assertiveness training, internet safety, healthy
relationships, body image and self-esteem.

Respected by the media as a sexual health expert, Saleema has appeared as a
regular guest on CTV News, Global News, CBC News, CBC Radio, CKNW Radio, Shaw TV, CityTV
Breakfast Television, CTV Morning Live, The Kid Carson Show on KiSS Radio, and also appeared in
CBC’s Passionate Eye documentary Secrets and CBC Doc Zone documentary Sext Up Kids. Saleema
has been featured in Canadian Living, Chatelaine and Today’s Parent magazines along with several
other national publications, and is a member of the Order of British Columbia. Her book for parents, Talk
Sex Today, was released in September 2016.

In their Body Science presentations, Saleema Noon and her team of educators work with children of all
ages, teaching them about healthy bodies and healthy sexuality in ways they find non-threatening and
entertaining. In their own language, children learn about how their bodies change, and what those
changes mean.
Based on research and her many years of experience as a sexual health educator, Saleema identifies
three reasons why providing this information starting at kindergarten is crucial:

1. Most importantly, studies from all over the world consistently show that children who are educated
   about healthy bodies, healthy boundaries and healthy sexuality are at reduced risk of child sexual
   abuse. Even if children are not asking questions yet (some never will) we need to give them
   information about their bodies and help them to develop strong personal boundaries. Sexual
   offenders (85% of which are known to the victim) prey on children who aren’t educated about their
   bodies and therefore lack the skills to differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate touching.
   These children find it hard to say “no”, especially to an adult, and may not report abuse for fear of
   getting in trouble.

2. Young children are easiest to teach. They are excited to be body scientists, and accept the
   information very matter-of-factly. Older children and teens, however, often find it difficult to talk about
   sexual health openly, especially with their parents! This means we have to surmount the
   embarrassment barrier before they can accept the information they need. The good news is that
   young children only absorb information they are ready for…everything else
   just goes above their head. More good news, studies show that children who learn about healthy
   bodies at an early age from reliable adults in their life delay sexual intercourse.

3. Unfortunately, children today are exposed at earlier and earlier ages to all things involving sex. We,
   as responsible adults, need to stay one step ahead of this by arming our children with accurate
   information about sexual health before they get their questions answered on the playground, by older
   friends or on the internet. We need to teach them to think critically about what they hear, and this
   allows parents need to establish themselves early as their child’s number one source of sexual health
   information throughout their development.

Please join us for an informative live Zoom Presentation for Parents on Tuesday February 23rd, 2021
from 6:30-8pm. In this session, Saleema Noon will give an overview of student presentations and, using
humor and straight talk in an open, interactive environment, will show parents how easy it is to convey
healthy, meaningful messages about sex and growing up to children. In addition, all parents will have
access to Body Science Online for 30 days so they can see exactly what their children will learn in class.
Link already provided.
Saleema will join students via Zoom in their classroom on Wed & Thurs Feb 24th & 25th She will show
pre-recorded, animated videos of her workshops for each grade followed by a live Q and A sessions.
The content of the presentations is supported by current research as being age appropriate and we
believe that it contributes to healthy child development. Some of the topics Saleema Noon Sexual Health
Educators cover in their workshops extend beyond the content of the BC Physical and Health Education
curriculum. For this reason, parents may choose to have their children OPT OUT of the Body Science
sessions with Saleema. If you do not wish your child to attend, we ask that you notify our office no later
than Friday February 19, 2021. Attendance at the parent presentation before making this decision is
strongly encouraged.

Please also feel free to phone me at the school if you have any questions and/or concerns about
Saleema Noon Sexual Health Educators’ presentations.

Sincerely,

Tim MacLeod
Principal