Ladysmith Intermediate School

Monday, September 7th

• Labour Day (No School)

Tuesday, September 8th

• First day of school from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Wednesday, September 9th

• First full day of school from 8:37 a.m. to 2:26 p.m.

Thursday, September 10th

Friday, September 11th

• Welcome back assembly @ 10:35 - parents welcome!

Virtue of the Month: Goal-setting

hul'qumi'num word of the week:

Behaviour focus:

Open Parachute is a district mental wellness program being used in many classrooms. A wonderful addition to the program is that it has a parent portal that you can access anytime if you are struggling at home with specific issues. It gives families an opportunity to open up the conversation about mental health, at home, so that students know it is a safe place to share how they are feeling, provide them with useful tools, and provide an opportunity to connect with you.

I will be including a weekly link for families to take a look at, but please know that you can access any of the modules that you want. The topics I send will either align with our virtue, behaviour of the month, or issues that are coming up at school.

Coming soon!

Welcome back LIS families and students! I hope you have all had a fantastic summer and ready to for the new school year ahead. I wanted to share my excitement in rejoining the Ladysmith community. I had the pleasure of spending 2 months at Ladysmith Primary School last Fall, so I am happy to already know many of our grade 4 and 5 students this year! The Ladysmith community was extremely supportive, welcoming, and kind, and I had always hoped that my journey would bring me back.

I will be going into my 5th year as an administrator, preceded by 16 years of teaching everything from Kindergarten to grade 7. I love my job!! Please know that my door is always open if have any concerns or questions. I welcome open, honest, and respectful communication as we work together to support your children academically, socially, and emotionally. I work very hard to ensure that staff, students and families feel supported and welcome.

LIS is also welcoming a Vice Principal this year! Her name is Tammi Burke and she is coming to us from the Parksville-Qualicum school district and has taught for 18 years. She will also be a grade 6 teacher.

I look forward to getting to know everyone at LIS and having a great year!

Warmly,

Sue DeRosa

Principal

We are happy to start the year knowing all of our staff are in place and will work together as an amazing team to support all of our students. Our current enrollment is 326 students and there are 36 staff members.

We are committed to making the start of school as smooth as possible for everyone. Students will be starting on the very first day in tentative classrooms. Please keep in mind that the district ultimately decides when classrooms are finalized so there may be some movement from class to class over the first few weeks. The staff at Ladysmith Intermediate has worked very carefully to place students in the classes they feel students will be most successful for educational reasons while also making best effort to ensure they are with a friend they requested back in June.

The start of school and a new classroom are both exciting and scary for some students. They may come home unhappy in the first few days because they are with a different set of students. Please support them in working through change and giving the new classroom and teacher a chance, as this is an important life lesson.

On Tuesday, September 8th, students will attend from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and collect as follows:

Grade 4 - go to the gym through the back door off the

Grade 5 - meet on the blacktop

Grade 6 - meet on the south end of the bottom field

Grade 7 - meet on the north end of the bottom field

Teachers will call out class lists and let students know where they will line up for their first full day on Wednesday, September 9th.

*Grade 4 parents - I know many of you may want to accompany your child into the gym on the first day. While that instinct comes from a place of love, I encourage you to give your child the opportunity to walk in on their own. This small step sends a powerful message that you believe in their ability to navigate new experiences with confidence and independence.

Please arrange a pickup location for dismissal at 12:00, give them a hug, a high five, or a few words of encouragement, and then let them spread their wings. They are strong, capable, and ready for this next adventure!😃

At LIS, the health, safety, and well-being of our students and staff are a top priority. As a nut and scent aware elementary school, we ask families to help us create a safe and inclusive learning environment by avoiding foods containing nuts in lunches and snacks whenever possible and refraining from using strongly scented products such as perfumes, colognes, and scented lotions before coming to school. These simple precautions help protect members of our community with severe allergies, asthma, and fragrance sensitivities.

I am aware that sometimes this can be challenging because who doesn't love peanut butter?? If your child does need to bring a nut item, please coach them on washing their hands and eating space after consuming these products. In some cases, your child may have a severe peanut allergy in the room and it may need to be declared a nut-free zone. Your classroom teacher will let you know if this is the case.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our school safe for everyone.

September 30th - Day of Truth & Reconciliation (NO SCHOOL)

September 25th - Terry Fox Run

October 1st - Open House from 5:00 - 6:00

October 23rd - Provincial Professional Development Day (NO SCHOOL)

Please join our PAC Facebook page for updates and news on what is happening at school and with our latest fundraising events. Just search Ladysmith Intermediate School PAC to follow along.

Coming Soon

Sue DeRosa

Principal - Ladysmith Intermediate School

Email: sderosa@sd68.bc.ca
Phone: (250)245-3351