Sept 28- Oct 2, 2026 Parent Update

Good afternoon Cinnabar families,

Thank you to our PAC for providing popsicles at the Terry Fox Run. A special thank you as well to Mrs. Stannard and our Grade 7 student leaders for helping make the event such a great success. We appreciate everyone who helped make the day meaningful and fun for our students.

We also want to send our best wishes to Ms. Collins, Mrs. Robertson, and Ms. Carson, who are currently on leave. We wish them all the very best and look forward to welcoming them back when they are able to return.

A reminder that Orange Shirt Day is Tuesday, September 29. Students and staff are encouraged to wear orange as we recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and honour the children who never returned home, Survivors, their families, and communities.

Reminder: There will be no school on Wednesday, September 30, as we observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

And don’t forget that October 1 is Custodian Appreciation Day, and October 2 is World Teachers’ and Education Assistants’ Appreciation Day!

Please take a moment to recognize and celebrate the wonderful people who help make our school community such a caring and supportive place for students each day. Their hard work, dedication, and contributions are truly appreciated!

Warm regards,

Colette Young

September 29 Orange Shirt Day/ Assembly

September 30 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (No School)

October 1 Custodian Appreciation Day

October 2 Teacher & EA Appreciation Day

Please check out all of our celebrations and events on our website: https://cb.schools.sd68.bc.ca/

"In a community, we respect and celebrate our differences."

This quote highlights the importance of respecting and celebrating diversity within a community. It encourages us to appreciate and learn from the differences among individuals, including differences in race, ethnicity, culture, religion, abilities, and more.

A special thank you to Mrs. Stannard for taking the lead in organizing and running our Terry Fox Run and for coordinating our Grade 7 student leaders. We are also so grateful to our Grade 7 students for stepping up and helping make the event such a success.

Thank you to Leanne St. Thomas for her support and to our PAC for generously providing popsicles for everyone to enjoy after the run!

It was wonderful to see our Cinnabar community come together to honour Terry’s legacy and support such an important cause. Thank you to everyone who helped make the day so special!

A special thank you to Ms. Browning and Ms. Griffin for making our first Dolly Day such a fun and memorable celebration!

Thank you, Ms. Griffin, for getting into the spirit of the day and dressing up, and thank you, Ms. Browning, for the music and announcements that helped bring the day to life. We also appreciate you both for encouraging our students to celebrate reading and kindness throughout the day.

Thank you for bringing so much enthusiasm and joy to our Cinnabar community!

Grade 5/6 students in Mrs. Stannard's Division 7 and Mr. O’Hara’s Division 8 recently took their learning outdoors for a hands-on science adventure! The classes headed into the forest to collect a variety of natural items, including leaves, moss, bark, and other interesting pieces they discovered along the way.

Back in the classroom, the students became scientists and researchers. Using microscopes, they examined their natural treasures up close, discovering details and patterns that aren’t visible to the naked eye. Students carefully observed, discussed their findings, and created detailed drawings of what they saw through the microscopes.

This experience provided a wonderful opportunity for students to connect outdoor exploration with classroom learning. They practiced observation, curiosity, scientific thinking, and recording their discoveries while developing a deeper appreciation for the natural world around them.

It was a great reminder that sometimes the best classroom is the one just outside our door!

Kindergarten Immunizations:

In British Columbia, routine immunizations are recommended for children at kindergarten entry (4-6 years of age). If your child has not received their kindergarten immunizations, please contact your local Public Health unit to book an appointment.

For more information about immunization, visit:

Contact Your Local Public Health Unit:

https://www.islandhealth.ca/our-locations/health-unit-locations

Loaves and Fishes – Food Support/Hampers

• Anyone can register for food support or a Christmas hamper.
• Families do not need to be experiencing a specific crisis to access this support.
• Families can register directly.

Address: 1861 E Wellington Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9S 5X2

Phone: (250) 754-8347

The Great Nanaimo Toy Drive

https://thegreatnanaimotoydrive.ca/

• Anyone can register to receive Christmas toys.
• Families can register directly.
• The pick-up location will be Dufferin Community School again this year.

Cross Country and Football Update

Cross Country for students in Grades 2–7 will begin next week. Students who are interested are asked to listen for announcements and check in with Mr. Klan for more information.

A big thank you to Ian Campbell for stepping up to coach our Grade 6/7 football team this year, and to Ms. Edwards for being the teacher sponsor.

Football practices will begin next week, with games taking place on Wednesdays (except for the first game, which will be on a Tuesday)

Thank you to everyone who helps make these opportunities possible for our students!

Safe Arrival

Daily attendance is a proven factor for success in school, however, if your child is ill or unable to attend school on that day, please use our reporting tool to let us know if your child will be absent. Log on to cinnabarvalley.sd68.bc.ca or contact the office at info.cb@sd68.bc.ca before 9:00 am.

For your information, Verification Forms/ eConsent Forms will be sent home electronically the second week of school. Please check with the person you are using as an emergency contact so they know they may be called. This information is absolutely critical to have as soon as possible. Thank you.

Parent Volunteers

Criminal Record Check

Please consider having a Criminal Record Check done at the start of the year, if you haven’t already done so. Thank you to the parents who have. A CRC does not expire for 5 years and allows you to participate in all activities inside and outside the school with our students. We desperately need parent helpers at events and it is a challenge when CRC have not been done. This is a district-mandated step that must be taken in order to become involved in any way in the school.

Online application: https://justice.gov.bc.ca/eCRC/home.htm

Access Code/ID Number: UQ4T7XXBHE

Phone (toll free): 1-855-587-0185

Fax: 250-953-0408

Email: criminalrecords@gov.bc.ca

Driver Volunteer Form

If you wish to help drive students for field trips , you will need to fill out a Driver Volunteer Form as well. Please contact the office for a form if you are interested.

Open Parachute is a program that some teachers are using in our school. This program is designed by a team of Clinical Psychologists, Educators & Filmmakers, to teach mental health skills to all students in a way that is engaging and relatable, while being easy for educators to facilitate. Every lesson features an authentic peer voice, role modeling self-reflection and Resilience. Please see the link below for parent resources.

https://learn.openparachuteschools.com/parent/login?id=CA_RHDBtgi2