June 2026 Newsletter
June 1, 2026🌷
Is there a good way to describe this time of year in schools? Well, it's like climbing to the top of a long, steep, and gnarly waterslide. You push off and the next thing you know, you are barreling down the slide, out of control, and before you know it, you are at the end. May was a busy month, and June is going to be just as busy.
On April 30, we hosted our annual Early Learning for Families (ELFF) event. We had close to 50 adults and children come for dinner, play-based learning, and each family went home with a great loot bag (actually, they were beach pails filled with learning resources). Thank you to our ELFF Team (mme Kelly, Mrs. Payne, Mme Jenna, Ms. Albrecht, Ms. Sarbit, Mme Dewolf, Ms. Kuzik, Ms. Alexis, and OKIB Eklder Randy Swanson for organizing and hosting this annual event. Our PAC President Kora Holt and our Public Health Nurse, Caitlin Harper, also made appearances. What a great team! The purpose of ELFF is to build connections between home and school and to help children gain some foundational skills in literacy, numeracy and social-emotional learning. When parents are involved in their children’s education, their children do better in school. Parents came away with lots of ideas too!
On Monday, May 4, we celebrated Music Monday with a whole school sing-along on the field backed up by Mrs. Carr on vocals and keyboards and Mr. Minkus on bass. Our anthem this year was I.S.S. (Is Somebody Singing) by astronaut Chris Hadfield and the band Barenaked Ladies. We also enjoyed several performances from music classes as well as student favorite 'Fruit Canon.' Music Monday is an annual Canadian celebration held on the first Monday of May to raise awareness for the importance of music education in schools and communities., our
On May 6, our Indigenous students, Mrs. Harper's grade 3 class, Indigenous Advocate Rose Alexis, and PAC representatives, Danielle Lamb and Erin Talbot, represented our school at the Okanagan Nation Alliance's Ceremonial Salmon Release at Vernon Creek near the estuary on Okanagan Lake in Vernon. The fry will spend up to a year in the creek then head down the Okanagan and Columbia Rivers and into the Pacific Ocean near Portland, Oregon. After 2-3 years, they will make their adult journey back to Okanagan Lake via the Columbia and Okanagan Rivers. The ceremonial sockeye salmon fry release is not just about the fish. It also symbolizes the revitalization of Indigenous cultural practices, reinforces food sovereignty, and restores balance to ecosystems impacted by colonization and development.
Throughout the month of May, there were many opportunities outside the classrooms for students to learn new things and challenge themselves. In addition to our Intermediate Track and Field and Cross-Country Running programs, there were several field studies trips to the Kelowna Art Gallery, Rotary Centre for the Arts, Lake Country Municipal Hall, Okanagan Science Centre, and Okanagan Regional Library. Thanks to our talented staff for arranging these learning opportunities and to those staff and parents who put in many hours of volunteer time! On May 25, our Intermediate classes headed to the Apple Bowl for our annual track and field mini meet with Oyama Traditional. It is always a great event and this year we had great weather. Again, thank you to the student-athletes for your sportsmanship and to all the volunteers!
On May 8th and 15th, all our grade 3 students participated in the Lake Country Fire Department's Safe Program. Students learned about basic fire safety, planning home escape routes, prevention strategies, and paid a visit to the fire safety training trailer.
On May 13, we held our annual Talent Show. Thank You to Mrs. Payne for organizing a very successful show. Everything about it was so well done and the students were so proud to share their talents and help behind the scenes! Thanks also to Mme Catton and all the staff who supported Mrs. Payne in various roles.
On May 20, we welcomed many of our incoming Kindergarten families. The Kindergarten Parent Information Session was on Zoom and families whio missed the presentation, the slides and info can be found on our website or here. Families also signed their Kindies up for one of our school-based learning through play experience sessions in the StrongStart Centre.
On May 25, our intermediate students participated, along with Oyama Traditional School, in our annual fun, light-hearted Track and Field Meet at the Apple Bowl, where good sportsmanship, onest effort and teamwork are more important than talent. Thank you to our teachers for organizing and to all the parents who volunteered their time on this special day.
Learn to Ride Bike Program - On Monday and Friday this week, all our Intermediate students will be participating in the 'Everyone Rides' Learn to Bike Program. The Everyone Rides program is a fully-funded, province-wide initiative in British Columbia (developed by HUB Cycling) that teaches Grade 4-5 students safe cycling and active transportation skills.
District Track and Field Meet - on Wednesday this week, students who have met the district criteria in specific events are looking forward to competing at the School District Track Meet. We are sending two boys and two girls from each grade to all but two of the offered events. We wish and the coaches Nicky Krastel and Dana Guthrie all the best for a great day of competition!
With gratitude,
Mr. Minkus and Ms. Kuzik
In order to make accurate plans for next year’s school organization, we need your assistance in confirming student enrollment for September. If you know you will be moving between now and the end of summer, please call Mrs. Nuyens in the school’s office or write a brief note to your child’s teacher at your earliest convenience.
June 2026
June 1 - 5 Staff Appreciation Week. Thank you PAC!!
June 1 Learn to Ride Bike Program for Grade 4/5 Classes
June 3 District Track and Field Meet
June 5 Learn to Ride Bike Program for Grade 4/5 Classes
June 5 Happy Rainbow Day! Wear Rainbow Colours!
June 8 Grade 5s Visit HS Grenda Middle School
June 11 Grade 5 Trip to Green Bay
June 11 Grade 4s to Swalwell Splash Park
June 17 Last Day for StrongStart
June 17 Okanagan Regional Library Visit to PGE
June 19 Grade 4/5 Classes Field Studies to McDonalds and Swalwell Splash Park
June 23 Grade 5 Red Carpet Celebration 5:45
June 24 Primary Play Day
June 25 Last Day of School for Students
June 25 Report Cards Home
June 26 Administrative Day (Classes Not in Session): Schools Close
August 31 Registration Week
Sept 1-3 Summer Pro D Days
Sept 8 Schools Open: Early Dismissal 11:00
Sept 18 Parent Meet & Greet for Grades 1-5
Okanagan Public Schools Transportation department currently operates 76 school bus routes providing school bus transportation service to students in Lake Country, Kelowna, West Kelowna and Peachland.
Changing student demographics requires the Transportation Department conduct a review of the bus routes each year and apply adjustments where required. School bus routes are designed to service eligible students attending their English catchment school whose application was received on or before the deadline date of May 31.​
Although our Transportation office accepts applications throughout the school year, priority for the next school year is given to the applications submitted before the deadline of May 31.
SCHOOL BUS REGISTRATION TIMELINE 2026-2027 Year
Applications received for eligible students between February 2 and May 31, 2026 will be processed in the order the application was received, and will take until to end of June to complete. Applications for courtesy riders received before June 1 will be processed in June and July.
Most bus routes are at full capacity once all applications received before June 1 are processed.
Applications received after May 31 will not be processed until August or later and students will be placed on a waitlist. Parents will be notified when the application has been processed and advised if seat space is available. School bus route and bus stop information will be distributed to parents during the last week of August.
Transportation Fees will be applied to the parents School Cash Online account in September.
Payment in full or monthly payments must be set up within 30 days of your child being assigned to the school bus route.
Passenger Requirements:
Parents are required to submit the online transportation application. A confirmation email will be sent to the parent advising if their child has been assigned to a route. If seat space is not available on the bus route, parents will be advised that the application was placed on a waitlist.
A student must be registered on a route to ride the school bus. Students that are registered on a bus route will be issued a bus pass by the driver. The bus pass must be scanned by the student, when boarding or exiting the school bus. Only registered riders may be transported on the school bus, no guest passengers are permitted to ride. Other than a student's water bottle, food or beverages may not be consumed while riding on the school bus and lunch/snacks must remain in the students backpack or lunch kit.
To apply for school bus transportation, click here.
StrongStart is a free drop-in early learning program for children aged 0 to 5 years (prior to entry into kindergarten), who are accompanied by their parents or caregivers. It is the beginning of a special partnership between families and schools. The program at Peter Greer is facilitated by Chelsea Coates, a Licensed Early Childhood Educator. Click here for more information.
If you are a returning StrongStart family, then feel free to drop-in on days that work for you. StrongStart Centres are open: Monday – Friday 8:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
FOR NON HOST SCHOOLS
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT THE BC GAMES THIS SUMMER
The BC Summer Games are coming to Kelowna this July 22 - 26. Events like this need reliable volunteers to help create memorable experiences for the young athletes. If you are interested in helping out please
