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Veritas Newsletter January 2024
What's Going On At Veritas!
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Happy New Year! We hope that all of you had a wonderful and peaceful Christmas filled with joy and celebration with your families!
Thank you for your support during the busy month of December. Our grade 6-9 Christmas Showcase was presented before a packed gym and our kindergarten to grade 5 Christmas Concert at the REM Lee Theatre was fabulous! In addition, donations were collected for the Terrace Food Bank. Thank you for supporting our collection for those in need in our community.
Please continue reading below for important information on FREE school-wide lunches on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which have been made possible by the Ministry of Education and Child Care's Feeding Futures Grant.
We are looking forward to celebrating Catholic Education Week at the end of January! Catholic Education Week is recognized by all Catholic schools in British Columbia as a celebration of the opportunity for families to have choice in the education of their children. Watch Seesaw for more information in the coming weeks!
January Dates
Tuesday, Jan 2 - First Day back at School!
Tuesday, Jan 2 - Mac and Cheese with Bun FREE Lunch
Wednesday, Jan 3 - No Hot Lunch
Thursday, Jan 4 - Hot Dog and Veggies FREE Lunch
Friday, Jan 5 - Movie Night hosted by grade 8
Monday, Jan 8 - Pizza Hut Hot Lunch (ordered and paid)
Tuesday, Jan 9 - Ham Bun and Veggies FREE Lunch
Tuesday, Jan 9 - Grade 8 Parent Meeting at 7 pm
Wednesday, Jan 10 - Boston Pizza Pasta Hot Lunch (ordered and paid)
Wednesday, Jan 10 - Grade 7 Parent Meeting at 7 pm
Thursday, Jan 11 - Chicken Strips and Veggies FREE Lunch
Thursday, Jan 11 - Council Meeting at 7 pm
Friday, Jan 12 - Half Day Noon Dismissal
Monday, Jan 15 - Pizza Hut Hot Lunch (ordered and paid)
Tuesday, Jan 16 - Pizza Bun and Veggies FREE Lunch
Wednesday, Jan 17 - McDonalds Hot Lunch (ordered and paid)
Thursday, Jan 18 - Mac and Cheese with Bun FREE Lunch
Thursday, Jan 18 - Grade 6 Parent Meeting at 7 pm
Friday, Jan 19 - Grade 6-9 at Shames Mountain
Monday, Jan 22 - Pizza Hut Hot Lunch (ordered and paid)
Tuesday, Jan 23 - Pigs in Blanket and Veggies FREE Lunch
Tuesday, Jan 23 - VPSG Meeting at 7 pm
Wednesday, Jan 24 - Hot Dogs Hot Lunch (ordered and paid)
Wednesday, Jan 24 - Grade 9 Parent Meeting at 7 pm
Thursday, Jan 25 - Snack Pack (meat, cheese, veggies, crackers) FREE Lunch
Friday, Jan 26 - Professional Development Day (No School for Students)
Monday, Jan 29 - Pizza Hut Hot Lunch (ordered and paid)
Tuesday, Jan 30 - Pasta with Marinara Sauce FREE Lunch
Wednesday, Jan 31 - Pita Pit Hot Lunch (ordered and paid)
Wednesday, Jan 31 - School Mass Led by Grade 8
Feeding Futures Grant
Veritas School has received funds through the Ministry of Education and Child Care’s Feeding Futures Grant. The purpose of this grant is to ensure that students have access to healthy meals and snacks. More information can be read here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023ECC0020-000424
The majority of this grant will be used to provide food for children in the school setting. Veritas School’s initiatives towards this purpose include:
- Fruit and granola bars in each classroom. Each classroom, as well as the office, has had a basket holding fresh fruit (apples and oranges) and granola bars that are available to any student. We began this initiative at the end of October 2023, and it has been highly successful. The food in the baskets is consumed frequently, with some classes replenishing their fruit supply at the office each day.
- A mini fridge has been added to our office area. This fridge holds milk, yogurt, and juice. Students are invited to come by the office before school begins or throughout the day to request milk, juice, yogurt, granola bars or muffins.
- From January to Spring Break, a free lunch will be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with any leftovers available on Fridays. We will be ordering enough lunch to feed ALL students; there is no need to order. Please see the date section above for the lunch provided on each day.
In April, the Feeding Futures Grant committee will re-assess our spending of the grant and may change or introduce new initiatives. If you have any questions or concerns, please Mrs. Berg at tberg@cispg.ca or 250-635-3035.
Pacific Northwest Music Festival
Veritas School’s kindergarten to grade 6 classes have participated in the annual Pacific Northwest
Music Festival (PNMF) for many decades in a variety of forms, including poems, choral singing, band selections, and speeches. This year, our grade 7-9 band will also participate! The benefits experienced by our students participating in the PNMF are plentiful. Many competencies in BC’s curriculum are met through preparation and performing in the PNMF, including oral language, presentation, speaking, and collaboration. Students in Veritas School’s kindergarten to grade 6 classes, as well as the grade 7-9 band, will be preparing an entry for the PNMF and, through the practice and preparation process, growing and developing as both individuals and as a team.
All students will be registered as participants by Veritas School. In the coming months, please watch Seesaw and your child's agenda or communication folder for selections that can be practiced at home. PNMF performances will occur in April; exact dates, times, and locations of your child's performances will be shared closer to the performance date.
Veritas is always very proud of our student's participation at the PNMF! Thank you, in advance, for your support of their hard work and final products!
NET
For the fourth year, a NET Ministries of Canada team will be spending a day with our Grade 6-9 students on Thursday, February 22, 2024! NET is a world-renowned organization composed of teams of young adults (primarily university age) who travel throughout Canada and the world working with youth and young adults. More information can be found on their website at https://www.netcanada.ca/. Each time that the NET team has visited Veritas School, the reviews from both students and parents were fantastic!
We are seeking four Veritas families who would be willing and able to act as a host family for three or four NET team members for the night of February 21. Please take time to consider volunteering as a host family by providing a “home away from home” for these young adults. If you are interested in volunteering, please call (250-635-3035) or email (tberg@cispg.ca) Mrs. Berg as soon as possible.
Veritas Parent Support Group
A message from Birke Schemmerling-Araujo, VPSG Chair . . .
Thank you to all the volunteers in all the ways that you contribute. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone!!
VPSG Executive: The VPSG Executive includes a Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer and Secretary. Birke Schemmerling-Araujo is our Chair, Ashley Medeiros is our Vice-Chair, Gillian McCutcheon is our Secretary, and Joan Iamele is our Treasurer. If you have any questions at all please don’t hesitate to reach out to me (Birke) via text (250-615-1491), Facebook, or email (birkepferd@hotmail.com).
VPSG Meetings: School / class activities are discussed at each meeting, which enables parents to feel more connected to the school and interact with other parents. We are always looking for more parents to join us - many hands make light work. The more input, the more ideas that can be generated. The next VPSG meeting will be on Tuesday, January 23rd from 7 to 8pm. There will be coffee and tea available. Childcare will also be provided in the gym by a few of our dedicated grade 8/9 students. I look forward to seeing everyone.
Hot Lunch: The next Hot Lunch session runs from mid-January to March. The grade 5 parents are responsible for Wednesdays in the month of January. The link for Hot lunch orders will be shared on Seesaw in the first week of January.
Items of Interest
After School Care: There are some open ASC spots for students! If you are interested in registering for or learning more about ASC, please contact the school office.
Dressing for the Weather: Please remember to ensure your child comes to school properly dressed for the weather, whether that be rain and wind or snow and cold! Students go outside, unless there is thunder and lightening or the wind chill is colder than -20 degrees Celsius.
Sick Children: If your child is unwell, please keep them home until their symptoms have improved!
School Council: The fifth School Council meeting is on Thursday, January 11 at 7:00pm at the school. The meeting begins with an open invitation to all, before we move to the in-camera portion of the meeting. The mandate of School Council is to oversee the operation of Veritas School, including finances and staffing.
Absentee Notes: Please contact the school explaining your child's absences with a Seesaw message to Office Staff and your child's teacher. Absentee reports are crucial to our school's funding, as numerous unexplained absences throughout the school year can mean less government funding for your child.
Catholic Corner
Grade 6 Girls Volleyball
Grade 8 Basketball
Christmas Hat Day
Christmas Caroling
Christmas Lights and Bells Day
Christmas Showcase Grade 6
Christmas Showcase Grade 7/8/9
Christmas Concert Kindergarten
Christmas Concert Grade 1
Christmas Concert Grade 2
Christmas Concert Grade 2
Christmas Concert Grade 3
Christmas Concert Grade 4
Christmas Concert Grade 5
Christmas Concert Grade 5
Christmas Concert Grade 5
Mary's Meals Success! $1685.55 was raised, which will feed 52 school children for one year!
About Veritas
Email: veritas@cispg.ca
Website: www.veritascatholicschool.com
Location: 4836 Straume Avenue, Terrace, BC, Canada
Phone: 250-635-3035