
Veritas Newsletter February 2024
What's Going On At Veritas!

We have reached the halfway mark of this school year! Thank you to all our families for your support and encouragement of your children and Veritas School.
As a Group 1 Independent School, Veritas receives 50% of the per student funding granted to the local public school district. Tuition compensates for small portion of the difference. Donations from individuals is also an important component of our funding. During the January special collection at Sacred Heart Parish, our congregation contributed $3235 to Veritas School. This money is used to provide tuition assistance to those families in need. The Knights of Columbus pancake breakfast in January also raised $349 towards new playground equipment. On behalf of all students and staff, we sincerely thank you!
Re-enrollment forms will be sent home with your child in the middle of February. One form is required per child. Please return them to the school by Friday, March 1st, 2024. This information is crucial in planning our staffing needs and our budget for the 2024-2025 school year. We are also accepting application forms for Kindergarten in September, as well as some of our other grades. If you know of families interested in Veritas for Kindergarten or other grades, please have them contact the school office as soon as possible.
Finally, our Celebration of Learning will be held on Tuesday, February 6 from 4:30 - 6:30! All families are welcome to drop in during this time and see what their children have been learning! We look forward to seeing everyone during this event!
February Dates
Thursday, Feb 1 - Hamburgers FREE Lunch
Friday, Feb 2 - Movie Night Hosted by Grade 7: Hercules!
Friday, Feb 2 - Grade 8 Basketball Game @ 5:20 at Caledonia School
Saturday, Feb 3 - Grade 8 Basketball Game @ 12:30 at Caledonia School
Monday, Feb 5 - Grade 5 Cross Country Skiing
Monday, Feb 5 - Pizza Hut Hot Lunch (ordered and paid)
Tuesday, Jan 6 - Hot Dogs FREE Lunch
Tuesday, Feb 6 - Celebration of Learning @ 4:30 - 6:30
Wednesday, Feb 7 - Chicken Strips Hot Lunch (ordered and paid)
Wednesday, Feb 7 - Grade 6 Girls Basketball Game @ 3:20 at Veritas
Wednesday, Feb 7 - Grade 6 Boys Basketball Game @ 3:20 at Thornhill Elementary
Thursday, Feb 8 - Pizza Buns FREE Lunch
Thursday, Feb 8 - Grade 6/7 Girls Basketball Game @ 3:20 at Veritas
Thursday, Feb 8 - Veritas School Council Meeting @ 7 pm
Friday, Feb 9 - Grade 6-9 Skiing / Snowboarding at Shames Mountain
Saturday, Feb 10 - Grade 8 Basketball Zones at Skeena Middle School
Sunday, Feb 11 - Last Bash Before the Ash in the Veritas School Gym (contact Sacred Heart Parish for more information)
Monday, Feb 12 - Grade 5 Cross Country Skiing
Monday, Feb 12 - Pizza Hut Hot Lunch (ordered and paid)
Tuesday, Feb 13 - Pancake FREE Lunch - Shrove Tuesday
Wednesday, Feb 14 - Ash Wednesday School Mass Led by Grade 8 at 9:00 am
Wednesday, Feb 14 - BP Pasta Hot Lunch (ordered and paid)
Wednesday, Feb 14 - Grade 6 Girls Basketball Game @ 3:20 at Veritas
Wednesday, Feb 14 - Grade 6 Boys Basketball Game @ 3:20 at Cassie Hall
Thursday, Feb 15 - Chicken Strips FREE Lunch
Thursday, Feb 15 - Grade 6/7 Girls Basketball Game @ 3:20 at Veritas
Friday, Feb 16 - Half Day, Dismissal at 12:00 Noon
Sunday, Feb 18 - Pancake Breakfast (Grade 7 Fundraiser)
Monday, Feb 19 - Family Day (Veritas School Closed)
Tuesday, Feb 20 - Macaroni and Cheese FREE Lunch
Tuesday, Feb 20 - Grade 6/7 Girls Basketball Game @ 3:20 at Skeena Middle School
Tuesday, Feb 20 - VPSG Meeting at 7 pm
Wednesday, Feb 21 - McDonalds Hot Lunch (ordered and paid)
Wednesday, Feb 21 - Grade 6 Girls Basketball Game @ 3:20 at Veritas
Wednesday, Feb 21 - Grade 6 Boys Basketball Game @ 3:20 at Uplands
Thursday, Feb 22 - NET with Grade 6-9 (regular school day)
Thursday, Feb 22 - Cheese Pizza FREE Lunch
Monday, Feb 26 - Pizza Hut Hot Lunch (ordered and paid)
Tuesday, Feb 27 - Pizza Bun FREE Lunch
Wednesday, Feb 28 - Pink Shirt Day
Wednesday, Feb 28 - Pita Pit Hot Lunch (ordered and paid)
Wednesday, Feb 28 - Grade 6 Girls Basketball Game @ 3:20 at Veritas
Wednesday, Feb 28 - Grade 6 Boys Basketball Game @ 3:20 at Suwilaawks Community School
Thursday, Feb 29 - Macaroni and Cheese FREE Lunch
Thursday, Feb 29 - Grade 4 Cross Country Skiing
Items of Interest
New Applications: Veritas School is currently accepting applications for September 2024’s Kindergarten class! Some of our other grades also have room for new students for the 2024-2025 school year. Application forms can be downloaded from our website or picked up in the school office. Please send in any application forms as soon as possible, as our Admissions Committee will begin reviewing our Kindergarten applications soon.
2023 Tax Receipts: Tax Receipts for the 2023 year are available at the school office. If you would like your tax receipt sent home with your child, please contact the school office via email, Seesaw, or phone.
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, February 8 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.
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!
Completed Fundraisers: Our two December fundraisers did very well! The VPSG made approximately $1100 at our Christmas Craft Fair and our Christmas baking trays made approximately $600!
Current Fundraisers: Our current fundraisers include:
Ascent Coffee (VPSG): https://ascentcoffeefundraiser.com/; Password: Veritas2024. Closes February 12; delivery around February 23.
Purdy's Chocolates (Grade 9): https://fundraising.purdys.com/1712344-115948. Closes February 21; delivery March 11.
VPSG Meetings: The next VPSG meeting will be on Tuesday, February 20th at 7 pm. There will be coffee and tea available, and 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: This Hot Lunch session runs until Spring Break. The grade 3 parents are responsible for Wednesdays in the month of February and the grade 7 parents are responsible for Wednesdays in March. Thank you for your support!
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).
Feeding Futures Grant
Veritas School's free lunches on Tuesdays and Thursdays in January have been well received. These lunches will continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays in February, however will only be offered on Tuesdays in March. More information on the Feeding Futures Grant can be read here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023ECC0020-000424
Veritas School’s initiatives towards assisting families with food options during the school day include:
- Fruit 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.
- In February, a free lunch will be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with any leftovers available on Fridays. In March, a free lunch will only be available on Tuesdays. 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.
Catholic Corner
The Catholic Church dedicates the month of February to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. This month, we are challenged to strengthen our family life! Challenge your family to
- Sit down around the dinner table together more frequently.
- Put away your devices between arriving home from work and your child's bedtime and spend time together going for a walk, playing a game, etc.
- Ask your child about a highlight of their school day each night.
. . . and so did others!
Kindergarten students always enjoy their class pet time!
Quinn Main was Veritas' Exceptional Student this month, winning RiverKings tickets!
Our first day at Shames this year was a success!
Grade 4 built castles!
Grade 4 is hopping into the world of dragons . . . or frogs!
Grade 3 is working hard on their phonics!
Grade 7 made delicious BLT's!
Grade 7 concluded their Foods elective with cupcakes!
Grade 9 students made amazing shelves!
Grace's creations in grade 9 woodwork!
About Veritas
Email: veritas@cispg.ca
Website: www.veritascatholicschool.com
Location: 4836 Straume Avenue, Terrace, BC, Canada
Phone: 250-635-3035