Veritas Newsletter October 2024

October 1, 2024

Veritas had a great start to this school year with a very busy September! Thank you to all parents who attended the Open House and were present in the school this month. Your contributions add to our positive school environment! We appreciate hearing from many of our parents during end-of-the-day pick-up. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns or questions.

October Dates

Monday, Sept 30 - Truth and Reconciliation Statutory Holiday (school closed)

Tuesday, Oct 1 - Pizza Hut Hot Lunch

Wednesday, Oct 2 - School Mass Led by Grade 4s at 9:00 am

Wednesday, Oct 2 - Lola's Hot Lunch

Monday, Oct 7 - Pizza Hut Hot Lunch

Monday, Oct 7 - Davison Orchard Apple Orders Due

Monday, Oct. 7 - VPSG Meeting at 7 pm

Wednesday, Oct 9 - McDonalds Hot Lunch

Thursday, Oct 10 - School Council Meeting at 7 pm

Friday, October 11 - Thanksgiving Assembly

Monday, Oct. 14 - Thanksgiving Statutory Holiday (school closed)

Tuesday, Oct 15 - Pizza Hut Hot Lunch

Wednesday, Oct 16 - Hot Dog Hot Lunch

Monday, Oct 21 - Pizza Hut Hot Lunch

Wednesday, Oct 23 - Chicken Strips Hot Lunch

Friday, Oct. 25 - Professional Development Day; No Students in Attendance

Monday, Oct 28 - Pizza Hut Hot Lunch

Wednesday, Oct. 30 - School Mass Led by Grade 7s at 9:00 am

Wednesday, Oct 30 - Boston Pizza Pasta Hot Lunch

Thursday, Oct. 31 - Halloween - Come Dressed in your Costumes!

Veritas Parent Support Group

A message from Birke Schemmerling-Araujo, VPSG Chair . . .

The Veritas Parent Support Group (VPSG) is looking forward to another successful year of supporting the school, teachers, and students in their day to day curriculum, special activities, as well as updates and additions to classroom and school equipment. To accomplish this, fundraising is one of the main activities of the VPSG. Last year the VPSG was able to fundraise and donate $27 000 that will be used to update curriculum resources, purchase new outdoor playground equipment, and install the next phase of the playground. This year, we hope to raise $30 000!

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.

Parent Reps and Volunteers: In addition to the VSPG Executive, each grade also has a parent class representative who attends each meeting. Parent reps attend monthly VPSG meetings, arrange volunteers for hot lunch for the month assigned to their class, assist with fundraisers, and assist the classroom teacher when requested. Your current parent reps are:

Kindergarten: Ashley Medeiros and Juancho Ancheta

Grade 1: Dani Lawrence and Angela Gaweda

Grade 2: Silvia Barg and Krystal de Medeiros

Grade 3: Ashley Medeiros and Megan Beedle

Grade 4: Birke Schemmerling-Araujo and Brit Kinihan

Grade 5: Teresa Gonzalez and Katherine Davis

Grade 6: Megan Beedle

Grade 7: Silvia Barg and Birke Schemmerling-Araujo

Grade 8: Kirsty Hernes

Grade 9: Sarah Kilvington

VPSG Meetings: School / class activities are discussed at each meeting, which enables parents to be 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 Oct 7th from 7 to 8pm. There will be coffee and tea available. Childcare will also be provided in the gym for the first time by a few of our dedicated grade 8 and 9 students. I look forward to seeing everyone. 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).

Fundraising: Available and active fundraisers include apples from Davison Orchards and Mabel's Labels. Davison Orchard apples can be ordered through the Munch-a-Lunch website or a paper form can be picked up at the school office. Mabel's Labels are an ongoing fundraiser and can be ordered online at https://mabelslabels.ca/fundraising/support under 'Veritas Parent Support Group (Terrace)'. Watch for more fundraisers coming soon, including Purdy's Chocolates, Mom's Pantry, and others!

Hot Lunch: The first round of Hot Lunch began in September and continues until Christmas Break. The operation of Hot Lunch relies on classroom reps and volunteers to assist each Monday and Wednesday; if volunteers are not found, that week of Hot Lunch may be cancelled. Grade 2 parents are responsible for October's Hot Lunch on Wednesdays and grade 3 parents are responsible for Wednesday's in November. Hot lunch orders can be placed at https://munchalunch.com/schools/veritascatholicschool/

Volunteers at Veritas

Criminal Record Check: All parents must have a CRC on file at the school office before volunteering in any school activities. CRC's are valid for five years, expiring on your birthday. If you haven't completed yours, you may do so online at https://justice.gov.bc.ca/criminalrecordcheck and use the access code DLTLFMPHUE. Please call the office if you have any questions.
Driver Information: In addition to a current Criminal Record Check, all volunteer field trip drivers must have a current driver's abstract on file before volunteering as a driver on a school field trip. Driver's abstracts must be renewed when your driver's license is renewed. To complete your driver's abstract, please visit https://onlinebusiness.icbc.com/clio/. Vehicle insurance must also be on file and a new copy provided when your insurance is renewed. A copy of your drivers license is also required.

Additional Notes and Reminders

Cell Phone Use: Parents/Guardians may not contact their child via their cell phone during the school day, as students are required to power off their devices. Please call the school office directly at 250-635-3035 if you wish to contact your child or leave your child a message.
Before School Supervision: The supervision of students prior to the 8:35 bell is limited to the front of the school and the parking lot area. For the safety of our students, students are not permitted on any playground equipment (front playground or kindergarten area) or in the fields before school hours as these areas are not supervised before school.
Absentee Notes: Please contact the school explaining your child's absences with a Seesaw message to "Office Staff" and your child's teacher, an email to the office (veritas@cispg.ca), or a phone call (250-635-3035). 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

The Catholic Church dedicates the month of October to the Holy Rosary. The word Rosary means “Crown of Roses” and is a powerful, scripture-based prayer to God through Mary, His mother. Praying the Rosary invites mediation on Jesus’ life, including the joyful, luminous, sorrowful, and glorious mysteries. The repetition of the Rosary is meant to provide an opportunity for calm and reflective prayer. I invite you to say all or a portion of the Rosary each week of October with your families.

During the month of October, there are two School Masses! The first Mass is on Wednesday, October 2 and will be led by the grade 4 class. During this Mass, the grade 4 students will receive their Bibles. The second Mass is on Wednesday, October 30 and will be led by the grade 7 class. Everyone is invited!