Welcome back to school! We hope that everyone was able to enjoy their summer and found time to relax, play and refresh. Many will be anxiously awaiting information on the first days of school, and we greatly appreciate your patience. We are excited to start the 2023-2024 school year. It is important that you know that Paul Manville, Principal of Queen Elizabeth, is currently on leave. We wish Paul the very best and send him our warmest thoughts. He is very appreciative of all your support and kind words. His presence, energy and passion will be missed as we start up the year.
The district has committed to supporting the Queen Elizabeth community in his absence and have appointed myself Marlene Jack, a former principal in New Westminster Schools, as Acting Principal. I will attend the school on a full-time basis until September 8th and will then work three days each week. Debbie Ramen will continue in her role as Vice Principal. Her teaching assignment will be reduced, allowing her to be available in the office two days each week. Marlene and Debbie will be working closely together to ensure the start-up is as smooth as possible. Please feel free to email me at mjack@sd40.bc.ca if you have any questions.
School Start Up Grade 1-4:
All students in Grade 1 to 4 will attend for one hour Tuesday, September 5 from 8:50-9:50, and begin full day instruction on Wednesday, September 6 from 8:50-3:00. Please send your child to school with a snack, lunch and a water bottle. Please do not bring school supplies to school until Wednesday, September 6th.
Returning Students:
On Tuesday, September 5th, your child will meet their last year’s teacher/designate in the areas mentioned below. The teachers will be waiting to welcome them back and escort them to the classroom for one-hour. Students will be brought back to the same area for dismissal at 9:50.
- Grade 1 lineups will be located on the City Park Field
- Grade 2 lineups will be located near the Tarmac area adjacent to the Kindergarten Playground/Library entrance
- Grade 3 and 4 will be on the gravel field up by the portables.
New Students:
On Tuesday, September 5th, all new students should report to the main office where they will be escorted to the library. New students will be dismissed at the main entrance.
*** All Grade 1-4 families will receive an email on Tuesday, September 5 in the afternoon with a Number Lineup. Please watch for that email and ensure you know your Number Lineup so we can assist you in finding the correct line up area. Students will be greeted by their new teacher and brought to their new classroom. Students will be dismissed on Wednesday, September 6 at the same Number Lineup at 3:00 pm.
Incoming Kindergarten Students:
A special welcome to families who are beginning Kindergarten this year. We look forward to meeting our new young learners. Kindergarten students do not attend school for the first week (September 5-8). They will begin attending in Week 2 (Sept. 11-15). Please see the Gradual Intake Schedule link below.
An email to K families will be sent home on Tuesday, September 5 by your child’s teacher with further details confirming your arrival location for the Orientation session on Wednesday, September 6.
Your child’s specific gradual intake schedule and expectations will be communicated to you directly by your child’s teacher at the Kindergarten Orientation session and within your individual interview time.
Kindergarten Gradual Entry Calendar 2023-24
Kindergarten Orientation:
Parents only will attend a short Orientation Session on Wednesday, September 6 at 9:30. You will meet your child’s teacher, receive important information on how to best support your child’s school start, and to book your Individual Family Interview.
Individual Family Interviews
Individual Family Interview times will be scheduled and held on Sept.6 in the afternoon and Sept. 7-8 all day. The goal is to welcome families into their child’s classroom and provide families and teachers an opportunity to get to know each other better. Teachers will review expectations, routines and further discuss school readiness to help ensure success for your child’s all important first year of school.
School Supplies:
If you have purchased school supplies independently, please send them to school with your child on Wednesday, September 6th. If you have ordered through School Start, they will be distributed to your child at school. School Supply lists and the new bell schedule can be found on our school website:
https://queenelizabethschool.ca/parents/information/supply-lists/
https://queenelizabethschool.ca/parents/information/school-calendar/
If you know that your child will not be at school on the first day, please email the office at queenelizabeth@sd40.bc.ca or call us at 604-517-6080 to notify us. It is extremely important that we have a clear understanding of which children will be returning to Queen Elizabeth and which children are moving on to different schools.
We are looking forward to an exciting year of learning and connecting, where each child further develops their competencies, independence, and love of learning.
Kind regards,
Acting Principal: Marlene Jack Vice Principal: Debbie Ramen
Email: mjack@sd40.bc.ca Email: dramen@sd40.bc.ca
Phone: 604 517 6082 Phone: 604-517-5904
