January 16, 2026
Principal’s Message – January 16
Dear École Herbert Spencer Community,
We were grateful to see the return of the Sun this week! Always makes our school community just a little happier, with a few more smiles and a lot more fun. Lots to share in our gallery and even more activities coming up in the coming weeks, please see the following gallery, information, updates and reminders!
Our New Jerseys Have arrived! Students will be excited to don our new athletic jerseys for our upcoming Cosom Hockey Tournament (details below) and our Year End Track Meet!
Hibernators! Div 19 and 20 are learning about Hibernation and today was the Big Day!
Reading Link Challenge Kick -Off!
Grade 5 Cosom Hockey!
On the heels of the return of the Elementary School Track Meet in June 2025, we announce the return of another New Westminster Schools Classic Sporting event to bring our greater school community together. On March 4th Herbert Spencer will be taking a Grade 5 Cosom hockey team to Fraser River Middle School for what we hope to be the return of the annual Elementary School Cosom Hockey tournament. Grade 5 students have the opportunity to participate in a cosom hockey program beginning the week of January 26th on Tuesdays and Thursdays at lunch in our gym. In February we will look for a commitment from players to join the team(s) and continue to play throughout February in preparation for the tournament. The tournament itself will be held in the afternoon in to the early evening at Fraser River Middle School. If your grade 5 child is wishing to participate please be certain you will be available for that day/evening.
Yearbooks!
It is that time of year again and our PAC yearbook committee is looking for more photos for this year’s edition! Rest assured that Staff and our Grade 5 Leadership team have been busy in the first term capturing all our events and activities, but we are also asking families to send any photos you may have of your child on the school grounds, in their classroom or on school field trips to yearbook.herbertspencer@gmail.com Please ensure before you share any photos that have other children in them, that you have the permission of those families first.
Yearbooks are now available for preordering! Order here: https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/2528611/Herbert-Spencer-Elem-School/
2025/2026 Grade 4 – Student Learning Survey
An email was sent this week to the families of all Grade 4 Students sharing the link to the Student Learning Survey provided by the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care. Parents and Guardians of Grade 4 students are asked to please complete the survey, open now until May 1st.
Grade 4 students complete a similar survey in school during this same period of time. Your feedback is very important to help us shape our strategic planning and provide feedback on how we are doing. We appreciate your support!
Student Absences
Just a reminder to please report any student absences to the office and your child’s teacher. This will help avoid phone calls from the office to confirm a child’s absence on a given day which we do for every unreported absence to ensure children have safely arrived to school. Absences can be reported by phone at 604-517-6030 or email at spencer@sd40.bc.ca or online through our absence system.
Also another opportunity to remind you of our District’s Administrative Procedures governing extended absences AP300 and AP330. We appreciate the families that have completed these steps since the policy changes were implemented on December 8th, 2025.
Please See that Information here again below:
We are writing to inform you of some changes to New Westminster Schools’ administrative procedures (AP300 and AP330) that address extended student absences. These revisions are intended to improve clarity and consistency when reporting and ensures the process is smooth and transparent for schools and families.
When reporting an extended student absence, please:
- Complete a parent/guardian declaration form and return it to the school’s office.
- Note that “extended absences” apply to absences longer than a week between October 1 and June 30.
- Also submit an “Extended Leave of Absence Form” prior to the absence period.
Please consult AP300 for information on extended absences during September.
Winter Term Fun Lunches!
PAC parent volunteers are excited to bring back Fun Lunches—a student favourite every other Friday! Hot lunches from local New Westminster restaurants are available for purchase, with proceeds supporting École Herbert Spencer Elementary. These funds help cover things like bus rentals, field trips, guest performers, sports equipment, classroom supplies, furniture, and more. More information can be found here for those families new to the process!
ORDER through MUNCH A LUNCH ONLINE NOW!
Winter Fun Lunch Schedule:
- Fri Jan 23 – Papa John’s Pizza (orders closed)
- Fri Feb 6 – McDonald’s & Woomi Sushi (order by Thu Jan 29)
- Fri Feb 20 – Papa John’s Pizza (order by Thu Feb 12)
- Fri Mar 6 – McDonald’s & Woomi Sushi (order by Thu Feb 26)
Orders close at 11:59 pm, 8 days before each Fun Lunch date.
The first Fun Lunch this term is Friday, January 23rd—don’t miss it! Place your order before midnight Thursday, January 15, 2026.
Winter After School Programming
Please see the linked Flyer for our Winter Afterschool Programming provided by New Westminster Parks and Recreation! Programs begin as early as January 21st.
Please pay close attention to the details for each program as two of the programs are offered OFF-SITE.
The Theatre Club Program is offered at NWSS Theatre. Parents are responsible for transportation to New Westminster Secondary School for this program.
The Sampler Class Program is offered at TACC (təmə sew̓txʷ Aquatic Community Centre). Students will be walked from the school to TACC where parents will pick up their child at the programs completion.
For all programs AT Herbert Spencer students will be dismissed directly to the program and parents will pick up in the main foyer at the programs completion.
Calendar Dates:
Jan 21 Fire Drill @ 2PM
Jan 22 Earthquake Drill @ 2:00PM/Lock Down Drill @ 2:10PM
Jan 23 Pizza Fun Lunch
Jan 26 Traditional Games Workshop – Div 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 15, 18, 19 (Gym)
Jan 27 Early Dismissal/Collab Day
Jan 29 Dance Performance @ 1:15PM – Whole School Assembly
Feb 2 Traditional Games Workshop – Div 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 15, 18, 19 (Gym)
Feb 4 PAC Meeting
Feb 6 McDonalds/Sushi Fun Lunch
Feb 11 Early Dismissal/Conferences
Feb 12 Early Dismissal/Conferences
Feb 16 Family Day
Feb 17 Pro D
Feb 20 Pizza Fun Lunch
Feb 25 Fire Drill @11AM
Mar 2, 3 Les Petits Chefs (crepes)
Mar 3 Mike’s Critters – Div 19, 20 and 21
Mar 4 District Ball Hockey Tournament – FRMS (Afternoon and Early Evening)
Mar 6 McDonalds/Sushi Fun Lunch
Mar 9 – 13 Axe Capoeira – Grade 3/4
Mar 13 Axe Capoeira Final Performance PM (Open to Grade 3 and 4 parents – details to come)
Mar 12 Second Report Published
Mar 16 – 27 Spring Break
Mar 30 School Reopens
Useful Links:
École Herbert Spencer Website
École Herbert Spencer Parent Advisory Council Website
PAC Events Calendar
École Herbert Spencer 2025-26 School Calendar
School Cash Online Information
Family Portal Instructions for Parents
My Ed BC Parent Portal instructions