September 8, 2024
Principal’s Message – Sept 8th
Dear Herbert Spencer School Community!
Welcome back once again to the 2024-25 school year! With reorganization behind us and students and staff settling into classroom routines, we are set for what is sure to be another exciting and successful year. It has been a pleasure getting to know families better over the recent week and I look forward to meeting many more as the weeks unfold.
This is the first Principal’s Message of the year which I will send out several times a month outlining upcoming dates, activities and important information. As always if you have any questions, comments or concerns please feel free to reach out to me directly at pmanville@sd40.bc.ca
Thank you!
P. Manville
Important Info and Upcoming Events:
DOT Day! – Friday, September 13th
Herbert Spencer Staff and Students will celebrate DOT Day this Friday, September 13th!
What is DOT Day? Dot Day is based on the book “The Dot” written by Peter H. Reynolds and was the inspiration for International Dot Day: A global celebration of creativity, courage and collaboration. Students and Staff (and Parents, Pets, Younger Siblings …!) are encouraged to wear Polka Dots on this day and activities around the story will take place in individual classrooms.
School Open House – Thursday, September 26th
On Thursday, September 26th you are invited to attend our School Open House from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. This will be an opportunity for students to show parents around the school, visit your classroom and meet your child’s teacher.
After School Programming
After School Programs are available this Fall. Families register their children in a variety of activities and programs throughout the year that take place at the school, following dismissal. We will ensure your child is dismissed to the Program and Parents or Caregivers are responsible for pick up when the Program is complete, with one exception – please see below. This Fall there are programs available in Sports, Art and Drama! Please see the following After School Programs Brochure to register.
Curtains Up Theatre (G5) takes place at the New West Secondary Drama Room beginning at 3:45PM. It will be the responsibility of caregivers to pick up students from school at 3:00PM dismissal, and drop off and pick up students from the program at New Westminster Secondary School.
NWPR ActivePass
Grade 5 New Westminster Parks and Recreation ActivePass is back! The pass, available to all Students in Grade 5 and 6, offers free admission to all NWPR Drop In Programs. More information here: NWPR Active Pass Information
School Reorganization
We have completed our School Reorganization and now have 23 divisions and a school population of 484 students.
Our organization is as follows:
6 Early French Immersion Divisions:
1 – Kindergarten
1 – Grade 1
2 – Grade 2/3
2 – Grade 4/5
17 English Divisions:
2 – Kindergarten
1 – Kindergarten/Grade 1
2 – Grade 1
1 – Grade 1/2
1 – Grade 2
2 – Grade 2/3
2 – Grade 3
1 – Grade 3/4
2 – Grade 4
1 – Grade 4/5
2 – Grade 5
We Welcome the following New Staff Members to the Herbert Spencer Team!
Amy Bothwell – Teacher
Hayley Watkins – Teacher
Elizabeth Laman – Teacher
Fionna Lenahan – Teacher
Ashley Castro – Teacher
Tamara Nemeth – Fine Arts Teacher
Belinda Scott – Resource Teacher
Scott Macleay – Counsellor
Caitlyn Gillingham – Child and Youth Care Worker
Cliff Blank – Educational Assistant
Andrea Ip – Educational Assistant
Claire Mun – Educational Assistant
Jackie Rose-Madill – Secretary
School Procedures
Late Arrival or Pick Up
Students/Parents/Caregivers are expected to be on time for morning arrival at 8:50AM and dismissal at 3:00PM; however, we understand that occasionally families are late. If you arrive after the 8:50AM bell, the exterior doors (except the main Door at the Office) will be locked. Please bring your child to the Main Office so we can record their arrival and get them safely to class. If caregivers are late for pick up it is critical to notify the office so we can make arrangements for your child’s safe pickup. Please see the following specific procedures for recording an absence, late drop off or pick up.
Allergies and Medical Information
If your child has allergies or medical issues, we need to be aware of, please let the office know right away. We need to ensure we have the appropriate information on file in case of emergency. Please note that students should not be in possession of any medication at school. The staff may not administer medication to students unless the required form is completed and signed by the parent/guardian and physician. Please be Aware we are a Nut-Aware School as we have Staff and Students with a variety of allergies.
School Supplies
School supplies have been purchased in bulk and are provided directly to students by their classroom teachers. We ask that families contribute $50 towards our purchase and distribution of school supplies. This payment can be made directly on your School Cash Account. If you are having trouble setting up your school cash account please contact our office directly at spencer@sd40.bc.ca
School Cash account information was sent to all families last week.
Bell Schedule
Our Bell schedule is very similar to last year with a small change to our lunchtime bells, increasing Lunch Hour to 55 minutes. Lunch now Ends at 1:00 PM instead of 12:51 PM.
8:50 AM – Warning Bell
10:10 – Recess A Starts
10:25 – Recess A Ends
10:30 – Recess B Starts
10:45 – Recess B Ends
12:05 PM – Lunch Begins
12:33 – A/B Lunch Switch (A group from Eat to Play; B group from Play to Eat)
1:00 – Lunch Ends
3:00 PM – Dismissal
Useful Links:
École Herbert Spencer Website
A Message from your PAC Chair
École Herbert Spencer 2024-25 Calendar
School Cash Online Information
Herbert Spencer Code of Conduct
Upcoming Dates:
| Sep 11 | PAC Meeting 6:30PM Library |
| Sep 13 | DOT Day! |
| TBD | Terry Fox Run (will confirm date, time, details soon) |
| Sept 26 | Open House for Families 5:30 – 6:30PM (more info to come) |
| Sept 26 | Orange Shirt Day |
| Sept 27 | Professional Development Day – School Closed to Students |
| Sept 30 | National Truth and Reconciliation Day – School Closed |
| Oct 10 | Individual Picture Day |
| Oct 14 | Thanksgiving – School Closed |
| Oct 23 | Parent/Teacher Conferences |
| Oct 24 | Parent/Teacher Conferences |
| Oct 25 | Professional Development Day – School Closed to Students |
| Oct 31 | Elementary Collaboration Day – Partial Day: Early Dismissal at 12:05PM |
| Nov 1 | Picture Retake Day |
| Nov 11 | Remembrance Day – School Closed |
| Nov 12 | Professional Development Day – School Closed to Students |
| Nov 23 | Christmas Craft Fair – 10AM – 3PM |
| Dec 13 | First Report Cards Available |
| Dec 23 – Jan 3 | Winter Break – School Closed |