Information

Remembrance Day Assembly

We want to extend a big thank you to the teachers and students in grades 1, 2 and 4 who presented to the school as a part of our first Remembrance Day Assembly. They were immaculate! We are also grateful to the family members who attended to support those students. As you all saw, adding a perimeter of family members truly packs the house.

We also want to congratulate everyone who was in the room for singing 'O Canada!' so well. It was, with no exaggeration, the best-sounding rendition (and unrehearsed, no less) Mr. Oliver has heard in 31 years in education. It was heart-stirring.

Booking open for Student Inclusive Conferences

(From Ms. Davies' email of last Thursday) Parents can book appointments starting on November 6 and it closes at midnight on November 21.  

https://josettedandurandelem.schoolappointments.com/

What are Student Inclusive Conferences?

Your child's first formal report for the year will be a conference where the student and teacher will lead you through some of the evidence of their learning. You can see a bit about these conferences here. Appointment booking will open later this week. Two dates of note will be Wednesday, November 26, when students do not attend except for those with conference appointments and then only for the duration of the appointment, and Thursday, November 27 when students will be dismissed 2 hours early, at 12:33, to accommodate some more conference times. You can also expect to receive a Family Reflection form to fill so that your goals and observations can also be incorporated into the conference.

Wet Coast Recess

We know that if kids are well prepared to be outside in the rain they actually enjoy it. A great deal of fun can be had in all kinds of weather. To be prepared for outside time in the rain, it is important for your child to have appropriate clothing such as:

• A rain jacket
• Rubber boots 
• Rain pants
• An umbrella
• A rain hat or coat with a hood
• A COMPLETE change of clothes (in a marked Ziploc, pants, socks, underwear, shirt) in the classroom. Even the older kids occasionally run afoul of a slippery spot and wind up sitting in a puddle.

Scholastic Book Fair

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming! Ms. Evoy has organized our first Scholastic Book Fair for the week of November 24. Shopping hours are noted on the poster above. Please note that she needs some bold (#IYKYK) parent volunteers to help with the fair. If you are able to help, or need more information, please email her. Since we can't put individual emails on the websites anymore, first initial R, last name, and the usual rest. Hopefully AI adbots don't figure me out there. 

November Health Message from Fraser Health

Health, safety, and wellness continue to be a priority in our schools. To help support our students and families, we are sharing important information from our community partner Fraser Health about Dental, Hearing, and Vision Health. Please see below for helpful reminders to support your child.

Make Dental, Hearing and Vision Checks Part of a Healthy Routine

It’s important for your child to have regular eye exams and routine dental checkups. This can help find issues early and lead to better outcomes. It is also important to recognize any hearing loss early as this is essential for speech and language development.  

Dental

Tooth decay and other oral health concerns are the most common preventable chronic diseases in children. Establishing good oral hygiene habits early and ensuring regular dental checkups are essential for your child’s oral health. 

To find a local dentist who is accepting new patients, visit the BC Dental Association's Find a Dentist database. 

If your family is experiencing financial challenges and doesn’t have extended health coverage, there are programs available to help make dental care more accessible. You can also reach out to the dental program at your local public health unit at Dental Care - Fraser Health to learn about community resources and support. 

Vision 

BC Doctors of Optometry (BCDO) recommends children receive their first eye exam when they are six to nine months old, with a follow up exam at least once between the ages of two and five, and then yearly once they enter school. You can find an optometrist accepting new patients near you on BCDO's website. In BC, one basic eye exam per year is free up to the age of 18. Some optometrists may charge a user fee of about $35-50 per visit, so be sure to ask about any fees before you make an appointment. Find more information on BCDO’s Children’s Resources page.

Hearing

Good hearing is essential for speech and language development and plays an important part in a child's social and emotional growth. It is important to recognize hearing loss early and seek out testing and treatment if needed. Fraser Health’s Public Health community audiologists provide free hearing services for children from birth to 19 years of age. If you have a concern about your child's hearing, referrals can be made by a parent or caregiver, a health care provider or education professional to your local public health audiology (hearing) clinic. 

Find more information on child health screenings and how to access free vision, hearing and dental exams on Fraser Health’s website.

Extended Absences

If you are planning an extended absence (over 3 weeks), please fill out the following form and email to JDEattendance@sd35.bc.ca . Also please note that teachers are not expected to provide work for students absent on family vacations.

• Extended Absences Form - Fillable.pdf

Moving/Withdrawing 

Please let us know if you are moving - Parents are asked to inform the school as soon as possible if/when they know that their children will be leaving our school or not returning in the fall. We do have a wait list for families in our neighbourhood.  Please complete our withdraw form and return it to the office or email it to cdavies@sd35.bc.ca

• JDE Withdraw Form.pdf

PAC General Meeting

There will be a PAC Meeting, open to all parents, on Thursday, November 13 at 6:30. We meet in the gym. The agenda is below:

Josette Dandurand Elementary PAC – Official Meeting Agenda

Date: November 13, 2025 
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: School Gym

1. Call to Order & Welcome (5 min)

Welcome & land acknowledgement

2. Adoption of Agenda & Minutes (5 min)

• Motion to adopt agenda
• Motion to adopt previous minutes (September 10, 2025)

3. PAC Executive Position (5 min)

Appointing Tin as Member at Large

4. Principal, Chair & Executive Reports (5–10 min)

• Principal Report
• Chair Report
• Treasurer report: current balance, fundraising/donation updates, Success of past events (Treat Days, Trunk or Treat, Halloween Dance)
• DPAC update (if any)
• Hot Lunch

5. Fundraising (10-20 min)

• Hot Lunch Program: Solidified Dates
• Movie Night: Date, Movie, Volunteers
• Treat Days: Upcoming Dates (Dec 5^th)
• Pancake Breakfast: Plan so far, committee, needs
• Open Fundraisers: Tommy Guns, Magnifying Pics, Gift Wrap, Fund Script
• Other Events: spirit wear, social gatherings, other school activities

6. Committee Update (5 min)

• Discuss committee responsibilities and expectations

7. Other Business / Open Discussion (5–10 min)

• Community fundraisers (upcoming fundraisers
• Any other ideas from parents/executive

8. Next Meeting & Adjournment (5 min)

• Confirm next meeting date
• Motion to adjourn

Fundscrip Fundraiser (PAC)

The Fundscrip fundraiser is coming this week. Watch for an order form to go home with students on Wednesday November 12.

Quote of the Week

Something to read (or watch)

Yesterday was Indigenous Veterans Day. You can read an article about it here, and see a video interview of the last living veteran from the Squamish Nation. One of the things he says is "...one of the teachings of the grandmothers is 'When someone needs help, you go and help the best you can.'" We also want to share with you that Josette Dandurand served with the Royal Canadian Air Force for a brief time after she graduated from Residential School, before starting a family.

If you are looking for a Remembrance Day Ceremony to attend on Tuesday, there are lots to choose from nearby. In Langley, there are ceremonies at the Fort Langley Cemetery, the Murrayville Cenotaph and the Aldergrove Legion. The ceremony in Port Kells (88th & 192nd) has a very community vibe. At Surrey Centre Cemetery (16670 60 Ave.) there is a small ceremony that often includes visiting the graves of people who served. You'll see Mr. Oliver at that one. Please, Bears, take your parents to a ceremony and show the veterans there how much we appreciate their service.

Not everything goes the way we plan, no matter who we are. The same is true for our kids. In talking to kids at school and on the playground, I always try to offer strategies that help them navigate challenges or unexpected obstacles themselves, rather than just solving the problem or clearing the way. After all, building resilience in our kids is an important task for all supporting adults, whether at school or at home. If you want a more compelling and scientific (and detailed) discussion, here's a recent article from the Centre for Addictions & Mental Health that makes the importance of teaching kids resiliency really, really clear.

Calendar Dates to Remember

Monday, November 10

Design & Assessment Day - Students do not attend

Tuesday, November 11

Remembrance Day - School closed

Thursday, November 13

PAC Meeting