Information

Last week of school in 2025

In this last week of school in 2025, we want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to everyone who makes up the Josette Dandurand Elementary community. You have all made the opening of our school an unforgettable experience, and we appreciate you.

Happy Hanukkah

Tonight (Sunday) marks the beginning of Hanukkah, the Jewish celebration of the recovery of Jerusalem in the second century BCE. It lasts 8 nights and days, and families mark the celebration in part by lighting the nine candles (one per night plus the shammash candle that is used to light the others) of the menorah. Families may also gather to celebrate, sing and dance, play traditional games like spinning a dreidel, and enjoy traditional foods such as latkes. (source: wikipedia) We wish all Josette Dandurand families who celebrate a Happy Hanukkah!

Holiday Hampers for our community

What an honour it was to witness the generosity of the Josette Dandurand Elementary community. My heart feels three sizes bigger after seeing how everyone came together.

A huge, heartfelt thank you to every single person in our community who helped make our Christmas hampers possible this year. For our very first year, it was truly something special. Your kindness, your giving spirit, and your willingness to lift up our families has meant more than words can say.

Our hampers are now closed for the season, and we look forward to growing this tradition and continuing to support our families in the years to come.

Thank you for showing what community really looks and feels like. Happy Holidays. 

Holiday gallery

Check out this gallery of some of the art that went up in our halls last week.

Spirit Weeks

We have one more week of spirit days before the holiday. We aimed for festive but easy and participation is completely optional, of course.

Basketball Camps

Impact Hoops is a local organization the runs basketball camps for kids. There is a shooting camp for grade 4-8 students running this winter at Walnut Grove Secondary that you might be interested in.

Lost and Found is about to be Good and Gone

Friday is the day we clean out the Lost and Found to donate. There is lots of clothing (and a few other surprising bits and pieces) there, so please drop in and have a look (or send your child to do so).

Willoughby Slope Catchments Information Sessions

The District is excited to be opening a new middle school and secondary school in the Smith neighbourhood on the

Willoughby Slope in Fall 2027. The District is consulting with the community about catchment boundary changes

that could impact children attending a middle and a secondary school on the Willoughby Slope now and in the

future. The potential catchment boundary changes may also impact transition plans for elementary feeder schools.

There will be no changes to the catchment boundaries of elementary schools. The District welcomes all families to

be informed and take part in the process. To attend an info session, read more here.

For your information, the two information sessions closest to our school are on Tuesday, January 8 at 6:30pm at Yorkson Creek Middle School, or Monday, January 12 at 6:30pm at Peter Ewart Middle School.

Quote of the Week

Something to read (or watch)

Someone in our community told me last week that they'd never seen this particular version of the Carol of the Bells. In fact, they'd never heard of Beeker . In case you don't know them, here are both together. Beeker's the one singing soprano. You probably know Animal, and the other guy is the Swedish Chef.

Every once in a while, I like to take a look at trail cam highlights from somewhere in the world. Here is a link to the 'best' of some wildlife cameras in Canada's national parks. The bear below is from one of them.

Calendar Dates to Remember

Sunday, December 14

First night of Hanukkah

Monday, December 15

Spirit/Theme Day - Merry Grinchmas (green or grinchwear)

Tuesday, December 16

Spirit/Theme Day - Timber Tuesday (plaid flannel)

Wednesday, December 17

Spirit/Theme Day - Merry & Bright (bright holiday colours)

Thursday, December 18

Spirit/Theme Day - Twinkle Toes (holiday socks)

Friday, December 19

Spirit/Theme Day - PJ Day

Pancake breakfast! Yay, syrup!

Lost & Found Clean-out

Last day of school before winter break

Watch for a special edition of the Bears' Beat tonight.

Sunday, December 21

Winter Solstice

Thursday, December 25

Christmas

Friday, December 26

Kwanzaa begins

Thursday, January 1

Happy New Year! As Mr. Oliver's grandfather-in-law would have said, 'May your worst day in 2026 be better than your best day in 2025!'

Monday, January 5

First Day of School in 2026

Thursday, January 8

Willoughby Slope Catchment Change Information Session - 6:30 at Yorkson Creek Middle School