WELCOME OCTOBER!
Principal’s Message:

It’s hard to believe how quickly September has come and gone! The first month of school was filled with energy, learning, and the excitement of new beginnings as we re-connect with our friends at AHE!  I am so proud of how our students have settled into routines and are already showing growth in their classrooms and beyond.

This October, we are putting a special focus on the C in CARES: Cooperation, Collaboration, and Communication.

Throughout the month, students will explore what it means to work well with others, listen to different ideas, communicate clearly, and contribute to a team. We will look at how these skills help us in the classroom, on the playground, during group activities, and throughout our school community.

Our Grade 7 students will help launch our October focus with a special assembly activity, giving students a chance to experience the power of working together and communicating effectively.

We will be encouraging students to ask themselves: Am I listening? Am I contributing? Am I making space for others? helping to make AHE a positive and connected school community!

Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm—we are looking forward to another wonderful month at school!

Pam Mair, Principal, AHE

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Important Upcoming Dates

October 2 – BVE Cross Country Run

October 5 – Whole School Assembly 11:15

October 5 – PAC Meeting 6:30

October 8 – CPE Cross Country Run

October 8 – Hot Lunch – TBA

October 9 – PAC Thanksgiving Pie Picnic

October 12 – Thanksgiving – no school

October 15 – Hot Lunch – TBA

October 15 – EDG Cross Country Run at Nels Nelson

October 21, 22 – Early Dismissal for Goal Setting Conferences (12:30)

October 21, 22 – Scholastic Book Fair

October 21 – Family Math Games 1:00-4:00

October 22 – Individual Photo re-takes

October 23 – Pro-D – No school

October 28 – Haunted House 5:30-7:00

October 30 – Halloween Costume Parade 11:15

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Kindergarten Registration

We are excited to welcome all parents, guardians and caregivers to register all children born in 2021, turning 5 years old, for Kindergarten starting September 2027. Revelstoke School District wants to ensure that staff and resources are in place in our neighbourhood schools to meet the needs of all Kindergarten students in our community. Registering new Kindergarten kids during October 2026 helps us get ready for our new young learners.

How to Register for Kindergarten

Parents, guardians, and caregivers of new students must register at your neighbourhood school. If a placement to another school is desired, please still register at the neighbourhood school and request to apply for a cross-boundary placement.

To register your child online, go to www.sd19.bc.ca and click “Register” along the top menu. If needed, paper registration forms are available at each elementary school.

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Terry Fox Run

Once again this year, the Terry Fox Run was held off-site at the Greenbelt. Participating in the Terry Fox Run reminds us that even small steps can make a big difference. When our students run or walk they’re not just taking part in a tradition — they’re helping continue Terry’s dream of a world without cancer.

It’s a chance to reflect on kindness, resilience, and the impact one person can have when they believe in something bigger than themselves. The scenery was beautiful and a great day was had by all!

Our fundraising goal was $500 for The Terry Fox Foundation. Our final fundraising amount was $380. Thanks to everyone who donated! Our shoe trail made it down the hallway!

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Orange Shirt Day

Our school community came together on October 28th to recognize Orange Shirt Day, honouring and remembering the children who were taken from their families and communities through Canada’s Residential School system. Wearing orange reminds us that every child matters — in the past, today, and in the future.

On Orange Shirt Day, we took time to honour and remember those who spent time in residential schools. Students shared positive messages of support and engaged with Indigenous stories that encouraged reflection, understanding, and empathy.

As part of our ongoing commitment to reconciliation, students also cared for the place around us by participating in a clean-up of the Greenbelt. We then deepened our connection to the land through a mindful sensory walk, slowing down to notice what we could see, hear, feel, and experience around us.

Through these experiences, we were reminded that reconciliation involves both learning and action—listening to stories, remembering, caring for one another, and caring for the land and places we share.

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Communicating Student Learning

BC’s curriculum is student-centred, flexible, and maintains a focus on literacy and numeracy, while supporting deeper learning across many areas to develop the educated citizen. Inclusive of this is the importance of our learning surrounding Truth and Reconciliation and our growing understanding and appreciation for our Indigenous peoples’ way of knowing and being.

The goal of communicating student learning is to ensure that communication between home and school is effective and timely, so that:

• parents are well informed about their child’s progress and growth.
• parents are involved as supporters in a dialogue about their child’s progress and the best ways to support and improve learning.
• students are provided with information that is meaningful to them and helps them to improve their own learning.
• students take ownership of their learning, with teachers as their facilitators, and parents/caregivers as their supporters.

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Goal Setting Conferences

Goal Setting conferences are being held on October 21-22nd. Dismissal will be at 12:30 on these days to accommodate meeting with families to discuss student goals for the year! Please keep an eye out for booking info and time slots from your classroom teacher. Alternate times are always available to accommodate everyone! The SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR and our Numeracy Games Afternoon will be taking place at the same time.

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Numeracy Games

Get ready to play, think, problem-solve, and have some fun with math! On our early dismissal day, October 21 from 1:00-4:00, AHE grade 6 students in Ms. Hall’s class will host our Math Games Fair, sharing games they have learned and prepared to share.

All students will have already had the opportunity to play and test out the games on the morning of Oct. 21, so they’ll be ready—and excited—to share their favourites! As families move through the fair, students will explain how their games work, demonstrate strategies, and challenge their grown-ups to a little friendly mathematical competition.

Math games are much more than just fun. They provide opportunities for students to practise number sense, develop strategic thinking, communicate mathematical ideas, problem-solve, take risks, and learn from mistakes.  Games also encourage students to talk about their thinking and discover that there can be many different ways to approach a problem.

We are looking forward to seeing our students show off their mathematical thinking and share their love of learning with our AHE families!

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Feeding Futures

We are grateful to be part of Feeding Futures, a program that helps ensure our students have access to nutritious food throughout the school day and beyond. Through Feeding Futures, we are able to offer our breakfast program, keep fruit bowls available throughout the day, provide support for healthy lunches, and offer our Backpack Program, which provides additional food support for families over the weekend.

Our goal is simple: we want every student to feel cared for, supported, and ready to learn, play, and connect. If you think one of these programs might fit your family’s needs, please reach out to the school. We are happy to connect you with the support available.

Cross Country Running

The Cross-Country Running Team is having a great season. Many students in the Grade 4-7 classes are participating and are having a great time running outdoors. AHE held the Grizzly Grind on Sept. 24th, with BVE once again taking away the Golden Teddy Bear Trophy! Our next races will be held this Thursday October 1st at BVE, where we will endeavor to win the Golden Shoe, and October 8th at CPE for the Turkey Trot. The season ends on Oct. 15 with a run at Nels Nelson Loop. A big thank you to Mrs. Macleod, Ms. Johnson, Ms. Draboczi and our parent helpers for your support.

School Sports!

Our school badminton and basketball teams will soon be up and running! School sports teams are offered to students in grade 6 and 7 who would like to represent AHE while competing in friendly games versus students at BVE and CPE. Badminton is first up, with tournaments and games taking place in November. Thanks to Mrs. Vickers, Mrs. Gadbois and Mr. Cadegan for providing play off time during lunch and gym classes! Students taking part in the tournaments are expected to find their own way there and back.

November 12 – Badminton Singles (Gr. 6 at AHE, Gr. 7 at BVE)

November 19 – Badminton Doubles (Gr. 6 at AHE, Grade 7 at BVE)

November 24 – Gr. 6 Mixed Doubles at CPE

November 26 – Grade 7 Mixed Doubles at CPE

Thanksgiving Pie Picnic

On Friday October 9th, the entire Arrow Heights Elementary community will be meeting in the gym at lunch to give thanks for our many blessings as a school. Our PAC has graciously offered to provide our dessert (pumpkin or apple pie). Please remember to send a fork with your child’s lunch on this day. We are very grateful for what we have here at AHE. THANK YOU TO ALL!

Halloween Costume Parade

Students are welcome to dress up for Halloween at school on Friday October 30th. For their comfort, we discourage wearing full face masks all day, and respectfully ask that costume weapons are left at home. Our annual costume parade will be held in the gym at 11:15 am on October 30th. All parents are welcome to attend and check out the costumes.

Haunted House

There will be some spookiness happening on October 28th, as our Gr. 7 classes turn our gym into a Haunted House for the community. This is a fun fundraiser for our Gr. 7 crew, who are headed to Sunnybrae in the spring for an overnight campout. The Haunted House will run from 5:30pm-7:00pm. Be there to be scared! As always, scariness can be toned down on request.

PAC News

Hello October!
Wow, September really flew by! October is shaping up to be a busy month for PAC. We’re excited to host our annual Scholastic Book Fair during the teacher conferences on October 21st  and 22nd. This fundraiser relies on parent volunteers, so please keep an eye on the student planners for our sign-up sheet.

Additionally, we’re looking forward to the Thanksgiving Picnic, which Arrow Heights organizes on  Friday October 9th just before the Thanksgiving weekend. It’s one of PAC’s favorite events! The entire school gathers in the gym to share what they’re thankful for, and PAC will be handing out delicious pies donated by Save on Foods for students and staff to enjoy. If you’d like to volunteer for this event, please send a quick email to pacarrowheights@gmail.com.

Don’t forget, our October meeting is also our AGM, happening on Monday, October 5th, at 6:30 PM in the AHE library. Childcare will be provided in the gym. Attending the meetings is a fantastic way to stay informed about what’s happening at the school. We warmly welcome all parents, caregivers, and grandparents to join us!

Numeracy News

Math Fair – October 21

During early dismissal on October 21st, we’re excited to host our Math Fair for families from 1:00-4:00! This event is a wonderful opportunity for families to explore how math learning looks in today’s classrooms. We often hear that parents find math different from when they were in school—this fair is a fun and engaging way to build understanding together. Come see hands-on activities, games, and student demonstrations that show how math concepts come to life. We look forward to connecting with you and celebrating the joy of mathematical thinking!

Scholastic Book Fair

Our PAC is hosting a Scholastic Book Fair on the Goal Setting Conference Days, October 22nd and 23rd. Classes are given a browsing time during the day, and are encouraged to come back to shop with their parents. Volunteers are needed to help run this very popular event!

Book Fair times are:

Wednesday, October 22, 8:15-5:30
Thursday, October 23, 12:30-5:30

 

Behaviour Expectations Matrix

 

To further support our student’s ongoing development of social responsibility our behaviour expectations matrix was developed by students and staff. The matrix contains all elements of our code of conduct. We acknowledge that students who know what is expected of them will help our school community to continue to achieve high levels of social responsibility.

Last school year, staff and students concentrated on noticing, naming and nurturing the BC Curriculum Core Competencies, with the intention of integrating our CARES beliefs with the skills embedded in the CARES Competencies. This year we are moving ahead with the CARES/Core Competency combined document.

In the upcoming months, we will be focussing on one section of the CARES Matrix a month, with our grade 7 students sharing examples at assemblies.