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 get used to our new surroundings at AHE!  I am so proud of how our students have settled into routines and are already showing growth in their classrooms and beyond.

As we look ahead, October promises to be a busy and exciting month. We have many activities planned that give students opportunities to learn, connect, and celebrate together. A highlight this month will be our Goal-Setting Conferences, where families, students, and teachers can come together to set meaningful goals for the year ahead. These conversations are an important way to strengthen the home-school partnership and ensure every child feels supported in their learning journey.

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

Pam Mair, Principal, AHE

Important Upcoming Dates

October 2 – BVE Cross Country Run

October 2 – Hot Lunch – Spaghetti and Meatballs

October 6 – Whole School Assembly 11:15

October 6 – PAC Meeting 6:30

October 9 – CPE Cross Country Run

October 10 – PAC Thanksgiving Pie Picnic

October 13 – Thanksgiving – no school

October 16 – Hot Lunch – TBA

October 16 – EDG Cross Country Run at Nels Nelson

October 21 – Photo Retakes

October 22, 23 – Early Dismissal for Goal Setting Conferences (12:30)

October 22, 23 – Scholastic Book Fair

October 22, 23 – Math Games Night 4:00-6:00

October 24 – Pro-D – No school

October 29 – Haunted House 5:30-7:00

October 30 – Hot Lunch – TBA

October 31 – Halloween Costume Parade 11:15

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 2026. 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 2025 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:

ttps://www.sd19.bc.ca/our-district/k-12-student-registration/

If needed, paper registration forms are available at each elementary school.

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!

 

Orange Shirt Day

On Orange Shirt Day, September 29, our school community came together to honour and remember 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.

As part of our reflection, students shared messages of care, respect, and hope in bright sidewalk chalk along the Greenbelt. Their words — “Be kind,” “We remember,” and “We walk together” — turned our pathways into a colourful expression of learning and empathy.

Students also showed stewardship by cleaning up garbage around the surrounding area, helping care for the land as a symbol of respect and renewal. Through these thoughtful actions, our school community continues to learn, reflect, and walk forward together in the spirit of truth and reconciliation.

Communicating Student Learning

Overview of CSL and Rationale

The BC Curriculum has been renewed to respond to the changes in the 21st Century. The new 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,

As the curriculum has changed, so too must the assessment and reporting of student progress. The purpose of reporting and communicating student learning is for students to be more involved with their learning, take ownership and to ensure that parents are well informed about their children’s progress. Throughout K-12, student progress in relation to the learning standards will be documented and communicated to students by teachers through ongoing assessment.

School District 19 is embracing these changes and supporting our students by moving from Reporting TO Parents, to Communicating WITH Parents on an ongoing basis. There will be more focus on growth and progress and student agency. This involves more fluid processes and changes in what we assess and how we assess, as well as how we communicate student learning to students and their families/caregivers.

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; and

• 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.

Goal Setting Conferences

Goal Setting conferences are being held on October 22-23rd. 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 Night will be taking place concurrently.

Library News

AHE Staff members are reading everywhere! On a boat, with a chicken, even hanging upside down! We are challenging the students to send us photos of them reading in any “special place”. Please, email photos to Ms. Draboczi, so we can put them on display on the Library’s bulletin board.

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. 25, with BVE taking away the new Golden Teddy Bear Trophy! Our next races will be held this Thursday October 5th at BVE, where we will endeavor to win back the Golden Shoe, and October 9th at CPE for the Turkey Trot. The season ends on Oct. 16 with a run at Nels Nelson Loop. A big thank you to Mrs. Macleod, 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. Please let us know if you are able to help out!

Thanksgiving Pie Picnic

On Friday October 10th, 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. 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 31. All parents are welcome to attend and check out the costumes.

Haunted House

There will be some spookiness happening on October 29th, 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. The Haunted House will run from 5:30pm-7:00pm. Be there to be scared! As always, scariness can be toned down on request.

Head Lice

Head lice is common in school-aged children. Head lice DO NOT cause disease. Itchiness from head lice can be irritating and uncomfortable for children. Head Lice spread easily to others, so it’s important for families to help prevent and control its spread. Outbreaks are more common following vacations. How to Prevent Head Lice:

• Please check your child’s head every week for head lice
• Teach your child not to share head gear (i.e. hats, hair accessories, scarves, helmets, combs)
• If you would like more information on head lice and treatment, please call the school, a Public Health Nurse at your Health Centre/Unit or go to www.interiorhealth.ca

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 22nd and 23rd. 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 the Friday 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 6th, 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 22 & 23

During early dismissal on October 22 and 23, we’re excited to host our Cedar Creek Math Fair! 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.

Over the year, staff and students will be concentrating 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.

Students develop Core Competencies when they are engaged in the “doing” – the Curricular Competencies – within a learning area. As such, they are an integral part of the curriculum. While they manifest themselves uniquely in each area of learning, the Core Competencies are often interconnected and are foundational to all learning.