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STRONG START ALERT

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Wednesday April 2nd – Closed

Monday April 15th – Closed

Tuesday April 16 – Outdoor program ending at 2:00 pm

Friday April 25th, Super Pod – come join in the fun at Eagle Ridge Community Centre – 1089 Langford Parkway – 9-11.

 
 

Literacy Newsletter #5

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Literacy Newsletter #5       
April 1, 2025
Stages of Writing
“A scribble isn’t a scribble…. it’s a story, a name, a word, a masterpiece.”
Young children move through a series of stages as they are learning to write, and each stage helps to prepare children to become proficient readers and writers. What is important to note is that children move through these stages in various way – it may not happen in the same way or at the same time and the lines between the stages can be blurry.
Scribbling/drawing
In this first stage of writing, children start by scribbling and drawing and in doing so are exploring space and form. Thick markers, crayons, and unlined paper are good writer’s tools for this stage.
Letter-like forms and shapes
At this stage of writing development, children begin to display their understanding that writers use symbols to convey their meaning. Writing begins to include shapes and other figures. A writer in this stage will often write something and ask, “What does this say?”  Tubs of markers, crayons, and paper remain good writer’s tools.
Letters
At this stage, children will begin to use random letters, mostly likely consonants, and especially the ones in their name. Writing usually consists of upper-case consonants without attention to spaces between words or directionality. Different types of paper, including memo pads, envelopes, lined paper and some smaller pens and pencils are good writer’s tools at this stage. Tubs of foam letters and letter magnets are also handy.
Letters and spaces
In this stage, the concept of word is being developed. Often in this stage, children develop an awareness of print in reading. Writing begins to include spaces between words. Support during this stage looks like guiding the writer to place an index finger in-between each word or by lines drawn to demonstrate one-to-one correspondence with words.
At this stage, words are often written with beginning and ending sounds. Children may also spell high frequency or known words correctly. As children become more proficient writers, they begin to spell words based on the sounds they hear, and they also experiment with punctuation.
Conventional writing and spelling
At this stage, children spell most words correctly and use their phonics knowledge to spell longer words. The conventions of writing (punctuation, correct use of capital and lower-case) appear more often. Children also learn to write for different purposes and handwriting becomes easier.
Source: Reading Rockets
 
 

John Muir Weekly March 14

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Friday Newsletter – March 14
Dear Families,
As the second term comes to a close, we reflect on what has been a fantastic period of learning and growth. Students have shown progress in their learning and have engaged enthusiastically with new concepts and challenges. We are proud of their hard work and the support from our staff and families that has made this term such a success.
From all the staff at John Muir, we wish you a restful and fun spring break! We look forward to seeing students back at school on March 31.
Job Fair
Please find attached a poster for a job fair put on my WorkBC on March 20 from 1pm -5pm at EMCS.  This is a Sooke specific job fair and SD62 will be there.
 Sooke Sing Out
On Tuesday, our choir participated in the Sooke Sing Out. It was an amazing evening, and our students represented John Muir well. A big thank you to Ms. Bueckert for preparing and leading the choir. Thanks to parents who came out to watch.
From The Library
Our next Scholastic Book Fair will be happening on April 8, 9, and 10. Families can access the book fair before and after school and during learning tours. Ms. Merx will be looking for volunteers to help run the book fair. Closer to the dates, Ms. Merx will be sending out a link to sign-up.
Bannock and Books
A poster for a book fair AI-generated content may be incorrect.
Grade 4 Student Learning Survey
This week, parents of Grade 4 students received the information about the Grade 4 Student Learning Survey. The survey will be administered at school for Grade 4 students. Parents, guardians and caregivers of Grade 4 students are also encouraged to participate in the survey as the results are important in identifying and celebrating current strengths, as well as determining where the school needs to focus improvement. The survey contains standard questions for the Province – in addition, questions from the school and/or district that focus on local conditions or issues may be included.
 The survey can be completed electronically and can be accessed on the Internet at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/support/student-learning-survey.
 The e-survey site will be open until May 2, 2025. 
From the PAC
Hot Lunch:
Hot lunches for the rest of the year are available to order here.
Fundraisers:
Fresh to You Fundraiser(Veggies): We were able to reach our minimum order and some! Thank you everyone for making that happen! Pick up dates will be made known as soon as we find out.
Easter Purdys: The deadline for ordering online is April 29.
PAC Meeting:
April 7 at 9:00am in the school library.
Hope you all have a wonderful Spring Break!
John Muir PAC
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Strong Start Alert

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Monday April 15th – Closed

Tuesday April 16th – Outdoor program ending at 2:00 pm

Friday April 25th – Strong Start Super Pod will be a Eagle Ridge Community Centre 1089 Langford Parkway 9 – 11 am

 
 

Read and Ride

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John Muir’s Read and Ride Event is on Thursday, April 17 from 1pm – 2pm.

 
 

Bannock and Books

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Pop-Up Play Events for Children Entering Kindergarten in Fall 2025

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Join us for one, or all, of our drop-in Pop-Up Play Events.  This is an opportunity for Sooke children entering Kindergarten, in Fall 2025, to join a Kindergarten play time outside.  Please come to any school, not just your future school.  Come meet other children entering Kindergarten as well as current Kindergarten students, teachers, and staff.

Siblings are welcome!

Upcoming dates:

John Muir Elementary School – February 20th – 1:15 to 2 pm/June 12th – 1:15 to 2 pm

Saseenos Elementary School – April 24th – 1:15 to 2 pm

Poirier Elementary School – May 15th – 1:15 to 2 pm

Sooke Elementary School – March 6th – 11:00 to 11:45 am

 
 

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

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Kindergarten Registration

As we prepare for the new year, we are excited to share important information about kindergarten registration for the 2025-26 school year.

If you are not registering a child for kindergarten next year, please disregard this email. If you know someone who needs to register their child for kindergarten next year, please share this information with them.

Eligibility for Kindergarten Registration

A child is eligible for kindergarten registration if they turn 5 years old on or before December 31, 2025. This means the child must have been born in 2020. No exceptions can be made to this requirement.

Kindergarten Registration Dates

All children must register at their in-catchment school, determined by the family’s primary address. To find your in-catchment school, visit the School Locator tool. If you have a unique circumstance, you can submit a school change request form (click the link to view the dates). Please note that you must first register at your designated in-catchment school before submitting a school change request. Kindly be aware that school change requests are not guaranteed.

Nature Kindergarten

  • Registration opens: January 13, 2025, at 8:00 AM
  • Registration closes: January 17, 2025, at 4:00 PM
  • Attendance at an information session is a mandatory requirement for completing the registration process specifically for Nature Kindergarten. Click the link below to view the dates and locations of upcoming information sessions.
  • Learn more: Nature Kindergarten

French Immersion Kindergarten

  • Registration opens: January 13, 2025, at 8:00 AM
  • Registration closes: January 17, 2025, at 4:00 PM
  • An optional online information session will be held on January 8, 2025, at 6:30 PM.
  • Learn more: Kindergarten French Immersion

Note: If the number of registrations exceeds the available seats, a lottery will be conducted in accordance with our Student Enrolment Priorities. Families will be notified of the outcome before the Regular Kindergarten registration period begins.

Please note that families may not register for both Nature Kindergarten and French Immersion Kindergarten. If you are unsuccessful in securing a seat in one of these programs, you will need to register your child for Regular Kindergarten.

Regular Kindergarten

  • Registration opens: January 29, 2025, at 8:00 AM
  • Registration closes: February 5, 2025, at 4:00 PM
  • If registrations exceed the available seats at your in-catchment school, a lottery will be conducted following our Student Enrolment Priorities. Families will be notified directly if they do not secure a seat and will be provided information about the designated overflow school.

After February 5, 2025, registration will continue an ongoing basis and will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, also following our enrolment priorities.

Need Help?

If you have questions or need assistance with kindergarten registration, please contact us at info@sd62.bc.ca.

Information from School

Our schools will reach out to families registered for kindergarten in September before the end of May 2025.

Thank you for reviewing this information. We look forward to welcoming our newest learners to the Sooke School District!

 
 

Nature Kindergarten Parent Information Sessions

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Nature Kindergarten is a program of choice that takes place at Saseenos
and Sangster Elementary Schools. Parents/caregivers must attend a
mandatory information session to receive program information and a
registration form. Both sessions will offer the same information, so you
can attend either one.

Please click on link for the date and time of these information sessions.

Nature Kindergarten Parent Information Session – 2025

 
 

STRONG START

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HOURS

Mon. 8:30-11:30 – John Muir Classroom

Tue. 11:45-2:15 – Ed McGregor Park

Wed. 8:45-11:45 – John Muir Classroom

Thur. 8:30-11:30 – outdoor day John Muir Nature Playground

Fri. 8:30-11:30 – John Muir Classroom

The John Muir StrongStart Program operates five days each week and is open to parents/caregivers and their child(ren). It is a drop-in program for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Please bring your child’s birth certificate to register for the program.

Weather restrictions for outdoor StrongStart Programs:

If the administration and/or StrongStart Facilitator feel that the program participants are at risk due to weather including high winds (30 km/hour + and swaying tree tops); persistent, strong rainfall; lightening; and/or temperatures below -5 degrees C, then program will end/close for the day.

strong start registration form

 
 
 
 
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