Hello ESR Families, and Happy Weekend!
It's been a busy, but exciting week for students, and who enjoyed both arts and sports activities this week.
Congratulations to both the Primary and Intermediate Choirs, who performed beautifully at the Rotary Carol Festival on Wednesday evening. I've heard many wonderful comments about the ESR performances and would like to thank students, parents, and families for participating and attending the concert.
Also, congratulations for the girls' basketball team for coming in third in the playoffs on Wednesday; how exciting is that?! And congratulations also to the boys' team for a successful basketball season. Thanks to students, coaches, and teachers for their hard work.
Don't forget that Kindergarten registration is ongoing this week. If you have a child attending ESR currently and a younger one who is ready for kindergarten in September, you will need to register to secure a space. Please note that registration will open for everyone in January, so make sure you register younger siblings this week.
On Monday PAC will host the Christmas store. Students loved this last year and thank you PAC for organizing again this year! Students are invited to bring a twoonie donation which can be used to purchase two gifts for caregivers. The store will be open in the library and all classes will have a scheduled time to visit the store.
You may remember that ESR is one of the elementary schools participating in the MyEd reporting pilot. Learning updates will go home on Friday, Dcember 12th. Paper copies will be sent home this year as we transition to online, but we do ask you to make sure you can access your child's report online. A separate email went home with instructions which will also be posted here:
🔐 Portal Access
Access is granted to the primary contact listed on your student’s registration. If you’re unsure who that is, feel free to email me for confirmation. Typically, only one family member has access so we can better manage password resets and support.
🌐 Login Link
[../aspen-login/?deploymentId=aspen]https://myeducation.gov.bc.ca/aspen-login/?deploymentId=aspen
Please copy and paste this link into your browser to log in or create your account (do not click on request account).
👤 Account Username Format
Your username is the first initial of your first name followed by your last name.
For example: Sharon Widdows → swiddows
I also want to remind families that our giving tree is set up in our front lobby and will be collecting items for Mission Youth House. We are hoping to decorate the tree with new gloves, mittens, scarves, toques, and toiletries. Items will be collected by Mission Youth House staff just before the Christmas break. Thank you for support Mission Youth House!
The Winter Concert this year will take place on December 17th (Odd Divisions) and 18th (Even Divisions). As in previous years, there will be a 1:00 pm concert for extended family members and at 6:30 pm performance for parents.
Learning Updates will be going home on December 12th. We are one of the schools piloting MyEd report cards, so parents will be able to access them online. We will also be sending printed reports although this will be phased out by the end of the school year.
Grade 6 Bottle Drive!
The Grade 6 Committee is raising funds for their year end activities! You can help by dropping off empties any time at Return It Express located at 7233 Park St. Mission. Turn your empties into a cash donation - every can or bottle helps!
Check out the exciting event at the Mission Museum! See below:
The International Department is looking for Homestay Families. If you are interested in hosting a student, please see the flyer below:
Student Fees:
* The fee for planners is $8.00 again this year and can be paid through cash online.
*The arts programming fee of $20.00 per student has also been posted to cash online and are due by October 10th.
See information below regarding the Feeding Futures Food Program:
Subsidy Information for Families.pdf (Code: Edwin)
Please note that the cutoff time for breakfast club is 8:15 to allow for staff to meet students.
Please also see the flyer below about PAC Hot Lunch. You can register now and ordering will be available soon.
ESR Hot Lunch Flyer.pdf (Code: ESRHL)
On Mondays students are invited to wear their ESR t-shirts and hoodies. If you are new to the school and want to order or need to re-order spirit wear, stay tuned for information about ordering soon.
*All students require inside shoes. It reduces the amount of dirt, mud, and water throughout the year and is necessary for participation in gym.
Cash online will be up and running soon and we'll let you know when it's ready for you.
** Safety Alert - Allergies - We have some students and staff at our school who have serious allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, shellfish, and scents. Please note that our school is nut, sesame, shellfish, and scent aware. If your child is in a class with another student who has anaphylactic reactions to a specific allergen, we will let you know and ask you to pack snacks and lunches that will help keep students safe and reduce exposure. We also ask that students and families who visit our site refrain from using strongly scented deodorants, colognes, and perfumes. Thank you for helping us keep students, staff, and families safe!
PAC executive this year:
President: Eleni Inglis
Vice-President - Jessica Thompson
Secretary - Samantha Robinson
Treasurer - Celine Dauphney
DPAC Representatives - Alex Strozek and Dezarae Lilley
Members at Large - Jade Carver, Melanie Walters, Stephanie Scott, Emily White, and Jennifer Barnert
We wish them all the best and look forward to another fantastic year working with our amazing parent group!
Absences - When your child is going to be absent, please notify the office either by telephone (604-826-2834) or email (amy.masuch@mpsd.ca). Thank you.
Current House Team Points:
Shakespeare (red) Beethoven (Purple) Pickford (yellow) Odjig (green)
833 831 825 742
Next Week and FYI's
December
Monday 8 It's Monday - Wear Your Spirit Wear!
Christmas Store
Student Handbell Choir 7:45 am
Feeding Futures Hot Lunch
Tuesday 9
Wednesday 10 Assembly 9:00 am
Feeding Futures Hot Lunch
Thursday 11 PAC Hot Lunch - Edo
Friday 12 Learning Updates Home
In addition to emails and the Eagle News for parents, you can also subscribe to our school calendar. Important dates can be found on the district and school websites, the Eagle News, and the parent Facebook Page. You can also see the district calendar in your child's planner.
Facebook - For those families who are new and who have access to Facebook, there is a page for ESR parents that you can join. The group posts relevant information and will update with the Eagle News as well as school district messages and other notices. You can request to join the group here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/630266870328153
Please remember that there is a $20.00 arts programming fee for each student which will be due by October 1st. This fee helps sustain our integrated arts program by supporting our artists-in-residence, arts training for teachers, and other aspects of our program. The fee will be payable through cash online.
Staying Safe - Please, please, do not send your child to school sick. If they are fevered, headachy, or are having stomach pains, they should stay home. If your little ones have vomited the night before, they must stay home the next day.
Important note! It is important to remember that students who are sick need to stay home. Stuffy nose, combined with fever and green nasal discharge (yuck!) are signs of infection and can spread at school. We have several students in our building who are immune-compromised who can become seriously ill when exposed to illness. If you child throws up at home, please keep them at home for an additional 24 hours until they are feeling well.
Allergies - We have children at our school who have serious allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, shellfish, and scents. Please note that our school is nut, sesame, shellfish, and scent aware. If your child is in a class with another student who has anaphylactic reactions to a specific allergen, we will let you know and ask you to pack snacks and lunches that will help keep students safe and reduce exposure.
* Remember that you can subscribe to our school calendar which can help keep you up to date on events and activities. You can find the calendar on the main page of our school website.
From the Office
Edwin S. Richards Arts Based Curriculum School
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL MISSION PUBLIC SCHOOLS:
✓ Children born in 2021 are eligible for Kindergarten in 2026-2027 (Registration will take place for siblings of current ESR Students from December 1-19. Starting January 6, 2026, if there are any spaces still available we will start calling parents who have children on our Kindergarten Wait List to come and register.
✓ Proof of age is required at time of registration: I.E. Birth Certificate, Passport, Permanent Residence Card, BC Services Card (Photo Version Only), Aboriginal Status Card, Certificate of Citizenship or Immigration Canada document. Please Note: The BC Care Card is not acceptable proof of age.
✓ Proof of Residency in BC:
• Parent's Care Card (not student's) / Parent's BC Services Card (not student's) /
Driver's License / Municipal Tax Bill / Rental Agreement or Utility Bill
Early Pickup
If you are coming to the school before usual dismissal, please notify your child's teacher as well as the office in advance. Miss Amy will page your son/daughter and have them waiting inside the school at the front doors. Please pull up to the front of the school and we will send your child out to meet you.
School Cash Online
We are not accepting cash/cheques in the office. If you need help signing on to the School Cash online system, please stop by the Office.
Absences
If your son/daughter will be away, please call and let Miss Amy know 604-826-2834 or email her at amy.masuch@mpsd.ca
Afternoon Pickup
Please arrange play dates and pickup location with your child before school. End of day is a very busy time in the office - it may not be possible to get pickup messages to all students, so please make sure your child knows in advance where to meet you at the end of the day.
Volunteer Forms (1 Page) need to be completed every year & returned to the Office (you can fill them out & print them out from ESR's website or you can get a copy from the Office to fill out & return).
Criminal Record Checks are now done online on the ESR Website:
- Please go to the Parents (Top Tab)
- Volunteer Forms (Side Tab)
- Got to the bottom and click the CRC Link
- Write down the Access Code before you click the actual CRC Form Link to complete your Criminal Record Check (CRC remain effective for 5 years and there is no cost associated with the check).
PAC News
We are very grateful for our dedicated PAC here at ESR for all the hard work they do to benefit students. There are many ways you can become involved. If you are able to assist the PAC in any way - hot lunch, fundraising, etc., please contact them via email at esrichardspac@gmail.com If you have questions regarding any fundraisers, events, etc. that are sponsored by PAC please email them directly for a quicker response.
Thank you to those parents helping with hot lunch! We couldn't have hot lunches without volunteers, and we appreciate everyone who comes to help.
You can also check out the latest PAC news and events at https://www.facebook.com/groups/630266870328153/
General Information
Homestay Families Wanted
Mission Public Schools International Program is accepting applications for nurturing homestay families who want to provide a caring home for our elementary age students. Please clink the link below to apply online or you can email kim.hunter@mpsd.ca if you have any questions.
http://www.studyinmission.ca/become-a-host-family.
