Happy Weekend, ESR Families!
We were all abuzz today to discover that there had been an earthquake which was felt in various areas in BC. At ESR we didn't feel a thing, but many people and areas in Mission did. It's a reminder of how important it is to practice the drills we conduct for emergency preparedness, and how emergencies can occur at any time without notice.
Congratulations to ESR Volleyball students! We win some games, we lose some games, but a good time was had by all and that's the most important thing. Great job, Teams A,B, & C! **Please note that there is NO volleyball practice next Wednesday due to parent conferences. Instead, practice will take place at lunch.
Parent Conferences will take place on Wednesday from 2:30 - 7:30 pm and we are excited to be welcoming you to the school. Come and meet with your child's teacher, visit the book fair, and take a few minutes to do a gallery walk around the school where you can check out the amazing classroom bulletin boards. You may remember that each year teachers design an art lesson or unit in the style of a known artist, based on the annual theme. This year our theme is 'Our Colourful Curriculum', so make sure to take a few moments check them out. They're spectacular!
Wednesday is also 'Pink Shirt Day'. We are encouraging all students to wear pink on Wednesday to show their support. Please have a talk with your child about the importance of being kind, and how special a word or encouragement or a smile can be for someone else.
Our Lost and Found is pretty full with hoodies, jackets, and sweaters. On Monday we'll put the items out and leave them until after parent conferences. Please check for lost items while you're in the school, as leftover items will be donated on Thursday, February 27th.
Our next Spirit Day is February 28th, when students will be invited to dress as their favourite artist. Students are also invited to bring a loonie in support of our local food bank. I challenge Pickford House to take the lead this time by dressing as their favourite artist or wearing yellow!
Skip the Dishes - Please avoid using skip the dishes as a means to have food delivered for your child(ren). Sometimes the food arrives very late so that students miss play time or class time after scheduled lunch is over, or arrive so early that it can out for an hour before a student comes to pick it up. We simply don't have staff available to make sure it's refrigerated or to be dividing portions. Thank your for your support.
Cold, wet, and inclement weather. We try to get students outside as much as possible, even when it's raining. Please make sure that students are coming to school with warm, waterproof clothing. For younger students, a change of clothing in backpacks is sometimes helpful as well.
Check out the PAC newsletter which contains information about upcoming events/fundraisers, including Kernels Popcorn! 
Pac News Jan 25 2022.pdf
A note about attendance. We are currently working with the school district on monitoring student attendance. Attendance greatly impacts student learning and can increase anxiety. If your child has missed 10% or more of school days, it is considered chronic absenteeism and we will reach out to you so that we can meet and create a plan that works for you and your child to help them attend more regularly.
* A note about school fees: Please take a moment you check your child's account and clear any outstanding fees. Some programs at ESR, such as our extra-curricular music clubs, are dependent on fees in order to pay the instructors. Please take care of any outstanding fees for planners, field trips, extracurriculars, and the arts programming fee as soon as possible. Thank you!
Feeding Futures Hot Lunch - If your child is away and you want us to hold their hot lunch, please let the office know before 10:30 am. Otherwise, it will be donated. Thank you.
Did you know that our PAC is creating a cookbook? Please see their message below and remember that you can access the monthly PAC newsletter on the parent page.
ESR PAC is compiling a recipe book to fundraise this school year.
We are needing your tried and true family tested recipes for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Send us your favorite soups, sides, entrees, and desserts to esrcookbook@gmail.com along with the surname you would like to use as recognition with your recipe.
Deadline for accepting recipes is January 31, 2025 however it is best to get recipes in as soon as possible to help with our layout and design. We hope to have books available for purchase Spring of 2025.
Please do not block the fire hydrant on Cherry Ave. during drop off and/or pick up so that it is easily accessed in the event of an emergency.
SOGI Myth Busters (1).pdf
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 (Black) Pickford (yellow) Odjig (green)
679 704 676 685
Next Week and FYI's
February
Monday 24 Div. 13 & 14 Artist Visit 9:00
Feeding Futures Hot Lunch
Book Fair 2:30 - 3:30
Musical Theatre 2:30 - 4:00
Tuesday 25 Band
Book Fair 2:30 - 3:30
Wednesday 26 Antibullying/Pink Shirt Day
Fiddle Club
Hot Lunch - Feeding Futures
Parent Conferencing 2:30 - 7:30
Book Fair 2:30 - 7:30
NO volleyball practice
Thursday 27 Div. 5, 8, 15 & 16 Skating
Band
Volleyball Games - Teams A & B Hillside
Team B Windebank
Friday 28 Spirit Day - Dress as Your Favourite Artist
Hot Lunch - Feeding Futures
PAC:
President - Marie Aline Thomas
Vice-President - Stephanie Scott
Secretary - Krystal Ensing
Treasurer - Celine Dauphney
DPAC Representative - Alex Strozek
Members at Large - Renay Holz, Katie Knapman, Carrie Biero & Marie Walker
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.
* 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 2020 are eligible for Kindergarten in 2025-2026 (Registration will take place for siblings of current ESR Students from December 1-20. Starting January 13, 2025, 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.
