Post-Halloween Clean-Up — We need your help!

Happy Halloween Dickens Families!   🎃 

Join us for a little post-Halloween field and school park clean up!

Every year, Sunnyside Park and the main school field is littered with trash left from fireworks debris and other garbage on Halloween night! 

It would be great to have some Parents & Guardians come early on Monday morning to make sure there isn't anything dangerous for the kids during their day at school. Let's pick it up, before the kids do!

If you're able to assist us, please pop over on Monday, November 1 at 8.30 a.m. at Sunnyside Park with a plastic bag, gloves and garbage tongs if you have them. 

Thanks so much - we appreciate your help! ...and Happy Halloweening!

— Dickens PAC

👻

Kindergarten Registration for 2022-2023

Kindergarten registration for children born in 2017 begins on Monday, November 1, 2021.

Read more details at Kindergarten Applications for Charles Dickens Elementary (main school) and the Charles Dickens Annex.

The priority registration period for Kindergarten opens on November 1 and closes at 4 pm on January 31, 2022. Students who submit an application within this priority period will be accommodated before late applicants.

Charles Dickens Cheer Gear is back!

Contact Bianca at dickens.pac@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Pandemic Guidelines for Halloween

 To enjoy Trick-or-Treating, here are some helpful COVID-19 guidelines & tips from the BC Centre for Disease Control. 

Have fun and stay safe!

Help shape the new VSB Education Plan!

Dear Families,

The Vancouver School Board (VSB) has completed round one of the knowledge gathering phase to help the Board develop its Education Plan 2026 - the 5-year strategic plan. 

During this phase, we received input from students, staff, families, and the Vancouver public. I am grateful for the time that many of you took to support this work by completing the online survey.

We are on to the next round of the engagement process and once again we are seeking participation from Parents/Guardians: 

Round two of the knowledge gathering phase will involve a series of focus groups moderated by Directions Evidence and Policy Research Group. The purpose of the focus groups is to develop a deeper understanding of Parents’/Guardians’ perspectives on how well the VSB is preparing students for the future. 

Parents/Guardians are invited to register for a 90-minute virtual focus group at one of the times indicated below:

• Sat, Oct 30: 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
• Mon, Nov 1: 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
• Tues, Nov 2: 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
• Wed, Nov 3: 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

To ensure each voice is heard, the focus group sessions will be limited to a small group of participants. If you are interested in taking part, please indicate your preference for one session. 

If there is more interest by Parents/Guardians than can be accommodated, Directions will select a small group of Parents/Guardians randomly from among those indicating their interest for each group. Only those randomly selected for participation will be notified. 

The audio for each session will be recorded to ensure that everyone’s contributions will be captured. No names will be attached to comments made during the focus group.

If you are interested in taking part in one of the focus group sessions, please visit our registration page. 

Thank you.

Warm regards,

Carmen Cho

VSB Chair

Application for Funding for Parent-led Clubs & Activities at Dickens

 

Dear Dickens Parents/Guardians and Families,

The Charles Dickens PAC is excited to be able to provide funding for the 2021-22 school year!  

We are currently taking applications from staff, teachers, students and parents/guardians who have ideas for initiatives, clubs or activities and would like help to offset any costs.  
 
See details about the School Wide Enrichment Fund as well a link to the online application form. Submit your online application by Monday, November 15, 2021.

Proposals are reviewed and approved through voting by the PAC, in late November. The goal is to distribute the funds fairly, based on the number of students the initiative impacts, as well as the amounts of funding requested by each submission. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to me at kingsburymona@gmail.com

Mona Kingsbury
Dickens PAC Treasurer

TRASHformation – Upcycled Art Challenge

The end date has been extended to Sunday Nov 14, 2021! 

TRASHformation is an art challenge open to Vancouver students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. It aims to raise awareness of current environmental issues like climate change and pollution of our waterways.

Imagine a Canada 2021-2022

The Imagine a Canada 2021-2022 program invites Canadian youth from K-G12 and CÉGEP to envision a Canada reconciled.

Grades K - 5

Youth in the K-G5 stream can submit an art piece, essay, or other representation to express their vision of a reconciled Canada and what they hope others will learn from their submission. 

Twelve projects will be selected from the K-G5 stream to be included in an art booklet showcasing their work and message. 

Grades 6 - 12

Youth who participate in the G6-G12 and CÉGEP stream can go one step further and submit a plan on how their project will address Reconciliation in their community or school. Projects for consideration include: inviting Survivors, Elders, or Knowledge Keepers to speak at a series of learning events; building a permanent art installation representing Reconciliation at the school; or supporting volunteer work in communities related to Reconciliation. 

Six projects from the G6-G12 and CÉGEP stream will receive $750, six will receive $1000, and three will receive $1500. Additionally, these projects will also be recognized in an art booklet.

For more details go to Imagine a Canada hosted by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba.