Victor Lauriston PS
44 Alexandra Avenue, Chatham, ON N7M 1X9
T: 519-352-4530
Principal: Ms. Vander Pol
Vice Principal: Mr. Beasley
Follow us on Twitter: @victorlauriston
Welcome
We are excited to welcome several new staff members. Ms. Dibbley will be our new prep teacher this year. Mrs. Parent will be our new grade 3/4 teacher. Mr. Spencer will be joining us as our new Learning Resource Teacher.
Nut and Banana Aware
Please remember that VLS is a NUT AWARE school. Students may not bring any nuts, peanut butter, or nut products (including Wow Butter) to school. Please make sure to read all labels before packing your child’s lunch. We have several children with severe anaphylactic allergies to a variety of nuts and it is important that we ensure their safety while they are at school. We appreciate your co-operation and support with this. We also ask that you refrain from sending bananas to school in your child’s lunch this year.
Phone Numbers
It is essential that we are made aware of any contact information changes in case there is an emergency at school. As phone numbers may change over the course of the year, please remember to let Mrs. Norton know so that we can update our files.
Cheques
The school will no longer be accepting cheques for any payments this year. We will be running on cash only. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Breakfast Program
Breakfast program will begin on Monday September 11th. Please be sure to sign the permission form if you would like your child to participate. Breakfast will begin at 8:30 am. Students are asked not to arrive before then as our volunteers need time to prepare. Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to contact the school. Donations are always welcome and can be brought to the office.
Communication
Communication between home and school is key to your child’s success. If you ever have concerns or questions, please speak directly to your child’s teacher. If any concerns remain, please contact school administrators as soon as possible. Do not think that you have to postpone concerns you have until Parent/Teacher interview time in December. Please contact us sooner rather than later.
Student Planners
Student planners will be issued to students in Gr. 1-8, with a cost of $2.00. If the planner is lost throughout the year, the replacement cost is $5.00. Please read through the information pages for important information about VLS. Parents are encouraged to sign the planner each night after checking their child’s homework. The planner helps students to organize their schedules and learn time management skills.
Safe Arrival and Dismissal
Please remind your children to arrive at school when a teacher is on duty (9:00 a.m.). If driving a vehicle, parents are to pick students up IN THE BACK PARKING LOT. For the safety of students THE FRONT PARKING LOT WILL BE UNAVAILABLE. Remember our parking lot is one way. Please enter off Willowmac and exit onto McFadden.
Parents are asked not to block the bus pick up zone by the kindergarten yard (this is a safety concern and it interferes with our bus loading). When picking up students, please park in the parking lot, turn off your vehicle, and take your keys. Also please remember that there are no school safety patrollers or municipal crossing guards. Also, please respect our neighbours by ensuring you are not blocking their driveways when waiting to pick up your child, ensuring they can enter and exit their driveways easily.
Inclement Weather
While we are not expecting snow or ice this time of year, in the past, the arrival of fall often brings fog around. The policy of the LKDSB is:
In the event of bus cancellation due to fog, all schools will remain open. Morning bus pickups will be cancelled and buses will run for the afternoon return home drop offs.
We encourage parents of bus students to arrange their own transportation to school when it is safe to do so.
Please listen to the radio for information if the weather looks questionable in the morning.
Please listen to 94.3FM, 95.1 FM, 92.9 FM or AM 600 for cancellations. Victor Lauriston School is in School Bus Zone 8.
Kids’ Stuff Childcare Program
Kids’ Stuff…the Family Learning Centre on the Thames will continue to run our before and after School Program at Victor Lauriston Public School in Chatham.
Program Hours: Before School 7:30 - 9:15 a.m.
After School 3:35 - 5:30 p.m.
Apply online today using the Chatham-Kent Online Childcare Waitlist at: Chatham Kent childcare
Terry Fox
We will be participating in the Terry Fox Run/Walk at the school again this year. We ask that you please bring in a “Toonie for Terry” when you can. These donations will be due by September 29, 2017. The date for our Terry Fox day will be announced at a later time.
Newsletter
In looking for ways to reduce paper usage at the school, we are going to try to limit the number of newsletters we print every month. Our newsletters will be posted to our website every month. We are going to stop sending out newsletters to every student, and will only be sending newsletters home to those students that fill out and return the form at the bottom. If you have access to the Internet and don’t need a paper copy, you don’t have to do anything to let us know, you just won’t receive a newsletter in October in paper form.
I would like to still receive a paper copy of the monthly school newsletter. Please send a letter home with my child ______(please print child’s name).
Signature:______Date: ______
Staff Directory
Ms. Vander PolPrincipal
Mr. BeasleyVice-Principal
Mrs. NortonSecretary
Ms. CoffeyKindergarten Teacher
Mrs. SprikKindergarten ECE
Mr. OrlandoKindergarten Teacher
Ms. KubicaKindergarten ECE
Ms. CofellGrade SK/1
Ms. VonUdersGrade 1/2
Mrs. JoslingGrade 2
Mrs. HystekGrade 2/3
Mrs. BezaireGrade 3
Mrs. ParentGrade 3/4
Mr. Parry Grade 4
Mrs. CoatsworthGrade 4/5
Ms. McKinlayGrade 5/6
Mrs. ReaumeGrade 6
Mrs. LucioGrade 6
Mrs. JackGrade 7
Mr. GrahamGrade 7/8
Mrs. MorkinGrade 8
Mrs. CarrothersPhys. Ed./Science/LLI
Ms. DibbleyPrep Coverage
Mrs. Charron Prep Coverage
Mrs. BergenFrench
Mr. SpencerLearning Resource
Mrs. SkodakLearning Resource/French
Ms. BurtonEducation Assistant
Mrs. O’PheeEducation Assistant
Ms. TravisEducation Assistant
Ms. BurchielEducation Assistant
Ms. LindnerEducation Assistant
Mrs. BueckertEducation Assistant
Mr. HoffmanEducation Assistant
Mrs. FaubertEducation Assistant
Mrs. RivardEducation Assistant
Mr. BechardDay Custodian
Mr. McKimEvening Custodian
Mr. Robb Evening Custodian
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