Hot Lunch, Backpack Buddies, and More!

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Visit our website for more news and important dates!
February 21 - Family Day - No School
February 23 - Pink T-Shirt Day
Join us on Facebook and Twitter too!

Hot Lunch - Nelson
PAC hot lunch is underway! Due to many missing the order deadline for this round, it has been extended to February 4.
PLEASE ORDER BY FEBRUARY 4 as no orders will be taken after this date.
Current menu for February through March 10, 2022:
Tuesdays - Tamil Kitchen Samosas
Wednesday - KC’s Sushi
Thursdays - Thor’s Pizza

If you are new to our school or our hot lunch program, you can register and order at https://munchalunch.com/schools/wildflower. If you have an account, just sign in at https://munchalunch.com/login

Hot Lunch - Nelson FAQ's
1) What if I miss the deadline for ordering?
We are unable to accommodate orders past the deadline. The orders get sent to the restaurants on the day the ordering closes which prevent us from accommodating late orders.

2) What if I want to cancel due to illness, absence, or taste preferences?
We are unable to cancel as the orders have already been placed. Should PAC cancel for some unforeseen reason parents will be issued a CREDIT and not a refund. At this time we are only ordering for one month at a time, so that should something come up your credit is only a month's worth of hot lunch and not 3+ months.

3) What will happen to my Child's hot lunch if they are absent? (Not including field trips)
Your Child's lunch will be available to their siblings, if you let your other children know the parent volunteer for that day can give them the absent Childs lunch. You are welcome to come to the school and pick up your child’s lunch on the day after 1 pm. Please contact Anne and she will coordinate with you. If a lunch is unclaimed it will go to someone in the school who does not have a lunch or is hungry.

In order for PAC to offer hot lunches, we are in need of volunteers to keep the program going. Please sign up using this link
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mohupWoEc4eTRdwwRgOIliipCixBDgWpQ6-o_vkBWxU/edit?usp=sharing

Backpack Buddies - Nelson & Creston
Growing children require regularly available food, but many B.C. families struggle to put food on the table every day. That’s why Backpack Buddies help fill the weekend hunger gap - by providing meals and snacks for the weekend directly to those who need them.
If your family would benefit from this wonderful program, please let us know by e-mailing Anne in the office.
If you would like to donate to the program, please go to https://www.backpackbuddies.ca/donate-now
You can find out more at https://www.backpackbuddies.ca/our-story

Student Absences - Nelson & Creston
Please endeavour to have your child to school on time each day.
If your child will be absent for any reason, please let us know by filling out the form at https://wildflower.sd8.bc.ca/absence-late

Attending School and COVID
As COVID-19 continues to circulate in our community, we encourage everyone to follow public health guidance to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 in our school.
This includes:

Completing a daily health check before you come to school. You can use the BC COVID-19 SelfAssessment Tool.
Monitoring yourself regularly for symptoms of illness. If you are sick, stay home. Seek testing when recommended.
Following provincial restrictions in place. The BCCDC continues to provide trusted information about COVID-19, including how to protect yourself, your family, and your community and what to do if you suspect you have the virus.

While we all continue to navigate disrupted routines and changes as the pandemic continues, it’s important we look after our mental health and well-being. Don’t wait to reach out. School-specific resources are available from erase. Information for individuals is available from BCCDC.

From DPAC - Seminars and Information Sessions
Understanding PAC's from A-Z and why they are Important for Families
Presented by Andrea Sinclair President of BCCPAC
February 10th, 2022 at 7 pm PST (90 minutes)
Pre-registration required at: https://bccpac.bc.ca/index.php/conferences/webinar-220210
SD 8 takes the next step toward Anti-Racism Policy
Information and the link to the online survey at: https://www.sd8.bc.ca/news/sd8-takes-next-step-toward-anti-racism-policy

For information and the link to email your trustee to support Seamless Day/ Public Childcare now, go to: https://www.cupe.bc.ca/public_childcare_now

Indoor Shoes, Outdoor Clothes - Nelson & Creston
Please be sure your child has appropriate indoor footwear for in the school and gym.
All students are going outdoors for breaks and lunch - please make sure they are dressed for the weather and have gloves or mittens too.

Lost and Found - Nelson
Our lost and found is overflowing. If your child is missing something, remind them to look there. You are also welcome to come and have a look! The lost and found bin is just inside the front door.

2022 Wildflower Ski/Snowboard Lessons
Deadline to Register: Thursday February 3, 2022
Lesson Dates: Friday February 18 and Friday March 4, 2022
Lesson Time: 10:00 - 11:30 am
Program Coordinator: Michelle Oakley; michelleoakley@gmail.com
Protocols this year are as follows:

all school groups were limited to two lesson days this year
registration forms are to be completed online (link below)
lessons are in morning at 10am
no lessons in the afternoon
space for about 50 students each lesson date
parents are not able to purchase parent lift tickets through the program

To register, use the online Whitewater Register Form here: https://forms.gle/hfqXZFWWT4R2gvk49.
Cost per lesson/per day:
1.5-hour Lesson $22.75 (includes GST)
Full Day Lift Ticket $14.75 (includes GST)
Rental $15.25 (includes GST & PST)
Full Package $52.75 (Include GST & PST)
Please provide the correct dollar amount in cash and/or cheque in an envelope labeled "Ski School." Please make sure to include a note with your students name and registered classes with the provided funds. Leave the funds/envelopes with the Front Office by February 3, 2022.

Whitewater's proof of vaccination policy as it pertains to the Main Lodge and Glory Lodge. Anyone entering both the upper and lower portions of the Main Lodge and Glory Lodge and is 12 years of age and older, will need to provide proof of vaccination (last year only the upper portion of the Main Lodge and Glory Lodge needed to show proof of vaccination). This policy will not affect the Skier Services Lodge where Snow School and Rentals are located. The yurt and warming containers are still available for school groups! Students will have access to the outdoor washrooms located outside of the Skier Services lodge. There are also washrooms at the Glory Lodge and parking lot near the Summit Chair.

The Taco Tin will also be available for those who are not vaccinated and wish to buy food. They can also buy food to go outside of the Glory Lodge. Anyone who is 12 and older and unvaccinated will not be able to buy food or use the washrooms inside the Main Lodge or inside the Glory Lodge.

Whitewater also offers ski packages for students with financial need. If you require financial assistance, or have any other questions, please reach out to michelleoakley@gmail.com
Chaperone tickets are currently spoken for, but availability may increase based on total enrolled students.

Daily Health Checks - Nelson & Creston
Please remember that you are to complete daily health checks with your children. Students are to stay home when they are at all unwell.
Watch our website as well as the provincial government's site at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/covid-19-safe-schools for any details and/or changes.
You may also use the COVID health checker at https://bc.thrive.health/covid19/en

Grocery Card Fundraiser - Nelson
Did you know that the money raised from the grocery cards helps fund major improvements to our outdoor spaces? When you order grocery cards, every dollar you spend goes towards your groceries, so it costs you nothing to help. Save-on-Foods and the Kootenay Co-op donate 7 to 8% to our school based on the value of cards that our school buys. More information and sign up at https://wildflower.sd8.bc.ca/blog/2021-22-grocery-card-fundraiser. You can sign up for just one month, or as many as you like, any time you like.

In the Community

Kootenay Teen Book Club – Talk about the fantasy novel The False Prince with teens across the Kootenays and with THE AUTHOR HERSELF! That is right – author, Jennifer Nielsen will be joining us! What do ask her a questions? Join us! Email kootenayteenbookclub@gmail.com for details. Tuesday, February 22, 5:30pm.

Group Ukulele Lessons - Nelson - Our former classroom teacher, April Lavine will be hosting a Music camp from March 14-18 and a shorter Music Camp from March 21-23. If you are interested to learn more / reserve a spot, please email her at April.lavine@gmail.com

Faur-Haus Kids Clay Workshop - Nelson - For information or registration, go to https://www.fair-haus.org/book-online

Walking Bus to After School Activities - Nelson - Looking for something for your child to do after school? The youth center has a program that may suit your needs! https://wildflower.sd8.bc.ca/blog/nelson-youth-centre-afterschool-program-and-walking-bus

Discover Circus in Nelson is happy to be offering some kids and youth classes during the day on Fridays! Kids' classes are ages 7-11. Youth classes are ages 12 - 16. Parent & Me classes are for one caregiver and one child aged 6-12.
Parent & Me - 12:00 - 1:00
Kids Silks Level 1 1:15 - 2:15
Kids Silks Level 2 - 2:30 - 3:30
Youth Silks Level 1 - 3:45 - 5:15
Schedule, details, and registrations: https://www.discovercircus.ca/registration-passes

The Forest Path Nature Programs (Nelson) - Kids need nature now more than ever. We offer preschool programs and homeschool program Fridays ages 7-12. Our afterschool programs are for self-identified boys or girls, always outside, with active games and sharing 'round the fire. New session starting 1st week of November. Wild Sisters Tue ages 9-13, Boys Tue age 9-13, Boys Thur age 7-10, Boys Thurs age 14-17 www.theforestpath.ca

After School and Pro-D Art Classes (Nelson) - Little Lights After School Art Club - School pick up - 4:45pm
Contact- clancymoonbeam@gmail.com
250-777-1253 www.clancymoonbeam.com

Youth Centre (Nelson) - Drop-in programs are back! More information at www.nelson.ca/youth

Important Dates - Nelson & Creston
February 21 - No School - Family Day
February 23 - Pink T-Shirt Day
March 14 - 25 - Spring Break - No School
More events can be viewed at https://wildflower.sd8.bc.ca/events/calendar?date=2021-10
The full-year calendar is at https://wildflower.sd8.bc.ca/blog/2021-22-calendar

How you get your news
At Wildflower we have two main ways of sending you e-mail communications. One is through our student information system (MyEdBC), and the other is through this newsletter. We use MyEdBC for announcements or information that everyone needs to see, or for items we have to send out to all parents and guardians. We use the newsletter for more general news, and you may opt-out of this one at any time by clicking the link at the top of the newsletter to change your settings.