École Boundary Weekly News The next few weeks brings some fun and exciting events, but we need your help to make them successful.

Please check out the details below about our carnival and the many volunteer positions we are looking to fill. Also come check out this month’s PAC meeting and hear about what the plans are for the upcoming new school

year! To keep track and not miss out on all upcoming events please go to our websites: www.boundaryelementary.ca; http://boundarypac.ca/

More information on the PDF version of the website.

Week Beginning May 14, 2018 Monday May 14

Tuesday May 15

• Grade 4-7 Track Practice 8:00am • 3Point Basketball After School Program 3:10pm • PAC Meeting 7:00pm • Ultimate Practice 3:10pm - 4:15pm

Wednesday May 16 • Lunchtime Yoga • Field Qualification Grade 4/5 Eastview and Grade 6/7 at Ross Road (Team Members only) 3:30 - 4:45

Pick-Up

Thursday May 17

• Grade 4-7 Track Practice 8:00am • 3Point Basketball After School Program 3:10pm • Ultimate Practice 3:10pm - 4:15pm

Friday May 18

• Community Appreciation Assembly 9:00am

Upcoming Important Dates

Monday May 21 • Victoria Day - School Closed

Tuesday May 22

• Handsworth Track and Field Meet 8:00am

Friday May 25

• Carnival 4:00pm - 7:00pm

Boundary PAC News Next PAC meeting is coming up fast: Tuesday May 15!

Also, save the date for the AGM on June 12! Please attend to have your say in upcoming

events and planning for the 2018/2019 school year!

Carnival! Carnival! Carnival! Volunteers! Volunteers! Volunteers! With two weeks to go we need lots of volunteers to help run the stations and make the carnival a success! This year the carnival will be on Friday May 25 from 4:00pm - 7:00pm. We are needing wonderful individuals to take shifts at the various fun stations. This is a great way to see the school community in action and be part of a fun evening of games, rides, and yummy treats! Please consider giving some of your time and help us make this event another successful fundraiser for our kids! We are using SignUp.com this year to organize the volunteers for the Carnival. Here's how it works in 3 easy steps: 1. Click this link to go to our invitation page on: SignUp.com: http://signup.com/login/entry/117031695999670077 2. Enter your email address: (You do not need to register an account on SignUp.com) 3. Sign up! Choose your spots - SignUp.com will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Easy! Note: SignUp.com does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact Claire Ferrier to sign up.

Pancake Breakfast - THANK YOU!!!

Thank you to everyone who supported this year’s pancake breakfast! It is always wonderful to see our community come together and what better way than with pancakes! Thank you to the grade 7’s and parents for putting on a fantastic spread and serving us all with a smile. This year we sold over 370 tickets! All fundraising proceeds go towards the grade 7 year end festivities.

Earthquake Kits Now Available for Your Family!

With great thanks to BC Quake and their generous support of our Boundary students, you can now prepare your family at home for what we all know is likely to hit anytime. Easily purchased online here. A complete kit is on display in the display case in the main hallway near the staff room. Learn more at http://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/earthquake-facts.aspx

Boundary School News 2018-2019 School Supplies

School supplies lists will be going home on May 14 with information on how to order online. For families who already use our online system, please order your school supplies for 2018-2019 by May 25. Kindergarten families will receive more information at the Orientation on May 28. For more details please go to Boundary School Supplies 2018/19.

Parent Volunteers Needed for Track Qualifications

We are looking for parent volunteers to help run the track qualification meet at Handsworth on Tuesday May 23, between 8am and 12pm. This year it is Boundary’s turn to organize the meet and we are not able to do it without the help of parents. As the meet is during the day, most of the staff are back at Boundary with the remaining students. Track and Field is a program that benefits students from grade 4 to 7 and is only successful with the volunteer support of staff and parents. You do not need to volunteer for the entire time and no experience is necessary. Please contact Tim MacLeod or Nancy Dale for more information. Your help is greatly appreciated! Currently we only have one parent volunteer for over 60 students that will participating at Handsworth.

Community Appreciation Assembly

On Friday May 18, at 9:00am, Boundary will once again be hosting a Community Appreciation Assembly to honour all that is done by parents, families, staff and students to enrich and support the Boundary School Community. There will be several classes performing select pieces for your enjoyment. Parents are warmly invited to this event. We hope to see you there!

Coding at Boundary

Over the past three weeks, we have been learning about coding at Boundary – our last lesson will be on Monday! Each class from Kindergarten to Grade 7 will have received four introductory lessons on coding from our District Technology Team (Justine Frazee and Paul Clarke). The students have been learning about how to code using various programs and devices, such as Code.org, Scratch, Sphero, Cubetto, and more. As part of the Applied Designs, Skills, and Technologies component of the curriculum, these lessons have been great for students and staff to learn the rudimentary basics of coding, as well as strengthening our logical thinking skills, communication skills, problem solving skills, familiarity with technology as a tool, and much more…all while having fun! Thank you to Mrs. Frazee, Mr. Clarke, and Mrs. Eadon and Ms. Chand for organizing Coding at Boundary!

2018-2019 Class Placement

At this time of year, we begin planning for the coming school year in terms of school organization and reflection on student placement. Each child's success is our primary goal. The initial process for class make-up will begin towards the mid to end of June and then will be revisited and completed at the beginning of the 2018/2019 school year. Our staff puts a lot of time and effort into creating balanced, positive class learning environments with consideration for all students at each grade level. We strive to make classrooms harmonious in design with a wide variety of talents, abilities, and interests. Student placement into classes involves the integration of the following aspects: input from teachers and support staff, input from administration, and input

from parents. The class placement process begins with classroom teacher reflection on individual student strengths, and academic and social needs. The next stage in the placement process involves grade level discussions between current teacher(s) and receiving teacher(s), the Learning Assistance Teacher, and the administration. Desirable criteria, as listed below, act as a guide for consideration and discussion and are not intended to be inclusive or exclusive of any other. The criteria stated are not prioritized.

Workable Instructional Grouping ● age distribution ● ability distribution ● work habits and study skills ● teaching and learning styles ● individual needs

Positive Social Grouping

● boy/girl ratio ● student maturity and self-discipline ● student self-motivation ● student-to-student relationships (friendships/conflicts)

If you, as a parent, wish to provide input into your child's placement, please write a letter to Mr. MacLeod by June 8, 2018*. Letters of request must outline specific strengths, attitudes toward school, learning style, and learning needs of your child. You may also indicate successes your child has experienced in school. Please do not request a particular teacher for your child. A written request will be carefully considered as one of several criteria used when assigning students to classrooms. It is important to note that it may not be possible to meet a request as stated. The information you share may be shared with the staff responsible for placing students.

Forming balanced classes is in the best interest of ensuring optimal learning for all students. Since we are involved in a consultative process (consisting of many hours) to facilitate the placement of students, we do not anticipate making changes to class placements once they are set. Please do not approach individual teachers regarding student placements in September. Like all new relationships, it can take time for students to learn to trust and demonstrate growth with their new teacher and in their new setting. The vast majority of children adjust very quickly to their new classroom with the help of your encouragement and support. Our school organization is dependent on enrolment numbers. If you are leaving Boundary, and your children will not be registered for school in September 2018, please inform the office as soon as possible so that we can maintain accurate enrolment numbers. Thank you for your continued support and partnership!

*Please note that requests received after the deadline may not be considered.

French Public Speaking Competition

Congratulations to Mei F in LFI 7 for being one of the 16 students from North Vancouver to compete at this year’s Provincial Finals of the Concours d’art oratoire held at SFU on May 5. We are very proud of Mei and the other students who competed at the NV District competition as well as the classroom competitions. For more information about the event, please go to Canadian Parents for French website.

Community Events

Is it a Bear? is it a Cougar? or is it a Bobcat?

It’s Spring time folks and that time of year when our wildlife friends come over to visit. There have been recent reports in the North Shore News of Cougar and Coyote sightings in the Lynn Valley area. Since there’s a vast amount of misinformation out there regarding wildlife protocol, The North Shore Black Bear Society (NSBBS) produced an educational brochure about how we, on the North Shore, can co-habitate with the wildlife that has always lived here well before we all arrived. (see the end of the newsletter) Remember, when you have a wildlife sighting in your area, use the Wildlife Protocol and contact the Provincial Conservation Officers AND the NSBBS since they focus on Education and Preservation. For more information, you can also visit: https://www.dnv.org/programs-and-services/living-safely-wildlife on wildlife safety.

North Shore Celtic Ensemble Open House

We would like to extend a warm invitation to musicians of all ages who have been playing an instrument for at least one year to come out and meet the Ensemble, engage with the directors and players, learn a tune and see what it’s like to perform with a group, and learn more about out fantastic program.

Open House will be held at Upper Lynn Valley Elementary School on May 29th (Tuesday) at 1540 Coleman St, North Vancouver from 6:30pm – 8:30pm!

PAC Executive Chair: Gillian Paton - chair@boundarypac.ca

Vice Chair: Claire Ferrier - vicechair@boundarypac.ca Treasurer: Jacqueline Russell - treasurer@boundarypac.ca

Secretary: Erin Holtz - secretary@boundarypac.ca Member at Large - Claire Arnold Member at Large - Karen Tinto

Hot Lunch Coordinator: Deb Gill - hotlunch@boundarypac.ca

Newsletter: Lucy Allen - lucyallen04@gmail.com Communications: Tina Pscheidl-Szylowski - communications@boundarypac.ca

Web Manager: Martin Cocking - webmanager@boundarypac.ca

TheNorthShoreisadiverseecosystem,richwithwildlife.Weco-existwithmagnificentcreatures,greatandsmall.Gettoknowmoreaboutthewildlifeyoumayencounter.

www.northshorebears.comFacebook/Instagram:NorthShoreBlackBearSociety

NorthShoreBlackBearSociety:WildlifeInformationPackage

B E A R S : B L A C K B E A R S

W H A T T O D O I F Y O U E N C O U N T E R A B E A R

Black bears are naturally wary of humans and expel a lot of energy attempting to avoid us. For a black bear, a tree is a safe place, making the forest their idyllic habitat. Black bear sightings are fairly common, encounters less so.

SIGNS OF BEAR ACTIVITY

When you’re in the forest, look out for: • Scat • Tracks • Shredded logs • Disturbed ground • Tree markings/fur on tree • Natural bear foods, i.e. berry producing plants

Your voice is a very effective tool when you’re in the forest. Black bears are smart and recognize human sounds. Make noise on the trails with your voice to warn black bears that people are around. Stay on the main trail. Respect their space and leave no trace.

IF YOU MEET A BEAR

Take a deep breath. Stay calm

Speak calmly to the bear Back away slowly. Let the bear know you aren’t a threat

R E L O C A T I O N I S N ’ T A N O P T I O N L I K E U S , B E A R S H A V E A H O M E

F O R M O R E I N F O R M A T I O N V I S I T W W W . N O R T H S H O R E B E A R S . C O M

WHAT BLACK BEARS EAT Black bears are omnivores, though their diet is mostly vegetation: dandelions, clover, skunk cabbage; berries: salmonberries, salal berries, blackberries; and insects: grubs, caterpillars, moths. Black bears don’t understand boundaries. They will search extensively for food, led by noses two thousand times more sensitive than ours. It is normal to see black bears in our North Shore neighbourhoods, but make sure you don’t invite them to stay by giving them a food reward.

• Secure garbage/don’t put at curbside until morning of collection

• Freeze odorous organics. Keep garbage cans clean, wrap organics in newspaper

• Prune fruit trees/collect fallen fruit • Take down bird feeders, esp. Apr-Nov • Feed your pets indoors • Keep BBQ clean • Add shredded newspaper or dead leaves

to compost to reduce odour

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Den, Nov-Apr producing cubs in

Jan

Cubs of the year emerge May.

Yearlings leave their mother, June

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Search for a mate July. Mothers teach cubs how to forage

Active eating to prepare for

hibernation Sept-Nov

B I G C A T S : C O U G A R S

W H A T T O D O I F Y O U

E N C O U N T E R A C O U G A R

Cougars (also known as a mountain lion, panther or puma) are the largest of the three wild cats in Canada. Extremely elusive, encounters between cougars and humans are incredibly rare. Most urban encounters involve young cougars who are still learning to hunt, or old or injured cougars who can no longer hunt in the wild. Cougar attacks on people are exceptionally rare. Avoid hiking alone and ensure children are close and in sight. Keep dogs on leash.

IF YOU MEET A COUGAR • Stay calm and keep the cougar in sight • Pick up small children or pets • Speak to the cougar in a loud, firm voice • Make yourself look big. Let the cougar know you

aren’t prey • Without crouching for too long, arm yourself with rocks

or sticks • Back away slowly

IF A COUGAR IS WATCHING YOU OR APPROACHES

Maintain eye contact. Show your teeth. Make loud noises. If the cougar makes contact, fight back and keep it in front of

you. Focus your attack on their eyes and face.

WHAT COUGARS EAT Cougars are carnivores and the top predator in our forests. A cougar’s main prey is deer, but they also eat coyotes, black bear cubs, rodents, and house pets. Cougars are most active at dusk and dawn, but will hunt at any time of day or night, in all seasons. Cougars will travel extensively in search of food and have large home ranges. Occasionally, they may appear in an urban environment. Make sure they don’t find food that may encourage them to stay.

• Keep cats and small unattended dogs inside, especially at night

• Feed your pets indoors • Bird seed can attract rats, which in

turn can attract cougars and other predators that prey on the rodents

• Never feed any wildlife. Attracting prey species, such a deer, to the neighbourhood will greatly increase the chances of urban encounters with cougars

• Use electric fencing if you keep livestock such as chickens

Though extremely unlikely, if you do find cougar cubs, leave the area immediately. A female cougar will defend her young. Cubs

stay with their mother for two years. More information can be found at:

www.wildsafebc.com/cougar

U R B A N W I L D L I F E : C O Y O T E S

W H A T T O D O I F Y O U E N C O U N T E R A C O Y O T E

Coyotes are naturally timid animals. To keep ourselves, our pets, and coyotes safe, we need them to remain

that way. Hazing is the method we use to communicate to the

coyote that they are not welcome in the area.

HOW TO HAZE A COYOTE

• Do not run. Running may trigger their natural instinct to chase

• Stand and face the coyote • Make yourself larger and intimidating by raising

your arms above your head • Do not scream. In a firm, loud voice, yell at the

coyote. Tell it to go away • Clap your hands • Use a hose to spray the coyote Don’t let coyotes or other wildlife find a food reward in your yard. Make regular checks of your property –

especially in winter – for possible coyote den sites. You can report wildlife or attractant sightings to

www.northshorebears.com/reportit

Attractant management is key when aiming to reduce wildlife encounters in residential areas.

• Keep garbage clean/ secure • Keep pet food/water inside • Remove bird seed/feeders • Pick ripe fruit/fallen fruit • Reduce compost odour by adding

newspaper or leaves Rodents make up at least 75% of a coyote’s diet. By managing rodent attractants, you reduce important food sources for coyotes and their reason for being in the area.

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sentences. ❄ ❀

Mate Jan-Feb Den, produce pups April

✹ ☁

Teach offspring May-Aug

Juveniles search for own territory

Sep-Dec

Link to other online properties: Portfolio/Website/Blog

P E T S • Keep cats and small

unaccompanied dogs inside, especially at night

• Off leash dogs are the cause of many negative wildlife encounters

More info can be found at: www.coyotewatchcanada.ca

B I G C A T S : B O B C A T S

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ENCOUNTER A BOBCAT

Bobcat habitat varies widely and the cats can thrive on many landscapes: semi-deserts, brush lands, mountainous areas, and forests. A habitat rich with vegetation and prey is ideal, making our dense temperate rainforest the perfect habitat for this shy cat. Bobcats will make their main den in caves, hollow logs, or fallen trees. Brush piles, stumps, and rock ledges make good, less visited shelter dens. Solitary and territorial, female bobcats will never share their territory. Male territories, which are much bigger, may overlap. Bobcats aren’t at the top of the food chain and need to evade predators such as cougars, coyotes, and owls.

Conflicts between bobcats, humans, and domestic pets are

extremely rare.

IF YOU MEET A BOBCAT Be loud. Clap your hands

If possible throw water at the cat. Let it know it isn’t welcome Back away slowly

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sentences.

V O L U N T E E R E X P E R I E N C E O R

L E A D E R S H I P Bobcats mate in late winter and produce

1-6 kittens in early spring. A female bobcat is solely responsible for raising her

young. Bobcat kittens are first taught to hunt at around 5 months old. When the

kittens are between 8-11 months old, they leave their mother and are forced to find

their own territory.

WHAT BOBCATS EAT The most common wildcat, the bobcat, is named after its short, bobbed tail. An average of 25 pounds, bobcats are roughly twice the size of domestic cats. Stealthy, patient hunters, bobcats can kill prey much bigger than themselves. However, their diet generally consists of insects, bats, mice, rats, birds, squirrels, and other small game. Elusive and mostly nocturnal, bobcats are rarely seen. Yet, like all wild animals trying to survive, their search for food can sometimes bring them into urban areas. Make sure they don’t find a food reward that will encourage them to stay.

• Feed your pets inside • Take down birdfeeders. Bird seed can

attract rats, which in turn, can attract bobcats and other predators that prey on the rodents

• Pick fallen fruit • Use electric fencing if you keep

livestock such as chickens • Keep cats and small unattended

dogs inside, especially at night, although attacks on pets are rare