Thank Yous
Thank you to everyone who helped make Lochside Staff Appreciation week a success (and Covid Safe). Thank you to Stephanie for creating the amazing banner, Trish for organizing the Lochside Masks, Leanne for arranging Kattia’s Kitchen Food Truck to feed the staff, Anya for arranging lunchtime refreshments, Eva and Leanne for sharing their coolers, and Heather for organizing a tasty treat from Victoria Bakery.
Message from the Superintendant
Good afternoon parents/guardians,
It is with a very heavy heart that I write this email to you today.
The news from last Thursday of the discovery of at least 215 Indigenous children at the site of a former residential school near Kamloops is horrific as well as deeply emotional for many in our community and across Canada. The tragedy of our country’s past injustices and unimaginable treatment of First Nations’ children and families is a stark reminder that we still have a long path ahead of us towards reconciliation. It remains critical to continue to seek and share the Truth before any real Reconciliation is possible.
We are in communication with the local W̱SÁNEĆ First Nation to ensure that we are respectful in our acknowledgement and actions to this recent event. There will be staff, students and community members who are significantly impacted by this recent news and who will need support to navigate through things. Ensuring that our actions are mindful of the traumatic nature of this event is critical.
Initial District Actions
All Canada and BC flags will be flown at half-mast from the morning of Mon May 31st to the evening of Fri June 4th
Staff and students are encouraged to wear ORANGE during the week of May 31st – June 4th
As a district, we are committed to ensuring that our responses are more than just wearing orange and lowering flags to half-mast. We also have the obligation to commit to an educational focus in consultation with the local W̱SÁNEĆ First Nation community – one that responds not only to this tragic discovery, but also continues our moral obligation to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action. We are working with the Nation to produce educational resources that will allow students to engage in learning about this tragedy in ways that are trauma-informed, and age and culturally appropriate.
Responding to Trauma
Each of us will be working through this tragedy in our own way. Attached is a document from our provincial partner Safer Schools Together that you may find helpful with regards to recognizing trauma and helping your children who may be having some difficulty with this topic.
Additional Community Resources
The following is a list of resources and hotlines dedicated to supporting Indigenous people.
24/7 supports:
KUU-US Crisis Line 1-800-588-8717
Indian Residential School Survivors and Family 1-866-925-4419
Mon – Fri, 8am – 8 pm PT:
Weekends, 10 am – 2pm PT:
Tsow-Tun-Le-Lum Society 1-888-403-3123
Aboriginal Wellness Program 604-675-2551 or 1-866-884-0888
Canadian Mental Health Association - British Columbia Division 1-800-555-8222
HeretoHelp 1-800-661-2121
First Nations Health Authority – Mental Health Benefit https://www.fnha.ca/benefits/mental-health
Métis Nation BC – Mental Health Services https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/mental-health-substance-use/resources/kuu-us-crisis-line
Our district is a family who care deeply about each other and we will continue to do so through this very difficult time.
Respectfully,
Dave Eberwein
Superintendent & CEO, Saanich Schools
Volunteers Needed
BC School Fruit & Vegetable Nutritional Program for 2021-22
Lochside has the opportunity to take part in this incredible program and are looking for a a volunteer (or 2 or 3) who would be available to help distribute fruits and veggies to each of our classrooms 12 times throughout the 2021/22 school year. This position requires Food Safe Certification, but LEPAC is willing to cover the cost of the training. If you are interested and would love to help out, please let us know by emailing us at lepacvolunteers@gmail.com.
Fun Lunch Assistant
We also have a wonderful opportunity for someone to assist the Fun Lunch Coordinator with Fun Lunch this upcoming school year. This would involve helping organize the food on the day of fun lunch, and potentially source food prior to fun lunch. If interested please email lepacvolunteers@gmail.com.
Upcoming Events
May 31 - June 6 - Go By Bike Week
June 8 - LEPAC Meeting @ 6:30pm via Zoom
June 29 - Last day of School
Fundraisers
Thrifty Foods Smile Card - The program ends forever June 30! Use it as much as you can now
Country Grocer - Send your receipts back to the school (through your child’s teacher) and we receive 1% of all sales back in the form of gift cards!
Mabel’s Labels - Look up our Lochside Elementary School when placing your label order
Bottle Drive - take your empties to the Bottle Depot and say it’s for “Lochside Elementary School PAC” at the start of your count