June 16
Important Dates
-June 16-20. Badminton in the mornings for students. 8:00-8:30.
June 17. 9:00-11:40. Sports Day led by our Leadership Club.
-June 19. Welcome to Kindergarten. 12:20-2:30
-June 20. Gr. 7 Leaving Ceremony. 10:30-11:30
-June 23. Retirement social for Diana Moher. 3:00-4:00
-June 23. Indigenous People’s Day Celebration.
-June 23 (AM only). Divisions 2-3 Field Trip to Twin Beaches
-June 24. Divisions 5-6 Field Trip to Twin Beaches
-June 25. Div. 06/07. Field Trip to Whalebone.
-June 26. Last Day of School
Artwork Celebrating Diversity
In exchange for some firewood this winter, one of the parents in our community Erin Foggoa, gifted this beautiful painting to the school. The meaning of the painting is about seeing the beauty in all things. We appreciate this painting for celebrating diversity and it will become an addition to our school’s entrance. Thank you Erin for the beautiful contribution to GES!
Gr. 7 Leaving Ceremony
The Leaving Ceremony for our Gr. 7’s will be held this Friday at 10:30-11:00 in our school gymnasium. It will be followed by coffee tea and snacks for the Gr. 7’s and their family members.
Indigenous People’s Day at GES
We will be celebrating Indigenous People’s Day on June 23rd. On that day, students will have the opportunity to observe salmon being cooked in the traditional way and then get to enjoy a small meal of salmon, salad and bannock. The salmon will be prepared in the traditional way of being roasted over an open fire by Indigenous teacher, Beau Wagner (acknowledging the fire ban in place, propane fires will be substituted). And the bannock will be prepared by Susan Praud, an EA at GES who is Indigenous too.
Last Day of School, June 26
Our last day of school will look like this:
-9:00-10:00-Final Assembly (Parents welcome to attend…note it will be standing room only)
-10:30-11:45-Regular classes
-11:45-12:30-Hot Dog BBQ for the students. Hosted by PAC and Lion’s Club. (Both veggie and meat hot dogs will be served)
-12:30-2:00-Water Fun Outside for all grades (see below)
***For our final afternoon, help us transform GES into a Waterpark. We are hoping to borrow:
-kiddie pools (the plastic kind that are knee deep)
-sprinklers
-hoses
If you have any of these items to lend for that afternoon, please call the school and let us know, or just drop in and drop them off. You can collect them either afternoon of July 26 or the next day.
Retirement Social for Diana Moher
Bikes for Kids
Over 20 students received bikes through Bikes for Kids! A big thank you to Greg Nowik, who heads Bikes for Kids as well as PHC for offering the use of their van to help transport them all to Gabriola.
Badminton in the Mornings
Each morning this week from 8:00-8:30, Badminton will be available in the gymnasium for those students who wish to play. Thank you Jenny Ivany for hosting that.
Summer Camp Opportunity
Gabriola Rec Society Summer Programming
GRS Summer Program Registration is open and there are spots available in several camps and programs! Head to our website to sign up for Summer Jam, Life Sprouts, Arts and Crafts Camps, Soccer Training Camps, Ukelele Lessons, and more! https://www.gabriolarecreation.org/events-table-list/
New Kindergarten Teacher
As many of you may know, Kathy Gurr, GES’ current Kindergarten teacher, is retiring in June. Our new Kindergarten teacher for the next school year will be Alex Quistberg. I am excited to welcome her to the team and introduce her to all of you:
“I am excited to be joining the team at Gabriola Elementary School! Next year will be my 19th year of teaching, with most of those years spent in Kindergarten and K/1 classrooms. I am passionate about early learning, outdoor education, and inquiry-based approaches. I am grateful for the opportunity to teach in my own community and am looking forward to a year of learning, connection, and collaboration with students, staff, and families.”
Parental Participation In Student Placement 2025-2026 School Year
We are in the process of planning the next academic year. It is important you trust the school team to build classes, which suit the students’ academic and social needs. We take a lot of care in doing classroom composition for each grade. We make up each class list in a way that maximizes the quality of teaching and learning conditions for all students. The decision for placement is based on many factors, such as: balancing academic ability, levels of independence, learning styles, social/emotional maturity, and maximizing the positive learning environment for the whole class. The classroom composition for each grade has to reflect the acceptance of all individuals within an inclusive school as we attempt to provide appropriate educational programming to all children. If you have specific educational information, that you would like us to consider about your child, please contact Mr. Daneault (in writing) as soon as possible, but no later than June 13th. We do consider this request, along with all other pertinent information provided by classroom teachers and support staff. Please note your request will be considered but we do not guarantee it can be honored. It does become an important part of our planning process. As teachers may change schools and grade groupings are dependent on our enrolment numbers and balancing learning needs, please describe optimal learning environments without referring to specific teachers. We are not able to take requests for individual teachers.
2025-2026 NLPS School Calendar
This is a link to the NLPS School Calendar for the 2025-2026. It tells you all the school closures for the next school year.
Nanaimo Science Summer Camp Bursary Program
Nanaimo Science is offering four bursaries this summer to support families facing financial hardship, covering 75% of the fees for one week of camp per child. They are endeavouring to ensure these spots go to families who could really use the support. All details can be found on their website: https://nanaimoscience.org/resources/busary-program/
Summer Soccer Camp
Kindergarten Registration
If you have a child that will be joining Kindergarten in the fall and you have not registered, please do so right away! If you know someone who has a child that will be joining Kindergarten in the fall, encourage them to register right away as well.
Often people wait till August or even September to register but it is best to do so early to both ensure that your child has a spot and that the school can plan accordingly for the number of students next year.
Hot Lunch
Hot Lunch happens every Wednesday. It is provided by PHC (People for Healthy Communities) and as per their policy, no child will be denied a hot lunch. Needless to say, due to PHC’s delicious offerings, Hot Lunch is a popular thing at GES and all the children in our school partake in it, often coming back for seconds, thirds and fourths. It is a truly wonderful thing to see all the students dining together on healthy, delicious food.
You do not have to pay for all the Hot Lunches now. You could contribute some money now and then contribute again down the road. That’s fine.
Here is the link:
https://forms.monday.com/forms/3da8c0b4085e5077c227a61c9439c4c8?r=use1
If you would prefer to contribute in cash, that is fine too. Simply send your cash contribution to school with your child and their teacher will collect it and forward it to PHC. Contribute what you can.
Thank you
Kindergarten Registration
School Registration
Snuneymux artist Eliot White-Hill hosted classes in the library on Thursday and Friday to teach about his art.
Who knew washing dishes after Hot Lunch could be so fun!
Archer teaches his friends a new sport that requires only a piece of cardboard: Grass Surfing!
Students in Div. 8 participate in a bridge building challenge.
Twin Day! (or better yet, Triplet Day!)
Div. 06 got creative making turtles out of string and popsicle sticks.