Crofton House School Newsletter

Throughout the development of the current strategic plan, Thriving in Possibility, we heard from all constituents about the importance of establishing meaningful partnerships with organizations at a local and global level. As you know, this became one of the five strategies that will guide our work going forward: as a School, we firmly believe that sustained, reciprocal relationships create the possibility for real change and impactful learning. Winter's festive season invites us to reflect on the values that define us and the impact we can make collectively.

The School, students, staff and parents/guardians engage with many of our community partnerships through November and December to support those in need. The Parents’ Auxiliary (PA) initiative, Service Together, connected volunteer parents and Senior School students with the work of the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre and Powell Street Getaway Resource Centre. School staff and students are collecting much-needed items for those who benefit from the efforts of the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, the YMCA and the Union Gospel Mission Gifts of Hope Hamper Store. Finally, we will all come together to support KidSafe at the Winter Bazaar, a signature event for the PA.

The organizations we support are doing vital work in the communities they serve, and they require the assistance of others to deliver on their missions. I am proud of the compassion and empathy that connects our community in supporting these initiatives. Still, we know that a partnership model is needed to succeed in our strategy for meaningful partnerships, which is the critical part of the year one implementation plan.

A team of staff and a representative of the PA will soon begin work to unpack the way in which the School engages with community organizations to develop a model that will examine future partnerships and evaluate what we are currently doing. This group will then expand to include students because we believe students deserve a greater voice in this complex topic, which aligns with our commitment to developing student agency.

Our aim in establishing a model is to anchor our partnership work in reciprocity and service learning. As a school, we have a social responsibility to contribute to the common good of our community. More importantly, we have a significant role to play in helping our students develop a sense of purpose and meaning in life. We know that service opportunities can play an essential role in shaping our students’ sense of purpose.

Through the partnerships that are in place and which are generously supported by our community, we are well on our way toward ensuring that the relationships we develop with others are based on shared goals and values, role-modelling for students the importance of collaboration and civic engagement. As the year progresses, I will share how the new framework will support the development of meaningful partnerships and opportunities for our students. In the meantime, thank you for supporting the five partners we connect with during the winter season, and I look forward to seeing you at one of the many events happening around the School over the next month.

A film crew working in the area has confirmed a street closure outside of Knox United Church on Balaclava Street starting Wednesday, November 29 at 7:00 am, not Tuesday, November 28, as previously notified. Parents/guardians dropping off students on that day should be aware of this closure. The area impacted is Balaclava Avenue, between West 41st and West 39th, north of the campus.

In this ensemble-driven drama, a school art fair becomes embroiled in controversy when a student unveils a divisive painting. Students, parents, and teachers must ask themselves tough questions about freedom of speech, appropriateness, what art is supposed to do and "what is the cost of censorship?"

The Senior School presents its Grade 8/9 production of #Censored on Tuesday, November 28, at 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm in The Susan and Robert Macdonald Family Drama Studio Theatre. Learn more or purchase tickets.

The Grab & Go counter in Manrell Hall will be closed on the afternoon of Thursday, November 30 and all day Friday, December 1, to help facilitate the setup for the Winter Bazaar.

All Grade 8-12 parents are invited to attend a parent session on Thursday, December 7, from 8:30 am to 9:30 am in the Bains Amphitheatre, Senior School. This third parent session focuses on the new BC K-12 Student Reporting Policy, and the presentation is designed to give parents/guardians a better understanding of how report cards can promote growth-focused discussions and celebrate learning successes, as well as review the approach to reporting at CHS. Please register to attend. If you have any questions about this session or the topic, please contact Christine Yang, Assistant Director of Teaching & Learning. We look forward to your participation in this informative session.

The enrolment process for the next school year will begin in early December. Watch for a letter on Thursday, December 7, from the Head of School and Chair of the Board announcing the 2024-2025 tuition, followed on Friday, December 8, with information on Step 1 of the enrolment process. The My CHS Community Portal's Enrolment, Tuition and Billing page outlines the enrolment process. Look to this page for all supporting documentation with links to additional information being added as the process continues. Thank you to all parents/guardians for promptly completing the two-step process.

There are many winter concerts on the School calendar, and we hope many families will attend. What is essential is that the spirit of community created at these gatherings extends to our School neighbours. There will be ample parking four to five blocks away and stress-free arrival and departure—factor in your attendance time to park and walk to campus. By respecting posted parking and traffic signs and giving ample space for our neighbours to access their private driveways, parents/guardians play a crucial role in maintaining good relations with those who live near the school. Parking spaces within a block of the School are minimal.

Parents/guardians must be cautious when photographing or recording concerts. A “cautioned restriction” is in place for all events that include community members beyond students and staff, and it is reasonable to a) assume individuals will be photographed or recorded for personal use and b) likely that others will be inadvertently photographed or recorded. A cautioned restriction means those in attendance will demonstrate respect for the privacy of others when photographing, recording and sharing images and, as much as possible, limit images to their child.

The Ministry of Education and Child Care (MECC) is conducting a parent survey to better understand the regional and provincial demand for school-age child care. The Province’s ChildCareBC plan is working to expand access to child care for all families that want and need it. According to the MECC, there is no current provincial or regional data quantifying the current demand. Your participation in this online survey will help the Province plan for future school-aged child care expansions. All parents with children attending Kindergarten to Grade 7 at a BC school are encouraged to participate, regardless of the type of childcare you currently use or even if you are not using any child care. The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete and closes on December 14, 2023.

Crofton House parents and students often thank CHS employees for their contributions through gifts. To help avoid an actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest for the employee and the School, CHS employees can only accept gifts as outlined in section 3.3 Gift Acceptance Policy of the CHS Employee Handbook. If you are giving an employee a gift, we ask that you ensure it is reasonable and does not exceed $125 at a time or $500 from one family within an academic year. Employees are not able to accept cash. Please understand that if an employee refuses or returns a gift, they are following the School's policy. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Robinson, Director, Human Resources.

CHS recently hosted the 2023 International Independent School’s Public Speaking Competition and welcomed over 150 students worldwide to campus. We spoke to three Senior School debate students to hear about the unique experiences of competing. Read the blog here to learn about the challenges and rewards of public speaking.

Winter weather can make travel challenging. The School has a procedure to respond to inclement weather that results in school closure, and this is outlined in the Parent-Student Handbook “Health and Safety” section under “School Closure Procedures” (page 37). Communication of closure is sent through Regroup, voicemail, email, and text.

Get Ready for the Winter Bazaar on Saturday, December 2!

Gates open at 10:00 am, and the event will run until 3:00 pm.
Tickets are $5 for those 5 years old and up.
Pre-purchased wristbands, activity tickets and totes that have yet to be picked up can be collected from Gate D on Balaclava Street on Bazaar day.

Get involved - We'd love your help leading up to and on the big day. Your involvement makes a real difference, you can volunteer at your grade's booth (check in with your Grade Convenor to sign up for a spot – or two or three) or sign up for school-wide volunteer opportunities. Thank you for your support in making this Winter Bazaar a success!

Pick up pre-purchased items - Pre-purchased wreaths, orchids and plants are available on Sunday, November 26, from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm in the Junior School roundabout (off Blenheim Street) and on Tuesday, November 28, from 8:00 am to 8:45 am or Thursday, November 30, from 2:45 pm to 3:30 pm, wristbands, tickets and tote bags are available for pick up in the Nancy Chan Courtyard.

Come early - Many unique products and craft activities are available, but quantities are limited. If you want to ensure that you have access to everything we have to offer, please arrive when the gates open.

Park responsibly - Guests are encouraged to walk or take public transportation to the event. If parking is required, space will be available at Kerrisdale Elementary School’s gravel field on West 41st Avenue. Street parking is also available in the area surrounding the school, but please be a respectful neighbour and observe all traffic and parking regulations.

Bring a bag - Please help us care for the environment by bringing your own bags to the Bazaar to carry your purchases.

Payments - All guests are asked to use credit or debit cards for retail or food purchases. We will have terminals set up at every booth for ease. When shopping, playing or enjoying our many activity options, please remember that all net proceeds from the Bazaar go to KidSafe.

Supervise your kids - While this is a school event, parents are entirely responsible for supervising their loved ones at the Bazaar.

First aid station - First aid attendants will be on location for the event in the Senior School athletics office, directly to the right of the entrance to the Senior School Athletics Centre gym. Get excited! - We are grateful for the opportunity to gather and cannot wait to celebrate our school and community with you!

We captured some excitement and creativity across campus these past weeks. Here are some moments from Grade 8/9 tech rehearsal, Wacky Accessories and Creative Hair Day, Grade 11 Wilderness First Aid Training in The Woods, and a special ECE visit from some feathered friends. This and much more! Check out this issue’s highlights gallery here.

Grade 7 students gear up for basketball tryouts, while Grade 5 and 6 dive into basketball practice sessions. Regular season games will begin in the coming weeks!

The energy extends to the younger grades, with Grade 3 and 4 continuing their fitness journey with the first session of the Fitness Club.

Several Senior School athletic teams have come away with podium finishes and recognized standings these past weeks. The Varsity Field Hockey team came out 9th in the province for the 2023 Field Hockey Provincial Championships. The Senior 2 Field Hockey team secured bronze at the League Playoffs.

In volleyball, the Junior Volleyball team earned a silver medal at the League Playoffs. The Bantam A Volleyball team also secured a silver medal at the League Playoffs. We are excited to announce the Varsity Volleyball team attained the bronze medal at the Sea to Sky Zone games and earned a spot to represent CHS at the 2023 Provincial Championships in a few weeks!

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