The Parents' Auxiliary (PA) undoubtedly contributes significantly to making CHS a special place for parents/guardians, employees and students. The energy radiated from the campus last Saturday was generated by the many volunteers who warmly welcomed people at the gates, presented smiling faces at the many stands, or cheered on the participants of the carnival games. Behind the scenes, countless hours went into preparing for the Winter Bazaar and still more hours were spent after the gates closed. For all of this, we have the PA to thank.
The parents/guardians who volunteer their time to sit on the PA Executive Board are an essential part of the School’s operations. They meet monthly to work for all parents/guardians, finding ways to connect, engage and educate. There are so many ways the PA supports the school's work, including connecting families through the Family Buddy Program, coordinating the work of the many class parents, and keeping everyone informed through the CHS Parents’ Auxiliary section of ECalls.
On the School side, we are grateful to have, in the PA executive, a sounding board for ideas or changes being considered. For example, we recently changed the Code of Conduct to separate what is expected of students from what is expected of parents/guardians. You will see these new versions when you complete step one of the enrolment process. This important document was improved in clarity and detail by sharing the parent/guardian version in advance with the PA Chair and Vice Chair.
What sets our PA apart is its dynamic nature—responsive to community needs, exemplified by survey results (2021-2022) and continuous feedback. Their mission to create an active, inclusive, and engaged community remains unwavering.
As we reflect on our Parents' Auxiliary's tireless dedication and adaptability, I want to celebrate the vibrant community spirit they foster at CHS. Their commitment enhances our experience and plays a vital role in shaping our School's ongoing success and positive atmosphere. Thank you to the Parents' Auxiliary for making CHS a place of belonging for all.
As the fall term concludes, we look forward to finding peace and purpose during the holidays. Here are strategies for limiting exposure to negative news and redirecting attention to help you explore personal joys, create a warm atmosphere to connect with loved ones, including managing expectations, balancing goal achievement with essential rest for rejuvenation. Read the article here.
Dr. Lisa Damour is a New York Times bestselling author who has written numerous academic papers and books on education and child development. She maintains a clinical practice and speaks to schools and organizations on topics of child and adolescent development. For practical guidance and helpful techniques for common situations like stress management for teenagers, read her downloadable bookmark guides here.
Enrolment for 2024-2025 Begins Today
The enrolment process for the next school year begins today. Yesterday, Thursday, December 7, all returning families received a message from the Head of School and Chair of the Board announcing the 2024-2025 tuition. Today, returning families will receive information on Step 1 of the enrolment process and a link to the first two questionnaires. This questionnaire is due by December 30 and must be completed by all families who receive the enrolment invitation. This process is outlined on the My CHS Community Portal's Enrolment, Tuition and Billing page. 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 your prompt attention to all steps of this enhanced process.
Winter Concert Recordings and Photo Gallery
We hope you enjoyed the wonderful performances put on by CHS students. If you missed the action or want to relive the magical performances for the CHS Winter concerts, you can view the recordings here and browse the photo galleries here (Password: Merry123).
Holiday & Vacation Calendar for 2024-2025
The Holiday & Vacation Calendar (click the 2024-2025 tab) has been updated for the 2024–2025 school year. The calendar can be found on the My CHS Community Portal or by searching for “holiday calendar” in the website search tool. Our holiday and vacation schedule is generous, with extended breaks twice during the school year (December/January and March). The School thanks parents/guardians for restricting family vacation plans to the established holidays.
Has Your Contact Information Changed Since September?
It is essential for the School to have the most current contact information, particularly in the event of an emergency. If there has been a change in your address, email address or telephone/cellphone number, you can update your contact information in MySchool. Select “My Contact Details - Edit” from the panel on the right-hand side. Replace any information that requires updating and SAVE.
26th Annual Golf Classic
In 2024, Crofton House will host its 26th Annual Golf Classic. The Golf Committee will resume its duties in February. Anyone interested in joining the committee, please email advancement@croftonhouse.ca.
Happy Hanukkah!
As the festival of Hanukkah brightens our days, we extend heartfelt wishes to our Jewish community members. May the lights of the menorah bring warmth to your homes and the spirit of Hanukkah fill your hearts with joy. In the company of loved ones, may you find light, love, and the strength to overcome darkness. Happy Hanukkah to you and your families, and may this season be a time of celebration, reflection, and shared blessings.
Junior School Parent Survey: Demand for School-Aged Child Care in BC
The Province’s ChildCareBC plan is working to expand access to child care for all families that want and need it. Your participation in this online survey will help the Province plan for school-age child care. All parents with children attending Kindergarten to Grade 7 at a BC school are encouraged to participate, regardless of the type of child care 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.
Gift Acceptance Policy
Crofton House parents and students often thank CHS employees for their contributions through gifts. To avoid an actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest for the employee and the School, employees are restricted from accepting gifts that exceed $125 at a time or $500 from one family within an academic year. Please understand that if an employee refuses or returns a gift, they follow the School's policy. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Robinson, Director, Human Resources.
It’s been a busy few weeks as the school counts down to Winter Break. There has been plenty to see around campus including staff vs. students athletics, Ivy Compass days, the Winter Bazaar, rehearsals, assemblies, guest speakers and more. Check out this issue’s highlights gallery here.
Junior School Athletics
The Junior School basketball season is underway with teams working hard to learn skills and strategies while getting to know their teammates in preparation for upcoming games.
The Grade 6 basketball teams are preparing to host Stratford Hall on January 9, followed by a Grade 5 basketball game against York House in Chan Hall on January 11.
Meanwhile, Grade 7A and 7B basketball teams celebrated victories over Saint John's School and are now preparing for a busy January schedule. The 7A team will travel to Stratford Hall on January 10 for their next league game, while the 7B team's next game will be on January 15 at Collingwood School.
Senior School Athletics
Before we say goodbye to volleyball season, we want to recognize one last achievement from our Varsity Volleyball team who placed 10th in the Province AAA Girls Varsity Volleyball. We are so proud of your hard work and teamwork throughout the season.
Basketball season is now underway for all three of our teams. The Junior and Varsity teams participated in the Big Ticket Tournament with our Junior Basketball team coming away with two wins, while two of our Grade 12 Varsity athletes won the Big Ticket Scholarship, which will go towards their post-secondary education!
Looking ahead, we invite everyone to come to our next home games on January 17 when all three teams take on York House School. The game times are as follows: Bantam team at 3:30 pm, Junior team at 5:00 pm, Varsity team at 6:30 pm.
Thank you to all of our coaches and teacher sponsors for supporting our teams!
Follow the Crofton Falcons on Instagram for more updates and information.
Go Falcons Go!
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