Middle School Matters

For Friday, October 15th 

Welcome back to our Middle School Matters podcast!

My name is Tim Cavey, and I’m the VCS Middle School vice-principal

My name is Mary DeBoer, and I’m the VCS Middle School principal

It was great to have you back this week, Mary! How did it feel to jump back in the saddle?

Here were some highlights from the week:

Thanksgiving Monday - we hope you enjoyed a wonderful weekend with family

Chapel:  speaker Felix Chan - Power to Change

House Teams: Grade 6s had their first games in the gym

Destination Imagination is getting underway with their second meeting

Upcoming Dates: 

Monday, October 18 - Missing or Retake Photos

Thursday, October 21 - Parent Teacher Conferences

Check your email for information and registration from Mrs. De Boer. Please ensure you have indicated virtual or in-person. It's helpful to include your child's name.

Friday, October 22 - Professional Development Day for K-12

Thursday, November 4 - Virtual Open House for MS and HS

Thursday, November 11 - Remembrance Day (no school)

Friday, November 12 - Professional Learning Day (InspirEd Convention)

We will focus on our updated report cards

Mary: We’d like to give a couple of quick shoutouts to some parent listeners! (if applicable)

Final Words

Mary: Thank you for listening! We so appreciate your support. 

Tim: We’d encourage you to SUBSCRIBE so that you don’t miss a future episode, and encourage other parents to do the same! 

Mary: Contact us at any time at [email protected] or [email protected].

Tim: We’re humbled and grateful for the opportunity to serve your children each day. Have a great week, and we’ll talk to you again next weekend! Good-bye.

Mary: (If applicable) Stick around to hear bits and bytes from our wonderful middle school community. Talk to ya later!

Welcome back to our Middle School Matters podcast!

My name is Tim Cavey, and I’m the VCS Middle School vice-principal

Highlights from the week

Our first house team games in the gym on Thursday!

Friday was a professional learning day for MS teachers. We learned more about:

Positive Behaviour Interventions and Supports

VCS Student Support Services with a close look at anxiety in students

Going deeper with Christian education

New reporting frameworks and assessment practices

Upcoming Dates: 

Monday, October 18 - Missing or Retake Photos

Thursday, October 21 - Parent Teacher Conferences

Check your email for information and registration from Mrs. De Boer

Friday, October 22 - Professional Development Day for K-12

Thursday, November 4 - Virtual Open House for MS and HS

Thursday, November 11 - Remembrance Day (no school)

Friday, November 12 - Professional Learning Day (InspirEd Convention)

Mary: We’d like to give a couple of quick shoutouts to some parent listeners! (Thank you to Joanne + Winnie)

Mr. Cavey reads an article from the VCS newsletter: It’s All About the Learning: Moving to Proficiency Language in Our Assessment and Reporting Practices

Final Words

Thank you for listening! We so appreciate your support. We’d encourage you to SUBSCRIBE so that you don’t miss a future episode, and encourage other parents to do the same! Contact us at any time at [email protected] or [email protected]. We’re humbled and grateful for the opportunity to serve your children each day. Have a great week, and we’ll talk to you again next weekend! Good-bye.

Welcome back to our Middle School Matters podcast!

Land acknowledgment: We would like to begin today by acknowledging that we are gathering on the unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations, and it’s on this land that we live, work, and play.

Highlights from the week

For Teachers: An after-school book-tasting (learning about middle school philosophy, assessment, Math instruction, and restorative relationships)

National Truth and Reconciliation Day on Thursday

Upcoming Dates: 

Wednesday, October 6 - online new parent orientation

Friday, October 8 - Professional Development day for K-12

Monday, October 11 - Thanksgiving Day (no school)

Monday, October 18 - Missing or Retake Photos

Thursday, October 21 - Parent Teacher Conferences

Friday, October 22 - Professional Development Day for K-12

Thursday, November 4 - Virtual Open House for MS and HS

Last week our middle school classes were privileged to attend three days of outdoor adventuring. Our Grade 6s visited Camp Summit, our Grade 7s went rafting in Squamish, and our Grade 8s did some sailing at Jericho Beach in Vancouver. For their short reflections on these adventures, let’s go to Miss Tang in Grade 6, Miss Brandt in Grade 7, and Mrs. Prinsloo in Grade 8.

Some really great thoughts there from Miss Brandt about the meaning and significance of truth and reconciliation. We know we’ve got a lot more to do, but we’re learning.

Mary: We’d also like to give a couple of quick shoutouts to some parent listeners! We’ve received some kind encouragement from parents and that is super encouraging. (Connie and Jason Leong, Tina Chiao)

Special giveaway to listeners who give us feedback in the coming weeks

Final Words

Mary: Thank you for listening! We so appreciate your support. 

Tim: We’d encourage you to SUBSCRIBE so that you don’t miss a future episode, and encourage other parents to do the same! 

Mary: Contact us at any time at [email protected] or [email protected].

Tim: We’re humbled and grateful for the opportunity to serve your children each day. Have a great week, and we’ll talk to you again next weekend! Good-bye.

Mary: Talk to ya later!

Welcome back to our Middle School Matters podcast!

Tim: Fun news! We’re now on Apple Podcasts.

Interview with Mr. Tinsley

Highlights from the week 

Election Day and Student Vote

Grade 6 Trip: Camp Summit

Grade 7 Trip: Rafting

Grade 8 Trip: Sailing Day (today)

Picture Day

Seesaw: Thank you to all the parents who are now connected with their child’s account.

Upcoming Dates: 

September 30 - No school - National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

October 1 - Orange Shirt Day at VCS

October 6 - online new parent orientation

October 8 - Professional Development day for K-12

October 21 - Parent Teacher Conferences

We had a national election this week! For more on that story, let’s go to this short conversation with Mr. Tang.

Short Interview with Mr. Tang

Final Words

Mary: Thank you for listening! We so appreciate your support. 

Tim: We’d encourage you to SUBSCRIBE so that you don’t miss a future episode, and encourage other parents to do the same! 

Mary: Contact us at any time at [email protected] or [email protected].

Tim: We’re humbled and grateful for the opportunity to serve your children each day. Have a great week, and we’ll talk to you again next weekend! Good-bye.

Mary: Good-bye! 

For Friday, September 17th

Welcome back to our MS podcast!

Highlights from the first full week:

House Teams rally, assignment of new students, team cheers

Our first all-MS chapel

Mary: Grade 8 Sailing Day … rained out!

Related: communication via the VCS app. Teachers are asked to try to send parent communication this way. Also a good way to access the school calendar, etc.

VCS Newsletter Notes

Meet the MS Staff (slide deck)

MS Student Handbook

Link to the student absence reporting form

Seesaw

Upcoming Dates: 

September 20 - Election Day

September 21 - Grade 7 Rafting Day

September 22 - Grade 6 Camp Summit Day

September 23 - picture day

September 30 - No school - National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

October 1 - Orange Shirt Day at VCS

October 6 - online new parent orientation

October 8 - Professional Development day for K-12

Election Day + Student Vote

Grade 6s voted today, Grade 7-8 will vote on Monday

Final Words

Thank you for listening! We so appreciate your support. 

We’d encourage you to SUBSCRIBE so that you don’t miss a future episode, and encourage other parents to do the same! 

Contact us at any time at [email protected] or [email protected].

Welcome to the Middle School Matters podcast, where Principal Mary De Boer and Vice-Principal Tim Cavey discuss the latest news and information from the VCS Middle School.

Welcome back to our Middle School Matters podcast

First week of school is in the books!

How are you feeling, Mary?

Tim: Visits to classrooms make me so proud of the good things going on

Highlights from the week

Pom pom entry

Kids rebuilding friendships with classmates and teachers

Kids having more space and freedom outside

First chapel - even though this one was online

Seeing kids checking out our We Are All Learners bulletin board

Remember our grade-level adventures - coming up soon!

Grade 8 - September 17th - Sailing Day

Grade 7 - September 21st - Rafting

Grade 6 - September 22nd - Camp Summit

Other Upcoming Dates: 

September 23 - picture day

September 30, 2021 - No school - National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

October 1, 2021 Orange Shirt Day at VCS

October 6 - online new parent orientation

New VCS Attendance procedures: Fill in Google Form on the VCS website homepage

Thank you for listening! We so appreciate your support. We’d encourage you to SUBSCRIBE so that you don’t miss a future episode, and encourage other parents to do the same! Contact us at any time at [email protected] or [email protected].

Welcome to the Middle School Matters podcast, where Principal Mary De Boer and Vice-Principal Tim Cavey discuss the latest news and information from the VCS Middle School.

For Friday, September 3rd

Welcome to our MS podcast

What we’ve been doing this week

Big staff breakfast on Monday

MS staff retreat at Camp Capilano on Wednesday

Lots of team planning and meetings!

We Are All Learners bulletin board - will share with parents soon

Excited to welcome our new Grade 6 students

Mrs. DeBoer, what is one tip you would like to share with Grade 6 parents? Buckle up and get ready for the ride of adolescence! :)

Some amazing grade-level adventures are coming up soon!

Grade 8 - September 17th - Sailing Day

Grade 7 - September 21st - Rafting

Grade 6 - September 22nd - Camp Summit

Upcoming Dates: 

September 7: First day of the 2021-22 school year!

September 30, 2021 - No school - National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

October 1, 2021 Orange Shirt Day at VCS

We can’t wait to welcome students back to school on Tuesday!