November 8, 2024

Dear St'a7mes Families,

I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to share some highlights from this week and provide a few important reminders.

First, I’m pleased to report that our students and staff had a wonderful experience with Squamish/Haida storyteller Kung Jadee. She was truly impressed with the warm welcome put on by our Indigenous leadership students. From greeting her at the door to offering drumming and singing, our students demonstrated such pride in their heritage and culture. As a thank you, our leadership students also gifted Kung Jadee, which was a beautiful gesture. It was a meaningful experience for all, and we are grateful for the opportunity to learn from such an accomplished storyteller.

In addition, I would like to extend my thanks to all the staff and students who contributed to our Remembrance Day ceremony. A special thank you to Darryl McCullough for sharing his powerful words with us, and for helping to make the ceremony even more meaningful.

As a reminder, there will be no school on Monday, November 11th in observance of Remembrance Day. On Tuesday, November 12th, we will have early dismissal at 12:00 pm. Please note that there will be a bus available for students who normally take the bus home.

I would also like to take this opportunity to remind families of the importance of consistent attendance. We understand that illness and other circumstances can sometimes prevent students from coming to school, but when possible, regular attendance helps ensure that your child stays on track with their learning. If your child is unable to attend, please be sure to contact the school so we can stay informed.

A reminder that we will be hosting a hybrid (in person and online) PAC meeting on November 13th at 6pm. You are welcome to join either in person or online. If you would like to join online please click this link. Please note if you are joining via a phone you will need to download the Microsoft Teams application (you will be prompted to download when you click the link). You will also need to enter the meeting code (235 027 038) as well as the passcode (uqStYJ). If you need additional information on how to access a Teams meeting please click here. 

Finally, please join me in lifting up and acknowledging the following students who exemplified our school values this week: 

Oma - Oma showed timit this week by working hard and persevering with her learning. 

Maxton - Maxton showed wanáxws by carrying himself in a good way and by treating others with respect and kindness. 

Miles - Miles showed chén̓chenstway by actively volunteering in our K-3 class and by lifting up others. 

Thank you for your continued support, and I hope everyone enjoys the long weekend.

Take care, 

Cory Hartling

Principal, Sta’7mes School

COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CARE

Preparations for the annual Squamish Community Christmas Care are underway. If you would like to apply to receive a Christmas Hamper, application forms must be submitted by November 15th. You can find application forms here or you can pick up a paper copy at the school office.

If you would like to donate to Community Christmas Care, please bring donations to the school by Wednesday, December 4th. This year they are accepting New Toys, Gift Cards or cash donations that can be e-transferred to [email protected].