Chief Tomat Elementary Community Connection 

January 23, 2026

Important Upcoming Dates at Chief Tomat - see further down for more details

Please see the CTE website for a calendar of events

• Mon. Jan. 26 - Fri. Jan. 30 - LITERACY WEEK!!  - See below for Literacy Spirit Days!

• Tues. Jan. 27 - PAC meeting in the library at 6:30

• Thurs. Jan. 29 - Winter Gathering for Indigenous Students in grade 3

• Fri. Jan. 30 - PAC Hot Dog day **Orders due by Mon. Jan. 26**

• Feb. 2 - Registration for Enrollment opens at 7:00 am for NEW STUDENTS. Students already attending CTE do not need to re-register. Grade 5s going to CNB will automatically be rolled over and there is no need to register.

• Thurs. Feb. 5 - District Strategic Plan Public Engagement Session - MBSS Foyer 6:00 - 9:00 (see below for more details)

• Thurs. Feb. 5 and Fri. Feb. 6 - FAMILY CONFERENCES;  early dismissal both days at 12:30.  The online conference scheduler will open January 27th.

** Please return Learning Update envelopes as soon as possible so that we can reuse them, saving money and the earth!**

**  NEW!!:  Dance club Tuesday and Friday at little recess to learn the dance for the CTE Wolverine Song and Music Video!!**

Intramural Schedule (Grades 4 and 5) - Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

Lego Club:  Grade 2/3 - Tuesdays   Grade 4/5 - Thursdays

Gaga Ball Schedule:  Monday - Gr. 1 Tuesday - Gr. 5 Wednesday - Gr. 4 Thursday - Gr. 3 Friday - Gr. 2

Playground Schedule: Monday - Gr. 2/3 Tuesday - Gr. K/1 Wednesday - Gr. 2/3 Thursday - Gr. 4/5 Friday - Gr. K/1

STEM bins: almost daily (2 students per class) in the upstairs Cub Hub

Highlights from this Week at CTE...

• Through support from the Indigenous Education Team, students in the Grades 4 and 5 classes receive weekly nsyilxcən lessons taught by Westbank First Nation member and lead of the Early Years Table, Kim Kosik. These learning opportunities are an important part of strengthening students’ connection to the land, culture, and stories of the Syilx Okanagan peoples whose territory we learn and live on. We hope families will practice new words and phrases with students at home, helping language learning become a shared and meaningful experience. Why nsyilxcən language learning matters:  “Language is the heart of culture. When we speak our language, we honour the land, the ancestors, and the future generations who will carry these teachings forward.” Learning local language supports cultural understanding, strengthens identity, and encourages students to walk respectfully with the teachings of this place. This is one of many ways we are working towards the 94 Calls to Action for Truth and Reconciliation, as well as our district's Equity in Action Agreement.

• Buddy Reading in Grade 1 and Kindergarten! Ms. Onespot's students were great big buddies to the Kindergarten students showing the kindergarten students how to read, sound out words and use their fingers to track.

Strategic Plan: Public Engagement Sessions 

Your Voice Matters: Our refreshed Strategic Plan aims to co‑create an irresistible future—anchored in equity and excellence in learning, transformative leadership, authentic family & community engagement, and system wellbeing. Your insights from classrooms, schools, and departments will shape priorities, indicators, and the implementation roadmap the Board will consider by June 2026

Over January and February, staff, leaders, students, families, and partners are invited to help imagine the future for our students. Your participation matters—please attend, encourage colleagues, and invite families.

• Thu, January 8, 2026 (6:00–9:00 p.m.) — COPAC-focused session

  • Location: LC Meeting Room 355

• Thu, January 22, 2026 (6:00–9:00 p.m.) Rutland Senior Secondary School

  • Location: RSS Foyer

• Mon, January 26, 2026 (6:00–9:00 p.m.) George Elliot Secondary School

  • Location: GESS Library

• Thu, February 5, 2026 (6:00–9:00 p.m.) Mount Boucherie Secondary School

  • Location: MBSS Foyer

• Tue, February 10, 2026 (6:00–9:00 p.m.) Kelowna Secondary School

  • Location: KSS MPR

• Tue, February 17, 2026 (6:00–9:00 p.m.) Okanagan Mission Secondary School

  • Location: OKM MPR

Internal alignment sessions with district leaders also continue to ensure we bring coherent, evidence‑informed proposals to the public engagements. 

Parents Advisory Council (PAC) 

All parents and caregivers are on the PAC and invited to the next PAC meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 27 in the library at 6:30. We hope to see you there!

Parent Advisory Council (PAC) - 

Get Involved with the CTE Community!

PAC is the acronym for the Parents' Advisory Council. Each parent/caregiver at Chief Tomat Elementary is a member of the CTE PAC. The PAC offers a great way for parents/caregivers to be involved with the school, their children, and the student body. The PAC helps the school with a variety of activities, volunteer opportunities and input.

There are a number of ways to connect with the PAC  - including the PAC linktree which has links to current events including fundraisers, volunteer sign up sheets as well as all our social media platforms.  

 https://linktr.ee/chieftomatelementarypac

We encourage everyone to attend monthly meetings to get up to date information on what is happening around the school and give input on how PAC funds are spent. Please check the school website and Weekly Community Connections Newsletters for meeting dates and times.

The Central Okanagan Public Schools’ Financial Hardship Clause

Within Board Policy Regulation 425R – Student Fees (www.sd23.bc.ca), the Board of Education has indicated “that a student will not be excluded from any educational program due to financial hardship”. This clause in the Regulations provides for the private and confidential consideration of financial circumstances of individual students and families, while preserving the dignity of families which may be unable to pay. Please contact the school Principal if you are facing a financial hardship that may restrict the ability of your child to access a school program.

The Central Okanagan Public Schools’ Appeal Process

Policy 460 – Appeals states that “A student or a parent of a student who is entitled to an educational program in the Central Okanagan Public Schools may appeal a decision of an employee of the Board of Education which significantly affects the education, health, or safety of the student”. For a complete description of the Appeals Policy along with the recommended steps to follow in attempting to solve a problem, please refer to Policy 460 – Appeals that can be accessed from the Policies link under the Board of Education heading on the Central Okanagan Public Schools homepage at www.sd23.bc.ca.

Accident Insurance

“Central Okanagan Public Schools does not insure expenses for student injuries that occur on school grounds or during school activities. Parents and guardians can voluntarily purchase private accident insurance. Student Accident Insurance by StudyInsured is a voluntary plan that provides coverage for students and their families against accidental injury, unexpected medical expenses, and critical illness. To apply for the Plan or to find out more, click here”

Sanctuary Schools

The Central Okanagan School District's Sanctuary Schools Policy : Board Policy 421 – Sanctuary Schools upholds the Board's commitment to providing educational opportunities for all students who are ordinarily residents in the Central Okanagan, including those with precarious immigration status or no immigration status. Student registrations that pertain to Policy 421 – Sanctuary Schools will be processed through the Welcome Centre.