Coyote Connections

École George Elliot Secondary School Family Newsletter

May 1, 2026

Learning Updates posted to MyEd Portals at the end of today - MyEd

View our school calendar at https://ges.sd23.bc.ca/calendar-main

This week at GESS: May 4 - 8

May 4 - Monday/lundi
C/D

Mental Health Week - colouring sheets to colour your stress out
Band Trip (May 4 - 8)
May the Fourth be with you
Metal Monday - wear you favourite band shirt

May 5 - Tuesday/mardi
A/B

Mental Health Week - wear neon
Red Dress Day - Immersive Gallery Room created by students to honour MMIWG2S
B Block in Room 127

May 6 - Wed/mercredi
C/D

Mental Health Week - wear green
Learning Lounge: ALL SUBJECT academic peer support @ lunch in room 136

May 7 - Thursday/jeudi
A/B

Mental Health Week - wear mismatched
Indigenous Grad Retreat
Experience OC Day

May 8 - Friday/vendredi
C/D

Mental Health Week - dress like an emotion from the movie Inside Out for end of the day pop-up just dance
Indigenous Youth Summit
Pizza Friday $2/slice🍕

Coming Soon!/à venir

May 11
- PAC Meeting 6:30pm in the library
May 12
- Grad 2027 - current grade 11 parent meeting at 6pm in the library
- Grad 2026 - current grade 12 parent meeting at 7pm in the library
May 13
- Student Learning Council Meeting at lunch in the Library
May 14
- Grade 12 Capstone (Grade 11's observing)
- Early Dismissal for all students @ 11:45 am buses will run accordingly
May 15
- Wellness Clinic in the am
May 18
- Victoria Day Holiday (No School)

Prom Tickets on Sale - May 4 - 15

The George Elliot Parent Prom Committee has been working hard to plan and organize a memorable prom evening for our graduating students. Tickets for prom go on sale on Monday, May 4 to Friday, May 15. Tickets for this year's prom are $95 each, and they will be available for purchase on schoolcashonline.com. If after logging on to schoolcash, you do not see a prom ticket for sale, please be sure that:

your student is a "grad in good standing' in that they are on-track to have enough credits for graduation;
students outstanding school fees must be paid schoolcashonline.com;
students must have returned any overdue library or text books.

Please direct any questions about graduation credits and school fees to your child's vice principal, Mr. Mayer or Mrs. Hall, and contact the school library with questions about overdue books. Your child's vice principal can also help with questions about financial hardship.

The price for prom tickets varies from year to year and is largely dependent on the amount of fundraising done by students and families. When we compare this year's prom ticket price to area schools who are hosting similar events, the George Elliot prom ticket price is cheaper.

Leave Your Tracks Day

Tuesday was “Leave Your Tracks Day” for the TRACKS mentorship program. The grade 12s and their grade 8 middle school mentees gave back to the community in pretty wonderful ways. Some of them helped out at the food bank, some of them visited the seniors, some of them delivered care kits to the hospital, some of them cleaned up the rail trail. They have grown into a very special cross-school community.

Grade 9 Parents!

Thank you for your support during the Grade 9 Immunization Clinic. We appreciate you taking the time to complete consent forms, discuss immunizations with your child, and support them through the process. The kids all did incredibly well during the clinic!

If your child missed the clinic or if they want to discuss immunizations with a nurse we will be at the school May 1, May 15 and June 5 from 9-11:45am in the counselling room. Please stop by!

If you have any questions please contact the Lake Country Health Unit at 250-980-6111.

Thank you again for your continued support.

Lake Country Public Health

Young artists in grades 9-12 from across the Central Okanagan School District were invited to participate in the 40th annual Art in Action student exhibition. This year the exhibition is inspired by the theme Kaleidoscope.

The word “kaleidoscope” can symbolize change, transformation, and perspective, representing how life’s experiences—both good and bad—can be reframed to create new patterns and meanings. A kaleidoscope represents creativity, diversity, beauty, inner complexity, and the interconnectedness of individual parts creating a whole. A small shift in one’s viewpoint can completely alter the overall picture.

Nearly 100 works of art exhibited here will create a kaleidoscope of perspectives for all to view.

Art by Andi

Art by Morgan

GESS was grateful and honoured to welcome
Elder Randy Swanson in circle with our students to share stories, teachings, and cultural knowledge about powwow as part of our Indigenous Speaker Series.

GRAD ANNOUNCEMENTS

LAKE COUNTRY BOTTLE DEPOT FUNDRAISER:

Have refundables? Donate them to the ‘GESS GRAD’ account at the Lake Country Bottle Depot. There’s no need to sort them! Proceeds go towards prom for this year’s grad class.

IMPORTANT - GRAD FORMS REMINDER:

There are a number of important and time-sensitive forms grads must fill out. Visit the ‘CLP GRAD 2026’ Google Classroom to find forms pertaining to the following:

Grad Write-Up
Dietary Restrictions Form (for Prom)
“Most likely to...” Form

Grads are encouraged to complete these forms ASAP. If there are any questions, please connect with Ms. Johnson in rm. 301, or via email.

Please visit the grad website for more details on grad events and general grad information.

Grade 9 & 11 Students Can Earn $30 in Gift Cards Through Research Study

In our April 17 Coyote Connection newsletter, we shared some exciting news about the new outdoor learning space being built behind our school. As part of this project, Grade 9 and Grade 11 students have an opportunity to take part in a research study led in partnership with the University of Victoria and the BC Parks Foundation.

The study is looking at how having access to nature on school grounds can support student and staff well‑being, learning, and overall connection to the environment. The research team is interested in learning how this new space makes a difference for our school community over time.

In the next few days, parents and guardians of Grade 9 and 11 GESS students will receive an email asking for consent for their child to take part in an optional online survey. Students who participate can earn up to $30 per year in gift cards, including options like Starbucks, Tim Hortons, and more.

Please keep an eye on your inbox for the consent email, and thank you for supporting this exciting opportunity!

Capstone Day at George Elliot Secondary: May 14

GESS will be hosting its annual Capstone presentations during the afternoon of May 14. The Capstone is an important graduation requirement designed to give students an opportunity to demonstrate their learning, passions, and post-graduation goals through a meaningful culminating project.

Please note the following details for the day:

11:45 a.m. early dismissal for all students.
Grades 9 and 10 students do not attend in the afternoon.
Grade 12 students will return to school only for their scheduled Capstone presentation appointment and are dismissed once their presentation is complete.
Grade 11 students will attend their booked observation times to learn what to expect during their graduation year. They are dismissed after their observations session(s).

On April 1, further information will be sent home to Gr. 11 and 12 students and families about the Capstone process, including timelines regarding sign-up. If you have questions, please contact the GESS Career Centre.

Paying School Fees Made Easy with School Cash Online

We use School Cash Online to make paying school fees quick and easy for families. It’s a safe, simple way to take care of payments without having to send cash or cheques to school.

With School Cash Online, you can:

Pay for school fees, field trips, athletics, and Grad fees
Get email reminders so you don’t miss a deadline
Pay anytime, anywhere
Keep track of all your payments in one spot

To get started, head to schoolcashonline.com, create an account, and select our school to connect your child(ren). If you already have an account, follow the link to logon.

If you need help setting things up or have questions, feel free to contact the school office. We’re here to help.

Moving?

As we begin planning for the upcoming school year, we ask families to please let the school office know if you anticipate moving or if your child will not be returning to our school next year. Having this information helps us with class organization and staffing and supports a smooth start for everyone in September.

Thank you very much for taking a moment to share your plans with us. We truly appreciate your help.

If you have any updates to share, please contact the school office at 250‑870‑5102 or email ges@sd23.bc.ca.

Financial Assistant for Athletes Through KidSport BC

Did you know that KidSport BC helps kids and youth play organized sports when cost might otherwise be a barrier? Through this program, families can get help with registration fees, so every child has the chance to join in, have fun, and enjoy the benefits of being active.

Sports are a great way for kids to build confidence, make friends, and stay healthy—and no child should miss out because of finances. If your family could use a little extra support, or if you know someone who might, we encourage you to check out this great program.

Learn more or apply anytime at www.kidsportcanada.ca/british-columbia.

City of Kelowna Summer Camp Registration
Looking for fun and engaging activities for your child this summer? The City of Kelowna’s summer camps are open on April 23rd for registration! Camps run throughout July and August for children ages 3–15 and include full-day, half-day, and partial-day options. This year’s lineup features a wide variety of themes such as sports, cooking, art, drama, and more—plus new cooking and leadership camps. Learn more and explore the full 2026 Summer Camps Guide at kelowna.ca/recreation.

Click here to register as a volunteer.

Did you know our school is part of a Scent Aware environment? That means we kindly ask students, staff, and visitors to avoid wearing scented products like perfumes, colognes, body sprays, and strong-smelling lotions when coming to school, riding the bus, or joining their class on a field trip.

Why is this important?

Some members of our school community have sensitivities to scents, which can cause headaches, breathing issues, or allergic reactions. By going scent-free, we help make sure everyone feels comfortable and safe at school.

What can you do to help?

Choose unscented personal care products when getting ready for school.
Skip the perfume or cologne for school days.
Remind your child about the importance of keeping our school scent-safe.

Thanks for helping us create a welcoming and healthy space for all!

Prom Celebration Photo by Kier in Sight Archives on Unsplash

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