IMPORTANT DATES
Embedded Files
SEP 3 First Day for Students (Doors open 8:20 Gr. 1 to 6; 9:20 for Kindergarten)
SEP 11 Curriculum Night
SEP 22 Lifetouch Photos
SEP 25 Terry Fox Walk
SEP 26 The Edge String Quartet PM
SEP 30 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - Orange Shirt Day
OCT 5 Fire Prevention Week
OCT 8 Walk to Breakfast
OCT 10 PL DAY (Tentative)
OCT 13 Thanksgiving Holiday
OCT 31 Halloween
NOV 10 - 11 Remembrance Day / Fall Break
NOV 28 End of Term 1
DEC 3 Report Cards Issued
DEC 4 Family-Teacher Conferences
DEC 20 - JAN 4 Christmas Break
(other dates to be added on our webpage when available)
OUR MISSION
At Vanier Elementary School, we are
committed to fostering lifelong learning in an atmosphere of caring and mutual respect, which encourages personal achievement and development, and promotes a sense of responsibility to society and the world.
OUR VISION
Learning, sharing, growing—preparing for the future | En apprenant, en
partageant, en
grandissant—on se prépare pour l’avenir
Vanier Sea Star Song
I am a Sea Star
At Vanier
I follow our matrix
Each and every day.
In the bathroom, the hallway,
At gym and music too,
Playground and classroom,
Respect for me and you.
I am RESPONSIBLE.
And KIND you’ll see,
RESPECTFUL and POSITIVE,
And practise SAFETY.
And then I am proud
When I look up and see,
I earned a Sea Star
I'm the Best I Can Be!
Welcome to the 2025-26 School Year! Bienvenue!
Welcome to the 2025-26 School Year! Bienvenue!
Welcome to all our Vanier Families! Whether you are new to Vanier or continuing your journey here, we extend the warmest of welcomes and look forward to our year together.
The Vanier Voice Newsletter will go out monthly. Please read carefully as we include important dates and news from our school. Please check our website often as well - it is updated with new information on a regular basis.
A list of our staff members/classes can be found under the 'About Us' tab here.
Please reach out to your child's teacher if you have questions. It is our aim to respond to you within a 24 hour period where possible during the weekdays. Please understand that during the school day, teachers do not always have time to check email and so if there is an urgent message please call the office.
Our Curriculum and Connections Night will be held on Thursday, September 11, 4-6 at 6:30 and K-3 at 7:00.
Staffing Changes
Staffing Changes
The following staff members are new to our school or have changed their role- please help us in welcoming and congratulating them!
Mme Shannon Greene - Kindergarten French Immersion
Ms. Sarah Harnum - Instructional Resource Teacher
Ms. Taybeh Sohrabi - English as an Additional Language
Ms. Carolyn Strowbridge - Student Assistant
Ms. Enass Lemheshi - Teaching and Learning Assistant
Mme Ashleigh Hudson, Grade Four French Immersion
Mr. Darren Reardon - Department Head, Special Services
Ms. Wendy Koh, Returning as Student Assistant
Ms. Girlie Sungcang, Returning as Student Assistant
Holly Vaters, Intern 4E
Joey Champdoizeau, Intern 6F (October)
Kyle Vaters, Intern (October)
Arrival and Dismissal
Arrival and Dismissal
Doors will open daily at 8:20; classes begin at 8:30. Attendance and punctuality are very important and we ask for your cooperation in having students in our building and in class on time. Young children thrive with regular, predictable routines. We appreciate your cooperation in supporting your child(ren)'s strong start to the dayl. Students who are late need to check at the office so that attendance is correctly entered, as we are using a system, Smart Arrival, which alerts us and families if a child is absent and not excused.
Bus students and all Gr. 1-6 enter at the main doors on Ennis Avenue at 8:20.
For dismissal at 2:35, we follow the routine below:
● Bus students are led to the bus by a staff member
● Kindergarten - Door is off the parking lot by the multicoloured fence
● Grade 1 and 2 - Central door facing Ennis Avenue
● Grade 3 Classes - Front North Door towards Playground
● Grade 4 Classes - Back North Door
● Grades 5 and 6 - Central door, back of building
Daily Schedule
Daily Schedule
8:20 - Arrival
8:30 - Announcements; Class begins
10:00 - 10:15 Recess
11:45 - 12:35 Lunch
2:35 - Dismissal
RYCOR Payment System and Online Forms
RYCOR Payment System and Online Forms
Rycor is an online system. It enables you to complete forms for school electronically (e.g. permission forms, etc.). You will also be able to make payments online. Please go to this link and set up an account, if you have not already done so. Applicable forms for this school year will be ready this week (Media Consent Form, Acceptable Use of Technology Form and Core Digital Tools Forms) and can be found on your Rycor Account. You can access Rycor at this link: https://www.nlschools.ca/studentsfamilies/rycor.jsp . If you have a child in 7-12 in addition to your K-6 child, please be sure to select the 3rd option on the page to keep your children on the same account.
Allergy Alert
Allergy Alert
We will advise of any changes, however our current list includes:
● FISH ● PEANUTS/TREE NUTS ● SCENTS ● SESAME SEEDS
Please do not send these items to school.
Also, please note that Wow Butter is not permitted. If your child is diagnosed with an allergy or any medical condition during the school year, please let us know.
Safe Arrival
Safe Arrival
We track attendance and ensure students have arrived safely to school using Safe Arrival. You are asked to report your child’s absence in advance using any of these 3 convenient methods:
1. Using your mobile device, download and install the SchoolMessenger app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store (or from the links at go.schoolmessenger.ca). The first time you use the app, select Sign Up to create your account. Select Attendance then Report an Absence.
2. Use the SafeArrival Website . The first time you use the website, select Sign Up to create your account. Select Attendance then Report an Absence.
3. Call the toll-free number (844) 408-9360 to report an absence using the automated phone system.
These options are available 24 hours/day, 7 days a week. Absences can be reported in advance at any time.
In addition, we use SchoolMessenger Communicate to contact parents when an absence is not reported in advance. This ensures that you are aware of where your child is (e.g. for example, if they left home to walk to school, but did not arrive). The automated notification system will attempt to contact parents at multiple contact points until a reason is submitted for the absence. If our system is unable to reach the designated contacts, office staff will follow up. If you report your child’s absence in advance using the SafeArrival toll-free number, website or mobile app, you will NOT receive these notifications.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ITEMS
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ITEMS
eNLightenED
eNLightenED
EECD now has a curriculum port , eNLightenED which can be accessed at https://enlightened.gov.nl.ca/ords/r/clcc/public/home. This is in the process of being populated with curriculum guides and other policy documents for our school programs.
Vanier Student Handbook
Vanier Student Handbook
Our Student Handbook outlines important expectations and routines at Vanier and will be shared with you via email. For classes using agendas this year, it can be found at the front of the agenda. It is also available online on our website. Please be sure to review the Handbook with your child. Teachers will also be reinforcing these expectations throughout the year.
Demographic Information / Student Data Sheets and Unexpected School Closures
Demographic Information / Student Data Sheets and Unexpected School Closures
Blank Student Data Sheets will be sent home. Please complete and return these data sheets, highlighting any changes that are required. Unexpected school closures or illness can happen any time of year, so this information is important for us to be able to contact you if necessary . We will post on our Bluesky Feed, on our website, and use our mass email system to alert you if an unexpected school closure occurs.
Outdoor Time
Outdoor Time
We believe in fresh air and movement and the impact these have on learning. Teachers take their students outside on a regular basis, and we also go outside at lunch hour when we can. Please ensure your child is ready to go outside regardless of the weather, every day. They should have separate footwear for indoors and outdoors.
Contact During the School Day
Contact During the School Day
If you need to pick up your child or drop off an item during the school day, please ring the office doorbell.
Please do not drop off fast food at school (e.g. MacDonald's, etc.) at school. This does not align with the Provincial School Food Guidelines. If you would like your child to have a fast food lunch, we ask that you pick up your child and take them out to eat, or they will be asked to eat it at the office before going upstairs. Thank you for your understanding.
Students should not be calling home directly using personal cell phones, but should only make contact through their teacher or the Office.
Please ensure afterschool arrangements are made ahead of time and that the teacher is aware. We cannot interrupt classes to advise students of changes in afterschool arrangements, and changes to dismissal plans late in the day can cause confusion for busses and students.
Cell Phones
Cell Phones
Cell phones are not permitted in the classroom unless teachers have given permission to use a personal device for a specific learning activity. It is advised to keep cell phones and other personal devices at home.
Good News!
Good News!
We were fortunate to receive two special grants this summer! We received $3500 in a Whole Foods Garden Grant! We also received $6564 in an Active NL Grant! A BIG thank you to everyone who assisted in the applications for these grants, and to Ms. Emily Doyle and Ms. Debbie Shortall for all your work and leadership!
Congratulations, Former Students!
Congratulations, Former Students!
Congratulations to our Former Students who competed in the Canada Games, 2025! Vanier is proud of you and you inspire us to be the best we can be!
Amelia Bazeley, Athletics
Matthew Earle, Athletics
Alex McGrath, Baseball
James Piercey, Baseball
We also recognize local media personality Seth Hyde who did play-by-play for several sports and is a former student.
Congratulations to Debbie and Dave Shortall!
Congratulations to Debbie and Dave Shortall!
Ms. Shortall (Physical Education Teacher) and her husband Dave were honoured with the Paul Flaherty Volunteer Award, which is given to an outstanding Host Society volunteer. Congratulations!
Many teachers and staff members volunteered their time to the Canada Games.
Special shout out to Mme Line Daly who contributed much of her time and efforts at the Games!
School Council News
School Council News
Our School Council meets regularly throughout the school year and plans special activities, assists in fundraising and purchasing items for the school, advises staff on various issues, supports and contributes to our schoold development, and liaises with our school community.
We would like to thank all members who have served on our School Council and will advise during the month of October on membership and possible election.
A very special thank you to our Chair, Ms. Heather Tobin, who has led our Council with great energy and passion over the past three years! We also thank on behalf of our school community Melissa Hogan, Shaina Jacob, Suzanne Orsborn, Stephen Pope, Hugh Keenan and Adrien Doucet for all their efforts and support over the past year.
Ennis Avenue, Bussing and Parking Lot
Ennis Avenue, Bussing and Parking Lot
Thank you to everyone for your assistance with our new bus routes! Please note, there is a Parent Portal at https://nlschools.mybusplanner.ca/ which provides you with information regarding your route, times, etc. You will need to set up an account for the portal.
Any families who are not eligible to ride the bus but would like to apply for Courtesy Seating must complete the Courtesy Seating Request Form on Rycor by September 12, and decisions on courtesy seating will be made by the end of the month.
Please take note of our Parking Lot layout below. Any time you enter our lot, please keep to the right and do the loop.
At this time, we do not have a Crossing Guard on Ennis Avenue, as our new guard is currently training to take over this location. Please be mindful of their direction.
Security Cameras In Use
Security Cameras In Use
We are required to advise all in our school community that in compliance with Policy OPER - 600, SECURITY CAMERAS ARE IN USE ON OUR SCHOOL GROUNDS. The policy related to use of security cameras on school grounds can be consulted here.
Have a great school year!
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