Week-at-a-Glance

Upcoming Dates:   

• Friday, Sept 25 – Terry Fox Run @ 2pm
• Tuesday, Sept 29 – Orange Shirt Day/Walk for Truth and Reconciliation
• Wednesday, Sept 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
• Monday, Oct 12- Thanksgiving Monday (No School)
• Wednesday, Oct 14-Parent-Teacher Conferences (2pm Dismissal)
• Thursday, Oct 15-Parent-Teacher Conferences (2pm Dismissal)

Welcome Back!

We are excited to begin the school year with 15 divisions and approximately 355 students! 

We also have a few staffing updates to share. One of our Educational Support Workers, Ms. Chupa has retired.  We thank her for her many years of service and wish her all the best in her retirement. Ms. Upjohn, our casual Administrative Assistant, has taken another position within the district. We thank her for her support and contributions to Gibson Elementary and wish her success in her new role.

We are pleased to welcome Ms. Yeung to our Gibson family as one of our new Grade 6/7 teachers and a welcome back to Ms. Colosie, who will be joining us as a Grade 1/2 teacher. We will have a few more staffing updates to share in the coming weeks as we continue to fill positions. 

Our Staff is planning for an exciting year filled with inspiring educational experiences. We look forward to working collaboratively with families to support our learners to achieve their best!  

Building Strong School Habits:

As we start the school year, we want to reinforce all of the good habits that help build success at school. Being present, on time and ready to learn are key elements for learning. Please work with your child to ensure they arrive at school by 8:55am to settle and be ready to start as the school day begins. Arriving late can cause stress while also disrupting the day for both your child and other students. Thank you for your support!

 Dressing for the Weather:

Unless there is extreme weather, our students will be heading outside for recess and lunch throughout the school year. Fresh air and movement allow for a better afternoon of learning. So please ensure your child is prepared for all weather conditions (boots, gloves, toques, umbrellas, etc.) as well as having an extra change of clothes at school, if needed. Those puddles are really hard to resist sometimes! 

Medication at School 

If your child has any serious allergies or medical conditions, and/or needs to have access to medication such as an inhaler or epipen at school, there is a form that needs to be completed each year.  Please contact our school at 604-594-7588 or gibson.elem@deltaschools.ca  

Restricting cellphone usage in schools 

Please be reminded that restrictions on the use of cellphones and other personal digital devices came into effect on July 1, 2024. You can read the letter here: https://district.deltasd335.upanupstage.com/wp-content/ uploads/sites/2/2024/06/DS-Letter-home-Personal-Digital Devices-June-20-2024.pdf For more information and frequently asked questions, please also visit: • Elementary school restrictions  

Parking & Traffic Safety at Gibson

Parents and caregivers play an important role in keeping our students safe during drop-off and pick-up. We appreciate your help with the following:

• Staff Parking Lot: Please do not park in or enter the staff parking lot between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. This area is reserved for staff, school buses, and licensed daycare providers with parking permits. Keeping the lot clear of parent vehicles and pedestrians helps reduce congestion and supports student safety.
• Roundabout: Please do not enter the school roundabout. This area is reserved for staff, school buses, and licensed daycare providers with parking permits.
• Driveway: Please do not stop or park in front of the school driveway, including to drop off or pick up students. Stopping in this area creates a serious safety hazard, blocks traffic flow, and can restrict access for emergency and service vehicles.
• U-Turns: Please do not make U-turns on any street near the school. U-turns are extremely unsafe, particularly during busy drop-off and pick-up times.
• Crossing Guards: Please follow the directions of our crossing guards. They are there to help manage traffic and ensure students and families can cross safely.

Thank you for helping us keep arrival and dismissal times safe, organized, and positive for everyone in our Gibson community!

Walk, Bike, or Wheel to School!

Whenever possible, we encourage students and families to walk, bike, or wheel to school. It helps reduce traffic around the school and is a great way to stay active. 

For everyone’s safety, please remember to walk bikes and scooters while on school property. Students and family members should not ride bikes or scooters on school grounds. Riding should only begin once you have left the school property. 

Electric kick scooters should not be used by students travelling to school or while on the school grounds. Despite their popularity in our province, electric kick scooters remain illegal for use on public roads, bike lanes and sidewalks across most of B.C. Individuals under 16 are not permitted to operate electric kick scooters. If a student arrives at school on an electric scooter, it will be stored in the office and must be picked up by a parent or guardian. 

 Thank you for helping us keep our school community safe. 

 Financial Hardship

The District is committed to ensuring that no student of school age will be denied an educational program due to financial hardship and that charges will not be a barrier to student participation in school activities. At this time, we are requesting that families reach out to [name of principal, principal email] if you are in need of assistance with school supplies, fees or other school-related costs.  As always, all requests will be treated with dignity and your privacy will be respected. We want to work with our families to ensure that our students, your children, have everything they need in order to be successful at school. Please do not hesitate to reach out if we can help.

Information for Kindergarten Parents 

We are excited to welcome our Kindergarten students and their families to our Gibson community! The Delta School District has prepared a series of short videos and handouts to support families in preparing for Kindergarten. Please see the link below for some helpful suggestions and resources! https://district.deltasd335.upanupstage.com/preparing-for-kindergarten/

Information from Fraser Health

Healthy Back to School Guide Fraser Health has created a Healthy Back to School Guide containing information on back-to-school anxiety, nutrition, safe travel to and from school, sleep, and immunizations. Please click the link below for more information.

https://www.fraserhealth.ca/health-topics-a-to-z/ school-health/your-healthy-back-to-school-guide#top

School Vaccination Information For Kindergarten – Grade 5:

• Check your child’s immunization record by Logging in to Health Gateway.
• Get immunized: If your child is missing any vaccine, book an appointment with public health or check with your local pharmacist, family doctor, or nurse practitioner.
• Report your immunizations: If vaccines your child has received aren’t on their public health record, get a copy from your provider and upload it at https:// www.fraserhealth.ca/health-topics-a-to-z/immunizations/reporting-immunizations. Records can be submitted in any language.

For Grades 6 – 12:

• Fraser Health offers routine vaccines at schools to students in Grades 6 and 9.
• New this year: families can check their child’s immunization records and provide consent for school immunizations online.

For more information, click here  https://district.deltasd335.upanupstage.com/wp-content/uploads/ sites/2/2026/09/FH-Digital-Consent-Letter-Start-of-School-Year.pdf