Prospect Lake Elementary School PAC

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

• Monday March 20 thru Friday March 31: Spring Break – School NOT in Session

• Monday April 3: Drop Off & Pick Up Resumes at the School
• Friday April 7: Good Friday – School NOT in Session

• Monday April 10: Easter Monday – School NOT in Session
• Friday April 14: Hot Lunch Orders Due
• Sunday April 16: Bottle Drive

• Thursday April 20: Parent Appreciation Event, more details TBA
• Friday April 21: Subway Hot Lunch

• Tuesday April 25: PAC Meeting
• Thursday April 27: COPACS Meeting & AGM ** New Date **

IMPORTANT UPDATE: SCHOOL PARKING, DROP OFF / PICK UP, AND MORE…

Shuttle Service

• The shuttle service to and from the Prospect Lake Community Hall to our school will cease as of the end of the day on Friday March 17, 2023.  Thank you to everyone for your patience and support throughout this process.

Parking at the School

• The LOWER PARKING LOT has been completed and ready for use as of Monday April 3, 2023.  This parking lot will be for visitor parking.  Currently there are no painted lines in this lot.  Parking should occur perpendicularly around the border of the lot, no parking in the middle please.  A lit walking path up to the school is available from the lot.

• The parking lot at the school is for staff only.  Please do not pass the cones in the horseshoe part of the lot.  This area is for staff parking only and is the fire lane.  Additionally, please keep the two accessibility spaces open for those with mobility needs.

• If you need to pick up your child during the day, please park in the lower lot or an alternative place and come meet them in person at the office.

Alternate Places to Park

• Parking is available at the Prospect Lake Community Hall or at Whitehead Park.  

• There are designated street parking spaces on Prospect Lake Road in front of the school, as well as on Sparton Road near Mosi and the Save On Gas Station.

Drop Off & Pick Up

• Drive thru drop off and pick up will commence on Monday April 3, 2023, at the school.  Extra staff will be on hand to ensure a smooth transition. 

• Adults, please remain in your vehicle as we want to keep traffic moving efficiently so that we do not block egress on the main road.  If you have a child that is unable to unbuckle on their own, please park in the lower lot and walk them up to the school.

Drop Off: Please drive up to an adult supervisor to have your child exit the car on the passenger side only. Please wait until your car is at the front of the line before having your child exit. 

Pick Up: Please ensure your child knows if you will pick them up via the drive thru and have them meet in the undercover area.  Adults, please pull up to the supervising adult and your child will be ushered to your vehicle.  Children must enter your vehicle on the passenger side only.

Playground Supervision

• Playground supervision is available before school from 8:20-8:35am, and after school from 2:48-3:02pm.

Questions?

• Please contact either Sara Salemink, Principal, at: ssalemink@saanichschool.ca, or Sat Lail, Vice Principal, at: slail@saanichschools.ca

LOST & FOUND ITEMS

Is your child missing a jacket?  Did only one boot make its way home?  Time to check the school’s lost and found!  All lost and found items will be put out in the undercover area before and after school April 3rd - 6th. Any remaining items after that point will be donated. 

PAWS PICKS CLUB USED BOOK SALE

Spring Cleaning? We would love your books!

The PAWS Picks Club is collecting used books after Spring Break for our Annual Used Book Sale. We will be collecting all Children's Books: Early Readers, Board Books, Picture Books and Chapter Books (please note, we are not collecting adult books this year). We appreciate anything you are willing to donate. This is a highlight for students as every child will go home with a book and it allows the students to expand their personal library (for a very reasonable price!) and to support our school library. 

Please drop off any children’s book donations to the office or send with your child to school after Spring Break. 

BOTTLE DRIVE

On Sunday April 16th, we are having a bottle drive and we need your help!  If you're able to donate a few hours of your time, volunteer sign up is now available (first come, first serve for time choices!).  We also encourage you to save your empty beverage containers (milk, non-alcoholic and alcoholic).  Please share this message with your family, friends and colleagues and ask if they would save their empties too!  We thank you in advance for your support!  All funds raised go back to our students and providing them with educational enrichment.

COPACS PARENT EDUCATION EVENTS

The COPACS Parent/Guardian Resource Committee is pleased to bring you Gaming Concerns, Balance, Addiction & Opportunities with The White Hatter, an internet safety and digital literacy education specialist.

HOST FAMILIES WANTED FOR SEPTEMBER 2023

Do you have a spare room? Are you interested in welcoming an international student to your family?

Saanich International Student Program (SISP) is looking for host families to open their hearts and homes to international students joining our district in September 2023. Create life-long friendships, share the beauty of your community, and receive a monthly honorarium of $1150 per student for costs incurred.

If you would like to learn more about this exciting opportunity, please take some time to read the SISP Homestay Brochure and contact the SISP Homestay Team!

Visit: studyinsaanich.ca/homestay

Email: homestay@saanichschools.ca

Phone: 250-655-2720

UPCOMING PARENT & FAMILY WORKSHOPS

In the Know “Connect and Learn”

Every month FamilySmart hosts events for families along with our regular support and mental health system navigation. 

Monthly "In the Know" - We watch a video together and share experiences and strategies that may be helpful to your family.

March "In the Know"

A Conversation for Families About Digital Wellbeing & Mental Health - As parents It's not easy to know how much time on technology is too much and how to set boundaries that don't create conflict. Join us for a conversation with a digital wellbeing expert to learn some practical solutions to our everyday concerns and challenges around our kids' use of screens and their mental health.  Come together with other families to watch this 30-minute video presentation followed by a facilitated discussion by a FamilySmart Parent Peer Support Worker.

Dates:

• Wednesday March 22, 2023 - 12:00-1:30pm 
• Tuesday March 28, 2023 - 6:30-8:00pm 
• Thursday March 30, 2023 - 5:00-6:30pm 

Cost: Free of Charge   Registration required: www.familysmart.ca/events

YEAR-ROUND FUNDRAISERS

Please help us raise funds for our children and school with these ongoing fundraisers:  

• Please save your receipts from Country Grocer. Place them in the bucket on top of the wooden PAC mailbox beside Mrs. Blackwell’s desk.
• If you shop at Peninsula Co-op or buy gas at Save on Gas, please quote membership number #79184 

Please make sure to thank these local businesses for the support they provide our school.  

CONNECT WITH US

Please feel free to connect with us at any time: prospectlakepac@gmail.com

Don’t forget to check our PLES PAC website regularly for up-to-date fundraisers, current news, important dates, and much more:  Course: Prospect Lake Elementary School PAC (sd63.bc.ca)

Sign up for the PAC Forum Subscriptions - found on our webpage!