Dear Lynx families,

We are now 3 weeks into the new school year and the weather is changing as the autumn equinox approaches.

Sports seasons are also underway and with the addition of Basketball to September it has been very busy for students and staff. Here at Vanier we have had a very successful start to the season with wins in soccer and some strong finishes at the first 2 cross-country meets (9th overall and then 4th overall out of 36 schools).

Next week we will be recognizing Truth and Reconciliation week with numerous activities across the school. This will culminate on Thursday with the tying of ribbons around the perimeter of Vanier to mark Orange Shirt day. For more information on Truth and Reconciliation week you can visit: https://nctr.ca/education/coming-soon-truth-and-reconciliation-week-2023/

Finally, over the past few weeks I have spoken to many of our families about our Away for the Day policy and social media use with teenagers. Below, I wanted to share some words of advice that another Principal in the CBE shared with her families (and me).

Bonne fin de semaine,

Chad Edmonds – Principal GP Vanier

Phone Use and Teenagers

It’s important to have a “parenting relationship” with your tween or teen and the “T” word- technology. They experience a life online that, as adults, most of us could have only imagined. This isn't meant to be about the "evils" of social media- it's about open involvement in your adolescent's online presence, digital citizenship for all, and putting protective factors in place for those times when their developing adolescent brains are on overload. Kids continue to need us to show them we care, we are interested, and we are involved. The only thing that has changed is the mediums we need to be aware of.

1) Know what your adolescents are doing on Social Media. When we talk about Social Media, we mean anything where they interact with content, including YouTube, Tik Tok, Snap Chat, Instagram, Omegle, Facebook, Discord, google docs and google hangouts, gaming platforms, messaging apps, etc. "Knowing” means scrolling it with them, asking them to share their DMs, group chats; if it’s a game, playing it with them, be linked to them on the apps with your own account, asking them lots of questions, maybe even consider a program like Qustodio.

The second they refuse to share what they are doing with it, pull their phone- technically, no matter who "pays" that bill, 13-year-olds don't have registered mobile devices- PARENTS do- and it's your responsibility. It's eye opening for parents when they realize this, especially when an adolescent has been making poor choices with social media.

2) Ensure that they are not connected to people they don't know IRL (In Real Life). Ask them questions about the people they do know. Don't be afraid to speak up to other families if you see their children doing sketchy things online. Remember that it's quite likely that family doesn't realize what their young adult is posting/saying/doing. Come at it from a place of care, a place of "I am not sure if you are aware of this, and..." Teenagers need our support to learn from their mistakes. It isn’t coming from a place of punishment, more a place of educating.

3) Educate yourself about the apps and platforms they are using. Have accounts yourself. Know how to use what your kids are talking about, no matter how uncool they tell you you're being.

4) Ensure their profiles are created as "private" AND that they stay that way. As I have said to adolescents and parents, "If I can find your child's account, so can anyone else."

5) Adhere to the age restrictions for different Social Media apps. Most of what your children will start asking you for in Grade 6 probably has Terms of Service that states the user must be 13 years old to have an account.

6) Repeat items 1-5 REGULARLY. It's not a one and done situation. What they do today they can undo tomorrow and then you're no further ahead and they are no safer.

7) Start today- be open-minded, caring and most of all, be the thoughtful and "protective factor" adult they may not think they need, but they well and truly do.

Healthy Hunger “Hot Lunch” Fundraiser

The grade 9 Eastern Canada Trip students are organizing a “hot lunch” fundraiser through Healthy Hunger. There will be multiple hot lunches throughout the year; the first of which is Subway! From Monday, September 18 – Friday October 20, pre-order your students’ Subway lunch online at Healthy Hunger. Orders will be delivered during period 7 on Friday, October 27.

Current Healthy Hunger lunches you can order:

October 27 – Subway
November 17 – Little Caesar’s
December 15 – Jelly Modern Doughnuts
January 26 – Jugo Juice
February 23 – Mucho Burrito

Register Student at Georges P. Vanier at Booster Juice at Order at Pay.

School Merchandise

It’s not too late to order your school swag! School Store closes Saturday, September 30, 2023 at 11:59 pm

• Please visit the following link to access the Online Spirit Wear Store https://vanierfall2023store.itemorder.com/shop/home/
• The store will close Saturday September 30, 2023 at 11:59pm
• Orders are typically completed in 4-5 week after the store closes and delivered to the school
• All school store sales are custom made and cannot be returned
• If this order is meant as a gift please contact us and we will hold the order for parent pick up

Please note all orders must be placed on line. The school does NOT carry Spirit Wear at the school. If you want to show your school spirit, be sure to order your spirit wear online before September 30. No late orders will be accepted.

For more information of questions regarding the online spirit wear, please contact Sherri Nickle at sanickle@cbe.ab.ca

Upcoming Sports Dates

Monday Sept 25 – Cross country meet at Confederation Park, boys’ soccer practice (PM), Girls’ soccer at Simon Fraser
Tuesday Sept 26 – Boys’ soccer at Our Lady of Assumption School
Wednesday Sept 27 – Girls soccer vs HDC(at HD Cartwright school)
Thursday Sept 28 – Boys soccer at Simon Fraser
Students, please continue to check the schedule outside of the gym for updates and practice schedules.

Upcoming Dates

Sept. 26: School Council Meeting 7:00 pm: Click here to join the meeting
Sept. 28: Orange Shirt Day
Sept. 29: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (No School)
Oct. 4: First morning Band Rehearsal Grades 8 & 9 at 7:45am
Oct. 5: Camp Chief Hector Parent Night for Grade 6 Parents at 5:30
Oct. 9: Thanksgiving Day (Schools are closed)
Oct. 10 & 11: Riverwatch Field Trips for Grade 9 classes
Oct. 13: WordFest Field Trip for Grade 6 classes