May 18, 2016
May 15, 2016
More Walk and Roll Information and Encouragement here--
May 18, 2016
May 15, 2016
May 15, 2016
More Walk and Roll Information and Encouragement here--
Hey Kids: Top 10 Reasons You Should Consider Walking or Biking to School
Did you know walking and biking can be a fun and easy way to get to school? Using your feet or a bicycle can make you stronger and healthier, and give you more independence. It can have a positive effect on your life, your community, and the world. Here are 10 good reasons to walk or bike to school.
1) Get some exercise: Had a long day at school? An activity like walking or biking that gets the blood pumping can help clear the mind. Plus peddling a bike develops muscles to make you stronger and more coordinated.
2) Get outdoors: Get out in the sun and soak up some vitamin D! It supports your immune system, which can help promote good health.
3) Improve your test scores: More and more researchers are showing that a little exercise in the morning improves student test scores. No extra studying required!
4) Breathe easy: The more people who walk and bike, the better our environment will be for the people who will be here longest—kids! Fewer cars means better air quality, and better, cleaner air means you’ll lead a longer, healthier and more enjoyable life.
5) Encourage slower, safer car traffic: Drivers slow down when they see you and your friends walking and biking. And when neighborhood drivers slow down, everyone else slows down, too, making our roads safer for everyone.
6) Be a future safe driver: When you’re old enough to drive, you’ll be ahead of the curve. The more practice you have navigating the rules of the road as a bike rider or a pedestrian, the better prepared you are to be a knowledgeable and attentive driver.
7) Give your neighborhood character: More people out on their bikes or walking, and fewer people in cars helps make your neighborhood safer, quieter, and friendlier. Get to know your neighbors and your neighborhood on a bike or on foot.
8 ) Don’t wait for a driver’s license: Riding a bike or walking can give you more independence to explore your neighborhood and get you where you want to go, even before you can drive.
9) Show off your personality: There are numerous types of bicycles to suit your riding style, and endless possibilities with all the bells and whistles available to give your ride some extra pizzazz.
10) Influence your community: By walking and biking to school and giving adults your feedback, you provide important information about how to make our neighborhoods better. Lots of community leaders in our schools and local governments want to make biking and walking to school easier – and you can help them.
April 6, 2016
Volunteer Opportunity!
MESSAGE FROM CANYON HEIGHTS PAC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Crossing Guard Parent Volunteers Needed
Interested in a rewarding and fun opportunity to volunteer at Canyon Heights?
Come join our amazing Crossing Guard Parent Team and help students get safely to and from school who use the main crosswalk.
We need volunteers for the Wednesday Morning Shifts.
If you can’t commit to a regular shift each week, you can be an alternate and help out as needed. If you are interested, please contact PAC Safety Committee Member, Kulvir via Kulvir@shaw.ca
__________________________________
March 15, 2016
Freedom Friday wrap up gives us another chance to thank the PAC Safety Committee organizers, guests, school administrators, teachers, staff, and of course the parents and children who made Freedom Fridays into the fun events that promoted active transport to school!
We hope we helped confirm active ways to arrive at school and to form new "getting to school" habits!
We had sponsorships and donations from community businesses-Cobs Bread, Starbucks, and David's Tea in Edgemont Village, Subway on Lonsdale and 29th, and Body Works Physiotherapy - Thanks, and thanks again!
Over the life of Freedom Fridays, we had a number of visitors who stopped in to see what we were doing, and how it was working-- Thanks for taking the time to visit with us and share the idea with a wider audience!
Next Steps? Rain or shine - we're encouraging everyone who walks or rolls to school to keep it up! Drive to five keeps traffic in front of the school down, and gives a few minutes of fresh air and activity to start the day in a great way!
Did you know walking and biking can be a fun and easy way to get to school? Using your feet or a bicycle can make you stronger and healthier, and give you more independence. It can have a positive effect on your life, your community, and the world. Here are 10 good reasons to walk or bike to school.
1) Get some exercise: Had a long day at school? An activity like walking or biking that gets the blood pumping can help clear the mind. Plus peddling a bike develops muscles to make you stronger and more coordinated.
2) Get outdoors: Get out in the sun and soak up some vitamin D! It supports your immune system, which can help promote good health.
3) Improve your test scores: More and more researchers are showing that a little exercise in the morning improves student test scores. No extra studying required!
4) Breathe easy: The more people who walk and bike, the better our environment will be for the people who will be here longest—kids! Fewer cars means better air quality, and better, cleaner air means you’ll lead a longer, healthier and more enjoyable life.
5) Encourage slower, safer car traffic: Drivers slow down when they see you and your friends walking and biking. And when neighborhood drivers slow down, everyone else slows down, too, making our roads safer for everyone.
6) Be a future safe driver: When you’re old enough to drive, you’ll be ahead of the curve. The more practice you have navigating the rules of the road as a bike rider or a pedestrian, the better prepared you are to be a knowledgeable and attentive driver.
7) Give your neighborhood character: More people out on their bikes or walking, and fewer people in cars helps make your neighborhood safer, quieter, and friendlier. Get to know your neighbors and your neighborhood on a bike or on foot.
8 ) Don’t wait for a driver’s license: Riding a bike or walking can give you more independence to explore your neighborhood and get you where you want to go, even before you can drive.
9) Show off your personality: There are numerous types of bicycles to suit your riding style, and endless possibilities with all the bells and whistles available to give your ride some extra pizzazz.
10) Influence your community: By walking and biking to school and giving adults your feedback, you provide important information about how to make our neighborhoods better. Lots of community leaders in our schools and local governments want to make biking and walking to school easier – and you can help them.
April 6, 2016
Volunteer Opportunity!
MESSAGE FROM CANYON HEIGHTS PAC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Crossing Guard Parent Volunteers Needed
Interested in a rewarding and fun opportunity to volunteer at Canyon Heights?
Come join our amazing Crossing Guard Parent Team and help students get safely to and from school who use the main crosswalk.
We need volunteers for the Wednesday Morning Shifts.
If you can’t commit to a regular shift each week, you can be an alternate and help out as needed. If you are interested, please contact PAC Safety Committee Member, Kulvir via Kulvir@shaw.ca
__________________________________
March 15, 2016
Freedom Friday wrap up gives us another chance to thank the PAC Safety Committee organizers, guests, school administrators, teachers, staff, and of course the parents and children who made Freedom Fridays into the fun events that promoted active transport to school! We hope we helped confirm active ways to arrive at school and to form new "getting to school" habits!
Over the life of Freedom Fridays, we had a number of visitors who stopped in to see what we were doing, and how it was working-- Thanks for taking the time to visit with us and share the idea with a wider audience!
Next Steps? Rain or shine - we're encouraging everyone who walks or rolls to school to keep it up! Drive to five keeps traffic in front of the school down, and gives a few minutes of fresh air and activity to start the day in a great way!
___________________________
February 18, 2016
Red Cross Babysitting Course
If you child wants to be a babysitter, or, you just want to feel more confident when they're home alone-
Babysitting with First Aid Hero emphasizes learning through real life scenarios. information covered includes:
- exploring the business of babysitting,
- creating safe environments,
- safely caring for ages 0-12, and
- first aid skills.
Canyon Heights School Multi Purpose Room
February 29th, 2016 (during the Pro-D day for Curriculum Implementation, when students are not at school)
8:30 am - 3:30pm
Grade 6+
$60 + GST online registration
___________________________________
February 2, 2016
________________________________________________
If you child wants to be a babysitter, or, you just want to feel more confident when they're home alone-
Babysitting with First Aid Hero emphasizes learning through real life scenarios. information covered includes:
- exploring the business of babysitting,
- creating safe environments,
- safely caring for ages 0-12, and
- first aid skills.
Canyon Heights School Multi Purpose Room
February 29th, 2016 (during the Pro-D day for Curriculum Implementation, when students are not at school)
8:30 am - 3:30pm
Grade 6+
$60 + GST online registration
___________________________________
February 2, 2016 
Freedom Friday, January 29th, 2016 Edition
(8:20-9:00am...starting bell @8:40, as always!)
Especially on Fridays, as we help promote walking/rolling/cycling to school!
If you can, leave your car at home - or Drive-to-Five - and let’s kick off the weekend traffic-free. Thanks to our awesome local businesses we have coffee from Edgemont Village Starbucks and cookies from Subway.
Our guests this week:
Chris and Melissa Bruntlett, and their two young kids live “car-lite” in Vancouver. They are coming out to share their passion for inspiring healthier, happier, simpler forms of urban mobility through words, photography and film. They’re very nice so come say hello. Here’s their story: http://www.modacitylife.com/our-story/
DNV Councillor Robin Hicks -- also very nice and interested in hearing what parents and kids have to say about safe streets, so please take the time to let him know!
Ever wonder why Freedom Fridays? Here’s just one reason - watch the insanity [Runs 2:35]:
CTV News Report: Parents warned of dangers during school pick-up, drop-off times http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/parents-warned-of-dangers-during-school-pick-up-drop-off-times-1.2746437?hootPostID=f6525931019f42bb4cf1f56cc9e591b6
___________________________________
Freedom Friday January 22nd, 2016 Special Guests
Hello to all parents!
Please join us for coffee on Freedom Friday this Friday January 22, 2016 as we welcome three special guests: District of North Vancouver Mayor Richard Walton, School Board Trustee Chairperson Christie Sacre, and a member of the RCMP.
These folks play important roles in developing the kind of community and schools our kids grow up in; and they’re coming out because they see that our school is showing leadership all across the region. They know that healthy, vibrant, and safe communities are those where students can freely walk, bike, or scooter to school.
So, on Friday, leave the car at home - or Drive-to-Five - and let’s roll out a warm welcome and show them the kind of community we want.
Friday: 8:15 - 9:00am. Ride. Walk. Fly. Whatever.
MESSAGE FROM CANYON HEIGHTS PAC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Please remember that school begins promptly at 8:40am, when the doors open for students. Until then enjoy a few moments with your children and everyone who comes out to enjoy Freedom Friday!
Freedom Fridays - January 8, 2016
Dear parents,
Happy New Year! We hope you had a wonderful holiday and best wishes for you all for 2016!
We will have our 1st Freedom Friday tomorrow Friday January 8th, 2016! Things kick off at 8:20am and will wrap up by 9:00am.
We will have Ingrid Weisenbach from District of North Vancouver - Transportation Department as our Special Guest!
Our goal is to encourage all Canyon Heights students to walk, bike or scooter to school. If you have little ones, this is a great opportunity for you to spend a few stress-free minutes with them - get some fresh air and exercise, meet your neighbours, build your child’s confidence and sense of independence, and help them arrive at school refreshed and ready to learn.
Come to the school a little early – come have a coffee/treat with us! Make some new friends and start your morning on an energized note!
Don’t live within a 15 minute walk to school? No problem. We encourage you to park your car a five minute walk away and accompany your child to school from there. Look for the balloons and Drive to Five Drop Zone signs at the three intersections shown on the attached map. Someone will be there to greet you, give directions and answer any questions.
Please come out - join us in celebrating our Canyon Heights community, healthy kids, and working toward safer streets!
We are looking for volunteers to help out on Fridays for various roles, if you are interested please email Kulvir – kulvir@shaw.ca
MESSAGE FROM CANYON HEIGHTS PAC SAFETY COMMITTEE
______________________________________________________
December 1, 2015
Parents were sent an email today, from the Superintendent of Schools, John Lewis - so we're including it here, because we have the Google Translate Toggle on our blog, in order to help get the message out.
Severe Weather Information 2015/16
This is an important notice. Please have it translated.
Announcements of District-wide Closures and/or Delayed Openings of Schools
A Message to Parents/Guardians and Students
As winter weather approaches, we want to remind parents/guardians and students of the North Vancouver School District’s winter weather procedures and announcements.
All schools in the North Vancouver School District will remain OPEN, if at all possible during winter weather, including snowfalls. Any district-wide closure will be decided by 6:30 a.m. at the latest and will be announced through the media. If weather conditions are questionable, announcements will also be made to say that schools are open.
Information about any district-wide closures will be sent to Metro Vancouver radio and television stations. Please check the following stations for school closure information:
CBC AM 690 radio
CHMJ AM 730 radio
CHQM FM 103.5 radio
CKNW AM 980 radio
CJVB Fairchild AM 1470 radio
CKWX News AM 1130 radio
CFOX 99.3 radio
Global TV
CBC TV
City TV
BC-CTV
Fairchild TV
Announcements of school closures or delayed openings will be posted on the School District’s website at http://www.sd44.ca. The North Vancouver School District will use the SchoolConnects system to contact parents/guardians in the event of an Emergency Release of students during the school day. Individual school closures due to unique circumstances (e.g., power outages) will be announced as early as possible through SchoolConnects.
Student safety is our first priority and a shared responsibility. Parents/guardians are responsible for their child’s safe travel to school. If for any reason, a parent/guardian feels that a child cannot travel safely to school, then they should make other arrangements for their child. Students will not be penalized for absences due to weather conditions. The decision to attend school is the responsibility of each family.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to establish an emergency plan for their children in the event that schools are closed, the school’s start time is delayed, or students are dismissed early. This is a reminder that all students need to dress warmly and appropriately for winter weather conditions.
At this time, we encourage you to review your own preparations for winter weather and ensure that you are familiar with your municipality’s snow and ice response procedures. We request that you strictly adhere to parking restrictions in and around all North Vancouver schools. Your child’s school will contact you about any changes to driving routes that may be put into effect on streets adjacent to the school.
With your cooperation and adherence to winter weather procedures, we can help achieve safe conditions for students travelling to and from school. Please put safety first.
John Lewis
Superintendent of Schools
North Vancouver School District
Links:
Metro Vancouver Weather Forecast – Environment Canada
City of North Vancouver – Snow and Ice Removal
http://www.cnv.org/City Services/Health and Public Safety/Emergency Preparedness/Extreme Weather/Snow Warning
District of North Vancouver – Snow Removal
North Shore Emergency Management Office
Drive BC
A print copy of this message is available at
It's also posted on the North Vancouver School District website at
_____________________________________________________________________
From November 30, 2015
Dear parents,
As you may have already heard, next Friday December 4th, 2015 is Canyon Heights ’ first Freedom Friday!
On Freedom Fridays we'll be encouraging all Canyon Heights students to walk, bike or scooter to school. If you have little ones, this is a great opportunity for you to spend a few stress-free minutes with them - get some fresh air and exercise, meet your neighbours, build your child’s confidence and sense of independence, and help them arrive at school refreshed and ready to learn.
For our launch next Friday we have treats, giveaways, and entertainment in store - arrive at school a little early, linger with old friends and make new ones. Coffee will be provided by Delanys, pastries by Cobs Bread, and, in case you’re still feeling a little sleepy, we’ll keep things moving with music by local DJ, Tall Music. Things kick off at 8:15 and wrap up by 9:00.
Don’t live within a 15 minute walk to school? No problem. We encourage you to park your car a five minute walk away and accompany your child to school from there. Look for the balloons and Drive to Five Drop Zone signs at the three intersections shown on the attached map. Someone will be there to greet you, give directions and answer any questions.
Please come out - join us in celebrating our Canyon Heights community, healthy kids, and working toward safer streets!
We are looking for volunteers to help out on Fridays for various roles, if you are interested please email Kulvir – kulvir@shaw.ca
PS: If you have six minutes, watch this great Streetfilms video to see some of the reasons we’re doing this.
In Portland , Every Day Is Walk and Bike to School Day [6:32]
Always worth reminding everyone who drives past the school, on a school day. And now, there are...
New Signs to Help Everyone Remember the Drop Off Zone is not for parking...
...and that while dropping your children at school, please remember to turn off your vehicle, because BC is "idle-free". The School Safety Committee has being busy making sure that the school zones are as safe as they can be - for traffic, and for everyone's lungs!
Wondering about kids and sugar?
Here's a bit of information from the Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation
Construction Reminders
Thanks to our PAC Safety Committee, we have the following information to share with you...
North Shore Safe Routes Advocates (North Shore SRA) is a community action group looking to develop and promote safe walking and cycling routes to school. They can be found on Twitter @northshoreSRA and Facebook at facebook.com/northshoresra
The Safety Committee Coordinators shared the following video at the October 5, 2015 PAC meeting, click on the link below to see happy kids and parents walking and cycling to school! We are interested your opinion, so please subscribe to this PAC blog and comment on the content and ideas we're sharing!
To learn more about options closer to home here, click on the link here for the Click here to open a TravelSmart Map, and pop the marker on the school to see all the different options that show approximate walking times, bike routes, and transit options for navigating the neighbourhood. Here's a sample of what you'll see:
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