St. Edmunds Newsletter – September 2026
Welcome to a new school year! I hope your summer was filled with opportunities to rest, recharge, and create lasting memories with family and friends. It is with great joy that we welcome back our returning students and families and extend a special welcome to those joining the St. Edmund’s community for the first time. We are excited to begin another year of learning, faith, friendship, and growth together.
Our theme for the 2026–2027 school year, Rooted in Faith, reminds us that when our lives are grounded in Christ, we are called to live our faith through compassion, service, and love. As part of this year’s focus, Fr. Alex, our new pastor warmly invites all school families to celebrate the 11:00 a.m. Mass on the fourth Sunday of each month, providing a meaningful opportunity for our school and parish communities to gather in prayer and strengthen our faith together.
Our staff has been preparing thoughtfully for the year ahead, creating engaging learning experiences that nurture curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and a love of learning while intentionally integrating our Catholic faith into all that we do. Together with you, we remain committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment where every child is encouraged to thrive spiritually, academically, socially, emotionally, artistically, and physically.
St. Edmund’s is strongest when our home, school, and parish work together in partnership. Thank you for your continued trust, support, and commitment to Catholic education. May this school year be filled with joyful learning, meaningful friendships, and abundant blessings as we continue to grow together, Rooted in Faith.
Ms. Diana Silva
Principal
Congratulations & Gratitude
- As many of you know, Fr. Steny was appointed this summer to Little Flower Monastery Superior & Director. We are extremely grateful for his 7 years of service in our community and wish him blessings in his new ministry. Please read his Farewell Message to our community.
- We welcome Fr. Alexander Braganza as our new pastor! Fr. Alex is not new to St. Edmund’s, having been here for a short time with Fr. Jerry, and he is excited to reconnect with us and serve our community.
- While Fr. Cannio was in residence with our priests, he has also been appointed to a new mission as pastor. We are grateful that Fr. Jeevan is remaining with us as Assistant Pastor. Please pray for all our priests, past and present, that God continue to bless their ministries of service and pastoral care.
- Congratulations to Ms. Grace and her husband, Lucas Drever, who were married this summer. We wish them many years of happiness and God’s blessings!
- Congratulations to Ms. Singer and Mr. Grossi on the addition of a baby girl to their family. May God bless their family! While Ms. Singer is away on her maternity leave, we are grateful to Ms. Oman who will heading our LRC department this year, and welcome Ms. Niamh McCabe to our Grade 3 class!
- Welcome to Ms. Geraldine Wong who is joining Ms. de Freitas in our office administration staff. She will be in our office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
- A heartfelt thank you to Ms. de Freitas, Mr. Dodds and all our staff whose hard work over the summer has ensured a wonderful start to the school year. Well done TBIRDS!
- Thank you to our summer watering team for faithfully caring for our courtyard garden, and to our Garden Team for preparing beautiful grounds for the new school year.
First Day of School & Kindergarten Gradual Entry
Tuesday, September 8 is the first day of school. Students in Grades 1–7 will be dismissed at 12:00 p.m.
The Kindergarten Gradual Entry schedule (September 8–18) was emailed to Kindergarten families in June. Please refer to your schedule for your child’s assigned attendance days and times.
Daily School Routines
Regular School Bell Schedule / Hours of Instruction
8:30 a.m. – Supervision begins: Students enter school grounds through the lower Mahon Street gate
8:45 a.m. – School begins with morning assembly and prayer
10:30–10:45 a.m. – Morning Recess
12:00–12:30 p.m. – Lunch Recess (Play first)
12:30–12:45 p.m. – Eating Lunch in Classroom for all Students
3:00 p.m. – All Students Dismissed
Attendance
Regular attendance and punctuality are essential for student success. Please ensure your child arrives at school on time each day.
If your child will be absent or late, please notify the school by using the Report Absentee link on our website or by emailing office@stedmunds.ca. If we do not receive notification of your child’s absence, we will contact parents to ensure your child’s safety.
School Bags
We kindly ask that students avoid bringing rolling bags to school. While convenient, these bags create a tripping hazard in our cubby areas and hallways. For safety and ease of storage, traditional backpacks are strongly preferred.
Thank you for your cooperation in helping us keep our school environment safe for all students.
School Lunches & Snacks
Please send your child with a nutritious snack, lunch, and a refillable, labeled water bottle each day. To support our commitment to environmental stewardship, we ask that lunches be packed in reusable, labeled plastic containers (no glass). Any leftover food will be sent home for composting.
Hot Lunch Program begins Monday, September 21. Orders must be placed by Tuesday, September 8 through our online ordering system (Hot Lunch Link on the school website).
We follow the BC School Food Guidelines, which promote whole foods, plant-based nutrition, and reduced processed and sugary items. Our menu is updated regularly to reflect these healthy standards. If you have any questions, please contact the school office. Thank you for supporting our lunch program!
Action Required: Order Hot Lunch by September 8.
Health & Student Safety
Medical Alerts & Allergies
A safe and healthy school is a shared responsibility between students, parents, and staff. Some of our students have severe nut allergies, and even trace amounts of peanuts or tree nuts can pose a serious risk.
To help maintain a nut-aware environment, we ask families not to send snacks or lunches containing peanuts, tree nuts or nut oils. Thank you for your cooperation.
Families of students with EpiPens must provide an updated EpiPen and emergency action plan signed by a doctor each year, even if there are no changes. Please submit these to the school office.
Action Required: Submit updated EpiPen and Medical Action Plan.
Health and Safety Updates
A reminder that the following Health & Safety Protocols continue to be in place for all staff & students:
- Stay home if sick.
- Mask wearing remains a personal choice.
- Students & staff are encouraged to practise good hand & respiratory hygiene.
- Frequently touched surfaces will continue to be cleaned regularly.
- Families are encouraged to follow current BC immunization recommendations.
Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
The safety of our students is our highest priority. Thank you for helping us ensure a safe and orderly arrival and dismissal each day.
Drop-Off
- Please use the Mahon Avenue drop-off zone for quick drop-offs only.
- Do not park in the drop-off zone or stop in the designated Fire Zone.
- If your child requires assistance getting out of the vehicle, please park on a nearby street and walk them safely to the school entrance.
- The posted 30 km/h school zone speed limit is in effect from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Parking
If you need to park, please:
- Use available parking along 5th Street or beside the tennis courts on 6th Street.
- Be respectful of our neighbours by avoiding driveways and restricted parking areas.
- Never double-park.
- Always perform a shoulder check before pulling away from the curb.
Active Transportation
We encourage families to walk, bike, or scooter to school whenever possible. Active transportation:
- reduces traffic congestion,
- supports a healthier environment, and
- helps students arrive energized and ready to learn.
Please remember: Helmets are required for all students riding bicycles or scooters.
Helpful Resources
- City of North Vancouver Parking Guidelines
- St. Edmund’s Safe & Active Routes to School
Uniform Expectations
School Uniform
As we begin the school year, it is appropriate to be reminded that the school uniform be worn with pride and with attention to detail:
- Sweaters are worn daily.
- Shoes are all black, non-marking soles. Navy blue dress socks are to be worn with dress shoes.
- Hair should not be dyed or coloured in any way. Hair accessories that tie back long hair should be subdued in nature. (Plain black, blue or tartan pattern.)
- Jewelry must be subdued in nature. Only stud earrings are permitted.
- Nails should be clear (no colour polish) and of reasonable length. Make-up is not to be worn.
PE uniform can be purchased from the school. Other uniform pieces are to be purchased at Cambridge Uniforms.
Please ensure all uniform pieces are labelled with your child’s name.
Thank you for supporting our uniform policy and keeping our students looking their best.
School Dress-Down Days
Throughout the school year, students will have the opportunity to participate in several optional Dress-Down Days that recognize special events or themes (for example, Orange Shirt Day, Pink Shirt Day, or school spirit days).
Participation is entirely optional. Students who choose not to participate in the theme are welcome to wear their regular school uniform.
When participating in a Dress-Down Day, students are expected to dress in clothing that is appropriate for a Catholic school environment. Clothing should be modest, safe, and suitable for a school setting. Tops must have shoulder straps that are at least two finger widths wide and cover past their waist. Footwear must have back straps.
If a student’s attire does not meet these expectations, they may be asked to change into their school uniform or contact home for appropriate clothing.
We appreciate your support in helping students make appropriate clothing choices while enjoying these special school community events.
Student Expectations
TBIRD Code of Conduct
St. Edmund’s Elementary school teams are known as the TBIRDS. Each letter represents a foundational element in our student code of conduct.
A St. Edmund’s community member is called to be:
- Trustworthy
- Brave
- Inclusive
- Respectful
- a Disciple
Developing these values in our students helps create an environment conducive to learning, personal growth, and mutual respect, benefiting students, educators, and the broader school community.
Email Communication
Over the summer Mrs. de Freitas updated family emails based on the information listed on your registration forms. Families can expect to receive school newsletters, announcements, and program information through email.
If your email has changed since March, please notify the office of the change.
Teacher email is for general communication purposes. This form of communication is not a replacement for parent-teacher conferences. The office email can be used for absentee notes or other items relevant to the office staff.
You may contact the office at office@stedmunds.ca.
Action Required: Verify your family contact info.
Parish Education Committee (PEC)
We are deeply grateful to our PEC for their leadership and support of our community. Serving us this year are:
Ms. Nadia Louzado, Mr. Jose Enage, Ms. Ana Abreu, Mr. Juan Gonzalez, Mr. Jeff Wallace, Mr. Jeremy Douglas & Ms. Luella Stuart.
Parent Participation Program (PPP)
Parent participation jobs and instructions for the 2026–27 school year were sent out to all families via email communication.
Parent assignments and jobs are now posted on the new portal. Please remember families are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of volunteer hours for the school to avoid any non-participation fees.
You can access the new Parent Participation Portal on the school website. If you have any questions regarding your access, email Ms. de Freitas at office@stedmunds.ca.
September Calendar Highlights
Sept. 8 – First Day of School – 12:00 dismissal
Sept. 15 – Meet the Teacher Evening – 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 16 – PEC Meeting
Sept. 25 – Gr. 6 Immunization Clinic
Sept. 29 – Orange Shirt Day (Dress Down)
Sept. 30 – Truth & Reconciliation Day (No School)
Important Dates for the 2026/27 School Year
Please remember to check the online calendar and emails for the latest info/changes.
Sept. 8 – First Day of School, Early Dismissal 12:00
Sept. 15 – Meet the Teacher Evening 7:00 pm
Sept. 30 – Truth & Reconciliation Day (No School)
Oct. 5 – Early Dismissal @ 12:00
Oct. 12 – Thanksgiving Day (No School)
Oct. 20 – Photo Day
Oct. 22 – Learning Update Parent Teacher Conferences – No Classes – Booked time
Oct. 23 – BC Pro Day (No School)
Nov. 2 – Early Dismissal @ 12:00
Nov. 11 – Remembrance Day (No School)
Nov. 27 – CISVA Pro Day (No School) – note date change
Dec. 4 – Learning Update Report 1 sent home
Dec. 17 – Christmas Concert Evening 7:00 pm
Dec. 18 – Last day before Christmas vacation, Early Dismissal 12:00
Jan. 4 – Staff Retreat Pro-Day (No School)
Jan. 5 – School reopens after Christmas vacation
Feb. 10 – Ash Wednesday – no hot lunch – day of fasting
Feb. 11 – Catholic Educator’s Conference (No School)
Feb. 12 – Catholic Educator’s Conference (No School)
Feb. 15 – Family Day (No School)
Feb. 16 – Student-Led Conferences – No Classes – Booked time
Mar. 5 – Last day before Spring Break, Early Dismissal 12:00
Mar. 22 – School reopens after Spring Break
Mar. 25 – Stations of the Cross Holy Thursday Early Dismissal 12:00
Mar. 26 – Good Friday (No School)
Mar. 29 – Easter Monday (No School)
Apr. 5 – Early Dismissal 12:00
May 2 – First Holy Communion
May 3 – Early Dismissal 12:00
May 5–7 – Grade 7 Outdoor School at Camp Squeah
May 24 – Victoria Day (No School)
June 10 – TBIRD Games Day, Early Dismissal 12:00
June 11 – Assessment Pro Day (No School)
June 24 – Grade 7 Farewell Evening 7:00 pm
June 29 – Last Day of School 12:00 Dismissal