Welcome Back Marie Sharpe Families!
Welcome Back Marie Sharpe Families! Marie Sharpe Elementary is excited to welcome students and families back for the 2026-2027 school year, and we extend a special welcome to families who are new to our school community. Together, we look forward to a year filled with learning, growth, belonging, and success.
Shark Bites, fresh from the Marie Sharpe Tank:
- Visit the website for the latest info each week.
- First Day plan can be seen here. Kindergarten families, please wait to be contacted by your teacher!
- School Supplies cost $45, this can be brought to your student’s teacher or to the office.
- Forms coming home to be signed and sent back: Walking Field Trip, Media Consent, Photo Consent, Indigenous Student Verification Form, Student Verification Form.
- Here is Drop off and Pick Up info.
- Attendance is key. But what if you’re absent or late?
- Picture day is November 4th!
- Here is our Code of Conduct.
- View our September events here.
- Communicate with us here!
Wednesday, Sept. 9
We look forward to welcoming new and returning students on Wednesday, September 9th.
This is an early dismissal day, and students will be dismissed at 11:20am. Buses will run as usual on this early dismissal schedule beginning at 11:27am.
There will be NO teacher/classroom assignments until tomorrow September 10!
We are honoured to start our 2026-2027 school year in a good way.
1. 9:00am – Opening Assembly (meet in courtyard before going inside)
2. 9:45am – 10:00am – Recess
3. 10:00am – 11:00am – Welcome Powwow with WLFN on the Field
4. 11:20 – Dismissal
What to Bring:
Grades 1 – 6 children need to only bring their indoor shoes, snack and water bottle for the first day of classes. Teachers will be distributing student supplies throughout the school year.
Note: Kindergarten students follow a graduated entry schedule as communicated by the Kindergarten teachers. If you need a reminder about your Kindergartener’s schedule, please contact the school directly.
Sept 10th (First Full Day) Student Class Placement:
Staff will assist and direct students their new 2026-2027 class in the morning before school.
Class lists will also be posted on the exterior doors for reference. School Staff will have a master list with them outside.
Please be aware that students changing classrooms after the first day may occur due to registration and enrollment, and with the discretion of the administration.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Bell Schedule:
Start Time: 9:00am
Recess: 10:35 – 10:50am
Lunch: 12:10 – 12:55pm
Dismissal: 2:54pm
Student Pick-up / Drop-off
Pick Up:
To ensure the safety and security of all students, as well as to minimize disruptions to classroom learning, we ask families to follow these procedures when picking up their child/children during the school day:
- Please provide your child’s classroom teacher with information about pick-up arrangements so your child can be prepared.
- All parents/guardians or approved emergency contacts must report to the office to pick up their child/children. Students will either be waiting at the office, or office staff will contact the classroom to have the student sent down.
- During the first week of school, forms will be sent home to establish legal guardians and approved emergency contacts for each student at Marie Sharpe Elementary. Only legal guardians or approved emergency contacts will be allowed to pick up students. No student will be released without consent.
- Please check in with the office prior to picking up your child during regular school hours.
We kindly request that these procedures be followed at all times to help us maintain a safe, secure, and uninterrupted learning environment.
If your child is being picked up after school, please ensure this happens promptly after the bell. The playground is not an appropriate place for students to wait. Any student not picked up on time will wait at the office until their adult arrives.
Drop Off:
In the morning before the 9:00am bell, students can be dropped off in the playground and courtyard area at the back of the school. Please do not bring your student to the front of the school as it is right next to the road and without an adequate fence.
Dropping off in personal vehicles:
If you drive your student to school and drop them off, please follow the signs and rules of the road, pull over along the field fencing or near the courtyard entrances along 2nd or near the playground fencing along 3rd. Under no circumstances are vehicles to be looping through the School District office parking lot or into the bus loop.
Drop offs after the morning bell:
Kindly, bring your student in through the front door.
1. Tell our Secretary, Mrs. Walsh, your student’s name.
2. Your student will receive a slip of paper they will give to their teacher that indicates they have signed into the office.
3. Student will walk to their classroom.
If you would like to accompany your student to their classroom to drop them off, you must sign in and wear a Visitor’s Lanyard. Thank you!
Supervision Times & Areas:
8:30am – 9:00am – Before School
(Bus Lane, Field, Play Structure, Courtyard)
10:35am – 10:50am – Recess
(Field, Play Structure, Courtyard)
12:10pm – 12:55pm – Lunch
(Field, Play Structure, Courtyard)
2:54pm – 3:10pm – Play Structure/Courtyard
3:05pm – 3:36pm – Bus Lane/Field
*** All Supervisors will be wearing high-vis vests ***
*** There is no supervision in designated play areas before 8:30 a.m. or after 3:10 p.m. ***
Bus Registration for the 2026-2027 School Year:
New and returning bus students all must be registered for their school bus route in order to ride the bus.
Link: https://www.sd27.bc.ca/bus-registration-1738864401643
Newsletters:
Monthly school newsletters and calendars will be posted to the Marie Sharpe Elementary School website:
Newsletters - Marie Sharpe Elementary
We also have a school Facebook page that I would encourage you to join as it is used regularly and has very timely news, shares about learning, and celebrations (Marie Sharpe Elementary).
Code of Conduct Review
Our School Code of Conduct is a living document that we continually amend and adapt to ensure our school is safe and student expectations are clear. We encourage feedback from parents to ensure our Code of Conduct is clear and helps guide student behaviour. Please become familiar with our Code of Conduct and contact school administration with any questions or comments.
Marie Sharpe - Code of Conduct
Student Verification Forms
Student Verification forms will be coming home the first week of school. Please ensure your information is correct. This is very important for our records. We want to make sure we have the most up to date contact information.
Media Consent:
A media consent form will come home with your child the first week of September. Please note that if you give authorization to the school to share images of your child, they may appear on our website or Facebook page. Please consider this when signing and returning forms.
PAC (Parent Advisory Council):
A strong relationship between the school and parents is very important in a child’s education, and one way of being involved with the school is to be a member of the PAC. This is a great way to be part of our school community. We strongly encourage your involvement as all parents are invited to attend Marie Sharpe PAC meetings.
Safe Arrival Program:
We will continue to use the School Messenger safe arrival program/app. It is a downloadable and free app in the Apple or Google Play store. If your child is going to be absent or late, please call:
1-833-582-6944 and follow the prompts.
School Supplies:
School supply fees are $45 and can be paid at the office anytime.
Strong Start
Parents interested in attending StrongStart with Ms. Apryl are invited to register at the office. We are offering StrongStart 5 days a week from 9am – noon. Strong Start is a parent/tot learning opportunity. Please refer to our website for when StrongStart will begin.
Upcoming Important Dates:
- Tuesday September 8 - No School for Students, District Day
- Wednesday September 9 - First Day for Students (in grades 1-6) Early Dismissal 11:20am
- Thursday September 10 - First full day for Students (in grades 1-6)
- Monday September 14 - First day of school breakfast and lunch program
- Monday, September 16 – PAC Meeting (5:30pm – library)
- Monday September 21 - No School for Students, Pro-D Day
- Friday September 25 – Marie Sharpe Terry Fox Run
- Tuesday, September 29 – Orange Shirt Day Assembly
- Wednesday, September 30 - No School, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Wednesday, November 4 – School Photos
- Monday, October 12 – No School, Thanksgiving
- Friday, October 23 – No School for Students, Pro-D Day
- Tues. Oct. 27 & Wed. Oct. 28 – Early Dismissal
We look forward to starting off the year in a good way. Please reach out if you have questions, updates, or concerns.
Heather McKinnon – Principal
Marina Campsall – Vice-Principal
We acknowledge that Marie Sharpe Elementary is situated on the unceded, traditional territory of the Secwépemc People.