Happy Retirement Ms. Lum!

Dear Laurier Families,

With only two weeks left to the end of this school year, we have so much to celebrate! 

It's with mixed feelings that I am announcing the retirement of Ms. Lum effective July 2023. Ms. Lum has been an integral part of our community. She is a wealth of knowledge and she knows so much about the history of the school, the past and current students and their families. Very engaged with students, families and staff, she is always looking for a variety of resources to support student learning and well-being. Everyone at Laurier loves Ms. Lum! I have had the best five years working with a wonderful and outstanding teacher, dedicated and devoted to our community. I know we will all miss Ms. Lum so much and everyone is looking forward to her future visits! Please join me in congratulating Ms. Lum for a well-deserved retirement, as she is embarking on a new chapter of her life journey. Please read below Ms. Lum's Bio. 

Ms. Julisa Lum Is Retiring!

Julisa Lum spent almost half a century with the Vancouver School Board. Her journey began as a young student in a Vancouver elementary school and she graduated from high school in the early 1980s. After attending UBC and receiving her Bachelor of Education and a Diploma in Teaching ESL, she was delighted to be offered a 50% position at Laurier Main and 30% at Laurier Annex as an ELL teacher in 1988. This was a dream come true to start her teaching career at schools that were close to her family home. She was once again with the Vancouver School District but now as an educator. After her first year at two schools, Julisa was offered an opportunity to start up an ELL District class at Laurier Annex teaching grades 4 & 5. She spent two delightful years at the Annex before the District class was moved to the main school. At the Annex, she met some special colleagues with whom she still reunites on a yearly basis. In 1991, there were two District ELL classes at Laurier. Julisa taught the younger group (grades 4 & 5) until June 2000. In 2000, the VSB decided to adopt the resource model and Julisa became a resource teacher. This new position was an incredible learning opportunity that included many workshops. As a resource teacher, Julisa found it intriguing to collaborate with other educational specialists, such as the SLP, school counsellor, district psychologist, VCH OT, VCH PT and doctors. This diverse group had a common goal to help children reach their full potential.  Fast forward to 2023 (35 wonderful years later), Julisa still immensely enjoys teaching and working with the incredible Laurier staff.  She looks back with gratitude. As she retires, she takes with her many special memories of the Laurier community. Julisa will miss all the students, parents, and the amazing Laurier staff.  Her parting words are “continue to strive for your personal best, take care, and be kind to each other”!  Thank you for the memories.

Year-End June Primary and Intermediate Concerts

We are pleased to announce that we will be celebrating the end of this school year with two concerts led by Ms. Cheung: 

-Primary Concert: Tuesday, June 20 @1:45pm

-Intermediate Concert: Friday, June 23 @1:45pm

As explained at our winter concert, based on our fire code, our gymnasium has a maximum capacity. We will have a limited number of chairs available to our audience. We are therefore asking our families to limit the number of attendees per family to two. Please line up in front of the gym's back door from the playground field. If the number of the attendees exceeds the gym capacity, we will have to close the doors. We appreciate your understanding and collaboration to ensure the safety of our students and audience. 

2023 NOTICE OF LATE RETURN FORM 

Please see attached (in the Resources section at the bottom of this page), the 2023 Notice of Late Return Form. This form is to be completed for any student expecting to return to school LATER THAN noon on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, but prior to Friday, September 29, 2023. Please note: If the school cannot verify your child’s attendance at school by noon on Wednesday September 6, 2023, your child's space will be given to another student on the school's waitlist. 

MOVING? Let us know! 

Are you returning in September 2023? If you are not returning to Laurier in September 2023 and have not yet informed us, please let the Office know immediately as this may affect class size and composition for the next school year. 

Change of Address or Phone Number? 

Please inform the Office if you have changed your address or telephone number. For safety and enrolment purposes, it is very important that the school office has this information.

Do You Have Any Laurier Library Books at Home?

Please make sure all the library books that have been borrowed from our school library are returned to school as soon as possible. Ms. Altman needs to do the inventory of our library books and we would like to have our collection complete and ready for next school year! 

Upcoming Dates

Tuesday, June 20th @1:45pm in the gym: Primary Concert 

Wednesday, June 21: National Indigenous Peoples Day

Thursday, June 22: SOAR Fun Day - More info to come

Friday, June 23 @1:45pm in the gym: Intermediate Concert - More info to come

Monday, June 26: Grade 7 Moving Forward Ceremony - More info to come

Thursday, June 29: Last day of school for students - Report Cards go home

As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at school. I wish you a safe and restful weekend.

Sincerely,

Armin Samiei | Principal

Sir Wilfrid Laurier Elementary School