OCTOBER 2026
Welcome to October, families!
October is the perfect time to focus on raising healthy, active, and happy kids!
As the Autumn weather cools down, it is a great reminder to keep our children moving with plenty of physical exercise to build strong bodies and sharp minds. From outdoor play to healthy daily habits, let's work together to give our children the energy, strength, and mental wellness they need to thrive this season.
Keeping our little ones active and resilient this season is a collaborative effort! We encourage everyone to prioritize outdoor movement and physical literacy—whether that means raking up giant leaf piles in the yard or taking family strolls to admire the changing colours. To keep those little immune systems strong during cold and flu season, you can also practice catchy handwashing songs at home and focus on packing vibrant, seasonal treats like apples, squash, and berries.
We love seeing our parent community active inside our school walls just as much as outside, which is why we are inviting you to bring your energy and ideas to our Parent Board! We are looking for enthusiastic parent volunteers to help put our preschool on the map. Imagine us marching together in a local community parade, or adopting a festive neighborhood Christmas Tree in our school's name at Ambleside or The Shipyards! We also need your spark to help organize fantastic Parent Socials and Info Nights—think lively Auctions, Burger & Beer Nights, or any creative event that gets families connecting and growing our preschool community. Your involvement shows your child that education and community are a shared family value, so let's make this year unforgettable together!
Our ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING is on Wed. Oct. 14th from 6:30pm-7:30pm.
We would like to remind all families about our upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM).
At least one person from each family is expected to attend.
It is essential for all families to participate, as we are a non-profit organization required to adhere to specific regulations, including reaching a quorum for the meeting to proceed. Your involvement is crucial for the continued success and governance of St. Catherine's Childcare Society.
We may be able to provide childminding if you cannot find childcare to attend the meeting. If you would like childminding, please CALL OR EMAIL THE OFFICE NOW AND LET US KNOW.
THE AGM USUALLY TAKES LESS THAN 1 HOUR SO IT WILL BE A QUICK NIGHT!
The AGM will be a time to meet ALL THE TEACHERS as well as THE CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS. We will also be appointing more members. We are looking for a TREASURER as well as non-voting PARENT MEMBERS who are able to help out at events and attend meetings.
If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to call or email the office: 604-980-1326, stcpre@telus.net
St. Catherine's Preschool is excited to announce two upcoming fundraisers:
Purdys Christmas Chocolate Fundraiser
Samosas and More Fundraiser.
🎄 Purdys Christmas Chocolate Fundraiser is BACK
and OPEN NOW!
Get ready for the sweetest season of the year! Stock up on your favorite Purdys Christmas Chocolates while supporting a great cause. Whether you need festive stocking stuffers, client gifts, or a sweet treat for yourself, we have something for everyone!
🗓️ Order Deadline: November 13th
🎁 Perfect For: Family, friends, and coworkers
QR CODE to Order
Digital Links: We are launching our online ordering links with clear instructions in October. Keep your eyes peeled!
Try this link now if you can’t wait: https://fundraising.purdys.com/fundraising/campaign/000032438
Ordering Sheets: Paper forms will also be available in October. And you can also download one from the Purdys website.
Share the Love: Pass the links and forms along to your friends and family so they can join in!
Thank you for your continued support—let’s make this our sweetest holiday season yet!
The Samosa Fundraising Company: Starting November 16th.
Get ready to shop 'til you drop! While we won't officially kick off ordering until November, the online store is officially open for window shopping! Head online right now to check out all the incredible items waiting for you: https://samosafundraiser.com/
✨ Special Highlight: Our very own amazing teacher, Vibha, has her brilliant children’s book up for sale!
Don't wait—start browsing now, make your wishlist, and gather orders from your family and friends. That way, the second we go LIVE in November, you'll be ready to click "buy" and beat the rush!
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
To visit the School District #44 website:
https://www.sd44.ca/programs--services/early-learning/kindergarten/
Below is a timeline that provides families with an idea of what they can expect in the year leading up to a child’s entry to Kindergarten:
October: Attend the Kindergarten information session (details below).
October to January: Register your child for Kindergarten. Information regarding the registration process is available below.
April to May: Attend Ready, Set Learn events.
April: Look for your "Welcome to the NVSD" letter in the mail.
Late June to early July: Information will be sent home by your child’s confirmed school regarding gradual entry in September.
Kindergarten Information Session
Attend the Kindergarten information session to gain a deeper understanding of the school district, including what you can expect as your child enters the school system. Representatives of school programs and community resources will be available to speak with you. To receive a reminder about the information session, please RSVP (optional).
Information session details:
Date: Monday, October 5, 2026
Doors open: 6:30 p.m.
Presentation: 7 p.m.
Location: Carson Graham Secondary, 2145 Jones Avenue, North Vancouver
Kindergarten registration process
The Priority Registration period for 2027/28 Kindergarten (for children born in 2022) is from Thursday, October 15 at 10 a.m. to Tuesday, December 15, 2026 at midnight. All registrations completed during the Priority Registration period will be given the same "date stamp" and will be placed at once when the Priority window closes.
Registrations completed after the the Priority window will be dealt with in the order in which they are received (first come, first served), and after those completed in the Priority Registration period have been placed.
Visit the Kindergarten Registration page for detailed information regarding the registration process.
COLLECTING FOR THE HARVEST PROJECT
As the Thanksgiving season approaches, we invite St. Catherine's families to join us in supporting those in need within our community.
We are collecting food donations for those who may require extra assistance during the holidays.
Please bring your donations to the baskets located in the lobby located next to the Church Office. Your generosity will make a meaningful difference in the lives of many families this Thanksgiving.
Thank you for your kind contributions.
UPCOMING SCHOOL CLOSURES & SPECIAL EVENTS
CHECK OUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CLASSROOMS LAST MONTH!!!
RAINBOW ROOM
Welcome to a New School Year in Rainbow Room!
A warm welcome to all our Rainbow Room families! We are so happy to begin another wonderful school year together. September has been a month of new beginnings, getting to know one another, and gently settling into our classroom routines.
During the first few weeks we learned about our preschool rule, “No One Gets Hurt,” We made a classroom poster with our hands and put it up for the children to see as a reminder to be kind. We also explored the Stop and Go game, as it related to our classroom rules; for instance, running in the classroom = stop, being helpful to our friends = go.
The children have been doing a fantastic job easing into their daily routines. From morning greetings and classroom activities to snack time, outdoor play, and tidying up, they are becoming more familiar and confident with the rhythm of our days. It has been lovely to watch them begin to feel comfortable in their classroom and build connections with their teachers and friends.
All About Me!
For most of September, our theme has been “All About Me.” This has been a wonderful way for the children to share who they are and learn more about the people around them.
We have been talking about ourselves, our families, our likes and dislikes, our feelings, and all the things that make each of us special and unique. Through conversations, stories, songs, art, and classroom activities, the children have had opportunities to express themselves and celebrate what makes them who they are.
It has been especially sweet to see the children becoming more comfortable sharing their ideas and telling us about the people and things that are important to them.
Hello, Autumn!
As September has progressed, we have also begun talking about the beginning of Autumn and what this seasonal change means.
We have noticed that the days are beginning to change and have talked about the cooler weather, changing leaves, and the beautiful colours we see around us. The children have been learning that Autumn is a time when nature changes, and we will continue exploring these changes through our play, stories, art, and outdoor experiences.
There is so much to discover as the seasons change, and we are looking forward to noticing these little changes together!
We talked about National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by discussing kindness, and celebrating everyones uniqueness. We danced, played drums and listened to music and read With Our Orange Hearts. Karen brought in some other pieces to share with the children from her Nation. For art we stamped hearts onto orange shirts to represent acceptance and love.
September has given us a lovely start to the school year. We are proud of how the children are settling in, learning our routines, making new friendships, and becoming part of our Rainbow Room community.
Thank you to all our parents and families for helping make this transition into a new school year a positive and happy one. We are looking forward to a year filled with curiosity, creativity, discovery, and plenty of fun!
Welcome to the Rainbow Room — we are so glad you’re here!
Karen and Azam
TREEHOUSE ROOM
Welcome to a New Preschool Year!
September has been a wonderful start to our preschool year! We have been getting to know one another through our “All About Me” theme. Some children are returning and reconnecting with friends, while others are new to our classroom. We are learning names, sharing about ourselves, and building friendships and a sense of belonging.
We have been talking about kindness, acceptance, and celebrating our differences. We also learned about Truth and Reconciliation and the meaning of Orange Shirt Day through simple conversations and orange-themed art.
The children are getting comfortable with our daily routines, including Circle Time, where we talk about the calendar and days of the week, as well as Art, Gym, and lots of Outdoor play. They were especially excited to create their first art projects and proudly take them home to share with their families!
We have noticed some wonderful imaginative play beginning already! This is one of the very first group of children we’ve had over the years who have started this kind of make-believe play with each other so early in the school year. They are having so much fun taking turns pretending to be caregivers, babies, older siblings, and even family pets. Interestingly, the favourite pet this year seems to be dogs—in previous years, it always tended to be cats! It has been an absolute joy watching their imaginations come to life and seeing their storytelling develop through play.
The children have been loving our time outdoors. Please remember to send your child in comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and footwear for outdoor time. Extra clothes are always a good idea!
We are looking forward to a wonderful year of learning, playing, making friends, and growing together at preschool in the Treehouse Room.
Gabi and Mary
RESOURCE ROOM - MARION
The children are settling in nicely to their daily routines and are enjoying playing with their peers, both old and new. Gradual entry was quicker this year and seems to have gone very well. Some children needed some extra time to adjust and the teachers have been flexible to acknowledge this.
The children in the Rainbow Room are learning to share and interact with their peers. They will play beside and around each other, but there is very little interaction during play. This play is called Parallel Play. At Circle Time the children enjoy felt stories, songs and movement activities.
In the Treehouse Room the play is becoming more cooperative and interactive. The children are learning to be more independent by going up and down the stairs while holding the railing. When they arrive they hang up their coats and get their snacks/lunches out of their back packs and put them on the shelf in their cubbies.
Children learn language and develop literacy skills through play. Play fosters creativity and imagination in the world around them They learn to make decisions, problem solve, negotiate and manage stress.
We have an open door policy. Please speak with the teachers if you have any questions or concerns. You can also email the office.
North Vancouver School District - KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION for 2027-2028 (for children born in 2022) is from Thursday, October 15th. 2026 @ 10 am to December 15th, 2026 @ midnight.
INFORMATION SESSION:
Location: Carson Graham Secondary, 2145 Jones Ave, North Vancouver
Date: Monday, October 5th, 2026
Time: Doors open 6:30 pm
Presentation: 7 pm