Summer Mailing

Hello Aberdeen Hall Families,

I hope you are enjoying a relaxing and restful summer with family and friends.

The First Day of School

Save the Date

New Families

New Family Orientation - Kindergarten - Grade 12

New students entering Kindergarten to Grade 12 are welcome to attend an orientation on August 28 from 3:00 - 4:00pm. The orientation will allow new students to meet the division principals, tour the school and ask any questions they may have before the first day of school. We look forward to meeting you!

New Preschool Family Orientation- Teddy Bear Picnic

When: August 29, 10:00 - 11:00am

Location: Aberdeen Hall, exact location TBA

Come along with your favourite stuffed friend for a magical hour of fun and friendship. We'll sing songs, share giggles, and enjoy a delightful picnic with our cuddly companions.

Meet our fantastic team, make new friends, and create cherished memories together.

Cold drinks will be served please pack a nut-free picnic snack.

Important New Student Information Required by Student Records - Please Complete the New Family Emergency Contact

If you have not already filled out the New Family Emergency form, please click the appropriate link below for your child. 

Please contact studentrecords@aberdeenhall.com if you have any questions.

General Information

The Aberdeen Hall Family Handbook

This handbook has been designed to provide you with a reference for communication and protocol. We hope that these guidelines will answer all of the questions that you may have.

We welcome your feedback and appreciate your ongoing support. Read the Family Handbook HERE.

The 2024 - 2025 School Calendar

You can check all important dates from the coming school year in the 2024 - 2025 School Calendar HERE.

Bus Registration

Registration for the 2024/25 school year is now open! Please note that students must re-enroll each school year. If you were on the bus last year, you must sign up again this year.

There is no deadline for registration; however, seating is limited and spots are reserved on a first come, first served basis.

You can review all bus routes on our website here.

If you have bussing questions please contact transportation@aberdeenhall.com.

Kindergarten - Grade 5 After School Care

Our After School Care program is offered on all, full school days, Monday to Friday from 3:15 - 5:15pm. To register students in Kindergarten to Grade 5, for full - time or occasional use, please visit the link below. If you have any questions, please contact holly.corbett@aberdeenhall.com.

Student Parking

Any students who are planning to drive themselves to school must display a student parking pass (please note: students must reapply each year for a new pass). Students need to complete a Student Parking Pass Application Form and can deliver it to Junior Hall Reception along with their parking fee - cash only please!

Kindergarten Information

Kindergarten is an exciting milestone in a child’s life and we are excited to welcome your child to our program in September. You likely have many questions and we encourage you to read our 'Kindergarten Welcome Letter' below.

School Supply Lists

School Supply Lists

The school provides school supplies for K-Grade 3 students. Students (Grades 4-12) are asked to bring labeled items (name and grade) with them on the first day of school. 

Performing Arts - Grades 3 - 12

Renting vs. Buying Your Instrument

Renting or purchasing your instruments are both options and Matthew Thomas, the school liaison at Wentworth Music in Kelowna, is happy to guide you through the process.

We don't recommend purchasing an instrument from an online source such as Amazon without adequate knowledge and experience, as the instrument will not have been properly set up by a technician and may be difficult for a student to practice on.

Some Tips on Choosing an Instrument

For Guitar, Bass, Violin and Cello, the important factors are:

• The ability to hold its tuning
• The correct size/scale
• Comfort

For instruments in Contemporary Music:

It is recommended to wait until students have met with their teacher in September and an area of focus is explored. Some students in this course will choose to try different instruments throughout the year.

Questions about Performing Arts can be directed to Tom Stinson, Director of Performing Arts.

Save the Dates

November 20, 2024 - Grades 1 & 2 Musical Productions

February 11, 2025 - High School Music Concert

March 4, 2025 - Middle School Music Concert

April 8, 2025 - Junior School Drama Production

May 6, 2025 - Grade 3-5 Music Concert

Uniform Fitting Appointments - Kindergarten - Grade 12

The Uniform Shop is located on campus, upstairs in the new Athletics and Wellness Centre. The Uniform Shop will be open this summer from August 6 - 30 from 9:00am - 3:00pm.

August 6 - 23 - Fittings by appointment only.

August 26 - 30 - Drop-ins welcome.

Please book one 30-minute appointment time for a new family/student uniform fitting. 

If you have any questions please contact Rachelle Couillard.

Please note, you will have to register for a new account if you haven't previously used the booking site. Here's how:

1. Go to our school appointments website here: https://aberdeenhall.schoolappointments.com/?action=login-form

2. Register for an account by clicking the "REGISTER" menu tab and filling in the online form.

Choose a user ID and password for yourself and then click the "Register Now" button.

3. Add your children into the system by clicking the "Add a Student" button. Click "Insert New"

button to add more children.

4. Click the "date" icon beside each child's name to schedule appointments.

Experienced Uniforms Sale - Save the Date

Thanks to the generous donations by school families, the Parent Guild has a large inventory of gently used uniform items. 

Our Annual Experienced Uniforms Sale will be August 17, 2024 | 10:00 - 12:00pm

Where: 3000 Lakeview Cove Rd, West Kelowna

Cash or cheque only please.

For questions or request, please text or phone Karen Quigley at 250-860-7147. You can also reach out to Karen at any time of the year regarding used uniforms. She manages the inventory of experienced uniforms, year-round.

Aberdeen Hall is proud to provide a healthy, hot lunch program five days a week for students from Preschool through Grade 12. Watch for further correspondence and sign-up information. Questions regarding our hot lunch program can be directed to Rachelle Couillard at rachelle.couillard@aberdeenhall.com. 

Hot Lunch Volunteers Needed

The hot lunch program starts in early September, and we are always in need of a few more hands. Volunteers choose a commitment level that best fits their schedule (weekly, bi-weekly, or on-call). Shifts run 10:45am to 12:30pm daily. Please contact us at lunchvolunteer@aberdeenhall.com if you are interested in joining the hot lunch team.

All parents are invited to attend Guild meetings throughout the year and the first meeting of the year is particularly well-attended. We hope to see you there!

When: Tuesday, September 10, 8:30am

Location: TBD (on campus)

Hello from the Parent Guild Executive

We hope you are enjoying the summer break and making the most of the sunshine!

This past year we were thrilled to again host a full lineup of events and initiatives that brought a lot of joy to our community. The much loved regulars, Gryphons’ Night and the Big White Tubing event, and the newer traditions like the wildly popular Pre-Loved Book Sale, which was a smashing success!

Our Parent Volunteers at the Holiday Bake Sale!

We can’t do it without you! Click the link below for detailed information on how to get involved.

Please contact guild@aberdeenhall.com with any questions about Parent Guild activities.

Get Involved! The Parent Guild is Looking to Fill Two Key Roles this Fall.

The Guild Executive is in search of two volunteers from our community to fill key roles beginning October 1, 2024.

Role: Treasurer

Executive Position: Yes

Commitment: Two hours per week at peak times

Qualifications: CPA/Bookkeeper or finance experience preferred

Description: Assists the Guild in managing its finances including the BC Gaming and Lotto Grant funds. Most significant duties include preparing and monitoring the annual budget, approving disbursements, reporting to the Guild the financial results, supporting the Committee Treasurer and bookkeeper, applying for Gaming Grants and submitting Gaming Reports. A full description of duties is available upon request. 

Role: Committee Treasurer

Executive Position: No

Commitment: 15-20 hours per school year in support of Gryphons' Night and the Golf Tournament committees. 

Qualifications: An eye for detail. Training provided.

Description: Supports the Executive Team and event committees in the oversight of event finances including attending Zoom event committee meetings, preparing and monitoring event budgets, and overseeing float distribution and cash collection during major events such as Gryphons' Night and the Golf Tournament. 

For inquiries or to learn more, please email guild@aberdeenhall.com.

Please note, this is an adult only event.

If you have any questions, please contact the Parent Guild at guild@aberdeenhall.com or Director of Development Kylee Wilson at kylee.wilson@aberdeenhall.com. 

Advancement and

Community Development

You're Invited!

The Advancement Team hosts several events throughout the year with the aim of encouraging community support and involvement

AUGUST EVENTS

Her professional career was played in the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) with the Calgary Inferno and in the Swedish Damettan with the Malmö Redhawks.

On July 3, 2024, Jessica was hired to be the assistant coach for the Seattle Kraken, making her the first female coach to be behind the bench in NHL history.

Jessica will be speaking at Aberdeen Hall on Tuesday, August 27th from 1:00-2:00pm in the Athletics and Wellness Centre. Please RSVP below. We hope to see you there. 

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

Grade Level Coffee Meet and Greets

This is a wonderful opportunity for our parents to meet the division principals and many of the other staff and faculty that make up the community of Aberdeen Hall - not to mention, the chance to connect with other parents in your child(ren)'s grades, ask questions and hear about how to get involved in the school. We would love to meet all of you!

Meet and Greets will take place from 8:30-9:30am the week of September 9, 2024 in the Glavey Cafe (located in Holzhey Hall).

Meet the Board Wine and Cheese

The Aberdeen Hall Board of Directors is a group of dedicated volunteers who lend their time, expertise and commitment to ensuring the school's sustainability across many dimensions, including strong school leadership, strategic planning and financial and risk stewardship, for current and future generations of Aberdeen Hall families.

Please join us at a wine and cheese event to meet our Board of Directors and including Board Chair, Dr. Monica Penner on October 3 at 7:00pm. We ask that you RSVP by September 25, 2024, so that we can ensure accurate numbers for refreshments.

We opened the Athletics and Wellness Centre (AWC) in April 2024 and held our first whole school assembly. This fantastic new building holds so much opportunity for our student athletes, and the community as a whole, and would not be possible without the generosity of our donors.

We continue to fundraise for the finishings and furnishings for the gym as well as our new STEM lab which will open in September. Please visit our Giving Tree to see how you can make an impact on these important projects.

We are so grateful for our strong parent partnership and our Director of Development, Kylee Wilson, looks forward to connecting with our new families this fall to start conversations on how to become involved with philanthropy here at Aberdeen Hall. 

Athletics

THE ABERDEEN HALL GRYPHONS BASKETBALL CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

We are excited to announce the beginning of a basketball training program for students Grades 6 - 12, which will include over 100 hours of training throughout the school year with UBCO Heat Assistant Coach, Mitch Goodwin!

You can read about the program HERE.

Who to Contact