Dear VTT Families,

I hope you are enjoying your summer and our beautiful Vancouver weather.

All of us at VTT have been hard at work preparing for the coming school year. As part of our commitment to keep you informed, I want to update you on a number of exciting plans and recent developments.

Construction Update

As announced in June, VTT is moving forward with the much needed expansion and revitalization of our campus. The first shovels went in the ground on June 26th when the Gordon and Leslie Diamond family, members of VTT's Board and Campaign leadership and approximately 30 junior helpers turned the first ceremonial soil. The professionals have been involved ever since and we are already seeing dramatic changes. Most notably, the Wosk Auditorium (main gym) demolition will be completed today and the fencing will be set up next week to lock off the construction zone from the main school. (Please scroll to the bottom of this email to see some photos.)

We are also making great progress on the total renovation of the preschool 4 classrooms, which will be ready for learning at the start of the school year.

We are working closely with our architects, engineers and project manager to ensure every safety precaution is exercised throughout the demolition and construction process.

Physical Education Programming Update

As we communicated in June, we have revamped and enhanced our phys-ed program for 2014/2015 while we are without our main gym. Specifically, we are moving our phys ed program for the intermediate grades (Grades 4-7) to the JCC for the coming school year. Mr. Noel has been working with us and the JCC to ensure excellent programming opportunities to allow our students to take advantage of the JCC's outstanding athletic facilities next year. Grade 3 will have some of their gym time at Douglas Park Community Centre. Grades 1 & 2 will continue to have phys ed classes at the school in the lower gym, as has always been the case.

Both Mr. Noel and Mr. Lotzkar have also planned increased outdoor activities for our students this year--weather permitting--on temporary outdoor space we have leased from Congregation Beth Israel and at Braemar Park down the block.

In the coming weeks, we will send a more detailed communication to families with students in the intermediate grades regarding our plans for transporting students to and from the JCC for phys ed classes.

After School Programming

Our after school sports programming has been moved to the JCC this year. Mr. Noel and Mr. Lotzkar will continue running floor hockey and soccer activities from the JCC. Also on offer is RBL Basketball, various arts programs, and a health, nutrition and fitness program for pre-teens aged 9-12. Click this link to register for any of these programs. Registration is now open.

We will continue to offer chess club on Tuesdays and Mad Science on Wednesdays at Talmud Torah. Registration is also open for these programs. Click this link to download all the registration forms.

Beth Israel Temporary Play Space and VTT Playground Usage

We are excited to have secured additional outdoor play space at Congregation Beth Israel. This month we will be installing a fence and other infrastructure to ensure safe and easy access from the VTT playground. We anticipate that this space will be ready for use towards the middle of September.

As a programming note, we have also changed the recess schedule to ensure there are fewer students on the playground at any given time and that everyone has enough room to run and play.

Parking Plan

I am excited to report that the joint VTT-BI Parkade is complete and ready for occupancy. In the coming weeks, we will be communicating the traffic plan to transition our families for drop-off, parking and pick-up for the 2014-15 school year. A comprehensive traffic and parking plan will be circulated in the coming weeks.

VTT School Bus

I am pleased to announce that we will be offering our VTT Westside Bus morning service again this year. Forms will be sent for registration for both morning and afternoon service towards the end of August. Should demand for afternoon service exceed supply, we will schedule two bus runs at the end of the day: the first to the JCC only and the second to the JCC (if necessary) and then to Vancouver's Westside.

Interim Judaics Plan

With Rabbi Bellas's departure, we have been working with our Judaics faculty to ensure continuity in the curriculum and enhancements to the program. We are committed to offering an outstanding program in Judaics while we initiate a formal leadership search in the fall. Joining us this year is a roster of religious leaders who will work in partnership with our faculty to contribute to the fabric of Jewish life and tradition at VTT.

Please join me in welcoming:

Shoshana Burton, Interim Director of Jewish Life & Programming

Rabbi Andrew Rosenblatt, Grade 6

Rabbi Jonathan Infeld, Grades 5 & 7

Rabbi Dan Moskovitz, Preschool, Kindergarten and Grade 4

Rabbi Carey Brown, Primary grades

Ba'alat Tefilah Debby Fenson, Grade 5 Torah Trope

Cantor Lawrence Szenes-Strauss, Grade 4

I look forward to welcoming all families on the first day of school, Wednesday, September 3rd. Everyone is invited to join us for a "Back to School Coffee" in the lower gym right after drop off. Come say hello to old friends and help greet our many new families! Preschool and Kindergarten parents warmly encourage to attend as well! 

In the meantime, please stay tuned for further updates.

Shabbat Shalom,

Cathy Lowenstein, M.Ed.

Head of School