Dear Families,
I hope everyone has been able to have a restful weekend! Below are a few final reminders for families who are bringing their children back to the school this week for “in class” instruction. I think we have a good plan in place to keep students and staff safe while still allowing for some fun and learning for the month of June. You will also find a final reminder for families wishing to purchase a year book to celebrate our school’s first year ever! It has photos of all the classes and of the many special events. It will be a nice keepsake for the kids to remember our first year together at c̓əsqənelə. A big thank you to the student year book crew, Mrs. Smith, and Ms. Palmer for creating a wonderful book remotely! The price for the Yearbook is $13 and the last day to place an order is THIS Tuesday!
https://store.plicbooks.ca/projects/90ac1b36-0726-4914-8d37-450c7dba0a5b
Daily/Weekly Schedule:
With more than 50% of students returning in several classrooms our school will run two “in class” learning groups as explained below. To ensure we can provide the best level of support for ALL children, families with siblings within the school, and children of Essential Service Workers will be prioritized for attendance within the Tuesday and Thursday groupings.
- Mondays: students enrolled in grade 6, 6/7 and grade 7 classes opting for part-time in-class instruction will attend this day from 8:30 am to 2:20 pm. There will be a second grade 6/7 grouping on Wednesdays for some students to ensure maximum safety.
- Tuesdays and Thursdays: [Group 1] students enrolled in kindergarten to Grade 5/6 classes opting for part-time in-class instruction will attend these two days from 8:30 am to 2:20 pm. Note: Grade 6 students in grade 5/6 combined classes will only attend Tuesdays.
- Wednesdays and Fridays: [Group 2] students enrolled in kindergarten to Grade 5/6 classes opting for part-time in-class instruction will attend these two days from 8:30 to 2:20 pm
- Monday to Friday: Kindergarten to Grade 7 aged children of Essential Service Workers (ESWs) that have been registered with the school will attend Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 2:20 pm.
Drop-off/Pick-up:
Parents are asked to ensure physical distancing during the busy drop-off and pick-up times. To reduce traffic, and pedestrian congestion, around the school during pick up and drop off times we are using a soft start and soft finish approach. There will be a 15 minute window each morning between 8:30-8:45 and 2:05-2:20 for parents to drop off and pick up students. Teachers will contact parents if there are any additional routines for individual PODs once we know how many students are returning to each teaching space.
Consistent with recommendations from public health, entry into the school building will be limited to students and staff. Should you have a need to enter the school building, please first call the office between the hours of 8:00 am and 3:30 pm to speak with staff.
Students are to continue to use their usual POD entrances except for the Gr.3/4 Wolf POD (Brinkert, Borghardt, and Graham). We ask that these Gr. 3/4 students please wait on the grass and paved area near the field at the West end of the school to reduce congestion along the laneway at the rear of the school. For all other POD entrances, we expect that there will be sufficient space along the school walkways for students and parents to enter safely with this soft start and finish approach. Once children have entered into the school classroom teachers will coordinate how students can most easily access cubbies, classrooms, and wash hands.
Required Daily Health Screening:
You must assess your child(ren) every morning before sending them to school. All students who have any of the following symptoms must stay at home and parents should follow up with their health care provider or call 811:
- common cold
- influenza (flu)
- COVID-like symptoms
- any other infectious respiratory disease
If any family member or close contact of your child(ren) is showing COVID-like symptoms or has been confirmed to have contracted COVID-19, your child must stay home and you should contact your health care provider or call 811.
If your child becomes ill while at school, we will follow the advice set out in Public Health Guidance for K-12 School Settings and contact you to come to the school right away to pick up your child.
Attendance/Reporting Absences: If your child is not attending due to illness or any other reason, please contact the school at 604-466-6231 or using the c̓əsqənelə email button on the school website to report the absence. Attendance will be taken by staff each morning and we will follow up with parents on all absences not already reported to the school.
What Should Your Child Bring to School?
Please ensure that your child brings to school the following items:
- a morning and afternoon snack and a lunch
- their personal or school district loaned computer/iPad
- personal water bottle (school drinking water fountains have limited access)
Please also ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather as we will be incorporating time outside on the school grounds both during supervised break times and as part of educational programming. Parents are asked to ensure that children are not bringing personal toys to school at this time.
Shape of the Day/Playgrounds:
While in-class days will start at 8:30 am and end at 2:20 pm, recess and lunch breaks will continue to be split by age and grade to permit maximum space for student to play outside during break times. Students will be permitted to use playground equipment under supervision of staff followed by hand washing with soap.
Again, we look forward to welcoming your children to school this week. Please do not hesitate to contact us at the office number (604-466-6231) or by email on the school website if you have any questions.
I hope everyone has a terrific week!
Mr.W.