Dear Families,
Thank you for helping our school to have a very smooth start up last week. All the health and safety routines that were put into place worked well and the kids seemed very excited. This week, the biggest challenge for our school will be establishing some settled pick up and drop off routines around the school and within the parking lot. With the large size of our school, we will need the help of all families to ensure these routines work well in the coming weeks. Please take a few minutes to review the informational items below to ensure this week goes smoothly for your family.
School Parking Lot & Pick Up/Drop Off Routines
Our school parking lot is going to be extremely busy immediately before and after the school day with limited available parking spaces. There will continue to be limited parking until the Community Center construction is finished. We have structured and staggered student entrance/exit routines to ensure safe and controlled movement into the school but we will need some assistance to ensure the parking lot area is a safe for students.
For easy access to the school we recommend families do the following whenever possible:
- Walk to school
- Park away from the school and walk onto the school grounds
- Most traffic congestion can be avoided by, arranging drop off and pick up times 10 minutes before the morning bell, and 10 minutes after the afternoon bell.
- Consider a “drop and go” routine in the parking lot to avoid the need to park and reduce congestion.
- We have staff supervision outside in the front and rear of the school slightly before and after school to assist students.
To ensure that students can safely enter and exit the school property, and to allow traffic moved smoothly within the school driveway/parking lot, we ask families to following routines:
- Our school driveway is one way only. ALL vehicles must enter use the entrance at the top of the hill (closer to SRT) and exit using at the bottom of the hill (closer to 240th) .
- ALL parked vehicles must be in dedicated park spaces.
- Drivers waiting with their vehicle may wait in the parking stall area (vehicles cannot be left unattended).
- When dropping off and picking up please remember to drive as far down the main school driveway as possible before pulling over to the right side. When vehicles drive further into the driveway we are able to accommodate far more vehicles during peak times. Our driveway is equipped to accommodate two lanes of traffic. The right lane should be a “drop and go” space and the left lane should always be free to allow traffic to easily flow towards the exit.
- Please teach your children to use the school’s two designated crosswalks with to reduce the chances of an accident.
- Please do not park in the entrance and exit corners of the school’s main driveway. It is unsafe and prevents other vehicles from safely entering and exiting the school parking lot.
Around the school building
When walking (or waiting) with students around the school building we ask that parents pay attention to the following:
- As much as possible, all adults on school property should practice social distancing and maintain a good physical spacing.
- Remind your children (as needed) that the rule for them when waiting and playing outside is hands off (not social distancing).
- To reduce congestion around the school consider dropping older children off by their POD doors and leaving instead of waiting. We have supervision each morning at the front and rear of the school and will take good care of the kids.
- Scooters and bikes must be walked on the school’s main sidewalks, and near school POD entrances in the 15 minutes before and after school. If students wish to use their scooters during these times they may do so down by the grass field.
Student School Supplies
IN the next couple of weeks, classroom teachers will begin to ask families for payment for students school supplies. Families have the option of paying a one time fee of $55 or two payments (September -$30/ February $25) for all school supplies (and planner). Teaching staff will organize these student supplies in a manner that ensures children are not sharing them.
This has been a very busy summer, and we have many new families to our school, so if there any families have already purchased school supplies already this is not a problem. Simply send these supplies into the school instead and we will organize them with the students.
Students Daily Health Assessment
A BIG thank you to all families who have already completed the SD 42 Daily Health Assessment on the Parent Portal. We have now had the majority of families now review this form. This consent form is required so all families are aware of the COVID-19 symptoms and how to assess for them daily. If any family is still having difficulty completing this form online on the Parent Portal we will have some paper copies available again at the front entrance of the school when you arrive tomorrow. With families and staff working together to ensure that students are healthy I expect us to have a very healthy school this year!
Our School Office Contact Information
If you need to contact us with questions or need to report your child’s absence/late information please call:
- 604.466.6231
- Our school email is cqe_reception@sd42.ca and can be found under the link on our school website.
We are looking forward to seeing the kids at school again this week!
Sincerely,
Mr. Wheatley