Dear Families,
Just a few updates this week to ensure the kids second full week back goes smoothly. Please take a few minutes to review the informational items below to help us make sure all families have a common understanding.
- Student School Supplies
Thank you to the many families who have already brought in or paid for their children’s school supplies. The cost for the supplies is a one time fee of $55, or two payments (September -$30/ February $25), for all school supplies (including planner). We had a few families who mistakenly paid an additional $7 for the planner online. We will refund any families who over payed early in October. Teaching staff will organize these student supplies in a manner that ensures children are not sharing them.
- Student Cell Phone Use During the Day
Many older students bring cell phones to school for safety and communication. While at school we ask students to put these devices away during the school day so they can focus on their learning and be socially engaged with their peers. Recently, we have had a number of students who are regularly getting phone calls or texts from their parents who are expecting them to answer during the day. To help maintain an excellent learning environment for all students we ask that families limit their phone calls and texts to children to before and after school times unless it is an emergency. A full explanation of our school’s technology policy can be found in the student planner.
- School Parking Lot & Pick Up/Drop Off Routines
Our morning school parking lot routine went quite smoothly this past week with many families able to quickly drop children off and go. There is still however, a significant amount of congestion during the afternoon pick up time. Thank you for everyone’s patience during this after school pick time to help ensure the children can leave the school grounds safely. I anticipate that there will continue to be significant congestion (and limited parking) during afternoon pick up times until the Community Center construction is finished. To help ease congestion please consider 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.
- 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.
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.
Sincerely,
Mr. Wheatley