Welcome to our 2021/2022 school year at Edith McDermott Elementary!

September 2021

Hi Everybody…..

Welcome to our 2021/2022 school year at Edith McDermott Elementary! 

Like myself I’m sure many of you were optimistic and hopeful to a return to what we all know as a normal school environment as the last 18 months or so of schooling has been very challenging, complex but not without some reward.  The individuals, (staff, students, parents and guardians) making up our wonderful community truly demonstrated their resolve and commitment to the success of all kids in the face of any challenges. It really makes one feel secure about the coming year to know that that resolve, and commitment is here and will remain here as we busily prepare safe and welcoming environments to keep our children, successful, cared for and safe this school year.

Many of you have seen the recent letter from our Superintendent, Mr. Harry Dhillon.  In that letter he outlined some of the changes for this school year.  The most important to note is the first day of school.  Students will be in attendance on Tuesday September 7^th from 12:30-2:25pm.  This time shift is to accommodate training/orientation on the updated Provincial COVID-19 Communicable Disease Guidelines for K-12 School Settings.

As is the practice here, returning students will return to their last year’s classroom with the previous year’s teacher in most cases. In the case of our returning kindergarten (now grade 1 students) they will enter through last year’s entry way however they will be engaged with different teachers as our current kindergarten teachers will be involved in intake meetings for the incoming kindergarten students. New students will line up at the front doors of the school and be dismissed at the front door on the first day.  After that, they will be temporarily placed in a Homeroom class for the remainder of the week.

A Few Quick Points:

• Parking lot will be remaining closed this year
• Visitors to the school will remain limited to appointment only and must complete a health check prior to entry
• Daily health checks are to continue (please keep your child home if they are demonstrating any signs of illness.
• Masks are mandatory for all students from grade 4-7 and highly encouraged for students K-3
• Regular and rigorous hand hygiene will continue in the school
• Students will eat lunch between 11:30 and 11:50 under teacher supervision
• The end of the regular school day is now 2:25

I hope you enjoy the remaining days of summer.   As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out, anytime via email, text school phone or cell. I don’t always answer  but I regularly check messages.

Here’s to another great year in what is a great community, Edith McDermott Elementary.

Looking forward to seeing you all next week.

Alan Millar

Principal

604-626-2112