Signal Hill Circular - March 11th, 2022

March 11th, 2022

Dear Signal Hill Families,

Please see our Updated Signal Hill Communicable Disease Plan which reflects some changes that will be implemented on the return to school after Spring Break.

We wrapped-up a busy last week before Spring Break today with a school wide "Beach Day". Students and staff were encouraged to wear "beach attire" and music and other festivities rounded out the fun. Many classes also marked the "100th Day of School" this week with math and number related learning activities. Staff also enjoyed a delicious Staff Appreciation lunch prepared by our PAC and school community members.

Our Intermediate students enjoyed a presentation about energy conservation led by BC Lions professional football players Andrew Peirson and Peter Godber. Thanks for visiting Signal Hill!

Thank you as well to everyone that supported our school EarlyAct Club's Juvenile Diabetes Fundraiser.

Congratulations to our very own students, Sterling and Madison Seitz, Emmett Harvey and Laine Kauffman. The Whistler Minor Hockey Association Winterhawks U13A team went 3 for 3 in the Final Four Championships this past weekend in Langley and are now headed to the BC Provincial Championships in Mission, March 19-23rd. Good luck!

We wish all our families, students, and staff a happy, healthy, and safe Spring Break. See you in two weeks!

News, Updates, and Reminders:

NEW BUS PASSES FOR ALL STUDENT RIDERS

NEW INFORMATION – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!

Our school district is implementing a school bus-pass system across the district. This system is designed to help the district control the number of students allocated to ride our buses as well as identifying which students are riding on the buses. This program will help if we have any emergencies and is part of our safety plan.

This week we distributed personal passes to all students who ride the bus. They will use them for the first time to get on the bus to go home. We suggest that you fasten them to their backpacks some way either with a zip tie, lanyard or shoelace so they can be easily scanned.

Some children on bus runs did not receive passes as they were missed by the Transportation office in Squamish. We have requested passes for them and they will get them after spring break.

For other reasons your child may not have received a pass:

1. If your child needs to ride the bus because of an address change, please contact the school and give them your new address and a bus pass will be issued.

2. The Plateau is right in the middle of the walk zone. The district permits children from grades K-3 to ride the bus so your older children did not receive a bus pass.

3. Students with split families that need to ride the bus to a parent’s home.

For reasons 2 or 3, please fill out a Courtesy Ridership form and email it to: [email protected] or [email protected] or call 604-894-6434 and speak to Nic.

If your child does not have their pass, they will not be refused bus service. If your child loses their pass, you will need to contact Paul Else, Manager of Transportation at [email protected] or 604-892-5228 extension #201 so they can issue a new one for your child.

The buses are not to be used to transport friends to other children’s homes or to go to birthday parties, after school activities, etc. The bus drivers have the right to refuse ridership if your child is not on their bus list. Please find alternate transportation – thank you for your understanding.

Purdy's Chocolate Grade 7 Fundraiser

Deadline to order online is March 21.
Pick-up will be early April at the school
Direct link to our fundraiser: https://fundraising.purdys.com/394108-94234
Catalogue: https://em.purdys.com/gnf/easter2022/2022_Easter_Catalogue_Fundraising.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3MibZbUGgBXkSGou8dqek0diuFEALac11bQ6WMG6VRIxXUZbHxLeKXdE0

Kindergarten Registration for 2022-23

Kindergarten (children born in 2017) registration continues. Please come to the school to pick up forms and register your children. We also need their birth certificate or passport and their care card to register.

Planning for 2022-23 School Year

Are you planning to move to another school for the next school year? Is your child planning to leave the French Immersion program? Do you plan to enroll another child that’s not in kindergarten? Please inform our office so we can plan for our next school year.

Important Dates for Next Week:

Monday, March 14th to Friday, March 25th - SPRING BREAK!!

Monday March 28th - First Day Back to School

What Parents and Students Need to Know

Digital Citizenship and Online Safety Resources:

https://mediasmarts.ca/parents

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ ("The Parents Need to Know" tab)

SD48 Ed Plan - Goal

What Does and Educated Society Look Like?

The resources below provide tips for teachers and parents that we hope are helpful for our students and families to discuss the crisis in Ukraine.

How to Talk to Kids About Violence, Crime, and War: Common Sense Media gathers tips and conversation starters to help you talk to kids of different ages about the toughest topics.

Resilience in a time of war: Tips for parents and teachers of elementary school children: This article from the American Psychological Association can help adults guide their young children beyond fear and to resilience.

Resilience in a time of war: Tips for parents and teachers of middle school children: The American Psychological Association breaks out tips and strategies for parents and teachers of middle school-aged children.

National Child Traumatic Stress Network provides resources that can be filtered by topic or keyword and by audience with a focus on how adults can identify traumatic responses in young people and how to support them.

Truth and Reconciliation

Some examples of our continuing journey from this week:

We are proud to display our new Lil'Wat Nation flag in our school front entrance.