Dear DG Families.

2023-2024 School Year

We are beginning the process of planning for the next school.  If you are moving and are not planning to return to Devon Gardens in the fall, please make sure that you let our office know.

2023-2024 Class Placement Information

In the coming weeks, we will start to tentatively look at next year’s organization and possible class placements for students.

Some Things to Know about Our Process:

Class placements are important decisions and something that teachers consider very carefully.

FACTORS & CONSIDERATIONS: Assigning students to classes is a very complex task that takes into consideration a variety of factors, including: learning styles and strengths, what a student is able to achieve in relation to the goals of the curriculum, degree of independence in work habits, social and personal needs, age and physical maturity, previous placements, gender balance of class, etc….

The number of staff members assigned to our school is decided by the Superintendent’s Office and is based on projected student enrolment. Enrolment estimates and class size guidelines affect the configuration of classes, which may also necessitate a particular organizational configuration (i.e. whether or not we have combined or “split” classes and the number of students, per grade, in the class).

SCHOOL-BASED DECISIONS: The professional staff is in contact with children in the school setting for 30 hours a week. Your child’s present teacher, along with other educators who work with your child, have a year’s worth of current, rich information and insight about the conditions under which your child learns best. Therefore, decisions around where to place students are determined through school-based, team decisions, based on their recommendations.

INPUT FROM PARENTS: As our partners in education, parents may also have important information to assist us with the placement of students. Parents are welcome to share with the school personal, educational, or social information that could affect their child’s placement. Our staff will keep in mind this information, along with the above considerations, when building classes.

If you have information about your child and the kind of learning environment in which she/he best works and learns, and you would like to share this information with our staff, please fill in the “Parent Information” form by clicking on the link below.   Please complete the form no later than Tuesday, May 23rd, 2023. 

It is important to note that it is not possible for parents to choose their child’s teacher or make requests regarding other students. Teachers who are currently on staff may not be here next year, may not be assigned the same grade, or may not teach a class configuration that meets your child’s learning needs. Whatever the scenario, we strive to place your child in a warm, caring environment that will maximize his/her learning potential.

Should you have information you wish to share with us, please fill in the form by Tuesday, May 23rd, 2023.  Please fill in 1 form for every child.

Please note, parents are not required to do this.  It’s optional.

https://forms.gle/Yrs3wKTVKx3yD8cA9

Adult Crossing Guard Still Needed

Student Crossing Guard Schedule:

Thank you for your continued support of the crossing guard program at Devon Gardens. This important leadership role helps keep the students safe. If you know you are going to be away for an extended period because of a planned vacation, please encourage your child to find their own replacements and to let Ms. Grund know.   All Crossing Guards have been provided the schedule.

Updated Crossing Guard Schedule 

Reminder, please do not walk through the staff parking lot

In the mornings especially, there are still a number of students/families walking through the staff parking lot (walking/running between parked cars, blocking entry to the parking lot & parking spots, etc..).   This is NOT SAFE.  When approaching from the front side of the school, please walk up Downs Road, use the path across the front grass, or walk around the back of the school, by the gym.

Please don’t send your children to school when they are ill

Are you interested in hosting an international student?

The School District is looking for Host Families….

Student Learning Survey – Grades 4 and 7

The Provincial Student Learning Survey is unique in its scope, size and usefulness to schools. It gathers information from parents/guardians/caregivers, teachers, and students on topics related to school environment, safety, and achievement. The information is used for planning in individual schools and provides a district and provincial perspective.

Each year, the Student Learning Survey is administered at school to students in grades 4 and 7 (our grades 4 and 7 students will be completing the survey before the end of April).   Parents/guardians/caregivers of students in these grades, as well as school staff, are also invited to complete the survey. The surveys contain standard questions for the Province – in addition, questions from the school and/or district that focus on local conditions or issues may be included. The survey can be completed electronically and can be accessed on the Internet at  www.bced.gov.bc.ca/sat_survey/access.htm

Any computer with an Internet connection can be used, and access to the e-survey is simple and secure.

To complete the survey:

1. Go to any computer that has an up-to-date internet browser .

2. Go to www.bced.gov.bc.ca/sat_survey/access.htm

3. Under the section Direct Access – no logon number required select:

· District: the name of your child’s district (Delta)

· School: the name of your child’s school (Devon Gardens)

· Language: the language of your choice

4. Complete the survey by clicking on the appropriate circle to answer each question. Move to the next set of questions by clicking on the right arrow in the bottom right corner of the screen. Click on the left arrow to navigate backwards.

5. When you are finished the survey, you will get a message “Thank you for sharing your views”.

The e-survey site will be open until April 28th. If you have any questions, please contact the school at 604-581-6185.

Spring Plant Sale – Grade 7 Year End Fundraising Event

Growing Smiles Plant Fundraiser – to help support end-of-year activities for the grade 7 students of Devon Gardens Elementary,

For details on items and prices, please visit Devon Gardens Elementary (growingsmilesfundraising.com).

Ordering closes Thursday, May 4 (midnight) and order pick-up will be at the school (lower parking lot) on Thursday, May 18 at 4:00pm. Orders can be placed and paid for through the link provided.

All proceeds from the sale will go towards funding various end-of-year activities for grade 7 students.

Thank you in advance for your support,

Grade 7 Fundraising Committee Parents

Family Fun Night is scheduled for 5-8 PM on June 15th, 2023 and is an event the PAC puts on annually.  With COVID, however, it hasn’t happened for 3 years so we are super excited it’s coming back! Not only is Family Fun Night a great time, but it’s an important fundraiser for the PAC (money raised by the PAC helps to enhance student experiences in a variety of ways: extra classroom funds for teachers, technology purchases, A/V equipment, PE and playground pals equipment, library purchases, and so much more!)

What’s a cake walk you ask?

 

The Cake Walk is definitely one of the most popular events at the Family Fun Night!! How it works it that we ask families to donate some baked goods – it could be donuts, cookies or a homemade cake.  At Family Fun Night, chairs are set up and the game works like musical chairs.  The last person left gets to pick a “cake” of their choice from the table.  We have had upwards of 70 cakes in the past and always a long line of people wanting to play!!

This is a great opportunity for students to bake something to share with their school community.

 

Yearbook Ordering – Don’t miss out!

The end of the school year is fast approaching and our annual Devon Gardens yearbook is being put together by two dedicated parent volunteers (Varinder Khaira and Carolyn Stanley).

Orders can be placed through https://devonpac.hotlunches.net/.

For assistance with setting up an account, please visit Account Set-up Instructions.

Ordering will be open until Sunday, May 7^th. Cost is $21 per yearbook.

Yearbooks will be delivered and distributed before the last day of school in June.

What does the yearbook include?

• Staff Page
• Dedicated page for each class/division – includes individual student pictures
• Grade 7 write-ups and baby pictures
• Miscellaneous pictures from events throughout the school year
• Page of autographs
• Soft cover book with a total of 32 pages

Please note, yearbooks must be per-ordered. There will be no extras available for purchase later.

If you wish to have this keepsake please order before the deadline.

Questions? Send an email to pacdevongardens@gmail.com

Popcorn Helpers Needed

Our PAC is looking for helpers to pop popcorn for popcorn snack days and to help with selling them. If you are interested in helping out, please email pacdevongardens@gmail.com

Here are the details of the position:

• foodsafe certificate required (if you don’t have one, but are willing to get one, the PAC will cover the cost)
• popcorn will need to be popped and bagged prior to the snack day (this job takes about 3 hours)
• on the snack day, volunteers will need to come to the school to hand out popcorn and to count the monies collected

More than one person is needed for this job!

Fruit and Veggie Helpers Needed for Next Year

The PAC is also looking for volunteers for the Fruit and Veggie program next year, as the current parent coordinator has a student in grade 7, so will not be with us next year.   In order to continue this program, new volunteers will be needed.  Through the Fruit and Veggie program, students receive  fresh BC fruits and vegetables, washed and ready to enjoy, approximately twice a month.  Parent volunteers are needed to receive and sort the produce to be delivered to each classroom.  If this is something you are interested in assisting with, please contact email pacdevongardens@gmail.com

This position could be shared between two or more people

PAC Fundraisers ongoing throughout the year

Return-it Express

PAC has created a school fundraising account. To participate, simply bring your containers to the depot in sealed, clear bags, and enter the registered phone number, 604-581-6185, into the Express kiosk. You will be prompted to select the number of bags you’re dropping off, the kiosk will automatically print the same number of sticker tags displaying our PACs unique Express account code. Tag each of your bags with a sticker tag and drop the bags off in the designated Express drop-off area to be counted. For a list of Return-it Express location visit https://www.return-it.ca/locations/express/

Cobs Bread Dough Raiser Program

This program enables us to raise money for our school throughout the year! Be sure to mention Devon Gardens Elementary (or code 7806) each time you make a purchase at COBS Bread Scott 72 Centre; they will donate 10% of your purchase back to our school.

 

 

Level Ground Trading

Level Ground is a BC business that works with fair trade coffee, tea, dried fruit and spice producers.

• Supporters enter the code devongardens in the ‘discount code’ field at the checkout.
• All products on our web store (com) qualify for the fundraiser. Orders must be $40 or more. These orders also qualify for free shipping to most addresses in Canada (there is a shipping fee on all orders shipped to NU/NT/YK). All orders are paid for through our web site and shipped directly to your supporters. No need to collect orders or distribute products to households.
• Your fundraising amount is 20% of total sales.  So on a $100 order your school will receive $20.

 

Online Stay Safe & Babysitting Courses

Offered through First Aid Hero. When registering use promo/coupon code DGPAC and our PAC will earn $5 from each registration. For details, available course dates and online registration, please refer to this flyer:

 

Questions? Send an email to pacdevongardens@gmail.com

Thank you,

Your Devon Gardens PAC

Other Opportunities and Education for Families