Dear DG Families,
Week(s) of Giving – thank you!
Thank you for the donations you sent in for our Week(s) of Giving campaign. Your generous donations of mittens/glove & tote bags, something to sip, something sweet and something to do/something for home are being assembled into shoe boxes and wrapped with festive paper this week (nearly 120 gift boxes, altogether!). They will then be delivered to two different organizations: The Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre (FRAFCA) and The Orchard, Whole Way House Society. These gift boxes will help bring some holiday cheer to many in the community.
This is the last week we are collecting donations for Christmas Hampers for our Delta families. Please see info below:
Christmas Hampers for Delta Families
For the past few years, we have partnered up with another school in Delta and exchanged families in need, in order to provide them with Christmas hampers/gifts. This is something we are doing again this year. Our sister school will provide hampers/gifts for our families and in turn we are collecting items to help their families. We do this in the spirit of trying to keep things private and confidential for the families to whom we are donating
Please have a look at the descriptions of the families below and please consider bringing in donations to help with our hamper efforts.
We are asking that donations be sent to the school prior to Monday, December 18th. Students can either bring them to their teachers, or items can be dropped off directly at the office.
Family 2:
Family 3:
We have also put together a google doc that contains a bit more information and gift ideas for the 3 families:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16Di1DmsFw3QC_7qwj9YKRiFjLYrq70mIZ7bD7jVi1Uk/edit?usp=sharing
Should you want to sign up to buy an item, please do so on this link. You DO NOT need to write your name – you could use your initials, or put “yes” or a check-mark, etc… we are just trying to make sure that we don’t get 16 toques & to ensure that we have items for all 3 of the families. Again, thank you all for your generosity!
Again our sincerest thank you for helping to support families in our community.
Lately, we’ve had quite a few students coming to school, sick. For everyone’s health and safety, please don’t send your children to school when they are ill
Term 1 Report Cards (now called “Learning Updates)
A reminder, Term 1 Learning Updates will be available for viewing on Parent Connect as of Thursday, December 14th. In the meantime, please try logging onto Parent Connect to make sure your login and passwords are working. If you are having any difficulty, please contact Ms Labrosse in the office.
Parent Connect Link: https://cimsweb.deltasd.bc.ca/schoolconnect/parentsignone.aspx
Canned Food Drive – December 19th
As we have done in previous years, we are once again collecting donations of non-perishable food items for Delta Assist by asking that you please bring a donation for the food drive as your “entry” to the Christmas Concerts on December 19th.
Christmas Concerts
Our Christmas Concerts are next Tuesday, December 19th, and we CANNOT WAIT to see you there!!!
There will be two shows – 1:30pm and 6:30pm.
As typically there are more guests at the evening concert, we are encouraging those who are available to come to the afternoon performance to do so. There is no limit to the number of family members who can attend the afternoon show and tickets are not required.
You will, however, need your tickets (sent home a couple of weeks ago) in order to get in to the evening concert. We have issued two tickets per family. There are a few (very few) additional tickets that have been returned to the office, which will be distributed to families on the waiting list this week
Please bring a canned food item as your “entry” to the concert.
Also, the PAC will be selling 50/50 tickets, and running a concession in the undercover area, so bring along some cash
Please also see our Christmas Concert Q & A list, below:
Question: When is the Christmas Concert?
Answer: Tuesday, December 19th. There are 2 performances – 1:30pm and 6:30pm. Doors open 30 min before the concert start times (so 1:00pm and 6:00pm)
Question: Is there early dismissal on Tuesday, December 19th?
Answer: No, it’s a regular dismissal day
Question: Do students stay at school until the evening concert begins?
Answer: No. Students go home at regular dismissal time, and are asked to be back at the school at 6:00 pm (not earlier). Students will report to their classes, using their usual doors. Parents who are staying to watch the evening performance will line up at the outside gym doors.
The door closest to the staff parking lot will be for winners of the best seats contest only
General admission will be through the outside gym doors closest to the undercover area
Please note, there is no entrance to the gym for parents/guests through the school.
Parents who aren’t staying for the evening performance, you can drop your child off to their line-up area or classroom and come back to pick them up when the concert is over, at approximately 7:30pm
Question: Is there an entry fee for the concert?
Answer: No, but we are asking for a canned food item as we’re collecting donations for Deltassist. For the evening concert, you will also need to present your tickets (sent home Nov 30th). No tickets are needed for the afternoon concert.
Also, the PAC is running a concession and a 50/50 draw, so be sure to bring some cash!
Question: Will my child be performing in both the afternoon and the evening concerts?
Answer: Yes! We want to ensure both audiences see a great show. This means we need students to attend in the evening as well. If there is an exceptional circumstance, and your child is unable to be here for the evening performance, please contact your child’s teacher as soon as possible.
Question: Given that my child will be performing in both the afternoon and evening shows, should I come and watch both performances?
Answer: No. Due to limited seating capacity, we ask that parents and guests attend either the afternoon or the evening concert, but not both. Tickets are required for the evening performance. 2 tickets per family were sent home last week. Tickets are not required for the afternoon performance, so this would be a great time for grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc… to come and see the concert.
Parents who aren’t attending the evening performance should drop their child off at their usual door/line-up area at 6:00 pm. When the concert is over, at approximately 7:30 pm, parents will pick students up from their classrooms.
Question: Can I leave right after my child’s class is finished performing in the concert?
Answer: No, please stay and enjoy the entire show! Leaving part way through is disruptive to the audience. Plus, all of our students and staff have worked really hard to put this event together so we want to ensure that the classes performing at the end of the concert are not looking at a bunch of empty seats. That would be really discouraging!
Question: If I won the “best seats” contest for the evening performance, do I still need my tickets to get in?
Answer: Yes, for the evening concert. If you won best seats at the evening concert, you still need your tickets to get in. No tickets are required for the afternoon concert.
If you won the “best seats” contest (winners have been notified by email), this means you have reserved seating in the first 4 rows (ie – the “best seats”!). “Best seats” winners will be entering the gym through the outside gym doors closest to the staff parking lot. Your “best seats” will be labelled with your names.
Question: What doors do students use for the evening when coming for the evening concert?
Answer: For the evening concert, students should arrive at 6:00pm (no earlier) Students will use their own/regular doors. Grade 7 student helpers will be stationed at the doors to greet students and assist them to their classrooms.
Parents, while you are welcome to walk your children to their classrooms if you wish, we suggest that you don’t as you will, then, need to then go back outside and line up outside the gym doors for entry into the concert. Our suggestion, instead, is that you drop your children at their entry door and then make your way to the outside gym doors to line up for admission to the concert. This is why we will have big buddies at the doors to greet students and make sure they get to their classrooms. Please note, there is no entry to the gym, for audience members, through the interior of the school.
Question: What doors do parents and guests use when coming to the concert.
Answer: For both the 1:30 and the 6:30 concerts, parents/guests will use the outside gym doors.
The door closest to the staff parking lot will be for winners of the best seats contest only
General admission will be through the outside gym doors closest to the undercover area
Doors will open 30 min before the concert start time (1:00 for the afternoon concert and 6:00 for the evening concert).
Question: Are you as excited as we are?
We can’t wait to see you there!
If you have any further questions about the concerts, please contact your child’s teacher.
PAC INFORMATION
PAC Guessing Jar Challenge
The PAC’s Guessing Jar Challenge fundraiser wraps up this week. Students still have a chance to win a prize jar by entering their guesses as to the number of items in the jar. The last day to enter is Thursday, and tickets are $1 each. Entry box is at the front office
PAC Fundraisers ongoing throughout the year
Kinder Books
Introducing the Kinder Books Loyalty Program for schools! This year-long fundraising program is designed to help schools earn credit towards purchasing books for their school library.
Here’s how it works: for every net book purchase made at Kinder Books, the school will earn 10% of the purchase amount towards a credit at our store. At the end of the fundraiser, we will notify the school of their credit amount. The school can then decide to use the credit at the beginning of the new school year or at the end of the calendar year.
The best part? This program applies to all book purchases at our store, including special orders for kids and books for adults. Plus, orders can be placed online at www.kinderbooks.ca, making it easy for grandparents or other family members who live out of town to participate. Simply mention your school’s name at checkout, and we’ll credit your school accordingly.
Online orders can be picked up at the store during business hours or shipped through Canada Post
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 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 “DevGardens24” and our PAC will earn $5.00 from each registration. For details, available course dates and online registration, please follow the link: www.FirstAidHero.com
Questions? Send an email to pacdevongardens@gmail.com
Information from the School District
French Immersion for the 2024-25 School Year
There are two French Immersion Programs offered in Delta: EARLY French Immersion Program (Kindergarten to Grade 12) and LATE French Immersion Program (Grade 6 to Grade 12). Do you, or does someone you know, have a child who might be interested in the French Immersion Programs staring in September?
While it might seem early, now is the time to start looking into it! There is an application process, with very strict deadlines.
The first step is to attend a French Immersion Parent Information Meeting.
For Early French Immersion (entry in Kindergarten):
A pre-recorded Early French Immersion Information presentation is available here: https://vimeo.com/649615646
In person Information Nights: Jan 15th at 6:30pm at Burnsview Secondary and Jan 18th at 6:30pm at South Delta Secondary
Application deadline: January 22nd at 4p.m.
For Late French Immersion (entry in grade 6):
A pre-recorded Late French Immersion Information presentation is available here: https://vimeo.com/503206055
Online Information Nights: Jan 24th 6:30pm and Jan 25th 6:30pm. Sign-up form to receive the meeting link:
Late French Immersion Parent Question and Answer Period Registration Form
In-person Information Nights Feb 7th at 6:30pm at Chalmers Elementary and Feb 8th at 6:30pm at Cliff Drive Elementary.
Application deadline: February 12th at 4p.m.
You can find out more about French Immersion in Delta, as well as the application process, in this section of the School District Website. If this doesn’t apply to your family, but you know someone else who might be interested, please pass the information along.
Wednesday, December 13th PAC popcorn sale at recess
Thursday, December 14th: last day to enter PAC Guessing jar challenge
Thursday, December 14th: Term 1 Learning Updates available on line
Friday, December 15th: last day for Christmas Hamper donations
Tuesday, December 19th: Christmas Concerts 1:30 & 6:30 pm
- bring a canned food item as your entry fee
- bring some cash as the PAC is running a concession & a 50/50 draw
- evening concert only – bring your tickets!
- questions? contact your child’s teacher
Wednesday, December 20th: PJ Day
Friday, December 22nd: Red & Green / Santa Hat day
Friday, December 22nd: last day of school before Winter break
Please note, not all important dates are listed here. Other dates and events are listed on our school calendar on our website: https://dg.deltasd.bc.ca/events-calendar/ Please check it often.