Dear DG Families,

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Black History Month in Canada. In February 1996, Canada officially celebrated this month-long event for the first time. Hon. Dr. Jean Augustine, Canada’s first Black woman elected to parliament, introduced the motion in 1995.

Every February, we celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black communities across Canada. It’s also a time to reflect on the challenges and barriers Black Canadians continue to face. This year’s theme is 30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries. It celebrates 30 years of recognizing Black Canadian leaders, their innovations and resilience.

Do you know the story of John Sullivan Deas (as in “Deas Island”)?  A tinsmith by trade, John Sullivan Deas became the leading canner on the Fraser River in the 1870’s. Deas Island, where the cannery was located, bears his name.  Check out this video to learn more!

As the Winter Olympics is also underway, we also thought it would be interesting to learn about Black athletes representing Canada this month, in Milano Cortina.

Cynthia Appiah is a Canadian Olympian who competes in bobsleigh, one of the fastest sports on ice! She grew up in Toronto and loves being active and trying new challenges. In bobsleigh, Cynthia works closely with her teammates, pushing the sled and racing down the track together.

Dawn Richardson Wilson was born in Ghana and moved to Canada when she was two. She grew up trying lots of sports like basketball, rugby, and weightlifting, and eventually discovered she loved the fast-paced teamwork of bobsleigh
Dawn is now a brakewoman for Team Canada—she helps push the sled and keeps it steady as it zooms down icy tracks. She started in 2018, raced her first World Cup in 2019, and even competed in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics! Dawn loves working hard, caring for others, and later hopes to work with the RCMP. She loves board games, cooking, and being outdoors. Dawn’s favorite motto is: “If not now, then when.” She shows us that with teamwork, courage, and trying new things, great adventures are possible!

Sarah Nurse is a superstar hockey player from Canada who loves speed, teamwork, and helping others believe in themselves. She plays ice hockey at the highest level and has represented Canada at the Olympic Games, showing the world what hard work and confidence can do!
Sarah is also proud to be a Black athlete in a sport where not everyone looks like her. She is a trailblazer in the sport, recognized as the first Black woman to win an Olympic gold medal in hockey, in 2022.  She speaks up about fairness and inclusion, and encourages kids of all backgrounds to try new sports and chase their dreams. On and off the ice, Sarah Nurse is a role model who shows that being brave, kind, and determined can help you go far.

Shaq Murray‑Lawrence is a super athlete from Scarborough, Ontario, who zooms down icy tracks as a brakeman in Canada’s Olympic bobsleigh team.  He started out playing football as a running back and kick returner in the CFL—he’s super fast, once running the 40-yard dash in just 4.41 seconds!
When football slowed down, Shaq switched to bobsleigh and practiced pushing heavy sleds to win races. In 2022 he even helped Canada win a World Cup bronze in Whistler and was chosen to be on Canada’s Olympic team for Beijing—and now he’s headed to the Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Games!
Shaq shows how trying new things, working hard, and being brave can help you reach big dreams—on the football field or racing on ice!

William Dandjinou is a tall, super-fast skater from Quebec who glides around the ice in short-track speed skating. He’s Canada’s first overall winner of the ISU World Tour Crystal Globe not once, but twice for being the best male skater in both 2024–25 and 2025–26! He’s also a four-time world champion, winning gold in big races like the 1,000 m, 1,500 m, and in relay races with his teammates.  At 6′3″ (1.91 m), William is much taller than most short-track skaters—he learned to bend low and use his long legs to zoom around the ice. He will make his Olympic debut at the Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Games, where he might show off his special celebration—raising his arms like eagle wings when he finishes first!

Jordan Pierre‑Gilles is a Canadian short track speed skater who proudly represents Team Canada at the Winter Olympics. He grew up in Québec and discovered his love for skating at a young age. In short track speed skating, Jordan races very fast around the ice with his teammates, using balance, focus, and teamwork. He has helped Canada win Olympic medals, showing what can happen when you work hard and never give up.
Jordan reminds us that practice, perseverance, and supporting one another can help us reach our goals—whether on the ice, at school, or in life!

Yohan Eskrick‑Parkinson is a super cool athlete from Calgary who raced from the diving board to the bobsleigh track! He used to dive for Northwestern University and even represented Jamaica in big competitions like the World Aquatics Championships and the 2023 Pan American Games
At age 24, he tried something new—bobsleigh! A former Olympic medalist told him he was perfect for pushing sleds on icy tracks. Just a few months after starting, he won two North American Cup races and even became Pan American champion in 2024    Now, he’s a brakeman for Canada’s four-man bobsleigh team and will zoom onto the ice at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano–Cortina.   Yohan shows how switching sports, working hard, and being brave can lead to new adventures. He also studies to become a doctor and loves taking photos, proving you can chase more than one dream at a time!

Ensuring Students come Dressed for the Weather

We still have a surprising number of students who come to school without a jacket, even on days when it is raining heavily.  Ensuring students come dressed for the weather isn’t just important for playing outside at recess and lunch.  It’s also important in case of an emergency requiring evacuation of the building.   Students need to come to school wearing:

• a jacket, not just a hoodie
• long pants, rather than shorts
• a toque, mitts and a scarf
• footwear for winter walking (rubber soles with a good tread to prevent slips, material to keep feet warm and dry, enough room for thicker/extra socks)

If your family needs financial assistance with winter clothing for your child, we can absolutely help!   Please contact Mme Greenhalgh.   This information will be kept confidential. 

All Students Need a Change of Clothing at School

In addition to ensuring your children come dressed for the weather, we ask that ALL students have a change of clothes at school (yes, even grade 7s).  The field can be quite slippery and muddy.  Please ensure that your child has spare clothes at school that they can change into, just in case.   Having to call you (possibly at work) to bring your child a change of clothes is disruptive not only to you, but to your child’s learning.     Having a change of clothing at school allows them to quickly change and get back to business.  Your child’s spare clothing should be labelled with their name, in a ziplock bag, and left either in the classroom or in your child’s backpack.

What happens if it snows? 

Although we’re well into the winter months and have yet to see any flakes, it still could so it’s still good to be prepared and know the District’s procedures when it comes to “snow days”.

Very occasionally the District has closed schools due to snow.   In this event, any district wide closure or decisions will be decided and communicated by 7 a.m. on that day.  Any announcements will be made via radio stations (CBC AM 690, CKNW AM 980, News AM 1130, Fairchild AM 1470) and via TV stations (CTV BC, CBC, City TV, Global BC).   Information will also be posted on the school district website.

Reminder – Special Lunch Day  (the lunch lady)

• Proceeds from all hot lunch fundraising will be administered by the PAC and go towards the purchase of school/student/classroom needs/supplies/events, etc.
• Please send utensils with your child on special lunch and snack days as these will not be provided.  Feel free to also send a drink, condiments, etc. to supplement your child(s) order.
• If your child is absent on the day of the lunch/snack day, your child’s order will be automatically donated to someone else. Please email your child’s teacher if you want to pick up their food. Pick up is between 1:30-2:15PM at the office on the day of the hot lunch/snack day

Questions???  Please send an email to pacdevongardens@gmail.com.

Dine-In / Take-Out Fundraiser with White Spot (72nd & Scott Road) –  February 12th

Looking for an easy dinner plan to enjoy with family and friends while also supporting the school?

PAC Fundraisers ongoing throughout the year

For information about the following fundraisers, please click the logos.

Questions?  Send an email to pacdevongardens@gmail.com.

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Use code DevGardens26, $5 from each registration goes back to our school

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Use your personal Return-It account by clicking donate and looking up Devon Gardens Elementary

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Mention Devon Gardens Elementary at checkout, 10% of your purchase becomes credit for the school

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Use this link https://mabelslabels.ca/en-CA/fundraising/support to make a purchase and 20% of your purchase becomes goes back to our school

Canadian Parents for French Contest – Où est Bonhomme?

North Delta Longhorns Flag Football and Spring Cheer Programs

Resources and Learning Opportunities for Parents/Guardians and Families

Feelings First

Feelings First is a new provincial initiative focused on strengthening the social and emotional health of young children—recognizing that it’s just as important as physical health. A child’s ability to express emotions, manage stress, build friendships, and connect with the world through stories, conversations, and play all stem from these early foundations. As part of this initiative, free, self-paced e-learning modules have been launched for early years professionals, parents, and caregivers. The modules explore social and emotional development from birth to age five and include short videos, real-world examples, practical strategies and insights from child health experts. For more information, visit https://www.feelingsfirst.ca/

Integrated Child and Youth Care Team

What We Offer

• Community Support: Family Peer Support Workers provide in person, over the phone, and virtual peer support in some BC communities. Free. No referral needed. You can reach out directly to us, any time.
• Province-Wide Support: Through our partnership with BC Children’s Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre, we’re able to support any parent or caregiver in BC, no matter where you live. No referral is needed. You can reach out directly to us, any time.
• Program-Based Support: Family Peer Support Workers are also part of multidisciplinary teams in some mental health and substance use programs. If your child is receiving services in one of these programs, you may be invited to connect with a Family Peer Support Worker as part of that care.

Tuesday, February 10th –  Gr 7 boys basketball game @ DG

Tuesday, February 10th –  Late French Immersion info night @ Chalmers Elementary, 6:30pm

Wednesday, February 11th –  Late French Immersion info night @ Cliff Drive Elementary, 6:30pm

Thursday, February 12th –  Vantap performance

Thursday, February 12th –  PAC Special Lunch Day (the lunch lady)

Thursday, February 12th –  Gr 7 girls basketball game @ DG

Monday, February 16th –  Family Day Holiday (schools are closed)

Tuesday, February 17th –  Lunar New Year

Tuesday, February 17th –  Gr 7 boys basketball game @ GR

Tuesday, February 17th –  Ramadan begins (evening)

Thursday, February 19th –  Gr 7 girls basketball game @ GR

Friday, February 20th –  Pro-D Day (no school for students)

For other upcoming events, please refer to the calendar on the school website:

https://dg.deltasd.bc.ca/news-events/monthly-calendar/