Dear DG Families,

Thank you to all our parents and guardians who came out for our Parent/Guardian Appreciation morning on Friday!

Family Fun Night is just around the corner and our DG PAC s also working really hard to ensure it’s going to be great.   But, they can’t do it alone!  They need you!    Be sure to see the section under the PAC section, below, where you can volunteer to help out!

While Pride has become synonymous with diversity, rainbows, and love, it was sparked from a much darker beginnings. Pride started as an uprising against police violence and injustice in June 1969 in New York City. Black and Brown trans women stood up to police violence. These acts of resistance, now known as the Stonewall uprising, led to the birth of Pride, Pride marches and the 2SLGBTQIA+ rights movement. Society has seen positive changes and improvements regarding the treatment and acceptance of members of this community, but there is still work to be done.   Attitudes and injustice still exist and all members of our school community, whether they identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ or not, are affected by homophobia and transphobia.   We need to ensure schools are inclusive and safe for students/parents/staff of all sexual orientations and gender identities.  Someone’s gender does not limit their interests and opportunities, and their sexual orientation and how they understand and express their gender are welcomed without discrimination.

Happy Pride, Dragons!

Rachna Singh, BC’s Minister of Education and Child Care has released the following statement in celebration of Pride 2024 and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in B.C.’s education system:

“June is Pride month – a time to honour and celebrate the achievements, contributions and resilience of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. This month reminds us of the importance of diversity, inclusion and equality, as we join in solidarity with those still fighting for equal rights. It is an opportunity for everyone in K-12 throughout B.C. to reaffirm our commitment to ensuring all students, staff and families feel welcome, safe and included.

“While we celebrate the hard-won victories of the Pride movement, we must also oppose the ongoing discrimination, intimidation and harassment experienced by 2SLGBTQIA+ people. We recognize that over the past year many have faced difficult situations against rising hate, homophobia and transphobia.

“Students and staff deserve to learn and work in safe environments without disruption or intimidation, and the well-being and safety of students and staff in our K-12 education system is my highest priority. Schools must remain places where all students, staff and families feel a sense of community and belonging. B.C.’s school system is expected to create safe, caring and inclusive school environments, and promote fair and equitable treatment for everyone. This means taking into account the different beliefs, customs, languages, behaviours, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and differences of individuals and cultural groups, while encouraging understanding, acceptance and mutual respect, so that school communities are more inclusive and equitable for all students and staff.

“As we celebrate Pride 2024, let’s continue to join together, support one another and work toward a future where everyone can learn and live authentically and without fear. Happy Pride!”

Important Safety Information regarding the Crosswalk at 112th

As we’ve previously shared, we are having difficulty finding adult crossing guards and there is still no crossing guard at Nordell and 112th.  If you know anyone who may be interested in one of our paid Crossing Guard positions, please contact Mme Hamilton at hhamilton@deltaschools.ca

2024-25 School Calendar Coming Soon

Our Calendar for next year has now been approved by the Superintendent’s Office and has been added, here, to the school website.  You should have also received an email about this.

2024-2025 School Year

Will you be somewhere else next school year?  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.

Optional School Supplies Ordering through SchoolStart for 24/25

We are trying something new for school supplies for next year and are offering parents the opportunity to purchase quality standardized school supplies through School Start for the 2024/2025 school year.

This is optional and orders will not be handled through the school, but rather with this company directly.

3 WAYS TO ORDER:

1. ONLINE: You can place your order online at www.schoolstart.ca.
   

   Our site is best compatible with Firefox or Chrome.

2. PHONE: You can call our customer service centre at 1-800-580-1868 to place your order over the phone.

3. EMAIL:   You can print and fill out the order form and return to our office via email to: info@schoolstart.ca.

HOME DELIVERY:

The supplies will be packaged and delivered directly to your house. If you have a P.O. Box, please use your street address (the address you would give 911 in an emergency).

Because the kit (s) are delivered to your home, you will have the ability to:

Pre-label your child’s supplies

Add supplies to your order for home use or for your child in another school

SCHOOL START CALL CENTRE IS AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR NEED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH ORDERING: 1-800-580-1868 Email: info@schoolstart.ca

Summer Volunteers Needed to Water our Garden Area!

You may have seen the Western Red Cedar tree and the planter boxes on the front grass area of the school.  This area is well-used as an outdoor learning space during the school year and both the tree and the garden boxes require regular watering.   While school is in session, teachers and students take care of this.  During the summer, though, we need your help.   For the past three summers we have had families volunteer to water the garden boxes and cedar tree and we need to do the same, this summer.

As we’ve done for the past three summers, we will put together a schedule of volunteers to take turns doing the watering so that it’s a manageable task (many hands make light work).  You will have access to water and a hose at the school, and we will show you exactly what needs to be done before the end of the school year.

 If you are willing to help out with watering this summer (particularly if you live nearby!), please email Mme Hamilton at hhamilton@deltaschools.ca   And, if you’ve helped with this in previous summers, you’re now an expert, so we’d love to have you on the team again this year!  

PAC Meeting Monday, June 3rd

The last PAC meeting for the year, which includes the PAC elections, is  Monday evening at 7:00 pm.  You can also join via Zoom. The link, along with the agenda, will be emailed out on Monday.

PAC EXECUTIVE ELECTIONS

At the June 3^rd  meeting, the PAC will be holding their elections for the 2024-2025 Parent Advisory Council (PAC) Executive Committee. To view the Executive Officer positions available and their respective duties, refer to the PAC constitution.

The Devon Gardens PAC cannot function without dedicated volunteers. We welcome nominations for all elected positions and hope you will join us in fulfilling our mandate to represent the parent voice and support our school. Below is a list of the PAC executive positions, name of the current appointed representative, with years served and intention to continue for the 2024-2025 school year.

Executive Officers shall be elected by the Voting Members at the AGM held in June each year. The term of office shall commence in September of each year and shall be held for one year. Any Elected Member of the PAC may serve on the Executive for as many years as is elected to a position.

NOMINATION Process 

To express your interest, agreement to serve, and confirm your qualifications for the position you would like to nominate yourself for, please email send an email to pacdevongardens@gmail.com with the following information:

• Full name
• Contact information
• Position interested in

Nominations will also be accepted from the floor during the AGM.

We hope you will consider running for a position on the 2024-2025 DG PAC Executive Committee.

Thank you,

Devon Gardens PAC

Canadian Parents for French

Our PAC is looking for a DG representative for Canadian Parents for French. For more information on CPF, please check out their website: https://cpf.ca/en/

If you’re interested, or would like more information, please contact the PAC at pacdevongardens@gmail.com.

We are getting excited for the big day, and are looking forward to having some family fun!

 

 

 

 

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

Are you interested in hosting an International Student?  Or, do you know of a family who might be?  Delta School District International Programs is currently recruiting homestay families for international students coming to Delta School District for September 2024. They will arrive from all over the world and have a strong desire to be in Delta.

The reimbursement for hosting will be increasing to $1,150 per month as of September 2024. Multiple students from different nationalities can be hosted in one home. The majority of students in the homestay program are from Germany, Japan, Spain, Italy, and Brazil. At the moment, more that 20 different countries are represented in the homestay program.

Many are looking for a family connection and being a part of a family during their stay in Delta. Their study periods range from 3 months to half a school year, to a full school year, to multiple years.

We have two 3-week summer programs where host parents welcome younger English learners into their home. It is a great way for students to see what school (and life) in Delta is like and for new homestay families to get a small sample of what hosting is like. Reimbursement for each 3-week program is $850 per student.

If you are interested in hosting, please reach out to homestay@godelta.ca. If you are not able to host but know of a family who can, please send them our way. There are referral bonuses available for referring families.

Delta Choral Society and Youth Choir

Delta Choral Society (DCS), a not-for-profit charity, is committed to offering an inclusive, affordable music experience for students in Delta with its Children and Youth Choirs. If your child has an interest in singing and being part of a musical team, sign them up for only $70 per term. Terms run September through December and January through May. The choirs provide children and teens with the opportunity to cultivate an appreciation for music and share their talents with the community at end of term concerts. They will learn proper singing techniques in a fun but structured environment. Our artistic director, John R. Williams, is an accomplished choral conductor, composer, pianist, adjudicator and recording artist and holds a Master of Music Degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington. The Delta Youth and Children’s Choir currently rehearses at Benediction Lutheran Church, 5575 6 Ave, Tsawwassen, on Monday evenings from 5:15-6:00pm.

For more information, please email info@deltachoral.ca and to register your child for the fall term, please visit https://www.deltachoral.ca/join-new-members/

Delta Kids Website Launch

Fraser Valley Library Summer Reading Club

Join Fraser Valley Regional Library’s Summer Reading Club – World of Curiosities! It’s free and there’s a club for everyone – kids, teens and adults! Join in-person or online at www.fvrl.ca and track your reading. You can read anything – novels, picture books, information books, graphic novels, audiobooks, e-books, websites – it all counts. Sign up starts June 21.

Friday, June 14th: Sports Day

Friday, June 14th: PAC special lunch day (Panago)

Wednesday, June 19th: PAC popcorn sale at recess

Friday, June 21st: Grade 7 leaving ceremony 9:15am

Tuesday, June 25th: Grade 7s to Central City Funpark

Wednesday, June 26th: Year End Assembly 9:15am

Thursday, June 27th: Last Day for Students, dismissal 10:15am