Dear DG Families,

We hope you had a great Mother’s Day weekend!

Keeping your Cool when it gets Hot!

It’s hard to believe that just a week ago it was chilly and raining!  These past few days we’ve seen some unseasonably high temperatures.  While the sunny weather is a welcome change, the sudden and drastic shift temperature makes it harder to us to acclimatize. This brings an increased risk of heat related illness.   Here are some ways to help your children beat the heat at school:

• Avoid direct sun exposure on skin.  Choose loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing, made from a breathable fabric. Longer sleeves can help protect skin
• Sunglasses and a wide-brimmed, breathable hat are great to wear outside, on the playground
• Use a broad spectrum sunscreen that is SPF30 or higher
• Keep long hair tied up or in braids to allow as much air as possible to evaporate sweat
• Ensure your child brings a reusable water bottle (even 2!).  Add some ice to help water stay cool
• Remind your child of the importance of staying hydrated, and to drink throughout the day (we have 3 water bottle refilling stations at school)
• Avoid packing sugary or carbonated drinks in your child’s lunch to help reduce dehydration – stick to water instead
• Raw fruits and vegetables help cool the body and keep kids hydrated
• Encourage your child to slow down/take a break when playing at recess and lunch, to check in with their friends about how they are feeling in the heat
• Remind your child to seek help from one of the adults at school if they are feeling unwell

We’ll also be reminding students, at school, of ways they can stay safe in the heat.

Track & Field

Well done and congratulations to all our (nearly 160!) students  who participated in the Regional Track Meet last Thursday.   A big thank you to the staff members who worked so hard to help students practice and prepare for the meet ahead of time, as well as those who accompanied the group to NDSS the day of.  Several students qualified for the District Track Meet, happening this Thursday (May 18th) at NDSS.  More information will be sent home, shortly, with those students who will be attending the District meet.

Some Reminders About ….

Students Leaving Early for Appointments

Whenever possible, please schedule your child’s appointments outside of the regular school day.   We know, however, this isn’t always possible.  So, if your child does needs to leave early for an appointment, please let the teacher know head of time by sending a note in your child’s planner.   As the end of the school day is very busy, we ask that students needing to leave for an afternoon appointment be picked up no later than 30 min before dismissal (eg. before 2:30pm –  M, T, Th & Fri, and before 1:15pm on Wed), or that they wait until the regular dismissal time.

Messages for Students and End of Day Pick-up Routines

Lately there has been a significant increase in the number of daily phone calls asking us to pass messages along to students, usually regarding end of day pick-up routines.  This is not sustainable and we are asking for your assistance.  When the office calls into classrooms with messages for students (or having students called out of class to come to the office for a message) it interrupts teaching and learning time for all students in that classroom.  Also, when phone calls come close to the end of the day, it leaves us very little time to even get the message to the student. Classes often spend extra time outside before dismissal, especially when the weather is nice, and it not always possible to get a last minute message to your child about pick-up plans.

In an extenuating circumstance or true emergency please contact the school to advise us of changes to your child’s pick up routine.  Otherwise, these plans need to made ahead of time.   Please plan your child’s day before they get to school and ensure that your child knows, ahead of time, what the end of day pick-up routine will be.

The office will, of course, take messages for students when there is an emergency or when it is essential that the student receive the information, whether about pick-up routines or about something else.  

Parent Appreciation Day – Friday, May 26th

Please mark the date!   We hope you will be able to stop by DG on Friday, May 26th, before school, for our Parent Appreciation Event.   Whether you’re able to stay for a bit of a visit, or just pick up a to-go goodie bag on your way, we look forward to seeing you to say “hello and thank you” to all our parents and guardians!

We will have stations with staff around the school areas (by the undercover area, by the side door, by the courtyard, and by 112th Street) to greet you.

2023-24 School Year

Welcome to Kindergarten

Our incoming Kindergarten students, and their parents, have been invited to visit Devon Gardens on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 31st during our Welcome to Kindergarten event!   All incoming Kindergarten families should have now received an invitation letter with more information about this event.  If you have a child coming to Devon Gardens for Kindergarten in the fall and you did not receive your letter, please contact Ms Labrosse in the office.   Similarly, if you know of someone who has a child registered for Kindergarten at our school and they did not receive their Kindergarten Orientation letter, please encourage them to contact the school as soon as possible.

Are you moving?

If you are moving and are not planning to return to Devon Gardens in the fall, and have not already let us know, please contact Ms. Labrosse in the office

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 

PAC EXECUTIVE ELECTIONS

At our next meeting on June 5, we will be holding our elections for the 2023-2024 Parent Advisory Council (PAC) Executive Committee. The meeting and the elections will be held online via Zoom. 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 2023-2024 school year.

All Parents and Guardians of the students currently registered at Devon Gardens Elementary may be Voting Members of the PAC, except for employees or elected officials of the School Board District or Ministry Of Education. The 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 2023-2024 DG PAC Executive Committee.

Thank you,

Devon Gardens PAC

PAC POPCORN SALE FUNDRAISER – MAY 17th at RECESS!

The PAC will be holding a Popcorn Sale on Wednesday, May 17th at Recess.

• $1.00/bag, limit 2 bags per student
• Students are asked to please bring exact change

NEUFELD FARMS FUNDRAISER

Division Theme Baskets

At the beginning of the month, letters were sent home with each class explaining the their particular basket theme.   If you did not get a letter, or if you need a reminder of the them for your child’s class basket, please contact your child’s teacher.

Thank you to those families who have already started sending in items for the theme baskets.  Please keep those donations coming!  Some families have indicated that they would prefer to send money rather than send a  themed item.  That’s ok, too.  If you would prefer to make a cash donation, rather than an item that fits the basket theme, you are welcome to do so.  Please send your donation in an envelope clearly marked with your child’s name, division and a brief description (something like: Attention DGPAC –  Family Fun Night donation for Div ____ basket)

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

ELL summer school is now open. This is free for all Delta students and is geared towards English Language Learners.

There are 2 options (select only one):

McCloskey Elementary  (North Delta)

• Session 1 – July 4th – July 14th 9:00 – 1:30pm
• Session 2 – July 17th – July 28th 9:00 – 1:00pm

 The link for more info/registration can be found here:

https://www.deltasd.bc.ca/programs/continuing-education/summer-learning-registration/