Dear DG Families,
There’s lots going on this week! Please read on for this week’s news.
A reminder, that Wednesday is the last day to order yearbooks. See more in the PAC section, below!
Did you know that this week is Emergency Preparedness Week?
This is a great time to review your family’s emergency plan. Don’t have one? The video below can help get you started.
By taking a few simple steps, you can become better prepared to face a range of emergencies – anytime, anywhere. It is important to:
- Know the risks – Although the consequences of disasters can be similar, knowing the risks specific to your community and our region can help you better prepare.
- Make a plan – It will help you and your family know what to do
- Get an emergency kit – During an emergency, we will all need some basic supplies. We may need to get by without power or tap water. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours in an emergency.
Making a Family Emergency Plan – Be Prepared, Not Scared!
During the week, the PreparedBC team will host free webinars for the public. Register via Zoom.
All participants will be entered to win 1 of 5 four-person emergency kits!
Topics:
- Inclusive preparedness | Mon May 5 | 5:30 PM (PDT)
- Cultural safety and preparedness | Tue May 6 | 5:30 PM (PDT)
- Animal preparedness | Wed May 7 | 5:30 PM (PDT)
- Insurance: Why it matters | Thu May 8 | 5:30 PM (PDT)
- Community preparedness | Fri May 9 | 5:30 PM (PDT)
For more information, check out https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-management/education-programs-toolkits/ep-week
North Delta Regional Track Meet
Just a reminder that the majority of our grades 4 – 7 students will be heading off to North Delta Secondary for the track meet on Thursday, May 8th. If your child is going, please make sure that you return the permission forms sent home last week. This notice also includes other important information like what time to be at school Thursday morning and what items should, and should not, be brought to the Track Meet. Please make sure you, and your child, have carefully read over the notice. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions
2025-2026 School Year
We are beginning the process of planning for 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. Even if you have let your child’s teacher know, we still need you to contact the office directly. You can do this by either calling Ms Chahal at the school office (604-581-6185) or emailing her at devongardens.elem@deltaschools.ca
2025-2026 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. This is optional. Please complete the form no later than Friday, May 23rd, 2025
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 Friday, May 23rd, 2025. Please fill in 1 form for every child.
Please note, parents are not required to do this. It’s optional.
https://forms.gle/NEVqcP21Ch5hoixi8
Keeping your Cool when it gets Hot!
While the sunny weather is a welcome change, the shift to warmer temperatures can make it harder for us to acclimatize. Here are some ways to help your children beat the heat at school:
- When it’s hot we naturally want to wear less clothing. However it’s important to avoid too much direct sun exposure on skin. While it might seem counter intuitive, longer sleeves and pants are often a much better option as they help keep us cooler while protecting skin from the sun. Choose loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing, made from a breathable fabric.
- 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. Please be sure to apply sunscreen to your child in the morning. If you are sending sunscreen to school with your child for them to reapply throughout the day, be sure to teach them to do this themselves, as school staff won’t be applying sunscreen to students.
- 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, and 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
What exactly is PAC? Check out their one-pager, here
The email containing the Zoom link and PAC meeting agenda will be sent out on Monday afternoon.
Available PAC Executive Position
The PAC is looking for a new Gaming Rep. If interested, please email the PAC for more info pacdevongardens@gmail.com.
YEAR BOOK ORDERING OPEN UNTIL MAY 7th!
PAC POPCORN SALE WEDNESDAY at RECESS!
The PAC will be holding a Popcorn Sale on Wednesday, May 7th, at recess.
- $1.00/bag, limit 2 bags per student
- Students are asked to please bring exact change
FAMILY FUN NIGHT – MUSICAL CAKES EVENT!
“What is musical cakes”, you ask?
Musical cakes is definitely one of the most popular events at Family Fun Night!! To make this a successful event, we ask families to donate nut-free baked goods. This could be donuts, cookies, homemade cake, etc. At Family Fun Night, chairs are set up and the game works similar to musical chairs. The exception to the rules being when the music stops, you sit on a numbered chair and then a wheel is spun. If the wheel lands on your seat number, you get to pick a treat of your choice from the table. We have had upwards of 70 cakes in the past and there is always a long line of people wanting to play!!
The PAC is looking for your support (and your baking skills) to make Musical Cakes a success and are requesting that the nut-free baked donations be dropped off at the school the morning of the Family Fun Night, June 6.
This is a great opportunity for students to bake something to share with their school community.
More ways to get involved!
As the much anticipated family fun night approaches, the PAC is asking for volunteers to help out with this event. We are canvassing for a number of positions. The time commitment of these positions are between 1-2 hours each. These are the positions we are looking to fill:
- Setup
- Take down
- Concession
- Food assistant
- Ticket and wrist band sales
- Musical cakes
- Bouncy castle supervisors
- Raffle and basket duties
And more!….
There are many spots to fill, and we will need as many people as possible to commit to these volunteer spots to keep to the 1-2 hour time commitment.
To volunteer for Family Fun Night, please sign up here:
or email the PAC at pacdevongardens@gmail.com.
On the volunteer sign-up spreadsheet, there is also a sign up sheet for Sports Day, June 13th (on a separate tab, look at the bottom of the page)! Please sign up for either (or both!) events if you are able!
Keep watching this section of the Sunday night “Week at a Glance” posts for more information about Family Fun Night!
Vancouver Canadians Baseball Game Fundraiser
Vancouver Canadians vs Hillsboro Hops
Sunday Jun 1 at 1:05PM – section 8
PAC Fundraisers ongoing throughout the year
For information about the following fundraisers, please click the logos.
Questions? Send an email to pacdevongardens@gmail.com.
Use code DEVONG25 by June 30, 2025 for $25 off the cost of your registration, the school will also receive a $25 donation
Use phone number 604-581-6185 at the express kiosk
Mention Devon Gardens Elementary or code 7806, 10% of your purchase goes back to our school
Use code DevGardens25, $5 from each registration goes back to our school
Mention Devon Gardens Elementary at checkout, 10% of your purchase becomes credit for the school
Information from the School District
Summer Learning
The Delta School District is providing an enriching and free program for families looking to help their child(ren) improve their Literacy and Numeracy foundation skills. These programs are available for students entering grades 1-7. Please note, the French session is, unfortunately, no longer being offered.
SESSION ONE
DATE: July 7th – July 18th
TIME: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
PLACE: McCloskey Elementary
PLACE: Richardson Elementary
PLACE: Hawthorne Elementary
SESSION TWO
DATE: July 21st – August 1st
TIME: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
PLACE: McCloskey Elementary
PLACE: Richardson Elementary
For more information, please visit:
https://www.deltasd.bc.ca/programs/continuing-education/summer-learning-registration/
Delta Libraries
The Delta Libraries are taking part in BC Youth Week, offering free events for teens between the ages of 13 – 18. Check out the following events at George Mackie Library. For more information, or to register for the programs (if required), visit our Events Page at www.fvrl.ca.
Teen Advisory Group (TAG)
Thursday, June 5, July 3, August 7, 6 pm – 7:30 pm – George Mackie Library, 8440 – 112 Street, Delta, BC V4C 4W9
Teen Advisory Group (TAG) is a group of committed teens (ages 13 – 19) who volunteer their time and energy in support of the George Mackie Library. TAG members act as a library representatives in North Delta’s teen community. Monthly meetings are a time to socialize and plan. Membership is a resume-booster and helps earn volunteer hours. Pick up an application form at George Mackie Library to fill out and return.
Cinco de Mayo Green Screen Photo Shoot
Monday, May 5, 3:30 – 4:30 pm – George Mackie Library, 8440 – 112 Street, Delta, BC V4C 4W9
History is alive with magic! Travel back in time to 1862 when the Mexican army defeated the French army in the city of Puebla. Using a green screen, we will create a Cinco de Mayo poster with you as the star and print it for you to take home! Ages 13 – 18.
Teen Games Night
Wednesday, May 7, 6 pm – 7:30 pm – George Mackie Library, 8440 – 112 Street, Delta, BC V4C 4W9
Hey teens! Looking for an opportunity to get out of the house, bond over games while making new friends, and win some prizes? We got you! The Teen Advisory Group (TAG) coordinates with the library to present Teen Games Night. Bring your friends, siblings, cousins, anyone between the ages of 13 – 19 and come out to spend a night of fun with other local teens.
Delta Deas Rowing Club – Juniors Learn to Row Program
Are you aged 13+? Learn technical rowing skills in a fun, supportive environment. For more information, see the attached poster or visit https://www.deltadeas.com/
Parent Education
Establishing Healthy Screen Time at Home
Children are exposed to more screens than ever before, including television, computers, gaming consoles, smartphones and tablets. While quality media may offer benefits for learning and exploration, too much screen time can reduce the time we spend doing activities that keep us healthy like talking to friends and family, playing outside, and getting enough sleep.
Many parents find it challenging to limit screen time for their kids. Here are some resources that can help. Please see these screen time brochures for children 0-4 years and 5-12 years and for more information please check out https://www.fraserhealth.ca/health-topics-a-to-z/children-and-youth/physical-activity-for-children/screen-time-for-children#:~:text=For%20children%20under%20two%20years,than%20two%20hours%20a%20day
National Child and Youth Mental Health Day
Creating a Substance Use Prevention Plan Webinar for Parents
Monday May 5th- PAC mtg via Zoom, 7pm
Wednesday, May 7th- last day to order yearbooks https://devonpac.hotlunches.net
Wednesday, May 7th- PAC popcorn sale at recess
Thursday, May 8th- Regional Track Meet @ NDSS
Thursday, May 15th- District Track Meet @ SDSS
Friday, May 16th – non-instructional day (no school for students)
Monday, May 19th – Victoria Day (schools are closed)
Wednesday, May 21st – PAC recess snack day (TCBY)
Wednesday, May 28th –Welcome to Kindergarten event
Thursday, May 29th – PAC special lunch day (subway)
Friday, May 30th – Parent/Guardian Appreciation Morning
Other dates and events are listed on our school calendar on our website: https://dg.deltasd.bc.ca/events-calendar/
