Dear DG Families,

A reminder, tomorrow is a Pro-D day (so, no school for students … teachers, however, will be engaged in a full day of learning!).  Please read on for this week’s important information:

Week(s) of Giving

At this time of year, one thing we focus on at Devon Gardens, is how help and give others hope for the holidays.  Our Week(s) of Giving Campaign is well underway, with one week left to go! 

This year we are supporting two organizations in particular:  Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre (FRAFCA) and The Orchard, Whole Way House Society.   Donations for FRAFCA will be primarily focused on pre-teens and teens, while donations for The Orchard will be for families and seniors.

We will be collecting various (NEW) items, suitable for a variety of ages (from kids to seniors) that will then be assembled into gift boxes.   If you would like to help us with these donations, please keep the information below in mind when doing your holiday shopping.  The gift boxes will be shoe boxes, so please keep this size in mind when sending in donations.   And, if you have shoe boxes to donate, please send those in too!

November 29th: Something to Do (cross word puzzle books, sodoku, rubics cubes, colouring books & crayons/pencil crayons, sketch books, playing cards, travel board games, etc..

November 30th & December 1st: Something Sweet to Eat (cookies, candies, chocolates, restaurant gift cards, etc…)

In addition to our Week(s) of Giving campaign, this year we are once again putting Christmas Hampers together for families in need.  Please see info below:

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As you know, we are again working with another school in Delta to provide families in need with some Christmas hampers this year.

Our sister school will provide hampers 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 who are in need. Please have a look at the descriptions of the two families below and please consider bringing in donations to help with our hamper efforts. We would like to get the hampers to them by Monday, Dec 12th.  Students can bring in donations to their teachers, or they can be dropped off directly at the office.

Again our sincerest thank you!

Family #1 Mom & 2 Children

Family #2 Mom & 2 kids

Should you want to sign up to buy an item, please do so on this link.  You DO NOT need to write your name – we are just trying to make sure that we don’t get 16 toques:)  Again, thank you all for your generosity!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FGG8UEdGF6a9LLLyfBOTiPhSb1XwZFjyADLaibHpL5o/edit?usp=sharing

Report Cards

Please make sure you can access Parent Connect, as this is where you will view your child’s upcoming report card (posted December 8th)  https://cimsweb.deltasd.bc.ca/schoolconnect/parentsignone.aspx

We understand there are sometimes extenuating circumstances.  As such, any parents who require a printed copy of their child’s report card are asked to please send a note or email to the teacher by Friday, December 2nd.  

Christmas Concert – Two shows on Tuesday, December 13th – 1:30pm  and 6:30pm

Exciting News – We are offering parents a chance to win the best seats in the house for our Christmas Concerts (this means, you can win reserved seating – and no lining up!).  

One entry form per student was sent home last Thursday but you may enter as many times as you like!   The entry form is available in the “notices” section of our school website

Contest entries are due Friday, December 2nd

Cold Weather

With winter around the corner, we are reminding parents to ensure that students have what they need to be able to play outside in the cold weather (such as gloves, toques, jackets, boots).  Please also take the time to label your child’s items, especially gloves.

Lost and Found

Parent volunteers are needed on the mornings of November 29th to December 9th to put out items for the lost and found each morning in the undercover area by the gym and kindergarten entrance. We will be setting up tables to lay out clothes and water bottles from 8:20 – 9:00 each morning. We invite families to look on the tables to pick up any items that belong to them. Any items not picked up by December 9th will be donated to the local thrift store.

Please contact Brandy Grund at bgrund@deltaschools.ca if you are interested in volunteering.

We will be meeting in the undercover area at 8:20 each day to set up the tables and clothes. In addition to laying out the clothes each day for two weeks, we will be posting pictures to Twitter @DGElem

Important Information about FRENCH IMMERSION for the 2023-2024 School Year

Are you interested in:

• the Early French Immersion program for your soon-to-be-Kindergarten child?

• the Late French Immersion program for your currently-in-grade-5 child?

Or, do you know a family who might be?

Please note and/or pass along this important information about the upcoming French Immersion Information Sessions for Parents:

Adult Crossing Guard Needed (paid position)

After having spent all of last year without a Crossing Guard at the corner of Nordel and 112^th, we were so pleased, at the start of this school year, to have finally found someone for that position (Ms. Houle).   Unfortunately, Ms. Houle is unable to continue in this role as she has accepted another job.    The position has been posted and we are hopeful that we will soon find a replacement.

In the meantime, those families who do walk that way to and from school should use extra caution as, until the position, is filled we will not have a Crossing Guard at that location.  

Also, if you or someone you know, might be interested in the position, please contact Ms. Grund at bgrund@deltaschools.ca   or at 604-581-6185

This is a part-time role, for one hour per day (30 minutes each in the morning and afternoon), Monday – Friday, from September to June, on days school is in session.

Hours: 

8:20– 8:50am, Mon – Fri

3:00 – 3:30pm, Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri

1:45 – 2:15pm, Wed

Requirements: 

Completion of Grade 10, or equivalent. Ability to communicate effectively with students, parents and drivers. Ability to use good judgement when confronted with difficult situations. Knowledge of and the ability to apply basic road safety rules. Physically capable of performing the duties of the position. Ability to work in all weather conditions. Criminal records check required

Student Crossing Guard Schedule

A huge thank you to our student crossing guards!   We appreciate the many students that volunteer their time to keep our school community safe before and after school. As this is such an important role, we ask that students find their own replacements if they are not able to do their crossing guard duty. Please review the updated crossing guard schedule with your child so they understand when their crossing guard duty takes place. Ms Grund is in charge of our Student Crossing Guard program, so please contact her with any questions.PlayDay Reg Form Nov 28

Revised Crossing Guard Schedule Crossing Guard

Stigma Free Society – Student Mental Health Toolkit –

The Student Mental Health Toolkit is a helpful platform for school staff and parents/guardians to
educate and support young people with their mental wellness. The Toolkit provides a wide variety of resources for individuals to enhance their mental health journeys and better understand the realm of well-being.  To access the parents/caregivers section, see the link below:

Purdy’s Fundraiser

The DGPAC is doing a Purdy’s Fundraiser.  If you are looking to purchase chocolates for gifts this season, here’s a way you can do it while also supporting your PAC!

Here’s the link to order: https://fundraising.purdys.com/join.aspx/1589588-100750

Please contact the DG PAC  if you have questions or need any further information

Reminder – 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 devongardensin 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 $8 from each registration. For details, available course dates and online registration, please follow the links below: Babysitting – https://firstaidhero.com/babysitting-courses/online-babysitting-courses/ Stay Safe – https://firstaidhero.com/stay-safe/

Questions? Send an email to pacdevongardens@gmail.com

Thank you,

Your Devon Gardens PAC

Monday, November 28th: Professional Development Day (no school for students)

Week(s) of Giving:

• November 29th: Something to Do (cross word puzzle books, sodoku, rubics cubes, colouring books & crayons/pencil crayons, sketch books, playing cards, travel board games, etc..
• November 30th & December 1st: Something Sweet to Eat (cookies, candies, chocolates, restaurant gift cards, etc…)

Wednesday, November 30th: Deadline to order Purdy’s chocolates (PAC fundraiser)

Friday, December 2nd: Deadline to enter “Best Seats” contest

Monday, December 5th: PAC meeting 7:30 pm

Thursday, December 8th: Term 1 Report Cards available online

Monday, December 12th: Last day to bring in Christmas Hamper donations

Tuesday, December 13th: Christmas Concert – 1:30pm & 6:30pm

Wednesday, December 14th: Pyjama Day

Friday, December 16th: Special Foods Day (pizza hut)

Friday, December 16th: last day of school before Winter Break

Other dates and events are listed on the school calendar on our website: https://dg.deltasd.bc.ca/events-calendar/