Dear DG Families,

We hope that everyone is having a happy and safe Easter long weekend.

New Health and Safety Measures

Amended K-12 Health and Safety Guidelines

On Thursday, you should have received an update from Superintendent Doug Sheppard regarding the amendments to the K-12 health and safety guidelines relating to the wearing of masks in schools.

We recognize that some elementary school students are not used to wearing masks indoors. Teachers will help students adjust to this change. In addition, students will be able to remove their masks while outside, including at recess, lunchtime and while learning outside. As the weather improves, teachers will continue to look for opportunities to move their classes outside.

We would ask for your support in the following ways:

• Please send your child to school with a clean mask that they are used to wearing, and a spare mask. Schools will have disposable masks available if students forget their masks.

• Students should also bring something in which to store their mask during those times they remove it (for example, when eating lunch or playing outside at recess time).  This could be a brown bag, a mask storage pouch, or something else of your choosing.  Whatever you choose, please ensure it is clearly marked with your child’s first and last name, as well as their division number.  

• Please watch this Health Canada video with your child or view this poster for guidance on mask wearing.

• Please remind your child(ren) that since masks are to be worn inside, they should not eat or drink while walking through common areas of the school or around their classrooms, as masks must be removed for eating and drinking.  As such, students are to be seated at their desks when eating and drinking.

• Please ensure that you maintain physical distance and avoid crowding while on school grounds, including outside.  Please leave the school grounds promptly and to avoid interacting with others outside your household.  For this reason we are asking families to not allow  children to play on playground before or after school, particularly now as COVID case numbers are dramatically on the rise.

Many thanks for your support in helping to keep our schools safe. If there are further updates to the health and safety guidelines, we will share them with you.

Crossing Guard Schedule

Please see the schedule listed for crossing guards until the end of June!

Crossing Guard Schedule

Exploring Our Relationship With Alcohol During Stressful Times

Many factors may make us more likely to drink alcohol during a crisis. Anxiety, isolation and stress are all common during this time of COVID-19. And unfortunately, science has shown us that one of the most powerful triggers for substance use is stress.

Tempest is the first and only virtual recovery program that provides effective, engaging, holistic and lifelong care to anyone who wants to change their relationship with alcohol. Tempest was founded by Holly Whitaker, author of the New York Times best-seller book~Quit Like a Woman.~Tempest’s brand has changed the narrative around a normally stigmatized life event resulting in extensive press coverage when Chrissy Teigen posted on Instagram how the Tempest approach helped her to get sober, along with numerous news features such as on Today, GMA, and Vogue.

Facilitated by Ruby Mehta

Ruby is the Director of Clinical Strategy at Tempest. She is also a licensed clinical social worker and holds a certificate in Integrative Trauma Studies from the National Institute for the Psychotherapies in NYC. Prior to joining Tempest, Ruby provided therapy to individuals struggling with depression, anxiety and substance use within her own private practice as well as within community mental health centres. Ruby lives in New Jersey with her partner and three energetic little kids.

When: April 8, 2021 06:00 p.m. – 7:30p.m.

Please register in advance for this Workshop:

https://ca01web.zoom.us/meeting/register/u5UpduCqqj8uHtbwgdvfzFoNsSRRCWQW6m5F

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Tempest – Exploring Our Relationship With Alcohol Final

PAC fundraisers will be sent in a separate email this week.

Monday, April 5th:  Easter Monday (School is closed)

Week of April 6th: PAC Neufeld orders online

Thursday, April 22nd:  Term 3 previews sent home electronically

Friday, April 23rd:  PAC Neufeld orders due