Week of Sept 25th – 29th

Dear DG Families,

Please be sure to read all the way through this week’s post, as it contains new/important information

Thank you to all the families who attended our Open House on Thursday evening; it was great to see you!   For those of you who entered your scavenger hunt forms for a chance to win a prize, Ms Labrosse will be contacting the winners sometime this week!

 

Have you checked your contact information on Parent Connect & completed the on-line consent forms (this must be done every year)?

Please take the time to log in to Parent Connect and to update your forms.  Each year, the Delta School District requires that parents approve, through Parent Connect, various
permission forms (eg. walking field trip, Fruit & Veggie program, Photo & Media consent,
Google Apps).  Our first Fruit and Veggie delivery is this week.  Only students whose parents have given consent  for them to participate in the Fruit and Veggie program will be able to participate.

It is important that the information that we have for you is up to date.  As well, parent connect is the portal that you will need to use when booking parent teacher interviews.  Please see the link for details.

https://dg.deltasd.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/09/parent-connect-instructions.pdf

 

Parent/Teacher Conferences – Would you like a virtual option?

Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled for October 18th and 19th.   Last year we offered parents both virtual and in-person options for parent/teacher conferences, as this was more convenient for many families. This is something we can certainly do again, if that is helpful.  In order to assist us with planning our up-coming parent/teacher conferences, we would ask that you please complete this short survey letting us know your preference.

https://forms.gle/6fFEGk2jWS31V9j17

 

parkinglot (1)

Road Safety

Pick up times can be very busy, and Russell Drive and 112th are very busy roads.  As such, we encourage families to walk to and from school if possible, or to even park a little further away and walk the rest of the way .  Parents can continue to help us keep our students safe during pickup and drop off times, by doing the following.

  • Use the designated parent parking lot (safely and courteously!) across the street from the school.   Please do not double park or block the entry/exit to the parking lot
  • Follow the directions of crossing guards
  • Use the cross walk to cross Russell Drive and encourage your children to do the same (it’s not safe for kids to run across Russell Drive)
  • Keep our staff parking lot clear of parent vehicles and pedestrians (lately we’ve noticed an increase in parent vehicles driving through, and even parking in, the staff lot; please don’t do this)
  • Stress to your children that they should not hang out in or run across the staff parking lot.  Use the path across the front grass areas, rather than cutting through the staff parking lot.
  • Keep vehicles clear of Downs Road – there is NO student drop off/pick up, here
  • Do not block private driveways of houses near our school
  • Encourage older students to walk or bike to school
  • If possible, walk younger students to school
  • Drive slowly and cautiously

Here’s a link to the traffic reminders/parking map on our website.  

 

Friday, September 29th we will be observing Orange Shirt Day at school.  Staff and students are encouraged to wear orange in remembrance and respect to the Indigenous children who were sent away to residential schools in Canada

Between the 1860s and the 1990s, approximately 150,000 Métis, Inuit and First Nations children were sent to  church-run schools residential schools.  Residential schools harmed Indigenous children by removing them from their families, forcing them to speak English or French instead of their ancestral languages, disconnecting them from their culture and traditions and forcing them to adopt Christianity in order to assimilate into Canadian society.  Learn more about the origins of Orange Shirt Day:

 


September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (schools will be closed on October 2nd in lieu).  This is a day for all of us to take some time to reflect on the truth of Canada’s past and the harmful legacy of Canada’s Indian Residential Schools and ways we can move towards reconciliation.   Here are some ways we can participate mark the day:

 

Fall weather

Just a reminder that as the weather gets cold and wet, please make sure that kids come dressed appropriately for the outdoors in all sorts of weather (eg. jacket, waterproof/water resistant footwear, hat, gloves, etc…) . Please expect that kids will go out for recess and lunch, unless there is extreme weather.

VERY IMPORTANT –  all students (even Grade 7s!) are required to have a spare change of clothes (socks, pants, T-shirt) at school.  Spare clothing should be in a ziplock bag, labeled with your child’s name   

 

 

Adult Crossing Guards Needed

We are still looking for adult crossing guards, both full time (at Nordel and 112th), part time (at 112th by the entrance to the school field) and casual/on-call.  If you are interested, or you know someone who might be, please email our Vice Principal, Mme Hamilton, or call the school office (604-581-6185).

 

 

Fruit and Vegetable Program Starts This Week

BC School Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Program:

Our school is involved in the BC Fruit and Veggie orOne of the goals is to encourage healthy eating by providing fresh BC fruits and vegetables to the students during school time. The students will receive picked, washed and ready to enjoy produce about twice a month at no charge. Please complete the permission form in Parent Connect to ensure your child can participate in this worthwhile program. Many thanks to our PAC parents for coordinating this program for all our students.

 

 

PAC INFORMATION

Deadline to order Special Lunch for Term 1 is Tuesday!

 

 

 

Term 1 Special Lunch Days

Devon Gardens PAC Fundraiser – Hot Lunches

This term we are offering items from Fuel Catering on these days:

Thursday – Oct 5th

Friday – Oct 27th

Thursday – Nov 16th

Thursday – Dec 7th

Please note – There has been a change to the hot lunch menu for Dec. 7th. We can no longer offer the California roll as it has been brought to our attention that it contains fish. For those who have already placed an order for California rolls, a credit will be placed in your account for the amount paid. Please log back on to check your order and see if there is anything you would like to choose instead for Thursday Dec. 7th. Otherwise this credit can be used for a future hot lunch purchase for the year. Our apologies for the inconvenience.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this please email us at pacdevongardens@gmail.com.

Please refer to associated menu for item details

Deadline to submit online orders – Tuesday, September 26th

* Typically, Special Lunch Days are on Thursday.  Please note that Oct 27th is a Friday

How to Order

  • Visit https://devonpac.hotlunches.net/ and register for an account (you must register for a new account each year, may use same login and password as previous years)
  • Select items/order per child & pay
  • For step-by-step instructions on registering and ordering/payment, click here.

Other information to note:

  • Hot Lunch ordering is optional. Absolutely no obligation to order.
  • Proceeds from all hot lunch fundraising will be administered by the PAC and go towards the purchase of school/student/classroom needs/supplies/events, etc.
  • No additional utensils or condiments will be provided. Please feel free to send a drink, etc. to supplement your child(s) order.
  • If you have more than one child at the school, place orders for all children first and then proceed to final payment. This will save you transaction fees.
  • Nutritional information will be forthcoming
  • Please be mindful of known absences/vacations when placing orders.
  • If your child is absent on the day of the hot lunch, the meal will be automatically donated to someone else. Please email your child’s teacher if you want to pick up their food. Pick up is between 1:30-2:15PM at the office on the day of the hot lunch

Questions???  Please send an email to pacdevongardens@gmail.com before ordering.

Thank you,

Your Devon Gardens PAC

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 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 $2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Digital Skills Development | Information Services Division - UCL – University College LondonOPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS/FAMILIES

 

 

Diversecity Community Resources Society Bond to Literacy Program @ Hellings Elementary

Are you a parent of a preschool child? Want to prepare them well for school? Join this free 12-week program to get them learning their ABCs, improve their motor skills and enhance their cognitive development. You will be able to:

• Introduce books to your kids and encourage them to read with you in a
fun-loving environment
• Take part in science experiments and math activities with your children
• Learn music and movement activities, which are important for your children’s early development
• Get to socialize with other parents
• Get free storybooks for your children!

Snacks, bus tickets and childminding services are available during sessions.

Fridays, September 15 to December 4, 2023 – 12–2 pm

At Hellings Elementary – 11655 86 Avenue, Delta, BC

Eligible for parents with children aged 3–5 living in Delta.

To register, please call 604-547-2003, email childrensprograms@dcrs.ca or visit dcrs.ca/families.

Strong Start

StrongStart provides free early learning programs for children from birth to Kindergarten entry. Parents/caregivers attend with their children.

StrongStarts are led by Early Childhood Educators who support children with their learning and share ideas, resources, and community services with families.

No advance registration is required. Programs run 9-12 at Heath, Chalmers, Jarvis, Hellings and McCloskey Elementary Schools.  There is also an afternoon program at McCloskey.  Families are welcome to attend anytime during program hours but it is recommended that if families are attending for the first time that the drop in during the first half hour, which is usually open play time.

StrongStart Locations In North Delta:

Hellings Elementary
11655 86th Avenue
604-596-1701

McCloskey Elementary (morning and afternoon programming)
11531 80th Avenue
604-596-9554

Jarvis Elementary
7670 118th Street
604-594-3484

Chalmers Elementary
11315 75th Avenue
604-594-5437

Heath Elementary
11364 72nd Avenue
604-596-1508

 

Have You Ever Thought of Becoming a Foster Parent?

Do you share a desire to help young people reach their full potential?

Currently in B.C. there are 1000’s of kids who need foster families when they can’t live at home.  Many of these children and teens have experienced trauma and difficult times.

They need amazing foster families who are committed to their care and provide support so that they can grow and develop in a positive way.   Please see the link below for more information:

Caring for children and youth in B.C. – Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)

If this is something you would be interested in, or if you would like more information, please contact:

Ministry of Children & Family Development, South Fraser Recruitment Team (FII) at  604.209.2681.

 

Tuesday, September 26th – deadline to order Special Lunch Days for Term 1

Friday, September 29th – Orange Shirt Day

Monday, October 2nd – Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Statutory Holiday, schools are closed)

Thursday, October 5th – PAC Special Lunch Day

Monday, October 9th – Thanksgiving (Statutory Holiday, schools are closed)

Wednesday, October 11th – PAC popcorn sale at recess

Wednesday, October 18th – Parent/Teacher Conferences (early dismissal, 12 noon)

Thursday, October 19th – Parent/Teacher Conferences (early dismissal, 2:00pm)

Friday, October 20th – Non-Instructional Day/Provincial Pro-D (no classes for students)

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

 

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