St. Bernadette Newsletter January 27th, 2021
HIGHLIGHTS
• Registration and Re-registration
• Animal Appreciation Day
• Valentine’s Day
• Fraser Health Winter Reminders and Updates
THE MONTH AT A GLANCE
• January 29th – Last day for re-registration without penalty
• February 5th – Last day for late re-registration
• February 10th – Non-Uniform Day – Animal Appreciation Day
• February 11th – Valentine’s Day at school
• February 12th – No School (CISVA wellness day)
• February 15th – No School (family day)
• February 17th – Ash Wednesday
• February 24th – Pink Shirt Day
REGISTRATION AND RE-REGISTRATION
All registration forms are now required to be submitted electronically. This is our first year piloting this new way of registering. No longer will you need to come into the school to register. The forms have now been sent out and they will need to be returned via email to the school by Friday January 29th to avoid late fees. Any family not re-registered by Friday February 5th, will have their place in the school given to the next family on the waitlist.
All registration forms are to be emailed to registration@stbernadette.ca with your child’s name and grade in the subject line. They are to be emailed back in the format in which it was sent. Do not scan, do not print, and do not take a photo of the forms.
A few tips to help you complete the online forms:
– These forms require digital signatures. We highly recommend you open the document on your computer and use Acrobat Reader (free edition) or Acrobat Reader Pro. Do not try to fill out the forms using your phone or other device.
– If you have not done so already, you must create a digital e-signature. Here is a YouTube tutorial that will guide you through creating a digital signature using Acrobat Reader:
or you can watch
– e-signatures (digital signatures) are legal in Canada.
– Please give yourself plenty of time to fill out the form as you may run into difficulties and/or challenges.
ANIMAL APPRECIATION DAY
The St. Bernadette BC SPCA Club would like to announce our 13th annual HEARTS FOR ANIMALS APPRECIATION DAY 2021. It will be held on Wednesday, February 10th, 2021. This special day will will be dressing in red, white, and/or pink. We will be collecting a minimum donation of $2.00 with all proceeds going to the BC SPCA Medical Emergency Program. This year we will be sponsoring animals who are in need of emergency care. We ask students to please remember to enter the club’s contest which will be held at the school from Monday Feb. 1st to Friday Feb. 5th. Lucky winners will be announced on February 10th. The St. Bernadette BC SPCA Club appreciates your support and we hope that students will enjoy the contest week and our special appreciation day for our animal friends.
VALENTINE’S DAY
On Thursday Feb. 11th, students will be allowed to celebrate Valentine’s Day with their classmates. We ask that families adhere to the following:
– Only Valentine’s Day cards, pencils, and/or trinkets can be exchanged on Feb. 11th
– Students are not allowed to bring in treats, candy or other food items.
– Teachers, as part of a controlled and monitored system within our covid-19 protocols, may elect to bring in a treat for the students. If they do so, items will be individually wrapped and proper health and safety measures will be in place.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Fraser Health Back to School Winter Update
Fraser Health Authorities has created a document for parents that serves as a reminder of the health and safety protocols that we must be following and also provides information on the updates to those plans. Please click above to read the document.
St. Bernadette Newsletter January 20th, 2021
HIGHLIGHTS
• Registration and Re-registration
• Inclement Weather and School Closure Reminders
• Electronic Submission of Absentee Form
• Animal Appreciation Day
• Thank You’s
• Admissions
THE MONTH AT A GLANCE
• January 26th – RCAV Charities – Non-Uniform Day
• January 29th – Re-registration (last day to register without penalty)
REGISTRATION AND RE-REGISTRATION
All registration forms are now required to be submitted electronically. This is our first year piloting this new way of registering. No longer will you need to come into the school to register. The forms have now been sent out and they will need to be returned via email to the school by Friday January 29th to avoid late fees. All registration forms are to be emailed to registration@stbernadette.ca with your child’s name and grade in the subject line. They are to be emailed back in the format in which it was sent. Do not scan, do not print, and do not take a photo of the forms.
A few tips to help you complete the online forms:
– These forms require digital signatures. We highly recommend you open the document on your computer and use Acrobat Reader (free edition) or Acrobat Reader Pro. Do not try to fill out the forms using your phone or other device.
– If you have not done so already, you must create a digital e-signature. Here is a YouTube tutorial that will guide you through creating a digital signature using Acrobat Reader:
or you can watch
– e-signatures (digital signatures) are legal in Canada.
– Please give yourself plenty of time to fill out the form as you may run into difficulties and/or challenges.
SCHOOL CLOSURE PROCEDURES
This is a good time to remind everyone of our school closure procedures as snow is being predicted for next week.
In the event of weather conditions, or unforeseen circumstances, the Principal will decide whether or not the school will be open on that day or remain open if the school needs to close part way through the day. Notice of school closures will be announced through social media (snow days only), through the Remind App and if possible, the school website. Please do not call the school; it is important that we keep all lines free in case of an emergency.
When it comes to snow days, several factors go into making the call to close the school and the call must be made prior to 6:45am to ensure Stingers Club parents receive timely notice. The factor(s) that go into making the call to close the school include, but is not limited to, any one of the following or a combination there of:
• Information on current road conditions (Conditions are monitored throughout the night, and again at approximately 6:00am by the Principal) including the side street accessibility to the school from 65B Ave
• Amount of snow and ice accumulated and/or predicted to accumulate
• Duration and timing of the snow and/or ice event
• Temperature and wind chill (for safety of walkers and students at bus stops) – we will receive direction when it comes to closing school due to extreme temperatures
• School building conditions (electricity, heat, water)
• School parking lot conditions (safety, accessibility)
• Current weather conditions, along with predicted weather, but closures cannot be determined solely on predictions.
• Consultation with the pastor, PEC chair, other nearby staff members and Catholic schools, including Holy Cross Secondary.
As a reminder, although we do our best in the decision-making process for keeping school open or closed, if the school is open and you, the parent, feels as though it is not safe for your child to attend school, you have the option of keeping your child at home.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
As the weather continues to bring rain, cold temperatures and the possibility of snow, it is important that children come to school dressed for the weather we are expecting on that day. As part of our health and safety plans, it was stated that:
“As much as possible, classes will be held outdoors, and students will be required to be outdoors during recess times.”
• Students need to be prepared for the weather when going outside for recess. Sunscreen and hats are recommended for the warmer months, while winter/rain jackets, gloves, toques, rain boots, umbrellas and other similar items are recommended for the rainy, snowy and cold months.
• “Indoor recess will only occur if the outdoor conditions are unsafe for the students.” – STB Family Planning and Return to School September 2020 document
Children will be going outside during rainy and cold weather. Having an umbrella and/or a good rain jacket is essential. Being outside for recess is healthy for the student and the classroom. Your child needs fresh air and recess times allow the air in the classroom to cycle quicker and bring more fresh air in.
ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF ABSENTEE FORM
Our Absentee Form can now be filled out on your laptop or device. Submissions are to be sent to admin@stbernadette.ca. Please submit your form upon your child’s return to school. You can find the form in the news section of our website.
ANIMAL APPRECIATION DAY
The St. Bernadette BC SPCA Club would like to announce our 13th annual HEARTS FOR ANIMALS APPRECIATION DAY 2021. It will be held on Wednesday, February 10th, 2021. This special day will will be dressing in red, white, and/or pink. We will be collecting a minimum donation of $2.00 with all proceeds going to the BC SPCA Medical Emergency Program. This year we will be sponsoring animals who are in need of emergency care. We ask students to please remember to enter the club’s contest which will be held at the school from Monday Feb. 1st to Friday Feb. 5th. Lucky winners will be announced on February 10th. The St. Bernadette BC SPCA Club appreciates your support and we hope that students will enjoy the contest week and our special appreciation day for our animal friends.
THANK YOU’S
We would like to extend our thanks and gratitude to Mrs. Sheila Vader and her crew of helpers who decorated our school this year for Christmas and then came back after the break and put it all away again. We are grateful for her and her team’s effort in making our school special for the month of December.
We would also like to thank Mr. Victor Naval and his crew who set up and took down all the lights for our annual lights of hope campaign. We are very thankful for the hard work that went into making our light display once again a special site to see.
2021-2022 ADMISSIONS
We are seeing a renewed interest in admissions for next year. Thank you to all the families who contacted family and friends to let them know we had space. That space is now quickly filling up. We only have a few spots left. If you know of someone who would benefit from a Catholic education by attending St. Bernadette School, please inform them that they need to submit their application form early. Application forms can be found on our school website.