• Dec. 10th – Christmas Concert (posted on our YouTube Channel at 6pm)
• Dec. 14th – 18th – Spirit Week (TBA)
• Dec. 18th – Early Dismissal (11:50 LG2 and LG4, 12pm LG1 and LG3)
• Dec. 18th – Reports go home
• Dec. 18th – Stingers club after school until 2:30pm. This is only for families who are registered for Stingers club and they must contact Sheila Vader prior to Dec. 18th to attend.
ADVENT
This week marks the first week of Advent. It is an exciting time as it marks the start of a new liturgical year and also the count down to the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. In a typical year we would be attending Mass every week, however, at this time, we are told that this is not possible. Mass is a large part of who we are as a Catholic School. We take direction from the Archbishop and the Superintendent when it comes to our involvement in Mass and para-liturgical celebrations. Until new directions are given, we will not be allowed to celebrate Mass in the Church or the school. I ask that you find opportunities at home to celebrate the coming of Christ and to find opportunities to join Mass online. St. Bernadette’s has a feed that you can join every Sunday.
LIGHTS OF HOPE UPDATE
Many thanks to Mr. Victor Naval and his band of merry men who worked very hard on creating this year’s Lights of Hope Display.
We are into the third week of our Lights of Hope campaign and we are currently just over $2000 in donations. This is once again an amazing outpouring of generosity. Our school is so thankful for all the donations and pledges that have come our way. We are so blessed to have such a supportive and generous school community.
The deadline for lightbulb purchases is Wednesday, December 9, and all donations received prior to December 2nd will be represented in our video of the Lights of Hope Celebration. Donations received after December 2nd will still have their light bulb put up, prayer intentions blessed by Father Paul, but they will not appear in the video.
This year, we are doing things a little different to ensure everyone’s safety. Instead of each student getting prayer cards to sell, donations can be made through the parish’s online platform similar to our Walkathon. Christmas light bulbs can be purchased for $5.00 each and represents your prayer intention. Students do not have to keep track of their sales as there is no minimum or maximum for how much you are to sell. Tax receipts will not be provided for this fundraiser. Please ensure that your billing address matches that on your credit card or the payment will not go through. All we ask is that you please participate in this event to your best ability and support it in the best way you can.
2) Select or type in the amount you’d like to donate
3) Select Designation: P93 School Lights of Hope
4) Type in your prayer intentions in the comment box
We are thankful for the donations that have come in thus far. This might be our last major fundraiser for the school year. All proceeds will go towards a last push to get the much needed Chromebooks in the hands of our students. We are very close to our goal and we hope to reach it through this fundraiser.
Thank you again for all your support in this meaningful and blessed event.
• Nov. 30th – Kindergarten Advent Assembly (video will be shared via YouTube)
• Dec. 10th – Christmas Concert (posted on our YouTube Channel at 6pm)
• Dec. 14th – 18th – Spirit Week (TBA)
• Dec. 18th – Early Dismissal (11:50 LG2 and LG4, 12pm LG1 and LG3)
• Dec. 18th – Reports go home
• Dec. 18th – Stingers club after school until 2:30pm. This is only for families who are registered for Stingers club and they must contact Sheila Vader prior to Dec. 18th to attend.
WEARING MASKS IN SCHOOL
St. Bernadette School has excellent compliance with mask wearing. With recent mask wearing orders coming to public spaces, questions were asked about if schools were going to make masks mandatory too. As of now, masks are still not mandatory. However, you will see calls from the BCTF and other educational groups asking parents to speak with their children about wearing masks in class.
There is significant credible research that speaks to the importance and effectiveness of wearing a mask. In addition, in the U.S., the director of the CDC stated that face masks are “the most important, powerful public health tool we have.” Face masks reduce the amount of droplets and aerosols in the air, reduce the viral load, and creates a “form of ‘variolation’ that would generate immunity and thereby slow the spread of the virus while we wait for a vaccine” as reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.
We are asking students to treat masks as part of their uniform, to wear them in class, to take breaks from wearing them when they are outside or eating, and to ensure that they are wearing them properly (over the mouth and nose).
We continue to view masks as one layer of a multilayered approach to our health and safety plan. It is not a be all, end all method, in the same way that physical distancing, health checks and hand washing are each not effective on their own. However, as we learn more about the virus, its infection through droplets and aerosols, its contagion rate, the short and long term health effects, and other aspects, mask wearing is important and will continue to be effective.
Please continue to speak with your child(ten) about following the health and safety plans of the school, and if they share the fantastic work they are doing to keep themselves and others safe and healthy, please congratulate them on doing a great job in following the health and safety plans of the school.
PREPARING FOR UNEXPECTED CHANGES TO LEARNING
St. Bernadette School wants to ensure that we are all prepared for unexpected directives from Fraser Health or the Ministry of Education due to the changing public health landscape as a result of rising COVID-19 cases in our community. There are several scenarios that could impact in-class learning:
– Fraser Health ordering a student/teacher/staff to self isolate due to a school exposure
– Fraser Health ordering a class to self isolate due to a school exposure
– Fraser Health ordering a Learning Group (Cohort) to self-isolate due to a school exposure
– Fraser Health ordering our school to close due to an outbreak
– Ordering of us to close due to staff shortages
– The Provincial Health Officer ordering a shift to remote learning or hybrid learning
We are mindful that COVID-19’s prevalence is growing in our community exponentially and we have to be prepared to respond accordingly. This notice is written to provide you the assurance that we got this. We are on top of it. We are responding to it. We are well prepared for all the possible scenarios.
Since the beginning of November, the staff has been working on plans and preparations for a possible disruption to in-class learning. It is our intention to ensure that every student is prepared with the necessary skills and resources if a disruption would occur. You may notice that students are beginning to transport more resources back and forth from school each day. This is so we are prepared to move to another stage of learning if we are asked to suddenly pivot overnight. Teachers are also transporting more items back and forth from school each day so they too can pivot quickly and effectively.
St. Bernadette students are in good hands, we are well prepared and as always, are ready for all possible scenarios. We are on top of it and are working collaboratively to ensure that we will continue to provide a sound and meaningful education if we need to quickly move to another stage of learning. With your ongoing support and community buy-in, we can continue to do our best to keep everyone safe and healthy as we move closer to Christmas break.
LIGHTS OF HOPE
We are into the second week of our Lights of Hope campaign and we are currently at $600 in donations. Thank you to everyone who has donated thus far. This weekend, we will be decorating the courtyard for pre-recording of our Lights of Hope Celebration. Due to the Celebration being pre-recorded this year, we will need to project the final number of light bulbs earlier. The deadline for lightbulb purchases is Wednesday, December 9, and all donations received prior to this Friday morning (November 27) will be represented in our video of the Lights of Hope Celebration. Donations received after Friday will still have their lights put up, prayer intentions blessed by Father Paul, but they will not appear in the video. Therefore, we encourage you to submit your donations before Friday so we can have a more accurate projection of the number of light bulbs we need.
This year, we are doing things a little different to ensure everyone’s safety. Instead of each student getting prayer cards to sell, donations can be made through the parish’s online platform similar to our Walkathon. Christmas light bulbs can be purchased for $5.00 each and represents your prayer intention. Students do not have to keep track of their sales as there is no minimum or maximum for how much you are to sell. Tax receipts will not be provided for this fundraiser. Please ensure that your billing address matches that on your credit card or the payment will not go through. All we ask is that you please participate in this event to your best ability and support it in the best way you can.
2) Select or type in the amount you’d like to donate
3) Select Designation: P93 School Lights of Hope
4) Type in your prayer intentions in the comment box
We are thankful for the donations that have come in thus far. This might be our last major fundraiser for the school year. All proceeds will go towards a last push to get the much needed Chromebooks in the hands of our students. We are very close to our goal and we hope to reach it through this fundraiser.
Thank you again for all your support in this meaningful and blessed event.
CHALICE SALE
Grade 6 students are once again sponsoring the annual gently used Christmas sale from December 14 – 18. All items will be priced from $ .50 to $5.00. This is a great time for students to buy Christmas presents for family and friends.
All proceeds will benefit Chalice, a Catholic charitable organisation based in Nova Scotia with sites all over the world devoted to the health, education and well-being of children. If you have gently used items that you would like to donate to this worthy cause, please send them in to Grade 6. Thank you. If you have any questions, please e-mail Mrs Peck at grade6@stbernadette.ca
2021-2022 ADMISSIONS
Admission to our school are stagnate at the moment. Trying to advertise and reach new families is very difficult during this time. Currently we have 8 new families applying for kindergarten and we are hoping for another 11 more. Your support in a word of mouth campaign would be greatly appreciated as our usual venues for reaching new families is not possible this year. Having good numbers in our primary grades allows us to continue to be self-sustainable and affordable. Thank you for your support and help in letting families know about our school and how to apply.
SJPII OPEN HOUSE
St. John Paul II Academy is hosting its 4th Annual Open House on Dec. 2nd at 6:30 pm. This event will be conducted virtually via zoom and we ask all interested parents to register by Nov. 30th so we can provide you with the zoom link. The school is now accepting applications for Gr. 8, 9, 10, & 11 students for the 2021-22 school year interested in a quality Catholic Education provided in a safe, disciplined environment where our small student -teacher ratio provides all students to fulfill their God-given potential.
Please rsvp: skelly@sjp2academy.com to let us know you will be attending. We look forward to speaking with you.
• Nov. 30th – Kindergarten Advent Assembly (streamed live on our YouTube Channel at 9:15am)
• Dec. 1st – Gr. 4 and 5 Mass
• Dec. 9th – Gr. 2 and 3 Mass
• Dec. 10th – Christmas Concert (posted on our YouTube Channel at 6pm)
• Dec. 14th – 18th – Spirit Week (TBA)
• Dec. 18th – Kindergarten and Gr. 1 Mass
• Dec. 18th – Early Dismissal (11:50 LG2 and LG4, 12pm LG1 and LG3)
• Dec. 18th – Reports go home
• Dec. 18th – Stingers club after school until 2:30pm. This is only for families who are registered for Stingers club and they must contact Sheila Vader prior to Dec. 18th to attend.
COVID-19 UPDATE
Dear Parent(s),
St. Bernadette School continues to adhere to and follow our health and safety plans. Ventilation, mask wearing, sanitation, physical distancing and health checks continue to be done in the school. Our success is defined by the compliance and willingness of everyone in our community to make sacrifices and attend to the multilayered approach of our plans.
COVID-19 is in our community. It is in our grocery stores, pharmacies, care homes, daycares and other places of business. To keep our staff, children and yourself safe, we must continue to make sacrifices to not gather (especially in each other’s homes), wear a mask whenever we are in public, maintain physical distance and live a healthy life. We can continue to keep our school a safe environment by being a caring and considerate community. We must shift from me to we. This is about all of us and we have to take care of each other. My sacrifices protect you and your child, your sacrifices protect the children in your child’s class and their teacher, the sacrifices of the teachers protect us all. COVID is not in our school, it is in the community and we must commit to a new normal to keep each other safe and healthy.
Currently, attendance is roughly 30% higher than it was at this time last year. This shows that our school is healthier on a whole and that our multilayered approach is working. This multilayered approach isn’t just for students, it also applies to parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, etc. who are in the child’s bubble. Everyone must work together.
I am calling on families to continue to do the good work of wearing your mask on school property, to not gather in the parking lot, to refrain from carpooling when possible, to refrain from getting out of your car, and continue to do health checks each morning with your family. I want to encourage families in grade 3 to kindergarten to mainly use the school parking lot and drive thru area as your main pick up and drop off area. The parish parking lot is not designed to handle school traffic and we don’t have the authority to make changes or additions to the parish parking lot. The safest way to drop off and pick up your child is using our drive thru. It will add extra minutes to your routine (especially at pick up time), but it is the safest way to pick up and drop off your child. Only Kindergarten and Gr. 1 parents can accompany their child to the classroom. All other children can make their way to school on their own.
Finally, as the daily numbers increase, so does the pressure to close schools. We don’t know what the future holds. The staff is committed to pivoting to new learning models if and when the school must enter a new stage of instruction. Much like our preparation for the closure after Spring Break, staff have been troubleshooting and coming up with plans that will continue to meet the needs of the students. I am very proud of the work and commitment our staff has shown during this time. We are very fortunate to have a staff of such dedicated, diligent and prudent people who are very committed to the health and wellbeing of your child.
Many thanks to our families for their willingness to commit to the needs of the school community and the sacrifices you are making to keep everyone safe and healthy.
IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING PROPER HEALTH AND SAFETY
St. Bernadette’s believes strongly that a multilayered approach is essential to reducing risk at our school. We have identified 4 areas that will keep everyone safe:
1. Physical distancing – it is especially important that adults maintain physical distancing from each other and other children, especially when on school property. Children must maintain physical distancing from other students outside of their Learning Group. Families should not be getting together and students should not be having playdates.
2. Masks – Mask wearing is mandatory for visitors and adults while on school property. Masks must be worn properly and have a minimum of 2 layers of protection. Students are encouraged to wear a mask as much as possible throughout the day. Teachers will suggest to students they should put on their mask if physical distancing cannot be maintained. We continue to have great compliance with mask wearing in the school.
3. Washing Hands – Children will wash their hands anywhere from 6 – 10+ times per day. Every time a student transitions, they will wash their hands. Students should wash their hands prior to leaving their house.
4. Health Checks and testing – Ensuring we are healthy on a daily basis is very important. Families have shown excellent compliance thus far. If a child is unwell, they cannot return to school until they are well again and symptoms have subsided. If your child is unwell and has COVID like symptoms, you must call 811 and they will give you further guidance.
With everyone in our community working together and adhering to these 4 layers of protection, we can keep each other safe and healthy as we head into the winter months.
2021-2022 ADMISSIONS
Admission to our school are stagnate at the moment. Trying to advertise and reach new families is very difficult during this time. Currently we have 8 new families applying for kindergarten and we are hoping for another 11 more. Your support in a word of mouth campaign would be greatly appreciated as our usual venues for reaching new families is not possible this year. Having good numbers in our primary grades allows us to continue to be self-sustainable and affordable. Thank you for your support and help in letting families know about our school and how to apply.
LIGHTS OF HOPE
Our Lights of Hope campaign has begun. This year we are doing things a little different to ensure everyone’s safety. Instead of each student getting prayer cards to sell, donations can be made through the parish’s online platform similar to our Walkathon. Christmas light bulbs can be purchased for $5.00 each and represents your prayer intention. Students do not have to keep track of their sales as there is no minimum or maximum for how much you are to sell. Tax receipts will not be provided for this fundraiser. Please ensure that your billing address matches that on your credit card or the payment will not go through. All we ask is that you please participate in this event to your best ability and support it in the best way you can.
2) Select or type in the amount you’d like to donate
3) Select Designation: P93 School Lights of Hope
4) Type in your prayer intentions in the comment box
We would like to thank the families who have stepped forward to help with the Christmas light decorating for our Lights of Hope event. We currently have enough people helping and so grateful for the response from the community.
This might be our last major fundraiser for the year. All proceeds will go towards a last push to get the much needed Chromebooks in the hands of our students. We are very close to our goal and we hope to reach it though this fundraiser.
Thank you again for all your support in this meaningful and blessed event!
GOOGLE REVIEWS
The school relies on positive social media presence to help celebrate our school and to attract families to our community who will benefit from a Catholic education. To help foster this presence, Ms. Jed Molina runs all of our social media sites. We share student work, classroom activities, major events, extra-curricular events and fun photos we think the wider community will enjoy.
Our presence on Google took a hit when two erroneous reviews were given by what was believed to be bots. These reviews had nothing to do with the school and hurt our rating. As much as we tried to remove the reviews, they are still there. Our best effort to reduce the impact false reviews have on our school is to increase the amount of reviews we have.
We have noticed that children are coming to school unprepared for the incremental rainy and cold weather. 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.
ST. BERNADETTE FAMILY CHRISTMAS TREE
Once again we will be displaying our Family Christmas Tree in the school. We are inviting all new families, and those who have not yet done so, to bring in an ornament with the year your family started at St. Bernadette written on it. It can be bought or homemade. This is optional for all families. Ornaments can be dropped off at the office and will be displayed year after year.
FLIPGIVE
As the PEC mentioned in the AGM last week, we would like to introduce a new fundraising app called FlipGive. This is an online platform for purchasing digital gift cards where St Bernadette School can earn cash back. Since we will not be doing the gift card fundraiser this year, FlipGive is a great alternative! With the holidays approaching this is a wonderful way to send gifts to family and friends that we cannot see in person. The FlipGive app will also be available year round. Simply join our team on FlipGive and start shopping through the app or team page and we’ll earn money every time you shop with popular brands like Amazon, Starbucks, Indigo, Sportchek, Esso and so much more! Join our team now by clicking this link: https://flipgive.app.link/teams/join?fundraiser_name=Cindy%20Chiang&joincode=LZ3CFW If you are prompted for a join code, please enter our code: LZ3CFW Remember to use FlipGive before you shop online so we’ll earn cash back – make a purchase within the first 14 days of joining and we’ll receive an additional bonus! FYI – You are not required to share your purchase details. There is an option to turn on privacy settings suiting your preferences. For example, partial name, hidden name, and hidden purchase details. If you still have questions, here is a handout that explains FlipGive in more detail: https://www.flipgive.com/flipgive-getting-started.pdf?campaign_id=250698https://www.flipgive.com/teams/250698
PURDY’S CHOCOLATE SALES
Our Purdy’s Chocolate sales have begun. As always, sales will be done online, however, distribution will be done in a manner that will keep everyone’s health and safety in mind.
To make your orders, please go to:
Please pass along this link to others that wish to make a purchase. Every purchase made using this link helps support our school.
LIGHTS OF HOPE AND SCHOOL DECORATING
We would like to thank the families who have stepped forward to help with the Christmas light decorating for our Lights of Hope event and the decorating inside of the school. Currently we have enough people helping with the decorating of the school, but we are still looking for another family or two to join our team of helpers to decorate the courtyard. If you are able to help please let Victor Naval know by emailing him at maintenance@stbernadette.ca. If you have a responsible child in high school, who does not require supervision and who needs service hours, this could benefit them.
GOOGLE REVIEWS
The school relies on positive social media presence to help celebrate our school and to attract families to our community who will benefit from a Catholic education. To help foster this presence, Ms. Jed Molina runs all of our social media sites. We share student work, classroom activities, major events, extra-curricular events and fun photos we think the wider community will enjoy.
Our presence on Google took a hit when two erroneous reviews were given by what was believed to be bots. These reviews had nothing to do with the school and hurt our rating. As much as we tried to remove the reviews, they are still there. Our best effort to reduce the impact false reviews have on our school is to increase the amount of reviews we have.
• Nov. 5th – AGM – 6:30pm via Zoom – Registration required (see below)
• Nov. 10th – St. Vincent De Paul food drive begins
• Nov. 11th – Remembrance Day – No School
• Nov. 13th – No School – Pro-D
• Nov. 16th – Lights of Hope Fundraiser begins
• Nov. 24th – PJ Day for Covenant House
AGM NOVEMBER 5TH @ 6:30PM
We are hosting our AGM online this year. Unlike our other online meetings, this one will be more interactive and allow for participants to join with or without video. Upon entry, everyone will be muted. During the Q&A at the end of the meeting participants can unmute themselves to ask a question. You will need to register in advance for this meeting:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
INCREMENT WEATHER
We have noticed that children are coming to school unprepared for the increment rainy and cold weather. 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.
POPPY SALES
Once again the school is supporting the selling of poppies in class. Children can bring in any size of a donation to receive a poppy. Sales will continue until November 10th.
GOOGLE REVIEWS
The school relies on positive social media presence to help celebrate our school and to attract families to our community who will benefit from a Catholic education. To help foster this presence, Ms. Jed Molina runs all of our social media sites. We share student work, classroom activities, major events, extra-curricular events and fun photos we think the wider community will enjoy.
Our presence on Google took a hit when two erroneous reviews were given by what was believed to be bots. These reviews had nothing to do with the school and hurt our rating. As much as we tried to remove the reviews, they are still there. Our best effort to reduce the impact false reviews have on our school is to increase the amount of reviews we have.
SCHOOL UNIFORM
A letter went home last week informing families of additions we have made to our school uniform. In an attempt to maintain our commitment to our health and safety plans and to provide children with a comfortable work environment, the PEC has agreed to extend our uniform to allow children to wear the school hoodie and sweatpants during class time. All other jackets and outerwear is to be worn to and from school and during recess times.
Most sizes from the 2019 collection are sold out as they are moving to a better quality product. The 2020 hoodies and sweatpants do not have an image yet, but you can click on the placeholder to go to the purchasing page. The colour and design are the same.
2021-2022 SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
Admissions are now open for the 2021-2022 school year. We have 20 spots available in Kindergarten next year and roughly one spot in a couple of the other grades. Since advertising this just a week or two ago, we already have 8 applicants. Please send families to our website to download a form. Siblings of students currently attending St. Bernadette’s will be automatically enrolled during re-registration.
The pandemic will not afford us the opportunity to reach out to parishioners as we have done in the past. More than ever, we need your help to reach those who want to send their child to our school so that they receive the message that admissions are open. We have already had good response from the community without any advertising, however we want to ensure that all parishioners who want to send their child to our school knows to get in their application as soon as possible.
We will not be hosting an Open House this year. Arrangements will be made with new families to the school to tour the school through an appointment.
FAMILIES WITH SIBLINGS ENTERING KINDERGARTEN FOR 2O21-2022
Our records currently show 10 children of families currently attending our school will be entering into Kindergarten next year. If you think your child might not be on our list, please contact the office. We want to ensure all siblings entering Kindergarten are registered for next year prior to opening up spots to the general public.
HALLOWEEN CANDY FOR AGAPE MINISTRIES
We are hoping your child is able to donate some of their halloween candy to the Agape Ministries. They use the candy to create initial contact with people living on the streets. If your child wishes to donate their candy, they can drop it off at the office window.
GRADE 6 IMMUNIZATION
A letter was received from Fraser Health today, stating:
“Public Health will commence the School Immunization Program for this year’s Grade 6 students in January 2021. Public Health will also provide catch-up immunizations to students who did not complete their immunizations last school year or over the summer.”