Thunder News Flash – April 9, 2022

As we move from Public Health Orders to being “Health Aware”, here are some important reminders:

• complete a daily health check with your child – please click here to see the most up-to-date information regarding this
• monitor your children regularly for symptoms of illness – if they are sick, they should stay home.  Please click here for information about testing for COVID-19
• follow all of the provincial restrictions that are currently in place – please click here for the latest information
• follow all of the travel guidelines put in place federally – please click here for the latest information
• if you would like your child to wear a mask at school, please ensure they bring at least one mask with them to school each day
• seek reputable sources of information about COVID-19, such as the BCCDC, including how to protect yourself, your family and your community, and what to do if you suspect you have the virus by clicking here

We are very excited to let you know that with part of our Zumbathon monies from our 2020-2021 campaign, we have purchased four commercial picnic tables for our school yard.  We would like to install the tables today, Saturday, April 9th, in conjunction with our Work Bee, but we need your help.  We require at least six strong adults to help with this project, as the tables are very heavy and need to be secured to the concrete around the basketball courts.  So far only three parents have offered to help.  If you are still able to help, please come to the school at 9:00am today.  Thank you for your assistance with this project, as we know that these tables will be very well used.

Here are just a few reminders to help our mornings and afternoons go even more smoothly:

• when pulling through the drop off/pick up lane, parents should not be using their cell phones.  Especially in the afternoon, there are often students or parents crossing our lot to go to cars, and all attention should be focussed on driving
• after school the grass area in front of the school is only for students who are waiting to be picked up, and staff who are supervising them
• any students who are walking over to SJB to either meet their parents or siblings must wait until 2:45, and then they will be walked over to SJB.  Students should not be in the staff parking lot after school

The next Work Bee will take place at the school today, Saturday, April 9th from 9:00am – 2:00pm. This is a great way for parents to accumulate 5 hours towards their Parent Participation commitment.  Please complete a daily health check before coming to the Work Bee, and stay home if you are feeling unwell.  Please also bring gloves for both inside and outside work, as well as any small, cordless gardening tools you are able to bring.  Your work around the school, both inside and outside, is much appreciated.

Now that the Vaccine Passport and capacity limits are no longer required for events, we are happy to let you know that we will once again be joining the St. James Parish at 9:00am for our school Masses.  This will begin with our next school Mass on April 20th.  Parents are welcome to join us for Mass, although we would ask you to sit in the back row of the Church so that the students can still spread out.

While we had a very successful re-registration of our existing students, and will be welcoming many new students to the school in September, there are still some spaces available for the 2022-2023 school year.  If you know of any families who are considering sending their children to St. James & St. Ann’s School, we have a few spaces available in Kindergarten and Grades 5 and 6.  The Application Package can be found on our school’s website or by clicking here. 

We are happy to let you know that we will be holding Student-Led Conferences on Thursday, April 21st from 8:00am – 4:00pm in person at the school.  This will not be a regular school day, and students attend only for their Conference time, in their school uniform.  The link to sign up was emailed to parents on Friday, April 8th.  If you did not receive this email, please check your “junk” or “spam” folder, and if it is not there, send an email to the school by clicking here. 

In order to keep everyone safe and healthy we are being “health aware” in the following ways:

• limiting the number of families in each classroom to three, with only the student and their parent(s) in the room at the same time – school siblings will be supervised in the Gym
• controlling the flow of traffic throughout the building:
  • if you are coming to a Conference in Kindergarten or Grades 1 and 2, please come through the front door of the school
  • if you are coming to a Conference in Grades 3 – 5, please come through the back blue doors of the school
  • if you are coming to a Conference in Grades 6 or 7, please go through the door of the portable closest to the school
  • if you are bringing siblings to the Gym, please come through the outside door of the Gym at the front of the school
• as always, please complete a Daily Health Check before coming for the Student-Led Conferences, and stay home if you are sick

We look forward to having families back in the school, and being able to show you how amazing your children are.

Once again our Lost and Found container is overflowing with items including Thunderwear, jackets, water bottles, etc.  These items will be displayed on Monday, April 11th at the end of the school day.  If the weather is nice they will be outside the front doors of the school, but if it is raining they will be in the foyer of the school.  Please come and check to see if any of these items belong to your child(ren).  These items will remain on display throughout the week for the students to look at.  Any items that are unclaimed by Thursday, April 14th will be donated.

Our biggest fundraiser of the year, Zumbation 2022, is coming up on Friday, May 13th!  We encourage all students to ask for pledges in COVID-safe ways: by phone, video calling and emails, and encourage potential donors to donate online.  Please see the information package for more details.

We will have some great prizes that can be won, which will be announced in the coming month.  If you would like to donate a prize, please contact Jasmin Laflamme by clicking here.  Thank you for your consideration!

DONORS CAN PLEDGE ONLINE USING THEIR CREDIT CARD BY CLICKING HERE.

Together we can raise $25,000 for outside learning and fun spaces for our school!