Thunder News Flash – April 16, 2022

With the lifting of the Public Health Orders, it was wonderful to be able to celebrate the important events in the last few days of Jesus’ life last week through the Stations of the Cross, presented by the Grade 7 class, and The Last Supper, presented by the Grade 6 class.  Being able to gather once again as a whole school in the Gym, and to even invite the parents of the students in Grades 6 and 7, made this an incredibly special Holy Week.

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday.  As we gather with family and friends, let us remember that this is the most important day for Christians as we commemorate the resurrection of Jesus.  Through his resurrection, Jesus confirmed that he was the Son of God, and provides all of us a living hope.  

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

The School Office is still missing a number of attendance notes, some from as far back as January.  These notes are required each year for our attendance audit, which takes place in May.  If we still require a note from your family, an attendance note was sent home with your child on Thursday.  Please check your child’s backpack to see if they have an attendance note for you to sign – you can’t miss it as they are bright pink!

Our next school Mass will take place on Wednesday, April 20th at 9:00am at St. James Church.  The Mass will be led by our Grade 1 class, and our celebrant will be Fr. Richard from St. Ann’s Parish.  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 haven’t signed up for a time yet, please do so soon as the spaces are quickly filling up.  The electronic sign up will be closed on Wednesday, April 20th at 9:00am.

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 one of the outside doors of the Gym, which will be open for ventilation purposes
  • if you are bringing one child to the Gym after their Conference, and picking up another child from the Gym for their Conference, please use either outside door of the Gym 
• 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.

Zumbathon 2022 is fast approaching.  Your children were pumped up earlier this week with out first in-person Pep Rally, where the Dance Squad and the Grade 7s entertained us with dances and videos.  We know that students are excited to get asking and work towards winning some great prizes soon.

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!