Thunder News Flash – January 29, 2022

With the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, it is even more important to do the following:

• complete a daily health check with your child – 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
• ensure your children are wearing a mask when they enter the school each morning, unless exempt
• 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 current amended protocols for schools, which had to be put in place by January 10th, are remaining in effect, but will be re-evaluated on a weekly basis by the Public Health Officer, the BCCDC and the Ministry of Education.  To review these changes, please see our Communicable Disease Plan, which can be found by clicking here.

While we all continue to navigate through routines that are disrupted and changes that seem to come up daily, let’s also remember to be kind to each other and offer assistance to those who need help during these challenging times.

A big thank you to all of the families who have responded to our plea to be a little more specific when reporting that your child is away from school.  The information that you provide helps us to be able to track student absences, watch for any increases in absentee rates in the school or a class, and communicate that information to our Superintendent’s Office and Public Health.  When you call the school, or send an email through the website, please continue to let us know the following:

• your child is away due to illness – you are not required to let us know what the illness is, or if the illness is COVID-related; however, telling us this information certainly helps to give us a clearer understanding of what may be happening in your child’s classroom.  Please note that this information is kept confidential and only shared with those who MUST know this information
• your child is away due to another reason, other than an illness – your family is moving, they missed the bus, you are on vacation, etc.  You do not need to be specific with your reason, but again it just helps us understand what is going on in the classroom

Your continued help with this is greatly appreciated as we try to navigate this ever-changing situation.

Our next school Mass will take place on Wednesday, February 2nd at 10:45am, led by our Grade 2 class.  Please note that in order to comply with the current Public Health Orders for schools, as this is a school activity we are unable to have any parents attend the Mass.  With Fr. Richard’s approval, we will also be limiting the number of classes who attend this Mass to Kindergarten and Grades 2, 5 and 7 to allow the students to spread out in the Church. 

Please note that our next early dismissal day for our monthly staff meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 1st.  This early dismissal day was intentionally placed on a Tuesday, as the Big Bear basketball tournament was scheduled to take place at SJB from Wednesday to Friday.  While we now know that this tournament will not be happening next week due to the Public Health Order, as this date has been scheduled since last June, and parents were aware of this, we feel it is important to keep this date as it is on our school calendar.  As always, the students should bring a snack and lunch to school that day, unless they have ordered Hot Lunch, and they will be dismissed at 12:55pm.

We are happy to once again offer the Berryhill Frozen Blueberry Fundraiser!  Buy 10lb. cases of local frozen blueberries for $30/each!  Ordering information will be emailed home later this coming week.  Our school makes $10 for each box sold!

Because of demand, we are providing another opportunity to order Thunderwear this year.  Thunderwear can be worn over or can replace a student’s gym strip every Thunderwear Thursday.  Also, students are allowed to wear the Thunderwear sweatshirts over their school uniform shirts in the classroom every day.  Paper Order Forms were sent home this past week and are due by 3pm Thursday, February 3rd.  Direct Debit payment only please.