Daysland Digest

As we begin a new school year, we are pleased to welcome students and families back and look forward to continuing our work to create a safe, caring and inclusive school where every student can learn, thrive and feel a strong sense of belonging.

Our priorities for the year

Our School Education Plan continues to guide our work and supports BRSD’s priorities for student learning, well-being and success; we encourage families to take some time to review it. Our 2026-2027 Calendar link includes important dates, school breaks and other information to help you plan for the year ahead.

Safe, caring and inclusive schools

Creating a safe and welcoming learning environment is a shared responsibility. With the passing of Bill 25, our school will be reviewing and updating our Student Code of Conduct/Behaviour Matrix to reflect current requirements and ensure students have clear, consistent expectations for their behaviour. This includes helping students understand the important role they play in preventing violence, looking out for one another and speaking up when they have a concern.

This work is connected to Priority 2 of our Education Plan: Student and Staff Well-Being, Mental Health and Belonging. Throughout the year, students, staff and families will have opportunities to learn more about topics that contribute to safe, respectful and responsible school communities, including (but not limited to):

• digital citizenship and responsible social media use;

• responsible use of artificial intelligence;

• violence prevention;

• bullying and harassment; and

• how and where to report concerns.

Beginning in the first week of school, students will review our Code of Conduct/Behaviour Matrix, their responsibilities as members of our school community, and how to report bullying, harassment, safety concerns or other situations affecting their well-being.

We want every student to know that if something does not feel right, they can talk to a trusted adult at school. Staff will also receive information about how to respond to concerning behaviours or disclosures and the processes to follow so that concerns are addressed appropriately.

Personal mobile devices

We also ask families to review our expectations for personal mobile devices with their children. Students may not use personal mobile devices during instructional time. Devices must be powered off or set to silent and stored in a backpack, bag or locked locker during instructional time. Alternatively, our secondary classrooms have hanging pocket organizers students may use to store their phones during class time.

Our school’s mobile-device expectations will be reviewed with students during the first week of school. We appreciate families reinforcing these expectations at home and helping us keep instructional time focused on learning.

More information about personal mobile devices and social media in BRSD schools is available here: Use of Personal Mobile Devices and Social Media in Schools.

Thank you for your partnership in helping us create a school community where students feel safe, supported, included and ready to learn.

September

7 - Labour Day (School Closed)

10 - Welcome Back Breakfast!

11/12 - Sr. G V-Ball @ Camrose

16 - ELAA - Post Secondary Information Event Gr 10-12

24 - School Photos

25 - Staff Meeting/PD/Collaboration Day (No Classes)

25/26 - Sr. G V-Ball @ Provost

26 - Jr. G V-Ball @ Hay Lakes

30 - National Day for Truth & Reconciliation (School Closed)

October

1 - Parent Teacher Conferences

2/3 - Jr. G V-Ball @ Tofield

2/3 - Sr. G V-Ball @ Stettler

12 - Thanksgiving (School Closed)

23 - Staff Meeting/PD/Collaboration Day (No Classes)

We will be hosting our annual Welcome Back Breakfast of pancakes and sausage for all students and staff on Thursday, September 10th in the gym.

Watch your email for more information on this year's Terry Fox Run!

Local Field Trip Permission forms are now available online. Please carefully read, fill out, sign, date, and submit these forms before September 25. These forms can be found in the Parent Portal under School Fees & Forms.

If you have not already done so, there are also Verification Forms that were sent by Battle River school Division that need to be completed through SchoolEngage.

If you are unsure how to access SchoolEngage or the PowerSchool Parent Portal, please contact Mrs. Omoth at somoth@brsd.ab.ca.

*The Concussion Protocol form that was in "School Fees and Forms" has been removed. Please watch for more information about when this will be replaced.

Our Care Closet is in need of menstrual products. If you are willing and able to donate these or you would like more information about our Care Closet, please contact Mrs. V. Zimmer at vzimmer@brsd.ab.ca.

School Council Meeting

Wednesday, September 16 @ 7:00pm

Daysland School Learning Commons

Everyone Welcome!

Parent Teacher Conferences will take place on Thursday, October 1st. Please watch your email for more information on how to make an appointment.

We have contracted with Smart Photography to take students' photographs again this year. All Kindergarten to Grade 12 students will have their individual and group photos taken Thursday, September 24th.

Watch for Hot Lunch information coming soon!

Mrs. S. Barber - Assistant Principal

Mrs. K. Tanton - Kindergarten

Mrs. K. Reber - Grade 1

Mrs. M. Schlaut - Grade 2

Mrs. H. Schmidt Teigen - Grade 3

Miss H. Huseby- Grade 4

Mrs. S. Barber - Grade 5

Mrs. B. McKay - Grade 6

Miss L. Peters- Grade 7

Mrs. M. Zimmer - Grade 8/9

Mr. D. Danen - Jr. High Industrial Arts

Mrs. R. Walker - Grade 10

Mrs. C. Tucker - Grade 11

Mrs. V. Zimmer - Grade 12

Mrs. S. Omoth - Administrative Assistant

Mrs. T. Zimmel - Learning Commons

Ms. K. Auburn - Educational Assistant

Mrs. C. Bendfeld - Educational Assistant

Mrs. A. Erickson - Educational Assistant

Miss K. Freadrich - Educational Assistant

Mrs. G. Klein - Educational Assistant

In order to better monitor students' whereabouts and improve safety, Daysland School has a "closed campus" policy for all K-9 students.

K-9 (bus) students require a signed and dated parent note for each and every occasion, and "blanket notes" will not be accepted.

A "blanket" permission form for senior high students was included in the registration package that came home last week.

As part of our emergency preparedness plan, a variety of emergency drills are held throughout the year. In addition to fire drill, we will also practice our lockdown procedure and what to do should there be a severe weather event/tornado. Bus drivers will carry-out bus evacuation drills. The purpose of these drills is to ensure that staff and students know what to do in the event of a real emergency, and practicing helps us to review our procedures and to adapt them if necessary. The drills are generally not announced to students in advance (except at the very beginning of the year), and we will always notify families if there ever was a real emergency.

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide clarification of the school policy regarding students and staff with severe (anaphylactic) allergies. Daysland School recognizes the dangers faced by students and staff with severe or anaphylactic reactions (allergies) to foods, insect stings, medications, latex or other substances. While the school cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment, the school will take whatever reasonable steps are necessary to ensure a safe environment for children and staff with life-threatening allergies. Our policy and practices are based on the guidelines and recommendations contained in the document entitled Anaphylaxis in Schools and Other Settings, which can be viewed in its entirety on the Allergy Safe Communities web site:

www.allergysafecommunities.ca .

Within our school community there are several individuals who have a potentially life-threatening allergy (anaphylaxis) to foods, predominantly to:

• Peanuts
• Tree nuts (e.g. walnut, almond, cashew, hazelnut, pistachio)

A teacher letter will be sent home with each child in those elementary classes directly affected by having an allergic individual (student or staff member) who primarily works in the room. These classrooms will be declared “allergy safe” zones, with heightened adult supervision in place during eating times. Children in the class will learn about life-threatening allergies and ways to help their allergic friends stay safe. Students at risk of anaphylaxis must progressively learn to avoid specific triggers in order to function in society outside the school setting. This happens over time as the child becomes developmentally more mature. Parents should teach food-allergic children to stick to strict safety rules (not sharing or accepting food, carrying epinephrine, etc.) While the key responsibility lies with the students at risk and their families, the school community must also be aware, and for that reason we ask that all families avoid sending the foods (or products containing them) listed above. We need to be particularly vigilant at times of special events, such as Halloween, when classroom treats may be brought from home.

The junior/senior high school setting is much harder to control than the elementary school setting. Certain “allergy safe” zones will be declared, however anaphylactic secondary school students must take on the primary responsibility for allergen avoidance at school and in other environments since they move around the entire campus and interact with many teachers and peers. Again, we believe the best way to reduce the risk of accidental exposure to these students (and staff members) is to respectfully ask for the co-operation of all parents/guardians within this school community to avoid sending products to school that have peanuts or tree nuts listed in the ingredients.

Your cooperation and understanding of this matter is appreciated.

If you are interested in purchasing Daysland School clothing, please visit

https://dayslandschool.entripyshops.com

Orders can be placed at any time of the year and will ship directly to the purchaser.