DCJA Newsletter

Happy October, DCJA families! Fall is officially here and our school is buzzing with energy. Between reconnecting with familiar faces at our Family Welcoming Event to sharing a yummy breakfast during the Walk to Breakfast, our DCJA spirit is in full swing.

As autumn sets in, please take a few minutes to read through our October Newsletter. It contains important updates, upcoming events and key details for all of our families as we head into the vibrant weeks ahead.

On Monday, September 28, 2026, the Grade 3 - 7 Cross Country Team travelled to the Marystown Track & Field Complex to compete in a Cross Country Race that was hosted by Sacred Heart Academy. The runners were excellent ambassadors of DCJA and certainly made us all proud! Hats off to the students who participated.

A special shout out goes to the following individuals who placed in the top 3:

1st Place:

Jorja Lambe (Grade 5/6 Category)

2nd Place:

Conor Matthews (Grade 3/4 Category)

Jordan Matthews (Grade 5/6 Category)

Charlie Tobin (Grade 7 Category)

3rd Place:

Benjamin Bennett (Grade 3/4 Category)

DCJA was also awarded Team Awards in the following categories:

Grade 3/4 Boys & Girls Award

Grade 5/6 Girls Award

A big thank you to Mr. Murphy and Ms. Higdon for their dedication and leadership with the team, and to all the families for their ongoing support and encouragement!

Rain did not dampen our spirits for this year's Walk to Breakfast on Friday, October 9th, 2026!

It was wonderful to see so many families filling the corridors with energy and warmth, enjoying a cheerful morning walk inside the school before sitting down to a delicious warm meal.

A huge thank you to our amazing volunteers who arrived early to prepare and serve breakfast. Your dedication and generous spirit truly made this event a delicious success!

We extend a heartfelt thank you to the Burin Volunteer Fire Department for their work with DCJA during Fire Prevention Week! Throughout the week, our Kindergarten through Grade 5 students visited the Fire Hall and participated in engaging fire safety education sessions to learn key safety skills and tips.

To wrap up a fantastic week, Grade 3 student Sarah White took on the special role of Fire Chief for the Day on Friday, October 9th! She arrived at school in style with the Fire Department and everyone's favorite guest, Sparky! Later in the day, the Fire Department and Sparky returned to pass out some prize draws to lucky winners from Kindergarten to Grade 6. Overall, it was an awesome Fire Prevention Week!

We are so grateful to the Burin Volunteer Fire Department for their time, dedication and commitment to keeping our school community safe and informed.

The DCJA School Council will hold a hot dog lunch on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Hot dogs can be purchased for $2.00 each and orders must be placed in advance via RYCOR by Wednesday, October 21, 2026.

Jamarama has become one of the Janeway Foundation’s iconic signature events, with thousands of people from across Newfoundland and Labrador wearing their pajamas to work, school and daycare in support of the Janeway Children’s Health and Rehabilitation Centre. As with all events, funds raised for Jamarama offset the financial commitment the Foundation has made to the Janeway for pediatric medical equipment, research, staff education and programs.

Staff and students at DCJA are encouraged to wear their pyjamas and make a monetary donation to the Janeway via this link on Jamarama Day!

Staff and students will kick off the Halloween Festivities by taking part in a costume parade during 1st period on Friday, October 30th! All staff and students are encouraged to participate but are reminded that masks and inflatable costumes are not permitted and that props must be appropriate for the school setting.

Following the costume parade, classes will be given an opportunity to participate in a Halloween Carnival in the gym as well as a Halloween Bingo Game in the LLC. They will also get an opportunity to share in a Halloween Storytime and Haunted Walk, as well as be treated to a Halloween snack!

To ensure a safe experience for students with severe allergies and to keep the occasion stress free and manageable for all families, please do not send outside food, treats, or goodie bags into school. As mentioned above, the school will be providing a safe Halloween treat for every student during the festivities.

A special thank you to the Student Leadership Group as well as the Special Events Committee for planning this fun event! We cannot wait to celebrate all the spooky fun with our awesome staff and students!

Please note that there will be no classes for staff and students on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, in recognition of the Remembrance Day Holiday. When staff and students return to school on Thursday, November 12, 2026, it will be Day 5 on the schedule.

There will be no classes for students on Monday, November 23, 2026 to accommodate teachers taking part in Professional Learning. When students return to school on Tuesday, November 24, 2026, it will be Day 5 on the schedule.

DCJA will be holding a school clothing order in the coming weeks. More details will be shared when they are available. Stay tuned!

We are experiencing an unexpected delay in distributing new Chromebooks to our Grade 7 students this year.

Computer manufacturers worldwide are currently facing severe shortages of essential hardware components, specifically computer processors (CPUs) and memory modules.

NLSchools IT team is in regular communication with their suppliers to expedite delivery. Estimated delivery times are targeted for mid-October. As soon as the devices arrive, they will be configured by the NLSchools IT team and schools will be notified immediately.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through these global supply logistics to equip our students.

If your child has been assigned an assistive technology device to support their learning, please ensure that Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is turned off on the device.

Because these devices are owned and managed by NLSchools rather than being personal equipment, enabling two-factor authentication can lead to access issues, account lockouts and difficulties for staff when providing technical support or updates. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping these devices accessible and ready for school use!

With the school year now in full swing, October brings a fresh momentum to DCJA. We see our students growing more confident each day, and that is a direct reflection of the supportive, caring community we share. Thank you for everything you do, big and small, to keep our school family safe, positive and connected.

Wishing you a fantastic October filled with crisp fall weather and memorable moments!