Welcome from the Grizzly Den.

I will begin by apologizing for the length of this newsletter.

Our regular newsletters will usually go out the beginning of the month and will not be such an encyclopedia; however, I do feel that the items in this newsletter are very important to communicate as we start the new school year, so please just find a comfy place to read it! (Another newsletter with the more "regular" items will follow later in September, but we don't to overload you with information!)

And lastly, don't forget to listen to our Glenwood song! Please?!

We have had several changes over summer to our staffing. You may notice some familiar faces who have returned as well as some new faces around the school. Welcome to the following new staff members:

WELCOME TO:

Ms. MacInnes – our new VP

Ms. Hardy - Grade 1/2

Ms. Wood – Grade 2/3

Ms. Pennell – Grade 3/4

Ms. Louie – Grade 4/5

(Please, be reminded staff email addresses are available on our website.)

Classes won't be in session on Sept. 8 and 9, 2020.

For implementation of Stage 2, Glenwood's learning communities will consist of one division per learning group.

Parents will get an email on Wednesday Sept. 9, 2020 to inform them:

- who their child's teacher is, and

- in which division their child will be.

Please, cross reference the map!

Our students will, as we did in the spring, access their classes from the outside doors, except for Ms Gray and Ms Perera's classes, which will enter at the back door, closest to the old playground.

Ms Jordison's class will line up in front of the school, and will be escorted in through the front door.

Please refer to the posted schedule below re. Sept 10 and 11, 2020 - a partial day!

--> There are two time slots:

* 8:30 to 10:30

* 12:20 to 2:20

The first day back - full day - is Sept. 14, 2020--> 8:30 am to 2:20 pm.

Elementary students will attend school daily in learning groups. At Glenwood, a learning group will be essentially your child's division, class teacher and support staff, and on average, will not exceed 25-28 people at most.

The school day will run from 8:30 am to 2:20 pm as usual.

A heads-up: we won't have our regular breakfast and lunch programs, but there will be snacks available and/or pre-packed food, which will be delivered to your child's class. If you should want to participate/continue to participate in our food program, please, contact our youth worker mailto:Tamera_Lumbis@sd42.ca

Recess will be staggered - one group will go out at 10:05; the other at 10:20.

Lunch time will be staggered too - one group will eat first at 11:50, and play after; the other group will play first at 11:50 and eat after.

During break times (e.g. recess, lunch), students may want to socialize with peers in different learning groups/divisions. GW has taken measures to have students play in zones on the field. Students will rotate through Zones.

With elementary students and staff, students can socialize with peers in different learning groups/divisions if they are outdoors and can minimize physical contact or if they are indoors and can maintain physical distance.

If at break solely within their learning group/cohort, they are to minimize physical contact as always.

Outdoors is a lower-risk environment than indoors; outdoor learning will therefore be encouraged.

All GW regular clubs will be on a pause during STAGE 2 (COVID).

It is important for students to be on time.

If students are late, they still need to enter through the outside doors.

Please, contact the office by calling 604 463 6512 or emailing mailto:gl_reception@sd42.ca

to let us know if your child will be absent.

Access to the building by parents /guardians is by appointment only, approved directly by the school administrator and for essential school business or on an emergency basis only.

All other communication and business should occur by phone, virtual meeting or email.

Please be aware that parents/guardians must remain outside of the school during drop off and

pick up.

DURING STAGE 2 (COVID) Parents and visitors are not to go directly to the classrooms or enter the building (please, contact the office to speak to administration or set up a meeting if necessary).

https://www.sd42.ca/sd42-restart-plan/

https://www.sd42.ca/assets/media/Dailty-Health-Assessment-Checklist.pdf

On a one-time basis, parents/guardians will be asked to complete one checklist to the school confirming they understand:

1) how to conduct the Daily Health Assessment,

2) that this health assessment/check must be

conducted daily, and

3) that they must keep their child(ren) home if their child(ren) are have symptoms or are

ill, and seek the advice or a healthcare professional.

Staff, students, and any authorized visitors must not attend a school/worksite and must stay home if they:

• Are ill or have any symptoms of a cold, flu, or COVID-19.

• Have travelled outside Canada in the last 14 days (PHO Order).

• Have been identified by public health as a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case or outbreak.

• Live in a household with someone who has been tested and public health has confirmed is a COVID-19 case.

• Parents/guardians will need to perform a daily health assessment using a district-provided checklist before sending their child(ren) to school. Students who show any symptoms of illness must not attend school.

• All district buildings will have symptom assessment signage at front entrances.

• Students who develop symptoms of illness while at school will be moved into an isolated waiting room at The school while they wait to be picked up.

Parents/guardians will be required to do a daily health assessment of their child(ren) every morning using a district-provided checklist before sending their child(ren) to school. Students who have any symptoms of illness must not attend school. District staff will need to perform this same daily assessment and will also be required to stay home should they have any symptoms of illness.

Elementary students in a learning group do not need to stay two metres apart but should limit personal contact. Classrooms will be configured to allow for distance between students and adults as needed.

Although masks are not required for elementary school students, the school district will provide two reusable cloth masks to all elementary students who want one. Staff who interact with multiple learning groups will be required to wear a mask and face shield when they are unable to maintain physical distancing.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizing stations have been installed throughout our schools and at the entrances of all district facilities, and hand hygiene signage has been placed throughout all district buildings. We have installed touchless faucets where possible and provided paper towels in all bathrooms.

We ask that students "pack in... pack out". If students could bring a Litterless Lunch, we would really appreciate it.

Ventilation systems in all school district facilities will meet WorkSafeBC requirements, and all air filters will be replaced on a regular basis. All schools will be cleaned in accordance with the Provincial COVID-19 Health & Safety Guidelines for K-12 Settings. General cleaning (including single-use surfaces like student desks) will occur once every 24 hours, while frequently touched surfaces as well as all shared equipment, appliances, manipulatives, and tools, will be cleaned and disinfected twice every 24 hours. The school district has hired additional custodians to meet the demands of these enhanced cleaning routines.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/education/administration/kindergarten-to-grade-12/safe-caring-orderly/k-12-covid-19-health-safety-guidlines.pdf

Alternate options

The school district does have existing options for blended instruction for those families who may require this accommodation. At the elementary level, the K-9 Odyssey program (https://www.sd42.ca/program/odyssey/ )offers this kind of flexibility, as it uses a blended approach in which students attend school in small groups for instruction a few hours per week and the teacher guides their home learning instruction through in-person and online support. Please contact administration first regarding the possibility of school-based accommodations for your child/family.

Elementary and secondary students who are required to self-isolate, quarantine or otherwise are unable to attend school due to medical reasons are eligible to receive support through our Hospital Homebound Services. Information about this service/program is available for parents at the Learning Services website at https://learningservices.sd42.ca/departments/hospital-homebound-services/.

https://www.sd42.ca/sd42-restart-plan/

Students with diverse abilities/disabilities will be provided full-time in-class instruction in Stage 2 unless alternate programming is otherwise determined in consultation with parents through the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) process.

Please, contact Ms MacInnes mailto:Andrea_MacInnes@sd42.caif you have questions in this regard.

First Aid Procedures -

When, in our judgment, an injury or an illness is something more than minor or casual, we contact the parent. This goes for students who display one or more of potential COVID symptoms:

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Coronavirus

(COVID-19)?

The most common signs of COVID-19 are a fever, cough, and trouble breathing. Some people might have:

• symptoms of a cold such as a sore throat, congestion, or a runny nose
• chills
• muscle pain
• headache
• a loss of taste or smell
• nausea or vomiting
• diarrhea
• tiredness

If we are unable to reach a parent, we try the emergency number you have given the school. If we are unsuccessful in contacting you or your designate(s), we will call your doctor or simply proceed with having the injury/ailment checked by a clinic doctor.

In obvious emergency situations we will call 911 and request an ambulance.

Medical Intervention Forms -

If your child has any health care needs that require support at school, including the administration of any medications, medical forms must be completed.

Please, complete a "Medical Intervention" form ASAP. Please, note that students may not be in possession of any medication at school, unless specifically authorized by the Principal.

Staff may not administer medication to students, unless the required form is completed and signed by a parent.

The school cannot assist with any medical intervention, unless the appropriate forms are completed. Please, contact the school as soon as possible to complete a form.

Medical documentation needs to be completed each September.

This procedure complies with the policy regarding the health care needs of children at school. If there are any questions, please contact the school.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Student Accident Insurance -

Sometimes students are injured at school and most of the time these injuries are minor scrapes and bruises, but occasionally the injuries are more serious.

Most often the cost of any medical treatment is covered by BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) or a parent or guardian’s group plan. However sometimes, as is the case of many dental injuries, there is little or no coverage.

Student Accident Insurance, available to parents through the school at the beginning of the school year, will pick up many of these costs if parents have applied for the insurance and paid the minimal premium.

Student Accident Insurance forms are available in the brochure holder on the wall outside the Office. For more information please check out the Kids Plus Accident Insurance website at www.kidsplus.ca

Student Allergies -

In several classes, we have sent letters that indicate that there is a student(s) with serious allergies.

At Glenwood, we have students and staff who are allergic to a variety of nuts/seeds AND scents. We appreciate your help as we try to keep Glenwood Elementary as safe as possible for these students.

Although we cannot guarantee that Glenwood is “Nut Free”, we do our best to be as sensitive to these health risks as possible and to do what we can to minimize the threat of exposure to anything that might be harmful to a student.

Please, keep in mind too, that Glenwood is a scent-free environment.

Aboriginal Ancestry is determined on a voluntary basis through self-identification.

This includes First Nations (status or non-status), Métis or Inuit Ancestry. No documentation is required, and the ancestry can go back several generations. Ministry of Education funding is provided to support the success of all Aboriginal students through culturally appropriate educational programs and services.

We encourage all students of First Nations, Metis, or Inuit Ancestry to complete a self-identification form as this allows you to access various supports and programs during the school year if you wish.

Self-identification forms can be picked up at the school office.

Alternatively, you can download a copy of this form at the Aboriginal Education website:

http://schools.sd42.ca/abed/general-forms/

If you have any questions about this process, please do not hesitate to contact:

Ms. Kirsten Urdahl-Serr ( Kirsten-Urdahl-Serr@sd42.ca )
Principal, Aboriginal Education
Office: 604-466-6271

We know that our parking lot is a very busy place before and after school. To ensure student safety we need to ensure that everyone is working together!

Please do not park in the fire lane and leave your vehicle unattended while you come into the school.

This is a violation of fire code and is viewed quite seriously by the Fire Department.

As always, please do not use any designated spots unless you have someone in the vehicle with a disability.

We do appreciate that this creates some inconvenience for some of you but ask for your patience and understanding with this practice.

School to Parent/Guardian/Community Communication:

* At Glenwood, a monthly parent newsletter will go out on or near the 1st of the month.

* The Glenwood Website will be updated regularly, and all important events will be on the Glenwood Website Calendar.

* Additionally, Glenwood has a Twitter Account, and often updates will be sent out in REAL time. Please, follow us at Glenwood Elem. SD42: @GlenwoodSD42. Tweets will populate onto our Glenwood Website too.

Teaching staff to Parent/Guardian Communication:

It is important to establish good two--‐way communication between home and school.

The teaching staff is encouraged to contact parents (and advise the principal) of concerns they may have about a child and also let the parents know about the positive things that are happening.

If you have a concern, it is important to discuss it first with your child's teacher.

If parent and teacher concerns are not resolved, the principal will be consulted and involved.

The priority for all of us is what best meets a student's needs. You can be assured that all matters will be treated confidentially and that we will make every effort to rectify situations that are found to be unsatisfactory for our pupils.

--> For more information on problem solving/appeal process please visit our school district website at

https://elementary.sd42.ca/glenwood/

(Refer to the Appeals Process heading for additional information.)

In Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows School District No. 42, we believe in working together to support our children. With input from parents, students, staff and community members, the district has developed guidelines intended to help prevent and/or resolve conflict.

Under Section 11 of the School Act, parents and students have the right to appeal decisions made by Board employees that “significantly affect the education, health or safety of a student.”

An amendment to the School Act introduced in the spring of 2007 allows parents or students to appeal a decision of a Board of Education made under Section 11 to a Provincial Superintendent of Appeals.

The Board has approved a new policy that is accompanied by a procedural bylaw that provides guiding principles for all steps of the appeal process.

https://www.sd42.ca/appeal-process/

Glenwood has an amazing PAC, and we encourage you to attend. Please, be reminded that dates of events will feature on our calendar online:

https://elementary.sd42.ca/glenwood/events/

Our first PAC Meeting’s dates and times - WITH A ZOOM LINK - will be on our website calendar.

Times will be posted online.

The purpose of Glenwood Parent meetings is for our P.A.C. executive to review their plans for a variety of activities and to answer questions you might have about the school.

Please plan to attend this important meeting - DURING STAGE 2 IN VIRTUAL FASHION.

Many of our parents indicated a willingness to volunteer with a variety of activities this year and we will be contacting you as these activities get off the ground.

Glenwood Elementary has long been perceived by educators, parents, and students as having high standards with respect to expectations of students. In our efforts as a staff to maintain the positive culture of our school, we ask all parents to review our expectations with your children.

We expect students to conform to these high standards of behavior when they are at school, on the way to and from school, and while attending any school function or field trip.

Students are also expected to demonstrate high standards of work habits, arrive at school and class on time, be prepared with the necessary supplies and materials, and complete all in-school and homework assignments.

Our students are expected to be cooperative, responsible and do the best they can at all times.

To this end, a school code of conduct has been developed to guide their behaviour.

The Code of Conduct and our updated

ROAR (school-wide behaviour expectations) a

re available on our website.

https://elementary.sd42.ca/glenwood/

Occasionally our GW Spirit Wear link will go live.

We will communicate this in a timely fashion.

https://https-glenwoodelementaryspiritwear2020.itemorder.com/sale

During the last few years, due to the poor drainage of our back field, we have debated on the line between letting students stay inside on rainy days and sending them outside to run around.

Unless we are experiencing extreme weather, we plan to continue to send students outside at recess. DURING STAGE 2 (COVID) WE WILL BE GOING OUTSIDE.

For this reason, students are asked to dress appropriately for the weather. It is a good idea to have an extra set of clothing at school.

https://elementary.sd42.ca/glenwood/events/

PLEASE, CONTACT Leanne_Dunbar@sd42.ca FOR MORE LIBRARY INFORMATION.

And remember to take a look at Glenwood’s library website which you can access from the Glenwood website.

http://gss.sd42.libguides.com/glenwoodlib

WE WILL NOT HAVE ASSEMBLIES IN PERSON DURING STAGE 2 (COVID), UNFORTUNATELY.

OUR ASSEMBLIES WILL BE CONDUCTED IN A VIRTUAL WAY - ZOOM

Traditionally, Glenwood has a school-wide assembly usually on the first Tuesday of the month, at 11:15 – 11:50 am.

The purpose of these assemblies is to build school pride, celebrate student successes, and ensure we maintain clear communication and expectations with the students.

Our first assembly of the year is traditionally at 9:30 am on the first day the students are back on campus to welcome students back.

Please contact the office if your child will be absent.

A quick phone call to 604 463 6512 or

send an email to gl_reception@sd42.ca is all that’s needed.

If the office does not know to expect your child absent, you will receive a phone call regarding their absence.

Reminder, attendance is paramount to your child’s school success.

Please, wait to speak to your child's teachers in this regard.

DURING STAGE 2 (COVID) WE PLAN TO STAGGER RECESS, AND HAVE OUR LUNCH - PLAY/EAT ALTERNATING FOR COHORTS. PLEASE, CONTACT YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION IN THIS REGARD.

Glenwood traditionally have certain sections of the playground off limits to primary students, for example the back field.

DURING STAGE 2(COVID) - FIELD TRIPS WILL BE ON HOLD.

DURING STAGE 2 (COVID) our Glenwood community will be in learning groups... of no more than 30. A learning group is essentially your class' division: students, teacher and support staff.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At the start of the school year it is common to have some parents come to speak to us about moving their child to a different class. A common theme we have encountered in the past, is because their child has been placed in a combined or “split” class. This type of class has brought some anxiety to our school community so I would like to talk more about this type of placement.

We prefer to call classes Learning Communities. The reality of Learning Communities is that they provide quality educational experiences. Each school year, a number of our students are placed into Learning Communities. Combined classes are a reality in every elementary school, and every child will be in both straight and combined classes during their elementary school years. Some parents may be concerned about possible negative impacts of being in a combined class – there are none.

With this in mind, here is some information below about combined and straight grade classes to help families better understand:

1. Research has shown there is no difference in academic achievement between children in split classes versus straight grade classes.

2. A single grade class is a multi-grade class as children are all at different stages of development. Every child develops at his/her own rate and pace.

3. Three common misconceptions about combined classes:
• A combined class is comprised of the more capable students in the younger grade and students who struggle in the older grade. Truth: Every class is balanced both academically and socially whether it is a straight or combined grade class.

• If a child is in the older grade with younger students, they will not be challenged.
Truth: Teachers use differentiated instruction to meet the needs of all the learners in both straight and combined classes. Instruction is customized to students’ stages of learning.

• In a combined class, students will miss grade level curriculum.
Truth: A teacher in combined classroom is to be able to integrate different subject matters and bring students together to promote a one-class atmosphere.

4. Sometimes, children may remain with a teacher for a second year. There are many benefits in continuing with the same teacher and in the same learning environment for more than one year.

• The teacher knows the students' abilities and is therefore able to provide appropriate instruction.
• Students can continue a second year with familiar routines and expectations, which naturally leads to leadership skills.
• The child and teacher have built a relationship of trust over the years. The student becomes extensively familiar with the learning environment and naturally begins to understand himself as a learner and a person.

5. Benefits for the students
• The older students have opportunities for leadership, mentoring and peer support. They learn to be positive, mature role models for the younger students.
• The younger children gain self-confidence and maturity by being exposed to older students.
• There is greater peer-to-peer learning in blended classrooms.
• Students develop friendships across grade levels and instill a greater sense of responsibility for one another, and a better sense of community.

For more information check out ...

• http://chriswejr.com/2012/09/09/will-my-child-be-ok-in-a-split-class/
• http://bctf.ca/publications/ResearchReports.aspx?id=5560
• http://www.willatworklearning.com/2010/11/multiage-classrooms1.html