Dear Parents:<\/p>\n
We look forward to welcoming students back to school on Monday, February 8th<\/sup><\/span>.<\/p>\n On Monday, February 8th<\/sup><\/span>, in person learning will resume for GBMS\/DEPS & DASS. Childcare and before and afterschool daycare will be operating.<\/p>\n On our first day back, each teacher will remind their students of the importance of wearing a mask, hand hygiene and social distancing.<\/p>\n Please continue to follow public health guidance in the community, stay at home, wear a mask, wash your hands and avoid social gathering outside of your household.<\/p>\n Daily Screening for COVID-19<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n All staff, students, visitors must complete our COVID health screening tool everyday before<\/b> coming to school.\u00a0 <\/span>STAFF are NOT permitted to allow students into the building unless a COVID screening form has been completed.<\/p>\n If your child displays even 1 symptom, they are not permitted to attend school.<\/p>\n Students will continue entering and exiting the door entrances that we put into place in the fall.<\/p>\n Chromebooks<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n All students who borrowed chrome books during the remote learning period are required to bring them back to school on Monday, February 8th<\/sup><\/span>.<\/p>\n Masks<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Students in grades 1-3 are required to wear a mask at school.\u00a0 <\/span>All students in grades 1 -12 must wear a mask indoors, including hallways, during classes and during outside recess.\u00a0 <\/span>GBMS students are strongly encouraged to wear a mask.\u00a0 <\/span>Please ensure that your child\/children\u2019s mask fits properly, and it is clean.<\/p>\n Please be careful when dropping off and picking up students.\u00a0 <\/span>Avoid congregating in groups, please wear a mask and do not linger.<\/p>\n Attention<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Please do not park vehicles by the fence near the playground, as this could become a serious Health and Safety issue.\u00a0 <\/span>We have 2 pylons outside of the playground to keep all vehicles away from this area.\u00a0 <\/span>However, should the pylons be moved, cars are not to park near the playground, as our Toddler class plays in the area and safety is our first priority.<\/p>\n Family Day <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Family Day is Monday, February 15<\/span>th<\/sup><\/span>.\u00a0 <\/span>The school will be closed.<\/b>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>Enjoy this special time with your family.<\/p>\n March Break<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n The school is closed<\/b> March 15th<\/sup><\/span> to March 26th<\/sup><\/span> inclusive.\u00a0 <\/span>We resume classes on Monday, March 29th<\/sup><\/span>.<\/p>\n March Break Camp<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n We will distribute March Break Camp registration forms shortly.\u00a0 <\/span>Please return your registration as soon as possible to allow us to prepare for our camps.\u00a0 <\/span>Please note that this is not a \u2018drop in\u2019 camp.\u00a0 <\/span>Thank you.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Summer Camp<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Summer Camp Brochures will be distributed after March Break.\u00a0 <\/span>There will be a Toddler, Casa 1, and an Elementary camp.\u00a0 <\/span>If you have any requests \/suggestions regarding themes or activities, please come and see me.<\/p>\n Report Cards<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Report Cards for GBMS\/DEPS will be issued Friday, February 26<\/b>th<\/sup><\/b><\/span>.<\/p>\n Virtual Parent\/Teacher Interviews<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Parent\/Teacher Interviews will be Monday, March 1st<\/sup><\/span> and Tuesday, March 2nd<\/sup><\/span>.\u00a0 <\/span>Your child\u2019s teacher will reach out to you with their schedule. Thank you.<\/p>\n Re-Registration for 2020-2021<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Re-registration letters will be sent home to parents next week.\u00a0 <\/span>The deadline for returning your completed forms is March<\/b> 8<\/b>th<\/sup><\/b><\/span>.\u00a0 <\/span>Please endeavor to meet this deadline.\u00a0 <\/span>If you are not returning, it is equally as important for us to know, to allow us to refer to our waiting lists.\u00a0 <\/span>Thank you to those parents that have already attended to this matter.\u00a0 <\/span>As always, our current families are our priority, but it is imperative that we know what your intentions are in order for us to plan for the 2021-2022 school year.\u00a0 <\/span>Just a reminder, should you recommend our school to friends and family and it results in registration, we will deduct $100 tuition from the month of your choice for 2021-2022.\u00a0 <\/span>If you have any questions\/concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. \u00a0 <\/span>Thank you.<\/p>\n Tax Receipts<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n The 2020 Tax Receipts were distributed via email on January 29th<\/sup><\/span>.<\/p>\n Pizza\/Chicken Bites Day<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n There are several parents that have signed up and paid for pizza\/chicken bites for January.\u00a0 <\/span>For those parents, we will transfer your payment over for pizza\/chicken bites for February.\u00a0 <\/span>This will start on Tuesday, February 9th<\/sup><\/span>.\u00a0 <\/span>We will not be accepting any new orders for February to avoid confusion.\u00a0 <\/span>We will be sending a new form home for March orders.<\/p>\n Outdoor Recess<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Please remember to provide your children with appropriate clothing for outdoor activity.\u00a0 <\/span>ALL students require hats, mittens, snow pants and boots.\u00a0 <\/span>That includes our students in Grades 4-8.\u00a0 <\/span>Thank you.<\/p>\n Pink Shirt Day –<\/b> is on Wednesday, February 24th<\/sup><\/span> and students are allowed to have a dress down day.\u00a0 <\/span>Each class will learn about pink shirt day.<\/p>\n Black History Month <\/b>\u2013 This month we will be celebrating Black History Month.\u00a0 <\/span>Casa 2 to grade 12 classes will learn and discuss the importance of this month.<\/p>\n We would like to express our gratitude for your continuous support and positive feedback with remote learning.\u00a0 <\/span>I recognize that the past few weeks have been challenging.\u00a0 <\/span>I want to extend my sincere appreciation to you for your patience and support during this unprecedented time and I appreciate our teachers for their unwavering commitment.<\/p>\n I would like to express my appreciation to all our teachers.\u00a0 <\/span>The Toddler and Casa 1 being childcare, remained open and my staff continued to offer a wonderful, safe program.<\/p>\n I would like to recognize Mrs. Bingley (Casa 2) and Mrs. Osborne (Casa 3) for delivering their Montessori program virtually for the first time.\u00a0 <\/span>Their students are on track and we look forward to seeing their smiling faces on Monday, February 8th<\/sup><\/span>. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I once again extend a huge thank you to all of our DEPS and DASS teachers.\u00a0 <\/span>They have never worked harder, and they submitted completed strands weekly.\u00a0 <\/span>Some classes even received virtual workshops.<\/p>\n We will continue to enhance our cleaning of high touch surfaces, washrooms and disinfection of desks, workspaces and materials.<\/p>\n Until next time\u2026<\/p>\n Suzanna Mason<\/p>\n