COVID UPDATE
As per Dr. Bonnie Henry’s latest update and her 4 Step Provincial Opening Plan, (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/restart) there is now a hope that all will return to normal in September.
http://cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-covid-restrictions-update-may-25-1.6039243
This plan is predicated on the number of COVID cases continuing to drop as more of the province is being vaccinated (50% of adults). Vaccinations have now opened for ages 12 and up. People must still practise COVID safety plans with the recommended numbers, wearing masks and distancing outdoors. Although this is great and hopeful news, we are still having to prepare for exposures until June 30th. Please continue to monitor your children for any sickness, headaches, nausea, or tiredness. The best way to stop the spread is to continue to keep sick students at home, keep away from group settings like sleepovers and birthday parties, until July 1st, and continue to wear a mask when in close contact. Our families have been amazing! Although we have had a few exposures, they have not been large outbreaks due to the diligence of our students, staff, and parent community. Thank you to all our parents and families who have kept the safety of our OLS Community the top PRIORITY and isolating if exposed to prevent the spread of COVID! We have 1 month to go, so just continue to do what you have done these last 16 months and let us all finish the year safe!
MASSES NOW OPEN for 50 PEOPLE!
Please go to www.olos.ca for an update on our new Parish worship numbers. This is great news for our faith community, who have been waiting patiently to go back in person. We want to thank Father Richard, our pastor, and his Parish staff and volunteers who have continued to provide wonderful Masses and prayers virtually throughout this pandemic. Please visit the Parish website for more details and for registering for upcoming Masses.
OLS WALK-A-THON
We wish to congratulate all families who participated in this year’s WALK-A-THON! Just a reminder that the donation forms and money were due Wednesday, May 26th. This year’s totals are close to $13,000. Our principal for the day winner is Stella Mastropieri who raised $450. Top classes were Grade 3 and Grade 6 who will both receive a pizza party for raising over $1900 each! Those families who have not yet submitted the minimum donation of $40 per family, please submit by Monday May 31st. Thank you for making this years’ walk-a-thon such a great success!
MAY 31, 2021 – “GRAY MATTERS” DAY
The Leadership Council has organized this day to promote Brain Cancer Awareness. They will be participating in fun activities and games. Students may come dressed in gray, black or white colours. A $2.00 donation will be collected and donated to brain tumor research. Please read the attached letter on why we support this important event!
JUNE 7, 2021 – PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY – NO SCHOOL
There will be a Professional Development Day for OLS staff on Monday, June 7th. There will be no school for students on this day.
JUNE 25, 2021 – CLEANING OUT OF DESKS
We ask that all students please bring TWO LARGE GARBAGE BAGS to school on Friday, June 25th to empty the contents of their desks for the summer.
JUNE 25, 2021 – VIRTUAL GRADE 7 FAREWELL CEREMONY
The Grade 7 Farewell Ceremony will be held virtually on Friday, June 25th. More details will follow closer to this date.
JUNE 28, 2021 – VIRTUAL CLOSING MASS & AWARDS CEREMONY – FULL UNIFORM
The Closing Mass will be held virtually on Monday, June 28th at 9:00 a.m. The Grade 7 class will be preparing this Mass. Year-end awards will be distributed at this time. Full school uniform with black shoes are required.
JUNE 28, 2021 –DAY OF SCHOOL BEFORE SUMMER VACATION
The last day of school and distribution of report cards will be Monday, June 28th. Students will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m. NO AFTER SCHOOL CLUB on this day.
LIBRARY NEWS
The last day for library check-out will be Wednesday, May 26th for Grades 4, 5 and 6 and Friday, May 28th for Grades 1, 2 and 3. All library books MUST be returned by Friday, June 4th!
JUNE 2021 HOT LUNCH DATES
| June 4, 2021 (Friday) – Grade 7 Fundraiser | McDonald’s Hamburger |
OLS EAGLES SUMMER CAMP
We are now accepting registrations and spots are first come, first serve so please get your registration forms in quickly! Camps are open to students entering Kindergarten through Grade 4 in September 2021. The information and registration form were sent home on Friday, May 14th. The deadline to register is Friday, June 4th, 2021.
NEAT UNIFORMS NEWS!
Please check the OLS website (www.ourladyofsorrows.ca) regarding information about our school focus week (June 28th – July 4th), online buying procedures and promotional deals. Uniforms should be replaced if your child has outgrown it or if there is visible wear and tear.
STAFF CHANGES 2021-2022
Our Lady of Sorrows School is blessed with an outstanding staff! However, there are always opportunities for change. Unfortunately, we will be saying goodbye to Mr. Mark Pepe, our Music Teacher, who will be leaving to pursue greater opportunities within high schools. We want to thank Mr. Pepe for his outstanding contribution to our Music Program and recently in Intermediate French. Mr. Pepe has been instrumental in developing new opportunities for our students to use their musical talents by incorporating soloists and musicians in Masses and celebrations. We will miss Mr. Pepe and wish him well wherever he continues to teach his love of music!
Mr. Pepe will be replaced with Mr. Alexander Kanabe, who is presently the part-time Music Teacher at Blessed Sacrament School in Vancouver. He will be sharing his time between the two schools. We look forward to Mr. Kanabe’s contribution to our school’s Music Program.
There will also be a change in Kindergarten. Mrs. Matterson will continue in Kindergarten and join Mrs. Corrado upon her return in September.
Mrs. Ciulla will join Grade 1 part-time with Mrs. Radford, who will be going down to teaching 3 days per week. Mrs. Ciulla will also be our new Teacher-Librarian two days per week.
Mrs. De Amaral will continue in Grade 3 with no other staff changes.
We look forward to our new staff changes in the fall. As in previous years, we are fortunate to have staff ready to continue our great traditions and excellent programs. Thank you!