COVID UPDATE! -IMPORANT!
As mentioned in the latest Ministry of Education update of February 9th, there has been an update to the requirements of masks at school. All other conditions have already been addressed in our safety plan.
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/covid-19-safe-schools
MASKS IN SCHOOLS- UPDATE!
Every student and staff member was given two masks when they returned to school in September.
Under the updated health and safety guidelines, non-medical masks are required for all staff in all K to 12 schools and all students in middle and secondary schools in all indoor areas, including when they are in their learning groups. The only exceptions are when:
- They are sitting or standing at their seat or workstation in a classroom
- There is a barrier in place
- They are eating or drinking
Mask exemptions remain in place for students and staff who cannot wear a mask for health or behavioural reasons.
Even when wearing a mask, staff and students will still be required to maintain physical distance from people outside of their learning group.
Elementary school students are not required to wear masks and it remains a family decision. However, we do respect all families’ needs for safety and continue our voluntary recommendations for those at risk students and specific compromised immunity families. We have also encouraged more distancing within cohorts as well. Please message your classroom teacher or email the school if there are any concerns or questions.
PARENT DROP-OFF AND PICK -UP
Thank you AGAIN to all our volunteer supervision parents who have consistently worked every day and every week in our drop-off and pick- up areas! Also, thank you to all our parents who are wearing masks in our public spaces. We are noticing more “congregating” of students and parents. As mentioned in our safety plan and reinforced by public health, U12 and older students and adults must socially distance and NOT CONGREGATE. Primary parents may come to the cones to quickly pick up, but we are asking parents to go to their cars or stay at their cars and stay 6ft apart even while wearing a mask.
All our students, parents, and families have done an amazing job of keeping our exposure risks low, and the spread of COVID outside of our school community. However, as seen by the constant reminders from our CDC, http://covid-19.bccdc.ca, We must continue to be diligent and stay the course until the infection numbers drop to lower levels.
Thank you for your caring and sacrifice to keeping everyone safe!
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS’ WEEK
We have had a very successful Catholic Schools’ Week. This week is designed to promote the many aspects of the Catholic school community. This community helps guide its people in their devotion to the Faith. By celebrating different facets of Our Lady of Sorrows School, we continue to strengthen the bonds that are the foundation of this Catholic Community.
Thank you to all students who dressed in their favourite jersey’s on Monday, their favourite book characters on Tuesday and in Valentine’s colours today for Kindness Day!
As mentioned last week, we are a “Catholic School”, not because all our students are saints, but because it is a close community of similar expectations and Christian values. It is important that we all work together to encourage the proper responses from our children when they are disappointed or hurt by others. We do not excuse any bad behavior. We will always deal with the bullying or physical safety of our students first! However, we will also strive to create a peaceful resolution for all students so that they will learn on how to deal with disappointment from friends and families in the future. We do believe in Jesus Christ, His message of love and mercy, His forgiveness of sins, and His message of how we are to treat one another. This is always the goal of our Catholic School. We are to act with respect and kindness and believe all children are inherently good. Thank you to those parents who have reached out to help us resolve some of these recurring issues last week, and who have shown patience in the process. We will continue in our goal of re-establishing our kindness and respect for all our OLS students and Community.
Thank you to our Gr. 7 Leadership Council, our teachers and all our staff for leading the Catholic Schools’ week activities and being continual models for our Christian values. Even if there are occasional challenges among our students and peers, we all want our students to be feel safe, be happy, and to enjoy their years here at OLS. Our Staff will continue to work with our students and parents to allow these challenges to be resolved in a Christian way!
TRAVEL ADVISORY- UPDATE! – Holiday Reminders
Again, unfortunately, all travel outside our local areas have been limited and restricted. As many families do have houses outside of our local city areas, like Whistler or the interior, we are asking that if you decide to travel to your recreational homes during a weekend, like family day weekend, or during other times, we ask that you keep students’ home for 72 hours upon return. Once the students or families have completed the 72 hours without any COVID symptoms, you are free to return to the school as per our daily screening checklist form. Again, the incident of cases around these recreational areas has been concerning. As per Dr. Bonnie Henry and the Ministry of Health restrictions, we are not to travel during this outbreak of new strains of COVID-19.
Thank you to all our parents and families that have kept our school exposure and outbreak free. Our new goal is to continue to stay safe until March and Spring break. Your diligence of keeping sick children at home has made the greatest impact of keeping all our staff, students and families safe.
Please continue to follow all Public Health guidelines (www.bccdc.ca), notices on the Vancouver Coastal Health website (www.vch.ca) continue with daily screening (also found on OLS’s website) and thank you for NOT sending your children to school ill.
FEBRUARY 10, 2021 – GR. 7 VALENTINE’S DAY COOKIE FUNDRAISER – PICKUP
Pickup is from 2:00 – 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, February 10th in the parking lot by the lower hall. We remind you that the school is closed for the remainder of the week, therefore, if you do not pick up your cookies by 3:15 p.m. you will not be able to collect them until Tuesday, February 16th.
FEBRUARY 11 and 12, 2021 CATHOLIC EDUCATOR’S CONFERENCE – NO SCHOOL
All teachers will be attending the Catholic Educator’s Conference on Thursday, February 11th and Friday, February 12th. The school will be closed for these two days.
FEBRUARY 15, 2021 – FAMILY DAY – NO SCHOOL
There will be no school on Monday, February 15th due to the Family Day holiday.
FEBRUARY 17, 2021 – ASH WEDNESDAY
The students will receive Ashes on this day as per our Archdiocesan mandates.
FEBRUARY 21, 2021– FIRST COMMUNION ENROLLMENT MASS
There will be an enrolment Mass for all Grade 2’s on Sunday, February 21st at 11:30 a.m. Please tune into this Live Mass as a family at www.olos.ca to receive a special blessing!
2021-2022 SCHOOL REGISTRATION PACKAGES
Registration packages will be going home with students at the end of February 2021. Registration packages are to be returned March 10th – 12th between the hours of 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Cash Payments will also be accepted during this time by appointment only. Please email or call the office to schedule a time. Further details will follow by email.
2020 INCOME TAX RECEIPTS
The 2020 school income tax receipts are in the process of being prepared. The income tax receipts will be going home with students in the registration packages at the end of February 2021.
FEBRUARY HOT LUNCHES
| February 18, 2021 (Thursday) | Pizza |
| February 26, 2021 (Friday) | Pizzette |
REMINDERS:
SCHOOL SUPPLIES & LUNCH DROP-OFF REMINDER
We would like to remind you that due to the current COVID 19 restrictions, we wish to restrict calls home for supplies and lunches, so please have your child review daily routines and help them to prepare for their day prior to bedtime. We encourage your children to bring all necessary items, including lunches, to school daily. Every time a lunch or school supplies are dropped off at the office, we increase our risk to exposure. Thank you.
WEATHER UPDATE
Please note, as the weather gets colder and rainier, we are asking parents to ensure students have proper Jackets and shoes, as well as NOT sending students who have gym in the morning only with PE strip! Students MUST stay outside until 8:35 a.m. as we have to ensure adequate supervision in the school while teachers are in staff prayer. Also, students may have to be outside throughout the day for recess or movement between the buildings (gym and Church). Please send jackets with hoods for your children to school daily, as well as ensuring proper uniform. Thank you.