Dear Parents,
Thank you for a successful first week of school! This year is a new start up without any COVID restrictions. We are happy to be bringing back many extra-curricular and school programs. We will also be starting BINGO next week (Monday, September 20th) and we are thankful for the many volunteers that were able to assist and support the return of our programs.
Many of our school and Parish programs cannot run without the support of parents. Ultimately, all savings by volunteers helps keep our tuition and costs down, while providing many extra resources to our students and teachers. We thank all parent volunteers for their participation throughout our school!
Thank you for your sacrifice and support!
SEPTEMBER 19, 2022 – CANADA’S DAY OF MOURNING FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH II – NO SCHOOL
As per BC’s mandate, there will be no school on Monday, September 19th to observe the federal holiday to mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE PROTOCOLS
As mentioned previously, we have moved from COVID-19 Protocols to Communicable Disease Protocols. Many of the recommendations are similar such as:
- Keeping children home if they are sick .
- Frequent washing of hands, especially prior to eating.
- Keeping distance and staying outdoors, especially during physically intense activities.
- Using proper sneezing etiquette (cover sneezes and wash hands).
- Optional use of masks indoors or when in proximity, if not feeling well, or to protect yourself for immunocompromised families.
- Testing for COVID PRIOR to coming to school if anyone at home or at work has tested positive with COVID.
- Staying up to date with Public Health Recommended Vaccinations including Boosters for Flu or COVID-19 updates.
- Remembering to respect all families’ needs for medical Privacy.
AFTER SCHOOL CLUB NEWS!
Thank you for your responses to our survey sent out last week. Our After School Club started this week and will be available Monday – Thursday from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. The cost for this is $5.00 per 30 minutes per student until 4:30 p.m. In the event you are late for pickup (after 4:30 p.m.), the cost will be an additional $10.00 per student per 30 minutes until 5:00 p.m.
After School Club will be in the lower hall. Children are to be picked up from there. You can access the lower hall by entering the school parking lot off Pender Street. Once you arrive, please wait at the door and we will bring your child to you.
OLS After School Club is NOT a Licenced daycare, therefore it does not provide extra services such as bathroom assistance, Special Needs Support, play dates or special services for parents. Parents must have a responsible adult available for their child’s pickup, and available to be called in case of emergencies such as when a child must go home due to illness or when behaviour or emotional issues arise. Our Lady of Sorrows After School Club is a Voluntary Club and therefore children must be “ready and able” to attend in all Physical, Emotional, and social realms of child development (appropriately for their ages). The staff will be in contact with parents if we are unsure of their child(rens) ability to attend the OLS After School Club.
Please review these expectations with your child prior to attending and throughout the school year. Students will be allowed to do homework, play table games or colour. They cannot use any contact, running or ball games indoors. Students will be allowed to use the adventure playground outdoors when available and if weather permits.
- If a child is not feeling well or has a potentially contagious health and/or hygiene issues, they must NOT attend After School Club.
- Treat others with respect at all times.
- Be responsible for their actions and belongings.
- Understand that if not participating properly the child may be sent home.
- Please ensure students have their own activities planned and bring their own supplies.
- Negative Behaviours will result in being sent home and may result in losing after school club privileges.
We will not be accepting same day attendance requests. All students must register for at least one regular day and can then drop in any other days (M-T). If you have not already done so, please email the office (office@myolosschool.com) to confirm which days your child(ren) will be attending.
We acknowledge that this is an important service for our working families, however, at this time we have not been able to find enough staffing for Fridays. We will continue to try to open Fridays as soon as we can secure staff.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2022, USED UNIFORM SALE
We will be hosting a used uniform sale on Wednesday, September 28th during the Welcome Back BBQ and Social from 6-6:45 p.m. (before the Mandatory Parents’ Meeting). Please mark your calendars. Further details will be sent home soon.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 – SWEATPANTS AND SWEATSHIRT SAMPLE SIZES VIEWING
Samples sizes will be available for you to view on Wednesday, September 28th during the Welcome Back BBQ and Social from 6-6:45 p.m. (before the Mandatory Parents’ Meeting).
OLS FATHER AND SON CLUB
Please see the following link for this new opportunity to share time for fathers and sons in the Parish (https://fatherson.club).
Online Registration: https://fatherson.club/registration/
REMINDERS!
SEPTEMBER 18, 2022 – OUR LADY OF SORROWS PARISH FEAST MASS
Feast Mass will be held on Sunday, September 18, 2022, at 7:00 p.m., followed by a procession. OLS students will be leading this Mass procession. Information has been sent home with your child(ren) today!
SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 – BOOK FAIR AND READ-A-THON ASSEMBLY
Our Read-a-Thon and Book Fair assembly will take place on Thursday, September 22nd. Students will receive their record and pledge sheets at the assembly. We will also be sending home our Parent Volunteer Signup Form. Please check your child’s bags for this information and please help to make our Book Fair and Read-A-Thon another great success!!
SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 – TERRY FOX RUN
The annual Terry Fox Run will be held on Thursday, September 22nd. Further details will be sent home shortly.
SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 – OLS / SFA CROSS-COUNTRY MEET
Please refer to the Cross-Country notice for details. Please make sure students are dressed for the weather.
SEPTEMBER 25, 2022 – COMMISSIONING SUNDAY MASS
On Sunday, September 25th at 11:30 a.m. there will be a Commissioning Mass for all Staff Members of Our Lady of Sorrows School. This will be our first Mass with the choir. All families are encouraged to attend our Sunday Family Masses as this is their regular obligation to our Catholic School Community. Thank you!
SEPTEMBER 26, 2022 – INDIVIDUAL PHOTOS
Students will have their Individual Photos taken by Artona on Monday, September 26th. Please ensure your child comes to school in full uniform on this day. They must also have their gym strip under their uniform if there is gym that day.
SEPTEMBER 26 – October 3, 2022 – SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR
The Book Fair is upon us once again! Excitement is building and the students are anticipating all of the new books. Parent volunteers can fill in the form being sent home this week to help with the Book Fair. A link will be sent to all families just before the Book Fair begins, for those of you that would like to shop online. Over the years, we have purchased many books for the library and resource materials for the classrooms through this fundraising event.
The annual OLS Book Fair will begin on Monday, September 26th and will end on Monday, October 3rd. Further information will be sent home with students shortly.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 – MEET THE TEACHERS NIGHT
The first Mandatory Parents’ Meeting will be held in person on Wednesday, September 28th. We will begin with a Welcome Back BBQ and Social at 6:00 p.m. The actual meeting will begin at 6:45 p.m. followed by one 15 minute session in the classroom. Please mark your calendars. This will be the first Mandatory Meeting as indicated in the Policy Manual and Registration Guide! Do not forget to visit the Book Fair in the Library that evening.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 – OLS / HC CROSS-COUNTRY MEET
Please refer to the Cross-Country notice for details. Please make sure students are dressed for the weather.
SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 – ORANGE SHIRT DAY
Orange Shirt Day will be held on Thursday, September 29th. This day is to honour Indigenous children who were sent to residential schools in Canada. Orange Shirt Day challenges us to witness and honour the stories of Survivors and their families, and to commit to meaningful discussion and the ongoing process of reconciliation.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 – NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH & RECONCILIATION – STAT HOLIDAY
There will be no school on Friday, September 30th. This day is to honour Indigenous children who were sent to residential schools in Canada.
TRAFFIC UPDATE
Thank you to all our school parents who volunteered for our drop-off and pick-up routines so that they could continue this year. Please note that during the Church roof repair, which may last a few more weeks, parent drivers are asked to enter and exit slowly through the lot (especially from Pender Street) as some of the trucks may block the views of the driveways. Please be patient and continue to follow the direction of the volunteers so all our students and families can stay safe!