To our students and families:

This evening, the Ministry of Education provided updated guidelines for K-12 schools that are effective immediately.

"All staff and students in Grades 4 to 12 are required to wear a mask . . . indoors in schools and on school buses – both within and outside of their learning group. Students in Grades K to 3 are encouraged to wear a mask indoors in schools and on school buses, but are not required to do so – mask wearing remains a personal or family/caregiver choice for these students, and their choices must be respected."

There are a few exceptions (like while eating/drinking and during high intensity physical activities). If you have concerns about your child wearing a mask during school, please call our office.

This added safety measure is to do everything possible to keep schools open for the benefit of our students, parents, and staff. We will do our best to help provide masks where needed, but please join us in ensuring your child has a clean mask available to them each day.

Please continue to do a daily health check with your children before they come to school and encourage them to participate in the other guidelines we will continue to follow, such as frequent hand cleaning, staying within learning groups, physical distancing, and additional cleaning.

In times of uncertainty, when I feel more anxious, I have a Bible verse that helps and thought I’d share it with you now:
"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." 1 Peter 5:7

Together we will get through the other side of this.

Thank you for your participation in doing what we can to stay safe and give your children a quality education.

Mrs. Atherton

It’s almost here! Whether the weather is hopeful spring, false spring, or real spring, a break in school for spring is upon us. Next week and the following week there will not be school (March 15 – 26). We will be back in classes March 29, with a four day week before Easter weekend.

Report cards will be going home this week. We are proud of our students and all they have accomplished so far this year. Please sign the brown envelope and return it back to the school to be used for the final report card in June (and so we know you received it).

We wish you a relaxing spring break. We ask for your continued caution with Covid-19 restrictions to keep all of our school family safe. April holds promise for more fun learning and some swim parties!

Mrs. Atherton

"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him." Nahum 1:7

Hello Parents,

In keeping in line with revised government regulations, we have updated our Covid-19 Health & Safety Policy & Procedures. They are on our website, along with a summary of items.

The key update students and families will notice is the wearing of masks, as implemented earlier this month. This is an addition to the many procedures we have in place to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19, including increased cleaning/disinfecting, hand hygiene, physical distancing, and masks for staff.

Here are a few key items for our families to remember:

– Please do a daily health check of symptoms for your children. A helpful tool for symptoms is https://www.k12dailycheck.gov.bc.ca/

– Students should clean their hands before they leave home to take the bus, when they leave school prior to taking the bus, and when they get home.

– Personal items coming to school should be limited to those necessary (e.g. backpacks, clothing, school supplies, water bottles, reusable food containers). Items brought regularly to and from school should be limited to those that can be easily cleaned (e.g. reusable food containers) and/or are considered to be low risk (e.g. clothing, paper, etc.).

– Homemade food items are not to be made available to other students at this time (e.g. birthday treats, bake sale items). Please note that different guidelines apply to food that is prepared in schools (e.g. as part of a culinary program) or for school food services.

– Gr 5 – 12 students will continue to wear masks while riding the bus, and Gr 7 – 12 students will wear a mask except when:

o sitting in (or standing at) their desk/table

o eating and drinking; or

o outdoors

Thank you to our students who are doing their best to follow all the guidelines. If anyone needs a mask or has any questions, please let us know. This is a challenging time and we will get through this to the other side.

Mrs. Atherton

Monday – Ski day! Bring a helmet or other gear not being rented so everyone has a safe & fun time 🙂

Tuesday – Bring your student snapshot forms back for a chance to win one of three $10 Subway gift cards.

Wednesday – Pink Shirt Day! Wear pink to show you agree to not participate in bullying and want to lift others up around you.
Thursday – We’re happy to see your faces at school 🙂 Thursday needs to be special too, right?
Friday – POW at 7 pm on Facebook to complete our special week of assemblies with Pastor D focusing on "Friendship Request"

Hello! Monday is ski day and we are excited to be able to take students to both Bear Mountain and Powder King. We have snow and the weather isn’t too cold so we’re planning for a great day 🙂 For those not able to participate this time, there will be no classes. For those participating, please note the following items:

– Both groups will be leaving from PCS as soon as possible after the bus arrives (about 8:45 am).
– The concession will be open on both hills.

– Bring a sack lunch, snacks, and/or money for concession.
– Please leave valuables at home.
– Please dress warmly in layers so clothing can be adjusted for both colder and warmer weather.

Planned pickup times are:

– From Bear Mountain – between 4 & 4:15 pm at our regular bus spot in front of the high school. If there is a significant variation to this, a note will be posted on our Facebook page, which can also be seen at the bottom of our website (www.peacechristianschool.ca).

– From Powder King – about 6 pm at IGA parking lot

A few parents are participating with your children. If this is you, we ask that you please abide by the following Covid-19 related items:
– If you are exhibiting symptoms of being sick or have been in contact with someone who has been sick or in self-isolation, please do not come
– Spend as much time as possible outdoors
– Wear a mask at all times while in the lodge, except when seated and eating/drinking
– Practice and ensure physical distancing of a minimum 2m (6ft) from everyone except your family
– Bring hand sanitizer
– Wash or sanitize your hands often & avoid touching your face

Attached are copies of the assumption of risk for your reference.

Thank you for helping us make this a fun learning experience for our students!

Have a great weekend,
Kristin

Bear Mtn..pdf

Powder King.pdf

Hello Parents,

Typically we would be having student-led parent teacher interviews today and tomorrow. We are trying something different this year.

Yesterday or today your student(s) should be bringing home information about how they are doing in their classwork. We ask that you discuss this with them and have a conversation about their growth as a student.

Please also sign the paper provided and have them return it to the school. All students who return the paper by Tuesday, February 23 will be entered in a draw to win a Subway gift card.

If you would like to have a phone call or meeting with a teacher in person, we are happy to arrange that, so please call/email the school or call/text a specific teacher and we will set up a time.

Thank you for participating in this part of your student’s learning 🙂

Mrs. Atherton

Hello Families,

Cold Day: I hope you’re staying warm today. It’s a weekend for indoor books, games, and food. If it’s not warmer tomorrow, there will not be school, for the safety of all. Please watch our Facebook page (also available at the bottom of our webpage) for a post tomorrow morning.

Covid-19: Last week, the Ministry of Education announced enhanced safety measures for K-12 schools to prevent the spread of Covid-19. We are reviewing our safety plan and making any changes needed to comply with the new requirements. Our updated safety plan will be posted on our website within the next couple of weeks.

Gr 7 – 12 students (along with all staff), will now be required to wear non-medical masks in all indoor areas. The only exceptions are when:

– they are seated or standing at their desks/workstation in a classroom

– when there is a barrier in place

– if they are eating or drinking

Masks for K – Gr 6 students remain optional at school based on family preference, though we do request that Gr 5/6 continue to wear them while riding our school bus.

Information about masks and the different types can be read here: Masks (bccdc.ca). Please take time this week to ensure the students in your family have enough comfortable masks so they can have a clean one each day. We do have some cloth ones at school if a student/family would prefer that option. We will be transitioning into this change this week and requesting full compliance by February 16, 2021.

Although this is a difficult change for some, we appreciate being in school in person and not asked to learn online or part-time in person. Thank you for doing your part to help keep us in school. With it being so cold, shorter days (though getting longer!), potential fears of the pandemic, and other life circumstances, mental health challenges are very real. Please reach out to someone at school if you or your child is struggling and we will help get through this together.

Illness Tool: We appreciate the precaution we have seen from you about staying home when illness is a potential concern. If you’re unsure whether your child should attend school or when to call 8-1-1, here is a new tool to help: K-12 Health Check (gov.bc.ca).

Downhill Ski Day: Our ski day on February 22 for K-Gr 6 to Bear Mountain is a go! Slips with pricing and request for payment will be sent home our next day of school, if you don’t have it already. We are also planning a ski trip to Powder King for Gr 7-12. We are hoping for Feb 22, but still waiting on confirmation from Powder King. The cost for lift ticket, full rental and transportation will be $75/student.

Student Led Interviews: Due to the constraints of meeting in person and challenges of Zoom, we are planning to send information home for parents and students to discuss together on the 17th and 18th. All forms returned will be entered in for a prize draw.

Please enjoy some sunshine through a window today!

Mrs. Atherton

Dear Families,

The safety of your child(ren), as well as the safety of the school staff is very important to us. One way we maintain a safe environment for our children to study and learn is to practice our emergency response plans.

This coming Monday morning, January 11, 2021, we will be practicing a lockdown drill, with the assistance of the Chetwynd RCMP. This type of drill will secure the school building and safely shelter all students and staff inside the building, protecting against any danger outside or inside the building. During a “lockdown drill” doors will be locked/closed and remain locked until the danger is removed. To enable everyone to remain safe, no one will be allowed to enter the building or leave the building until the drill is complete.

For the safety of everyone involved, we respectfully request that during a drill or event, you follow these items:

• Do not come to the school
• Do not call the school offices (as they will be busy with the drill or actual emergency)
• Do not contact students or staff members via cell phone or social media (to maintain order, allow silence and a cohesive following of the safety plan)
• Avoid social media posts. For an event, correct information will be sent officially as soon as possible.
• Please make sure we always have your current contact information.
• In the event of an actual emergency evacuation, you will receive notification where to pick up your child as soon as practicable.

As you feel appropriate, please talk to your child(ren) about this drill. It does not mean there will be an intruder or unsafe situation, but it is best to have precautions in place, just like we have a smoke detector in our home or wear a seatbelt in our vehicles.

Please remember that these safety practice drills are done to help maintain our schools as a safe place to learn and work. If you have any questions, please contact me at the school.

Regards,

Kristin Atherton

We are happy to have everyone back tomorrow! A quick reminder that Covid-19 precautions are still in place:
– Please send/bring a water bottle and keep extra items (like toys) at home.
– No extra people in the building (please wear a mask if needing to come to the front entrance).
– Cleaning hands for everyone when entering the building (and when moving between areas).
– For Gr 5-12, wearing masks when on the bus and when in an area with another cohort.

We are also continuing with our other precautions, such as extra disinfecting during the day.

See you soon!