Thank you again for your continued support and communication to Brentwood school as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 Pandemic. I am sure you are aware that opportunity to have your children vaccinated is now available. Should you require more information about children and them getting the vaccine, please visit the following website: Alberta Government Info about Vaccination for Children I encourage you to get all the facts to make an informed decision.
Some reminders and information share about everyone's health and safety…
Ø If your child is sick and showing any symptoms as listed in the Symptom checklist 18 and older and 18 and younger, please DO NOT send your child to school until they are symptom free. If symptoms persist, then medical intervention is recommended (COVID testing is an option). As well, I strongly encourage you to review the Parent Guide as outlined in previous messaging from CBE as well as Alberta Health.
Ø Please send children with an 'extra, clean mask that fits properly' in their backpacks. As of late, we have had many students coming to the office looking for replacement masks when their masks have become broken or lost. As our supply is limited at the school, having an extra mask with them will help us keep up with the demand in situations where students have no masks left of their own to use.
Ø A reminder – if you are wanting to have you child as pick up at the end of the day versus taking the bus, please call the office @ 777-6130 ext. 0 no later than 3:15 PM. Please do not email as emails are not always checked in a timely manner before the end of the day. Calling no later that 3:15 PM gives our office staff enough time to connect with the teacher and let them know not to send your child on the bus. Any calls after 3:15 PM may result in your child being put on the bus.
As always, listed below are several key points to keep you updated as we continue our work to the end of 2021 and move into January 2022.
· We have had some staffing changes/adjustments at Brentwood. We were fortunate to add several new staff to our roster. They are:
- Ms. Burton – a part-time and temporary teacher working with students identified for requiring extra support.
- Ms. Tabassum – an additional lunchroom supervisor to assist with lunchroom in classrooms
- Two new caretaking cleaners – Mr. Mohamed and Mr. Ogbazghi
We will be bidding farewell to one of our lunchroom supervisors – Ms. Sobirova. We thank her for her excellent work in our lunchroom program and wish her all the best in future endeavours. The process has begun to look for another lunchroom supervisor as replacement.
Our thanks extends to our Grade 5 team of staff and students for a wonderful and heartfelt virtual Remembrance Day assembly. The messages conveyed by our students during this important commemorative time of year were greatly appreciated by all. In addition, our sincerest gratitude and appreciation goes out to our Brentwood School Community for their gracious contributions to our Veteran's Foodbank Drive as well as our Poppy Fund Collection. We filled just over 16 large boxes of non-perishable items and collected just over $659 for The Poppy Fund. Bravo Brentwood!
Congratulations goes to our Grade 3 team of staff and students who shared our second online Mind-up Assembly on November 22. The theme was 'mindful awareness' – knowing what to do in certain circumstances to try and make the best decision in the moment. Thank you for a well thought out assembly and important techniques that we can all use in various situations.
Thank you to all who attended our second set of online P/T conferences in November. It is critical to keep abreast of your child(ren)'s educational progress. We encourage you to make all possible effort to connect with your child's teacher about their learning if you were not able to attend these conferences. The first report card will be issued at the end of January.
We continue to have many students who are preparing to travel and be away from school for extended periods of time. Please note that student extended absences greater than 15 school days (7 for Kindergarten) result in students missing critical instruction and curriculum. School administration and teachers must be informed well in advance of these types of absences. An online meeting before student departure will be required to discuss these absences in more detail.
A huge THANK YOU to all parents and friends who were able to volunteer for our Parent Fundraising Society Casino in November. It was great to have so many step up and offer their time to work at this major parent fund raising event. Well done Brentwood!
During the month of December, we will again have three separate virtual assemblies to share with students, staff and parents of Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2. These will be online programs, depicting the work of the author Jeff Stockton (Residency in October /November) along with musical performances under the direction of Ms. Lau. These online assemblies will be viewable by parents from the following grade levels on the following dates:
- Kindergarten – December 13 (time TBA)
- Grade 1 – December 14 (time TBA)
- Grade 2 – December 16 (Time TBA)
An individual message/invitation with an online link will be sent to parents of each grade level from their teacher via Google classroom (as we have done in the past). Stay tuned!
· Registration information for new registrants to the Brentwood TLC program in the 2022-23 school year as well as our Open House details are coming. More information as to specific times and dates will be sent to parents via School Messenger and then posted to our website in the very near future. Thank you for your patience as we finalize these registration and open house details.
· Spirit Days are coming up at the school starting at the end of this week…and into all of next week. Students will be able to come to school in a 'variety of dress' other than a uniform if they wish to do so. Stay tuned for messaging as to what they can wear and on which day they can wear it!
· Last but not least! ….The excitement has been mounting after we learned of the return of grade 6 to Brentwood School for the 2022-23 school year! Planning and school organization has already commenced to examine space and resources as to how we will accommodate and enthusiastically keep our grade 5 student population at Brentwood for one more year in grade 6. More information will follow by June of 2022.
Wherever you may be during the holiday break, I wish you all the best for the Season!
Take care and be safe!
Mr. Michayluk,
Principal
