Principal's Message: Welcome back
Friday August 27
Dear Parents/Guardians,
We are excited to welcome back students next week to Gilbert Paterson! Our staff have been working to prepare their classrooms and programs to adjust to the physical, social, and learning needs of students under our current Division re-entry structure. If you missed out on our Division re-entry plan and any updates or summaries, please access it at https://www.lethsd.ab.ca/ . Please remember our start dates:
- Tues. Aug. 31 - Grade 6 ONLY
- Wed. Sept. 1 – Grade 7/8 ONLY (please note that our Wednesday 1PM dismissal is in effect. You can view the bell times at https://gp.lethsd.ab.ca/download/358637
- Thurs. Sept. 3 – all students start regular programming
In preparation for this day, please remember the following:
- Please go through the attached Covid Screening Questionnaire at home daily before sending your child to school. http://gp.lethsd.ab.ca/download/361976
- At the end of this email students, your child’s teacher will remind students which door to come in. We have attached this map to show you where they are located. http://gp.lethsd.ab.ca/download/361979
- If you are driving your child, please drop them off in the appropriate area of the school if possible. School starts at 8:03 but we are asking parents to drop off any where between 7:55 – 8:03. Please do not come earlier for supervision and safety purposes. Students will come right in the school at their door and be guided by staff to the proper classroom where their teachers will be waiting for them.
- Please note that students are required to wear masks upon their arrival on school property so please send your child with a non-surgical medical or cloth mask.
- Students will need to bring the following supplies for the first day – Mask(s), backpack, water bottle filled if possible, lunch, one zip binder, a basic pencil case with basic supplies.
- Students will be receiving lockers. Each grade level will develop strategies to
- Students will need to bring a lunch that does not require a microwave as we will not have these available for sharing.
- We regularly look forward to parents coming in and staying as they feel necessary. Our current protocols do not allow for parents to come in the building in this manner. We also ask that you help us to keep the parking areas clear by dropping off students and setting up a place to meet after school if necessary. We want to avoid large groups of people waiting outside the school so please remain in your vehicles if possible and wear masks if not. We really appreciate your help with this as we try to ensure as safe and orderly of a process as possible.
- Students will be dismissed from the same door they enter in and encouraged to meet parents in a predetermined place. Students who are on the bus will be assisted by staff to find their bus, students who walk home will be expected to leave the school grounds immediately and encouraged to follow social distancing until they get home.
- Please check the bus route maps again for any changes on southside route times as they are providing us with later pick up and arrival times in the morning that match our bell schedule better. They have not been updated as of Thursday. Masks are mandatory on all busses.
Thank you for all of your efforts and cooperation in preparing your child for a successful return to school. We will all work together to ensure that our community builds connections and student learning in a safe and positive environment. Below is a message from your child’s homeroom teacher for you to share with your child regarding the first day. Have a great weekend and see you next week.
Darryl Christiansen – Principal