Dear Families,

I hope you are all doing well.

There is a lot of information in this email so I encourage you to read until the end.

Here are some updates and important back-to-school information:

Return to School Information

• Please refer to the attached letter from the WQSB
• Our students are required to wear masks at all times at school and on the school bus (with the exception of when they are eating and drinking – at which time they must be seated)
• Students will be assigned seats on the bus – we will do this during the first few days of school
• There are no physical distancing rules for students
• Students may remove their masks when outside or when participating in a physical education class inside or outside of the gym
• Parents may apply for a medical exemption for onsite learning (information attached)

Symptom Health Protocols

Please refer to the following attachments:

• Covid-19 Symptom Health Protocol
• Covid-19 follow-up reminders for parents
• Attestation for return to school
• Please do not send your child to school if they are experiencing any of the symptoms described

First Days of School

• Monday August 30^th – grade 8, 9 & PY1 students attend – other grades stay home
• Tuesday August 31^st – grades 7, 10, 11, PY2 & PY3 students attend – other grades stay home
• Symmes students enter through cafeteria doors
• D’Arcy students enter through the gym door in the D’Arcy parking lot
• We ask that you please drop students off at the main entrance and not in the parking lot.  Students can walk down the path to their entrance point.
• Once students enter, they will be directed to the appropriate tables to collect their timetables and locker information (please send your child with a lock)
• Students must be wearing a medical mask and will receive hand sanitizer upon entry
• After students pick up their schedules, they will be directed to their classes where their first period teacher will greet them
• Wednesday September 1^st – all grades attend school (reminder that on Wednesdays, buses depart at 1:30pm

Transportation Information

• Bus information has been loaded into the Parent Portal
• This information will be available until Sunday August 29^th

Designated Entry Points

• Starting on September 1^st, each grade level will have designated entry points to the school where they will receive hand sanitizer – we will review these entry points with the students during opening days
• Students will be allowed to enter the building starting at 8:45am
• Grade 7 = Cafeteria Doors
• Grade 8 = Cafeteria Doors
• Grade 9 = Doors by the auditorium near the Symmes staff parking lot
• Grade 10 = Doors by the back D’Arcy staff parking lot
• Grade 11 = Doors by the back D’Arcy staff parking lot

Cafeteria Services

• Students will be able to purchase their lunch in the cafeteria this year (starting on August 30^th)
• Students will be required to be masked when they enter the cafeteria and may ONLY remove their masks when they are SEATED and EATING/DRINKING
• There will be a lot of supervision in the cafeteria to ensure that students are following these safety protocols
• Students may also choose to bring their lunch outside to eat or to walk to local establishments to purchase their lunch

School Library

• Students will once again be able to use the library!
• The library will officially open on September 7^th

Extra-Curricular Activities

• We are once again able to organize extra-curricular activities for our students
• The start-up of these activities will be slightly delayed as we wait on clear instructions/plans from the Province regarding mandatory vaccines for participation
• If your child is interested in participating in athletics this year, please complete the following short survey to help us plan:

Vaccination Update

• We continue to wait for more information regarding our partnership with Public Health to support student vaccinations
• We will let our community know as soon as we find out
• Currently, 82% of our student population has received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine
• Please remember that you do not have to wait for the school to transport your child to a vaccination clinic – you can visit https://portal3.clicsante.ca/ to book an appointment

Upcoming Workshops

Please refer to the attached fliers for the following upcoming workshops hosted by Connexions:

• Cooking for Families
• Reducing Anxiety and Finding Inner Balance

Thank you for making it all the way to the end of this emailJ

Our teachers and support staff have been working hard these past few days to get ready for your children.  We are so excited about this school year!

Take care and have a nice weekend.

Tara Laine

Principal

D’Arcy McGee High School ~ Symmes Junior High School

819-684-7472 x 437001

Good Afternoon,

As we prepare to begin a new school year, it is important that you are aware of the directives and measures that the provincial government has put into place. The orientations of the 2021-2022 back-to-school plan were established based on the current health situation and the ongoing vaccination rollout among the population. Earlier today, the Minister of Education released a series of revised measures for our schools and centres; a summary of the measures is listed below:

• School and Centre Openings: first and foremost, it should be noted that all schools (primary, elementary, secondary, adult education, and vocational training) are open for in-school learning, with the expectation of 100% of students attending schools and centres on a full-time basis
• Wearing of Masks:
  • – Students in Kindergarten are not required to wear masks
  • – Students in Region 08 (G. Théberge, Noranda, Golden Valley, WQ Continuing Education Centre- Val D’or, Anishnabe Adult Education Centre) must wear masks while on buses, and while in common areas inside their respective school or centre
  • – Students in Region 07 (Outaouais; all other schools and centres) must wear masks while on buses, and at all times while inside their respective school or centre (common areas and classrooms)
• Physical Distancing: there are no physical distancing guidelines for students
• Hygiene and Disinfection Measures: the following health measures will be maintained:
  • – cleaning and disinfection, particularly with regard to frequently touched surfaces;
  • – hand hygiene routines for students and staff
  • – evaluation of students with symptoms to determine if isolation is necessary
• School Transportation: students will be assigned seats. Procedural masks are required for students in elementary and secondary school
• Medical Exemptions: parents of students who are deemed medically vulnerable to Covid-19 (or reside with someone deemed medically vulnerable) may apply for an exemption to access virtual learning at the WQSB Online Academy. Please note that application forms must be submitted (along with a letter fro a medical doctor) to the attention of Mr. Pat Hall, WQOA Principal at wqstudentexemption@wqsb.qc.ca. Application forms may be downloaded from the WQOA website: onlineacademy.westernquebec.ca
• Indoor Sports Facilities: students may remove their masks while participating in a Physical Education class,
  or during a physical activity
• Extracurricular Activities: extracurricular activities are permitted; in secondary schools, students who
  participate in an extracurricular activity must provide proof of vaccination

It is understood that we will receive revised measures as we move through the school year; please rest assured that these will be communicated to you in a timely and efficient manner. Should you have any questions or concerns, you are kindly asked to forward them to: WQQuestions@wqsb.qc.ca.

Sincerely,

George Singfield
Secretary General & Director of Corporate Services and Communication
georgesingfield@wqsb.qc.ca

See also: Back-to-school 2021-2022 – COVID-19 (on Quebec.ca)

Dear Families,

I hope you all are enjoying these last precious days of summer. 

It’s almost time for the students to return to school and we are really excited to welcome everyone back!

Here is some start-up information:

Entry Dates

• August 30^th – all grade 8 & 9 students as well as our PY1 students start school – other grades DO NOT attend
• August 31^st – all grade 7, 10 & 11 students as well as our PY2 & PY3 students start school – other grades DO NOT attend
• September 1^st – ALL STUDENTS are in school

Transportation Information

• Bus information for your child will be available on the parent portal on August 26^th and 27^th ONLY
• Please make sure you check the portal for this information
• If you cannot find the information, please contact Ms. Anne Spear (annespear@wqsb.qc.ca) for assistance

School Supplies

• Please visit our website (https://symmesdarcy.westernquebec.ca) for a general school supply list
• It is recommended that your child attend school on the first day with general supplies (full pencil case, calculator, binder, paper) and wait to hear if there are specific materials required for particular classes
• Students will once again have access to lockers! Please send your child with a combination lock on the first day or one can be purchased at reception for $5.00 cash

Virtual School

• Once again, the WQSB is offering remote learning for students who qualify for a medical exemption
• If your child attended virtual school last year, they must complete a NEW exemption request and provide an UPDATED medical note
• I have attached the instructions and exemption request form to this email
• For more information on the WQSB Online Learning Academy, please visit https://onlineacademy.westernquebec.ca/
• You can also reach out directly to the Principal, Mr. Patrick Hall at: phall@wqsb.qc.ca

Vaccinations

• We have received some information that schools will continue to partner with Public Health to support vaccines for students aged 12 and over – we will share all of the details once we have an established plan
• You do not have to wait for the school based campaign if you would like to bring your child in for a vaccine prior to the start of school – please visit https://portal3.clicsante.ca for more information

We have been receiving some information regarding Covid-19 protocols and there is more information coming.  I will be sending out a detailed back to school plan at the end of the week that will provide you with the most up-to-date information.  Thank you for your patience as this situation continues to evolve. Please know that the health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority

What We Know Now

• Students and staff will be required to wear masks when they enter our building
• Our classes have been organized in non-static/heterogeneous groupings – this means they WILL NOT be with the same group of students for all of their classes
• Students can remove their masks when outside
• Students will have access to the gym
• Any of these things could change over time

What We Are Waiting To Learn

• How our cafeteria services can be structured
• How extracurricular activities will function
• If students can remove their masks in the classroom
• The precise symptom protocols  

We know that this year will have challenges and unexpected things could happen. 

We learned a lot through our experiences last year. What we know for sure is that we have resilient students and we will face the inevitable obstacles and hurdles and move through this time together.   We are confident that with your support, we will be able to navigate things smoothly and that your children will have a positive experience at our school.

We can’t wait to see your kids!

Take care,

Tara Laine

Principal

D’Arcy McGee High School ~ Symmes Junior High School

819-684-7472 x 437001

June 25, 2021 11.30am

June 25,2021 2.30pm

Dear Families,

I hope you are all doing well.

Graduation Information

We are very excited to be celebrating the achievements of our graduating class this Friday.  Here is some important information:

• Parents should enter through the cafeteria doors – parking is in the bus parking lot
• Parents can start entering the building at 11:10am or 2:10pm (depending on ceremony time)
• Students need to arrive at either 11am or 2pm SHARP (depending on ceremony time) and should enter through the grade 11 doorway
• We will be letting parents in one-by-one so that we can sanitize hands and check you in – you must wear a mask
• The seating has all been arranged through a lottery system – everyone has an assigned seat
• As I’ve communicated before, our numbers for each ceremony are EXACT and seating has been designated – each graduate is only permitted a MAXIMUM of TWO parent/guardians in attendance on their behalf
• Seating has been socially distanced based on the RSVP form that you completed previously

WE DID IT!

It is incredible to me that this is the final update for the 2020-2021 academic year.  

On behalf of my team, I would like to extend our gratitude to the families of our students.  The support and grace you have given us during these unprecedented times has been deeply appreciated.  We also want to thank you for the support you have given to your children to help them get to the end of their academic year.  We know that it hasn’t been easy. 

The past 15 months has tested all of us in ways that we couldn’t have imagined prior to this global health crisis.  The grit, resiliency and determination that our students have demonstrated has been astonishing.  The flexibility, hard-work and commitment of our staff has been inspiring.  We have all grown stronger and despite the countless challenges, we have always been in this together.

I want to wish all of you a wonderful summer – I hope it is filled with fun and with lots of hugs from loved ones.  We have come such a long way and the future looks so much brighter. 

We are planning for a more ‘normal’ start to the 2021-2022 school year and you can expect to hear from me with detailed plans for the start-up of the school year in late August.

Finally, if your child has left anything behind at school – it needs to be picked up before June 30^th – after that we will need to dispose of things in order to start prepping our building for next year.

Take good care and stay well.

PS – We currently have ZERO active cases of Covid-19 in our school communityJ

Tara Laine

Principal

Symmes Junior High School/D’Arcy McGee High School 819-684-7472 x 437001

Dear Families,

I hope you are all doing well.

Here is some information for this week:

COVID-19 Update

• We currently have ONE active case of COVID-19 in our school community 

Loaner devices

• If your child borrowed a device from the school, these need to be returned by Wednesday, June 23rd
• Have your child return the device directly to either Mr. Byrne (Office 117) or Ms. Matthews (Reception)
• If your loaner device is missing its label, please have your child speak to Mr. Byrne

Summer School

• Updated summer school information is attached to this email
• We will reach out to you directly if it is recommended that your child attend summer school
• Summer School Info Grades 7,8,9
• Summer School Info Grades 10,11

Final Marks / Report cards

• Report cards will be published to the Parent Portal on June 29th

Next week is the last week of school.

The last day of classes is Wednesday June 23^rd – I will send the FINAL update of the year then.

We made it to the end of June!

Have a nice weekend. 

Tara Laine

Principal Symmes Junior High School/D’Arcy McGee High School

Dear Families,

I hope you are all doing well.

Here is some information for this week:

Covid-19 Update

• We currently have ONE active case of Covid-19 in our school
• This is the same case that was reported last week – it will be resolved in the coming days

Vaccinations

• Transportation has been organized for all students who are traveling to the vaccination clinic on Monday (Symmes) and Tuesday (D’Arcy) afternoon
• Students who are traveling to the vaccine clinic will need to BRING THEIR LUNCH to school – they will have an opportunity to eat in class prior to departure
• Please remember that parents are not able to drop-off or pick-up students – they must travel to the clinic by pre-arranged school bus
• We have been assisting students (14+) at school with registration through the Clic Sante website
• If you still need to register – please use the following link: https://clients3.clicsante.ca/67026/take-appt – there is an option to select your child’s school
• Please remember to send your child with their medical card or some form of identification on the day of their vaccination
• Classes will run NORMALLY for all students who are not traveling to the vaccination clinic

Students with IEPs

• If your child is on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), please visit our website (https://symmesdarcy.westernquebec.ca/)  to access some helpful information on how to navigate this process

Returning Loaner Devices

• If you borrowed a device from our school this year, they must be returned before June 23^rd
• Your child can bring the device to our receptionist, Ms. Matthews or to Mr. Chris Byrne
• If the loaner device is missing it’s label, please have your child visit Mr. Byrne’s office to have a new one created

Next week will be the last full week of school!

It’s incredible to know that our students are so close to the finish line after this disjointed school year.

We remain so proud of everything they have accomplished despites so many challenges.

Have a nice weekend.

Tara Laine

Principal

Symmes Junior High School/D’Arcy McGee High School

819-684-7472 x 437001

Dear Parents, Guardians, Students and Staff,

Today the Premier of Quebec held a press conference to announce further developments in the province’s COVID-19 sanitary measures.

COVID-19 Alert Level

• Outaouais will be moving from Orange alert level to Yellow effective Monday, June 14.
• Abitibi-Témiscamingue region remains in the Green alert level.
• For more information of COVID-19 alert levels please consult this page on the Government’ website

Masks for students – effective June 8

• Kindergarten are not required to wear masks at any time.
• Grades 1-4 students not required to wear masks at any time.
• Grades 5-6 and secondary school students are not required to wear masks in class nor outside. They are required to wear masks inside the school in common areas and on the school bus.
• Adult and vocational sector students are not required to wear masks once seated in a classroom. They must maintain 1.5-meter distance while in class. Masks in common areas are required but not outside.

Masks for Staff – effective June 14

• Staff are not required to wear a mask as long as they maintain 2-meter physical distance from other students and staff.

*For all masks directives, it needs to be stressed that if a student or staff wishes to wear a mask in class, outside or at any time while at school or in a centre they are permitted to do so.

Premier Legault also made several announcements concerning a change to sanitary measures regarding the organization of graduation ceremonies and proms. Although some modifications may be made to some ceremonies already planned, due to logistical issues and tight time lines, it may not be possible to redesign school graduation plans. Each school will communicate their graduation ceremony plans to their communities.

The following is a synopsis of Premier Legault’ s announcements concerning graduation ceremonies:

Graduations – Handing out of Diplomas Ceremony

• The handing out of diplomas can happen during the school day, after school or on a weekend.
• Parents can now attend the graduation ceremony.
• A maximum of 250 people may attend the ceremony with more information to come on sanitary measures (i.e. masks and physical distancing rules).

Graduation Proms

• From July 8 onwards, graduation proms will be permitted in an outside venue with a maximum 250 people, more information to come on sanitary measures (i.e. masks and physical distancing rules).

Sincerely,Mike Dubeau, Director General

In order to help parents / guardians understand better and plan the IEP of your child please see the topics below

• Parent Guide to Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
• SEAC IEP Toolkit Parent-Student Insights