Principal Laine’s Weekly Newsletter

Dear Families,

I hope you are all doing well.

Here are some updates for this week:

Covid-19 Update

• We currently have TWO active cases of Covid-19 (communicated last week)
• We expect these cases to be resolved in the next few days

Public Health Guidelines for Symptoms

• Please refer to the attached document provided to us by the health care sector
• As usual, please keep your child home if they are unwell

School Fees

• Please visit https://symmesdarcy.westernquebec.ca/about/school-fees/ for information on 2021-2022 school fees
• Please contact Ms. Nadine Plourde (nplourde@wqsb.qc.ca, 819-684-7472 x 437009) if you have questions or would like to make a payment

National Truth and Reconciliation Day

• We will be recognizing National Truth and Reconciliation Day on September 30^th (students attend school)
• We will be delivering learning opportunities for our students in the spirit of reconciliation and to bring awareness to the difficult history Canada has with it’s Indigenous Peoples
• We will be selling Orange Shirts to staff and students in the coming weeks with the proceeds going towards Indigenous cultural programming in the school as well as making a donation to the Downie Wenjack Fund

Grade  9 & 10 (Non-Covid-19) Vaccinations

• Once again, our school nurse will be running a vaccination program for our grade 9 students
• Vaccines will also be made available to grade 10 students who need them
• These vaccines are Diphtheria-Tetanus booster and the Meningitis C Booster
• Grade 9s will be vaccinated on December 7^th, 2021
• Grade 10s who have not yet received these vaccinations through the CLSC will be vaccinated on December 6^th, 2021

Work-Oriented Training Pathway

• We are looking for local businesses to host student work placements as part of the Work-Oriented Training Pathway
• If you are interested in supporting this program, please reach out to the coordinator Ms. Jennifer Piercey at jpiercey@wqsb.qc.ca

Forms

• Your child will be bringing home the following forms next Thursday:
  • Publication Ban
  • Medical Form
• Please complete them and have your child bring them to Ms. Jessica Pilon’s office – room 126

Extra-Curricular Activities

• We are getting closer to starting up our extra-curricular activities!
• Students who choose to participate in athletics must be fully vaccinated
• In order to be proactive and ready once we start, please consider downloading the vaccination app with your child

(https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/2019-coronavirus/progress-of-the-covid-19-vaccination/covid-19-vaccination-passport)  or printing a hard copy as this will be required before participation

• Students who are not yet 12 years old, will be eligible to participate without a vaccine
• Thank you for your continued patience as we work towards starting thigs up
• I will communicate with our community once we are ready to go and how students can share their vaccination proof

Annual General Assembly

• Our Annual General Assembly (AGA) will be held virtually on Wednesday, September 29^th at 6pm for both Symmes and D’Arcy McGee parents
• The purpose of the AGA is to inform parents of the structures and routines of school as well as to elect the parent representatives to our Governing Board
• If you would like to attend the AGA and participate in the voting process for our Governing Board, please RSVP by sending an email the appropriate email address below:

symmesaga@gmail.com

darcyaga@gmail.com

• In the subject line of the email, please put your child’s name and grade
• If you would like to nominate yourself or someone else to sit on our Governing Board, please indicate this in the body of the email
• Only parents who RSVP by 4pm on Tuesday September 28^th will receive a link to the meeting

Have a great weekend!

Tara Laine

Principal

D’Arcy McGee High School ~ Symmes Junior High School

819-684-7472 x 437001