This Week @ Journey Update

We miss you!

We hope you are well as we continue to work together to keep people healthy. There are some very interesting lessons being offered by staff as students continue to learn at home, but we long for our students to be here at Journey every day!  After Premier Horgan’s press conference yesterday, there will be some gradual opening up of society, and we will continue learning at home for a while longer.

Band and Hockey – It seems hard to believe, and a little surreal, but we are currently creating our schedules, timetables and class configurations for next year.  A large part of that process is dependent on students who want to join the Hockey Academy and/or Band.  If your child is interested in registering for Hockey Academy or Concert Band the information/registration is on our website.   A student can belong to both, but must register for each one if they want to join either next year.   It is important to note that next year Band will be part of our FAST rotation (Art, Tech, Wood, Home Ec., Music) and students choosing Band will not be part of those subjects.  We have extended the deadline to sign up until May 15 – Both Hockey Academy and Band are dependent on having sufficient enrollment numbers to run.

Pick up of Student Supplies –  Following the direction from the School Board Office and adhering to health and safety protocols, staff will begin packing up supplies from lockers and classrooms next week.  Bags will be labelled with the student’s name and division number and parents will be able to begin picking them up starting on May 19.   FAST teachers will help get projects/work from those classrooms to the divisional teachers.  If your child has something that may be in a different space in the school, please contact your child’s divisional teacher to have it place with their other items.  Everything will be sent home that is in the locker, minus any lunches that may have turned into science experiments.  Class photos will be in each supply bag as well.  We will share the pickup times early next week.

Tech – We have lent out several Chromebooks for student to use while learning at home and we still have a supply that can be loaned to families.  Please contact Gina Thompson gthompson@sd62.bc.ca or Brianne Crocker bcrocker@sd62.bc.ca to arrange for pick up.

Food – Through the many generous donations from local businesses we are able to help supply some frozen pre-made meals, Cobbs Bread, and fresh produce should you need some during these uncertain times.  Each Tuesday families can stop by and pick up items.  Please contact Laurie Szadkowski lszadkowski@sd62.bc.ca to arrange a time for pick up, (we maintain social distancing practices and stagger our pick up times to eliminate lineups).

Staffing – After 27 years at Journey and a 45-year career in teaching, our teacher librarian Mrs. Jill Fader has announced her retirement.  Mrs. Fader has worked at Journey since we opened our doors in 1993. She has been the driving force behind our Musical Theatre productions and has carefully archived Journey’s history along the way. She confidently states she has personally purchased every book in our library and knows every child in the school because they all come to the ‘hub of the school’.

Travel – This year we had to cancel our Band Trip to the Nationals in Calgary and postpone our Journey to Japan Friendship Exchange to Natori, Japan.  The Board of Education has now declared all out of province trips, (which includes our trip to Europe, and our trip to Japan planned for March 2021) are on hold until further notice.  They do this to ensure the health and safety of students and staff and they will keep us updated as we move forward.

PAC – our PAC Executive is less active right now, but they continue to support students by assisting our teachers.  Equipment and supplies (some for next year) are being purchased and delivered to the school. Their greatest service is their offer of support and appreciation to all staff.  This helps boost our spirits and we look forward to working with them again soon.

We continually update our website with information and meet with staff regularly about curriculum and connections.  Staff have been asked to make at least two contacts per week with each student, and you may receive a phone call from the office if they have not been able to make that connection. Acknowledging an email, handing in assignments, chatting online or a phone call all count!  Please remember that we are available if you have any questions, or please check the website.

Like Dr. Bonnie Henry keeps telling us, “this won’t be forever, just for now”.