This Week @ Journey April 5-9

Our Vision is Run to Be Here, and our Mission Statement is ASPIRE.  This month we are focusing on reducing our waste at school.  Beginning on Tuesday we are working toward a Litterless lunch.  This means bringing as many items in reusable containers as we can.  We will continue to follow our pack in, pack out practice, but step it up a level by producing as little garbage as possible.  Did you know that if every Journey student brings one packaged granola bar to school for lunch every day, our school produces over 100,000 pieces of garbage in one school year?  Every day for the month of April that a student has a “Litterless Lunch”, the class’ Earth Ambassador will enter the student’s name in a draw. On Monday morning of the following week, we will draw names for amazing prizes. Prizes are being provided by BC Parks, the CRD and Journey’s PAC. 

Parent/Teacher Communication – April 15 students will be dismissed early at 11:58 a.m. to provide staff time to connect with families.  Individual teachers are setting up appointments.

Important health and safety information – for all families, students and staff regarding masks as we continue to do our part to reduce the spread of Covid19.  If using a reusable non-medical mask, it must not be a mouth shield, have valves, or be a gator/buff style.   We continue to receive updated information from Island Health and our District and thank them for their support.

Welcome EA practicum student, Jessica Kuyper.  Jessica will be with us from April 6 – 30 and we are happy to have her at Journey.  Welcome Mark Blackman who will begin as our Student Engagement Facilitator (SEF) while Murielle Lagace is away.  Thanks again to Alex Saddington for her support in this role over the last several months.

Best Wishes to Grade six French Immersion teacher Ms. Sarah Munroe.  Ms. Munroe begins her maternity leave on Tuesday. She will be missed at Journey, but what a lovely reason to leave!  We should know on Thursday who is taking over for her for the rest of the year.

Learning Commons Update

New audiobook pilot project!  Is your student reluctant to pick up a book?  Have you/they tried listening to audiobooks?  We are starting a pilot project to explore whether listening to audiobooks will affect reading attitudes and engagement for students who don’t currently love reading.  All they need to participate is a public library card and you can sign up for a card online at https://virl.bc.ca/get-help/get-a-card/ if you/your student don’t already have one.  We have 10 tablets that will be available at school to listen to audiobooks during silent reading (in both French and English).  Encourage your student to see Mrs. Wallace in the library about this project.

April is poetry month!  We will be sharing many kinds of poetry in the library.  We would also love to create a display of poetry that is made from words found in a book.  We challenge you to create some poetry together and send it to school with your student for display in the library this month.  Thanks for your support!

Monday

Zone rotation change for all students.

Tuesday 

Skateboarding Club – First Lunch students with signed waivers and proper gear. No exceptions to any of the rules. Listen to announcements each morning for additional opportunities.

Wednesday 

Skateboarding Club – Second Lunch students with signed waivers and proper gear. No exceptions to any of the rules.  Listen to announcements each morning for additional opportunities.

Thursday 

Friday 

Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence (PISE) will be working along side some of our PE classes today.  Thanks to Mr. Zac Vine for arranging these workshops.

Thanks for doing your part during the pandemic – it is appreciated.

Daily Health Check – please remember to follow the DHC and not send your child to school if they are not well.  If a student becomes unwell, or tells us they are unwell, at school, they will wait for pick up in our Supervision Room which is sanitized between guests.  Up to two students can be in the room at one time (physically distanced and masked).  Masks – please continue to provide and remind your child to bring a mask to school each day.