We had a little difficulty with our order today and our staff worked to make the best of the situation.  A shout out to our students who were very understanding as we explained the situation and most classes received a second piece to help make up for it all.  For the classes who did not, or if an order was incorrect (ie: gluten free) we will find a way to make their next lunch day enjoyable!  A reminder for all that our PAC does not do lunch program and it is our staff who took on the project to make our student’s lives a little brighter!  Thank you again for your understanding.

Please see the link for Spring Break Adventure camp from Westcoast Adventure College.

Our Vision is Run to Be Here, and our Mission Statement is ASPIRE.  This week we are focusing on one of our three Values: Respect. Are our actions and words respectful to the people at Journey, in the community of Sooke, and in the world? 

 February is Black History month, which is a great opportunity for students to learn about past and present Social Justice issues. “Justice is the concept of fairness. Social justice is fairness as it manifests in society.” (https://www.humanrightscareers.com/)

Congratulations to Division 13 for creating a powerful presentation on Black History. Students reflected on the role Ruby Bridges played in Kamala Harris becoming the first female, first African American and the first Asian American Vice President of the USA. They also wrote their ideas, thoughts and opinions about the treatment of African slaves in Canada during the period between 1600 and 1834.  After reading and viewing the presentation, it is evident that students believe that people of all different skin colours should be treated equally and with respect and dignity.

Please remind your child that they must sign in and out of the office if they are arriving late or leaving early.  This allows us to keep students accounted for and safe.   Please phone  ahead of time if you are picking your child up early and then again when you are in the parking lot and we will send them from the office to you.  

Do you have exercise equipment collecting dust in your garage? Would you like to find a new home for it? Ms. Millen is looking for exercise bikes, spin bikes, and/or elliptical trainers for students to use for exercise breaks in the support room. If you have any of these items and you would like to donate them please contact Ms. Andrea Millen at amillen@sd62.bc.ca

If anyone has any jigsaw puzzles languishing on the shelf that they would like to donate it would be greatly appreciated. Around 40-250 pieces would be wonderful. Please send to school or email Ms. Janice Crow at jcrow@sd62.bc.ca 

Mrs. Wallace’s Learning Commons Update:

Skills Canada competitions are entering the last week before we submit school results to regionals.  Ask your student about their experiences creating gravity cars, wind turbines, or spaghetti bridges.  A lot of learning, design thinking and fun have been going on in our school!

We are entering the second week of March Madness: Battle of the Books!  New match ups will be shared with students on the announcements on Tuesday.  Voting for week 2 will be available until Thursday, Feb. 18 at https://bit.ly/3pgl6dc.  Please encourage your student to vote.  Munro Books generously donated book prizes and there will be 1 prize winner drawn each week from participants.

Monday – Happy Family Day

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.

EMCS – grade 8s should have signed up for all their grade 9 courses for next year by 4 p.m. today.

Cohort Assemblies: Block 2 – Divs. 12/18 Block 4 – Divs. 5/6

Wednesday 

Pizza Lunch Day – pre-ordered, individual lunches delivered to classrooms at lunch

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.

Cohort Assemblies: Block 2 – Divs. 7/8/9; Block 4 – Divs. 1/2; Block 5 – 3/4

Thursday 

Grade 7 FSA online testing

Cohort Assemblies: Block 1 – Divs. 10/14; Block 2 – Divs. 17/18; Block 3 – Divs. 13/20; Block 4 – Divs. 15/16; Block 5 – Divs. 11/21

 Friday 

Grade 7 FSA online testing 

School Spirit Day – Crazy Hair Day

Run to be Here/Wear your Mask/Be Respectful

 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.

Due to the ongoing pandemic and initial rollout of COVID vaccine, public health has postponed some Grade 6 and 9 immunizations originally planned for January and February. This delay is temporary and follows the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) guidelines for the school age immunization program. Immunizations will resume in the coming weeks and continue until the end of the school year, resulting in immunizations being offered to all Grade 6 and 9 students before the end of June. If you have any questions, please contact your local public health unit at 250-519-3490 and ask to speak to a School Nurse.

Our Vision is Run to Be Here, and our Mission Statement is ASPIRE.  This week we are on the “E”, Explore Cool Stuff!  Even during this time of restrictions due to the pandemic, staff and students are still finding ways to explore new information and ways to learn in an interesting way.  We can hardly wait to have our World-Famous Exploratory Program up and running again! 

Updated mask protocol from the PHO – students must now wear masks at all times when physical distancing is not possible.  Before this new announcement they could be mask free in their classrooms, but now have to wear them as soon as they get up from their desk, and outside if they are not distanced (even in their cohort).  Please remind your child to bring a mask to school every day.  We are currently looking into the effectiveness of neck scarves/gaiters/tubes etc.  Students will be asked to wear masks until we hear further. 

Mrs. Wallace’s Learning Commons Update:

There are lots of exciting things happening in the Journey Library Learning Commons!  We hosted design thinking/STEM challenges for the school in January where Grade 6 students designed marble runs, the Grade 7 students created tin foil boats and the Grade 8 students try their hand at catapults.  Students and staff shared creative ideas, and a lot of laughter and fun.

The school has just jumped into Skills Canada competitions where students will be making gravity cars, wind turbines, or spaghetti bridges.  This is all leading up to the regional Skills Canada BC competitions which will be streamed from Camosun in early March.  We look forward to supporting many of our students and hosting the Journey gravity car trials in the library!

This week we launched March Madness: Battle of the Books!  Students were invited to submit their favourite books and brackets have finally been unveiled.  There is a display up in the foyer for students to follow along and we will be having weekly voting from now until Spring Break.  Voting for week 1 is open and will be available until Thursday, Feb. 11 at https://bit.ly/2MW7wOI.  Please encourage your student to vote.  Munro Books generously donated book prizes and there will be 1 prize winner drawn each week from participants.

PAC Westcoast Seed Fundraiser – we are expecting arrival of our orders by the middle of the month.  We will send home orders with students.  Thank you again for support the PAC and Journey students and staff.

 Monday

New Zones begin each week – Morning: students may go to any zone.  They must always wear a mask and physically distance when possible.  Recess and Lunch: zones rotate today.  Masks are not required when in cohort zone but must be used when travelling to and from zone. Some zones are muddier than others so please wear, “we live in a rainforest clothes”.

PAC Meeting tonight.  A link will be sent to parents who would like to join in virtually.  One item for discussion will be the changing up of Cohorts.  Your input is welcome.

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

Last day to order pizza lunch for next Wednesday.  Forms available from classroom teachers or office.  Cash, Cheque to SD62, or online. 

Friday 

Professional Development Day – No school for students. The office will be open from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Run to be Here/Wear your Mask/Explore Cool Stuff

 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.

Our Vision is Run to Be Here, and our Mission Statement is ASPIRE.  This week we are on “R” Reach for the Stars – When good enough could be a little better or trying something that’s new to you!  We encourage students and staff to REACH FOR THE STARS EVERYDAY.

Lice – nobody likes lice, but it is common this time of year so please take some time to check your child’s head/hair for nits and lice. Your child’s class will be notified if we have confirmation from a parent that their child has lice.  Thank you for keeping us updated.  We do not release the name of the child or family. 

Monday

New Zones begin each week – Morning: students may go to any zone.  They must always wear a mask and physically distance when possible.  Recess and Lunch: zones rotate today.  Masks are not required when in cohort zone but must be used when travelling to and from zone. Some zones are muddier than others so please wear, “we live in a rainforest clothes”.

Lots of Litter and Dog Poop– lately we have had an unusual amount of litter and Dog feces on our school grounds.  Staff will be reminding students that snacks and lunch will be eaten inside the school so wrappers don’t end up on the grounds.  We realize all the litter is not just from us, but it is our school and we are proud to be good stewards of the land.  If you’re one of our neighbours, please keep an eye open for dogs leaving their poop on our fields – it’s where our kids play every day.

EMCS course selection for our grade 8 students begins today.  Students must have access to their student portal in MyEd (info has been sent home to all grade 8 families) to register for courses.

Tuesday 

Ground Hog Day – Come on Wiarton Willie, do your thing and bring us an early Spring!   

Earthquake Drill @ 1:30 pm 

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.

EMCS course selection for our grade 8 students begins today.  Students must have access to their student portal in MyEd (info has been sent home to all grade 8 families) to register for courses.

Thursday 

Friday 

“Crazy Hat Day”– come wearing your favourite or craziest hat today!

Run to be Here/Wear your Mask/Reach for the Stars 

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.

Our Vision is Run to Be Here, and our Mission Statement is ASPIRE.  This week we are on “I” Invest in People.  Students and staff investing in each other has always been the norm at Journey and this week we are all committed to going that extra little bit to help everyone have a safe and respectful learning environment.

Lice – nobody likes lice, but it is common this time of year so please take some time to check your child’s head/hair for nits and lice. 

Monday

New Zones begin each week – Morning: students may go to any zone.  They must always wear a mask and physically distance when possible.  Recess and Lunch: zones rotate today.  Masks are not required when in cohort zone but must be used when travelling to and from zone. Some zones are muddier than others so please wear, “we live in a rainforest clothes”.

Literacy Week Begins!  Family literacy week has arrived!  We encourage you to celebrate literacy and spend time reading and engaging in other literacy related activities with your student this week.  Information and resources can be found on ABC Life Literacy Canada’s website, as well as Vancouver Island Regional Library’s (VIRL) list of 10 things you can do with your family for literacy week.  If you need a public library card, you can get one online using VIRL’s online library card registration.

Tuesday 

Skateboarding Club – First Lunch students with signed waivers and proper gear. No exceptions to any of the rules. 

Wednesday 

Skateboarding Club – Second Lunch students with signed waivers and proper gear. No exceptions to any of the rules.

Family Literacy Day – Do you know your child’s favourite book?  Do they know yours?

Thursday

Grade 8 Transition meetings 9:30 a.m. (virtual presentation from EMCS in each classroom)

Grade 8 parent transition 7:00pm – Live Q & A with Parents/Students over Teams (Counsellors with Clerical & VP support)

Literacy Week – Book Smack during Block 4! 

Friday 

“Sports Day”– come in your favourite jersey, uniform, t-shirt with a sports logo, etc.

Run to be Here/Wear your Mask/Invest in People

 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.

Our Vision is Run to Be Here, and our Mission Statement is ASPIRE.  This week we are on the P which stands for Play, Have Fun (by far the one we’re the best at even when Covid19 tries to keep us down).  Thank you to all parents for supporting your child and the school during these times.  

PAC Fundraiser deadline January 22 –  All proceeds go to classroom/school projects.  Visit fundraising.westcoastseeds.com  to take a look at how to place your orders.  Click “Participants“.  Once you’re ready to make a purchase click “Cart“.  It will give you a drop box option to “select your organization”.  Please click “Journey Middle School PAC“. If you do not take these steps and do not click JMS PAC in the drop box we will NOT receive any donations for PAC.  Last year seeds were in high demand.  Don’t miss out on ordering your favourites!   Seeds can be picked up at the school or sent home with your child. 

Grade 8 Transition to EMCS:

• 22 – Virtual Walk-Through video sent to Journey students (VP)
• 28 @ 9:30 a.m. – MS Teams ‘visits’ Journey Grade 8 classes (Counsellors with Clerical & VP support)
• 28 @ 7:00pm – Live Q & A with Parents/Students over Teams (Counsellors with Clerical & VP support)
• 1-11 – Grade 8 Course Selection in Portal in their classes at Journey with support from Journey Clerical, EMCS Clerical & VP
• 16 – Journey Course Selection Due 

Monday

New Zones begin each week – Morning: students may go to any zone.  Must always wear a mask and physically distance when possible.  Recess and Lunch: zones rotate today.  Masks are not required when in cohort zone but must be used when travelling to and from zone.

Tuesday 

Hold and Secure Drill 9:15 a.m. (this is the make up one for the one we missed last week) 

Wednesday

Lunch Day – Subway lunch delivered to all students who have pre-ordered.  Thanks Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. Crocker for organizing!

Yearbook Cover Contest – All submissions to Ms. Wiens by today. This is your opportunity to get creative.  This year’s theme is our mission statement ASPIRE! Hand them into your teacher or to the office.  Sorry, no late submissions accepted. 

Skateboarding Club begins today.  All waiver forms must be in at the office to be eligible to attend.  Waiver 1 needs to be signed by a parent/guardian and Waiver 2 needs to be signed by a parent/guardian and student. Listen carefully to announcements about times and meeting places.  Remember we have two lunch times now – students can only go to the one that matches their lunch time.  No exceptions to any of the rules.

Thursday 

Grade 6 S’more Day by the fire. In celebration of our grade 6 students being halfway through their school careers and because we missed having them during their transition to Journey, we are inviting each class to the fire pit to enjoy some s’mores.  Teachers will sign up for today or tomorrow.  Students should wear, “sitting by a campfire” clothes. 

Friday 

Animal Day – come in your favourite animal costume or wear an animal hat or come in make-up of your favourite animal – be creative and adventurous!

Grade 6 S’more Day Continued …..

Deadline for Westcoast Seed PAC Fundraiser (see details above)

Run to be Here/Keep your distance/Play, Have Fun 

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.

Journey has power and school is open.  Bus routes will be affected by windstorm and updates will be coming from the District office.  Currently:

Port Renfrew:

Route 60 – cancelled due to trees blocking the Deering bridge

Sooke:

Route 39, 36, 37, and 33 – cancelled due to road closure from Grant Rd/ W Coast Rd

Route 40, 38, 34 – altered due to road closure.  Bus will turnaround at Coopermine Rd/Winslow Rd

Route 30 – altered due to Otter Pt Rd closure.  Bus will complete all but Otter Pt Rd pickups

Route 31 and 35 – run normal

PAC Fundraiser –  All proceeds go to classroom/school projects.  Visit fundraising.westcoastseeds.com  to take a look at how to place your orders.  Click “Participants“.  Once you’re ready to make a purchase click “Cart“.  It will give you a drop box option to “select your organization”.  Please click “Journey Middle School PAC“. If you do not take these steps and do not click JMS PAC in the drop box we will NOT receive any donations for PAC.  Last year seeds were in high demand.  Don’t miss out on ordering your favourites!   Seeds can be picked up at the school or sent home with your child.  

 Library/Learning Commons Update: Welcome back to school and welcome to a new year of reading!  Family Literacy week is January 24-31, 2021 with the theme of “Let’s Be Active!”, you can find more information here: https://www.decoda.ca/support-us/events/family-literacy-week/.   We encourage you to spend time reading with your student that week (and every week!).  We are also hosting a literacy contest at school to win a reading party for the class!

Does your student identify as female and are they interested in coding?  Check out Hackergal’s Code for Change 2020 challenge, open now until January 31, 2021.  Details can be found here: https://hackergal.org/getinvolved/codeforchange/ and interested students can connect with Mrs. Wallace for support.

Help us get our library books back into circulation!  We have many overdue books from 2020, please check at home for any books and have your student bring them to school to return.  Thank you for your support! 

Picking your child up early?  Please remind your child what time you’re coming and let their classroom teacher know as well.  Give the office a call when you are in the parking lot and we will sign them out and send them to you.  This helps teachers so they can arrange their schedules (ie: class out for a walk or at the creek etc.) and reduces PA interruptions to other classes.

Monday

New Zones begin each week – Morning: students may go to any zone.  Must always wear a mask and physically distance when possible.  Recess and Lunch: zones rotate today.  Masks are not required when in cohort zone but must be used when travelling to and from zone.

PAC Meeting tonight at 7 p.m.  For an initiation to attend virtually on MSTeams please email lszadkowski@sd62.bc.ca

Tuesday 

Hold and Secure Drill 9:00 a.m. 

Wednesday 

Skateboarding Club is starting up.  Listen for announcements about waiver forms, equipment needed, and Covid protocols. Thanks in advance to Mr. Donegani, Mr. Van Hooydonk and Mr. Schorer for volunteering to get this club up and running! 

Thursday 

Friday 

Pajama Day – come in your favourite, school appropriate PJs today!

Subway Lunch order forms due today (Lunch is next Wednesday)

Run to be Here/Wear your mask/Stretch your Brains

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.

Student Virtual Money Fair FLYER