Please see the hyperlink for more info on a one time event for  Anxiety & Isolation 

Following Public Health Protocols:  Journey takes its direction from VIHA and will continue to follow the protocols set out by them.  VIHA will always contact individuals/families directly if there is information that needs to be shared.  The safety of our students and staff is always our priority.

Please continue to do the Daily Health Check, remind your child to bring a mask to school (each student received two reusable masks), and to wash their hands throughout the day. For more information  (https://www.sd62.bc.ca/node/1020/health-and-safety).

Early pick up – if you need to pick up your child early from school, please let your child know, child’s teacher know, and also the office.  This will help us remind your child to be in the office ready for pick up.  Phone when you are in the parking lot and we will send your child up to meet you.

Parent/Teacher Conferences – Families should hear from their child’s teacher by the end of this week regarding their process for communicating with families about their progress so far this year.  If you haven’t heard, please give the teacher a call or email.   Reminder to families that Nov. 19 is early dismissal (11:58) and buses will run accordingly.  Nov. 20 is a Pro-D day.

Welcome to our staff Ms. Sinclaire Lovett.  Ms. Lovett will be teaching in Div. 20 on Monday and Wednesday mornings while Mr. Elm coaches the Hockey Academy.  We are happy to welcome her to our Dragon Team.

Info for Remembrance Day Museum: This year we cannot hold our traditional Remembrance Day assembly.  Mrs. Abell and Mrs. Wallace have created a Journey Remembrance Museum that each class will go through. 

30 minute time slots with guidance from Ms. Wallace and student volunteers.

Masks mandatory for classes because of the student volunteers and guest presenters. 

15 min in the museum (6 displays) – guest historian and donor of artifacts – Wade Berglund.

Wade is originally from Port Arthur, Ontario (Thunder Bay). He joined the Canadian Armed Forces as a Sonar Operator/Sonar Technician in the Royal Canadian Navy at the age of 21 in 1985. He served in the RCN for 24 yrs (including militia and reserve time), being deployed all over the world, mostly on active surface ships and submarines. He retired in 2008. He worked offshore in the oil and gas industry for 8 years, but came back to the Navy in 2016 where he rejoined the submarine community in maintaining/repairing the 4 submarines that the RCN has.

1. Acknowledgment of our First Peoples of Canada and their involvement in the pursuit of peace and Acknowledging our country with the Canadian Anthem.
2. The unknown soldiers – who were people involved in the war.
3. The daily needs during the war- variety of items that were used during times of war.
4. The call to war – how were Canadians called to become involved in a war that wasn’t on their own home land?
5. Past times – what did soldiers do to pass the time?
6. Tools and technology – In times of war, there have always been advances made in medicine and technology. What were some of the tools that were used during times of war for communication, protection, etc.?

15 min in the front foyer (3 stations)

1. What do you know about the Korean War? Meet a medic from the time period who will go through what it was like. – guest historian,  Don Thomas (part of the Victoria-Esquimalt Military re-enactors Association).

Don is originally from New Brunswick. He served 27 years in the Canadian Army, both in the infantry and field engineers with 13 years in the airborne ( Parachute) role. He has done 2 United Nations Peacekeeping tours on the Island of Cyprus, 1971 and 1974 during the Turkish Invasion of the Island. 

2. Wonder wall – collection of student thoughts regarding war and how it has affected people, including their own personal experiences.
3. A moment to honour Remembrance Day and the Canadians involved in the past, present and future. A moment of silence and reflection. Students bring the poppy they created in class to lay in lieu of a wreath. 

Monday

Zones – 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.

Classes attend Journey Remembrance Museum 

Tuesday 

Classes attend Journey Remembrance Museum 

PAC Meeting/Elections – Our next PAC meeting is tonight at 6 p.m. online.  If you would like to join us, please let President, Trudy Fraser hunni8205@gmail and/or Principal, Laurie Szadkowski  lszadkowski@sd62.bc.ca know, and we will add your to the MSTeams event.  Please join us and find out how important PAC is in providing feedback about programs and enhancing student learning.  It’s not just about fundraising!

Wednesday 

Remembrance Day – Today is not just a “day off’”   Today Canadians take time to honour and remember all those who fought for us to live in a free and welcoming country.  Today we remember those who did not come home.  Today we remember those veterans who did come home and carried on making Sooke and Canada a place we can be proud to call home.  Today we say thank you to all our military families who continue to protect us at home and contribute to peace throughout the world.  Today is just not another “day off”.

Thursday

Today we welcome back numerous students who have been learning remotely.  Welcome back to school – we missed you.

Friday the 13^th!

Crazy Hair Day – students and staff will be showing off their craziest hair today (that could mean just not combing it when you get up to spray painted, braided ponytails with flashing lights).  Prizes to be won and fun to be had!

Burger orders – today is the last day to submit your order for burger day next Wednesday.  You can do it online or bring in the paper copy.  Gluten free/meat free options available!

Wash your hands, Play and Have Fun

and always Run to be Here!

FAST Rotations:  FAST #2 begins Monday.  We know students have a better learning experience if taught FAST in their specialized rooms (Woodshop, Home Ec., Music Room, Portable, Art Room, Learning Commons, Computer Lab etc.) and today they will begin travelling to these rooms for the start of FAST #2.  This rotation ends on the last day before Winter Break.  Our protocols include classroom teachers walking their classes to and from the FAST classroom.  Students must wear masks while travelling and wash their hands upon entering, and when exiting, the room.  Students do not have to wear masks while in the because they remain with their Learning Cohort.  Staff must always wear their masks.  Some students may have to take a course twice because of scheduling and FAST teachers will adapt their lessons.  All Band students will go to Band during this time.

FAST #1 – You will be receiving a paper copy of your child’s FAST assessment in the next 2 weeks.  Please check with them for this so that you can have a read too.

PAC Meeting/Elections – Our next PAC meeting is November 10 at 6 p.m. online.  If you would like to join us, please let President, Trudy Fraser hunni8205@gmail and/or Principal, Laurie Szadkowski  lszadkowski@sd62.bc.ca know, and we will add your to the MSTeams event.  Please join us and find out how important PAC is in providing feedback about programs and enhancing student learning.  It’s not just about fundraising!

Parent/Teacher Conferences -We are unable to hold our usual Student Led Conferences this year.  Teachers will be communicating with families about how they will communicate with you.  There are a few options and each teacher will be communicating this to families in the next few weeks.  Regardless of the option, November 19 will continue to be an early dismissal day for students (11:58 a.m.) 

Zones – We will continue to have students in their Learning Cohorts for recess and lunch but have changed the protocol for the morning only (like afterschool).  All students and staff must wear their masks; however, they can go to another zone when the arrive at school.  We will monitor the success of this change and move back to zones if necessary.  Recess and Lunch Zones will rotate each Monday.

Field Trip – Mrs. Walker and Mr. Vine’s classes are off to Langford Lanes on Monday – have fun.

Movember – some staff members have begun to grow their mustaches in support of men’s health.  Fundraising activities will take place all month and the best upper lip trophy will be awarded on November 30!

Learning on the job – This week we welcome three EA practicum students.  Candace Bowen (who began last week), April Dumont and Alexandra Saddington.  We wish them well and thank them in advance for their support of our students.

Grade 8 classes – All this week Island Sexual Health will be presenting to our grade 8 classes.

Wash your hands, Accept the Challenge

and Run to be Here!

Congratulations to Coco in Div 14 on creating this year’s winning bookmark – great job!

Thank you to all the students who participated in the bookmark contest.

Attendance: if your child is going to be away from school, please email the attendance line.  journeyattendance@sd62.bc.ca.  We do not send home notifications if your child is late or away from school.  Please check MyEd for that information.  We will continue to follow our protocols about sending students home if they are ill or tell us they are not feeling well.

Congratulations to Mrs. Shannon MacGregor and her husband Steven.  They welcomed their new baby boy, and future Journey Dragon, Bowen Christopher Philip MacGregor, weighing 8 pounds 3 ounces.  We miss her at Journey, but what a wonderful reason to be away.

FAST Rotations:  We are currently working on health and safety procedures so our FAST classes can be taught in their specialist rooms.  Currently FAST teachers are travelling to the classrooms and we want to be able to safely have students travel to and from the Woodshop, Home Ec. Room, Music Room, Art Room, Design Thinking (Library), Computer Lab, Voices Room etc. so students can have the best learning environment for each class.  Our goal is to begin these rotations on November 2.  Band students successfully began classes last week in the Band room.

Remembrance Day:  Each year we hold an assembly to honour those who lost their lives and those who have served in past conflicts.  We also honour those who continue to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces now.  This year we will continue this tradition but do so a little differently.  Mrs. Abell is looking for cadets, or any other students involved in groups who honour Remembrance Day.  This year Journey is creating a Remembrance Day Museum and need your help. Please encourage your child to contact Mrs. Abell know ASAP if they would like to take part.

Thank you for the donations sent in by families for the Terry Fox Run.  Donations will be accepted all this week as well if you forgot to send them in on Thursday. 

Monday 

Zones – We will continue to have students in their Learning Cohorts for recess and lunch but have changed the protocol for the morning only (similar to afterschool).  All students and staff must wear their masks; however, they can go to another zone when the arrive at school.  We will monitor the success of this change and move back to zones if necessary.  Recess and Lunch Zones will rotate today.

Last day to pre-order Subway Lunch Day delivered Wednesday.  $6 sandwich, drink, and bag of chips

Hockey Academy

Grade 6 & 7 Band

Tuesday 

Grade 6 & 7 Band

Wednesday 

Pre-ordered Subway Lunch Day

Hockey Academy

Grade 6 & 7 Band

Thursday 

Friday – Happy Halloween 2020

Pumpkin Carving: Carve at home and bring into your classroom.

1. Best design
2. Spookiest
3. Best Face
4. Most Detailed
5. Best Traditional

Classroom Doors: Best door per grade… Prize class hot chocolate at fire pit

1. Most Creative and Original Theme

Costumes:

1. Best Covid Mask
2. Best Make up
3. Most Creative
4. Best Hand Made
5. Scariest
6. Funniest
7. Most Original
8. Best Duo

Winners will be announced, and prizes awarded on Monday Nov 2.

Physical Distance, Wash your hands,

and thank you for continuing to Support Journey

Community Halloween Event:  You are invited to a spook-tacular evening! Hosted by the Harmony Project, our first ever Drive-In-Movie and Concert Event – Saturday, October 31st – 5pm – SEAPARC Parking Lot. Admission is by invite only and we anticipate spaces to sell out fast – so hurry! Tickets are by donation (our suggested minimum is $15 per car). Bring some friends and fill up your car (safely of course)!  Please RSVP to book your slot! We will need your Name, and Contact Number when booking.  You can donate admission via the Harmony Project Website: https://www.harmonyprojectsooke.ca/ – Look under Donations on the right hand side.  E-Transfer donations are also accepted at: payments@harmonyprojectsooke.ca We look forward to seeing you there!

STUDENT VOTE – BC is having an election on October 24, and Journey is holding its own Student Vote version on Wednesday, October 21. All students will have a chance to cast a ballot for one of the four candidates running in our electoral district of Langford-Juan de Fuca. We encourage all students to talk to their families about the upcoming election and the issues that are important to them, then research the party platforms and candidate information so that students will have a better idea of who to vote for. Although our votes won’t “count” towards the official election, studies have shown that Student Vote results can be so impactful to real elections that we are sworn to secrecy about our results until after Election Day. Our vote results will be shared with all students on Monday, October 26, and we’ll see if our students’ votes match the general election results! 

Welcome to our new Aboriginal Classroom Program Assistant, Pollyanna McBain.  Ms. Bain joined us last week and is covering Shannon McGregor’s maternity leave.

Monday 

Zones – We will continue to have students in their Learning Cohorts for recess and lunch but have changed the protocol for the morning only (similar to afterschool).  All students and staff must wear their masks; however, they can go to another zone when the arrive at school.  We will monitor the success of this change and move back to zones if necessary.  Recess and Lunch Zones will rotate today.

Hockey Academy

Grade 6 & 7 Band

Tuesday 

Grade 6 & 7 Band

Wednesday 

Hockey Academy

Grade 6 & 7 Band

Student Vote (see details above)

Congratulations to our EA practicum student, Ms. Toni Davis.  Toni has been working at our school for the past few months and today she officially becomes an Educational Assistant!  We are grateful for her dedication to our school and helping students in Mystical Main.

Thursday 

Photo Retake Day – students who would like to have their photo retaken or did not have the opportunity in September, can have their photo taken today. 

Terry Fox Run – all students are encouraged to bring in a Toonie for Terry to recognize and celebrate 40 years of raising awareness and funds for cancer research.  Terry is a true Canadian hero and each year schools across the country participate in the Terry Fox Run.  Journey has hosted a run every year for all our 28 years.  All students will be running or walking the route today – dress for the weather and the activity. 

Friday 

Professional Development Day – no school for students.

BC Election Weekend!

Wash your hands, Celebrate the positives, and Remember to Vote!

Community:  Grade six students received their individual package for immunizations last week.  Although we will not be hosting the immunizations this year, we are assisting our Public Health nurses by collecting the return envelopes.  Please return them to the main office or your child’s teacher.

We live in a RAIN FOREST.  Students will be outside before school, recess, lunch, and afterschool.  They may also be out for earthquake/fire drills, PE and learning outdoors activities.  Please remind your child to dress for the weather (this includes footwear, jackets, and hats etc.) and bring a change of clothes/shoes.

Covid Protocols – thank you to all the families who are helping us follow the health and safety guidelines and keeping schools open.  We know it’s tough and we too want to get back to ‘normal’.  We are looking at ways for students to have more activities available during outside breaks.  The Covid rules are definitely changing up what we love to offer at school, but for now we must work with in the guidelines.  Please keep reminding your child that this won’t last forever, in fact this week we are opening hockey academy and band!

NEW this year in the Journey Library Learning Commons – students can now log in, using their computer (not Google) username and password, to the Journey LLC Follett website to browse our collection and put books on hold. We receive notifications and can sign out and deliver the books directly to your classroom.  Go to https://library.sd62.bc.ca/ and select “Journey Middle” then “Log in” in the top right corner.  You can search for books or browse different topics and click hold to reserve a book!

Monday – Happy Thanksgiving

Tuesday 

PAC Meeting 6 p.m. online.  If you are interested in joining this year, please let the office know and we can invite you into our virtual meeting tonight. Topics for discussion: Elections, Health and Safety Protocols, Band, FAST, Field Trips and Fundraising. Everyone is welcome.

Zones – Cohort Learning Groups will rotate this week. Students should go to last week’s zone Tuesday morning and teachers will let them know their new zone this week.

Wednesday 

Hockey Academy begins today with a walk to SEAPARC to go over Return to Hockey Academy Protocols.  Hockey parents should have received an email from Coach Ross Elm.  If not, please contact him at relm@sd62.bc.ca

Band will begin for grade 6 and 7 students today.  Band Teacher, Lorna Bjorklund will be going over health and safety protocols for traveling to and from Band and while in the Band Room.  No instruments required today.  More information regarding Band 8 coming soon.

Thursday 

Great BC Shakeout – Today we will join people across BC and practice our first earthquake drill of the year at 10:15 a.m.  Find out more information for you and your family at https://www.shakeoutbc.ca/ 

Friday 

Dismissal is at 1:58 p.m.  Please remind your child not to go to elementary schools   as their schools are still in session.  They are welcome to stay on our school grounds if they are waiting to meet up with a younger sibling.

Wear your Mask, Be grateful we live on Vancouver Island,

and Remember to Dress for the Weather!

Community Message: Grade 6 parent/guardian: Watch for immunization consent packages for grade 6 students that will be sent home early in the fall. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students in Grade 6 will be offered immunizations through a booked appointment at the health unit. Please review the consent packages, fill out the consent forms and return to the school. Please then contact the Sooke Health Unit at 250-519-3487 to book your appointment.  Appointments now available on October 24, 2020. If you have any questions please ask to speak with a School Health Nurse.

Forms:  Online https://consent.sd62.bc.ca/apps/OnlineConsent?logout=1 and on paper are very overdue.  Please also ensure your child’s contact information is updated with the office.  Email addresses and emergency contact numbers are especially important.

Monday – World Teacher Day.  Today at Journey we honour all those who help educate the best students in Canada!

Tuesday  Zones – Cohort Learning Groups will rotate this week. Students should go to last week’s zone Tuesday morning and teachers will let them know their new zone this week.

Wednesday 

Thursday 

Friday –Fire Drill – 1:15

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend

Wear your Mask, Be Kind, and Remember to Dress for the Weather!