Gatestone Update Nov. 4

Dear Gatestone Families,

School Re-organization 

Students are adjusting well to new class placements and/or new teachers.  We will continue to support our students through new routines this week.  Our Resource Team and Administration Team continue to check in on all of our classrooms as well. We are proud to see how well our Gatestone students are managing through this transition and the resiliency demonstrated.  I would also like to thank our parent community for your support and understanding through these challenging times as our school works through many changes due to COVID-19.

Class 7/8

We would like to welcome Mr. Dawn to Gatestone who will be the Grade 7/8 homeroom teacher.  Ms. Phillips and Ms. Baines are currently assigned to new positions within our Board.  Mr. Dawn will be starting at Gatestone tomorrow and reaching out to families of students in this homeroom class soon.  We appreciate your patience here.

Nutrition Break & Physical Education 

Your child may have shared some changes we are currently exploring during Nutrition breaks.  Students will continue to eat lunch and snacks during the first and second break and break times will remain the same.  Grade 1-8 classes will be on a rotating outdoor time during one of the breaks and a rotating outdoor time with their classroom teacher during the day.  Students will be outside for a minimum of 40 minutes a day (weather permitting) as per our regular routines.  Due to the cooler weather approaching and wet and icy field conditions we experience during this time of year, we are working to ensure students are outside as much as possible with appropriate physical distancing and supervision. Students will continue to enjoy outdoor time in their class assigned zones that are 2 metres apart from other cohorts.  Physical Education and DPA (Daily Physical Activity) will continue to be outside as much as possible.  Please make sure your child is dressed for the weather (e.g., hats, mittens, warm coats, boots).

Preparing for Colder Weather

Although this week is quite warm, we will be expecting colder weather soon.  During entry time students will go directly to their classroom and sanitize/wash hands upon entering their room so they are not removing gloves outside of the building.  We will continue this process for outdoor breaks as well.  We will be opening up lockers for assigned classes and for classes that have more space to store items, we will be using assigned baskets for students to store boots and other winter materials.  Lockers and baskets will not be shared and we will use a colour coded system to allow for appropriate spacing when students are retrieving or dropping off items.

Further details will be shared in our weekly community updates.

Respectfully,

Kelly Reilly-Scott

Principal