Welcome to the 2021/2022 school year at Halfmoon Bay Elementary Community School! We can’t wait to see you in early September. Please refer to the parent newsletter below for all the important details:
August 29th, 2021
Dear Families:
We are so excited to welcome you back to Halfmoon Bay Elementary Community School !
A special welcome to all of our new families and our incoming Kindergarten students. It is an honour to be the new school principal. I am looking forward to working with you and our dedicated staff to provide a rich education for your children. Please read over this important newsletter for a better understanding of the upcoming school year.
The first day of classes for Grades 1 to 7 will be on Tuesday, September 7, which is a shortened day for students from 10:35 am to 12:50 pm (a lunch will be needed). Busses will run approximately 2 hrs. and 15 minutes later than usual in the AM, and 1 hr. and 30 minutes earlier in the PM.
September 8 onwards will be full days for students in Grades 1 to 7.
Our incoming Kindergarten students will attend school from 8:20 to 9:20 am in the first week from Wednesday, September 8 to Friday, September 10. ** Additional information for “K” families will be coming out soon.
Our regular daily school hours are from 8:20 am to 2:25 pm. Our office Admin. Assistant: Marah Farmer will be in the building each day from 7:45 am to 2:45 pm. She can be reached via email: hmbinfo@sd46.bc.ca or telephone: 604-885-2318.
If your child was registered to ride the bus last year then you are automatically re-registered and you should receive an email from the bus company on August 30. If you are new to the district, or you do not receive an email for bussing, you will need to be registered on-line. Please use this School District 46 link for more details…
https://sd46.bc.ca/schools-and-services/registration/bussing
Please contact Randy Gould at 604-885-1260 with any local SD46 bussing questions.
This school year our students will meet outside on the school field in a set location to start their morning. For the first few days the students will return to their previous class from last year (Note: There may be a new teacher in the room. New students will be added to the lists).
As you know we are still in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic so there are a number of safety protocols in place from the Ministry of B.C. Please read them over carefully and refer to the School District 46 attachment for more details.
Key points from the Covid-19 safety protocols include:
- DAILY HEALTH CHECK – required for students, staff & invited parents/guardians/guests. Check out the K to 12 Health Check Website and App for further details: https://www.k12dailycheck.gov.bc.ca/healthcheck?execution=e1s1
- INVITED GUESTS MUST SIGN IN – visitors are welcome. Invited guests into the school must use the sign-in sheet and hand wash station by the front door
- STAY HOME IF SICK – this applies to all students, family members, guests and SD 46 staff
- WEAR A MASK – masks are mandatory for all adults and students in Grades 4 to 12 (encouraged for students in K to 3) while in the building or on a school bus
- PRACTICE HAND HYGIENE & RESPIRATORY ETIQUETTE – students, staff, and guests will continue to wash regularly before and after eating/washroom use, when switching spaces/activities, handling common items etc.
There are no set group cohort limits this year but students will be encouraged to avoid physical contact, keep their distance indoors, and utilize the physical space outdoors. The students will be outdoors a great deal so they are reminded to dress for the weather (a raincoat and extra layers of clothing can be sent in a marked bag).
We will be inviting guests into the building and arranging student group gatherings in a gradual manner as the year unfolds. Inter-school sports will also begin once again this year! Please stay tuned for more details to come.
The district will provide all the basic school supplies and necessary musical instruments for students. Some teachers may request a few specific items for their classroom this year. You will notice a number of changes around the school since last June. We are anxiously awaiting our new adventure playground to be completed (the goal is September 30).
School staff are eagerly anticipating the September start-up and they are working hard to prepare their classrooms and work spaces for our students next week. The big day is almost here! If you have any questions for me please contact the school at 604-885-2318 or email me: gsmith@sd46.bc.ca. We look forward to seeing you very soon.
Warm Regards,
Glen Smith (Principal)
I am honoured to live, learn and play on the traditional territory of the shishalh and Skwxwu7mesh nations.