Good evening,

I wanted to send out a few final reminders for this week:

1.  Please send your child to school as close to the bell as possible.  Playgrounds and field will not be open in the morning.  Students will go directly to their classroom upon arrival.  If your child arrives after the bell they will not get a late slip – just come into class.
2. I will have both classroom doors open to alleviate congestion.
3. Please pick up your child right at 2:30.  We will be waiting as a class outside our portable.  When we see your vehicle (or you) we will release your child into your care.  Playgrounds/field will be closed after school.
4. We will be using the Chromebooks this week so please ensure it comes to school charged.  I do not have extra chargers for your child’s Chromebook.  I also need their Whiteboards returned to school this week.
5. Please send along any library book/book bags.

I think that’s it.  I am SO EXCITED to see the class this week (and give lots of ‘air hugs’).

Good morning!  I hope you are enjoying this rainy weekend!  Mrs. Riley and I have been busy the latter part of the week getting the classroom ready to welcome students back!  We understand that not all students will be able to join us so we will do our best to keep online learning going!  Here’s a snapshot of what is coming up this week…

Online Learning:  We will continue to have an agenda and assignments posted on Google Classroom for students to work on during the week.  All students will be expected to complete assignments posted on Google Classroom. We will have a time set up on Friday to chat with students who are working from home.

Student/Parent Questions:  We would like your child to continue to post questions in Google Classroom and hear from you via email.  We have always done our best to respond to you and your child quickly.  On the days we are in the classroom we may not have a chance to respond to questions until school is dismissed for the day.

Student Chats on Google Meet:  Fridays between 10:30 – 11:30 I will be on Google Meet to chat with students who are learning from home.  This is a time for me to check in with the students I don’t get to see during the week. If your child would like to chat, have them pop on anytime between 10:30 – 11:30.   There is a link on Google Classroom, under the Google Meet tab.  **If you would like a different time slot on Fridays then please send me an email**

Classroom Time:  When students come to school they will be working on a variety of supplementary activities including Math, Language Arts, Bible/Health, PE, library and Art.  The majority of their Google Classroom assignments will be completed on the days they are at home.  The exception to this is Social Studies as we will be working on our Google Classroom assignments on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Library Books:  We would love all students to bring back their library books this week.  If students are not returning to school we ask that they still bring their library books back by Friday.  Books can be dropped off in the front foyer or you can hand them in at the classroom.

Whiteboards/Supplies:   Please remember to send along the Chromebooks, whiteboard/markers and all of the students pencil boxes this week.  Students will also need a water bottle.  The only thing going back and forth from home will be the student’s Chromebook.  It is important that the Chromebook is charged when your child brings it to school this week.

Knight’s Wear:  Just a reminder that students can wear Knight’s Wear and casual bottoms these last three weeks.  No gym strip needed.

I think that is about it!  Have a wonderful Sunday!

Dear parents,

Starting on June 1, classes will be reopening for students to return. In preparation for students returning, we wanted to share some information based on what we know right now. In these strange and interesting times, these plans may change as the first day back arrives and we see how things flow. However, I wanted to connect with you and provide you with some items to consider.

First of all, as the BC Government has stated, returning to school is voluntary. After reviewing the plans laid out by our school admin, you are able to decide what is best for your child and decide whether to send your child back to school.

Here is a list of changes and procedures we have developed to help follow the social distancing and safety guidelines and recommendations put forward by the BC government:

• Student Health: Prior to sending your child to school each morning, we would ask that you check for signs of illness, including taking your child’s temperature. If you find signs of a fever or other signs of illness, we would ask that you keep your child at home. Whether you feel that it might be allergies or something else not Covid related, we would rather you err on the safe side. If a child shows signs of illness while at school, students will be isolated and parents informed that their child needs to be picked up immediately.
• Students will be returning in smaller groups. As recommended by the BC Government, class sizes are being split in half to accommodate social distancing guidelines. At this point, the school admin have designated Mondays and Wednesdays as the days for students with last names starting from A-L. Tuesdays and Thursdays will be for students whose last names begin with the letters M-Z. Unfortunately, we can not consider placing students based on friendship groupings as that becomes too difficult logistically. 
• Blogs and Google Classroom will still be used to provide learning activities for all students. Students returning to school will do a combination of activities related to what has been posted online and extension/supplementary activities along with Health/Bible, Library and Gym. Grade 6 students will not have library periods during their time at school. Students staying at home will still be able to access the activities provided online. However, items like morning meetings, instructional videos, read alouds, etc. will not be provided as teachers work to maintain in-class learning.
• Our school week will also look a little different. We will be starting school at the normal time. However, we will be ending school at 2:30. This allows teachers the opportunity to contact students who are at home. In school classes will also not be operating on Fridays, to allow teachers time to connect with students at home. 
• School drop-off and pick-up procedures: In order to minimize the number of students congregating before and after school, we would ask that you attempt to drop your child off as close to the starting bell as possible so that students can go to class right away. Classes will be open at 8:45. At the end of the day, students will be taken outside by their teacher and lined-up. Parents can collect their child from the line-up or children will be released as their parents are spotted arriving in their vehicles. As we are trying to minimize numbers of students congregating and practice social distancing, students can not be released straight from classrooms to the playgrounds or field areas. Please collect your child as close to 2:30 as possible. 
• Uniforms and Gym: Students are allowed to wear their Knight clothes to school instead of their school uniforms. Students will not be changing for gym classes and will not need their PE uniforms.
• Recesses and lunch will be staggered to keep the number of students in our outdoor spaces to a minimum. Students will be encouraged to avoid physical contact with other students while inside and outside. 
• Please bring water bottles: As our water fountains will be closed to students, students should bring a refillable water bottle.
• Supplies: For those students returning, please send all materials that were sent home so that students have items to use while at school. Glue, scissors, pencil crayons, chromebooks, etc will all be useful for students upon returning. Most items will be able to be kept in school in bags. Chromebooks will go back and forth with students.  Please make sure to send the following specific items:
  • Whiteboard
  • Library Books

Social Distancing Considerations: While we will attempt to follow the guidelines set out by the BC Government as best as possible, students may still be in close contact with other students. However, especially during outside periods, the focus will be on limiting physical human contact between students. Students and staff will have the option of wearing masks while at school. Desks will be reduced and spaced to provide distance between students, while in class and hand washing will be done several times a day. While the Government has stated that outdoor playgrounds are safe to use, staggered recesses, closing the Ga-Ga Ball pit and specifying that there should be no physical contact will all be put into place to help with social distancing. 

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

We miss seeing all our students. Their smiles, laughter, sparkling eyes and individual personalities are all things we have missed tremendously over these last weeks. We recognize that this reopening is not school as normal. Highroad Academy is working hard to provide a safe environment for our students while also trying to provide an opportunity for students to connect with their teachers and fellow classmates before the end of the year. However, we certainly understand if the guidelines feel too onerous or scary for your child. With the information that has been provided, please feel free to make your decision based on your own family and circumstances. If you have any further questions, please email our Elementary Department Head, Ian Hancock, to get more information.

To all the amazing families we have at Highroad who have journeyed with us in these trying times, we want to say thank you. Thank you for your grace. Thank you for your patience. Thank you for your support and prayers. Whichever decision you make, please know that we are praying for you, missing you and looking forward to the day when we will be together again as a Highroad community. 

Blessings,

Pamela Goosen & Leah Riley

Good evening, families!

This is a friendly reminder that we need every family to fill in the survey indicating whether or not your child will be returning to school next week. The deadline is tomorrow morning at 7:00am.  Here is the link:

https://bit.ly/3gs35VW

Thank you!

Good afternoon!  I hope you have all had a wonderful weekend.  We had a great time celebrating with Riley yesterday as he had a birthday!  We went into Langley and spent some time with my parents – and the boys enjoyed swimming in their very warm pool!

Here is the agenda for this week as well as some notes about a few things coming up:

1.  This Tuesday will be our final group chat time.  We have two groups of boys meeting and one group of girls.
2. School Reopening: With school reopening on June 1st, Mrs. Riley and I will be taking Thursday and Friday to be at the school preparing. Therefore, student meetings will be canceled for those days to give us some uninterrupted time to sort out our classroom.
3. School Re-Opening: Hopefully, you have had a chance to view Mr. Morris’ message which was sent out on Friday. There will be a town hall meeting on Monday. More information and a synopsis will be sent out around Wednesday this week with some notes on preparing your children for returning on June 1 if you are intending to send your child back to school.
4. Here is the weekly agenda! Agenda May 25 – 29

Wishing your families a wonderful week!

Hello families and happy Friday to you all!  I hope you are doing well and are looking forward to a relaxing long weekend!  Here are a few notes for next week:

Victoria Day on Monday – no school.  There will be no Monday video chats.  If you child is scheduled for Monday and you would like them to meet with me then please send me an email at pgoosen@highroadacademy.com and we can set something up for Tuesday or Thursday morning.

Weekly Schedule – attached is the schedule for this week

Agenda May 19 – 22 (1)

Group Chat Schedule for this week:

Tuesday:  11:00 – Girls

11:30 – Michael, Jeriel, Ruben, Jackson, Kamali, Josh,

Thursday:  11:00 – Girls

11:30 – Riley, Liam,  Caleb, Jesse, Owen, Zachary, Barnabas

Have a wonderful long weekend!

Happy Mother’s Day to you all!  It feels so crazy saying that we have made it to the end of week FIVE of remote learning!  I am so proud of my class – for the hard work they are putting in each and every day, and the perseverance they are showing as they work through this challenging time.  Thank you parents and caregivers for the endless hours you are putting into your children’s schooling – please know that Mrs. Riley and I so appreciate you!

A Few Things…

Tuesday Zoom Meeting:  Please join Mr. Morris on Tuesday evening at 6:30 for a zoom meeting.  An email will be sent with password information.  We hope to see you there!

Class Chat Times:

Tuesday:

11:00 – Girls

11:30 – Kamali, Michael, Jeriel, Owen, Zachary, Barnabas

Thursday:

11:00 – Girls

11:30 – Riley, Liam, Ruben, Jackson, Caleb, Jesse, Josh

Individual Meetings:  We would love to meet with your child this week as it is important for us to touch base with them and take this time to do some assessment.

Weekly Schedule

Agenda May 11 – 15

Have a wonderful week!

Good morning!  I thought I would send a quick post about a few things coming up this week…

Independent Novel Study:  Tomorrow Mrs. Riley is introducing an independent novel study for the class.  The students will need to choose a novel to read over the next four weeks.  I will be in my classroom tomorrow (Tuesday) between 11:00 – 12:00 if you would like to bring your child in to choose a book from our classroom library. If this time doesn’t work for your family but you would like to meet me at the classroom then please send me an email and we can set up a time. If they already have a book from home (or on Epic!) that they would like to read, that is excellent!

Group Chats:  I forgot to post the group chat schedule for this week so here it is.

Tuesday & Thursday 11:00 – 11:30 Girls  Our numbers are low for the girls so I put them all together this week.

Tuesday 11:30 Michael, Ruben, Jeriel, Kamali, Jackson, Barnabas

Thursday 11:30 Riley, Jesse, Zachary, Caleb, Liam, Josh, Owen

I think that’s it! Have a great week.

We have made it to the end of our fourth week of remote learning!  I hope your family is doing well and are getting into the swing of things!  There are just a few items below for you this week:

Weekly Schedule:  Here is the schedule for this week.  The schedule is the same format as last week and I have added some different options for your child to work on throughout the week.

Agenda May 4 – 8

All Class Meetings on Tuesday and Thursday Morning at 9:00:  it has been lovely to meet as a class on Tuesday and Thursday morning.  If it works for your child to meet with us these mornings we would love to see them.

Individual Video Chats:  This is an important time for us to connect with your child and see how they are doing AND take time to do some academic assessment.  Below I have the scheduled times we will meet with your child every week.  Please help your child remember to be available to talk with us.

Here are a couple photos from this week!