September 9th, 2020
We are pleased to provide you with an update for Brigadoon’s plan for a safe return to school this year for all of our ‘in-person’ learning students. We recognize that there is a great deal of information that is needed to assist you and we hope that this message provides you with some clarity to ease your mind and answer the many wonderings that you still have.
First, please know how much our team is looking forward to seeing you back to school! This has been a tremendous adjustment for all of us, yet the fact remains that we have all missed seeing you and your children and it is this very fact that helps us to do all that we can to be prepared for seeing our Brigabears’ smiling eyes soon! Please know that all classroom teachers will be reaching out to you this week, in preparation for our return to school. We thank you for answering those calls or responding to those messages!
To assist in our messaging, we have highlighted some key headings for your attention:
Before You Arrive: Please be sure to screen your child for any signs or symptoms of illness. One of the most important measures to maintain a safe learning and working environment at school is for staff and students to STAY HOME WHEN YOU ARE SICK. Please know that you will be notified to come and pick up your child should they exhibit symptoms of being unwell. Having a plan ahead of time is a great idea!
It may be helpful for students to have some practice at home wearing a mask, and also to be reminded that sharing materials and/or showing affection through hugging, for example, is not safe right now. It would also be helpful to routinely practice handwashing and the use of hand sanitizer for maintaining hand hygiene. Reading through the Parent Guide from WRDSB is also recommended.
What to Bring:
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- If you borrowed a Chromebook or an iPad for distance learning March-June, please return it with your child on their first day of school.
- It is essential that ALL STUDENTS come to school with a BACKPACK that contains a CLEARLY LABELLED LUNCH BAG and WATER BOTTLE. Please note that we will be following a ‘boomerang’ type of lunch, so expect to see wrappers, packaging and/or any leftover food items come home at the end of the day.
- At this time, a second set of shoes for indoors is not required for students in Grades 1-6.
- Please ensure that your child comes to school WEARING a REUSABLE MASK. As a family, please decide how many additional masks may be required during their day to change into while at school. Students will also be provided with additional, reusable masks to bring home. We are currently awaiting shipment to accommodate all children with appropriate-sized masks
- You are welcome to send a personal-sized scent-free hand sanitizer for your child to use at school.
- We are expecting a shipment of individual learning materials for students to use at school. At this time, please do not send any school tools/supplies, i.e. pencil cases, kleenex etc. We are expected, as per Public Health guidelines, to minimize any items brought from home. This includes any toys, including balls, cards or games.
- Do send your child with a sweater or a jacket on cooler days or a rain jacket on wet days. Use sunscreen or appropriate clothing coverage on those super sunny days! We want your children to be comfortable at school.
Parking Lot:
Our parking lot and the safety of our students remains a priority. This September, it is even more vital that we work together to adhere to our requests. Please note that our school buses will still be using the parking lot to drop off and pick up students daily. There continues to be NO STUDENT DROP OFF OR PICK UP in our school parking lot at the beginning or end of the day. If you need to pick your child up for an appointment during the school day, please be sure to make a plan with the school before you arrive. If you are a family who uses before and after school childcare services with our YMCA partners, please do your best to avoid the hours between 9 am and 9:30 am and 3:30 pm and 4 pm. All YMCA Childcare parents will be provided with a YMCA Childcare parking pass in order to access the parking lot.
Class Assignments: A message will come directly from our school board as to when you may access School Day to learn about which class your child has been assigned to.
Meeting Spots and Walking Routes:
You will be sent a map of each meeting place for your childrens’ classes. It will be shared directly from your child’s teachers. It will be different this year, due to our need to maximize the use of every available entry and exit point for students. Each meeting spot will have a brightly coloured pylon with the room number listed.
If your child is in Room 1, 2 or 3, please proceed to the peace garden area by walking along the path adjacent to the YMCA outdoor, fenced-in play area. Room 11 students will enter and exit directly to and from their classroom door, adjacent to the childcare.
For our primary-aged students, Rooms 5 and 10 will meet and enter/exit at the skylight door.
Room 7 & 8 students will enter/exit by the primary hallway doors. Rooms 6 and 9 will enter directly into their designated classroom door.
Rooms 14 and 15 will enter by the Caryndale entrance/exit (just around the corner by the bicycle racks). Room 16 will enter/exit directly to and from their own classroom door. Rooms 17 & 18 will enter/exit via the hallway doors by their classrooms. Rooms 19-22 will also enter/exit by the hallway doors closest to their classrooms.
For our portable classrooms, Cottage 1, 2, 3 and 5 will have meeting/lineup areas clearly identified outside.
*Please, upon arrival (close to bell time at (9:25 am), go directly to the class meeting spots. If you choose to accompany your child, please send only 1 parent/caregiver. Keep in mind also that NO parents are permitted inside of our schools at this time.
*Only YMCA Childcare participants will be permitted to use the lower field before and after school. All other children are required to come directly to their before school meeting spots for their classroom and are expected to leave directly after school to return home.
| Classroom Number | Grade | Classroom Teacher |
| 1 | Full Day Kindergarten | Kristin Henderson & Kassidy Risi |
| 2 | Full Day Kindergarten |
Colleen Blackadar & Lisa Cahill |
| 3 | Full Day Kindergarten |
Lindsay Marshall & Angie Joseph |
| 11 | Full Day Kindergarten |
Nichola Matthews & Svetlana Pantic |
| 5 | Grade 1 | Natalie VanSchaik |
| 10 | Grade 1/2 | Jennifer Ohrling |
| 6 | Grade 1F | Kara Clarke |
| 9 | Grade 1F | Erin Rice |
| 7 | Grade 2F | Jennifer Barnes |
| 8 | Grade 2F | Daria Vela |
| Cottage 3 | Grade 2/3 | Paula Reise |
| Room 17 | Grade 3 | Sheryl Shebrek |
| Cottage 1 | Grade 3F | Krista Black |
| Cottage 2 | Grade 3F | Sheryl Gohl |
| Cottage 5 | Grade 3/4 | Kristy McFadyen |
| Room 15 | Grade 4/5 | James Thibodeau |
| Room 14 | Grade 5 | Natasha Maris |
| Room 19 | Grade 4/5F | Jennifer Leitch |
| Room 20 | Grade 4F | Sarah Corkery |
| Room 21 | Grade 5/6F | Ashley Campbell |
| Room 22 | Grade 5/6F | Karen Gascho |
| Room 18 | Grade 5/6 | John Davies |
| Room 16 | Grade 6 | Gary Moorby |
Staggered Start, September 2020:
Please use the following link to review WRDSB’s plan for September 2020:
https://www.wrdsb.ca/blog/2020/08/31/wrdsb-revises-staggered-start-of-the-school-year/
JK Students, Surnames A-L: Thursday, September 10th
JK Students, Surnames M-Z: Friday, September 11th
All Students, Surnames A-L: Monday, September 14th
All Students, Surnames M-Z: Tuesday, September 15th
All Students, Surnames A-L: Wednesday, September 16th (including Extended Day)
All Students, Surnames M-Z: Thursday, September 17th
All Students: Friday, September 18th