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Welcome Back Students and Families Message Aug 26 2024

  

Gulf Islands Secondary School  

Community | Learning | Creativity  

 

August 26, 2024 

 

Welcome Back! 

Welcome back to all Gulf Islands Secondary School students and families for the 2024-2025 school year! A special welcome to our new students, including Grade 8s and our International students, along with their families and home-stay families. 

The Year Ahead 

Deeper Learning 

We’re excited to focus on enhancing Deeper Learning Experiences and Outcomes this year. Deeper Learning is one of the key Attributes of a Gulf Islands Secondary Learner, a set of desired outcomes for students at our school. Through a consultation process with students, parents, and staff, Deeper Learning was selected as the central focus of this year’s School Plan. Students deepen their learning when they engage in experiences that intersect mastery, identity, and creativity. 

Collaborative and Supportive Community 

A collaborative and supportive community, both structurally and socially, is essential for deeper learning. Therefore, we will continue to explore our Shared School Values of Learning, Community, and Creativity, and how we come together at school. 

Personal Devices 

You may have heard that the Ministry of Education and Childcare has asked all school districts to clarify expectations for the use of personal digital devices, such as smartphones and headphones, during school hours. 

At Gulf Islands Secondary, personal digital devices are generally expected to be put away, with notifications turned off, during instructional time. However, at the classroom teacher’s discretion, there may be times when these devices can be used to support learning. Rare exceptions to these restrictions may apply based on medical or other learning needs, as outlined in a student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP). Please note that personal devices are not required, as the school provides necessary devices for learning. Generally, put all personal devices away during class time unless teachers ask you to take them out.   

Washroom Renovation 

Over the summer, we began renovating the washrooms outside the school office. These will be transformed into six individual universal stalls. The renovations are expected to continue through the fall, with completion projected by November. Although the hallway will remain open, the washrooms will be closed during this time. 

Pack it in, Pack it Out! 

To reduce waste, we’re introducing a "Pack it in, Pack it out!" policy at GISS. We encourage everyone, both staff and students, to pack out items that can be better recycled or composted at home instead of using our garbage bins. If you Pack it in, Pack it out! 

New Staff and Changes 

We have a few staff changes this year. Math teacher Susan Robinson has accepted a one-year District Numeracy Coordinator position, where she will work with teachers across the district to support numeracy instruction and assessment. Meghan Montgomery will be filling the math teaching position for this year. Additionally, we welcome two new support staff members: Cheyenne Sawchuk joins the Culinary Arts program as a Classroom Education Assistant, and Elliot Wheatcroft takes on a new role as Youth Care Worker. 

Grade 8s and New Students Welcome Event – This Thursday at 11 am 

This Thursday morning, the school will be open for students who want to familiarize themselves with the campus before the first day. Grade 8s and new students should arrive at 11 am to be welcomed by the Principal, Vice Principals, and Office staff. They will receive information about the school, have the option to try out their lockers, and take a tour of the campus. We’ll have printed schedules for Grade 8s to help them get acquainted with their classes and the school layout. 

Returning Grade 9-12 students are welcome to drop by between 12 pm-1 pm to pick up a student package and do a self-guided tour if they wish. 

Please note that this visit is optional. Students who cannot attend will receive their packages and all necessary information first thing Tuesday morning in A-Block. 

First Day Back – Tuesday, September 3rd 

Next Tuesday, September 3rd, is our first day back! It will be a half-day, where students will meet their teachers, get introduced to each of their classes, and join us for our Welcome Back Assembly. See the schedule below: 

First Day of School Schedule: Tuesday, September 3rd, 2024 - 8:54 am-12:25 pm 

  • 8:49 am – Warning Bell 

  • 8:54 am – A-Block #1: Student Packages and School Information 

  • 9:15 am – Start Loading Gym (we will call classes to the gym over the PA) 

  • 9:30 am – Whole School Welcome Back Assembly 

  • 10:10 am – A-Block #2: Class Information 

  • 10:45 am – B-Block 

  • 11:20 am – C-Block 

  • 11:55 am – D-Block 

  • 12:25 pm – Dismissal 

Water Taxi and Bus Schedules for Early Dismissal – September 3rd, 2024 

Please refer to the provided links for this year’s Water Taxi and School Bus schedules. The early dismissal Water Taxi schedule for the first day of school is also available. The afternoon bus schedule for the first day is still being prepared and will be shared as soon as it is ready. If you have any transportation-related questions, please visit the SD64 Transportation website. 

Student Schedules and Course Change Requests 

The MyEd Portal will open for students to view their schedules this Thursday, August 29th, at 9 am. Students, please check your schedules to ensure you know where you’re headed on the first day! 

For Grade 10-12 students who have questions or would like to request course changes, please contact a counselor by email (Nia: nwilliams@sd64.org or Tony: tmarshall@sd64.org) to book an appointment. Course change requests will close at the end of the day on Tuesday, September 10th, 2024. 

Please note that our school timetable is built based on course requests from the previous year, and we strive to meet all students’ needs. However, not all course change requests can be accommodated. We prioritize students with incomplete schedules, new students, and those whose requests are related to graduation requirements or post-secondary plans. 

Accessing the Student/Parent MyEd Portals 

Please note that the Portals are currently closed and will reopen on Thursday, August 29th, after 9 am. For information on logging in to the Student or Family MyEducation Portal, visit the GISS website and follow the instructions under the Student or Parent top tab. If you encounter any difficulties, please contact the school office at 250-537-9944 or email Heather at giss@sd64.org for assistance. 

Logging into Your Student Microsoft Account (Including Email) 

All SD64 students are provided with a Microsoft O365 account, which includes access to a Microsoft Outlook email account. New Grade 8 students will receive guidance on accessing their Microsoft accounts during their REAL 8 class in the first week of school. 

Lockers 

Grades 9-12 students can request lockers on the first day from their A Block teacher. We aim to have all lockers assigned by the end of the first week. Please note that lockers are pre-assigned, and requests for specific placements cannot be accommodated. 

All Grade 8 students are assigned lockers. Those who attend the optional Welcome Day Package Pick-Up and Info Session on August 29th will be able to access their locker that day. For those who cannot attend, lockers will be assigned and distributed during A-Block on the first day, with support available to help students get familiar with using them. 

New Website and App Reminder 

Last year, SD64 District and all schools launched new websites. These connected websites have greatly improved communication efficiency. We encourage all students and families to download the new SD64 Gulf Islands School District App from the App Store or Google Play. Select Gulf Islands Secondary School, other schools, and/or the district as Content Sources when prompted. Be sure to allow notifications, as these will be used to communicate school news and updates, including inclement weather notices. 

The new App is the easiest way to check the daily Block Order, located in the Calendar section. 

Fees 

Please note that there is no general student fee. However, fees may be requested for optional items like take-home projects, athletics, field trips, yearbooks, and/or graduation events. 

If any school-related fees cause financial hardship, we can accept payment by installments or make other arrangements. SD64 (Gulf Islands) has a School Fees Waiver Policy. If you are unable to pay, please contact Principal Ryan Massey at 250-537-9944 or rmassey@sd64.org. All requests will remain confidential. 

Yearbooks 

The start of the year is the best time to pre-order and purchase your Yearbook. For the month of September, Yearbooks will be available at a 10% discount, priced at $45. Yearbooks can be purchased starting today by e-transfer to jwilson@sd64.org. Please include the student's name and "YEARBOOK" in the transfer memo. 

School Supplies 

Students are encouraged to wait until classes begin to purchase specific school supplies. Generally, students should arrive on the first day with a binder, paper, and pens or pencils. A laptop computer is increasingly useful, and many students bring their own devices daily. We also provide devices for use at school for those who do not want to bring their own. 

We have school supplies available for families who may find the cost of school supplies challenging this year. Students can request a school supplies package, including a binder and general supplies, at the office. 

First Week Reminders 

After the first day, our regular schedule will start on Wednesday, September 4th, with a Day 1 ABCD Block Rotation. Our Daily Schedule, including start and end times, is posted on our school website for reference. The best way to access the Block Order for each day is by using the new SD64 App. A reminder that when we miss a Monday due to a holiday, like we do in the first week, Friday is a regular in-session full school day like any other day. Please mark these days on your calendars and ensure students are not scheduled to work or have appointments on these days. Other events planned for the first week include Grade Assemblies, Clubs Day, and the Welcome Back BBQ on Friday at lunch by the pond. A reminder that our Cafeteria will not open for a few weeks, so students should have other plans for lunch. 

Criminal Record Checks 

In preparation for the school year, we hope that any coaches, managers, volunteers, parent drivers, or parents of athletes will start the process of completing a Criminal Record Check (CRC). At Gulf Islands Secondary School, you are required to have a valid Criminal Reference Check (CRC) in place BEFORE beginning any of the volunteer positions above. 

To apply for a CRC, follow this link: Criminal Record Check. 

When prompted, you will need the following access code: DNW8SBGDPQ. 

To use the EIV (electronic identification verification): 

  • Individuals must have been residing in Canada for two years or longer. 

  • Individuals must correctly answer a set of security questions unique to their personal credit history. 

  • Must have a current Canadian address (Please do not enter a foreign address through the online service). 

  • Minimum Canadian credit history of at least six months. 

If you are not eligible to use the EIV process to submit the request for a criminal record check, please contact Cathy at cgeorge@sd64.org or (250) 537-5548. Thank you in advance for supporting our students! 

Welcome Back Again! 

Thank you for making it to the end of this long email! We would like to say welcome back again and look forward to seeing and connecting with you all in the coming weeks. We will be sending a final reminder email this Thursday at the end of the day (just in case we forgot anything you need to know!). 

Please, connect with us in the office by email at giss@sd64.org, by phone at 250-537-9944, or in person (office open 9 am-3 pm Mon-Thurs this week) if you have any questions as we roll into the year! 

Mr. Massey, Mr. Shugar, and Ms. Mitchell 
Gulf Islands Secondary School Leadership Team 

 

 

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