Principal's Message
Welcome back to a new school year at Greater Gatineau! We are looking forward to a year of engaging learning experiences and fun-filled activities!
Students are adapting well to the safety procedures and we are proud of them for their diligence. Please take the time to review all of the information on our website. Our website is updated regularly, thanks to Jennifer Plaxton for her role with the website!
Please make sure you sign up for the REMIND App to receive vital information from the school (school closure, covid case in school, etc.). All communications will be sent out using the REMIND app.
We wish everyone a fabulous start to the new year!
REMIND APP
It is important for all families to sign up for our communication tool. Please see the instructions at the end of the newsletter or click the link here.
SCHOOL FEES
We will be collecting school fees for 2021-2022 soon. We will be able to take online payments this year!!! More information about how to sign up will be sent in the next few of weeks.
Events at School
SCHEDULES
KINDERGARTEN TO GRADE 2
Buses Arrive | 7:45-7:55 |
Homeroom | 7:55-8:05 |
Period 1 | 8:05-8:55 |
Period 2 | 8:55-9:45 |
Recess | 9:45-10:05 |
Period 3 | 10:05-10:55 |
Period 4 | 10:55-11:45 |
Lunch -Eat 25 minutes -Play 25 minutes | 11:45-12:35 |
Recess | 12:35-12:55 |
Period 5 | 12:55-1:45 |
Period 6 | 1:45-2:35 |
Buses Depart | 2:35-2:45 |
GRADE 3 TO 6
Buses Arrive | 7:45-7:55 |
Homeroom | 7:55-8:05 |
Period 1 | 8:05-8:55 |
Period 2 | 8:55-9:45 |
Period 3 | 9:45-10:35 |
Recess | 10:35-10:55 |
Period 4 | 10:55-11:45 |
Lunch -Play 25 minutes -Eat 25 minutes | 11:45-12:35 |
Period 5 | 12:35-1:25 |
Recess | 1:25-1:45 |
Period 6 | 1:45-2:35 |
Buses Depart | 2:35-2:45 |
IMPORTANCE OF DAILY READING
We encourage every student in the school to read every night. Start the year off right by setting aside time where the TV, video games and computers are shut off and you have time to enjoy reading with your child. It will make a huge difference in the success they have at school.
IF YOUR CHILD IS SICK
We have been issued strict directives from Public Health regarding children and staff coming to school when they are sick. We must follow these directives, for the safety of all.
If your child has any of these symptoms, they MUST stay home (the same is true for staff):
Fever | Congestion |
Stomach Ache | Headache |
Vomiting | Diarrhea |
Cough | Aching Muscles |
Sore Throat | Intense Fatigue |
Nausea | Major loss of appetite |
Difficulty Breathing | Loss of sense of smell |
Please keep your child home if they are experiencing any of these symptoms. They may return 24 hours after they are symptom free for all symptoms except fever. If they had a fever, they must remain home 48 hours after the fever is gone.
If your child has any of these symptoms at school, they will be isolated in our “Covid Room” until someone can come and pick them up. This requires pulling a staff member from their duties to get into protective gear and wait with the child until they are picked up.
If your child is sent home from school because they are sick – you will be required to fill out a form for them upon their return. Attestation for Return
SCHOOL PHOTOS
Get your smiles ready for school photo day! We will have our photo day on September 10th.
OPEN HOUSE
On September 16th, teachers will be sending out a link to parents to watch the Virtual “Open House” for your child’s class or grade. Please make sure to review all of the information in the video; and feel free to contact the teachers afterwards if you have any further questions.
GOOD FOOD CHOICES
The Greater Gatineau School staff encourages students to bring nutritious snacks and lunches. We want our students eating healthy food throughout the day. We encourage you to send snacks in reusable containers and to avoid heavily packaged prepared items. All staff will monitor snacks and lunches daily. Let’s make this a community effort.
Some suggestions for snacks:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Cheese and other dairy products
- 100% fruit juices and snacks
- Granola Bars (no chocolate coating)
- Healthy cereals
Foods to stay away from:
- Chocolate
- Candy
- Chips
- Processed fruit snacks and juices
- Soft drinks
Reminder that we are a nut free school. Please make sure that the products you choose respect this.
Some classes may receive more specific instructions regarding other items of concern.
BREAKFAST PROGRAM
We are pleased to bring you an adapted breakfast program so that students can have access to healthy food in a nourishing and comforting environment in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. The program is designed specifically to comply with public health guidelines and will be operated in collaboration with Breakfast Club of Canada. See additional information about the Breakfast Program here.
MONTHLY ASSEMBLY
Our next assembly will be on Wednesday, September 29th, where we will celebrate the students who have shown the chosen virtue throughout the month.
Please remember to wear your purple GG shirt for all of our monthly assemblies. This creates a sense of community at school.
September is KINDNESS month. We hope to see students showing us how kind they can be. You can show this by being kind to others and yourself.
TRIBES AT HOME
MUTUAL RESPECT
What does it look like, sound like and feel like to respect others, yourself and things around you?
Talk about this with your family to set the tone for the school year.
APPRECIATIONS
Give compliments not put-downs to others. This applies at school and at home.
Share ways you can do this with your family.
ATTENTIVE LISTENING
Show people you are listening by stopping what you are doing and looking at them when they talk.
Listen to understand not to respond.
PARTICIPATION
Things are better when everyone participates. What does each person need in order to take part? Do you need to modify things in the environment or the activity itself?
Home & School
We are always looking for new members to join us or ideas for upcoming events, please contact us via email gghomeandschool@gmail.com or through our Facebook page.
We will continue to post on our Facebook page, if you haven’t done so already, please follow us to stay up to date on upcoming events facebook.com/GreaterGatineau.
We hold our meetings through Zoom, please reach out to us via email if you would like to attend.
Daycare
We are still accepting registrations for our before and after school daycare program. If you would like more information either on PD days or to register your child, please call Jennifer at (819) 663-4842 X3 or e-mail jplaxton@wqsb.qc.ca.
The deadline to secure your spot at daycare is September 30th.
We have one PD day this month on Friday, September 17th and it is open to all Greater Gatineau students. Please sign up for @ggdaycare on the Remind app to get the notifications regarding PD days.
Special Notes
MORNING DROP OFFS
If registered daycare parents are dropping off their children for morning daycare you must bring them through the school yard entrance of the school between 6:45 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. You ring the bell at the drop-off door and wait until a staff member has responded.
If you are dropping off your child in the morning and are not registered in Daycare, you can bring your child to the side gate on Guillemette between 7:45 – 7:55 a.m.
There is no supervision until 7:45 a.m.
PICKING UP AFTER SCHOOL
If you are picking your child up anytime throughout the day, please do one of the following before 1:30 p.m.
-Call Katharine Andriano at 819-663-4842 ext. 1
-Send an e-mail to kandriano@wqsb.qc.ca and cc: jplaxton@wqsb.qc.ca if it changes anything for daycare.
It is very important that you call the school before dropping in to pick up your child and please do not call us when you are on your way to the school.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
It is extremely important that parents/guardians call the office if their child is going to be late or absent, it is very important that you report their attendance to Katharine Andriano by contacting the school at (819) 663-4842 ext. 1 no later than 8:30 a.m.
It takes a lot of time to call parents, who have not reported an absence, so please help us out by calling the school. You can leave a message the night before as well.
GOVERNING BOARD GENERAL ASSEMBLY – VIRTUAL
The Governing Board: A True Decision-Making Team. Bill 180 created a form of partnership between users of the school (i.e. parent) and the school staff and also recognizes that the school must maintain links with the community. The Governing Board makes important decisions regarding the school, and gives input to the School Board about their policies. The Governing Board meets approximately 5 times a year in the evening.
Elections for Governing Board will take place on September 16th at 7:00 p.m., via Zoom. Please come to the meeting to run for a position, or to elect a parent member. We will also be nominating a parent for the school board special education advisory committee (SEAC). Any parent of a child with an IEP can put their name forward for this committee and one parent will be elected.
If you would like to attend the virtual Governing Board General Assembly, please send Mr. Tremblay an email at etremblay@wqsb.qc.ca, asking for the link to join the meeting. Please indicate your name, as well as your child’s name in the email:
ANTI – BULLYING PROGRAM
Greater Gatineau staff members have been trained in anti-bullying initiatives, and we are committed to ensuring the safety and security of students at school.
If your child complains about an act of violence, or bullying at school, please contact us so that we can address the issue. Please check our website for more details.
SCHOOL RULES ABOUT BULLYING
- Don’t Bully
- We Help
- We Include
- We Tell
TRIBES
Our staff has also been trained in the “Tribes” program. The program is designed to create a safe and caring learning environment. The 4 pillars of the Tribes philosophy are:
- Mutual Respect
- Appreciations – No Put Downs
- Listening
- Participation
ELECTRONICS/PHONES/SMART WATCHES
These devices are NOT permitted at school, or on the school bus. Please ensure that your child does not bring an electronic device to school.
SCOUTS CANADA
Looking for a fun activity for your kids?
Scouting may be your answer!!
Camping, canoeing, games, hiking, crafts, first aid, survival skills, campfires, cooking are but a few activities of the exciting program offered by our bilingual coed group.
See Flyer for details.
ORANGE SHIRT DAY
September 30th is a day when we honour the Indigenous children who were sent away to residential schools in Canada and learn more about the history of those schools. We invite everyone to wear and orange shirt on September 30th.
CONNEXIONS
Connexions links the English-speaking community of the Outaouais to health and social services by:
- Fostering community links with public and community health and social services organizations.
- Providing information and referrals to community members.
- Actively supporting research and awareness on the needs of the community.
- Developing and delivering health promotion programs and activities.
- Promoting access through partnerships and representation.
Connections offers FREE workshops throughout the year. They range from Reducing Anxiety to Container Gardening for Seniors and Cooking for the Whole Family.
See all their upcoming workshops on their website here –Workshops
They are a great resource to our English-speaking community here in Gatineau. We have a permanent link to their website under “Principal’s Message” on the “Workshops” menu.
Sign up for the REMIND App
We use the REMIND app as a tool for communication here at Greater Gatineau. It is important for all families to sign up to get reminders about school events, bus changes or cancellations, special activities, and important updates. You can get the app on your smartphone or sign up to receive emails. Follow the instruction below to sign up.
1. On your cell phone go to the app store. Look for the “Remind” app
2. Download the app. Click on the “Join a Class” button.
3. For school reminders from Mrs. Link there are classes created based on your child’s grade level.
Codes for 2021-2022
Kindergarten student = ggs2021
Grade 1 student = ggs2020
Grade 2 student = ggsr2019
Grade 3 student = ggsr2018
Grade 4 student = ggs2017
Grade 5 student = ggs2016
Grade 6 student = ggs2015
4. For daycare reminders from Jennifer Plaxton the class is called ggdaycare. This is for daycare specific reminders only, you will also need to sign up for a school class code as well.
You only need to sign up for one school class as the messages will be sent out to all classes. The class code will follow your child as they move up at our school. Please sign up for your youngest child’s class so you will continue to receive the messages for the duration of their time here at Greater Gatineau.
To get reminders by email
Go to www.remind.com/join you will be prompted to find your class. The class codes are the same as above for school and for daycare.
You will then be prompted to enter your name and e-mail address or phone number. We suggest email because there are some phone carriers who do not support text messages from remind. If you have signed up for remind in the past you can go to your account settings to modify how you receive your messages. Push notifications will come up in the app and the email option will send an email to the address of your choice.