The Panther Post

Dear Parent(s),

This last week was a rough one for weather and cancellations of buses. I hope that this upcoming week will be much better. Thank you once again to the student cast of our Rock of Ages production and Mr. Bohn and Mrs. Leggett for your time commitment. Extra-curricular activities will resume this week, weather permitting.

Extra-curricular activities/events will now be posted weekly. Parents are welcome to attend our events as long as Provincial and GYPSD Covid19 protocols are followed. As of March 4th, 2022 requirements for entrance into all GYPSD facilities will change. Please see below the updated Administrative Procedures 163 regarding Volunteers/Visitors Disclosure of Vaccination Status.

Masks (3 ply medical) and Rapid tests have been delivered to the school and available to our students. If you would like your son/daughter to pick up their package of rapid tests (5/box) or additional masks they can drop by the office.

Best Regards,

Darran Lorne

Volunteer/Visitor Disclosure of Vaccination Status

Regular visitors/volunteers will disclose vaccination status as of Friday, March 4, 2022, and submit Appendix B: Contractor/Visitor/Volunteer COVID-19 Vaccination Disclosure and Attestation Form to the school principal.

The school principal will:

a. keep a confidential record for the duration of the volunteer activity;

b. destroy the record upon completion of the volunteer activity.

For short term or occasional volunteer activities or for Visitors who are entering the school to interact with students or be in situations where physical distancing cannot be maintained, proof of vaccination will be verified as follows:

a. using the QR code and Government of Alberta App (see Appendix A);

b. no permanent record is required to be kept.

Any person coming to a Division property, who is only there to conduct a brief interaction/transaction that will take less than 15 minutes while appropriate health measures are observed (e.g., masking, physical distancing), will NOT require proof of vaccination. Example: courier delivery, parent dropping off a lunch, etc.

During the Light & Optical Systems Unit, Grade 8 students had the opportunity to dissect a sheep's eyeball. By participating in this hands-on activity, students were able to discern the various parts of an eyeball in addition to how an eyeball works.

Archery will start next week with the Grade 6's on Jan 26th at 3:30pm, the following week will be the grade 7/8 students Feb 2nd at 3:30pm. Each group will have alternate Wednesday's.

Pine Grove optional Hockey Hooky field trip to Rogers Place in Edmonton on February 8, 2022 is now full. Please remember proof of vaccination will be needed to board the bus or at the venue for those who are driving separately.

Free Youth Mental Health Talk This Sunday.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2022-jack-talk-with-jackorg-registration-241338127837

Bell Let’s Talk Day is Wednesday, January 26th and we’re joining in to help drive meaningful progress in mental health.

COVID-19 has affected every aspect of our lives, including our mental health. However, tools are available to support ourselves and each other.

Since 2010, Canadians and people around the globe have joined in the world’s largest conversation around mental health on Bell Let’s Talk Day. Together we have taken big steps to reduce the stigma around mental health issues and inspire one another to take action and help create a Canada where everyone can access the mental health support they need. In a recent survey conducted by Nielsen Consumer Insights, 82% of Canadians now say they are comfortable speaking with others about mental health, compared to only 42% in 2012. By joining in and taking action, we are all helping to make a real difference.

This year’s Bell Let’s Talk Day campaign highlights the ways that we can support ourselves and those we care about through actions like listening, being there and talking. Every Canadian can play a part in their communities, workplaces, schools and at home.

That’s why we’re joining in the 12th annual Bell Let’s Talk Day to help create positive change.

Announcements are being run each day leading up to January 26th, including mental health activities being run school-wide on January 26th.

Keep listening, talking and being there for ourselves and each other.

On Bell Let’s Talk Day, Bell donates 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs for every applicable text, local or long distance call, tweet or TikTok video using #BellLetsTalk, every Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube view of the Bell Let’s Talk Day video, and every use of the Bell Let’s Talk Facebook frame or Snapchat lens. All at no cost to participants beyond what they would normally pay their service provider for online or phone access.

You can also find resources, learn more about some of the organizations providing meaningful mental health supports and services throughout Canada and download the Bell Let’s Talk toolkit to begin your own conversation about mental health at home, school or in the workplace.

Please join us this Bell Let’s Talk Day by showing your support for all those who live with mental illness and those taking action to help them.

Monday

B Girls Basketball Away Game @ YKCS

C Boys Basketball Practice @ 3:30

B Boys Basketball Practice @ 5:00

Tuesday

B Girls Basketball Practice @ 3:30

C Girls Basketball Practice @ 5:00

Wednesday

B Boys and Girls Basketball Home Game vs HRH

Archery - gr. 6's (Atrium)

Thursday

Crazy Hair Day

Club Girls and C Girls Basketball Practice @ 3:30 (Game Changed)

Club Boys and C Boys Basketball Practice @ 5:00 (Game Changed)

Jan. 27th - School Council meeting (6:30pm) - Learning Commons

Email: pgms@gypsd.ca
Website: https://pinegroveschool.gypsd.ca/
Location: 4619 12 Ave, Edson, AB, Canada
Phone: (780) 723-5929
Facebook: facebook.com/pinegrovemiddleschool