Claremont Secondary School

Friday, September 11, 2020

Dear Parents, Guardians and Students, 

It was so nice to see students in school this week during our Orientation Days.  Students had the opportunity to connect with their peers, meet their block one teacher, become familiar with some of the new safety procedures and our grade 9 & 10 students even had their school photo taken.  Grade 11 & 12 students will have their photo taken on Monday Sept. 14th.  

• Timetables:  By now all students should have a complete timetable for the year.  If course changes are still needed please email Mr. Pama (rpama@saanichschools.ca) or Ms. Giese (ageise@saanichschools.ca) by end of the day on Monday, Sept. 14. 

• Health and Safety:  In our orientations this week, all students in attendance were shown a

  that covered the most important points related to being back in school.  Please review the Health Check Form that came home with your child.

• Student Demographic Form: All students were given a copy of their Student Demographic Form. Please review this information and update it with any new email addresses or phone numbers that we may not have in our records system.  Information can be updated directly on the form and students drop it off at our main office.  It is especially important this year that we have correct contact information.

• Use of Masks:  Students and staff must wear masks in high traffic areas such as hallways and common areas where physical distancing is not possible.  We are a mask friendly school and we encourage students and staff to wear masks as much as possible.  Masks have already been provided to our students, they are navy blue in colour.  

• Picture Days:  Grade 9’s and 10’s had their photos taken on Sept.  10. Lifetouch will be back with us on Sept. 14 in the morning (9am-12noon) to photograph our grade 11’s and 12’s and any grade 9’s or 10’s that were missed.  If you wish to order photos this year you will need to go to “www.lifetouch.ca” for more information after the initial photo sessions have taken place.  As well, if your child can not be present this coming Mon. Sept. 14th you are still able to contact Lifetouch to organize an individual photo session.

• Lunch:  Students will be encouraged to bring lunch, snacks and a water bottle to school.  Microwaves have been moved from our student lounge and placed in various hallway locations around the school.  Our school cafeteria will have a limited menu for the first few weeks but eventually will provide a wider variety of options.  

• School Bussing:  Students must be registered to ride our district school busses.  If you still need to register your child(ren), please go to www.sd63.bc.ca and select ‘Programs and Services - Transportation - Busing Registration Link’.  Busses will be available at the beginning of lunch for those students who need a ride home after Block 1 class (if they are not attending Blk 2 on that day).

• Remote Learning: Those who are confirmed as “Remote Learners” for Quarter 1 should have received an email from the district this week.  These students can expect to begin their learning during the week of Sept. 21 - 25.  Further Information about the Remote Learning program can be found on the district website: https://www.sd63.bc.ca/Stage-2-QA.   Any further questions can be directed to remote@saanichschools.ca.

• Day 1 Day 2 Schedule: A reminder that our school bell schedule has changed to accommodate two long blocks.  Block 2 or the afternoon block (for the first five weeks) will be split in half and alternate as two, Group A and Group B.  Hopefully you have already received an email from your child’s Block 2 teacher indicating which group they will be in for the next 5 weeks (unfortunately due to a technical glitch with our information systems, some of these emails have been arriving late to families and we apologize for this).  This schedule starts Mon Sept. 14, as per below:

The first couple days went very well at Claremont.  We look forward to our first full week and we look forward to any new challenge that may arise.  Please be assured that the overall safety of students and staff is our primary concern as we re-engage with in-class learning.