For a printable version, please click here Parent Letter – April 17, 2020

Dear Parents and/or Guardians,

We hope that this letter continues to find you and your family healthy and safe. As we have continued to move forward with this new realm of education, families or students should be in regular contact with their classroom teacher. Currently, teachers have been working tirelessly to provide lessons to keep the continuity of learning and your child progressing. Counsellors, Child Youth Care Workers, Education Assistants and Support Teachers have been reaching out to families and students to check in, see how the students and families are, and to look into alternative options to support your children during this time.

We cannot thank you enough for all of your support and patience through this difficult time, in which we all find ourselves. As we continue to progress with learning, I would like to ensure you that all of the staff at Gray have the best interest of your children in mind. As you have probably found you are now facing a new dynamic as a family, being parent and teacher or education supporter. We are also aware that some families would like more work and others are struggling with the work provided. Please know that we are trying to balance these situations, and although we are asking families to complete as much as they can, we are in no way expecting you to add additional stress to your lives. Please complete what you can and communicate regularly with the classroom teacher to discuss any concerns.

As we have said, we are aware that there are many different needs and family circumstances and there is no judgment on what is happening at your homes. Please reach out to your child’s classroom teacher or myself at the office, if you are in need or if something is not going well. We have a range of supports and staff who can support you; please see some of the options below.

Counsellors and Child Youth Care Worker (CYCW):

Both our counsellors and CYCW are working remotely and can be accessed if there is a need. They have been in contact with families and students from which were on their caseloads, and they have also been talking with new families as things arise. Our CYCW has also taken ownership over our families in need of extra food, and has been working on finding ways to support them throughout the district initiatives.

In response to requests for supports for children’s mental health and wellness during this difficult time, new resources are available for use at home by parents.  Please see link below for this valuable resource: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/managing-your-health/mental-health-substance-use/child-teen-mental-health/ease

Teachers and Education Assistants (EAs) Connecting With You:

Teachers and EAs are working remotely and collaborating virtually to develop consistent and accessible educational learning opportunities for their classes. As you know, the learning experience is looking different, and there is going to be a range of online tools used depending on the grades. We ask that families go slow, and reach out for support, either to the teacher or myself in the office. Teachers are aware of the diverse needs of students and they are doing their best to ensure the learning they provide supports all of their students.

Education Assistants, are happy to be reaching out and supporting the children they typically work with. They may be branching out to talk with a few other students as well, and are working remotely to provide connection and to support the learning plan provided by the teachers.

Learning Support Teachers have been working with the classroom teachers to determine the next course of action and are waiting for the district go-ahead to move forward with their plans. They will still be available to support children on their caseloads and are looking for ways to provide general teacher and support strategies for all students.

Please be patient, as we are doing our best to roll things out slowly and purposefully. We know that this is a lot of information and it is a huge task for teachers, as well as a huge task for families. Through communication, patience and understanding, we will be able to support every student; to keep every child learning and progressing at an effective pace for them.

Please share this with your child: Learning has not ended because there is not any face to face classes. Learning and assessment will continue into June. All of the classes that you are currently taking will continue – just in a different manner and pace. We will continue to check in with parents and students regularly for feedback to inform our next instructional practices, in order to best support our students.

Contact with School and Staff:

Although the school is not accessible to families, the main school office is still open from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm. Please give us a call (604.594.2474) if you have any questions or email the school at gray.elem.cims@deltasd.bc.ca. Also teachers can be emailed and their addresses can be found on parent connect.

We want to thank all of you for supporting our teachers, your child, and the school, during these unprecedent times. We have been thinking about our students and their families and are committed to doing our best to support you over the unforeseeable future. Communication and connection will continue to be the key to our success. We thank you for your patience while we establish the structures necessary to provide the learning opportunities during the extraordinary times. If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Mr. P. Klassen                                       Ms. H. Gonzalez

Principal                                               Vice Principal