Sep_15_Parent Email

Apologies…this is a correction to the date information in the Parent Email.
Parent/Teacher Orientation night is cancelled at this time. Stayed tuned for more information as we nagivate through these guidelines.
Thank you

Sep_8_Parent Email

Dear Parents and Guardians:

We hope that you have had a good summer. Dunsmuir Middle School is looking forward to welcoming all students back to school; both new and returning.

School Start Up:

• Each student will attend the first week on the following schedule. Please note, that your child is not in attendance on each day this week
• Tuesday- September 7 – 1:00-3:00- Grade 6 students ONLY– will meet on the back field where they can check the class lists (staff will have alpha lists), meet their teacher in the line (on the field) and be guided to their classroom to begin the Welcome and Orientation for the school year.
• Wednesday- September 8- 9:00-11:00 – Grade 7 Students ONLY – students will arrive to the school and check the posted class lists throughout the school for their name. Once they know whose class they are in and the room #, they will make their way to that location.
• Wednesday- September 8- 1:00-3:00 – Grade 8 Students ONLY– students will arrive to the school and check the posted class lists for their name. Once they know whose class they are in and the room #, they will make their way to that location.
• Thursday- whole school in attendance. Regular schedule
• Friday- September 10 (date was corrected) – regular day- 9:00 am -1:55 pm
• We ask that parents/guardians please drop off their children no more than 15 minutes early and remain off the school grounds for health and safety reasons.
• The Painter Rd. improvements are scheduled to be largely completed by start of school. Please take extra caution as community and students get used to the new layout and flow of the road, bike lanes and cross walks. Please let your child know that the cross walk location will have changed (it is now closer to Benhomer) and remind them to use the cross walk.
• Please send your student to school with a mask as masks are required inside the building.
• Please do not send your child to school with their school supplies on the first day.

• Full school days will begin on Thursday, September 9 at 9:00-3:10 Monday – Thursday and 9:00-1:55 on Friday.

Structure of the School Day:

• Students will spend the bulk of their day with their homeroom class.
• Students will participate in ADST and Arts Education classes (including band if registered) and physical education.
• Doors will open at 8:55 am.
• There will be (2) lunches with half of the classes out at a time.

Health and Safety Routines:

Announced on August 24^th were the updated operational guidelines for K-12 schools.  Here are some of the highlights:

• All K-12 staff and students in Gr. 4-12 are required to wear masks while indoors or on the school bus.
• General cleaning of the premises, and the cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces, will occur at least once in a 24-hour period.
• Staff and students (or their parents if appropriate) are to continue to do their own Daily Health Check and should remain home if they are not feeling well. The parents/guardians of students who become symptomatic during the school day will be called to pick up their child. Thank you for your understanding and support of this measure.
• Visitors will still be required to sign-in at the office or front counter to confirm that they have completed the health check. Visitors are by appointment only.
• As mandated by WorkSafeBC, a new Communicable Disease Program will replace our district’s Safety Plan.  It will have many similarities to our current plan but will reflect any new measures being implemented in our schools.
• Regional Medical Health Officers will now have the authority to implement additional safety requirements at a regional, district or school level should that be required.

Additional guidance and information can be found in the Ministry of Education document: Provincial COVID-19 Communicable Disease Guidelines for K-12 Settings.

Action Items for Parents

• Notify the school as soon as possible if you have an alternative plan for your student (ie. Change of schools).

Sincerely,

Mark Kaercher

Hello DMS families,

We hope that you are enjoying your summer with a couple of weeks still remaining. As we prepare to head back to school, please be aware that the information you may view in MyEd through the parent portal may not be accurate in reference to your child’s schedule and or teacher, etc. This is all very much a work in progress and very dynamic up until the official first day of school.

We will ensure each child is welcomed and knows where to go on that first day and we look forward to meeting and reconnecting with each of them.

Thank you,

Mark

Mark Kaercher

Principal

Dunsmuir Middle School

3341 Painter Rd,

Victoria, BC

V9C 2J1

250 478 5548

Hello Dunsmuir Families,

For a moment, please allow me to look ahead to next year. Please see the schedule below for the first couple of days of school. Please note the staggered start with (1) grade in attendance at a time over the first two days. We will welcome the entire student body together on the first Thursday. This will allow a much more deliberate and organized start for all students as they get situated and oriented to the new school year. We are hopeful, given the “Reopening Plan” recently unveiled that COVID-19 will largely be in our rear-view mirror and the year will be closer to that of a typical year. Please note, students are not required to bring their supplies on the first day. Just pack a snack, a smile and we will take of the rest. Thank you!!

Tuesday- September 7 – 1:00-3:00 – Grade 6 students ONLY– will meet in the Gym where they can check the class lists, meet their teacher and be guided to their classroom to begin the Welcome and Orientation for the school year.

Wednesday- September 8- 9:00-11:00 – Grade 7 Students ONLY – students will arrive to the school and check the posted class lists for their name. Once they know whose class they are in and the room #, they will make their way to that location.

Wednesday- September 8- 1:00-3:00 – Grade 8 Students ONLY– students will arrive to the school and check the posted class lists for their name. Once they know whose class they are in and the room #, they will make their way to that location.

**Please note, the bus schedule is still being worked out. It would be a good idea to plan a way to and from school for your child for these first (2) days. Thank you for your flexibility and understanding as we look to welcome our students to school the best way possible.

Jun_23_Parent Email

June 21 was chosen for National Indigenous Day because it is the day of the summer solstice which is the longest day of the year.

For generations, many Indigenous communities have  elaborated their culture and heritage on or near this day.

Hych’ka Kleco Kleco

Jun_16_Parent Email

Jun_9_Parent Email