Rossland Summit School
2022 January Newsletter
WITH HEARTS AND MINDS, WE'RE TURNING VISION INTO ACTION
Principal's Message
A New Year and New Change
Happy New Year to our Rossland Summit School Community. Unfortunately, this is not the start to the year we could have anticipated. I would like to express my gratitude to our RSS community for your understanding and patience related to our delayed start this week.
As Minister of Education, Jennifer Whiteside said in a recent interview,
"This extra time will allow the Ministry of Education and public health to better understand the impact of the Omicron variant on the education system, and school communities to prepare for students returning to class with enhanced safety measures. Safety is our top priority, and we’re going to keep working with public health to ensure the right measures continue to be in place to keep students and staff safe.”
Please join us in emphasizing with your children the importance of proper mask fit and wearing masks. We also request/ remind parents and care-givers that during congested outdoor times, like drop off and pick up wearing a mask is an important contribution to maintaining a safe environment. We also appreciate that parents/ caregivers will continue to complete the DAILY HEALTH CHECK
In the remainder of the newsletter you will find information regarding updates and changes to our school health and safety plan and RSS plans for the possibility of a required school closure. More information in the news below.
Wishing all of our Rossland Summit School Community safe and healthy days ahead in 2022.
Take Care,
Mr. D. DeRosa, Principal
RSS Opens for All Students Monday, January 10
The most significant change to our routines will be our staggered and supervised approach to transitions. We are staggering entry & exit to provide students with time to change from winter clothing to in-school clothing in a less congested space. Teachers will be meeting students outside on Monday morning to start our day.
If students are ill please keep them home and follow the advice of health professionals. Please call in using SafeArrival School Messenger and let your teachers know and they can support student learning.
Parents wishing to delay entry are asked to connect with me, Mr. DeRosa, to clarify support opportunities and learning continuity.
And please continue to do your family health checks.
StrongStart Is Open!
Important Dates in January
JAN 04- 07 - RSS Re-Opens to School-Care for Essential Worker Families
JAN 10 - RSS Welcomes all students
JAN 17 - RSS Foodstore Tentative Re-Open [watch for an announcement]
JAN 18 - RSS PAC Meeting [Virtual]
JAN 25-28 – RSS Winter Carnival [more details to come]
JAN 28-31 - RSS Grade 8-9 Course Completion Days [no scheduled classes for grade 8 and 9]
Pre-Break Red and Green Day at RSS Strongstart
Thank You KC Recycling!
Functional School Closure + Learning Plans
A functional closure of a school is a temporary closure determined by a school district due to a lack of staff to provide the required level of teaching, supervision, support, and/or custodial to ensure the health and safety of students. This would likely be due to a high number of staff or certain employees away who are required for a school to function, and the inability to temporarily replace them.
Should our capacity to provide a safe learning environment be exceeded by COVID-19 related illness, we will consult with SD20 district staff and may implement a functional closure process. SD20 district staff, myself and Nathan will monitor our student and staff attendance as part of the logistics related to communicating any updates and changes to our parent community. As indicated in Superintendent Shearer’s most recent letter to our school communities, the following will be communicated:
- Closure notifications will be posted on the SD20 and RSS School website as well as through SD20 social media: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
- E-mails will also be distributed to parents/caregivers impacted by a health or functional closure.
- Closure notification e-mails will be issued by 9:00 pm the evening prior or no later than 6:30 am on the morning of a closure.
The learning plans provided online by our teachers will provide students with continuity in their learning. Further direction and updates would be provided to our school community if this scenario were to occur.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION for the 2022-2023 School Year
Parents of children who turn 5 years old between January 1 and December 31, 2022, should plan to register their child for Kindergarten during Kindergarten registration week, January 24- January 28, 2022.
Please note the following:
• Kindergarten is a full-day, everyday program. A parent may defer the enrolment of his or her child until September 1, 2023. Parents are welcome to consult with district staff if they are considering deferring registration for one year. Please contact Teresa Gallo, Director of Instruction, at 250.368.2236, to discuss this option if it applies to you.
• Parents/Guardians should bring their child’s Birth Certificate, Care Card, proof of address and, if applicable, legal documents regarding custody, with them when registering.
• All Kindergarten students should register at their catchment area school.
Registration packages will be available on January 24th. Please email or call on the 24th to get info on how to pick up your registration package.
Updated Provincial COVID-19 Communicable Disease Guidelines for K-12
The Ministry of Education has developed an addendum to the Provincial COVID-19 Communicable Disease Guidelines for K-12 settings based on public health’s current knowledge of the Omicron variant. The guidelines were developed in collaboration with the BC Centre for Disease Control, Indigenous rightsholders and education partners, including teachers, parents and school administrators. As the ministry has done throughout the pandemic, safety measures for schools will continue to be updated as needed in consultation with public health.
K-12 schools must reinforce existing safety measures, including:
Using all available space to maximize space between people:
- For example, different common space, classroom and learning environment configurations (e.g., avoid face-to-face seating arrangements where possible).
- Everyone able to wear a mask.
- Doing daily health checks, and staying home when sick.
K-12 public and independent schools must also implement enhanced safety measures, such as:
- Implement strategies that prevent crowding during class transition times.
- Hold school gatherings and events (e.g., assemblies, etc.) virtually. If they must be in-person, limit the number of people to no more than 50% operating capacity.
- Hold staff-only gatherings (e.g., meetings, professional development activities) virtually whenever possible.
- Limit visitors to those who are supporting activities that directly benefit student learning and well-being (e.g., teacher candidates, immunizers, meal program volunteers, etc.).
- Pause extracurricular sports tournaments.
The guidelines build on existing protocols that have succeeded in minimizing the spread of the virus in schools, such as:
- Encouraging everyone who is eligible to get fully vaccinated.
- Using available space to spread out and to respect personal space.
Wearing masks in accordance with Provincial Health Officer Order on Face Coverings:
- Cleaning hands regularly.
- Cleaning and disinfecting all surfaces at least once a day.
As the Province awaits new rapid tests shipments from the federal government, B.C.’s existing supply of rapid tests will continue to be used at schools where there has been exposure events and outbreaks. When new federal shipments of take-home rapid tests arrive in mid-January, their use will be scaled up with 500,000 tests deployed as needed to support the safe continuation of in-person learning.
Transmission in B.C. schools reflects transmission in the community and schools with consistently implemented prevention measures have proven to be lower risk throughout the pandemic. The government is committed to continuing to support safe in-person education in recognition of its positive impact on the intellectual, social and emotional development of students. Schools also provide important supports for children, such as meal programs and mental-health supports.
Learn More:
To learn more about COVID-19 vaccines for children: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/vaccine/children
To see the addendum to the Provincial COVID-19 Communicable Disease Guidelines:
Rossland Summit School Gives Back
Congratulations to the boys for their great idea and a great big THANK YOU to our Rossland Summit School Community for your generosity!!
RSS School Athletics Update
🏀 Although we are excited by the enthusiastic participation, we will be limiting our inter-school game schedule for the next week or two. Practices will continue. If you're not sure of times, check the school calendar here: RSS EVENTS CALENDAR
Please watch for memos from coaches and teacher-sponsors regarding parent driver volunteers.
More information regarding the preparations for volunteering with school activities can be found on our web site - PLEASE CLICK HERE
♟RSS Chess Club News♟
Another great opportunity for our students to engage and connect!
SD20 Student Transfers
A friendly reminder to families, our student transfer request process is now completed online. Parents/Guardians can submit two types of requests:
1. Immediate Transfer Request
Immediate Transfer Requests (those requested for current school year) can be submitted any time. Once you have submitted your completed form, you will receive a confirmation email with details regarding your request within a timely manner.
2. Next School Year Transfer Request
Next School Year Transfer Requests must be submitted during the months of January and February in order to be considered for the start of the next school year. Should Next School Year Transfer Requests be submitted after the February cutoff date, they will not be processed until September.
Here are the steps to submit a transfer request:
1. Go to our district website and Parent Forms
4. Select Student Transfer
5. Click your preferred Student Transfer link button (immediate/next school year)
6. Complete the form + Press Submit
Once you have submitted your completed form, you will receive a confirmation email with details regarding your request). If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at transfers@sd20.bc.ca
Information About School COVID-19 Exposures
Interior Health is continuing to post exposures that are identified in schools. This information can be found for SD20 and RSS via the IHA web site by CLICKING HERE.
"When a school staff member or student tests positive for COVID-19, Public Health will notify staff and students who need to take a specific action, such as self-monitoring or isolation, as a result of a COVID-19 exposure. Interior Health will post exposure notifications when a staff member or student attended school while infectious and there is a possible risk of exposure to COVID-19."
Have Questions About COVID-19
If you have questions or wonders regarding COVID-19, please call 811 to speak to a health care professional.
Thank You Kootenay Savings!!
Red and Green Day at RSS
RSS Library Home to Growing Salmon Fry
The fish in school (FinS) program is run by The Okanagan Nation Alliance and began in 2009. One of the mandates is to protect, enhance, conserve, and continue to restore our future salmon. Students become stewards of their environment. We will be receiving 100 "eyed" Sockeye salmon eggs to raise into alevins and then into "free feeding" fry. Students will gain firsthand knowledge of the Sockeye salmon life cycle, while also learning about the impacts of damns on the Columbia River and Indigenous perspectives and knowledge. The fish tank is housed in the library so that all students will have an opportunity to engage . Students' wonderings and insights will drive the focus of the inquiry learning. The salmon will be released into the Columbia River mid-June in a ceremonial fry release.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
At RSS, we believe that no student will be denied access to programs, services or educational opportunities provided by the school because of financial need. Parents, caregivers or families needing school related financial aid (school/District fees, field-trips, school supplies, etc.) are asked to contact the Principal to make arrangements so that ALL our students have equal access to all the educational opportunities offered.
MEALS PROGRAM
RSS will continue to provide nutritious lunches for students in need through the School Meals Program. Parents who wish their child to take part in this program can contact the Principal [rss@sd20.bc.ca].
HEALTHY SNACKS
While ‘treats’ are nice, it is important to send healthy foods and drinks to school. For PE and regular water hydration, due to COVID-19, our water fountains are turned off. We do have bottle filling stations and encourage all students to have a re-fillable bottle.
Metal or 'Eco' friendly plastic bottles are preferred for safety considerations.
Thank you for your cooperation with this.
RSS Food Store Is Temporarily Closed
The RSS Food Store was open in the fall and due to enhanced concerns regarding COVID-19 transmission, our amazing PAC team have decided to hold off on re-opening until we can assess new health guideline impacts.
Tentatively we are planning to re-open on Monday, January 17th.
RSS WEB SITE
Email: rss@sd20.bc.ca
Website: www.RosslandSummit.org
Location: 2390 Jubilee Street, Rossland, BC, Canada
Phone: (250)362-7388
Bussing & Accessibility Zones - Drop Off and Pickup
Request to Parent/ Caregivers and Visitors
Our main entrance is a busy space before and after school. Busses are on a tight timeline to ensure they are meeting kids along their routes.
PLEASE DO NOT PARK in front of the school to drop off and pickup students, ESPECIALLY in the handicap accessible parking spot. A few car lengths down the street is super helpful!
Thanks for this!
Safe Arrival School Messenger
If your child[ren] will be absent from school, late or leaving early, please use SafeArrival School Messenger to inform us. - Download the App from Apple or Google Play Stores - Although teachers appreciate knowing, it is important that the office receive the notification so we can input the information into the system.
Thanks for using SafeArrival School Messenger!
RSS Needs YOU!
Noon Hour Supervisors - Crossing Guards
We are excited to share that we have 3 new recruits! Thank you to our new noon supervisors!
We are hoping to find someone interested in crossing guard positions, at the start and end of each day. These are all paid positions. If you have time in your day ... please consider these roles.
Contact Mr. Nathan Robinson VP, for more information.
Our Thanks to the Murphy Family Foundation!
Staff and students at Rossland Summit School are delighted to be recipients of a Murphy Family Foundation donation for the second year in a row.
Our heartfelt thanks for the generous donation of $2000!!
With the gradual restart of student activities, the financial support will be used to supplement our school’s activities and athletics programs to ensure that all students continue to have access to healthy and engaging activities.
Activity Right - Online Payment and Form Submission System
Benefits of ActivityRight:
- Easy to use - ActivityRight is internet based and easily accessed on any device.
- Convenient - Parents have quick access to field trip information. Automated parent notifications and reminders will keep parents in the loop.
- Saves time - Parents can make secure payments 24/7 from the safety and comfort of their home.
- Safe – This system will reduce the amount of cash/cheques your child needs to carry to and from school.
Email us at RSS@sd20.bc.ca if you need more information.
School District Calendars
Stay Healthy | Stay Safe | Take Care
Principal D