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DGH community, please note the information below regarding DGH (and all public schools in Ontario being closed until May 4, 2020). This information was sent out via our SchoolMessenger email system; however, I know many of our parents use our website and Facebook page to learn about DGH information. ALSO – THERE IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT GOOGLE FORM LINK IN THIS POST THAT WE ARE ASKING PARENTS AND GUARDIANS TO FILL OUT FOR EACH CHILD IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD. Paste the link into your web browser and you will be taken to the Google Form. The Google Form will only take a few minutes to complete and will be extremely helpful in guiding our online learning.

Dear Parents/Guardians;

I am writing to you today to confirm the news from the Minister of Education that our school will remain closed until at least May 4, 2020 as part of the provincial effort to stop the spread of the COVID-19. 

We have been working with the school board on a plan so that learning can continue while students are at home. Information about the “TLDSB Learning@Home” plan may be found on the TLDSB website. Information will continue to be added to this page so please check back regularly.

We want to be sure that our at home learning plan is as successful for your child as possible. Please take a few minutes to complete a form for each child in your household to let us know what might work for learning in your home. Once we have gathered this information our teachers will be able to select delivery methods that meet the needs of individual learners and the resources families have available. 

Please complete this form for each of your children:

https://forms.gle/qDzR9Q9u4sBUAAqW7

I know this is a very stressful time for all members of our school community right now – our students, our staff, and their families. Your well-being must continue to be your first priority. Please reach out to your child’s teacher or to myself if you have any questions or concerns.

DGH community, Mrs. Starr has about 100 extra cartons of chocolate milk to sell before the March Break. If you would like to purchase a carton, the cost is 75 cents and you can see her at 1st or 2nd Nutrition Break. She does ask that you pay with either a Loonie or with exact change, as she does not keep very much change at the school. Please help out Mrs. Starr if you can (she is, after all, the person who keeps our milk and lunch programs running!).

As you know, DGH will be recognizing World Down Syndrome Day this Friday, March 13. Want to learn more about this day and Down syndrome? Check out the link to the Canadian Down Syndrome Society’s website by clicking here. This organization believes in providing clear and correct information regarding Down syndrome. For example, did you know that there is no known cause for Down syndrome and that the sole characteristic common to all people with Down syndrome is the presence of extra genetic material associated with the 21st chromosome? Check out their FAQ page to learn more.

Parents and guardians with students in Mr. Costello, Mrs. Sornberger, Ms. Arscott, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, Mrs. Britton, Ms. Ridgway, Ms. Clements, and Ms. Alexander’s classes – the refund for public skating will be given to your child(ren) tomorrow (Wednesday, March 11).  The refund will be placed in backpacks to help make sure that it gets home!  Our Kindergarten classes did not complete any of their skating days (which is the reason for the full $6 refund); students in other classes will receive a $4 refund (as they did have one public skating date). We are simply returning the money in the ziplock bag/envelope in which it was sent to the school.  The refund will only go to those families who paid for public skating.

DGH community, our Parent Council’s Vandermeer Spring Flower and Make It Sow fundraisers are both ON! Our ever active and involved Parent Council is raising money to purchase additional playground equipment. Our Parent Council has been VERY involved in supporting our school in past years, such as purchasing sports uniforms. These fundraisers were chosen as we hope it appeals to a wide range of people in our community. For those who prefer already grown flowers, the Vandermeer Flower fundraiser is for you! If you prefer to grow your own flowers or vegetables, then the Make It Sow fundraiser is for you!

We appreciate any and all support you are able to provide! All profits from these fundraisers will go to our Parent Council! Vandermeer orders are due on Tuesday, March 24th. Make It Sow orders are due on Tuesday, March 31st.

Don’t forget, DGH community, that we are asking you to wear your craziest socks on Friday, March 13 to help us recognize World Down Syndrome Day. The purpose of World Down Syndrome Day is to improve the lives of all people with Down syndrome. Interested in learning more, click here! A person is NOT defined by their disability! People with Down syndrome lead fulfilling lives by being married, going to college and university and having careers!

Exciting times, grade 8 students! Your grad photos are tomorrow, Tuesday March 10. Get your best smiles ready! Time to break out those ties! Hard to believe that your grade 8 graduation is barely 3 months away!

DGH community, we are looking for you to continue showing your Husky pride. World Down Syndrome Day is officially March 21; however, this falls during the March Break so we will recognize it on Friday, March 13 (the last school day before the Break). Why recognize World Down Syndrome Day? To raise awareness of Down syndrome and to raise awareness that people with Down syndrome can lead full lives. How to recognize World Down Syndrome Day? Break out your crazy socks and wear them on this day! Interested in learning more? Click on this link.

DGH community, yesterday I sent out information regarding the Parent Council’s Vandermeer Spring Flower Fundraiser.  The information in this email is around the Make It Sow Fundraiser.  The Make It Sow Fundraiser is a new one for DGH.  In this fundraiser, people can purchase seeds for growing vegetables and flowers.  There is a wide variety of product choices provided by Make It Sow.  Brochures and the ordering form should either have gone home already, or will be going home soon.  I have attached the brochures and order form to this email in case the paper versions do not come home in backpacks!  

Profits from this fundraiser will go towards the purchase of new playground equipment for our school yard.  As well, profits are used to support the Parent Council as it supports our school in other ways (e.g., in the past, the Parent Council has purchased technology for the school).  Our Parent Council appreciates any support that you are able to provide!

As always, please place orders in a clearly labelled envelope or ziplock bag (with you child’s name and homeroom teacher on it).

Start Date: Monday, March 2

Orders Due: Tuesday, March 31

Delivery Date: Wednesday, April 8

PLEASE NOTE: DUE DATES FOR THIS FUNDRAISER MAY NEED TO BE SHORTENED.  SHOULD WE NEED TO SHORTEN DUE DATES, THIS WILL INFORMATION WILL BE COMMUNICATED TO OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

DGH community, our industrious Parent Council has begun 2 different fundraisers.  The information in this email is around the Vandermeer Spring Flower Fundraiser.  The brochures should have already gone home, or will come home in the next day or two.  I have also attached the brochure and order form to this email.  As always, we ask that orders be sent into the school in a clearly labelled envelope or ziplock bag (with the student’s name and homeroom teacher written on it).

The purpose of this fundraiser is to continue raising money for the purchase of playground equipment and to support our Parent Council in its other activities (e.g., Breakfast with Santa).  Thank you for any support that you are able to provide!

Our Parent Council chose the Vandermeer Nursery for this fundraiser as the quality of the products they provided for our Winter Flower Fundraiser was quite good.

Start Date: Monday, March 2

Order Forms and Money Due into School: Tuesday, March 24

Delivery Date: Friday, April 3

PLEASE NOTE: THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT WE MAY NEED TO SHORTEN THE DUE DATES FOR THIS FUNDRAISER.  SHOULD WE NEED TO SHORTEN THE DUE DATES, THIS INFORMATION WILL BE COMMUNICATED TO OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

On Behalf Of The Parent Council,

Darin Parish

Principal