Hello Winlaw Families and Caregivers,

Welcome back to school! I hope you and your families have had a wonderful summer spending time with family and friends in our beautiful Slocan Valley and Kootenay region. We extend a huge welcome to our new students and families who have recently moved to Winlaw or are starting Kindergarten!

Below are some details for you during this first week.  School startup involves many details, questions, and changing enrollments so we appreciate your patience as we work through everything!

First day – Tuesday, September 7

This is an early dismissal day and buses will be running 3 hours earlier. School starts at 8:03 and will dismiss at 11:05.

Preliminary class lists have been worked on this week.  Please note that there is always a possibility that these might change after the first week once we see for sure who is arriving. Primary classes will return to their last year’s classes for this first day and will line up in their usual locations just prior to the bell.  We will have students move to their new grade on Wednesday, September 7th. I will email parents on Tuesday, September 6th later in the afternoon with their new grade placement.   Grade 4 students will return to Grade 3/4 and all Gr. 5/6 students will start in Mr. Ellis’s class on this first day.

New students in Gr.1 will join the K/1 class. New Gr. 2 and 3 students will join the Gr. 1/2 class and new Gr. 4 students will join the Gr. 3/4 class and new Gr. 5/6 students will go directly to Gr. 5/6 class.

Line up at following locations:

K/1- Modular entrance

Grade 1/2- Main entrance

Grade  3/4- Main entrance

Grade 5/6- Gym door entrance

Kindergarten students will participate in family conferences this first week then will start half days on September 12th as part of the Kindergarten Gradual Entry.

School Supplies

As approved by our SD8 Board of Education, we will continue to purchase all school supplies this year and charge families $40 per student, payable online at  https://winlaw.sd8.bc.ca/pay or in the office via debit, cheque or cash.

Please send your child with non-marking indoor shoes and a personal water bottle, as well as other personal items such as a lunch kit, backpack, and appropriate outdoor clothing.

 Bell Schedule

 Our bell schedule has been slightly amended. Please note our start time has moved to 8:03 am and dismissal is at 2:05.  Please see the Bell Schedule at https://winlaw.sd8.bc.ca/about/bell-schedule.

Bus Students

If you have not already registered for the bus, you can do so at this link:

https://www.sd8.bc.ca/schools/busing-transportation

Winlaw Our Place After School Care

Our Winlaw Our Place After School Care resumes on Tuesday, September 6th from 11:05-2:00 then from 2:05-5:00 starting September 7th the rest of the school year.  We are very thrilled to announce that Early Childhood Education care provider Pati McLaughlin has been hired again!  I am also pleased to share that we now have a drop-in program but it does require pre-registration. Please contact me at monica.doyle@sd8.bc.ca with any inquires.

School App

Stay connected to our school by using the school app on your phone! You can report absences, make a payment, read our news updates, and receive notifications in one handy place. Here is the link to more information: https://www.sd8.bc.ca/node/42892.

I look forward to meeting all the students on Tuesday and working together with families during this upcoming year!

All the best,

Monica Doyle

Principal