Baccalieu Collegiate Family Weekly Updates: Monday, April 11th 2022 (DAY 4)

Dear Families,

Happy Monday! I hope everyone enjoyed the beautiful weekend. Spring is fast approaching!  Keep grinding, smiling, taking care of yourself until the break! Please see the following important updates. Any questions or concerns let me know. If I have missed anything please reply-all to this email.

                                             Updates and Important Information

COVID-19 Restrictions in Schools: Please note (Memo: NLESD), as per the CMO and NLESD, schools will continue to mandate mask wearing up until the end of Easter Break both on the bus and in school. At which time, further decisions will be made. While we understand youth (and adults) are entering yet another confusing and tiresome period of time where the outside world says it's okay not to wear a mask and schools are saying it isn't - let's focus on the research/facts. For example, looking at one of the largest studies: "A huge National Institute of Health (USA) study involving 1.1 million students found that schools with masking mandates during the Delta surge had ~72% fewer cases of in-school transmission." The view of this research is not to say masks are full proof, but a clear indicator that they serve a proficient tool (and the only tool that we have) to help everyone ease into a world without restrictions (for now). While we're all tired, it's important we empathize with the whole public, and not just our specific cohort. It is important to support our children's empathy, understanding, and perseverance. Holdfast. Wearing masks in schools far outweighs the risks this virus has on us.

1) Easter Holiday: A reminder that Easter holiday is from Friday, April 15th 2022 until Monday, April 25th 2022. We will be dismissing 1 hour early on Thursday, April 14th 2022 (1:48pm)

2) Doorways: Doorways will be at our school on Wednesday, April 13th 2022. 

3) Spring Fashions Day: In support of CDLI BCP will be celebrating Spring Fashions day on Thursday, April 14th 2022. Dress up in your best Spring Fashion! 

4) Girls Volleyball: This Thursday, April 14th 2022 after school our school will be hosting the SSNL Gr. 7 Girls Volleyball tournament. Stay tuned for schedule! Go BCP Go! Huge thanks to coaches Alan Ash and Ewan Penny for making this opportunity for our youth possible! 

5) Boys Basketball: Please see attached schedule for our BCP Boys Basketball team who will be competing at 1st Annual Bring Back the Bay Sr. Boys Basketball Tournament held at Roncalli. Go BCP Go!

6) Baccalieu Idol: Who will be our next Baccalieu Idol? Baccalieu Idol will take place April 28th 2022! Save the date!

7) Graduation 2020-21: It's nothing for Covid-19 to have put past accomplishments on delay. Baccalieu Collegiate will be celebrating our 2020-21 Graduates Cap and Gown & Awards Ceremony Friday, April 29th 2022 at 7:00pm. All teachers are invited however attendance is of course voluntary.  

8) PISA: Please note that our school has been selected to participate in PISA. For more information please see the brochure attached. This assessment will take place May 2nd 2022. All of our Grade 10 students will write the international assessment. There is no preparation needed on their part. Just to try their best and show the PISA assessment what they got. 

9) New Testing Protocols: Please review the following memo regarding new testing protocols. CMOH Memo - Changes to School Rapid Testing Program.pdf, Rapid Testing Program for Students and Staff at Schools.pdf. The following is a youtube link on using rapid test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJhdIWWdXT4&t=9s

10) Close Contact: Please see the UPDATED Covid-19 Close Contact Flow Chart. My apologies, the last update was not the most current. This updated flow chart can also be found on our website under "Resources".

11) Check the Calendar: Check the Calendar (www.baccaliecollegiate.ca) for further updates. 

Good News Report (In no particular order)

• Trevor Project: Congrats to our Baccalieu Collegiate Gender Sexuality Alliance group for their very successful bake sale this past Thursday, April 7th 2022 to raise funds for the Trevor Project. The Trevor Project is an American nonprofit organization founded in 1998 focused on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth. Through a toll-free telephone number, it operates The Trevor Lifeline, a confidential service that offers trained counselors. Way to go!!!
  
• Be Cool for Autism: Thank-you to everyone who was involved in our "Be Cool for Autism" Day to celebrate World Autism Day. 
• Moosehide Campaign: Thank-you Ms. Ruttgaizer for bringing the Moose Hide Campaign to our school for a chance to bring learning and awareness towards Reconciliation with Indigenious People. The official day is May 12th! To learn more check out Moose Hide Campaign
• Gaming Club: Baccalieu gaming club is back on the go during lunchtimes!
• Extracurricular Sports: It is great to see so many youth back in the gymnasium including Jr. and Sr. Girls Volleyball, Baccalieu Boys Basketball, and Baccalieu Boys Floor Hockey! Thank-you to all the coaches volunteering their time! Don't forget to check out our calendar for all practice times and game dates!
• Doorways: Appreciation for Doorways! Thank-you for joining our school every other week. 
• Wednesday Open Mic: Big thanks to Dominick LaMouche for organizing and entertaining Open Mic every Wednesday during lunch in the Learning Commons! 
• Check Facebook/Twitter: For more updates on good news and information check out our Baccalieu Collegiate facebook/twitter page.