BCP Family Weekly Updates: Monday, September 11th 2023 (DAY 4)

 Dear Families,

I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend! Huge congrats and thank-you to everyone on their first days of the 2023-24 school year. Work together, pace yourself, have fun. The year will have its long days and weeks, and feel like the year flew by. Make sure you recharge your batteries on your days off. Focus and be kind during your days in. Thank-you in advance for taking the time to review updates and important reminders! Any questions or concerns let me know. If I have missed anything please reply-all to this email. 

                                                        Updates and Important Information

1) Harbour Breeze Cafeteria: Please see the following new BCP Harbour Breeze Menu and Harbour Breeze Information. Cafeteria services will begin Monday, September 11th 2023.

2) District Memo: RNC Arrest

3) Baccalieu Collegiate Lighthouse Project: This week we will be unveiling our new Baccalieu Collegiate Lighthouse Project. We are very excited as this project will provide opportunity for students to follow their passions and work together and with the community to produce meaningful production and of course learning. The project is in partnership with Scott Legge from the Atlantic Spotlight, NLMusic, Brilliant Labs, and the Trinity Hall (Greg Wells). We will be having our first welcome back and kick-off event this Thursday at the school. Stay tuned! 

4) Volunteer Meeting: Baccalieu Collegiate is inviting any community/family members who would like to volunteer their time in cooperation with the school for a meeting at 6:00pm on Thursday, September 21st 2023 (before the Meet and Greet/ Curriculum Night). 

5) Meet and Greet -- Curriculum Night: Baccalieu Collegiate will having it's Meet and Greet the teacher / Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 21st 2023 starting at 6:30pm. Families are encouraged to attend for a general assembly covering teacher introductions and important information, followed by opportunity to share a coffee/tea with our teachers. 

6) Learning Disabilities Association of NL - Back to School Resources: Please see the following message from Manisha writing on behalf of the Learning Disabilities Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (LDANL). Back to school is here and we would like to share some resources with you!  Attached please find two PDF files: 

1. An interactive PDF- this PDF allows the user to click and learn more about each of our tutoring projects. This can also be printed and used as a poster!
2. A general information poster- this describes who we are and what services we offer. 

As you can see, LDANL supports all ages and no diagnosis is required to access any of our services. This time of year can bring on stress for many so we want to spread the word to support as many individuals as possible. 

7) Reminder -- Important Memo for Junior High (Family): Please see important rules and expectations updated for our Junior High students and students under the age of 16. Please review these updates with your family. These updates will be presented to students tomorrow (first day of school) and be implemented immediately. MEMO: Junior High Families

8) Reminder -- Absence/Sign-in/Sign-out (Family): It’s very important that you make attendance a priority for our youth. Powerschool will be making a daily call-out to families of students who had any unexcused absences or unexcused lateness. Please go to the website to complete an absent form (and/or call the office) to formally notify staff of an absence. Any parent/guardian signing-out their child early for appointments etc. must have a parent/guardian complete the sign-out form and this information must be verified by the office prior to the student leaving. Parents have the option to come into the school or call the school to verify the sign-out. Students will not be permitted to leave until the latter is completed. Finally, students signing in late must report to the office and check-in by speaking with admin and completing the sign-in form. The above procedures are vitally important for safe and secure school purposes. 

9) Powerschool -- Rycor Payment/Forms (Family): Baccalieu Collegiate is now using the Rycor online form/payment system in September 2023. Please review the links below and access (set-up if needed) powerschool parent portal. You will need to use your parent email that is on file at Baccalieu Collegiate. Please note the Rycor system will work on all devices however it is recommended to use a computer where possible. The following link will provide you with information on the Rycor system and troubleshooting tips: https://www.nlesd.ca/studentsfamilies/rycor.jsp. Please access your child's account as soon as possible to read, review, and sign the following important documents: Acceptable Use of Technology, Media Consent, Student Demographics and Athlete Contract. 

10) Anti-Discrimination Conduct Procedure: Please refer to our Code of Conduct Flowchart: Code of Conduct Flowchart. In any incident whereby you hear or see a student use discriminatory language please refer them to the office at the time of the incident. Then, at the teacher's convenience the teacher must inform the office what happened and the office will investigate and apply next steps as needed. An Office-referral in 360 is required. In addition to the above, we will look at school wide initiatives to better educate and support our youth's learning around discrimination. Any ideas from staff are certainly welcome.

11) Cannabis and Smoke Free Policy: Please note Baccalieu Collegiate and the District support a Tobacco, Cannabis, Smoke and Smoke-less Free Policy. School is no place for these addictive substances that harm our young adolescents' health.  This policy also includes banning any person wearing clothing that promotes respective unhealthy habits. Persons should not be wearing any clothing that has tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, and/or any drug represented on it. https://www.nlesd.ca/includes/files/policies/doc/1548691595907.pdf

12) E-Mental Health Quick Guide: Check out this all-inclusive reference guide E-Mental Health Quick Guide to support yourself and/or family in any situation. 

13) Social Media Tips for Families: We know that although we work hard at school to help our students learn what it means to be Good Digital Citizens (a person who is able to navigate our digital environments in a way that’s safe and responsible and to actively and respectfully engage in these spaces), it is also important that our families and caregivers are included in our conversations. As a way for us to continue this conversation with our families and caregivers, our Program Itinerants for Safe & Inclusive Schools have created and shared this infographic with us: Social Media Tips For Families. The goal of

sharing this information is to help us work together to ensure we are modeling what it means to be Good Digital Citizens. We know that our families and our caregivers are our students' first teachers and that it is essential we include you as part of our district-wide program in this area. Together, we can be positive role models for our students. Please connect with your school administrator or guidance counsellor if you are looking for support in helping your child navigate the digital world, or if you have any concerns that you would like to discuss. Working together, we can make being a Good Digital Citizen a priority at school and at home.

14) Assessment Support Calendar: Please do your best to add assessments to our Assessment Support Calendar. This calendar is shared on our www.baccalieucollegiate.ca site for both students and families to see and support their organization. Additionally, give our IRT team a heads up at your earliest convenience so that they can mobilize effectively to support. 

15) Check the Calendar: Check the Calendar (www.baccaliecollegiate.ca) for further and future updates. 

Good News Report (In no particular order)

• Caretakers: Big thanks to our caretaking team Mr. Preston and Ms. Pike for taking care and preparing the school over the summer!

• Students: Thank-you to all of our students for an excellent first week back. Students kindness and good hearts shined through in only few days! We look forward to seeing more kindness, cooperation, and smiles this week! 
• Staff: Huge thanks to our staff new and returning on a excellent first week! 
• Check Facebook/Twitter: For more updates on good news and information check out our Baccalieu Collegiate facebook/twitter page. 
• Did I miss something? If I missed anything please be sure to reply-all. There are so many amazing things going on at Baccalieu already, so chances are I might miss something. Celebrate whenever you can!