September 26, 2024
Dear St’a7mes Families,
I hope this message finds you well. I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the Elders and community members who joined us for our Reconciliation Day ceremony. Your presence made this event a meaningful experience for our students and reinforced the importance of our shared commitment to reconciliation. I am so very grateful for the work that our students and staff put into this ceremony.
As we transition into fall, I want to remind everyone that the rainy season is upon us. Please ensure that your children are dressed appropriately for the weather to stay comfortable and ready for outdoor activities. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you need any support.
I would also like to remind families that tomorrow is a professional development day for our staff, and there will also be no school on Monday in observance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Classes will resume on Tuesday, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back.
Finally, I’d like to take a moment to honor a few students this week:
- Kira from Ms. Kye and Ms. Lindsey's class demonstrated Wanaxws through her strength and perseverance in her learning.
- Thiago showed Chén̓chenstway by being an excellent support in the library.
- Shawna embodied Tímit by actively including new students in our school and committing herself to her learning.
We are proud of these students and their contributions to our school community.
Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. Have a wonderful weekend!
Take care,
Cory Hartling
Principal, St’a7mes School
As we move into the school year, we are requesting that you periodically check your family to determine whether lice may be present and follow the recommended method as outlined in the information linked below. Please know that it is not uncommon for schools to receive reports from parents/guardians that head lice has been detected nor is it uncommon for schools to request preventative actions at home. If you find evidence of lice or nits, please inform the school and use the treatment options linked here.
While head lice do not carry disease or cause harm, negative reactions to head lice can impact children’s self-esteem and result in their isolation from others. Reassure, comfort and support your child. Sharing facts and dispelling myths is a helpful approach.
Head lice are most common in school-aged children and are spread by close head-to-head contact. Head lice may be spread by sharing personal items. We suggest you discourage your child from sharing hats, helmets, scarves, hair ornaments, headphones, towels and hair brushes/combs with others. Once parents/guardians learn how to recognize head lice, regularly checking your own and your child’s head is the best prevention (Source: BC Ministry of Health/Vancouver Coastal Health).
If lice is reported in your child's classroom you will receive a notice to inform you and to advise you to closely check your child to decrease the chance of spread. Please note, our role here is to inform and educate. We do not do head checks at school and although we will inform families if we are aware that their child has head lice and support treatment, we do not require students to go home for the reasons outlined above.
If you need further information, please feel free to contact your principal.