August 24, 2018 Dear Don Ross Families: It is my privilege to be joining the Don Ross Middle School team for this upcoming school year. I would like to welcome our new stu-dents and to welcome back our returning students. Please take a few moments to review the contents of this package as it contains pertinent information regarding school startup. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact our office staff or admin team. We are honoured at DRMS to teach and learn on the traditional territory of the Skwxwú7mesh Nation. Our collective school goal contin-ues to be finding new ways to improve connectedness for all our students. An ongoing initiative, at DRMS, is to encourage students to ‘unplug and connect.’ DRMS promotes the use of technology for educational purposes and will continue to provide education regarding the usage of technology as it pertains to personal health. Please support our efforts by reminding your child that all personal devices including cellphones and tablets must remain in lockers at all times unless specifically requested by staff for educational purposes only. Helping your child stay connected with their learning is an ongoing and important task for the DRMS team. While the exceptional staff here at Don Ross will support students through this development we ask that you consider discussing the following at home:

Have regular conversations about what your children are learning and doing at DRMS.

Set a regular study space and time: homework, reading, reviewing or preparing for upcoming projects.

Connect with your child’s classroom teacher as the first contact regarding achievement or behavior at DRMS. Our school counsellors, Stan Thomson and Julie Petrynko, are also available to provide assistance regarding personal or academic success.

You can find this newsletter and other relevant information, including our school event calendar, on our website at https://sd48donross.org/. I look forward to working closely you, our staff, students and community in order to build upon the excellent work that has been happen-ing at DRMS. Sincerely,

Cory Hartling Principal Don Ross Middle School

DON ROSS MIDDLE SCHOOL

Mr. Cory Hartling, Principal Mrs. Sally Paquette, Clerical Assistant Ms. Sara Place, Vice Principal Mrs. Melanie Hurlbert, Clerical Assistant Website: www.sd48donross.org

42091 Ross Road PO BOX 299, Brackendale, BC, V0N 1H0 Tel: 604-898-3671 Fax: 604-898-4672 For staff email address: 1st letter of their first name AND full lastname@sd48.bc.ca i.e. chartling@sd48.bc.ca

OPENING DAY SCHEDULE: Tuesday, September 4, 2018 Grade 8 & 9’s attend from 8:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Bring a snack for nutrition break. Report to Homeroom—lists will be posted in the Gym. Grade 7’s attend from 10:00 a.m. to 1:36 p.m. Bring a lunch. Report to Homeroom—lists will be posted in the MPR.

School Start-up Information

Grade 8 and 9

8:25 am to 8:30 am Check homeroom lists in GYM 8:30 am to 10:00 am Homeroom: Attendance Timetables Lockers/Handbooks/Forms Community Building Assembly (announced by grade) 10:00 am to 10:14 am Nutrition Break Mini Block Rotation: 10:14 am to 10:30 am Block 1 10:30 am to 10:45 am Block 2 10:45 am to 11:00 am Block 3 11:00 am to 11:15 am Block 4 11:15 am Dismissal and Buses

Grade 7 10:15 am to 10:20 am Check homeroom lists in GYM 10:20 am to 12:00 pm Homeroom: Attendance School Tours Lockers/Handbooks/Forms Community Building Assembly (announced) 12:00 pm to 12:45 pm Lunch 12:45 pm to 1:30 pm Homeroom 1:30 pm Dismissal and Buses

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What time should I come to school? Grades 8 & 9: Arrive at 8:25am and Depart at 11:15am Grade 7: Arrive at 10:15am and Depart at 1:30pm

How will I find my homeroom? Upon arrival, go to the school gym and find your name on the posted homeroom lists. Staff and student leaders will be there to help you!

What are we doing on the first day? Grades 8 & 9: You will receive your timetable, student handbook, lock and locker, and forms to take home for your parents/guardians. You will take part in a Welcome Back assembly. You will have Nutrition Break. You will learn some key school expectations. You will participate in a mini Block Rotation of your classes.

Grade 7: You will be welcomed by teachers and student leaders. You will get to know your teacher and classmates. You will have a tour of the school and school

grounds. You will learn some key school expectations. You will have a lunch break. You will receive your timetable, student handbook, lock and locker, and forms to take home for your parents/guardians. You will take part in a Welcome Back assembly.

Should I bring a snack and/or lunch? Grade 8 & 9: Bring snack for Nutrition Break Grade 7: Bring lunch for Lunch Break

Will the School Bus take me to and from Don Ross Middle School? Regular morning bussing to all schools as per posted schedules. All DRM & HSS students living in Upper Squamish, Cheakamus and Britannia who need bus rides to school should ride the morning busses.

DRM grade 7s: to be at their bus stops for pick-up 2 hours after the regular posted time to arrive at DRM at 10:20. There will be no bussing for Upper Squamish, Cheakmus and Britannia students at this time. 10:07 bus departs BES to Cheakamus and Upper Squamish

10:07 busses depart SQE to North Yards and Britannia

10:07 bus departs Stawamus. (SQE bus will stop at Stawamus to pick up students for Britannia.)

11:30 DRM grade 8 & 9 home. There will be no bussing for Upper Squamish, Cheakamus and Britannia students at this time. 1:30 DRM grade 7 home. There will be no bussing for Upper Squamish & Cheakamus at this time. Britannia students may ride the bus to HSS and wait there for the 3:00 bus to Britannia.3:00 HSS home to all areas – including pick up at DRM for Upper Squamish and Cheakamus. Squamish Area Bus Routes 2018-19: https://sd48donross.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/squamish-area-bus-routes-2018-20193.pdf

What if I am new to Don Ross Middle School? If you are new to Squamish and registered before July 6, 2018, come at your Grade specific time (above) If you are coming from Grade 6 at an SD#48 Elementary School, you are already registered, come with Grade 7s at 10:15am If you are coming from Ecole Les Aiglons or a private school in Squamish and you registered before July 6, 2018, come at your Grade specific time (above)

School Start-up Information

Student Fees Student fees are collected for the following: Student Activity Fee $12.00 Lock/Locker Rental Fee 8.00 Total Fee Payment $20.00 School Fees are to be handed in to the student’s homeroom teacher during the first week and can be paid by cash or cheque. Fees will not be collected at the office. Locks will be issued on the first day of school. Please note that Don Ross students must use the lock we is-sue, no outside locks are permitted. We encourage students to take care to keep their combination a secret and double check that their lock is secure before they walk away from their locker. If a student loses his/her lock a new one will need to be purchased from the school office.

2018 - 19 School Supply List

We have revised our school supply list in an effort to help students with their organizational skills. We have found that students manage much better when they have one binder per class ra-ther than one large binder for all subjects. Listed below is a basic list of supplies for all stu-dents. You will find grade-specific supply lists on our school website: https://sd48donross.org/students/school-supplies/ BASIC REQUIREMENTS Pencils Blue pens (encourage your child to have extras in his/her locker at all times) Eraser(s) Ruler Glue Stick Pencil crayons Lined, loose-leaf paper Dividers for each binder Binders Small three ring pencil case(s) to fit in binders Novel for Reading Block( Silent Reading) Ear Buds MB USB memory stick Teachers may or may not ask students to bring additional supplies.

PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL (PAC) Our Parent Advisory Committee provides an excellent means for parents to keep informed of what is hap-pening in our school and to be able to provide feedback. All parents are invited to attend. The first meet-ing will take place Monday, September 24, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. in our library. Our parent group meets on the fourth Monday of each month (as the school calendar allows). Our parent group is a tremendous support to our school and we look forward to another great year. So come out and join us, your voice and input is important to Don Ross.

2018 - 2019 PAC MEETING DATES

September 26, 2018 February 11, 2019 October 29, 2018 March 11,2019 November 26, 2018 April 15, 2019 No meeting in December May 13, 2019 January 21, 2019 June 17,2019

KEEPING PARENTS UP - TO - DATE

Our DRMS website holds a wealth of information for students and parents. Included on the website is information regarding our code of conduct, extra curricular school activities, student support services, library and policies and procedures Our event calendar can also be found on our school website and contains a range of information about activities taking place at our school. We encourage you to review the school code of conduct, as well as policies and procedures, with your child. In particular it is important to note DRMS policies regarding cell phone usage, dress code and ac-ceptable behavior. This review will provide parents with a good opportunity to learn important infor-mation about our school procedures, policies and expectations.

DATES TO REMEMBER September 4 Opening Day September 13 Student Photos September 24 PAC Meeting - 6:30 p.m. October 8 Thanksgiving - School not in Session October 19 Pro-D Day - School not in Session October 25 Photo Retakes October 29 PAC Meeting - 6:30 p.m. November 2 Pro-D Day - School not in Session November 12 Remembrance Day—School not in Session November 26 PAC Meeting - 6:30 p.m. November 27 Report Cards handed out to students November 29 Parent/Teacher Conferences - early dismissal 2 pm December 3 Pro-D Day - School not in Session December 21 Last Day of Classes Before Winter Break Dec 22 - Jan 6 WINTER VACATION Monday, Jan. 6 School reopens

2018 – 2019 Bell Schedule Daily Block Rotations

Week

1 Day 1

1 2 3 4

Day 2

5 6 7 8

Day 1

1 2 3 4

Day 2

5 6 7 8

Day 1

1 2 3 4

2 Day 2 7 8 5 6

Day 1 3 4 1 2

Day 2 7 8 5 6

Day 1 3 4 1 2

Day 2 7 8 5 6

3 Day 1

2 1 4 3

Day 2

6 5 8 7

Day 1

2 1 4 3

Day 2

6 5 8 7

Day 1

2 1 4 3

4 Day 2 8 7 6 5

Day 1 4 3 2 1

Day 2 8 7 6 5

Day 1 4 3 2 1

Day 2 8 7 6 5

Bell Schedule

Monday – Thursday

Warning Bell 8:26 a.m.

Block 1 8:30 a.m. to 9:47 a.m.

NUTRITION BREAK 9:47 a.m. to 10:01 a.m.

Block 2 (Reading – 20 minutes) 10:01 a.m. to 11:38 a.m.

LUNCH (41 minutes) 11:38 a.m. to 12:19 p.m.

Block 3 12:19 p.m. to 1:36 p.m.

Transition (5 minutes) 1:36 p.m. to 1:41 p.m.

Block 4 1:41 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Friday

Warning Bell 8:26 a.m.

Block 1 8:30 a.m. to 9:31 a.m.

NUTRITION BREAK 9:31 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.

Block 2 (Reading – 20 minutes) 9:45 a.m. to 11:10 a.m.

LUNCH 11:10 a.m. to 11:51 a.m.

Block 3 11:51 a.m. to 12:52 p.m.

Transition (5 minutes) 12:52 p.m. to 12:57 p.m.

Block 4 12:57 p.m. to 1:58 p.m.

CONNECT Parent Group

Sometimes wonder and worry about your teen’s behaviour?

Sometimes feel like you just don’t know what to do?

Ever worry about your relationship with your teen?

CONNECT is a group for parents which focuses on an Attachment-Based Perspective

on Parenting Teens

When: September 27 – November 22, 10-11:30am

Where: Squamish Child & Youth Mental Health Goals:

To think about behaviour from a different perspective To develop awareness of relationship issues and patterns To learn new skills and consider new options in parenting

Be part of developing a new perspective on parenting!

For further information, contact Jeanne Harrison or Brianne Smith

(604)892-1400(ext. 1)

Connect Parent Group Information

The Connect Parent Group is based on research on parenting effectiveness, adolescent

development and attachment theory, as well as feedback from the many parents who

have attended Connect.

Connect takes a different approach than most other parent groups. Rather than teach-

ing specific strategies to manage behaviour, Connect focuses on considering the youth’s

and parent’s needs from an attachment perspective; recognising and managing feelings

and reactions; and responding in ways that clearly sets limits and expectations, while at

the same time maintaining and even strengthening their relationship with their teen.

Connect is a 9 week program where parents and caregivers meet together in small

groups with two trained leaders for 1.5 hours each week. Each session begins with an

attachment principle that offers a new perspective on parent-teen relationships, develop-

ment and challenging interactions. Participants watch short role plays illustrating the

principle and work through a variety of discussion exercises to prompt new understand-

ings of difficult situations, as well as choices for responding. Parents learn skills to ne-

gotiate conflict while still maintaining their relationship with their teen. Throughout

the sessions, parents are also encouraged to reflect upon their own experiences – when

they were teens – as well as their present circumstances. Parents receive weekly

handouts summarizing the key points for each session.

While we make sure the group feels safe and supportive, Connect is not a “support

group” where parents just talk about what is happening at home. The group is struc-

tured, focused and works on building a new understanding to the parent-child relation-

ship.

Criteria:

Parents of teens (13-17 years). Also welcome are key caregivers for the youth, for ex-

ample, foster parents, grandparents, step-parents, who are in a parenting role with the

youth.

The youth does not need to be living with the parent, but does need to have a rela-

tionship with them.

The group is developed for families in which there is conflict between the parent and

teen

Referral Process

A waitlist currently exists for this group

To be placed on the waitlist, parent or professional can call 604-892-1400(ext. 1)