Before the school year began, the atmosphere in the province was one of optimism. The release of the COVID-19 guidelines indicated a reduction in the intensity of measures that needed to be in place to protect the health and safety of everyone on campus. Vaccination rates were increasing in our health region and, in particular, eligible students were rolling up their sleeves to be vaccinated. At the administrative level, we anticipated a possible shift in our efforts with less time being spent focused on the pandemic and more energy available to continue to grow and improve as a school.

Interestingly, as the pandemic adds new chapters to its story, we sense that we are currently operating somewhere in the middle, caught between what we would describe as “normal” and a full lockdown, the challenges continue. Because there are things we can do this year compared to last year while still ensuring everyone is upholding the essential health and safety measures, it is our experience that the amount of effort being dedicated to COVID-19 measures has increased rather than decreased.

There was a day last week, Wednesday, October 6, when it was clear to me the School was effectively navigating the middle ground in a manner demonstrating what CHS is capable of achieving. On this day, the School was inspected by the Ministry, a standard event that happens every two years but requires preparation and ongoing vigilance to ensure the School is compliant with all provincial policies and statutes for independent schools. While this was happening, there was a group of Outdoor Education 11 students hiking and camping in the snowy alpine area near Joffre Lakes. The 24 students were on day two of a three day trip. The afternoon included the School welcoming spectators to Kent Field to cheer on the field hockey team and then to the Athletic Centre to encourage the Senior Volleyball team. Finally, at 7:00 pm, the community was invited to hear an important message from Carl Honoré, In Praise of Slow.

The events of October 6 offer a snapshot of how it is possible to do the things that define this school and community while occupying this middle ground. Additional safety measures for the students participating in overnight excursions, virtual meetings with inspectors, developing specific guidelines for a limited number of athletic spectators and live streaming events to bring the community together in a virtual way are all strategies at CHS. Soon, Admissions will bring prospective families back onto campus; however, it will not be in the same manner or format as pre-COVID years. Creative and flexible solutions are required on this middle ground.

As the year continues and new COVID chapters are written, the ground on which the School functions will continue to shift and we will shift with it. Our aim will continue to be to put health and safety first, to elevate the educational program and experience for all students, bring the community together, and reach out beyond the gates of the school welcoming others to come to know the School and supporting our community partners.

Pre-Register Children for COVID-19 Vaccination

The BC Ministry of Health has opened registration for children aged 5 to 11 years to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Families are encouraged to register their children through the provincial Get Vaccinated portal. "Registering your child is a great step right now as we await approvals from Health Canada," said a spokesperson from the BC Ministry of Health in an email to CBC News. Those who register will receive a notification when it is time to book an appointment. To register online, you must provide a first and last name, date of birth, postal code, personal health number and an email address or a phone number that can receive text messages. Registration can also be done over the phone at 1-833-838-2323 (toll free).

Online Winter Bazaar 2021

Online sales for the Crofton House Winter Bazaar opened this week and feature favourites from Croftie Creations, Plants & Wreaths (and orchids), The Pie Hole, Girl Made Goods, and the Makers’ Market. New this year, the Bazaar is selling sweet and savoury catered platters that can be delivered to your home and enjoyed as a family. All net proceeds will be donated to our community partner, KidSafe, a local organization that provides safety, nutrition, and educational programs to vulnerable children during school breaks. Orders can be made online and will be charged to your student account, except for pies that are purchased through The Pie Hole. Learn more.

Ministry Monitoring Inspection

The School completed an inspection by the Ministry of Education on Wednesday, October 6. Mr. Doug Lauson, former Superintendent at the Catholic Independent Schools Vancouver Archdiocese (CISVA), supervised a virtual monitoring inspection which evaluates the School’s compliance with policies and statutes established by the Independent School’s Branch of the Ministry of Education. Overall, it was a successful inspection and we await the final report.

Update to COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and Daily Health Check

The School updates the COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions weekly with responses to inquiries from our community members. New or updated information is highlighted for easy reference. The Daily Health Check has also been updated to reflect the most recent guidance. The FAQ and Daily Health Check are companion documents to the COVID-19: CHS Health & Safety Guidelines available in the My CHS Community Portal under COVID-19 Resources.

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Crofton House Society will take place on Tuesday, October 26, 2021, at 7:00 pm. The members of the Society are the parents and guardians of all current students and current members of the Board of Governors. An agenda for the meeting was emailed to parents/guardians on Tuesday, October 12. Members can participate in the AGM by first registering online in advance of the meeting by no later than Thursday, October 21, 2021. After registration and membership verification, on Monday, October 25, 2021, you will receive a confirmation email with a link and passcode to join the AGM through Zoom. All members of the society are encouraged to participate in the AGM.

Remembrance Day Assembly

Parents and guardians are encouraged to join the students and staff in recognition of Remembrance Day. On Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at 8:45 am, the annual student-led Remembrance Day Assembly will be held at the school and broadcast to the community via livestream. First observed throughout the British Commonwealth in 1919 as Armistice Day to commemorate the agreement that ended the First World War on Monday, November 11, 1918, at 11:00 am, Remembrance Day currently recognizes the courage and sacrifices by all those who have served their country and acknowledges our responsibility to continue to work for the peace these individuals fought to achieve. In an assembly held at the school each year, students from many grades offer their perspective on this day and of its continued relevance and importance.

Vidigami Update

Vidigami, a useful tool for viewing, sharing, and archiving school photos, has launched for the 2021-2022 school year. Invitations were sent out to new parents this week. Returning parents are able to log in with their existing username and password to access or upload photos.

We were glad to be joined by special guest Carl Honoré at the beginning of the month. “We have forgotten how to slow down,” he said in an evening with parents and guardians. The pandemic has helped us wake up from our obsession with speed, while also demanding more screen time than ever. Carl walked parents through tips and strategies on how to slow down in life and on screen—and why it matters—drawing on his philosophy in his book, In Praise of Slow. Read our key take-aways or view a recording of the event. The recording is available until Monday, November 15.

Congratulations to Grade 11 students Ahmber, Julie, Cindy, Natasha, and Athena, this year’s winners of the Innovation Challenge! Their app, Teenwork, would help connect students with employers in their communities. Learn more about the event and hear what the students thought about the experience.

Activities Galore was a huge hit in the Senior School. All week long, Grades 8 to 12 students had the chance to learn about the different co-curricular opportunities and sign up for their favourites.

A flurry of snow did nothing to deter the excitement and enthusiasm of these students as they took part in the OE11 Fall Hike at Joffre Lakes. Along with taking in the beautiful scenery, the students took time to learn about the significance of the land for local indigenous groups, as well as put their camp craft skills to the test.

Grade 5 students worked on mixed-media art pieces, sewing leaves on top of crayon rubbings that they had done earlier in the day, making for a very vibrant and tactile experience.

Wet weather days are great for settling down with a good book. These Grade 4 students made sure that they left the Sherman Jen Learning Commons with plenty of new novels to consume over the coming weeks.

Grade 2 students had a visit from High Touch High Tech, an organization that facilitates STEM for kids. The guests walked students through an interactive science experiment to teach kids about the world of clouds and the rain cycle.

Junior Kindergarten students have been getting in the fall mood, filling their craft time with plenty of leaves, pumpkins and playtime.

Livestream Schedule for Home Volleyball Matches

October 18 @ 3:45 pm - Grade 7A vs Mulgrave
October 18 @ 3:45 pm - Grade 7B vs Mulgrave
October 19 @ 5:00 pm - Varsity vs West Point Grey
October 21 @ 3:30 pm - Bantam vs Notre Dame / Little Flower Academy
October 22 @ 8:00 am - Junior ISAA Tournament @ CHS
October 23 @ 8:00 am - Junior ISAA Tournament @ CHS

The schedule and links to view the events are available for parents and guardians in the My CHS Community Portal under Livestream Broadcasts.

Junior School Athletics-at-a-Glance

• The Grade 7A Volleyball team competed at the Tiffany Li Memorial tournament hosted by West Point Grey Academy, coming home with the silver medal.
• A total of 60 cross country athletes from Grade 3 to Grade 7 participated in the 2nd annual Falcon Run on campus under blue skies and lots of sunshine. A big thank you to the Senior School students who helped as pace runners. View Gallery.
• Field Hockey has wrapped up for the year with great turn out from Grade 6 and Grade 7 students willing to tackle some coldy and wet mornings. Lots of work put in and some wonderful progress made in the space of five short weeks.

Thank you to the coaches, teachers and students who work diligently at practices to help prepare our teams and support our athletics program.

Senior School Athletics-at-a-Glance

A return to competition has been thoroughly embraced by sports teams in the Senior School with field hockey and volleyball teams excited to once again face opponents from other schools in the Lower Mainland. It is great to see their passion, energy and dedication back in Chan Hall, the Athletics Centre and on Kent Field once again.

Go Falcons Go!

The Benefits of Unplugging

We welcomed back the Whole World, Whole Girl speaker series with author Carl Honoré and his "Slow philosophy" approach. Carl's compelling talk on the benefits of P.D.F. (Playtime, Downtime, Family Time) brought our community together online–a total of 195 people logged onto the event! Special thank you to the PA’s Speaker Series Coordinator, Katherine Grant, and the CHS team for putting together this very timely presentation.

Log into the My CHS portal to access the full school calendar.

Whole School

October 22 - Professional Development (No Classes)
October 26 - Annual General Meeting
October 29 - Halloween Activities
November 11 - Remembrance Day - No Classes
November 12 - Mid-Term Break - No Classes
November 15 - Professional Development - No Classes

Junior School

October 20 - Grade 6 to 7 Parent-Teacher Conferences
October 21 - Grade 1 to 7 Parent-Teacher Conferences

Senior School

October 18-20 - Grade 9 Outdoor Education