Announcements

Dear parents/guardians,

I am writing to let you know that the RCMP have advised the Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows School District that criminal charges have been laid by the Crown against Maple Ridge resident, Daniel Jon Olson.

The charges are very serious and deeply concerning. Mr. Olson is a child and youth care worker in the school district and has worked in a number of our elementary and secondary schools over the course of his employment. While we have no first-hand knowledge about the charges, we are informing all our families out of an abundance of caution so that parents/guardians can direct any information they may have about this matter directly to the Ridge Meadows RCMP.

I want to assure you that the safety and well-being of our students is our number one priority; as such, Mr. Olson has been on unpaid leave since the time the school district was notified of his arrest.

For your information, I have included the RCMP news release below.

Sincerely,

Sylvia Russell
Superintendent of Schools

Ridge Meadows RCMP new release

File # 2019-828

Maple Ridge, B.C. – The Ridge Meadows RCMP Serious Crime Unit is currently investigating allegations of sexual assault and production of child pornography. On March 8, 2019, Mr. Daniel Jon Olson, a fifty-two (52) year old Maple Ridge resident, appeared in Provincial Court in Port Coquitlam and has been charged with the following offences between 2008 and 2019:

• 1 Count of Possessing Child Pornography;
• 1 Count of Making, Printing, Publishing or Possessing for the Purpose of Publication Child Pornography;
• 8 Counts of Sexual Interference;
• 2 Counts of Sexual Assault with a Weapon.

He has been released on conditions with a next court date of April 2, 2019. If you have any information about these incidents, please contact Cst. Tana Goode at 604-467-7681 or Cpl. Joshua Roda at 604-476-6902 with the Ridge Meadow Serious Crimes Unit.

For all media enquiries relating to this file please contact Cpl. Amanda Harnett at 604-476-6908.

The SD42 Aboriginal Education Information Night scheduled for Wednesday, February 13th, has been postponed due to weather. Invitees will be contacted once a new date has been selected for this very important collaborative event. 

The online phase of registration for c̓əsqənelə Elementary has now closed.

Parents/guardians of students who were registered in the online phase of registration for c̓əsqənelə Elementary (January 7 – 31, 2019) have received notification from the school district of the status of their registration request.*

Effective February 1, 2019, all registration inquiries for c̓əsqənelə Elementary can be directed to school principal Jon Wheatley at jonathan_wheatley@sd42.ca.

Per district policy and procedures, registration priority for c̓əsqənelə Elementary will be based on the following criteria:

1. IN catchment (proof of residence will be required)
2. IN catchment daycare (proof of daycare in catchment will be required)
3. OUT of catchment
4. OUT of district

To determine your elementary school catchment based on your residential address or daycare address, please use our School Locator.

For more information about c̓əsqənelə Elementary, visit the school website.

* Parents/guardians of in-catchment students and of students whose daycare fall within the catchment have received confirmation of their child’s registration at the school. Parents/guardians of out-of-catchment students have been advised that review of all out-of-catchment registration requests will be completed in chronological order based on when registration requests were submitted. This review process will begin on February 19, 2019.

The Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows School District has been experiencing increasing enrolment growth at the elementary level over the past couple of years. Last year’s restoration of the collective agreement language regarding class size and class composition has resulted in a full utilization of elementary school facilities ahead of the projected time line.

Current enrolment in Central Capital Zone elementary schools (the zone in which Maple Ridge Secondary is situated) already exceeds the operating capacity of these schools. The school district is forecasting that elementary enrolment will continue to increase over the next several years. The district is not forecasting that overall enrolment increases at the secondary level will exceed available capacity in its facilities over the next 10 years. (more…)

SD42 District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) is hosting an information session on Grade 8 registration on January 17, 2019 at Thomas Haney Secondary (rotunda) from 7-9 pm.

Assistant Superintendent Shannon Derinzy will discuss the general registration process and answer any questions you may have about the transition from Grade 7 to Grade 8.

Grade 8 registration opens online at noon on Tuesday, February 5, 2019, and closes at noon on Wednesday, February 20, 2019. Parents/guardians will be notified by email before Spring Break about their child’s assigned school.

For more information about Grade 8 registration, please visit: http://www.sd42.ca/student-registration/

No registration is required for the January 17 presentation. Seating for this event is first come, first serve. 

Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows School District No. 42’s Continuing Education Department is offering a broad range of course options this spring at Riverside Centre.

Learn more about the high school graduation and upgrading courses offered and registration dates.

Due to a power outage at the school, the Fairview Elementary StrongStart centre will be CLOSED today, Friday, December 21, 2018.

Information nights and online registration coming up for the following district programs:

WHEELHOUSE

Information Night:
7:00 pm
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Alouette Elementary
22155 Isaac Crescent
Maple Ridge

The Wheelhouse is a classroom where students are both challenged and supported in becoming life-long learners and responsible citizens. Some of the highlights of the program include:

• Weekly Field Study Days where students learn outside the regular class setting;
• A classroom of care and discovery that is well supported by staff, parents and community mentors;
• Leadership activities that improve confidence, citizenship, and social responsibility;
• Wheelhouse students are also part of the school district 1-to-1 program, where each student is assigned an iPad for use throughout the school year.

This option is open to all Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows School District students who will be going into grades 6 and 7 in September 2019. For more information, including a more in-depth look at the program, dates and times for student interviews, and details on how to become a Wheelhouse student, please visit The Wheelhouse online at https://wheelhouse.sd42.ca/

REGISTRATION for The Wheelhouse opens online at noon, February 7, 2019. Registration link: https://bit.ly/2UQSkSw

CYBERSCHOOL

Information Night:
7:00 pm
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Alouette Elementary
22155 Isaac Crescent
Maple Ridge

CyberSchool allows SD42 students in grades 6 and 7 to work at school three days a week, and from home (online) the other two days while still interacting with the class. Some benefits of this program include:

• Development of independence and self-advocacy;
• Use of technology to analyze and improve critical thinking skills;
• Collaboration with peers both online and face to face;
• Flexible scheduling – individualized daily agenda;
• Use of technology to demonstrate learning.

CyberSchool students are also part of the school district 1-to-1 program in which each student is assigned an iPad for the school year. This option is open to all Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows School District students who will be going into grades 6 and 7 in September 2019.

REGISTRATION for Cyberschool opens online at noon, February 7, 2019. Registration link: https://bit.ly/2Lp9Dph

LATE FRENCH IMMERSION

Information Night:

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
January 31, 2019
Golden Ears Elementary (activity room)
23124 – 118 Avenue
Maple Ridge

Open Classroom Visit:

8:30 am – 10:00 am
February 5, 2019
23124 – 118 Avenue
Maple Ridge

The SD42 Late French Immersion Program is an excellent opportunity for students who want to learn a second language or are looking for a challenge. Students who are currently in Grade 5 are eligible to begin Late French Immersion in September 2019 at Golden Ears Elementary School. This two-year elementary program continues either at Maple Ridge Secondary School or Pitt Meadows Secondary.

To learn more about Late French Immersion, attend our information meeting on January 31, 2019 at Golden Ears Elementary.

7-8 pm, January 31, 2019
Golden Ears Elementary (activity room)
23124-118^th Avenue, Maple Ridge

For more information, please contact Shelley Linton at 604.465.5828 or shelley_linton@sd42.ca

REGISTRATION for Late French Immersion opens online at noon, February 7, 2019. Registration link: https://bit.ly/2UNY67r

As a result of the pipeline rupture in October 2018, FortisBC is forecasting a shortfall of natural gas through the winter. With a reduced supply of natural gas available, customers across BC are being asked to continue to conserve energy.

The Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows School District uses natural gas to heat its schools and facilities. In order to do our part to conserve natural gas, we will be turning down thermostats when schools are not in session. Our temperatures will be:

Thermostats will remain set at these temperatures until the FortisBC natural gas advisory is lifted.

How can you help?

• Turn down the thermostat. Keep classroom thermostats adjusted to 20°C during school hours, and 15°C when schools are not in session.
• Cozy clothes. Make sure you dress appropriately to stay warm and comfortable inside your school or classroom.
• Don’t let the heat out. Keep classroom and school doors closed during recess and lunch so the heat doesn’t escape. Also, whenever possible, keep classroom windows closed to avoid heat loss.

Download the SD42 Saving Natural Gas poster. 

Visit FortisBC for regular updates on BC’s natural gas supply and tips for reducing natural gas use. 

At the November 21, 2018 inaugural meeting of the board, trustees elected Korleen Carreras as board chairperson and Elaine Yamamoto as vice-chair. Congratulations to both!