PLEASE NOTE Change for Bus 43 – September 25:

On Friday, September 25 Bus 43 Jason MacKinnon will not be running late. Students that normally get on Bus 43 will be picked up by Bus 193 Wade Bingley.

Bus 74 remains the same for Friday, September 25:

Bus 74 Anthony Cannon Birchwood & Charlottetown Rural Schools will be running approx 30 minutes late tomorrow morning.  These students will be picked up by Bus 56 Angus Davies.

We appreciate your patience as we work through these challenges.

Sports schedules:

• Schedules are available from your coach or online: http://peisaa.pe.ca/master_sched_league.php?lang=1 

Students Fees:

• Student fees are due. $30/student or $40/family.
• Payment can be to office in cash or e-transferred to birchwood@edu.pe.ca
• If e-transferred, please indicate your child’s full name Grade, and HR class.

Athletic fees:

• Fees are due this week.  You can pay online birchwood@edu.pe.ca or to Ms. Morrison or your coach.  You will receive a receipt.
• Soccer: $20
• Field Hockey: $25

Golf Tryouts:

• Golf tryouts will be Monday, Sept. 28, at Belvedere.
• First Tee time is 3:45, $15 for 9 holes.
• Tee time pairings will be available tomorrow.

Cross Country:

• Please see Ms. Morrison or Mr. MacVicar in the gym if you’re interested in running.  The meet is on Thursday, Oct 15th at Charlottetown Rural

Today is GAME DAY *you need to hand in your signed form

Soccer:

• A Girls Soccer host Gulf Shore at 4:30 (3 forms missing)
• AA Girls Soccer host Stonepark at 4:30 (2 forms missing)
• A Boys Soccer @ Stonepark 5:00 (4 forms missing)
• AA Boys Soccer @ Stonepark 3:30 (9 forms missing)
• Boys soccer:
  • Both teams meet in the gym at break to arrange your transportation to Stonepark.  Forms must be turned into Ms. Morrison.
• Girls soccer:
  • We will meet briefly after school at 2:50 to give further directions & uniforms (location tba).  Please do not leave the school before seeing your coach.

• Rosters are posted on the bulletin board outside the gym.

Field Hockey:

• Field Hockey at Cornwall 3:40

There will be an announcement made to let teams know when they can proceed to the gym to get changed for their games.

School fees: 

• School fees will be $30 for one student and $40 per family.
• Payment to office or e-transferred to birchwood@edu.pe.ca
• Please indicate in e-transfer students full name, homeroom.

School Pictures:

• School pictures will be Wednesday, Thursday, Oct. 7/8.

Cobras face Masks:

• The official Cobra Face masks will go on sale today, $10 each.

School Sports Spectator guidelines:

• PEISAA has announced Spectator Guidelines due to COVID-19 for the outdoor sports that begin play this week.
• For venues that already have guidelines in place, those must be followed first.  Currently Terry Fox Complex in Cornwall and Summerside Turf do not permit spectators inside the fence.
• For other venues such as fields at schools, we ask spectators to abide by the following:
• Only 1 parent or family member per athlete
• Do not use bleachers, if they are present
• Bring your own chair if wanting to sit
• Do not sit or stand any closer than 15 yards from playing surface
• Thanks you for your cooperation and this will help us provide an opportunity for our students to PLAY!

Soccer:

• Girls 3 – 4:15 weather permitting
• Schedule is online: http://peisaa.pe.ca/master_sched_league.php?lang=1
• Once teams are finalized, students can pay their athletic fee online birchwood@edu.pe.ca (indicate sport & student’s full name) or pay their coach.  Ms. Morrison will write a receipt.

Field Hockey:

• Practice – 3:00 – 4:15

Sport Fees:

• Soccer: $20, Field hockey: $25
• Payment to office or e-transferred to birchwood@edu.pe.ca
• Please indicate in e-transfer students name, and sport.

Golf Tryouts:

• Monday, September 28th at Belvedere Golf course
• First tee time is 3:45.
• Cost is $15 for the 9 hole event.
• Must have form filled out. See Miss Morrison
• Groups and tee times will be posted later this week.

Cobras face Masks:

• The official Cobra Face masks will go on sale tomorrow, $10 each.

School Sports Spectator guidelines:

• PEISAA has announced Spectator Guidelines due to COVID-19 for the outdoor sports that begin play this week.
• For venues that already have guidelines in place, those must be followed first.  Currently Terry Fox Complex in Cornwall and Summerside Turf do not permit spectators inside the fence.
• For other venues such as fields at schools, we ask spectators to abide by the following:
• Only 1 parent or family member per athlete
• Do not use bleachers, if they are present
• Bring your own chair if wanting to sit
• Do not sit or stand any closer than 15 yards from playing surface
• Thanks you for your cooperation and this will help us provide an opportunity for our students to PLAY!

Golf:

• Golf Tryouts sign-up: Link is on school website
• https://forms.gle/GeXoado7QoZ9ZcgH9

Soccer:

• No girls soccer today
• Boys soccer 3 – 4:15
• Schedule is online: http://peisaa.pe.ca/master_sched_league.php?lang=1
• Once teams are finalized, students can pay their athletic fee online birchwood@edu.pe.ca (indicate sport & student’s full name) or pay their coach.  Ms. Morrison will write a receipt.

Field Hockey:

• Practice – 3:00 – 4:15

All teams first games are on Thursday, Sept 24th

Sport Fees:

• Soccer: $20
• Field hockey: $25

Outdoor adventure club:

• The outdoor adventure club will have its first meeting of the year today at 12:10. The meeting will take place on the lawn in front of the school.

Golf:

• Golf Tryouts sign-up: https://forms.gle/GeXoado7QoZ9ZcgH9
• Please pick up and return your forms to Ms. Morrison in the gym today.

Soccer:

• Girls soccer teams are posted on the bulletin board at the gym.  No practice today.  Practice for everyone tomorrow 3-4pm.
• Boys soccer & field hockey today 3 – 4:15
• Games are tentatively set to begin Tuesday, Sept 21.  Schedule information should be finalized tomorrow.
• Please return your forms to Ms. Morrison in the gym today.

Golf Tryouts sign-up:

• https://forms.gle/GeXoado7QoZ9ZcgH9

Soccer & Field Hockey:

• 3 – 4:15 today.  Please arrange to be picked up at the school (gym doors) or at the field parking lot after practice.

Sports: All are welcome. Permission forms available outside the gym.

• Soccer:
  • 3 – 4:30
• Field hockey:
  • 3 – 4:15
• Golf:
  • Birchwood Golf Tryout sign-up

It was great to have the energy and enthusiasm of our new and returning students in the building this week.

We would like to provide an update on several items. Please note that the changes reflected below will also be updated in our operational plan.

A reminder to Pre-Screen:

• Pre-Screening your Children – Every morning we ask that you check-in with your child to see how they are feeling. If your child is feeling unwell and is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, we ask that they stay home and suggest you call 811 or your healthcare provider for information. The checklist can be found at the link below.
  https://drive.google.com/file/d/11llckxPzRujDDf1oFK7fDt9mee89rblE/view
• If students are going to be absent, please notify the main office by phone at (902) 368-6870 or use the absence notification email found under the contact us tab on our website. Please indicate the reason for the absence.
• https://edu.princeedwardisland.ca/birchwood/

Student Drop off and Pick Up:

• We have an excellent team of bus drivers who have been working to transport our students safely and efficiently. We appreciate your patience and understanding as the routes are being adjusted and the drivers become more familiar with students and new COVID protocols
• A reminder that during drop off and pick up, please access Birchwood street using Lapthorne and Gerald streets. We want students to cross at the crosswalk near the gym. Please wait to pull up to the crosswalk and let students out of the vehicle, (sidewalk side) let the students cross and proceed. Please do not pass cars. We are working with the city on updated signage. Please see the map below
• https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1fTovrWIqUH6eBthz7oZxfOx9IcXRa15b8AEhXEQpoTw/edit

Demographic Forms:

• A reminder to return student information forms. We depend on these forms for communication.
• If you are picking up a student or dropping off an item please call the school office in advance from your vehicle at (902) 368-6870.

Diversity Day:

• On Wednesday, September 16th, we will be having several speakers talk to our students and staff about diversity, racism, and healthy relationships.

Speakers Include:

• Birchwood Educational Assistant Kara Stewart
• Charlottetown Police Officer Tim Keizer
• Provincial Youth Worker and Assistant Coach of the Island Storm Lonnie States
• University Students Andrew Wong and Hannah Fong
• University of Prince Edward Island Basketball Head Coach Darrell Glenn

Keynote Speakers:

• Former UPEI Panther, Eleven year NHL Veteran, and NHL Diversity Alliance Member Joel Ward along with other members of the NHL Diversity Alliance.

Fall Sports and Changing for Gym Class:

• Starting next week, students will be able to change for gym class and afterschool sports.
• Birchwood is fortunate enough to have two large change room areas for students. We have separate entrances and exits to these change room areas. Students will exit and enter using different doors. All students entering and exiting the change rooms will sanitize their hands and wear a non-medical mask. Staff will manage the flow of students in and out of the change rooms.
• Change rooms have been marked with X’s to promote social distancing. Students will not have an opportunity to leave any items in the locker room area.
• Men’s Area Room 1323A (larger area). Eight students can change in this area. As one exits another can enter.
• Men’s Area Room 133B (Smaller). Six students can change in this area. As one exits another can enter.
• Women’s Area 143A (Larger area). Eight students can change in this area. As one exits another can enter.
• Women’s Area 144B (smaller). Six students can change in this area. As one exits another can enter.

Tryouts will begin for fall sports starting Monday, September 14th.

• Field Hockey will begin tryouts on Monday, September 14th from 3:00-4:15.
• Men’s Soccer will begin tryouts on Monday, September 14th from 3:00-4:15.
• Women’s soccer will begin tryouts Monday, September 14th from 3:15 – 4:30.

Student Movement Within Cohort Zones:

• Starting next week, students will be able to move to classrooms within the vicinity (cohort zone) of their homeroom. For example, students will be able to leave their Science classroom and travel to their Language Arts classroom two doors down. Students will travel on the right-hand side of the hallway in a single file wearing a non-medical mask. Students will wash or sanitize their hands frequently and will be required to sanitize their desk area when transitioning.

Breakfast Program:

• We are seeking volunteers for our breakfast program. We will require more volunteers this year in order to offer the program in multiple locations. We hope to begin the program the week of September 21st. Please contact the school by calling (902) 368-6870 or by emailing Michelle MacDonald at mkmacdonald@edu.pe.ca if you are available to volunteer.

Have a great weekend and we are looking forward to week two.

Rob MacAdam

Dear parents/guardians:
We are sending a reminder that the Healthy School Food Program will be starting September 14th. It is not too late to sign up. You can by register for the program here: www.peischoolfood.ca.
First orders need to be submitted by September 11th.
Healthy, nutritious food is important for student achievement. Working with the Government of Prince Edward Island, we want to ensure that nutritious lunches are available to as many students as possible.
The Healthy School Food Program will provide an opportunity for families to order healthy lunches five days a week. Meals will be prepared and delivered directly to schools at lunch time by local food service providers. Nut free, gluten free, dairy free and vegetarian options will be available.
The new Healthy School Food Program will be Pay What You Can.
Once you’ve registered, you will receive your login and password via email, along with a welcome information package between . This username and password will allow you to login into the ordering platform once it is active. Therefore, registration is required to participate.

If a family needs to reach a support staff, they can by email at peischoolfood@edu.pe.ca or by calling 902-438-4895.

The Healthy School Food Program will run alongside our school’s existing lunch programs including Chartwells cafeteria service. More details on Chartwells service will be released soon.