February 1, 2024

Principal’s Message

We’ve reached the midway point of the school year and Semester Two starts today, for those students who have semester classes. February is also the month that student’s select their courses for the next school year. Information sessions are coming up this month to assist students (and parents) in selecting courses for the next grade. Scroll down for more information on course planning.

Thank you for keeping up to date with what’s happening at SDSS. Please reach out if I can be of assistance. tainge@deltaschools.ca

Course Planning for 2024-25

During the month of February, SDSS students will choose the courses that they will take next school year. These are important decisions, as student course selections determine the courses and the number of sections that will make up the next year’s school timetable.

Over the next few weeks counsellors will be making presentations to our students to assist in selecting courses for next year. Counsellors will also be hosting information sessions for parents according to the schedule below.

These meetings will begin at 7pm and counsellors will speak to course options, graduation program requirements, career program opportunities, transition issues, and answer your questions related to course selection.

It is critical that students make informed choices during this period. Once the timetable is built, with limitations due to space, it is not guaranteed that a student will be able to make changes to their schedule in the Fall. We count on our students, with the help of their families, to choose the courses that they truly want to take and will not change their minds about over the summer.

Course selections will be made on the student’s MyED BC account. The course selection module on MyEdBC will be open from February 5th – February 29th.

The SDSS Course Planning Guide can be viewed here: Course Planning Book 2024.25

Evening Information Sessions

Current Grade 10’s and 11’s – Course Planning Information Night – Monday, February 12th at 7:00 pm via Zoom (link to join Zoom Meeting) Meeting ID: 630 2950 3305

Passcode: SDSS

Current Grade 8’s and 9’s – Course Planning Information Night – Tuesday, February 13th at 7:00 pm via Zoom (link to join Zoom Meeting) Meeting ID: 659 5167 5587
Passcode: SDSS

Current Grade 7’s – Course Planning Information Night – Thursday, February 29th at 7:00 pm in the Theatre

Slides from these sessions will be posted to the school website – Course Planning Page.

Grade 12 Information

Important information for grads and several actionable items have been posted to the school website under Graduation 2024 Info. Grade 12 students and their parents are encouraged to bookmark this page and monitor for the most recent updates.

Grade 12 – Grad Write-Ups, Baby Photos, Pet Photos

Attention SD Grade 12s! Yearbook preparation is underway and now is the time for each grade 12 student to submit a short paragraph marking their time as a student at SDSS. The write-up will accompany your grad photograph in the grade 12 section of the yearbook. Express your gratitude, share an inspirational quote, or relay a happy memory. Grad write-ups must not exceed 150 words; abbreviations, acronyms, codes, or offensive language, etc. are not permitted. Your write-up must be approved by the school administration. Click here to submit your grad yearbook write-up. This form must be submitted by February 23rd, 2024.

The yearbook will also feature a “Grad Baby Photo” section. Grads are invited to email a photo (jpeg file, only) of themselves as a baby or toddler to southdeltasunburst@gmail.com Be sure to include your first and last name in the filename. eg. janedoe.jpg Photos are due: February 23, 2024.

And finally, this year’s yearbook will feature a “Grad Pet” section! Grads are invited to submit a photo (jpeg file) of themselves and their pet to southdeltasunburst@gmail.com. Be sure to include your name and your pet’s name in the filename. eg. janescruffy.jpg Photos are due: February 23, 2024.

A message from the Dry Grad Parent Committee

We have a number of grade 12 parents working on the Dry Grad 2024 committee. In previous years grads have chosen between attending the dry grad or the dinner dance because of the cost being out of reach. Members of the community have often sponsored a grad. If you are interested in donating money to a grad to attend both activities please etransfer $25 or any amount that you like to: sdssdrygrad2024@gmail.com
Please add in the message box the word SPONSOR so we know that you are contributing to sponsor a grad. Thank you so much for your support, Joanna

Keeping Kids Safe Online and In School
We welcome the BC Government’s announcement last Friday aimed at keeping kids and young adults safe from online threats, restrict the use of cellphones in schools and hold social media companies accountable.

The Delta School District already has an administrative procedure in place to cover the use of Personal Communication Devices (Admin Procedure 145) that provides guidance for schools and educators. In the coming months, the district expects to receive more detailed guidelines from the government regarding the restriction of students’ cellphone use in schools. Once that information is received, the district will look at making any necessary changes for implementation at the start of the new school year in September.

Learning Summaries, Learning Updates

Semester 1 final marks will be released to students and families on February 12th. For Linear classes (year long), February 12th will be an “informal” learning update. Report Cards will be viewable on the MyED student portal as well as later on Student and Parent Connect. This process usually takes a couple of days. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s progress, please reach out to the classroom teacher by email.

Mean Girls – High School Version – March 4th – March 9th
Get ready for the ultimate high school drama as we bring you “Mean Girls High School Version” – a real-life portrayal of teenage chaos! We hope that you and your family can take the time support the production. Almost 100 students are involved, either on stage or behind the scenes! Tickets are available now through eventbrite! Click here

Career Education Newsletter

Please see the district’s January Career Education Newsletter and the opportunities available to students and their families: https://deltalearns.ca/careers/newsletters/

Here are parent info nights for January and February so please spread the word. There

Delta Career Program Parent Info Night: overview
Feb 15, 2022 07:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting https://ca01web.zoom.us/j/69516636034
Meeting ID: 695 1663 6034. Passcode: 287984

Delta Career Program Parent Info Night : overview
Feb 24, 2022 07:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting https://ca01web.zoom.us/j/63821727789
Meeting ID: 638 2172 7789. Passcode: 861156

VCC Baking : Anybody interested in applying this spring needs to attend
January 27, 2022 at 6:00pm
https://vcc.zoom.us/j/6796866220?pwd=d0h6N0M4UUhDQ2wyd1VHNnNCRVZmdz09
Meeting ID: 679 686 6220. Passcode: 416781

WorkBC Career Conversations
January 20 at 7:00pm
Registration required: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DPstpiVcTQqXSBoN3YKBRQ

Education Planner BC
February 2, 2022 at 7:00pm
Registration Required https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwldOGtqz4uHN2Bc-S3tsj7V9Xc8zLP0rPB

Welding: prospective applicants
March 30 at 6:00pm https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_OWEwMDA4NDYtZWNlMS00M2ZkLTlhZGYtYTViNjM2NjljZTAy%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2208b4e9cf-8113-420d-ba07-52f7d4df8acd%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22125ba732-0ddc-4af4-ac49-d061c917bb0e%22%7d

INTENTIONAL PARENTING with Dr. Catalina Zilveti from Alongside You

A 75-minute online seminar: 60 min presentation with 15 min for Q&A where we will explore the following:

• What is intentional parenting?
• Why we parent the way we do
• Styles of parenting and how these can impact our children
• Why we parent the way we do: Family patterns and how we repeat them unintentionally
• Choosing how to parent our children

To Register for Intentional Parenting online session with Dr. Zilveti:
https://alongsideyou.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEscuysqDgoHNN1SXmwDxaaNQwzU9om26o7#/registration

Safer Schools Together Free Educational Session:
Gang Reduction Through Informed Practice (GRIP)
Current Gang Dynamics: Social Media Analysis & Trends

Training topics include:
• A discussion on gang activities with a focus on their interconnected nature in the North American context

• Updates to trends on social media platforms commonly used by gangs for communication and how to identify gang-associated behaviors within these platforms
• An outline of coded language and emoticons used by gangs in their online interactions
• An overview of the various tactics and strategies utilized by gangs to recruit today’s youth through social media channels
• How to identify trends related to firearm/drug trafficking and understand how these activities evolve within the realm of social media

Join us on February 2, 2024
Current Gang Dynamics: Social Media Analysis & Trends
Location: Livestreamed to your location (via Zoom)*
Time: 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. – Pacific Standard Time
Register here

Important Dates:

• February 1  –  Start of Semester 2 Classes
• February 1  –  Grade 12 Winter Formal Dance, 6:00 – 9:00pm
• February 7 –  PAC Meeting, 7:30pm (Library)
• February 12 – Grade 10/11 Course Planning Info Night via Zoom, 7:00 pm
• February 13 – Grade 8/9 Course Planning Info Night via Zoom, 7:00 pm
• February 15 – Learning Summaries, Learning Updates (Report Cards) Posted MyED & CIMS
• February 16  – Non-Instructional Day (Pro-D District Day)
• February 19  – Family Day
• February 28 – Pink Shirt Day (wear pink in support of anti-bullying)
• February 29 – Grade 7 Course Planning Info Night, 7:00 pm in the Theatre