Classes for the 2024-2025 school year will begin on Wednesday, September 4, 2024. Doors will open at 8:05 a.m. and homeroom will begin at 8:25 a.m. Students will be dismissed at 2:30 p.m.

Parents/guardians will be permitted to accompany their child/children to school for the first day only. These families are required to use the Parent/Guardian Drop off/Pick up entrance (see the memo below) and are asked to be as prompt as possible when dropping off their children as the parking lot will be very busy. Parking will be very limited and will be directed. We ask for your patience and cooperation with this as safety is our top priority.

Please note that you will receive an email from your child's homeroom teacher on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, welcoming your child to their class.

* Arrival and dismissal will follow the same format as last year. Please check out this important memo regarding the Arrival and Dismissal Guidelines for DCJA which contains more information.

* Bus Portal is now open. Please check it out here to view important information about bus routes. If you require your child's student number, please contact the school at 891-1431.

* Courtesy seating is available for students who wish to travel on a different bus in the evening, as well as for those students who reside in two homes. If you wish to apply for courtesy seating, please complete this form. Please note that the school administration will complete the review/approval process of all applications after Friday, September 13th. Until that time alternate arrangements will need to be made for those students wishing to avail of courtesy seating.

**New this year**

Parents/guardians are asked to communicate to their child’s homeroom teacher via a note if their child will be dismissed in a different manner than normal. Phone calls or emails throughout the day will not be accepted as we can not guarantee that the proper messages will be relayed. We thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation in this matter.

At DCJA we use the Rycor Payment & Form System to collect online payments and forms from our students. This system allows parents/guardians, staff and other school community members to make payments to the school online as well as complete necessary school forms online. If you do not have a RYCOR account set up, we ask that you do so as soon as possible. More information regarding setting up a RYCOR account can be found here.

All RYCOR forms will be available on Tuesday, September 3, 2024.

Thank you in advance for your support and cooperation!

At DCJA we are pleased to offer a variety of healthy breakfast items to our students each day.

The Breakfast Program will officially get underway on Thursday, September 5.

🍌Recess🍌

At DCJA, students eat their recess in their classrooms from 10:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m.

Popcorn will be available once a month and must be purchased in advance for the school year with a one time fee of $10.00. Orders can be placed online via RYCOR on September 3, 2024. The dates for Popcorn Day are listed below.

🌮Lunch🌮

At DCJA, students eat their lunch in the cafeteria. Primary students eat from 11:40 a.m. until 12:05 p.m., and elementary/junior high students eat from 12:05 p.m. until 12:30 p.m.

Although there are no cafeteria services available, microwaves and a water re-filling station are available. Please keep in mind the following tips when packing lunches for students and remember to pack a reusable water bottle!

Scent Free Environment

DCJA is a scent aware building. Some of our students and staff are sensitive to scented products or have conditions which are impacted by scents. We ask that you avoid the use of scented items including:

• perfumes

• aftershave

• cologne

• scented hairspray, hair gels or other styling products

• scented face and body creams, lotions and sprays

• scented deodorant

Allergy Aware School

Within our school community there are several students who have potentially life-threatening allergy (anaphylaxis) to the following foods:

• peanuts/products with peanuts in the ingredients

• tree nuts (e.g. almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts,

pistachios, walnuts).

Please no not send food items containing these ingredients to school.

Smoke Free & Vape Free Environment

DCJA and its grounds are a smoke, tobacco and vape free environment. This applies to staff, students and visitors.

- Families are encouraged to take a few moments to review our Student Handbook.

- Class supply lists are available here.

- If your child requires medication throughout the school day, please contact the school prior to the first day of classes to arrange for the appropriate documentation.

- At DCJA, outdoor play occurs during lunch time on a daily basis (weather permitting). Also, many homeroom classes take advantage of our outdoor classroom, greenhouse, and other outdoor spaces around our school on a regular basis. Students are asked to dress appropriately for the weather of each season. Furthermore, all students are expected to have a separate pair of indoor and outdoor footwear.

DCJA is now accepting nominations for Parent/Guardian Representatives on the School Council. There are 3 positions available. To be eligible for election, you must be the parent/guardian of a student at DCJA. Only parent/guardians of students at DCJA can nominate and vote for Parent/Guardian Representatives of the School Council.

If you wish to nominate a Parent/Guardian Representative for the DCJA School Council, nomination forms can be picked up at the main office. Nomination forms must be returned to the school secretary on or before Monday, September 16, 2024, by 3 p.m. On Friday, September 20, 2024, a list of candidates and details of the voting process will be sent to all parents/guardians. Voting will take place during the week of September 23 to September 27, 2024.