Hello Bayside Parents!

My heart is full after welcoming our students back today. It was great to be together again! I will send my regular weekly message on Friday but wanted to send you a quick update about some important and timely things.

Halloween at Bayside School: Halloween day, Friday October 31, will be a special learning day at Bayside School. Classes may engage in Halloween or Autumn-themed learning activities at the teachers' discretion. We know that many of our families look forward to Halloween each year and welcome the opportunity to capitalize on our students’ excitement to enhance their learning.

Please have your child bring a healthy snack for him- or her-self only. Please do not send a treat for the whole class as we will not be having class parties on that day and staff are unable to distribute treats to the class. More information about CBE nutrition policies can be found here.

We invite students and staff to wear costumes for the day, if they wish. When choosing a costume to wear to school please remember:

• Keep your child’s comfort and safety in mind for indoor and outdoor play. Make sure your child can wear a coat and indoor and outdoor shoes with their costume.
• Long capes, uncomfortable shoes, or other tripping hazards are discouraged. Students should be able to participate in gym and outdoor play safely.
• Please ensure their vision is not obscured by their costume. For this reason, masks should not be worn. If your child wishes to show their mask to their class, we can make that happen and then they will be asked to keep it in their backpack until home time.
• Please leave loose props at home. We cannot be responsible for anything lost or left behind at the school before Halloween night. Please do not send costume weapons to school (swords, guns, etc.).
• No scary or gory costumes. Please remember we have small children in the building as well as students and staff with varying levels of sensitivity. We want everyone to feel safe and have fun!

Please reach out to your child’s teacher if you have any questions.

Patrols and Traffic Safety: Bayside School Safety Patrols will be starting up again on Monday November 3. Communication will be shared with our patrol team tomorrow so you know what the schedule is. We know that our Patrols provide an important service to help ensure the safety of our students and families. In their absence, we ask that parents exercise caution and patience both when driving and walking to and from school. Pedestrian Safety is a shared responsibility. Some tips:

-          When using the crosswalk on Auburn Spring Blvd and Auburn Crest Park, parents can help the traffic flow smoothly by waiting a few minutes after the light stops flashing to allow a few cars to go through before pressing it again.

-          If you drive your child to school, consider giving yourselves a few extra minutes to allow your family to park a few blocks away, then walk your child to the school.

Attendance: A reminder to parents to please call the school (403-817-3436) or email bayside@cbe.ab.ca to let us know when your child will be absent. Please include your child's name, the date of the absence, and the reason for absence. For our families who take the bus, please let the school know if you plan to pick your child up using the same contact information above. Thank you!

Have a great evening!

Darby