2021-2022 Leadership Staffing Announcement

CMSD82 2021-22 Leadership Staffing Announcement
(PDF Format)

The Board of Education for Coast Mountains School District wishes to announce the following Leadership Staffing changes for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year:

Surinder Dhaliwal
Effective August 1, 2021, Surinder will assume the position of Principal for Thornhill Elementary and Thornhill Primary Schools.  He is currently the Principal at Thornhill Elementary School.  Surinder is a team player and a strong advocate for the success of all learners.  Students, staff and parents at Thornhill Elementary and Thornhill Primary Schools will benefit from Surinder’s proven commitment to student learning and his reputation as a team builder.

Sandy Kenmuir
Currently the Vice Principal at Cassie Hall Elementary School, Sandy will assume the position of Vice Principal for Thornhill Elementary and Thornhill Primary Schools effective August 1, 2021.  Sandy has always demonstrated passion in her profession, an understanding and respect for local diverse cultures and the importance of community involvement in making a difference in the lives of young people.  She is a passionate advocate for student success and has a reputation for bringing an enthusiastic, team-focused approach to everything she does.

Steve Wallace
Effective August 1, 2021, Steve will assume the position of Principal at Ecole Mountainview.  He is currently on a personal leave from his principalship role at Cassie Hall Elementary School.  His enthusiasm and reputation as a dedicated elementary educator and administrator with deep commitment to the success of young people at the school and community level, will serve Ecole Mountainview very well.

In the interim, the school district is actively seeking a new Principal and Vice Principal for Cassie Hall Elementary School.  A Canada-wide search will be initiated this week commencing with the Principal position, followed by the Vice Principal position.

We extend our congratulations to Surinder, Sandy and Steve on their appointments and wish them every success in their new roles for the 2021-2022 school year.

Sincerely,
Janet Meyer
Superintendent of Schools

Tips and Resources for Talking to your Kids or Students about COVID-19


During this time, it is understandable for children to have questions or express concern about the COVID-19 virus.  As parents, teachers or caregivers, it is important to stay informed and communicate in age-appropriate ways that address children’s questions and helps them take steps to keep themselves and others healthy.

Here are some tips and resources to help:

  • Don’t be afraid to talk about it: Convey the facts and set an emotionally reassuring tone.
  • Be age-appropriate: Teens can process and handle a higher level of detail than five year olds. Focus on answering your child/student’s questions. Do your best to answer honestly and clearly; it’s okay if you can’t answer everything.
  • Follow their lead: Invite your child or student to ask questions and share their perspective: Invite them to tell you anything they may have heard about the coronavirus and express how they feel.
  • Check yourself: Feeling anxious?  Take some time to calm down before trying to have a conversation or answer your child’s questions.
  • Focus on actions you can take: Emphasize safety precautions everyone can take to help keep themselves and others healthy: good hand hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette, social distancing and staying home if you aren’t feeling well.
  • Stick to routine: Structured days with regular mealtimes and bedtimes are an essential part of keeping kids happy and healthy.
  • Keep talking: Tell kids/students you will keep them updated as you learn more.  Let them know the lines of communication are going to be open and as you learn more, you will share the information with them, too.

Resources:

BC COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool

 

The provincial government has released a self-assessment tool (click on link to open) that can be accessed by the public amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The free, online tool, was made available on Monday, March 16 and tells users if they, or someone they know, requires further testing.

This self-assessment tool, developed with the BC Ministry of Health, will help determine whether you may need further assessment or testing for COVID-19.  You can complete this assessment for yourself, or on behalf of someone else, if they are unable to.

Who should be tested for COVID-19?

People with respiratory symptoms who are:

  • Hospitalized, or likely to be hospitalized
  • Health Care Workers
  • Residents of long term care facilities
  • Part of an investigation of a cluster or outbreak

Who does not need to be tested for COVID-19?

  • People without symptoms
  • Patients with mild respiratory symptoms who can be managed at home, including returning travellers with an onset of illness within 14 days of return to Canada

The BC Ministry of Health strongly urges anyone who has symptoms – including a fever, cough, sneezing, sore throat, or difficulty breathing – to self-isolate for 14 days.  To protect yourself while out in public, wash your hands frequently and maintain a distance of about 2 metres from others. For more information on COVID-19, refer to HealthLink BC’s COVID-19 website.  Last updated: 3/16/2020 11:00 pm PDT

The province has created a phone service to provide non-medical information about COVID-19, including the latest information on travel recommendations and social distancing. Information is available in more than 110 languages, 7:30 am – 8 pm at 1-888-COVID19 (1-888-268-4319) or via text message at 604-630-0300.