The Patriot Report – January 21, 2022

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Sir Winston Churchill

One of the reasons why I love coaching basketball is that I get to witness so many of life’s lessons play out before my eyes. Our Gr. 7 Boys Basketball Team this year has been particularly fun to coach because there is talent and determination among the players. When talent combines with hard work and teamwork, the results can be rather dramatic. But I have never determined success by wins and loses nor by points scored. Success to me is something much bigger. 

I have on many occasion quoted the great John Wooden and his portrait hangs in my office. His definition of success as the peace of mind we get from doing the best of which we are capable is one that I have adopted as my core philosophy. Churchill’s quote above on success and failure, works well with Wooden’s definition of success. 

If we define success as a winning a championship, getting a particular letter grade, or making a certain amount of money, then success and failure can become rather black and white. You either won or lost. Your effort really doesn’t matter if the only measure of success is a particular outcome. However, with success being the measure of how close we come to being the best of which we are capable, then success is not final because with each day and each endeavour we are challenged to do our best. It takes courage to continue the journey of self improvement. It takes courage to really examine whether you are giving the best of which you are capable.  

Churchill and Wooden remind us that failure is part of that journey. One can still do their best and come up short of the desired outcome. However, it should be noted that both Churchill and Wooden were incredibly successful people. We would do well to follow their advice and understand that success is journey towards greater self fulfillment. 

If there is one thing that I have learned by being a principal during Covid19 is that you must be mentally prepared for things to change and change quickly.

The BCCDC changed the requirements for self-isolation. These changes will impact you and your children.

New Changes:

– Close contacts (including household contacts) do not need to self-isolate if they have no symptoms regardless of vaccine status or their age
– Fully vaccinated people and everyone under the age of 18 that test positive must isolate for 5 days from test date, ensure that their fever has resolved without using drugs such as Tylenol or Advil, and be symptom free before ending their self-isolation
– Check out the BCCDC Website for more info: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19

What has not changed:

– Stay home if you have symptoms
– Monitor for symptoms daily
– If your child develops symptoms at school, you will be called to pick them up

The safety of our students is everyone’s responsibility. When you enter our parking lot you must drive with extra caution. If you are late and in a rush this does not allow you to drive fast in our parking lot. We all know that their are peak drop off times and if you plan to drop off during these times then you must be prepare that drop off will take longer; please be patient. Below is a reminder of some important rules:

1. Parents are not to get out of the car when using the drop off lane. If your child cannot open the car door on their own and exit the car independently, then do not use the drop off lane.
2. Pull all the way up to the front of the drop off lane. Do not stop in the middle if there is room to pull up. This causes a back up. 
3. Listen to the Parent Supervisors. Parents are out their to help with the flow of the parking lot and they deserve your respect.
4. Do not let young children navigate the parking lot on their own. We would never let our young children walk unescorted in a busy mall parking lot so let’s not do it in our school parking lot. If your child is under 10, then you need to escort them. In the morning this means you walk them into the coned off area and in the afternoon you meet them there. 
5. Drive slowly and cautiously. Be on the lookout for students. 
6. Walk cautiously and watch for cars backing up and pulling out. 
7. Be Courteous. Parking lots can sometimes bring out the worst in us. Please be patient and kind and treat all with respect.

We are excited to welcome kindergarten registration for children born in 2017, turning 5 in 2022. These children will begin kindergarten in September, 2022.  Please click on our Admissions Top Tab to access the New Family Application.  

We currently have no stock available for sale in our Consignment.

If you would like uniform items to be sold in consignment, they must be in good to excellent condition. They need to be the current uniform and not the old one. You will need to set a price and fill out a form. Please contact Mr. van der Pauw if you would like an item to be sold. From time to time we will post what is available for sale in consignment. 

Reminder of Uniform Schedule:

Monday to Thursday – Uniform

Fridays – Patriot Spirit Wear