The Patriot Report – September 25

“Want to Know, Need to Know, Right to Know”

You may have heard the above line in some form over your years. For me, it has become somewhat of a mantra during the past weeks. I would like to take a few moments to showcase different examples of how this phrase guides decision making with respect to sharing of information. 

My kids are particularly good listeners when they are not supposed to be listening. I do not know about you, but I find that if my wife and I are talking, suddenly my son’s ears become exceptionally good. Suddenly he will ask a clarifying question about a conversation he was not ever a part of. If only he could listen that well when we are talking to him! My son wants to know what his mom and dad are talking about. But we know, he does not need to know and he does not have a right to know. So we either shut down the conversation for another time or we ask him to go play downstairs. 

Another example is from everyday life. Let’s pretend that you hear a delicious piece of gossip about a coworker (this could easily be applied to students as well). You hear the rumour. You think to yourself that your colleague would definitely want to know the rumour. It is so juicy you can barely contain yourself. But does the colleague need to know? You may try and rationalize that they do, but I would contend that after reflection you may see that they do not really need to know. Do they have a right to know? The answer is clear: No.  Therefore, the rumour and the gossip should end with you. 

However, sometimes we may feel that we have a need to know. We can see this clearly with COVID-19. Recently, Vancouver Coastal Health provided the following directive to school administrators:

“If there is a suspected or positive case of COVID-19, please do not notify staff, students or parents, unless directed to by public health. To maintain personal privacy rights, public health will not disclose if a student or a staff member is a confirmed case of COVID-19, unless information is required to support effective contact tracing.”

This directive I believe is in response to the ongoing chatter in the media and in various social circles with regards to people wanting to know which families in which schools have COVID-19. Let’s apply the mantra of want to know, need to know, and right to know. I think it is obvious that people want to know who is COVID-19 positive because our first instinct is to protect ourselves and our family. The second is need to know. Many could make strong arguments for need to know. But what about right to know? Do we have a right to know about people’s personal health? The privacy rights in this province state that we do not have that right and for good reason. And that changes everything. Therefore, should a COVID-19 case come to our school community, it will be the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority that will determine who has the right to know. While that may be hard to accept, accept it we must.  

It is a helpful mantra to repeat to yourself – want to know, need to know, right to know. 

Yesterday a communication was sent out about Hot Lunch. I would like to correct an error that was stated. The first day of Hot Lunch is OCTOBER 6, 2020. Orders for the first week of October need to be completed by September 30, 2020. Throughout the year, you just need to ensure you order a week ahead of time. For families that will transition back in November, you may want to start ordering near the end of October. 

Munchalunch is a program that allows you the flexibility to do all your orders at once from now until Christmas or to order by the month, or by the week. It is up to you. Below is an excerpt from yesterday’s message (with the correct dates):

To sign in to Munchalunch or to register please click here.

Hot Lunch will follow the same ordering patten from October to Christmas Break:

Tuesdays: Pizza Hut
Thursdays: Alternating between Subway and Church’s Chicken

Hot Lunch is an optional program. All vendors have assured as that they are following all Health Guidelines with respect to COVID-19 and FoodSafe. Our parent volunteers will be wearing masks and gloves. All food items come in individual boxes/wrappings.

The first date for Hot Lunch is OCTOBER 6, 2020.

We ask that you complete Week 1 orders by SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 so that we have time to coordinate with our Vendors.  

Category placements are complete. If you are participating and have not been contacted, please contact the Participation coordinator at eparticipation@stjude.ca  Please remember to use the online reporting form to record your hours as this is the only way you will receive credit for hours worked.  You can go to the St. Jude website at www.stjude.ca, click on the Parents tab and then click on Parent Participation Online Reporting. 

We are looking to fill the following positions.  Please contact the Participation coordinator if you are available to help with any of the shifts below.

Supervision – Thursday and Friday morning from 8:15 – 9:00 am

Supervision – Thursday and Friday recess from 10:05 – 10:50 am

Patriots Spirit Wear will not be available until October 1st. Cambridge Uniforms has been experiencing back logs. We thank you for your patience. 

There are additional yearbooks available for sale for $20.  Email Ms. Goh at office@stjude.ca to get your copy.  

Today was a Care Day for our students. Students were encouraged to dress in Fall Colors. With the changing colors on the trees, many students in Gr. 5 chose the color red as shown in the image. A reminder that the school will be sending home a letter about an EFT for Care Days and supporting the Archdiocese of Vancouver and their charities. Last year our CISVA schools combined to donate $19 198.94 to the Archdiocese of Vancouver in support of the local charities. Last year, we contributed over $1000 dollars to charity and this year I hope we can do even better. 

If your child has life threatening allergies, we need to have the Student Emergency Response Plan completed by your family doctor.  Please have this form submitted to us by September 25, 2020.  

A few families have reported that they are not getting our emails. It is then discovered that the emails are going to their Junk Email Inbox. If you know of families that are not getting the newsletters or our emails, please tell them to check their Junk mail. Thank you.

If your child is going to be late to school (after 9:00 am), kindly advise the school by email at office@stjude.ca.  Your child will need to come thru the main entrance when they arrive.  

If your child is going to be away, please email or call the office before 8:45 am.  If emailing, please state your child’s name, grade and the reason they will be away.  An absentee note is required to report their absence for auditing purposes at the end of the school year.

Any volunteer or chaperone working with our students must have a criminal record check completed first. Only those with valid criminal record checks will be permitted to supervise or volunteer on school grounds or school sponsored activities. Each individual must complete one. If a grandparent is going to volunteer for yard supervision, hot lunch supervision, etc., he or she must also have a criminal record check on file with the school.  We will complete the Criminal Record Check Form in the school office.  Please bring your picture ID to the school office for verification.