Hello Tom Baines Families,

We have started our second term and things are going well. Grade 7-9 students are underway with their new complementary courses. We appreciate your patience and understanding with not being able to move most students between comps. As we are at student enrolment capacity, our classes are very full.  Winter is in full swing. Thank you for ensuring your students are arriving to school on time and properly dressed for the weather.

Please see below for important information.

Upcoming Dates:

February 14 – Semi-formal Day – Dress nice! MADD presentations for older students.

February 15-16 – No School – Teachers Convention

February 19 – No School – Family Day

February 22 – Grade 9 Band Festival in the PM

February 26 – School Council @ 7:00 pm in the Learning Commons. A link will be sent out prior to the meeting if parents would like to join online

February 27 – Grade 9 Band Showcase

February 28 – Pink Shirt Day and Grade 8 Outdoor Ed Ski Trip

Late Arrivals – we still continue to have many students arriving late in the morning. We understand that the weather has made it more challenging. As the students know, if they arrive late in the afternoon after going off campus then they lose their off campus privileges. We are going to start to implement this for students with chronic lates in the morning. They will need to make up their lost time by attending our Homework Hotel program during lunch. Mr. Siakaluk will contact parents of impacted students. Thank you for your cooperation with this.

Social Media – we have seen an increase of inappropriate, racist and mean behaviors between students on social media. These always occur out of school hours, but have a huge impact in our school. Students sometimes come to school upset or angry because of something somebody said online. Parents are encouraged to regularly discuss and monitor their child’s social media use. Apps like discord, tik tok and Instagram have chat options where students can often say inappropriate things. We are focused on learning at Tom Baines and it is difficult when teachers and administrators need to spend their time problem solving with students over things said online. Racist comments and threats are not tolerated and are taken very seriously. Students found participating in these types of activities, either online or in person will be suspended.

School Website - our current website is under construction and will have a new format soon. Keep checking out our website for updated information.

We wish the best of luck to our Boas in their volleyball games! It is wonderful to watch them learn and grow through sport. Go Boas!

Thank you for all of your support, participation and assistance with making Tom Baines such a wonderful place to be. We are so grateful for our students and excited to be with them every day.

Derek Siakaluk, Principal

Duncan White, Acting Assistant Principal