October 2, 2026 Principal Message

Good afternoon, Robina Families,

Every day, I make a point of visiting our classrooms to stay present and connected. Not only does this give me a strong pulse on how our school is running, but it also lets me see firsthand all the ways our students and staff are leaning into learning! Here are a few wonderful examples I noticed this week:

• Orange Shirt Day: As our Indigenous Education Lead, Mrs. Kaluza planned meaningful activities on Tuesday that encouraged reflection and connection to nature. Leading up to these activities, Mrs. Gerhardt’s class read a story about "sit spots"—one of the key reflection exercises we participated in—while Mrs. Mullen’s class and others read stories about the significance of this day. We hope your families were able to mark Wednesday in your own way through reflection, connection, and learning.
• Creative Writing: In Mrs. Nuttall’s classroom, students were greeted by a mysterious picture of a squirrel peeking out of a safe, accompanied by the prompt: "What do you think the squirrel is hiding in the safe?" It was so much fun listening to their imaginative ideas. With the goal of using their creativity to craft a story, I was thrilled when they invited me back later to see their stories in action!
• Hands-on Learning: In Pre-K with Mrs. Gerard, students engaged in play-based learning with a classroom "pumpkin patch." Interactive, hands-on learning in Pre-K and Kindergarten is something I am fortunate to witness every single day.
• Cross Country: Learning happens outside the classroom, too! Our Cross Country team wrapped up their season with a run in the Devon River Valley. Congratulations to our student-athletes for demonstrating great teamwork and persevering through tough challenges, and a warm thank you to our coaches, Mrs. Suter and Mrs. Rothfos, for volunteering their time and energy.
• Math Stations: Ms. D’s Grade 2’s were engaged in Math stations, moving from group to group and cooperatively engaging in deep math learning!

Looking ahead, next week we are fully immersed in October! We are excited to welcome five student teachers to our building, who will be joining classrooms K1/2, 1A, 1B, 4A, and 4B. We will share more about them next week!

Have a wonderful weekend,

Mr. Coffin

Picture Days: October 5 & 6

We are excited for our upcoming Fall Picture Days! Please see the schedule below to find out when your child will have their picture taken.

Schedule:

• Monday, October 5:
  • All students and staff
• Tuesday, October 6:
  • EIPK (AM & PM classes)
  • K2 Kindergarten students
  • Any student or staff member absent on Monday

How to Order:

• Your child will bring home login instructions on picture day.
• Online ordering will be available in 3–6 business days smartphotography.ca.

Bear Tracks Ice Melter

Order Deadline: November 12th

Delivery Date: TBA once order is placed

Pickup location: Devon TBD

We are selling 16 kg pails of Bear Tracks Ice-Melt for $31.50 each.

How to order:

- Fill out the order form.

- e-Transfer your total to rbesfundraising@gmail.com.

- You will be contacted once the pickup date and times are confirmed.

Club Moo Milk Program

Our Club Moo Milk Program is back! Our Moo Crew - made up of our Grade 4 Leadership students—will be helping by fulfilling and delivering milk orders to each class (Kindergarten to Grade 4) at lunchtime each day.

Parents can purchase milk tickets through PowerSchool: 20 tickets (white or chocolate) for $20.

How to use your tickets:

• Send them all at once – Cut the tickets apart and return them in a baggie or envelope. They will be kept in your child’s reading bag, and your child can decide when to use them.
• Send them as needed – Place one ticket in your child’s reading bag on the days you’d like them to have milk.

Milk delivery will start soon!

Less Screen Time - Without the Guilt

Reducing screen time is hard…really hard. I’m not sure anyone says that enough.

Screens can be a lifesaver some days. They give kids a chance to decompress after school, can be calming and predictable (especially for neurodivergent kids), are an important part of a modern household, and sometimes give parents enough time to make dinner, answer an email, or just have a minute.

So, this is definitely not a “screens are bad” message.

But if you’ve been thinking your family could use a little more balance, you also don’t have to completely change your routine overnight. A few small shifts can be a good place to start.

A few things to try:

Give lots of warning.
Turning off a screen can be a tough transition, especially for younger or neurodivergent kids. Try a visual timer or a few countdowns — “10 more minutes… 5 more minutes… 2 more minutes.” Knowing what’s coming can make a big difference for kids.

Replace instead of just remove.
It’s much easier to put the tablet down when there is actually something else to do. Have another option ready -  a snack, LEGO, colouring, a sensory activity, a book, or whatever your kiddo might like to do.

Start with one screen-free time or place.
It doesn’t have to be the whole evening. Maybe screens stay away from the dinner table, or you try a little screen-free time before bed. Start somewhere that actually feels manageable for your family.

Count the small wins.
Ten minutes less? Great. Your child turned off the tablet after the third reminder instead of the tenth? Also great. It doesn’t have to be perfect to count.

When You Need Something Else to Do...

And preferably something that doesn’t require a trip to the store, 14 supplies, or a ton of energy from you.

The Sink Spa
Pull a chair up to the kitchen sink, add some warm water, bubbles, plastic cups, spoons or washable toys and let them go for it. Bonus: you can make dinner nearby.

Floor Picnic
Lay a blanket on the living room floor. Serve their normal snack or even dinner there. The simple change of environment feels like a novel activity but takes no extra effort from you. You could even ask them to get the picnic area ready - make some space on the floor (aka pick up your toys), spread the blanket out nice and smooth, where will you sit on the blanket? Where should I sit?…etc

Flashlight Search
Dim the lights, hand over a flashlight and have your child search for five things around the room. Or just let them explore with it.

Blanket Fort
A few blankets over the couch or table, some pillows and a book. It doesn’t have to be Pinterest-worthy.

The Box Challenge
Before you recycle that delivery box, hand it over with some crayons or markers. Spaceship? Car? House? Giant robot? Their problem now.

Audio Stories
Screens can go off without the house having to become silent. Try an audiobook or kids' storytelling podcast while they build, colour, play or relax.

Most importantly...

You don’t need to overhaul your whole household routine tonight.

Try one thing. See how it goes. If it works, great. If it completely falls apart, you can try again another day.

A little more balance is the goal - not perfection.

I am always happy to chat and brainstorm more ideas for your family!

Warmly,

Your Family School Liaison, Chantel Handfield

P.S. One important thing…

If a small change around screens gets a really big reaction, pay attention to that. It might actually be a clue that some support and consistency around screens is especially needed. Go slowly, expect some bumps, and keep at it.

Have Bus Questions?

Wondering if your child can take the bus, how much it costs, or how to get a bus pass? Check out the Black Gold Transportation Frequently Asked Questions page! You’ll find answers to these and many more transportation-related questions all in one place.

Student Accident Insurance

Did you know that Black Gold School Division's insurance partner offers optionalVoluntary Student Accident Insurance?

Coverage is completely voluntary, paid for by parents, and separate from the blanket accident insurance plan held by the Division. For details on available coverage and to compare plans, please visit StudyInsured Website.