September 17, 2026 Principal Message

Good afternoon, Robina Families,

This week we’re keeping it brief, but we have a few important updates:

• Verification Forms (with a tasty bonus!): Please see our email from yesterday and log in to complete your verification forms. This updates your contact info and grants permissions for walking field trips like our upcoming Terry Fox Walk. As a sweet (or salty!) bonus: as a little Easter egg for reading this week, parents who complete their verification forms can enter into a draw to win a box of Old Dutch chips!
• Welcome Ms. Chantel: We are excited to introduce our new Family School Liaison Worker (FSLW), Ms. Chantel! She will be in our building 3 days a week providing vital mental health connection and support for our students, parents, and community. Please be sure to read her update this week—it contains great info for parents looking for creative ways to reduce screen time!
• PD Day Tomorrow: A quick reminder that there is no school for students tomorrow, as our staff engages in professional learning and planning.

Have a great weekend!

Mr. Coffin

Verification Form - Important Info

The online Student Enrollment Verification Forms for Black Gold School Division are now open on thePowerSchool Parent Portal. Please complete your child’s form by Friday, September 25.

If you need any assistance or do not have a PowerSchool account, please contact the school office at (780) 987-3705.

If you have completed your verification form, you can enter here for a chance to win a box of Old Dutch! You must enter before Wednesday, September 23

Thank you to the Robina Baker Parent Fundraising Committee for helping us with our efforts to have all of the verification forms done before the Terry Fox Walk!

Join us as we help Terry “Finish It” on Friday, September 25

8:45 am Virtual Assembly: This will start after morning announcements. We will be participating in a Virtual Presentation at 8:45 am with Kirsten Fox (Terry Fox's niece).

1:00 pm School Walk: Leadership students from Riverview will be joining us. The Devon Lions Club will be set up at Robina to provide snacks for all students.

Kindergarten students will participate with activities on the school grounds.

Grades 1–4 will walk the same community route as last year.

Parents and guardians are welcome to join! If you would like to walk with a Grade 1–4 class, please complete the Volunteer Registration Form on PowerSchool and let your child’s teacher know you’re interested.

If you’d like to support cancer research, donations can be made directly to the RBES Terry Fox Fundraising Page or students may bring a “Toonie for Terry” on September 25.

Please complete your verification form on PowerSchool so your child can participate.

Old Dutch Chips Order

The RBES Parent Council is selling Old Dutch Chips.

Support our school while stocking the pantry with your favorite snacks! These are also the perfect size for Halloween treats - and the timing can't be beat!

Order deadline is Thursday, September 24th. Delivery is TBD.

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.

The class that sells the most will have a Halloween treat and craft delivered the week before Halloween!

Ordering Hot Lunch

Orders are made on the Hot Lunches Website

Important Note on Hot Lunch Dates

Thank you for your hot lunch orders! Before finalizing your selections, please double-check your order dates against your child's class calendar to ensure they will be in school and not away on a field trip.

If your child is absent or away on a hot lunch day, you are welcome to pick up their meal after 12:30 PM (please notify the school before 10:00 AM). Otherwise, the lunch will be donated, as refunds cannot be provided.

https://rbes.hotlunches.net/

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.