Dear DGS Families,
As we approach Fall Break next week, a reminder that there will be no classes from November 10–13, and classes will resume on Thursday, November 13. We wish all students and families a restful and enjoyable break—whether you’re connecting with friends and loved ones, taking in the beautiful weather we’ve been enjoying, or taking advantage of the early snow in the mountains for some winter fun.
Looking ahead, school conferences are coming up at the end of the month. Important details are included below—please take a moment to review the information carefully.
We are also very pleased to be moving forward with two exciting learning opportunities for our students this year: the Grade 8 Eastern Canada Trip to Ottawa, Montréal, and Québec City, and the Grade 9 Sailing Trip. These experiences offer students an incredible opportunity to extend their learning beyond the classroom, build independence, and connect with peers in meaningful ways. Please read the information below and contact the teacher in charge if you have any questions.
Finally, a reminder that parents and guardians are warmly invited to join us for our Remembrance Day Assembly tomorrow. We are honoured to welcome Lieutenant Bob Morrin as our guest speaker this year.
Wishing everyone a safe and restorative Fall Break.
Items in this update:
- Remembrance Day
- School Council/Parent Society AGM
- School Conferences
- Individualized Program Plans (IPPs)
- Grade 9 Sailing Trip
- Grade 8 Eastern Canada Trip
Remembrance Day
Our Remembrance Day assembly is scheduled for Friday, November 7. Grades 5–7 will gather at 9:45 a.m., and grades 8–9 at 10:45 a.m. Parents and community members are warmly invited to attend and join us in honoring the contributions and sacrifices of those who have served.
School Council/Parent Society AGM
You are invited to join the DGS School Council and Fundraising Society for our Annual General Meeting being held on Monday, November 24 at 7PM in the staff room.
We want YOU to join us! We are looking for parents who are interested in supporting the school through advisement, fundraising, and volunteerism on our Parent Council and our Fundraising Society. We have several parents whose children will be leaving DGS in the next year or two and in order to support a smooth transition, we would love to have new parents join now.
All of the roles on both the School Council and the Fundraising Society are up for election on an annual basis. Within the School Council Operating Procedures DGS_SC_Operating_Procedures_2023.pdf and the Fundraising Society Bylaws Final_DGS_FundraisingSociety_Bylaws_20240719.pdf you will find detailed descriptions of each of the positions.
The positions available on the School Council are: Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Volunteer Coordinator, and Key Communicator. The roles of Volunteer Coordinator and Key Communicator are not specified within the Operating Procedures as they are elective positions that we chose to have. If you are interested in these positions, please feel free to reach out to the School Council (email below) or come to the meeting.
The positions available on the Fundraising Society are: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Casino Coordinator, and Directors at Large. The role of Casino Coordinator is a crucial role as we will have a casino in the 2026-2027 school year. This role is not specified in our Bylaws, however if you would like additional information, please email the School Council email.
It is imperative that we fill each of these roles in order for the school to continue to be eligible for the casino which generates over $80,000 in needed funding to support school initiatives and learning resources. Over the next year, we hope to limit the fundraising that we do and focus on allocating the remaining casino funds we have in advance of our next casino.
If you would like more information or have any questions about any of the positions on the School Council or Fundraising Society, please feel free to reach out to Heather Johnson at GSFundraisingsociety@gmail.com
Once again, we hope YOU will join us on Monday, November 24 at 7PM at DGS.
DGS Fundraising AGM Agenda 20251124.pdf
DGS Council AGM Agenda 20251124.pdf
Fund Raising Society Annual General Meeting Minutes 2024.pdf
School Council Annual General Meeting 2024.pdf
With Thanks,
DGS School Council and Fundraising Society
School Conferences
School conferences will continue as scheduled on the evening of Thursday, November 27 (in-person, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.) and on Friday, November 28 (virtually, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.). Each session will be 10 minutes in length. When booking conferences, please allow adequate time to move (physically or virtually) from one meeting to the next. The Conference Manager will open at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 22, and will close at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 27.
To book conferences, please log into your MyCBE account and follow these steps:
- Click on “Book and Manage Meeting Times”
- Select “Book a Conference”
School conferences provide an important opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations about your child’s learning. Parents/guardians, students, and teachers are able to connect and communicate openly about areas of strength and growth. These discussions help build and sustain respectful relationships that support student success. Prior to your conference, please take time with your child to review PowerSchool for updated grades and Google Classroom for course content and topics, ensuring a focused and informed discussion. If possible, please include your child in the conference as their voice is vital to understanding the next steps in their learning.
After booking, your conference details will appear in your MyCBE account. We recommend adding these to your email calendar to keep track of meeting times and links (if applicable).
Given the recent teacher strike and its impact on assessment timelines, teachers are continuing to update and analyze student data. While they will share available evidence of learning, we ask that families keep in mind that assessment information may still be in progress at this time. The focus of conferences will be on reconnecting, understanding current progress, and planning meaningful next steps to support each student’s continued growth.
We look forward to seeing you and your child at conferences and continuing our shared work in supporting their success.
Individualized Program Plans (IPPs)
Teachers are currently working on Individualized Program Plans (IPPs) for students identified with a special education coding. During the week of November 24, teachers will be reaching out to parents and guardians to review the draft IPPs, gather feedback, and obtain signatures.
Grade 9 Sailing Trip
Last year Dr. George Stanley was fortunate to be able to participate in a SALTS sailing trip based in Victoria, BC. This year, we have been lucky enough to be drawn again for a trip for the 2026 season and are actively planning for a May sail departure. General information about SALTS, as an organization, can be found at www.salts.ca
This trip is meant for Grade Nine students as a capstone trip to celebrate their time at DGS.
If your child has interest in taking advantage of this opportunity for adventure, and you’d like to hear more, please join us on Thursday, November 13th 2nd from 6:00pm - 7:00pm in the DGS Learning Commons for our initial information meeting. Details of the trip will be provided, as well as an opportunity to pose specific questions.
Who: Grade 9 students, Mr. Buist, Ms. Markusoff and Ms. Church
What: SALTS Sailing Trip
When: May 11th - May 15th, 2026
Where: Victoria and the Southern Gulf Islands
We look forward to discussing this opportunity with you soon!
Grade 8 Eastern Canada Trip
We are currently planning a student educational trip to Eastern Canada, which includes: Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City. The dates are still being finalized; however, we are anticipating the trip will occur between mid-April to early May. The opportunity will
If you are interested in your grade 8 child taking part in this trip, there will be an information meeting for parents and their children on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 6:00 pm in the Learning Commons.
Upcoming Dates
Friday, November 7
- Remembrance Day Assemblies
Monday, November 24
- School Council AGM (In-Person) @ 7:00pm
Wednesday, November 26
- Grade 6 Vaccinations
Thursday, November 27
- School Conferences (In-Person) @ 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Friday, November 28
- School Conferences (Virtual) @ 8:30am to 1:30pm
Tuesday, December 2
- Picture Retakes
Respectfully,
Chris Keuben
Principal