Back To School Logistics
Although we’ve sent a number of emails over the summer, this one is being sent to officially welcome you to the 2020-2021 school year!
I would like to extend a very warm welcome to our newest Angels and a huge welcome back to our returning Angels. As we begin our school year, students will be introduced to our Little Flower school objective of “United in Hope” and the Catholic School theme “Walk with Jesus Our Living Hope”. Hope is not only central to this year’s theme and objective, but it is also a reflection of our Gospel values. In times of uncertainty, these values provide comfort and guidance. Students will be called to deepen their relationship with Christ, placing their trust in Him and living a life of hope. From a place of hope, we will challenge students to share their time, talents, and love with others, encouraging them to act for the greater good.
While the year ahead may still seem uncertain, it is our hope that each student, over the course of the year, strengthens her resolve to be her best self and to life the life she is called to live in Christ.
I thank you for choosing Little Flower Academy for your daughter’s education. Together with parents, the school will strive to help every student reach her potential. I invite parents and students to get involved, ask questions, and enjoy the years at LFA. We ask for God’s continued blessings on our school community.
Sincerely,
Diane Little
Principal
Diane Little
Principal
News from the Ministry of Education
We are thrilled to share with you the news that we have finally received official approval from the Ministry of Education for our school restart plans. We are grateful to the Ministry for recognizing Little Flower’s unique learning environment and approving some of the accommodations we requested to ensure students and staff can return to a safe and healthy campus.
School Restart Policies
Updated school health and safety protocols and restart policies have been posted to our website (and are available to the right). These protocols have been developed and updated to ensure they meet all Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and WorkSafe BC requirements which are specific for K-12 Schools. The protocols will continue to be updated as required and posted to our website. If significant changes are made, the changes will be communicated to families through email.
To facilitate our daily deep cleaning, we are restricting student access to the school. Students are permitted in the school 15 minutes before school and 15 minutes after dismissal.
Accommodating Immunocompromised Students
Families of students that have elevated risk of serious infection due to COVID-19 are asked to contact our IEP coordinator, Katelyn McGuinity (mcguintyk@lfabc.org).
School and Student Schedules
As previously shared, we will continue to organize the school schedule with a rotating Day 1- Day 2 schedule as we have in previous years. However, students will take the same four classes on both Day 1 and Day 2 for the entirety of Term 1.
On Day 1, Grade 8 and 9 students will attend classes at school and Grade 10, 11, and 12 students will attend classes remotely. On Day 2, Grade 8 and 9 students will attend classes remotely and Grade 10, 11, and 12 students will attend classes at school. The Day 1 – Day 2 rotation will be available on the school’s online calendar.
We have also begun the process of updating individual student schedules. Once this is complete, we email student schedules to the parent email we have on file. If you have not received your schedule by the end of day on Thursday, September 3, please contact Kathi Wilson at wilsonk@lfabc.org.
Student Orientations
Grade 8: Wednesday, September 9, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Grade 9: Thursday, September 10, 8:15 am – 10:30 am
Grade 10: Thursday, September 10, 8:45 am – 11:00 am
Grade 11: Thursday, September 10, 11:30 am – 1:45 pm
Grade 12: Thursday, September 10, 12:00 pm – 2:15 pm
Grade 9: Thursday, September 10, 8:15 am – 10:30 am
Grade 10: Thursday, September 10, 8:45 am – 11:00 am
Grade 11: Thursday, September 10, 11:30 am – 1:45 pm
Grade 12: Thursday, September 10, 12:00 pm – 2:15 pm
In addition to their grade level orientation, new students in Grades 9 – 12 are invited to a second orientation on Thursday, September 10 from 11:00 am – 11:30 am to learn about the remote learning tools used at LFA.
Please wear your LFA uniform and enter through the door assigned for your grade level (see School Restart Plan).
Checklist of item to bring to orientation:
- Mask
- Schedule of classes
- Snack (for grade 8 students only)
- Pen
- COVID-10 Student Health Protocols Form (completed and signed)
- Chromebook Loan and Internet Use Form (complete and signed)
- Chromebook deposit cheque of $500 payable to Little Flower Academy (post-dated to June 15, 2021)
Counselling Centre
The LFA Counselling Centre has two part-time therapy dogs. The dogs are kept in the counsellors’ offices and are on leash while in the hallways. While most students benefit from a little puppy time, we understand some students are fearful of or allergic to dogs. The dogs are kept inside offices and are only brought out if students are comfortable. If students prefer, they have full access to meet with counsellors without the dogs present.
Student Drop-off and Pick-up
Our three school traffic management program is still in effect and is very important to ensure the safety of students attending Little Flower and our neighbouring schools. Little Flower’s student drop-off and pick-up zone is between the driveways of the Nanton Street parking lot. Please do NOT drop off students on Alexandra Street.
In the best interest of safe and healthy social distancing, families are strongly encouraged to drop students a few blocks away from the school and have them walk in. This will reduce congestion in the immediate vicinity of the schools, and will allow students to maintain a safe distance from others.
LFA Athletics
While inter-school competition is not permitted at this time, LFA athletes will still be able to train and develop their skills with their coaches and teammates. Coaches will share information about try-outs with students in the first week of classes.
Summer Facilities & Technology Projects
This summer, we completed a number of facilities upgrades. The final stacks have been removed from the Library, transforming it to a flexible space that will allow for collaboration, ingenuity, and imagination.
The school HVAC system has received a major upgrade with new air extraction units, improved air flow, and new filters. In addition, we have replaced the standard faucets with hands-free faucets in all student washrooms. Additional hand sanitation stations and soap dispensers have been installed throughout the building. And finally, equipment has been purchased to facilitate a regular deep cleaning of the school building.
Additional Chromebooks were purchased over the summer to allow us to provide each student with a Chromebook for their exclusive use. Parents are reminded of the Chromebook loan agreement that needs to be signed and returned to homeroom teachers during orientation.
None of this is possible without the generous philanthropic support of our community.
School Website... A Quick Guide
Please log on to the school website to view the school calendar and access parent resources and information. While you will see some information from our homepage, most of the information, photos, and events are only accessible by logging in.
Online Calendar
The online calendar is updated regularly and can be sorted according to events, academics, and extra-curriculars. By logging in, the calendar is personalized to events that are relevant to your daughter(s).
The online calendar is updated regularly and can be sorted according to events, academics, and extra-curriculars. By logging in, the calendar is personalized to events that are relevant to your daughter(s).
Grade Pages
Grade pages contain information that is specific to the grade in which your daughter is enrolled. Although forms and information are sent home with your daughter, most of the information is also posted on her grade page. Grade pages contain everything from field trip permission forms and information to school supply lists, exam schedules, and graduation ticket order forms. To access the grade page, click on your daughter’s name which is on the top left corner of your screen, once you have logged in. If you have more than one daughter at LFA, you will see “Children” instead of your daughter’s name. By clicking on Children, you can access each daughter’s grade page.
Grade pages contain information that is specific to the grade in which your daughter is enrolled. Although forms and information are sent home with your daughter, most of the information is also posted on her grade page. Grade pages contain everything from field trip permission forms and information to school supply lists, exam schedules, and graduation ticket order forms. To access the grade page, click on your daughter’s name which is on the top left corner of your screen, once you have logged in. If you have more than one daughter at LFA, you will see “Children” instead of your daughter’s name. By clicking on Children, you can access each daughter’s grade page.
Parent Pages
Under the “Groups” tab, you have access to a parent page. This page has school-wide information for parents, but is not grade-specific. Upcoming events and parent announcements can be found on this page.
Under the “Groups” tab, you have access to a parent page. This page has school-wide information for parents, but is not grade-specific. Upcoming events and parent announcements can be found on this page.
Resources
The resource page has more detailed information about our parents’ auxiliary, volunteer hours, school policies, traffic management, and more.
The resource page has more detailed information about our parents’ auxiliary, volunteer hours, school policies, traffic management, and more.
School Information
4195 Alexandra Street, Vancouver, BC V6J 4C6
Tel: 604-738-9016
Support LFA | Contact Us | School Calendar
Tel: 604-738-9016
Support LFA | Contact Us | School Calendar
