March 31st, 2020

Please see the following email from Mr. Thorne, shared earlier this afternoon:

Hello to our wonderful Christina Gordon families:  

Let me say how much I miss seeing our children and parents. I miss the smiling faces I see in the hallways, the love of learning I see in the classrooms, the amazing connection I see daily between students and our amazing staff. I especially miss greeting students and parents each morning at the drop off area. That fills my bucket each morning and always puts a smile on my face to begin the day ahead.

The school without our children and families in it is only a building. I can’t wait until we once again hear the sounds and see the faces that make Christina Gordon the awesome place it normally is.   

On Friday past you received the first package of At Home Learning Activities (Learning Continuity Plan) from your child’s teacher. When you receive this each Friday, please keep in mind that these activities/lessons are meant to support you as an attempt to provide some normalcy in your child's routine through “school work”. Realizing that all families may not be in the same place in terms of having their child complete this work, please let me emphasize that this is not meant to cause families undue stress by overwhelming them during a time when they are already overwhelmed by the circumstances we each find ourselves in. While it provides some valuable learning experiences, the ‘work’ is totally optional. Please DO NOT allow this to add to your stress!

By now you should have all been contacted by your child’s teacher, possibly many times. It is so important that the connection that your child had with their teacher is maintained. Expect that you will continue to be reached out to by our teachers regularly and often. We hope that this can provide a little extra something that brightens your child’s day or makes you feel more supported. We do know that some teachers have been unable to reach some families. If that is your case, please reach out to your child’s teacher through their email to let them know how you are doing and whether there is anything we can do to support you in these challenging times. We really care about you and need to know how you are doing! Know that our teachers are committed to you and your families. That is what we pride ourselves in at Christina Gordon.

Whether you need support in getting through this emotionally, support in working with your child academically, support with having the appropriate technology or support of any kind that you need as a family, we are here for you. We can help, or put you in touch with someone who can.

While I would love to be able to reach out personally to each of you, I’m sure you realize that doing that for 530 children is challenging. Instead, through this letter, I would like to suggest and offer that if there is anything I can do for you, I am only a phone call away at 587 276 2017 or through email at richard.thorne@fmpsd.ab.ca.

Make no mistake that together we will get through this and come out the other end stronger than ever. That’s just what we do.

Please take good care of yourselves and those around you, and do your part to stop the spread of this virus.

Sincerely,
Rick Thorne

​Read Aloud Playlist: