Gerbil Amusement Park

Cold Weather Days

For years, the CBE has had “Blue Dot Days” that allowed students to stay inside when the temperatures dropped below –20C. Interestingly, the protocols around blue dot days were removed some time ago and replaced with a more flexible option for schools to follow.
Moving forward, all students in CJP will be expected to arrive at the school prepared for the weather (snow, rain, cold). We will continue to use –20C as our anticipated cut off for prolonged outdoor activities. There are a few updates
and tweeks to this plan.

1. All students, every day (barring torrential downpours or extreme weather) will suit up and go outside for a limited bit of activity and exercise. On a – 24C day that could mean a run/walk to the far end of the field or twice around the playground. They will be accompanied by CJP staff on these outside bits of exercise.
2. Patrollers, who stand fairly still at their posts will not be outside if the weather is colder than –20C. Rather, on these cold days, patrollers will wear their vests and assist with safety and supervision in the CJP hallways and at the entry doors.
3. Certainly, if the weather is too cold, or too wet, we will welcome student into the building at 8:55 and not go outside at recess. These decisions will be made on a daily basis as the weather combined with the wind changes so quickly.
4. We recommend all students keep a spare pair of socks in their backpack for wet feet and extra mitts should the first pair go missing/be wet.

Please send your child with mitts, a hat, snow pants, and a warm jacket during cold weather months. The classroom teachers and the office remind students to dress appropriately for the cold. Too often students are heading outside without jackets mitts, and a hat. Even with consistent reminders they are refusing to return into the building to put on more layers. Certainly, being in the cold and not dressing for it will bring about natural consequences. We will continue to do our best to ensure students are dressed appropriately. Conversations at home regarding expectations for appropriate clothing in the cold would also be helpful.