Important Information

🐾PLEASE NOTE: We have decided to reschedule this weekend's hike due to the forecasted high winds. There will be a meeting next week to decide on a new date! Enjoy your long weekend!

🐾Our Final Practice Hike for the Fall will be this coming Saturday, November 16th. Students are asked to meet at lunchtime on Tuesday (Nov. 12th) in Room 109b to:

1. Confirm time of hike and group members

2. Pass in their permission slips

3. Pay train fees if not already done

4. Pick up an important letter and map re: hike drop off, route, pick up and map.

🐾CONGRATULATIONS to this weekend's hikers! 73 students hit the East Coast Trail! They did a fantastic job!

A few things we noticed and mentioned to the hikers to fix for the qualifying hike:

• Waterproof your backpack, things like sleeping bags NEED to be kept dry!
• Make sure you have enough water.
• Dress in layers. Sunglasses, hat/hoods, rainpants are a good idea.
• FOOTWEAR! Please, before the qualifying hike...make sure you have comfortable, preferably waterproof footwear...and break them in!
• Please check the Hike Information Package (under additional resources linked from HOME) to ensure you are fully prepared for the qualifying hike in May.

🐾Just a reminder that our FINAL wilderness training (Group 4) will be this week:

• Monday Oct.28th 6-9pm
• Tuesday Oct. 29th 6-9pm
• Please note: They sometimes finish a little early so please have your phone near so your child can contact you.

🐾During wilderness training, you will need to sign up for your hike. Hike for this group is planned for November 16th. This will be the final practice hike. Any other students that still have NOT completed their practice hike, will need to see Ms. Riggs this week to sign up.

🐾Please NOTE: due to our large numbers this year, we will NOT be doing a backpack check for the Practice Hike. We will check backpack and adjust if necessary prior to departing on the morning of the hike!

🐾All Saturday, Oct. 26th (8am and 9 am) hikers are asked too meet in Room 109b Tuesday @11:20 to pick up an important letter and map to the drop off site.

🐾All Sunday, Oct. 27th (8 am) hikers are asked too meet in Room 109b Thursday @11:20 to pick up an important letter and map to the drop off site.

🐾 Any student that has signed up to borrow a tent, stove or backpack, must pick up at the end of the day on Friday.

🐾 During the Wilderness Training, students must identify a group of five and sign up. Each group will need to have a tent as well as a stove. Prior to departing on the hike, students will need to demonstrate they are able to set up their tent and light their stove. They will pack as if they are going on an overnight hike. The wilderness training teaches them how to prepare for their hike. In addition, there is a hike information package on the google classroom. Google classroom code: wn8l89b. Students must sign in using their NLESD account.

🐾 There is another First Aid Course being offered this Sunday with limited space. If your child had not completed their first aid training, this will be the last opportunity with the school. Students must sign up and arrive at the school at 8:15 am with a packed lunch as they will not be permitted to leave the building. They should be done by 4pm. The cost is $25.00 and must be paid prior to Sunday.

🐾 Payments for first aid, wilderness training and trail fees will be collected at the beginning of lunch on the dates listed at the right of this page.

Wilderness training = $20.00

Trail Fees = $10/Hike.

Receipts will be given to your child upon payment.

🐾 Our Practice Hikes are 12 km and take place along the East Coast Trail. Your child's safety is our number one priority. Permission slips need to be filled out and passed in prior to the hike. Permission slips can be picked up in Room 109b. If your child has an epipen, they will need to take two. One for them to carry and the other for the hike leader. They will NOT be permitted on the hike without both. Also, an important reminder that no known food allergens to the school are permitted on the hike. For example, fish, eggs, nuts, kiwi, etc. Please be extremely careful when packing snacks that they do NOT contain these products. Also, If your child has a medical condition that we need to be aware of, please ensure the permission slip contains this information.

🐾 We are still in need of both Online Record Book Parents (ORB) and Hike leaders. There will be a final training session offered on November 2nd for anyone interested in helping with the ORB. Again, the success of all participants is dependent on having sufficient parent volunteers. For both ORB and hike leaders, you will be required to compete a Code of Conduct. Forms can be picked up at the main office and dropped off to the RNC for processing. Please note, it can take up to 2 weeks is to process. If you are interested and able to help out, please let Ms. Riggs know ASAP.

🐾 There is a Parent Volunteer Meeting at the school this Thursday, October 17th at 7:30pm for parents that are interested in helping with the hikes. During this meeting, we will be doing a schedule for volunteers. Again, very important to have parent support.

🐾 Please remember there are 120 students registered for the program this year. It is very important that your child is respectful and responsible. Thank you for your continued support!

Important Dates

🐾 Wilderness Training began this week.

Please ask your child which group they have signed up for. Training is at MDJH in Room 109b.

Group 1: Tuesday, Oct.15th and Wednesday, Oct. 16th 6-9pm

Group 2: Thursday, Oct. 17th and Friday, Oct. 18th 6-9pm

Group 3: Tuesday, Oct. 22nd and Wednesday Oct. 23rd 6-9pm

Group 4: Monday, Oct. 28th and Tuesday Oct. 29th 6-9pm

🐾 Practice Hikes (Maddox Cove to Cape Spear) have now been scheduled for the following dates:

Group 1: Saturday, October 26th 8am

Group 2: Saturday, October 26th 9am

Group 3: Sunday, October 27th 8am

Group 4: Saturday, November 16th 8am

🐾 Payment will be accepted at the beginning of lunch (11:20 a.m.) in room 109b on the following dates:

Group 2: Thursday, October 17th

Group 3: Monday, October 21st

Group 4: Monday, October 28th

Contact Information

Group 1 - Chris Downey

Group 2 - Craig Squires

Group 3 - Erin O'Leary

Group 4 - Jennifer Riggs

Please remember that there are 120 students registered for the program this year. Each student is responsible for fulfilling the requirements of the Duke of Edinburgh Program with guidance from Award Leaders, Assessors or other Award volunteers, and parents.

Students should know which group they have signed up for and students should be the first contact for all aspects of the program. Any parents interested in volunteering to assist with the program are invited to contact Jennifer Riggs.