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<p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As we begin the new school year, we continue to support BC''s restrictions on personal digital devices during instructional time. These expectations are designed to help students stay focused on learning, engage more actively in classroom discussions, and reduce distractions that can interfere with academic success.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Research and experience in schools have shown that limiting cell phone use during class supports better concentration, stronger student-teacher interactions, and improved learning outcomes. It also encourages students to build healthy habits around technology use and strengthens opportunities for face-to-face connection with peers.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">At George Elliot Secondary, we recognize that technology remains an important learning tool when used purposefully and under teacher direction. The provincial restrictions are not about eliminating technology, but about ensuring that it is used in ways that enhance learning rather than compete with it.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We appreciate the support of families as we work together to create a positive, focused, and respectful learning environment where every student can thrive. Before the school year begins, please take a moment to review the </span><a href="/documents/5c578f93-e089-4aff-a5b7-0b599387f917/Using-your-phone-GESS-rev5-copy.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20260810201840" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Using Your Phone at George Elliot Infographic</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> with your child.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/75234c86-baba-4b49-9547-611b2b7c3cda?fingerprint=ppb20260810204141" alt="Using your phone GESS rev5" style="display:inline-block;max-width:100%"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A reminder that our School Board has shifted all high school start times to 9:15 am. School will now end at 3:30 pm. See the </span><a href="https://ges.sd23.bc.ca/" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">George Elliot Home Page</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> for a complete bell schedule.</span></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">According to British Columbia's Motor Assisted Cycle (E-Bike) Regulation, there are specific age limits and safety requirements for operating e-bikes and e-scooters on public roads. Here are the key points:</span></p><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Standard E-Bikes: Riders must be at least 16 years old</span><a href="https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/cycling/cycling-regulations-restrictions-rules/e-bikes" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/cycling/cycling-regulations-restrictions-rules/e-bikes</span></a></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Light E-Bikes: Riders must be at least 14 years old</span></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">E-Scooters (stand-on-top): Riders must be at least 16 years old </span><a href="https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/cycling/electric-kick-scooter-rules" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/cycling/electric-kick-scooter-rules</span></a></li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">E-Motorbikes are not permitted on public roads in BC and should not be brought to school.&nbsp;</span></li></ul><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Students and their families must ensure that students are of legal age to ride E-bikes or E-scooters. To assist students and families with this item in the code of conduct, we are providing this Know the Rules Before You Ride infographic from the RCMP. Students and members of the public in violation of the Motor Vehicle Act can be referred to the RCMP.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/6b487fa2-12e7-44e3-aefc-fe7a5cb112a8?fingerprint=ppb20260815202854" alt="rcmp moped rules" style="display:inline-block;max-width:100%"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<h3 class="editor-heading-h3"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">GESS School Gear</span></h3><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><a href="https://www.blairsportswear.ca/gesspiritwear" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link"><u><b><strong class="editor-text-bold editor-text-underline" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Click here to order yours today!</strong></b></u></a></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">All orders are due by: Monday, Sept. 15</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><a href="https://blairsportswear.ca/gesspiritwear" target="_blank" title="Screenshot 2025 09 03 090817"><img src="/images/568a8e54-9b62-428f-a38f-ccd55fc3fd0c?fingerprint=ppb20251217034042" alt="Screenshot 2025 09 03 090817" width="224" height="256" style="width:224px;height:256px;display:inline-block"></a></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p><a href="https://sites.google.com/learn.sd23.bc.ca/gesfamilynewsletter/june-5-2026">Coyote Connections - June 5</a></p><p><a href="https://sites.google.com/learn.sd23.bc.ca/gesfamilynewsletter/may-29-2026">Coyote Connections - May 29</a></p><p><a href="https://sites.google.com/learn.sd23.bc.ca/gesfamilynewsletter/may-22-2026">Coyote Connections - May 22</a></p><p><a href="https://sites.google.com/learn.sd23.bc.ca/gesfamilynewsletter/may-15-2026">Coyote Connections - May 15</a></p><p><a href="https://sites.google.com/learn.sd23.bc.ca/gesfamilynewsletter/may-8-2026">Coyote Connections - May 8</a></p><p><a href="https://sites.google.com/learn.sd23.bc.ca/gesfamilynewsletter/may-1-2026">Coyote Connections - May 1</a></p><p><a href="https://sites.google.com/learn.sd23.bc.ca/gesfamilynewsletter/april-24-2026">Coyote Connections - April 21</a></p><p><a href="https://sites.google.com/learn.sd23.bc.ca/gesfamilynewsletter/april-10-2026">Coyote Connections - April 13-17</a></p><p><a href="/documents/a64b53b1-9491-4a3f-a9b9-4446e402dbdd/Coyote-Connections-April-6-10.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20260407170035">Coyote Connections - April 6-10</a></p><p><a href="/documents/3314e18c-1acd-4286-9ca7-787b9213285f/Coyote-Connections-March-30-April-3.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20260313222637">Coyote Connections - March 30 - April 3</a></p><p><strong>March 16-27 - SPRING BREAK</strong></p><p><a href="/documents/fffc1554-0f22-4a01-9e84-de011689d114/Coyote-Connections-March-9-13.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20260306221352">Coyote Connections - March 9-13</a></p><p><a href="/documents/5b571ff7-79de-4b10-80f1-76003ae9e03b/Coyote-Connections-March-2-6.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20260306221341">Coyote Connections - March 2-6</a></p><p><a href="/documents/96e1a611-7e70-4a0d-a42b-690378265c1c/Coyote-Connections-Feb-23-27.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20260220225546">Coyote Connections - Feb. 23-27</a></p><p><a href="/documents/1f7555e6-cefe-4ae7-bb97-6ceb4346358d/Coyote-Connections-Feb-16-20.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20260212220726">Coyote Connections - Feb. 16-20</a></p><p><a href="/documents/771f81b6-a3d3-419b-811d-3f1feee1ca0c/Coyote-Connections-Feb-9-13.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20260212220658">Coyote Connections - Feb. 9-13</a></p><p><a href="/documents/4202668a-1025-4778-869c-b0c7aa794449/Coyote-Connections-Feb-2-6.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20260130223505">Coyote Connections - Feb. 2-6</a></p><p><a href="/documents/77b0642a-255c-4272-9c54-9b2e591abe20/Coyote-Connections-Jan-26-30.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20260123221539">Coyote Connections - Jan. 26-30</a></p><p><a href="/documents/4f2c5058-163e-43b7-a7bc-ae1bc725d34b/Coyote-Connections-Jan-5-9.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251219211557">Coyote Connections - Jan. 5-9</a></p><p><a href="/documents/76cb7cb8-416c-4288-83d5-2c57fc036701/Coyote-Connections-Jan-12-16.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20260121184139">Coyote Connections - Jan. 12-16</a></p><p><a href="/documents/35492c76-a082-42b6-88b3-170950e5b7e8/Coyote-Connections-Jan-19-23.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20260121184203">Coyote Connections - Jan. 19-23</a></p><p><a href="/documents/4f2c5058-163e-43b7-a7bc-ae1bc725d34b/Coyote-Connections-Jan-5-9.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251219211557">Coyote Connections - Last week of Dec. &amp; First week in January 2026</a></p><p><a href="/documents/163724aa-9062-42d8-ac26-72c30543fd2d/Coyote-Connections-Dec-15-19.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217033054">Coyote Connections - Dec. 15-19</a></p><p><a href="/documents/7fb813ed-58cc-47d1-9686-0168ed3ed715/Coyote-Connections-Dec-8-12.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217040256">Coyote Connections - Dec. 8-12</a></p><p><a href="/documents/0834e7a1-299d-4676-8800-f42292877101/Coyote-Connections-Dec-1-5.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217032850">Coyote Connections - Dec. 1-5</a></p><p><a href="/documents/d24d1c28-8233-44c4-9bb8-5385d1209649/Coyote-Connections-Nov-24-28.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217060504">Coyote Connections - Nov. 24-28</a></p><p><a href="/documents/5c4e0cc9-e81d-4613-9b7d-0a32e3f4a287/Coyote-Connections-Nov-17-21.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217034344">Coyote Connections - Nov. 17-21</a></p><p><a href="/documents/02e097cc-bfb5-49a9-8df0-af4b66701636/Coyote-Connections-Nov-10-14.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217034329">Coyote Connections - Nov. 10-14</a></p><p><a href="/documents/e38f4d1c-fba9-48ab-8205-fefc287057de/Coyote-Connections-Nov-3-7.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217060737">Coyote Connections - Nov. 3-7</a></p><p><a href="/documents/618e3cc2-3683-4647-b3ae-5c3bb43ca6be/Coyote-Connections-Oct-27-31.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217034540">Coyote Connections - 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Oct. 21-25</a></p><p><a href="/documents/9fcd3009-e56a-4cb2-9a1b-41e093c25d90/Coyote%20Connections%20-%20Oct%2028%20-%20Nov.%201.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217041834">Coyote Connections - Oct. 28 - Nov. 1</a></p><p><a href="/documents/f2b0f665-1d67-43f4-82da-da54533469c9/Coyote%20Connections%20-%20Nov.%204-8.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217060942">Coyote Connections - Nov. 4-8</a></p><p><a href="/documents/f79350dc-d60d-4020-9796-4c0d89383b27/Coyote%20Connections%20-%20Nov.%2011-15.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217061023">Coyote Connections - Nov. 11-15</a></p><p><a href="/documents/c4bf8a20-ce8c-4d90-83fb-4dc25346d2ea/Coyote%20Connections%20-%20Nov.%2018-22.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217060258">Coyote Connections - Nov. 18-22</a></p><p><a href="/documents/ca8e8229-d53e-4563-b28f-993fc5a3b77a/Coyote%20Connections%20-%20Nov.%2025-29.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217060354">Coyote Connections - Nov. 25-29</a></p><p><a href="/documents/310dbec8-3dc2-4a8c-948c-af623609303b/Coyote%20Connections%20-%20Dec.%202-6.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217033459">Coyote Connections - Dec. 2-6</a></p><p><a href="/documents/bc28b777-432b-41e3-8faa-5a4e3f90a12e/Coyote%20Connections%20-%20Dec.%209-13.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217060149">Coyote Connections - Dec. 9-13</a></p><p><a href="/documents/ba700fbf-4064-468a-ba9c-7bfb5b678957/Coyote%20Connections%20-%20Jan.%206-10.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217060136">Coyote Connections - Jan. 6-10</a></p><p><a href="/documents/e0f3dd14-8c85-4c6b-8a0e-0c9acffdc176/Coyote%20Connections%20-%20Jan.%2013-17.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217060707">Coyote Connections - Jan. 13-17</a></p><p><a href="/documents/47b4e259-20c6-4026-a85a-87d2a6c26571/Coyote%20Connections%20-%20Jan.%2020-24.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217033819">Coyote Connections - Jan. 20-24</a></p><p><a href="/documents/a62c2041-427f-4f9f-b630-527311b48c75/Coyote%20Connections%20-%20Jan.%2027-31.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217053453">Coyote Connections - Jan. 27-31</a></p><p><a href="/documents/810e6eeb-0949-47f2-81f0-a1ff6d33575e/Coyote%20Connections%20-%20Feb.%203-7.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217040309">Coyote Connections - Feb. 3-7</a></p><p><a href="/documents/75edf9ff-0e4b-4d70-8d39-22004694f884/Coyote%20Connections%20-%20Feb.%2010-14.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217035608">Coyote Connections - Feb. 10-14</a></p><p><a href="/documents/700e4b8a-f8e3-4700-8abf-70979a957fa1/Coyote%20Connections%20-%20Feb.%2017-21.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217035237">Coyote Connections - Feb. 17-21</a></p><p><a href="/documents/4716919c-66ed-400b-8b5d-ef34fdfe26fe/Coyote%20Connections%20-%20Feb.%2024-28.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217033805">Coyote Connections - Feb. 24-28</a></p><p><a href="/documents/4716919c-66ed-400b-8b5d-ef34fdfe26fe/Coyote%20Connections%20-%20Feb.%2024-28.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217033805">Coyote Connections - March 3-7</a></p><p><a href="/documents/b7a502bc-5605-457e-9be4-b4eeae21be2c/Coyote%20Connections%20-%20Mar.%2010-14.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217060110">Coyote Connections - March 10-14</a></p><p><strong>SPRING BREAK (March 17-28)</strong></p><p><a href="/documents/e283d897-537b-43ff-ba0f-20152b9cf141/Coyote%20Connections%20-%20Mar.%2031-%20Apr.%204.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217060721">Coyote Connections - March 31 - April 4</a></p><p><a href="/documents/a23879db-0be8-44ab-a78d-2197358d9f15/Coyote%20Connections%20-%20April%207-11.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217052643">Coyote Connections - April 7-11</a></p><p><a href="/documents/b1625db8-e5bc-4776-87b4-cd5db900137e/Coyote%20Connections%20-%20Apr.%2014-18.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217060015">Coyote Connections - April 14-18</a></p><p><a href="/documents/7ea7832b-7b30-4195-ad17-8e12e5c0456a/Coyote%20Connections%20-%20Apr.%2021-25.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217040256">Coyote Connections - April 21-25</a></p><p><a href="/documents/f226f164-fe18-4acf-81f1-96a6fa7f56cb/Coyote-Connections-Apr-28-May-2.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217060942">Coyote Connections - April 28 - May 2</a></p><p><a href="/documents/0a934324-83ab-4632-b782-e3b9c6be5690/Coyote-Connections-May-5-9.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217032917">Coyote Connections - May 5-9</a></p><p><a href="/documents/4bb4504a-9303-46b5-8a15-8620919855b2/Coyote-Connections-May-12-16.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217033855">Coyote Connections - May 12-16</a></p><p><a href="/documents/0d3020d5-b855-4449-a653-c3c0ad0aad3c/Coyote-Connections-May-19-23.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217032944">Coyote Connections - May 19-23</a></p><p><a href="/documents/53c63713-ef60-45f2-acfa-bb42dcd96b9d/Coyote-Connections-May-26-30.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217034016">Coyote Connections - May 26-30</a></p><p><a href="/documents/e9210e24-5f0c-4292-845c-e017a18a0dc1/Coyote-Connections-June-2-6.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217060817">Coyote Connections - June 2-6</a></p><p><a href="/documents/4f852851-fd99-48b1-b1b4-287a7f4c0e53/Coyote-Connections-June-9-13.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217033950">Coyote Connections - June 9-13</a></p></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>