October 6th, 2024
Cougar Chronicles – Principals’ Report
Dear families and guardians,
We are ready for another great week ahead! Please note that Monday, October 14th is Thanksgiving Day and schools will be closed. We wish you and your family a wonderful long weekend!
Please read our newsletter to stay up to date with all the wonderful things going on at JFC!
Warmly,
Ms. Jaime Demsey (Vice Principal) and Mrs. Leah Pullen (Principal)
Friday, October 11, 2024, is a professional development (PD) day for elementary and secondary school staff:
Students will not attend school, in person or virtually. All board-operated Extended Day and Youth Development programs will be closed. PD days are held throughout the school year to provide learning opportunities for school-based staff. This professional learning focuses on providing educators and staff with the knowledge and skills needed to support and enhance student achievement and well-being. Read more about what staff will be learning: Professional Development for School Staff
Student Absences
We are noticing an increase in student lates and absences. Please remember to email or call the school to report lates and absences. This helps us to know where your child is as well as eliminate a phone call home to check in on where your student might be. Remember, an email can be sent at any time, day or night, or even ahead of time if you know your child will be absent for an appointment.
Email: jfc-attendance@wrdsb.ca
Phone: 519 578 8450 and press 1 to report an absence
Respectful interactions at JFC
At JFC, we believe that speaking respectfully to one another builds our relationships, models for children how we should treat others, and creates an environment where staff and students alike can truly thrive. When we trust one another to be respectful, we open our hearts to each other. That’s when we all can truly make a difference in each other’s lives. When we trust one another, we take risks. We learn and grow. 🙂 Relationships truly make all the difference in our school.
The same is true in all our relationships. Please remember to speak respectfully to our office staff calling the school or relaying messages. Please address staff in the same manner you would like to be addressed. A little kindness goes a long way. Thank you!
Parking
In the mornings and afternoons, our parking lot attendant has the thankless job of keeping our parking lot safe for our students as they arrive and depart on foot. We have asked ALL caregivers to follow the same school practice of parking off site and walking their children to the yard. We understand the longstanding frustration with the “parking situation” at JFC but we cannot abuse those who are school staff in an attempt to circumvent the rules that are in place for student safety. Thank you to everyone who has cooperated with the expectations and who model respectful interactions with school staff. We appreciate it!
Picture Day – October 28th. Please mark this date in your calendars!
October Lunch and Learn Sessions for Families and Caregivers
As part of our ongoing efforts to support WRDSB families and caregivers, our psychology staff are offering a number of Lunch and Learn sessions. These webinars, scheduled over the lunch hour on Wednesdays, aim to equip families and caregivers with useful tips and information to assist them in supporting their children. Please see below for opportunities available:
Lunch and Learn Sessions
Heart to Heart: How to Validate your Child’s Emotions
When: October 9, 2024 from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.
Where: Zoom link for Lunch & Learn
Meeting ID: 544 193 0058
Password: WRDSB
Get it Done! How to Stop Procrastinating
When: October 16, 2024 from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.
Where: Zoom link for Lunch & Learn
Meeting ID: 544 193 0058
Password: WRDSB
Screen Time and Technology Use
When: October 23, 2024 from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.
Where: Zoom link for Lunch & Learn
Meeting ID: 544 193 0058
Password: WRDSB
Sweet Dreams: The Importance of Sleep and How to Help our Children Get Enough
When: October 30, 2024 from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.
Where: Zoom link for Lunch & Learn
Meeting ID: 544 193 0058
Password: WRDSB
Assistive Technology – Support for Families in October 2024
Families and Caregivers: Are you looking for ways to support your child with technology? The SEA Assistive Technology Team of the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) is available to support you. In October and November 2024, they will offer a three-part learning series on digital tools to help your child with research at home, including new features on the Read&Write toolbar. These courses will be offered on two separate days to support as many families and caregivers as possible. Please click https://www.wrdsb.ca/blog/2024/10/01/assistive-technology-support-for-families-in-october-2024/ to see all the opportunities available.
School Day ** PLEASE REGISTER** (ongoing, from last week…)
All of our important communication is shared via School Day. (https://www.school-day.com/) . In order to access your child’s class-specific information, you need a special code called a Secure Match Key. If you don’t already have one, please ask your child’s teacher if they can help you or call the office at 519 578 8450 and press 3. We encourage all of you to join us on School Day so that important messages, field trip information, pizza days, and other exciting events can be shared.
Nutrition for Learning (ongoing, from last week…)
Did you know that there is a Nutrition for Learning program right here at JF Carmichael? Nutrition for Learning works in partnership with youth and educators striving to elevate the experience of universal food access at schools in ways that promote optimal well-being, healthy relationships, and food literacy, so that all students are nourished at school in order to learn, connect, participate, and thrive. This past school year, Nutrition for Learning noticed a growing need for student nutrition programs. When students are well-nourished at school, they are given the chance to learn, participate, and thrive.
If you would like, you can become a donor to help students access food while at school. Go to https://www.nutritionforlearning.ca/sponsor/ to donate directly to our school (use drop down to find JF Carmichael PS). Even small donations can make a big impact. Donate today!
Thank you for supporting JFC’s student nutrition program. The permanent link for donating will be under Resources on our website.
School Council (ongoing, from last week…)
Welcome to JF Carmichael School Council for the 2024/25 school year! Please feel free to contact us anytime at jf-carmichael-school-council@googlegroups.com. Our first meeting and election will be on October 7th at 7pm in the library or via a Google Meet link: https://meet.google.com/idn-tvha-uap
Dates happening this week:
- PD Day (no school for students) Friday, October 11th.
- World Mental Health Day, October 10, 2024
- Islamic Heritage Day, October 10, 2024
- International Day of the Girl, October 11, 2024
- National Coming Out Day, October 11, 2024
- Yom Kippur, October 11-12
- Thanksgiving, October 14, 2024