December 9th, 2024

Dear families and caregivers:

This week we are very excited to welcome Ms. Knight and her lovely dog Percey to school for some educational visits with our classes. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to connect with a safe and friendly pet and to learn how to approach animals when in the community. Other education topics expand to learning about urban wildlife and habitats and communities.  Some of the program titles include “Let’s Be Safe”, and “Healthy and Happy Pets”, and “Our Wild Neighbours.” Ask your child what they learned at the Humane Society visit!

Warmly, 

Ms. Demsey and Mrs. Pullen

Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) is Looking for New Members

Our Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) is looking for new members. We invite parents/caregivers of students currently enrolled in any of our schools to apply. As a member of PIC, you have an opportunity to strengthen parent/caregiver partnership in education and be part of a committee dedicated to helping each student achieve their full potential. The committee collaborates with WRDSB staff to support, encourage, and enhance parent/caregiver engagement in children’s education, to improve student achievement and well-being. 

Help Nutrition for Learning Meet the Growing Need

The WRDSB invites our community to come together and support Nutrition for Learning. They help WRDSB students access food at school that is healthy and nutritious.

This year’s giving campaign runs from Monday, December 2 to Friday, December 20, 2024.

We encourage administrators to share this giving opportunity to support Nutrition for Learning with their staff, colleagues, school community, family and friends!

Everyone is invited to take part!

Winter Reminders: (from last week)

With the winter months ahead of us, I would like to remind our community that all of our playground equipment is closed for the season until the Spring. Also, please remind your children to bundle up appropriately. With snow and cold temperatures, children require a jacket, hat, mittens, boots, and snow pants – snow pants are required if your child likes to play in the snow. For younger children, please label your child’s items to increase the chance of lost items being returned to your child. 

Sledding at JFC: (from last week)

It has been a longstanding tradition for JFC students to sled down our hills during break times. This year, we are only going to have one hill opened for sledding during breaks to ensure safety and adequate supervision of students. The hill we will be using is the long hill that comes down from the pathway/St. Mary’s side of the yard. The schedule will be as follows:

Morning break: Grades 1-3

Afternoon break: Grade 4-6

ONLY Crazy Carpets will be the acceptable mode of transportation for using the hill. Children should slide down the hill on a Crazy Carpet, exit to their right, walk up the pathway, and line up again at the top of the hill. Please leave personal sleds (unless it is a Crazy Carpet) or snow related items at home. We also have a number of school owned Crazy Carpets available for use for our students.

All hills will be open to classes during phys.ed. times or for outdoor daily physical activity times when teachers choose to take their students outdoors during the instructional day. The above arrangement is for Nutrition Breaks only. 

Community Flyers

The WRDSB offers community organizations and not-for-profits the opportunity to share information on their programs and services with our schools on our Community E-Flyers website. Each week we will share the most recent flyers shared with the Board in this newsletter in hopes that you share this information with your community if you deem it appropriate.

——————————–

Dates happening this week: 

  • National Day of Remembrance and Action of Violence Against Women, December 6, 2024
  • Bodhi Day/Awakening Day, December 8, 2024
  • Human Rights Day, December 10, 2024