November 26th, 2023

Dear Families/Guardians,

It is truly amazing how quickly November has gone by. This is our last Friday in November. Here are your reminders and updates for this week.

Reminders:

1. Please remind your children, and speak to them, about wearing appropriate clothing outside. The wind is sharp in the field and little hands and face cheeks get red and cold. Snow pants or a pair of track pants over pants helps reduce the chill to the legs as well.

2. Please remember that the entry and exit door is the front door of the school for security reasons. This is for both the extended day program and or if picking children up for appointments, etc.

3. If possible, please provide your children with indoor shoes as this helps limit the water and mud that goes into the classroom throughout the day. Inappropriate footwear also impacts our gym floor negatively.

4. Please remember to call the school if your child is not present. After all numbers have been called, we begin our Safe Arrival procedure which requires police officers to check on a child.

Updates:

1. We had a wonderful group of students who helped with Bullying Prevention and Awareness Week. There were students who prepared and performed in a skit, made posters, wrote and read announcements, wrote outdoor sign messages and who created a Jeopardy Game for classes to participate in. They did a WONDERFUL job!!

2. This year, thus far, we have had students who have been so helpful in so many ways including: helping with student lunches, bringing in boxes of chocolate during the fundraiser, helping fold boxes after the fundraiser, office helpers and announcement readers. We also have a group of students learning and playing volleyball (mentioned in an earlier update).

3. Here are some important winter weather/severe weather reminders for you.

a) Walk like a penguin when there is the potential for ice. Shiny black ground is potentially black ice, so go slowly and again, walk like a penguin.

b) ‘’Severe weather conditions refer to conditions such as ice, fog, rain, sleet, snow, wind and/or frigid temperatures and wind chills which are considered serious enough to raise concerns regarding the safety of pupils travelling to and/or from school.’’

c) Busses will NOT run if temperatures are extremely frigid with windchill – where skin can freeze very quickly, typically around -35. Decisions made as early as possible but parents need to check various sources – transportation site, board site, Franklin site, etc.

Here are the various radio stations that will have updates:

FM stations: 105.3, 98.5, 106.1, 96.7, 107.5, 106.7, 99.5, 106.7,94.3, 91.5, 89.1

AM stations: 570 or CTV Kitchener

d) Please note – if busses are cancelled, it does NOT mean schools are closed.

e) If busses do not run in the morning, they do NOT run in the afternoon therefore, parents/guardians would be responsible for the transportation to and from school on such days. Please remember to call the school if your child is remaining at home for the day for attendance purposes.

f) Busses – After the start of the school day, every effort will be made to send students home at their normal dismissal time. If there are deteriorating weather conditions, a decision may be made by 1:00 pm to send bus students home early. (Typically a last resort).

g) Please ensure that your contact information and emergency contact information is always updated with the office if changes occur.

h) Please remember that it is a parent’s responsibility to arrange alternative accommodation for their child if the child cannot go home during an unscheduled school closing. Please inform the school in writing if not already on file.

i) Schools are only closed if they have been officially closed and if schools are officially closed, there is NO staff to receive children.

j) Please remember frigid temperatures present a risk of frostbite within minutes of skin being exposed. As mentioned, please ensure that students are properly dressed for frigid temperatures especially if waiting for busses. Also, in various locations, where crossing guards are present, they may not be present as a result of the frigid temperatures.

k) Please remember that if you are concerned about weather conditions, guardians/parents always have the option of keeping their children home or picking them up before the regular dismissal time.

5. There is a Build A Dream Career Expo being held at Bingemans This event is for young students that identify as women in Grades 7-12, and their parents and caregivers. This is being shared with you in case you have older children.

When: November 22, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Where: Bingemans, 425 Bingemans Centre Drive, Kitchener

Cost: FREE register at www.webuildadream.com/event/dreambigwaterloo-career-discovery-expo/

Link of the Week on Helpful Strategies for Parenting Super High Energy Kids by Ariadne Brill

www.positiveparentingconnection.net/positive-parenting-when-your-child-is-overwhelming-annoying-and-super-duper-high-energy/

Linda and Sam