WHAT'S HAPPENING - NPS
February 1, 2021
Growing, Learning and Achieving Together
Dear Nighthawk families,
Welcome back to “Face to Face” Learning!
We are all absolutely thrilled to have everyone back at school. We have spent the past week catching up with friends, teachers and support staff while reviewing Safety Protocols so that we can continue to ensure a healthy and secure teaching environment for children and adults. Please continue to monitor the media, the LDSB Website and the Newburgh Public School Website for important changes and developments in our current status.
What we did in January!
While we started off the new year with a Remote Learning period, we are thankful that it was relatively short lived, but even more so that it was highly successful. All of us at Newburgh PS want to thank the many of you who took the time to reach out and offer feedback on your virtual experience. Almost without exception, the feedback we received was incredibly positive with many parents finding that synchronous learning resulted in a vast improvement in the capacity of most students to work independently. Of course, families with older students found this much more true than those with younger children but despite this fact, parents were thrilled with the level of engagement and learning happening across all grades. Well done to each and every one of you, and I would like to offer a special note of appreciation to each of our teaching staff members for their commendable commitment and dedication to our school!
January 25-28, 2021 was Literacy Week across our district and NPS celebrated with many activities for our students to enjoy. Literacy Week kicked off during the final week of the Remote Learning period with daily Book Talks that highlighted award winning literature while familiarizing families with the advantages of using SORA, our online library system, as a source of high quality reading material. Over the course of the following and final week in January, students participated in writing a whole school Travelling Story (Snowball Writing). The adventure began in JK/SK with our youngest students getting us started and from there, the story travelled from class to class with everyone adding a section. The Grade 7/8 class completed the story which was read on the announcements for all to enjoy (the story is included in this newsletter). Other activities included, a whole school Drop Everything And Read period on Tuesday, a “match the staff member with their favorite book competition” on Wednesday (a $50 Indigo Gift Card was up for grabs) and an “identify the quotes from famous children’s books competition” for all classes which ran daily on the morning announcements. The week ended with a “Read My Shirt” Day on Thursday January 28th! Overall, it was a terrific week of celebrating and acknowledging the importance of developing strong literacy skills.
Thursday January 28th, 2021 was “Bell, Let’s Talk” day and all classes spent time discussing this initiative and participating in activities which focused on Mental Health and Wellness.
What is Happening in February!
In February, we officially begin our second term of school. We begin this new term with Black History Month. This year all classes are carving out an important chunk of time to address, in an age-appropriate way, issues related to Black History, racism, discrimination and equity. These are critically important topics that we are proud to make part of our everyday instruction at Newburgh PS, not just in February, but always! Report Cards will be given out to families on February 17th, 2021. Please feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher if you have any questions about your child’s progress at school. Family Day will be celebrated on Monday, February 15, 2021 this year and all schools will be closed on that day. Finally, our schools School Advisory Group (SAC) will be meeting on March 1st at 6:15 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend these meetings which are being held virtually this year. Please contact the school if you would like an invitation!
As always, the health and safety, along with the wellness and mental health of our school community, is our number one priority as we move forward. Please continue to make your own wellness and the wellness of your family a priority.
Take good care everyone!
John Ricci
Principal, Newburgh Public School
REMINDERS
1. Report Cards will be disributed to families on Wednesday February 17, 2021. If you have any questions about thie report or would like to discuss your child's progress, please feel free to reach out to our teaching staff.
2. Family Day will occur on Monday February 15, 2021 this year. The school will be closed on that day.
3. Please be sure that you continue to use the School Messenger App to record your child's absences. We have a very strict absence protocol to follow this year and it is important that everyone use the systems provided! Please see the "How To" information provided at the bottom of this newsletter. Thank you for your kind attention to this matter!
4. If you are driving your children to school, please ensure that they are here before the bell at 9:00 a.m. Many teachers give important instructions and/or engage in the first activities of the day as close to 9:00 a.m. as possible and if your child is late, it makes for a disruptive start to the day! Thank you for your support!
Around the School!
Our Whole School Travelling (Collaborative) Story!
Once upon a time there was a bear, a mouse and a cheetah. They went for a walk in the forest and met a lonely snowman. They said “hello” and introduced themselves. Their names were Chris, Alfie and Jack. The snowman’s name was Snow Snow. The animals invited Snow Snow to walk with them. They walked for a long time. They didn’t recognize their surroundings. They were lost.
Suddenly, Jack the cheetah saw a bottle on the ground. It had a note inside! The bear and the mouse worked together to get it out! Snow Snow read it and it said, “Turn left when you see the princess castle. You will find a magical key at the top of the castle in a golden box. They key is very important because it unlocks the Chamber of Chicken Nuggets. But, beware, the Chicken Monster is guarding the chamber.”
On the way to the castle, they found a magic map. The map lead to the Princess castle. They followed the trail, suddenly, a troll appeared holding the golden box with a key inside. A secret passage teleports them to the chamber of chicken nuggets. They find the chicken nugget monster and find he’s just been waiting to be their friend. They share nuggets and they live happily ever after…
Free Menstrual Hygiene Products Available in Limestone Schools
Newburgh PS will offer free menstrual hygiene products to students to remove barriers and ensure equitable access for all.
Access to menstrual products can be a barrier for many students. Studies show that one in seven young women and non-binary people in Canada will miss some school because they don't have access to pads and tampons, largely because they cannot bear the financial burden of purchasing their own. Other times, students forget to plan ahead or find themselves in an emergency situation.
All female washrooms and gender-neutral washrooms in Newburgh PS now have menstrual hygiene products in easily accessible locations for students. The products are free to students. Students may take items for use at school, or at home, as needed.
School Photographs
Friday February 12, 2021.
These order packages will be delivered to the school and then distributed to families. Any orders placed after this date will be subject to a $5.99 shipping and handling fee and mailed to home addresses which will need to be provided when ordering.
Thank you,
Lifetouch Canada
Cast Your Vote Today!
Newburgh's Got Talent 2021! has been posted in all Google Classrooms for your viewing pleasure! Thank you to everyone who participated in this extremely popular event. This year we had 29 entries!
Cast your votes for your favourite entries by Friday February 5, 2021 and we will announce the winners next week. Voting is for students only and all individuals are eligible to vote even if you did not enter the contest! Remember you can only cast one ballot and choose only 3 entries!
Good luck to all participants and I hope that all of you enjoy the show!
Check Out L&A's Virtual Youth Hub Activities!
Messages from Director of Education - Krishna Burra
Family Reference Guide - Updated September 22nd, 2020
Daily COVID 19 Screening
COVID 19 School Protocols (Updated December 22, 2020)
School Advisory Council (SAC)
Online Babysitting Courses
Safe Arrival
Transportation to and from school is not guaranteed. Families should have a backup plan to transport their student(s) to school, and to arrange child care where required, if their bus is cancelled for any reason and they cannot transport their student to school. For more information about how to subscribe for e-mail notifications from Tri-Board regarding delays and cancellations, please download the instructions found at the link below.
Up to Date Information
Please check regulary as new or altered information becomes available:
LDSB Website https://www.limestone.on.ca/
LDSB Twitter https://twitter.com/LimestoneDSB
LDSB Facebook https://tinyurl.com/wbhjtku
LDSB Instagram https://instagram.com/limestonedsb?igshid=1epyma6c0g5qd
Welcome to Newburgh PS!
Email: nwbgh@limestone.on.ca
Website: newburgh.limestone.on.ca/home
Location: 19 East St, Newburgh, Ontario, Canada
Phone: 613-378-2611
Twitter: @NewburghPS_LDSB