Woodlawn Early Years School
December 2017 Newsletter
Principal's Message
The month of December will be very busy at Woodlawn with lots of activities and smiles as we approach the winter holidays. Please check the newsletter and calendar carefully for all the upcoming events.
I sincerely wish all of you a wonderful holiday season filled with the love of family and friendship.
Respectfully,
Shelley Amos
Vice Principal's Message
It is hard to believe that December is already here. As the weather gets colder, it is important that students come dressed and ready to spend time outdoors. Outdoor play is very important for our young children and unless the windchill is below -29 we will be going outside.
There are many benefits for our young students to get outdoor breaks during the school day, even in the winter months. Many of us (myself included) grew up being told that the cold weather makes us sick. That is simply not true! Illnesses like the cold and the flu are caused by viruses, not cold weather. In fact all of the research that I found states that spending time outside in the winter months actually improves our immune systems and gives us an escape from all of the germs and bacteria that are huddled up indoors. Outdoor recess time provides children with a brain break and helps them get their bodies ready for more learning. Spending time outdoors in the winter provides us with vitamin D which is essential for children’s physical well being and also their emotional well being. Vitamin D has been found to change seratonin levels in the brain. Seratonin is a hormone that is important in regulating mood (Dennison, 2008). In other words, spending time outside may help children manage their emotions and improve their self-regulation.
Making sure that your children have the proper clothing for outdoor play will help them enjoy the time they spend outside at recess. Dressing in layers is always a great idea in our Manitoba climate!
I would like to take this time to wish you all a wonderful and safe holiday season. Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays to all of you.
Karen Fraser
COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS - TOY DRIVE
Woodlawn School is doing a toy drive this year in order to support families in our community through Southeast Helping Hands.
We will be collecting new unwrapped toys for ages newborn to 17 (no weapons or violent toys please). Please note there is a special need for items for ages 3-4 and 15-18. The toy drive will run from Monday, November 27 – Friday, December 8, 2017. For every toy that a child contributes, their class will receive one ballot to enter for a chance to win a pizza party for their class.
This holiday season help to make sure that everyone has a wonderful Christmas!
Thank you for your support.
WOODLAWN CHRISTMAS CONCERT - December 14th 2:00 & 7:00 pm
"Everyone is coming to spend Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa’s house! Cousins, cousins, and more cousins come together to celebrate the Christmas season! Watch as each grade 3 and 4 class helps to decorate the Christmas tree while focusing on family, traditions, and memories of Christmases past."
Each class will be presenting a scene around the Christmas tree, as well as being featured instrumentally for one of the songs!
The concert will be held at the Steinbach Mennonite Church, 345 Loewen Blvd, and parents are welcome to attend either concert (2 or 7pm)!
Please note that the evening concert is usually very full! Please consider attending the afternoon concert if at all possible! Woodlawn's KGM, KG2, KM2, Grade 1, and Grade 2 students will also attend the afternoon concert.
A goodwill offering supporting Steinbach Community Outreach will be taken halfway through the concert. The grade 1 classes will also be selling their homemade gingerbread cookies in the lobby for $0.50 with proceeds also going to Steinbach Community Outreach, a program that supports people in our own community who struggle with the basic necessities in life such as food, clothing and shelter. Thanks for your support!
For those parents attending our annual Christmas Concert, I would like to thank you in advance for having your younger or older children stay under your direct supervision at all times during the concert performances. We must be respectful of the Church and its property. Younger and older siblings are not allowed to wander in the vestibule, rooms or upstairs while we are using the facility. Thank you for cooperating with this request.
The Hanover School Division has limited, or no control, over photographs and videos taken by news media and others in public locations, or at school-sanctioned events open to the public - such as sporting events, performances, concerts, and similar events. When members of the public are invited/permitted to attend an event, those in attendance may choose to take student photographs, videos, and/or publish identifying information without requesting consent. In these instances, HSD cannot enforce or protect stated permissions.
CHRISTMAS GOODIES!!
We have students with severe allergies to peanuts and appreciate your help in keeping all our students safe.
It is appreciated when a list of the ingredients is also sent so that the teacher may check carefully for any other allergies.
HOME TIME ARRANGEMENTS
Please write a note in the agenda if home time arrangements are different from your normal routine, whether your child is going home with someone else or being picked up at the end of the day. If you must phone the school regarding a change in home time arrangements please call before 3:00.
If you are picking your child up for an appointment during the school day please sign your child out at the office and the secretary will call your child to meet you at the office. It is difficult to locate students on the playground during recesses and we ask that if you must pick up your child during the school day you avoid recess times.
TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION
Go to the drop down menu of Services where you can choose:
1. School Bus Delay Bulletins where any bus that is late is posted with the approximate delay.
2. Steinbach Urban Bus Routes - Scroll down to select Woodlawn School and then select your bus number.
Thank you for checking these options before calling the Hanover School Division Transportation Department with your questions regarding bus delays and Steinbach urban bus routes times and maps. Any questions for transportation please call 204-320-2347.
LET'S KEEP WARM
As we all know the weather in Manitoba can change from one moment to the next. Please send your children dressed to deal with the elements. Good boots, mittens,and a hat added to ski pants and a parka makes all the difference between a child enjoying the outdoors or tolerating it. Please label all your child's outwear items as our young students often lose or forget items in various places!
Students are encouraged to go out for recess because it is important to get some fresh air during the day. Remember germs, not cold air, cause illness.
Weather and grounds permitting, all students play outdoors until 8:53 in the morning. Our cold weather policy is to keep students inside at recess when the wind chill factor is –30 or greater. Outside recess times will be shortened if the wind chill is between –25 and –29 Celsius.
SCHOOL CLOSURE NOTIFICATIONS
When extreme weather or road conditions call for a school closure you will receive a recorded phone call from Superintendent Randy Dueck beginning at 6:45 am. This additional communication effort is to help ensure that all students will be aware of school closures and no students will find themselves in an unsafe situation where they may be facing extreme weather unnecessarily. When school is cancelled due to weather and road conditions there are no staff members at the school. If your phone number has changed since the beginning of the school year please call the office at 204-326-6110 to update your information.
Schools will be closed due to extreme cold when the temperatures in most locations in the division are
–35 degree Celsius or colder with –45 degree Celsius or colder wind-chill.CLOTHING REQUEST
Shake, Rattle & Roll
Woodlawn School and Hanover Parent and Child Community Program present:
Shake Rattle & Roll
This is a parent and preschool child gym program to promote physical movement and development. Come and your children will play games, sing, and have fun while building co-ordination, body awareness, ability to follow directions and social development.
The program will run on the following Tuesdays from 5:30 - 6:30 pm:
December 5 & 19
January 9, 16, 23, 30 and February 6, 13, 20, 27
March 6 & 13
About Us
Email: woodlawn@hsd.ca
Website: www.woodlawn.hsd.ca
Location: 411 Henry St, Steinbach, MB, Canada R5G 0R1
Phone: 204-326-6110
Twitter: @WoodlawnHSD