Parent Peek at the Week
Week of November 23rd, 2020
In case you missed it....
Be a buddy!
Math at home
Bears.....
Important Dates
ALL WEEK - VIRTUAL BOOK FAIR!!!!!!
Monday, November 23rd - Day 4
- Continuation of our Kawartha Heights Cougar Kindness Challenge (see below)
Tuesday, November 24th - Day 5
Wednesday, November 25th - Day 1
- Free shipping at the Book Fair for all families from 6pm - 8pm
Thursday, November 26th - Day 2
- Last day for Under One Sun Fundraiser orders
- Fabulous Dance Party Thursday at recess
- Certificate of Cougar Celebration Awards
Friday, November 27th - Day 3
- PA Day - teachers will be busy learning and planning at school, while students are at home
Snow Days???!!!?
Progress Reports and Interviews
Last week I let you know that Progress Reports were to be sent out to you this week. Change of plans! Please note that due to the volume of work at the board level to send out Progress Reports electronically, the board is having to now send them on Monday, November 30th instead of Thursday, November 26th. They are coming - you'll just get them on Monday instead of Thursday. Please note that reports will be sent out centrally throughout the day - so some schools (maybe even ours!) won't get them until later in the day.
In addition to Progress Reports, you should be hearing from your child's teacher this week about setting up a time for a virtual or telephone interview. Please respond by letting us know the best days and times to connect with you.
Supporting families through the holidays
This food pick-up program will include perishable and non-perishable food as well as some personal care items. If this is something that could support your family, please email or call Mrs. Sampson. All emails and calls will be kept in strict confidence. We have a limited number of spots available.
Under One Sun Fundraiser
Under One Sun is an organization based in Peterborough that helps support families in Haiti by selling artisan ornaments that they have created and sending a portion of the profit back to the families.
Each ornament is hand hammered out of recycled tin. The painted varieties are done by hand, so each is unique and individual.
Kawartha Heights is excited to partner with Under One Sun again this year to sell ornaments to raise money for our school, while also supporting families in Haiti! Ornaments can be purchased online at the following link: https://u1sornaments.ca/collections/newest-products/products/kawartha-heights-public-school
This year, for the safety of our students and staff, we will not be accepting payments or distributing ornaments through the school. When placing your order online, you will be able to choose one of the following shipping options: Local Pick Up (Free), Local Delivery ($2.00) or Direct Shipping ($12.00).
Orders must be placed by November 26th – you will receive your order no later than December 11th.
Thank you for supporting our school and this fundraiser!
Kawartha Heights Cougar Kindness Challenge!
From the 15th of November until the 15th of December we are launching the first KH Cougar Kindness Challenge! Families are encouraged to complete acts of kindness, marking the daily progress. At the end of the challenge you can submit your family calendars (with one or one hundred hearts of kindness!) and be entered into a draw for one of several family prizes (dinner for 4 from Mary Brown's, Family Pizza Night!). When submitting, please take a picture of your calendar and email it to Mrs. Sampson at jennifer_sampson@kprdsb.ca.
This challenge is open to all online and face-to-face families. Hopefully we'll have great participation! Remember - it's not about how many acts of kindness you do, it's taking the time to intentionally work as a family to show kindness in our community.
All you need to complete the challenge can be found below. We look forward to seeing how our families rise to the challenge!
Scholastic Book Fair
The book fair this year will allow families to order books online and have them delivered directly to your home. Mark your calendars! The fair is running this week - from November 16th to November 27.
EXTRA SPECIAL: November 25th from 6pm - 8pm is Family Night... which means FREE SHIPPING!!!!
When it’s time to shop, visit our school’s Virtual Book Fair site using this link:
http://bookfairs-canada.myshopify.com/pages/5151209
Before our Fair begins, click the link to:
• SAVE it to your browser
• WATCH videos of popular new titles
• PREVIEW our Featured Books
Online COVID-19 Screening Tool
A reminder that we are kindly asking all students and staff to complete the online self-screening tool daily, before coming to school. We know it can be confusing when your child isn't feeling well - what should you do? By completing this simple online tool, you will be given easy to follow directions on next steps. Please keep this website handy:
https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/
If you prefer to print and keep the screening tool at home on paper, please see the tool listed below.
Important Pieces of Information
1. Extra mitts and masks: As the cold weather is upon us, just a gentle reminder that extra pairs of mitts and extra masks are greatly needed at school! In days gone by, wet mitts would be put together in one area to dry during the day....we can't do this any more. Masks are also needing to be changed a little more frequently, as condensation builds up in this colder weather. Thank you for sending in some "extras" for your child so that we can ensure our students stay warm while enjoying this winter weather!
2. Student Verification Forms & Communication/Information Forms: Thank you to all the families who have responded to the 2 links sent, updating your child's current information on file with us. We still have about 25% of our families who haven't responded, so I'll be sending out personal emails this week to follow up with you. We really appreciate you taking the time to ensure we have the most current information possible for your family.
3. End of Day Pick-Up: Over the past 2 weeks, we have had a significant number of children being picked up from the front of the school between 3pm and 3:20pm. This is a very busy time of the day. Due to COVID protocols, when a child leaves early, support staff or Mrs. Sampson have to go to your child's class, collect your child, then ensure that the hallways are clear before bringing them to the exit door (to ensure there is no cross-cohorting). We do understand that there are times when this is unavoidable. However, we kindly ask that you do your best to avoid picking up early, when it's so close to the end of the day. Beginning this week, if you arrive after 3pm, we'll be asking if you can please wait until the bell goes to collect your child. As stated above, in emergencies or unavoidable circumstances we will collect your child and go through the process of bringing them to the door.
Information from the KPR Board Office
Elementary Progress Reports
The date for electronic distribution of elementary students’ progress reports has been moved to Monday, November 30. All progress reports will be distributed to families by email that day, via a password protected attachment. We are asking parents and guardians to contact the school office as soon as possible if they would like to receive their child’s progress report in a different format.
Another important date is Friday, November 20. This is the deadline for parents and guardians to speak with their home school principal if they wish to move their child to the Virtual Elementary School on the next available start date of November 30.
2021-22 School Year Calendar Survey
We would like your input on the school year calendar for 2021-22. We are considering two options. Option A would make the Friday before March Break 2022 a regular school day, not a holiday, and include one PA Day for staff before the start of classes. Option B would make the Friday before March Break 2022 a holiday, and include two PA Days for staff before classes begin. For details and to complete the survey, please visit http://kprschools.ca/en/our_schools/resources/schoolcalendars.html
Other Important Dates
November 20 – Secondary Credit Completion Day, no high school classes
November 23 – Start of second quadmester at all KPR high schools
November 27 – PA Day for all KPR elementary and secondary schools
November 30 – Start date for NEW Virtual Elementary School students
December 1 – Dream Big! virtual career expo for young women in Grades 7-12 & their parents; registration at dreambigknc.eventbrite.ca
December 21-January 1 – Winter Break
#StoptheSpread
And, finally, the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in Ontario and around the world is an unfortunate reminder of the importance of taking preventive measures to #StoptheSpread. This includes wearing masks correctly, washing hands frequently, limiting social contacts to the immediate family, physically distancing from others, self-screening daily at https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/, staying home if ill, and downloading the free COVID Alert app from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/covid-alert.html. We have had few cases of COVID in KPR schools thus far, thanks to everyone’s vigilance, and we want to keep it that way!