James R. Henderson Weekly Update
Friday, May 28th, 2021
Dear Families,
We wanted to share some important staffing updates for the 2021-22 school year with you, as well as to provide you with our tentative school organization for next year. We have some staff who will be leaving the James R. Henderson school community, and some new staff who will become members of our team: Mme D. MacKay and Mme Kimmerer are both retiring at the end of June. Mme MacKay and Mme Kimmerer are both exceptional educators who have made a profound difference in the lives of so many children -- we will be very sad to them go, but we know that wonderful adventures and new opportunities await them! Ms. Panter and Ms. Riley-Heyman will both be transfering to schools that are closer to their homes, and will allow them to have a much shorter commute to work: their incredible commitment to student learning, and to supporting their colleagues has been an asset to our school, and we know that they will both make a positive difference at their new schools in September. And Mrs. Davey has made the decision to return to teaching next year, and will share her boundless enthusiasm for learning, her energy and her kindness with a new school community: she will be sorely missed here, but we know that she will enjoy the move back to the classroom.
We would like to extend a warm welcome to Ms. Jennine Reid, who will be the new Vice Principal beginning at the end of June. Ms. Reid is currently the Vice Principal at Cataraqui Woods Elementary School. We are delighted that she is going to be joining the James R. Henderson Staff, and look forward to getting to know her! We also welcome Ms. Jennifer Lloyd, who will be teaching our English Grade 2/3 class next year. Ms. Lloyd is also joining us from Cataraqui Woods. A list of our tentative School Organization and Teaching Staff for 2021-22 is included below.
At this time of year, we invite families to share information that school staff may find helpful when creating class lists for next year. We do consider your feedback, but provide no guarantees that preferences can be accomodated. If there is any information about your child's learning that you feel is appropriate for us to consider when working on class lists, please email Mme Peart (pearts@limestone.on.ca) no later than Friday, June 4th.
Special Days and Important Reminders:
June is Pride Month! Our school will be flying the Pride Flag so that everyone knows that we are a safe and welcoming space. The colours of the pride flag represent life, healing, sunlight, nature, harmony and spirit. The Pride flag is a celebration of diversity, and a visual reminder that we support each and every person who walks through our doors, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.
Wednesday, June 2nd - Rainbow Day -- wear your brightest and most favourite colours of clothing and accessories!
Friday, June 4th - PA Day: no school for students
Thursday, June 10th - "Throwback Thursday": share a picture of yourself as a baby/youngster with your class!
Thursday, June 10th - Virtual Parent Council Meeting (6:45pm)
A reminder that the Parent Council "Plantables" Fundraiser is still going on: detailed information can be found below.
We hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend: hopefully we will not see any more snow! Take good care, and continue to reach out to us should you require any support for your children or family.
Mme Peart and Mrs. Davey
Tentative School Organization and Teaching Staff for 2021-22
English Teaching Staff:
JK/SK Ms. Sinclair and Mrs. Beckett
SK/1 Ms. Wilson
Grade 2/3 Ms. Lloyd
Grade 3/4 Ms. Marshall
Grade 4/5 Mr. Hearn
Grade 5/6 Mr. Eardley
Grade 6/7 Mr. Nicholls
Grade 8 Mr. Morrison
Core French Mme Meehan/TBA*
Subject Teachers Ms. Glenn-Hawley, Ms. Mercier, TBA*
Student Support Teacher Ms. Mercier
French Teaching Staff:
JK/SK Mme Case et Mme Garster
JK/SK Mme Bruder et Mme Martin
JK/SK Mme Gallupe et Mme Goffaux
JK/SK M. Higginson et Mme Jackson-Grundy
JK/SK Mme Fox et TBA*
Grade 1 Mme Chamberlain
Grade 1 Mme Doherty
Grade 1/2 M. Landis
Grade 2 Mme Belanger
Grade 2 Mme Hassan-Yari
Grade 3 Mme Oleschuk
Grade 3 Mme Sedore
Grade 3/4 Term 1 TBA*/Term 2 Mme Blanchette
Grade 4 M. Jacques
Grade 4/5 M. Heroux
Grade 5 Mme MacKay
Grade 5/6 Mme Goddard
Grade 6 Mme Creighton
English to Immersion Ms. Glenn-Hawley, Ms. Kivistik, Ms. Sills, Ms. O'Brien, TBA*
Student Support Teacher Mme Creighton
Primary District Learning Center Ms. Wood
*The Staffing process will continue for the next few weeks: we will update you as to the Staff filling all of the vacancies as soon as possible.
Plantables Spring Fundraiser
Hello Parents,
This spring, Henderson is teaming up with Plantables to bring you an exciting new fundraiser! And with the weather warming up and many of you thinking about rolling up your sleeves and getting back into the garden, it’s a great time to help us hit our goal. Not only do Plantables let you grow the same high-quality fruit and veggie plants used by farmers across the country, but they deliver your ready-to-plant plants to your front door exactly when you need them.
That means all you have to do is bury them in the ground, give them some love and water and you’ll have tasty fruits and veggies in no time. (They’re all certified organic plants, too!) If you -- or anybody you know -- is looking to fill out their vegetable patch, tell them to head to plantables.ca and enter GOHAWKS at the checkout. (Don’t forget the code!)
Profits from this fundraiser will support a variety of on-going school projects, including the purchase of items for students to use at recess and playgound/yard eco-initiatives.
Thanks for all your support!
What If My Child is Not Going to Be Participating in Remote Learning on a Given Day?
1. Toll-free telephone
- Call 1-855-257-9349 toll-free to report an absence using the automated phone system.
2. School Messenger App
- Use your mobile device to download and install the free SchoolMessenger blue app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, the SchoolMessenger website portal, or from within the LDSB mobile app.
- The first time you use the app, you must select Sign Up to create your account. Please ensure you use the same email address your student’s school has on file. If you do not use that same email address, you will not be able to create an account, or may not be able to see the "Attendance" option. You may have already created an account when we introduced the Communicate broadcast system.
- Select Attendance, then select Report an Absence and follow the prompts.
- Visit the SchoolMessenger website portal.
- The first time you use the app, you must select Sign Up to create your account. Please ensure you use the same email address your student’s school has on file. If you do not use that same email address, you will not be able to create an account, or may not be able to see the "Attendance" option. You may have already created an account when we introduced the Communicate broadcast system.
- Select Attendance, then Report an Absence and follow the prompts.
How Can I Best Stay Informed?
Mental Health Supports
FOOD SHARE PROGRAM
We continue to get support from the Food Share program. If your family is struggling, please reach out to the school and we will connect you with support from our local Food Share Program for bi-weekly deliveries to your home.
ONLINE RESOURCES
Kids Help Phone – Children and youth can contact Kids Help Phone 24/7 from anywhere in Canada, via phone, text or online chat.
Wellness Together Canada: Mental Health and Substance Use Support – Provides free online resources, tools, apps and connections to trained volunteers and qualified mental health professionals when needed
Anxiety Canada - Free online, self-help, and evidence-based resources on anxiety, including resources specific to COVD-19.
Government Support for Learners
The new COVID-19 Child Benefit announced in the 2021 Ontario Budget will provide direct payments to families and students to help with additional costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you received a payment through the Support for Learners program, you do not need to apply. Starting on April 26, 2021, we will begin issuing additional payments of:
- $400 for each child or youth up to Grade 12
- $500 for each child or youth up to age 21 with special needs
If you missed applying for the Support for Learners program, you will have the opportunity to apply for this new round of payment. Applications will open from May 3, 2021 to May 17, 2021.Learn more on the government’s Support for Learners webpage.
Need a Book to Read? Check out Sora!
École James R. Henderson Public School
Email: jrhen@limestone.on.ca
Website: jrhenderson.limestone.on.ca
Location: 361 Roosevelt Drive, Kingston, ON, Canada
Phone: 613-389-2330
Twitter: @jrhen_LDSB