École James R. Henderson
Weekly Update
Friday, February 12th, 2021
Dear Families,
There are so many things to celebrate this weekend! Today is the start of the Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year). About 10 days before the new lunar year, houses are cleaned to remove any bad luck that might be lingering inside, a custom called "sweeping of the grounds." We wish everyone health, happiness and prosperity for the Year of the Ox.
Happy Valentine's Day on Sunday to everyone! We could not do a traditional exchange of Valentine's Day cards and treats this year, but our staff came up with some amazing ways for students to show kindness and love for each other: virtual Valentine's Day cards, making special arts and crafts, and Mme Doherty's class had a "Mission of Love" and secretly painted beautiful pink hearts all over the snow in the yard for the rest of the students to find when they came out for first recess today. We are so impressed with the creativity and dedication of our staff, and we have a feeling that some new traditions have been established.
Monday is Family Day and is a holiday for students and staff. We hope that all of our families are able to do something special together: playing outdoors, cooking a special treat or meal together, cozying up and watching a great movie or reading a story, having a virtual get together with our loved ones who we can't visit right now...small things that will eventually be beautiful memories of how we got through a pretty tough year.
There are new deadlines for opting in/out of Remote Learning. Please see detailed information below. Please contact Mme Peart before 4:00pm on Friday, February 19th if you are interested in having your child be put on the wait list for Remote Learning, or if you are interested in having your child return to face-to-face learning.
As you will have heard, the March Break has been postponed: staff and students will have this holiday from April 12th - 16th. Please see a message from Director Burra below:
https://www.limestone.on.ca/news/what_s_new/march_break_postponed_to_april
Kindergarten Registration is now open! Please ensure that you register your child/ren who will begin Kindergarten in September 2021. Detailed information is provided in the link below:
https://www.limestone.on.ca/news/what_s_new/kindergarten_registration_now_open
And online registration for students of all grades is now also open. We are already getting excited for the 2021-22 school year! You can access the Online Student Registration Form using the following link:
We hope that everyone has a joyful and restorative long weekend,
Mme Peart and Mrs. Davey
New deadlines for Opting In/Out of Remote Learning
Dear Families,
As we shared in January, the Limestone District School Board is offering families one final opportunity to opt students in or out of their current learning model to accommodate their individual needs and personal circumstances.
Elementary families wishing to move students in Kindergarten to Grade 8 from in-person learning to LDSB Virtual School must contact their current school. Elementary families wishing to move from LDSB Virtual School back to in-person learning must notify the in-person school they would normally attend. Any elementary family looking to change their student’s learning model must do so before 4 p.m., Friday, February 19, 2021. Once schools determine staffing needs, and if space is available, approved changes would take effect during the week of Monday March 8, 2021.
Secondary families with students in Grades 9 to 12 wishing to make a change should do so before the end/beginning of each block/octomester by contacting their home school. Students cannot change once a block/octomester has begun. A list of block/octomester dates is available on the board website. Students will be transferred if space is available.
We will accommodate moves between models of learning if there is available space in the class/school. While we will try to accommodate all requests, it is important to note that due to class-size limits, students moving from virtual learning to in-person learning may not be accommodated in their home school. Families will be notified of any transfer outside their student’s home school before a change is made. Where space is not available, students may be placed on a wait list. Families who are currently on the wait list will be accommodated first.
Provided space is available, we will do our best to accommodate families to the maximum extent possible.
Thank you for your continued patience.
Black History Month: learning about Marcenia Lyle
Un cercle d'apprentissage/Learning circle (Inquiry about babies)
Math (10-frames) and literacy (sound families) in FDK
KFL&A Public Health School Immunization Reminder
KFL&A Public Health will be postponing the enforcement of the Immunization of School Pupils Act for this school year and will not implement suspension actions this spring. Nevertheless, we ask that parents report any required vaccine(s) that a student has already received by the proposed deadline of February 18th, 2021.
Students missing vaccines, can see their regular health care provider as soon as possible and then update their record with KFL&A Public Health.
Students without a health card or doctor can book an appointment to receive free vaccines at KFL&A Public Health clinics. Go to //kflaph.ca/Appointments to book an appointment.
We recognize this may be a stressful time however we encourage families to provide the requested information due to the heightened importance of protecting against vaccine preventable disease outbreaks in our school communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Henderson Hawks Spirit Wear and Accessories Online Store
We have decided that EVERY Friday will be a Henderson Hawks Spirit Day! On Fridays, slip on some green and yellow clothing, footwear or accessories, and show how proud you are to be a Hawk!
Families who wish to purchase Henderson Hawks Spirit Wear: Check out all of the amazing clothing and accessories available at our École James R. Henderson School E-Store:
Groundhog Day Math (learning about triangles!)
La journée des marmottes! (Groundhog Day fun!)
Une enquête des ours/Bear Inquiry
School Council Information/Mom's Pantry Fundraiser
Our next School Council meeting will take place on Thursday, March 4th 2021 from 6:45-8:45. This meeting will be held virtually. Please email daveyjk@limestone.on.ca if you would like to attend.
Indigo Girls 2021 Programming
Indigo Girls Kingston is excited to announce the start of 2021 girls clubs!
Indigo Girls Group is an organization run by young women for young women. In a non-pandemic world, IGG facilitates weekly after-school girls' clubs in schools in the Kingston area. Indigo Girls Kingston educates and engages girls in grades 4-8 in discussions about current topics facing girls today. Girls clubs foster a safe space for learning and analysis of topics such as self-care, anti-oppression, mental well-being, women in STEM, and much more. These subjects and methods of delivery promote personal growth, increased self-esteem, and mental and physical well-being.
After exploring alternatives to safely accommodate the current circumstances brought on by Covid-19, we have decided to create virtual weekly modules for girls to complete at their own pace. Each module will focus on a societal theme affecting young women and will include videos, discussions and interactive activities.
Modules will be released at indigogirlsgroup.com under ‘Kingston Branch’ each Friday starting on February 12th 2021 for 7 weeks.
Stay up to date with LDSB Social Media!
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
École James R. Henderson Public School
Email: jrhen@limestone.on.ca
Website: https://jrhenderson.limestone.on.ca/
Location: 361 Roosevelt Drive, Kingston, ON, Canada
Phone: 613-389-2330
Twitter: @JRHenPS_LDSB