Sheldon Coates News
December 2019
Principal's Corner
What a wonderful time of year! I love the sense of peace, happiness, and joy that this month brings.
The students are looking forward to many exciting events at Sheldon Coates this month. Our annual Christmas Reading Night is scheduled for Wed. December 4 from 6-7:30 pm. We look forward to seeing everyone out for a night of stories, crafts, and Christmas cheer. The following week will bring our Christmas concerts. This year the grade 1 classes and Mrs. Kelly's grade 3 class will perform on Wed. Dec. 11, and the kindergarten class, grade 2, grade 2/3, and the choir leader team will perform on Thurs. Dec. 12. The final week before Christmas Break will bring Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, Popcorn Day, and the last-day-of-school festivities.
With all of the hustle and bustle, we are cognizant that these upcoming weeks can also become quite overwhelming. On top of school events, families are busy preparing for family gatherings, special travels, and other special traditions. As much as we’d all like to feel that we are organized and well-prepared for the upcoming weeks, each family deals with the busyness of the holidays in different ways. Hats off to you for the extra effort you put into seeing that the rush of the holiday season does not seep into your child's daily routine and need for consistency.
Our Christmas break is from Dec. 21 to Jan. 5. From all of us here at Sheldon Coates, to all of you, we wish you a relaxing, joyous holiday with your family and friends.
All the best,
Michelle Bolay
Upcoming Events
Dec. 3 - Santa Claus visits the kindergarten and grade 1 students.
Dec. 4 - Christmas Reading Night (6-7:30)
Dec. 10 - Hot Dog Day
Dec. 11 - Christmas Concert for grade 1 and grade 3 Kelly (6:30 pm)
Dec. 12 - Christmas Concert for kindergarten, grade 2, grade 2/3, and choir (6:30 pm)
Dec. 17, 18, 19 - Christmas Caroling
Dec. 18 - Ugly Sweater Day
Dec. 19 - Popcorn Day
Dec. 20 - Last day of classes before Christmas Break
Dec. 21 - Jan. 5 - Christmas Break
Jan. 6 - First day of school after Christmas Break
'Reading is a Piece of Cake' Day
Thank you!
Christmas Concert
To Note
- When it is -20 or colder in the morning before school, a message on ClassTag will be sent out to notify families that children will be coming in through the front doors. We will also be watching the side doors and the playground to ensure that all students come in right away and enjoy an indoor recess.
Being Blind is Awesome!
Hi! My name is Karson and I am six years old and in grade one. I have been at Sheldon Coates for three years and I love school. I love to play with my little brother and play chase games with him. I especially love to eat chocolate! I love playing on the playground at recess with my peers too. What you might not know about me is that I am blind, that means I can’t see anything, but I can do everything that everyone else can, just a little different.
You may think that I need help throughout the day, but I don’t! I have a cane and that helps me to find where I am going. I can feel different vibrations on the ground as I walk and when I bump into things it tells me what I am finding. I don’t need you to move out of the way or move things out of my way. What I do like is when people give me verbal direction and tell me where I am going. I also like when I am headed the wrong way and they tell me which way I should go. If you see that I might be headed somewhere that I shouldn’t, or about to run into something, that’s a good time to talk to me and help me out. Please don’t push or pull me, as that can really scare and startle me. Instead, please use descriptive words to help me out.
I love talking to people and telling stories, but sometimes I am supposed to be doing something or on my way somewhere, and then I get distracted. If you see me in the hallway, I’d really prefer if you don’t speak to me, as I am most likely on my way somewhere and I really need to concentrate on where I am going and what I am doing. If you do talk to me at an appropriate time, please introduce yourself first so that I know who I am speaking to, then we can carry on a meaningful conversation. You might also see Braille around the school; I read that with my fingers and can find where I am by reading the labels and signs throughout the school.
I’m just like all the other six year olds out there, I just do things a little differently, and I wanted you to know!
Christmas Reading Night
We hope that you are able to join us for this fun and festive evening!
Outdoor Learning
Book Fair
Advertise the Joy of Reading!
Our goal is to motivate children to want to read so they will practice reading independently and, thus, become fluent readers. That happens when children enjoy reading. What can teachers and parents do for reading that fast food chains do for hamburgers? ADVERTISE! And we advertise by reading great stories and poems to children.
We can help our children find the tools they need to succeed in life. Having access to information through the printed word is an absolute necessity. Knowledge is power, and books are full of it. But reading is more than just a practical tool. Through books we can enrich our minds; we can also relax and enjoy some precious leisure moments.
At Sheldon Coates, we believe that our students are beginning a lifelong relationship with the printed word, so that they grow into adults who read easily and frequently, whether for business, knowledge, or pleasure.
STAR Assembly
Habit of the Month
This month's habit is Habit 4: Think Win-Win. This habit can be described as balancing courage for getting what one wants, with consideration for what others want. When conflicts arise, the goal is to find a win-win solution
What you can do at home: Model being happy for others. “The Jones family got a new car. How great for them!” “Suzy got a new bike? I bet you were very happy for your friend.” Have Family Celebration times. Around the dinner table or in a Family Meeting allow time for children and parents to share something they did well. Cheer for them as a family. Be careful not to compare your children. Praise each for their own accomplishments.