A reminder, that as announced by KPR, when buses are cancelled, then Kawartha Heights will be closed to students on that day.

Teachers have been working to ensure that you all have the email and password you require to login to Google Classroom. On inclement weather days, teachers will post work for students in this area so that learning can continue from home. If you don't have access to a computer, tablet, or phone, please let your child's teacher know so that we can problem solve how to support with learning on days when the school may be closed.

Please make sure to listen to the local radio, and/or check Twitter and Instagram, to ensure you are up to date when school is closed. As soon as the decision has been made, we will post to all locations for your convenience.

This Thursday in the last block we will be joined by our new School Liaison Officer - Constable Tim Fish. We will not be doing lockdown drills as in the past, due to COVID-19. However, in it's place we will be doing a Hold and Secure Practice. Hold and Secure is a term we use when students are safely in class, blinds down, with the classroom doors locked - but continue to work away at their desks.

Constable Fish and I will go from class to class to discuss Hold and Secure and Lockdown, ensuring students are aware that although we can't practice right now if there is a need for a lockdown in a real situation, we will have to do it! And of course, we'll practice Hold and Secure. This is an important drill to ensure that all students know what we need to do in the case of an emergency.

As you may remember, as a school we have been working on our Cougar ROAR challenge for the past few months. Cougar ROAR are the expectations we all follow at Kawartha Heights to keep us safe. Each class chose one area to focus on, perhaps an area that is more challenging for them. Over the past 2 months, classes have been collecting points - up to 5 a day, for meeting their challenge. We agreed that when we reach 1,000 points as a school, we will adopt a Canada Lynx from the World Wildlife Fund.

Exciting update - this past Friday we reached 958 points. We are hoping to make our goal of 1,000 points this week, allowing us to officially adopt the Canada Lynx before the holidays. Stay tuned for the big announcement!

Just a reminder that our Kawartha Heights Cougar Kindness Challenge continues - only a little over a week to go!

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. When submitting, please take a picture of your calendar and email it to Mrs. Sampson at jennifer_sampson@kprdsb.ca.

NEW: A big thank you to Mary Brown's Chicken - all families who submit their calendar will be entered into a draw for a 9 piece Family Feast from Mary Brown's!

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!

As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise locally and provincially, it is critically important that students who are not feeling well, remain at home.

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.