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Southwood School
March 2020
In This Edition...
-STEAM Month at Southwood
-Chocolates-Report Cards
-Kindergarten Registration
-March Dress Up Week
-Creation of 2020-2021 Class Lists
-Nutrition Bits and Bites
-Important Dates
STEAM Month at Southwood
As we do every year at Southwood School, we celebrate the concepts of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) during the month of March. This year we have a
science focus, particularly on the curricular outcome of living things.
We are very excited to partner with Wildlife Haven located in Ile De Chenes. Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre has been rehabilitating injured, sick and orphaned wildlife for their return to the wild since 1984. They are a volunteer-driven, registered charity that has cared for over 39,000 wildlife who play a vital role in the ecological and biological processes that are essential to life itself. Representatives from the centre also provide educational sessions for a variety of community organizations.
Last September, the centre worked with our students during our Strong Connection days. During the month of March, our classes will be traveling to the centre in Ile De Chenes for further sessions and hands on educational experiences with the animals that reside there.
On March 26th from 5:00-7:00 parents are invited to share in the learning of our students during the Student Learning Expo. Students will have displays available to showcase their learning plus we will once again have our mainstage. On the mainstage there will not only be special student presentations but also presentations from Wildlife Haven and also the Green Action Centre. We look forward to seeing you there!
Southwood Chocolate Sales Fundraiser - February 24th to March 16th
This fundraiser supports Southwood School to provide our students with fun activities and special events throughout the school year which include: Artists in the School, Grade 4 Farewell, House Hoopla events, Guest Presenters, and School Capital Projects such as the Nature Playground. There are weekly prizes along with prizes for selling 3 or more cases as well as 6 or more cases.
We appreciate your willingness to make this a fun filled event!
IMPORTANT DATES:
February 24th: Chocolates are distributed to students and the sale begins!
February 25th to March 16th: Twice daily at 8:40am and 3:40 pm - Money is collected and more chocolates are distributed to families who want to sell more in our office lobby by our parent volunteer team.
*Please note that these are the only dates and times that we will do chocolate sales business with students.
March 16th - FINAL DATE - All money and unsold chocolates should be returned to the school no later than 1:00 p.m.
Report Cards
Report cards will be available on the Parent Portal Thursday, March 19th at 9:00am.
Kindergarten Registration
If you have a child born in 2015 please visit our new online kindergarten registration to register your child if you haven't done so already.
Registering your child online is made easy by following the two-step process:
1. Complete the online registration form located at on our HSD website.
2. Bring supporting documentation to the school.
Please let friends and neighbors know it is time to register for Kindergarten for the 2020-21 school year.
March Dress Up Week! - March 23rd to 27th
Monday - House Colour Day
Tuesday - Super Hero Day
Wednesday - Story Book Day
Thursday - Formal Day
Friday - Pajama Day
Creation of 2020-2021 Class Lists
Staff will soon be meeting to determine class lists for the 2020-2021 school year. This is a complex process which is taken very seriously by school administration. It is our strong belief that the learning atmosphere in the classroom must be the first consideration in the formation of class groupings. Classes are organized to ensure appropriate education takes place for all students. We make every effort to minimize the potential for negative student interaction.
Staff teams strive to create classes that are balanced in all respects. The following criteria (in no specific order) are considered when determining class lists:
- Student abilities (class composition)
- Our knowledge of social interactions and dynamics between individual students and groups of students
- Student/teacher match
- Placement of students new to Southwood School
- Male/female ratio
- Parental information
- Approximately equal class sizes
Parents can assist the class formation process by:
- Helping their children to understand the importance of class formation
- Supporting placements that have been made
Given the criteria used to generate class groupings, it can sometimes be difficult to accommodate requests that we get to place a particular student with another student or group of students. It is equally difficult to accommodate requests for a particular teacher. We will do our best to accommodate requests, that are based on the student specific needs, but we do not guarantee that requests will be honoured. Any such requests should be submitted by email to Mr. Rod Kehler (rkehler@hsd.ca) or in writing by April 30, 2020 to the school administration. Late requests will not be considered.
Given appropriate support at home and at school, it has been our experience that the vast majority of placements are successful. Where a placement is proving to be difficult, we ask that parents and students give it the time required for friendships and classroom community building to develop.
The name of your child(ren)'s teacher for the 2020-2021 school year will be included with the June report card. Should you have any concerns, you are asked to put them in writing addressed to administration. Concerns will be addressed in August 2020. Once the lists are compiled, administration tries not to make adjustments. However, certain circumstances may arise where placements need to be altered due to students leaving or enrolling. In these instances, parents will be notified before the start of classes in September of the change in order to prepare your child.
Thank you for continues support and commitment to your child's education.
Rod Kehler, Principal
Chantal Johnson, Vice-Principal
Important Dates
Mar 5 - Assembly @ 9:05 a.m.
Mar 13 - Admin/PD Day - NO SCHOOL
Mar 16 - Last day of chocolate sales
Mar 19 - Report Cards (Gr. 1-4)
Mar 20 - Assembly @ 12:10 p.m.
Mar 23-27 - Dress Up Week
Mar 26 - Student Learning Expo from 5:00-7:00
Mar 30 - April 3 - Spring Break - NO SCHOOL
April:
Apr 6 - 1st day back after spring break for grades 1-4 and even-numbered kindergarten classes (K2KF & K4CD)
Apr 7 - 1st day back after spring break for odd-numbered kindergarten classes (K1CD, K3CB, & K5HV)
Apr 8 - Pink Shirt Day
Apr 8 - Assembly @ 9:05 a.m.
Apr 10 - Good Friday - NO SCHOOL
Apr 13 - PD Day - NO SCHOOL
Apr 16 - Jump Rope for Heart
Apr 24 - Assembly @ 2:00 p.m.
Apr 28 - Kindergarten welcome evening 5:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Southwood School
Email: southwood@hsd.ca
Website: www.southwood.hsd.ca
Location: 155 Barkman Avenue, Steinbach, MB, Canada
Phone: 204-326-3518
Twitter: @SouthwoodHSD