Brain research and educational data have taught the field of education a great deal over the last fifteen years. For these reasons, we continually reflect and change our practices to align with current research. This changes the way we teach children, set up our school environments, and deal with behavioural issues.

We have studied pieces of research that indicate we should also be addressing the way we schedule a child’s day at school. For this reason Woodlawn School will be taking part of a two year pilot to implement a balanced day schedule starting this September. We invite you to join us for a parent information night on February 6 (6:00 pm) in the school gym. If you are unable to attend, a parent package will be sent out to all families February 7.

Did you know that each year we partner with Clearspring Middle School to facilitate a learning partnership? As part of the process of transitioning our grade 4 students to middle school we invite grade 7 students from CMS to work with our young students. The grade 7's call themselves The Connect Crew. Their major role is to act as mentors to our grade 4's. The Connect Crew visits Woodlawn from January through June to 'hang out and help out' in our grade 4 classes. Our grade 4 classrooms go to CMS for a few visits to have fun, learn the layout of the school and to become familiar with the school staff. This has proven to be a purposeful and valued partnership which lessons the anxiety of a transition to a new school for our young students. The Connect Crew also comes to Woodlawn to run our stations on Winter Fun Day. They are a very respectful and responsible group of adolescents. We really appreciated their help and communication with our students.

This past week we hosted about twenty CMS students at Woodlawn in our classrooms as part of their learning project called Options Day. This Learning Partnership is invaluable and provides opportunities for relationship building, leadership, academic learning and social emotional well being. It is a partnership which benefits both groups of students.

This month I'd like to say thank you to the CMS Connect Crew and the CMS staff who make it possible. Your partnership is very much appreciated and we hope it continues for many years to come.

If you have any questions feel free to contact either myself or our vice principal, Karen Fraser. Thank you for your continued support as we teach and nurture your children.

Respectfully,

Shelley Amos

I Love to Read about Animals!

Every February we place a special focus on reading. It is the perfect time of year to cozy up with a book or journal, strengthen reading and writing skills, and foster a love of literacy.

This year we will have a theme centered on animals. We will kick off the month with a staff reader's theatre performance during assembly. Friday, February 9th will be "Dress like an Animal Character" Day where we hope to see some Franklin turtles, some Scaredy Squirrels, and some Rainbow Fish! We will also have a special assembly by the "Earth Rangers". We will "track" reading goals by posting animal tracks as classes achieve weekly reading goals. If the students do well with meeting their goals, they will be rewarded by watching staff members kiss some farm animals!

Happy February! Happy Reading!

All students in grades 3 and 4 will have the opportunity to go skating. Once dates have been confirmed, class notices and informed consent forms will be sent home and parents are asked to have helmets fitted and skates sharpened in preparation for the fun. If you absolutely cannot beg, borrow or buy the equipment, we do have some basic skates and helmets as a back up at the school. I welcome any parents who have any extra equipment they may want to share to call me so that all students can join in the fun!

We also need parents to come out as well and help with supervision, tying skates, and possibly sharing your own expertise in the sport.

Thank you,