Selby Star
Weekly Update - September 6, 2019
Welcome Back Selby Students and Families
A huge welcome back to all of our students who are returning, as well as those students who are new to Selby School.
I am so happy to be the Principal of Selby Public School and be a part of this community. I hope that everyone had an enjoyable summer and feel ready to head into an amazing year. I have been so impressed by the dedication and hard work that the staff have shown in preparing the school, their classrooms and shared spaces. I am really hoping that we can have the #bestyearever!
Thank you to all the parents, grandparents and guardians that are helping get all of the kids back into routine. It can be hard for all of us but generally makes things a bit easier when we know what is coming.
This week has been awesome! There has been a lot of talk of teamwork, kindness, community and bucket filling. All things we hope to cultivate at Selby! We had a kick-off assembly this week to welcome everyone back, introduce the staff and have a little fun. We also welcomed Edward back to do some Zumba with us!
Look for these updates weekly with lots of information to keep you in the loop. Also follow us on twitter (@Selbyschool), look at our website frequently (https://selbyps.limestone.on.ca) and get the school messenger app (info below) if you haven't already.
You will be receiving a lot of important information from the school over the next few weeks. Please be sure to check your child's backpack as some items will require immediate attention.
Thanks for reading and for your continued support.
If you have questions or concerns, please call the school to speak with your child's teacher, Mrs. Gallagher or myself.
Kelly Witley
Principal
What to Bring to School:
Indoor Shoes
Backpack and water bottle
A Positive Attitude
REMINDER about School Hours
We operate on a 'balanced day' school schedule, which consists of three 100-minute, uninterrupted instructional blocks separated by recess and nutritional breaks.
The school day is from 9:20 a.m. until 3:40 p.m. and is structured below:
9:20 -Entry Bell
9:20 to 11:00 -Instructional Time (100 minutes)
11:00-11:15 -Nutrition Break (15 minutes)
11:15 to 11:40 -Recess (25 minutes)
11:40 to 1:20 -Instructional Time (100 minutes)
1:20 to 1:35 Nutrition Break (15 minutes)
1:35 to 2:00 Recess (25 minutes)
2:00 to 3:40 Instructional Time (100 minutes)
3:40 Dismissal and Bus Departures
School Organization
Classroom organizations are finalized at the end of the second full week of school in September, based on actual student enrollment at that time. Sometimes this results in changes.
We will communicate any changes that may need to take place as a result.
Here is our school organization:
Classroom Teachers:
JK/SK Ms. Argyle
JK/SK Mrs. Taylor
Gr 1/2 Ms. King
Gr 1/2 Mr. Craig
Gr 2.3 Mrs. Richards
Gr 3/4 Mr. Hill
Gr 4/5 Mr. Sunderland
Gr 5 Mrs. McKutcheon
Gr 6/7 Ms. Rowe
Gr. 7/8 Ms. Mitchell (covering for Mrs. Putnam until Dec.)
Gr 8 Mrs. Kemp
Student Support Teacher:
Mrs. Sutcliffe
Planning-Time Teachers:
Mrs. Sutcliffe
Mr. Scott
Core French Teachers:
Mme Van Neste (primary)
Mme Kerr (junior-intermediate)
Administrators:
Principal: Kelly Witley
Office Staff:
Office Coordinators: Donna Gallagher
Caretaking Team:
Head Custodian: Kelly Perry
Evening Custodian: Tom Breeden
UPCOMING DATES
Sept 25 - Picture Day!
Sept 26 - Terry Fox Event (pm)
Sept 27 - PA Day - no school for students
Sept 30 - Orange Shirt Day
Oct. 1 - Open House 5:30 - 6:30 (explore classrooms and meet staff); 5:30 -7:00 Enjoy a BBQ ($), Book Fair will be OPEN
Oct. 1 -3 Book Fair
Mrs. Richards and Stanley
As many of you know, Mrs. Richards, our grade 2/3 teacher, has a service dog, named Stanley. They are an important part of our staff and community and teach us about the connectedness between animals and humans and how they can support our well-being.
A representative from Kingston 4 Paws was at our assembly this week, teaching students and staff at Selby PS some basic rules for interacting with Service Dogs, which are:
• when Stanley is in his vest, no one can touch him or speak to him. But smiles are welcomed!
• no one is to feed anything to him, at any time.
• the black straps on his face are not a muzzle. They are called a Newtrix and they simply prevent him from pulling Mrs. Richards because he’s so strong.
Please talk about these guidelines with your child and encourage them to smile when they see Mrs. Richards and Stanley!
Boomerang Lunches
WE ARE A NUT AWARE SCHOOL
MEDICAL FORMS
Threat/Risk Assessment Notification and Process
The Limestone District School Board and community partners are committed to making our schools safe for students and staff. As a result, schools will respond to all student behaviours that pose a potential risk to other students, staff, and members of the community. The Community Violence Threat Risk Assessment Process is designed to be proactive in developing intervention plans that address the emotional and physical safety of those involved. A Threat/Risk Assessment is initiated by the school administration or community partners when behaviours have been identified by staff or students that pose a potential risk to self and/or others. Please note: it is important for all parties to support the Violence Threat Risk Assessment Process. However, if for some reason there is a reluctance to participate in the process, by the student of concern or parent/guardian, the threat assessment process will continue in order to ensure a safe and caring environment for all. Families are asked to review the steps of a Threat/Risk Assessment online at http://bit.ly/LDSBthreatassessment .
Parents as Partners
One way to stay involved is to join our Parent Council. We meet once a month and everyone is welcome! Our first meeting will be Tuesday, September 24 @ 6 pm in the staff room. Child care is provided. If you are interested in running for a position, more information will follow about this.
Our school will use a broadcasting tool to communicate need-to-know information to families in a timely and efficient way.
The “Communicate” system will allow us to share important school information with families via text, email or phone message. We will use this tool for urgent items like event cancellations or school emergencies. We may also use it for sharing information such as upcoming progress reports, school council meetings or special events. In the past, we have used a previous version of the broadcast tool called Synervoice.
Registered parents/guardians will receive these messages through contact information collected in our student information system. Parents/guardians may choose how to receive these alerts by text message, email or phone call with the exception of emergency events which will always be communicated via all contact methods on file with the school. If parents/guardians choose to receive text messages, they must opt-in due to potential charges from their cell phone carrier.
It is important that parents/guardians ensure schools have the most up-to-date contact information at the beginning of the school year. If your contact information changes during the school year, parents/guardians are asked to contact the school with the updated information.
In addition, teachers and coaches/leaders of extra-curricular activities will also be able to take advantage of an instant message option to keep students and families up to date regarding classroom activities or practices/games in a timely manner. Students and parents/guardians will be invited to join a group and receive messages related specifically to their group. Information on how to join groups will be shared directly with students and families by the teacher, coach/leader.
School Messenger App Account
All of our new electronic communications tools can be accessed anytime, anywhere online and/or via Smartphones. To take advantage of this new convenience and functionality, we encourage you to create a School Messenger account on your desktop, laptop, tablet and/or download the SchoolMessenger app. While an account is not required to use these new tools, it will allow you to review your contact information and communication preferences, and it stores all of your messages in one place.
Communicate does not replace current school communication tools but enhances the way in which schools will provide information to families. In most cases, information will still be provided on school websites, school newsletters, notices home and social media accounts, where applicable.
Piano and Guitar Lessons
A local community member will be offering Piano/Guitar lessons @ Selby this year, during the school day. Please see information below and contact Laura if you are interested.
Piano Lessons
$90/month
A half-hour lesson per week, plus unlimited telephone and email support
Free trial lessons
//music4fun.ca/pianolessons.html
613-777-1110
Guitar Lessons
613-777-1110