I have heard in a number of different circles about the health benefits and importance of practicing gratitude or doing things with a spirit of thanksgiving. MES says, “Thank you!” on so many different levels:

• Caring adults & wonderful kiddos

• Support with our home reading programs

• The Mitchell Community Centre & Tuesday morning connections

• Grade 2 swimming

• Healthy relationships

• Great weather, running club, bike rodeo, spring concerts

• SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS!

• Field trips

• Next year’s new kindergarten students

• And, HUGE community support with our school playground fundraisers and Liberia Provision of Hope projects

Getting back into community has come with an occasional bump or challenge, and we would like to thank you for your unwavering support as we are relentless in our pursuit of caring for kids here at MES.

“MES, A Great Place to Grow!”

Parents/Guardians are encouraged to register their children immediately, as we are planning the Kindergarten orientation sessions for May 10th and 11th. Registering now will ensure there is sufficient time for school appointments and provide parents/guardians with the opportunity to participate in Kindergarten orientation activities. Visit www.hsd.ca for registration instructions.

MES Spring Concert is on Thursday, May 11th with performances at 1:30 and 7:00 pm. The Gr. 1 and Gr. 2 students are going to perform "Friends & Family" and "A Race To The Finish". We look forward to welcoming you at the concert!

Thanks to all of those who generously donated to our Caring for Kids Fundraiser in April! More than $8000 was donated by our MES community! With our help, 2 of our students were able to graduate this year and all 16 of our students from Liberia will be sponsored to go to school again in the coming year. We are making a difference across the globe and in individual lives!

**Tell Cummings is our first graduate! We have sponsored him for 10 years!

**Daniel Roberts will be able to go to school again next year!

**Bikes & helmets will be required to actively participate.

2W Wednesdays Apr.5-June14

2T Thursdays Apr.6-June 15

2SP Fridays Apr.14-June 23

1/2S (Gr.2's only) Fridays Apr.14-June 23

ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES

Thank you to all parents for keeping our bus loop clear and safe. This is just a quick reminder to all our students and parents of the bus loop rules:

1) Refrain from using the bus loop between 8:00am and 4:00pm (during school hours).

2) If you are dropping off or picking up students please do so from the street in front of the school (please do not drive onto the staff parking lot.)

3) Always walk around the front of the first bus, or the back of the last bus (not between them!) when more than one bus is stopped in the bus loop.

4) Please remind children who walk or bike to school to do so on the appropriate sides of the street so that buses and other vehicles can pass safely.

PARKING & PICK-UP:

Please take note of the areas that are safe for parking. The Mitchell Gospel Church is willing to let parents use their parking lot during the hours of 8:15-9:00 and 3:00-3:45 pm. This is the parking area one block directly south of the school down the path that connects to Willow & Oakview.

In the interest of maximizing learning time in the classroom and keeping interruptions to a minimum, please make home time arrangements with your child(ren) before they leave for school in the morning.

Send a message on Seesaw if home time arrangements are different from your normal routine, whether your child is going home with someone else or being picked up at the end of the day.

If you must phone the school regarding a change in home time arrangements please call before 2:30 pm.
If you are picking your child up for an appointment during the school day, please sign your child out at the office and the secretary will call your child to meet you at the office.

We are excited that you want to volunteer in our school!

The volunteer process is as follows:

• Fill out the Child Abuse Registry Forms at the school office.

• Email Carole at the RCMP to request the form for a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC). Her email address is: carole.robidoux@rcmp-grc.gc.ca OR Go to the Steinbach RCMP detachment in person and fill out the forms there. You will need to bring ID and a letter from us indicating that you are a volunteer. The RCMP detachment is open Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm.

• If emailing Carole, please include the letter that we will provide to you indicating that you are a volunteer. This will ensure that you are not charged a fee for the check.

• Be sure to let Carole know if your mailing address is different from your physical address.

• Once you receive your VSC in the mail, please bring it to the school so that we can forward it to the appropriate department in the school division.

• Once you are approved, it will be noted under the Student Information tab in your Parent Portal account.

Please note that this whole process can take 4 - 8 weeks until you are approved.

You will be required to complete an annual declaration form each school year to verify that you have had no convictions since the date of your application. This will be sent to you via email.

**Please note*** Pizza tickets are sold in bundles of 4 for $10 (1 ticket per slice).

We will not be selling individual tickets. Tickets can be purchased by sending cash or cheque (payable to MES) to your child's homeroom teacher. If you would like to make a payment via the Parent Portal, please notify the school office by email to mes@hsd.ca to make arrangements.

**Please note** Milk tickets are sold in bundles of 10 for $10.

We will not be selling individual tickets for milk cartons. Tickets can be purchased by sending cash or cheque (payable to MES) to your child's homeroom teacher.

If you would like to make a payment via the Parent Portal, please notify the school office by email at mes@hsd.ca to make arrangements.

Chair: Meagan Plett

Corinna Rickey

Kara Fehr

Andrea Nedohin

Meghan Matthews

Elly Carr

Naomi Reimer

Heather Ginter

Angie Koop

11 Spring Concert

22 Victoria Day - No School

25 MMS Grade 5 Information Night 6:30 pm

25 & 26 Bike Rodeo