Principal's Message
Our staff have been learning about teaching Indigenous perspectives in their classrooms for the last couple of years. We have focused some of our professional development into learning how we as teachers can teach our young students about Indigenous Culture, the Treaties, and Reconciliation. Our teachers attended a workshop on Treaty Education and all classrooms were provided a series of books to teach young children about the relationship between the Indigenous People and the Settlers. Students are learning that promises were made and broken, but we all have a role to play in Reconciliation. The Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba states:
The Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba, in partnership with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, Manitoba Education, and the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre, completed the K – 12 teacher resource packages and related teaching materials to:
Increase the knowledge and understanding of the Treaties and the Treaty Relationship among all students;
Ensure students understand the impact of the Treaties and the Treaty Relationship on the creation of Manitoba;
Build bridges between all peoples in order to strengthen our society and our prosperity
http://www.trcm.ca/treaty-education-initiative/what-is-the-treaty-education-initiative/
On January 18 we will be hosting a Festival du Voyageur Day (in place of Winter Fun Day). More information will be coming home shortly. A group of teachers are also planning an Indigenous Day in May to celebrate all that we are learning about Indigenous Culture, The Treaties, and Reconciliation.
We are excited about this work that is being done and acknowledge that we still have a lot of learning to do. If any of you have teachings that you would be willing to share with us, we would love to form a learning partnership with you.
Karen Fraser
Vice Principal's Message
January is often a time of the school year where our teachers and students review their classroom beliefs and expectations. We want everyone to be the best self they can be and our kids work together to help each other feel appreciated and valued. We want everyone to feel safe at Woodlawn School. At school and home, the conversation about safety is an important one to review often. Here are a couple of tips when talking about safety across different environments:
(A) On the Playground: If your child is not feeling safe on the playground (or they see something happening that is not safe), they should tell a duty teacher right away. This lets the duty teacher provide problem solving support to the children involved right away. If they do let you know at home about something that happened at recess, please email or call the classroom teacher so they know. We also encourage our kids to lead with kindness and invite others into their play. Often behaviour on the playground stems from miscommunication or wanting to join in with play without the skills to do so.
(B) Online: Our students use iPads, desktops, and laptops to enhance their learning at school. They are monitored while using technology, but it is still very important for our young ones to learn about digital safety. If your child sees something that makes them uncomfortable, they should close the device and get a teacher right away. At home, some tips are to keep the technology use in a common area, have rules in place for responsible use, review games, apps, and websites they are using, and communicate with your children about what they are doing online.
(C) On the bus: Many of our students take the bus to and from school every day. The bus driver and myself communicate when there are issues on the bus and work together to help keep everyone safe. If your child feels unsafe on the bus, please encourage them to tell the bus driver and their teacher (if they are coming to school) or a parent (if they are coming home). If your child is looking for something to do on their ride to and from school, we encourage them to bring a book to read or look at.
The key across all of these areas is communication. Our students are learning how to be problem solvers and we encourage them to try to solve many disagreements and conflicts with each other, but if they are not feeling safe we need them to find an adult. The teacher can help facilitate problem solving while helping to keep everyone safe.
Tara Reimer
2019-2020 KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
NEW! Online Registration for Kindergarten
Kindergarten Registration for the 2019-20 school year will open on January 7, 2019. The registration process will take place online at HSD.ca. If you do not have access to the Internet, please visit our school (after registration has opened), and we will assist you in completing the registration form on a school computer.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to register their children as soon as possible upon the opening of registration, or by mid-February at the latest. Registering early will assist our school in preparation and planning for the upcoming school year. Early registration also provides parents/guardians with the opportunity to participate in upcoming 2019-20 orientation activities.
Children must be five years of age on or before December 31, 2019 to be eligible for 2019-20 registration, and are required to attend the school within the catchment area in which they reside.
Please visit the divisional website at HSD.ca for complete details and instructions.
COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS - TOY DRIVE
Thank you to parents and community members who generously donated $1068.65 to Steinbach Community Outreach at our Christmas Concert.
1C & 1JC would like to thank Woodlawn students, staff and parents for their support with our Gingerbread Bake Sale. With your help, we raised $669.65 to support Steinbach Community Outreach. With this money we were able to provide warm clothes and food for people in our own community who are without these basic needs.
SCHOOL CLOSURE NOTIFICATIONS
When extreme weather or road conditions call for a school closure you will receive a recorded phone call from Superintendent Randy Dueck beginning at 6:45 am. This additional communication effort is to help ensure that all students will be aware of school closures and no students will find themselves in an unsafe situation where they may be facing extreme weather unnecessarily. When school is cancelled due to weather and road conditions there are no staff members at the school. If your phone number has changed since the beginning of the school year please call the office at 204-326-6110 to update your information.
Schools will be closed due to extreme cold when the temperatures in most locations in the division are
–35 degree Celsius or colder with –45 degree Celsius or colder wind-chill. 
DINO-MITE BOOK FAIR!
BOOK FAIR HOURS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6
8:30-8:55
11:05-11:55 - (Kindergarten , Grade 1 & Grade 2)
1:10-2:00 - (Grade 3 & 4)
3:45-6:30** Open late only on Wednesday
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7
8:30-8:55
11:05-11:55 - (Kindergarten , Grade 1 & Grade 2)
1:10-2:00 - (Grade 3 & 4)
3:45-4:30
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8
8:30 8:55
11:05-11:55 - (Kindergarten, Grade 1 & Grade 2)
1:10-2:00 - (Grade 3 & 4)
3:45-4:30
Students will be browsing Monday, February 4 and Tuesday, February 5, 2019.
Check out the preview flyer going home soon for a taste of what will be at the fair. Don’t forget to bring your ballot in (from the back of the flyer) when you visit the book fair with your child(ren).
PARKING REMINDERS
If you are dropping off or picking up your child, please park on Henry Street or on the church parking lot across from the school. When using the church parking lot please do not block entrances or exits. For the safety of your child, we request that you escort your child across Henry Street. For students’ safety, please avoid parking along Barkman Street across from the school during 8:30 - 9:00 am and 3:30 - 4:00 pm.
Please do not park in the parking lot of the Envision home on Penner Street. That is a private residence and your vehicle may be towed.
Thank you for choosing safety over convenience for the sake of all our children.
IMPORTANT DATES
Friday, January 18 Festival Du Voyageur Day
Friday, February 1 PD Day - No Classes
Wed.-Fri., February 6-8 Book Fair
Monday, February 18 Louis Riel Day - No Classes
Thursday, February 21 PD Day - No Classes
Friday, February 22 HTA PD Day - No Classes
Friday, March 8 Admin. Day - No Classes
Friday, March 15 Report Cards Issued
Mon.-Fri., March 18-22 Wacky Week
Friday, March 22 Community Pancake Breakfast
Friday, March 22 Last Day of School Before Spring Break
Monday, April 1 First Day Back at School After Spring Break
Friday, April 5 Admin/PD Day - No Classes
Tuesday, April 23 Board/PAC Liason Meeting
Tuesday, May 7 Gr. 1 Spring Concert (Afternoon & Evening)
Thursday, May 9 Gr. 2 Spring Concert (Afternoon & Evening)
Thursday, May 16 Grade 5 Orientation Evenings at CMS and SMS
Monday, May 20 Victoria Day
Thursday, May 23 Volunteer Appreciation Event
Tuesday, June 25 Grade 4 Farewell
Wednesday, June 26 School Picnic - Last Day of School
Wednesday, June 26 Report Cards Issued at the End of the Day
