River Heights Elementary School
November 2019
Remembrance Day Assembly
In honour of the men and women who have served and sacrificed for our country during the World Wars, international conflict, and peacekeeping missions, in the past and currently, the staff and students of River Heights School would like to invite you to attend our Remembrance Day Assembly on Friday, November 8th.
This assembly is different from other assemblies we have throughout the year. Our Remembrance Day Assembly is a time to reflect and remember the people who fought for and continue to fight for our freedom. It is also an opportunity for us to come together as a community and reflect on how we have hope for a peaceful, caring future.
As a show of respect, we ask that that no hats are to be worn in the gym. Guests to the school are asked to arrive by 10:35 am so that they are seated before the students enter the gym, and that everyone stays for the whole assembly. As this assembly is somber, and to demonstrate respect, please do not clap after any performance. We also ask parents to be mindful of younger siblings (determining if it is developmentally appropriate to bring them and expect that they will be quiet and attentive for nearly an hour and a half).
Your support for helping our students better understand the significance of Remembrance Day is truly appreciated!
We love good books!
The Day the Crayons Quit
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
Room on the Broom
Have You Filled a Bucket Today?
The Day the Crayons Quit
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Upcoming November Events
Nov. 1 - Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Day
Nov. 4 - School Picture Retakes (9:15-10:15)
Nov 4 - Hockey "Jersey Day" - Everyone is invited to wear a hockey Jersey to promote the U-17 World Hockey Challenge in Medicine Hat
Nov. 4 - Final Day for donations for "WE Scare Hunger" food drive
Nov. 6 - Parent Council Winter Village Planning Meeting - Staff Room (6:30 pm)
Nov. 6 - Parent Council Meeting - Staff Room (7:30 pm)
Nov. 8 - Remembrance Day Assembly (10:45-12:00)
Nov. 11- No school - Remembrance Day
Nov. 18 - ELP Family Night & Child Led Conferences (3:30-5:00)
Nov. 20 - United Nations World Children's Day - wear Blue to show support for the Rights of Children
Nov. 27 - 'Spirit of Giving' - Grade 4 Bake Sale (during morning and lunch recesses)
Nov. 27 - Grades 1-6 Student Led Conferences & Scholastic Book Fair (3:30-6:30 pm)
Nov. 27 - Kindergarten Portfolio Sharing (3:15-5:45)
Nov. 27 - ELP ISP Meetings (3:15-6:15 - by appointment please)
Nov. 28 - Grades 1-6 Student Led Conferences & Scholastic Book Fair (5:00-7:00 pm)
Nov 28 - Kindergarten Portfolio Sharing (3:15-5:45)
*Please check the following calendar links to the River Heights website for updates:
- Monthly Calendar with Daily Events
- 2019-20 at a Glance - Please note that there is now No PD Day in January as had previously been shared and there is No Day in Lieu in May as there has been in the past. We apologize for any possible confusion.
Student-Led Conferences
We believe that students should be given ownership over their learning and Student-Led Conferences are part of how we live this philosophy. One of the Guiding Principles of River Heights Elementary Schools speaks of developing student independence. The learning belongs to the students and being able to articulate their understanding and their reflections clearly (with the people they love most!) is an important part of developing their independence.
Parents always have the opportunity to connect privately with teachers at any time during the year. Please request a private conference (with or without your child present) at any time.
Scholastic Book Fair
Scholastic Book Fair will be held concurrently with the grade 1-6 Student Led Conferences.
- Wednesday, Nov. 27th from 3:30-6:30
- Thursday, Nov. 28th from 5:00-7:00
The sale is held in the library. We take cash, debit and credit cards. This event is a profitable fundraiser for our school library! Every purchase made results in credit for Mrs. Richardson to spend on new books for our students to enjoy. Thank you for your support!
RH Community Book Club
This month we meet to talk about our third Book Club title:
Kids These Days by Dr. Jody Carrington
"If you own a kid, work with a kid, or love a kid, you will find something inspiring in these pages."
Click here to view the book trailer.
A book club pack of 8 copies has kindly been built for us by the Medicine Hat Public Library. The kit will be kept in the River Heights office. Please feel free to drop by to sign out a copy for yourself!
Our book club meeting date for this title will be Tues., Nov. 26th @ 7:30 pm at Laura Undershute's home. Please RSVP to Laura Gale or Laura Undershute so that we may prepare snacks and share the address with you. Please connect if you have any questions!
RH Gear
Our online store will re-open again later in November (we will set the timing so that orders will be ready before Christmas).
If you have any suggestions for items or questions, please email Mrs. Gale at laura.gale@sd76.ab.ca.
Though we set prices very close to cost to ensure accessibility to as many families as possible, we are grateful that a percentage of the profits will come back to the school. This money will go towards funding learning resources and experiences for our students this year.
Staying Connected
We use this page to share information and love to share our celebrations and little glimpses into our days at school together!
*Please note that there is a River Heights School page and a separate River Heights Parent Council Facebook group page.
Our School website can be found at http://riverheights.mhpsd.ca/
Connections & Safety: Sign-In
Also, if you are bringing your child into the school late or taking them out early (i.e. medical appointment), we ask that you please report to the office to sign your child in (or out) as well. If you are just dropping your child off (or picking up) at regularly scheduled school times in the morning or at the end of the school day, there is no need to sign in or out.
Your continued support in doing so helps us to continually build connections with families, while also ensuring that we know who is in the building should there ever be an emergency situation.
Lost & Found
Please add your child's name or initials on the tags of any clothing, jackets, hats, shoes, boots, backpack, etc. It sure helps us to find the rightful owners and hopefully saves parents money.
Learning at River Heights
River Heights Elementary School provides an instructional program that enhances the delivery of the Alberta Education Curriculum. We emphasize critical and creative thinking skills within a safe and caring environment. We promote the integration of subject areas using technology as a vehicle. We encourage and facilitate student independence/interdependence.
Our motto describes our shared educational philosophy: "Explore, create, reflect”.
1) Student-Centred Integrated Learning (including the use of meaningfully integrated technology)
Students at River Heights Elementary are encouraged to make connections and build mental bridges between subject areas. We weave subject area concepts and content together rather than allowing math to always remain in isolation from social studies, for example. This integrated approach to learning facilitates a deeper level understanding and a higher level of student engagement as they develop ownership in projects and activities involving more than one curriculum subject. Meaningfully integrated technology serves as a vehicle for many of our integrated activities; technology is seen as a tool for learning rather than an activity.
2) Critical and Creative Thinking Skills
Critical and creative thinking skills are central to our program. Students are immersed in the use of thinking skills that are then used to investigate curriculum topics mandated by the Alberta Education Curriculum.
The application of Edward DeBono's Six Thinking Hats is taught throughout the school as well as additional thinking strategies suitable for particular grade levels. These thinking skills are valuable tools that encourage students to grow in creative and critical thought patterns.
3) Student Independence and Interdependence
We plan for experiences which encourage children to make clear plans, organize ideas and resources, investigate topics, share their learning with others, and reflect on their progress. We challenge students to become more responsible for their learning and to grow in independence. We provide students with opportunities and guidance in working with a wide variety of peers. We know that being able to engage in positive and productive interdependence is an important life skill.
4) Safe and Caring Learning Environment
Students and Staff demonstrate the Tribes Agreements in our interactions with each other and with families.
1. Demonstrate mutual respect.
2. Offer appreciations. Do not give put-downs.
3. Exercise the right to pass; respect the right of others to participate.
4. Demonstrate attentive listening.
River Heights Elementary provides parents with one option to consider as they make a selection best suited to meet the needs of their child and his/her learning style. By making the deliberate choice to attend River Heights Elementary, both parents and children are demonstrating a commitment to the education philosophy and goals of our school.
Parent Council Information
Parent Council
Thank you to all parents and staff who have been able to join us for our first couple of Parent Council meetings so far this year. On Wednesday, November 6th, we will hold a 'Winter Village' planning meeting at 6:45 pm in the staff room, followed by our regular Parent Council meeting at 7:30 pm. We have teachers from a different grade level share at each regular Parent Council meeting. Grade One teachers (Miss Plante and Mrs. Willock) presented in October and our Kindergarten teachers (Mrs. Kruger and Mrs. Gale) will be presenting on Nov. 6th.
Upcoming Parent Council Events and Fundraisers:
- Winter Village letters will be coming home mid-month to provide families with more information.
- Big Box of Cards Fundraiser is starting Nov. 1st and runs until Nov. 18th. Youngest child in each family will be bringing the box and letter home. Please follow the instructions on the letter home. Boxes are $33 each for 33 cards.
- Movie Night is coming up Friday November 15th (6-8:30). The movie starts at 6:30 in the gym. Popcorn and snacks will be available for purchase.
Fundraising events and profits from Hot Lunch sales is what we use to support field trips, optimal learning environments in the classroom, Winter Village, Spring Fling, staff appreciation, and various other activities in the school. Your support is truly appreciated!
Note to ALL PARENTS: please sign up for our Parent Council Remind App. If you have the app
search for @rivheipc and if you do not have the text (587) 409-2952 and put @rivheipc in the
message. We will send messages communicating with hot lunch volunteers, calling out for
more volunteers, informing of meetings, etc.
Make sure you check out our Facebook Group: RIVER HEIGHTS SCHOOL PARENT COUNCIL
Hot Lunch Information
We are always looking for help! Without volunteers this fundraiser would not be a success. Please connect with a Parent Council member or the school office if you are able to volunteer to serve hot lunch!
All ordering is done online. Follow this link to place your orders:
http://www.schoolcashonline.com/
Reminder, all hot lunch orders are due one week before. No late orders can be accepted.
If your child is absent from school on hot lunch day, we are unable to provide refunds or credits because we have to pay for the food upfront. You can call the school if you would like to pick up your child's order and it will be set aside for you.
Registration Tutorial:
Step 1: Go to our website: http://riverheights.mhpsd.ca/
Select FOR PARENTS, then SCHOOL CASH ONLINE and “Get Started Today” and follow the three easy steps to Register and create your profile.
Step 2: After you receive the confirmation email, please click the link that was sent to you.
Step 3: Log in and add each of your children to your household account. Find the correct school and enter your student’s last name and Student ID# to complete the process. If you are registering a new student and need to find your child's School Number, please ask Mrs. McFetridge in the office (403-527-3730) and she will kindly assist you.
Step 4: If you want to receive email notifications when new lunches are added, please ensure the notification box is checked in the “Manage Your Notifications” section found in the My Account tab. If you have any questions during the registration process or while shopping online, please select the SUPPORT option in the top right hand area of the screen.
Step 5: Now that you’ve successfully registered, please select the “Item” tab and view the lunch items available for pre-ordering. You can order by clicking on the item name and select the choices offered on the menu and click add to cart for completion.
Step 6: At check out, a detail list of what’s in your cart will be listed. You can select more items or continue to check out. Select the payment method of your choice and complete the process.You can click on the payment history tab to view order & payment records.
Hot Lunch Menu
November:
- Fri. Nov. 1 -- Taco-in-a-Bag
- Fri. Nov. 8 -- Subway
- Fri. Nov. 15 -- Pizza
- Thurs. Nov. 21 -- McDonalds Hot Cakes / Happy Meal
- Fri. Nov. 29 -- Taco Time
Parent Council Meetings
- Wed. Nov. 6th @ 7:30 pm
- Wed. Dec. 4th @ 7:30 pm
- Wed. Jan. 15th @ 7:30 pm
- Wed. Feb 5th @ 7:30 pm
- Wed. Mar. 4th @ 7:30 pm
- Wed. Apr. 1st @ 7:30 pm
- Wed. May 6th @ 8:00 pm
- Wed. June 3rd @ 8:00 pm
Community Resources
A Message from Children's Allied Health
Children’s Allied Health (previously CHADS) Behavioural Services would like to share our current programs and services information with you.
We are a family based, early intervention program designed to provide behavioural strategies to children under the age of 8 and support parents to manage behaviours in the home.
Our services include:
· Sleep education for parents of children 18 months and older. We offer a monthly sleep seminar which is held in Medicine Hat and is available to additional Alberta Health Services sites through videoconferencing. Please see the handout below for upcoming dates.
· Children’s programs which are held in Medicine Hat and are facilitated using Play-based therapy and Brief Solution-Focused Therapy. All of our programs are designed to include corresponding parent sessions. These programs include Kids in Control, Kids in the Middle, and Bravehearts. Please see the handout below for program descriptions.
· Parent Consultation Services are offered by our Child and Youth Development Specialists, who are available to consult with parents by telephone, Skype, or in our office regarding behaviour, child development, and parenting topics.
Registration for these services are ongoing and referrals may be received by fax from your organization (see referral form below), or parents are welcome to call us directly to self-refer (403-502-8257).
River Heights Elementary
Email: rvrhgts@sd76.ab.ca
Website: http://riverheights.mhpsd.ca
Location: 301 6th Ave SW Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 5T6
Phone: (403) 527-3730
Facebook: facebook.com/RiverHeightsES
Twitter: @RiverHeightsES