Dear families,

As we continue with our schoolwide reading goal, we are sharing a website that has a great deal of information and resources for families at home. Our lower elementary teachers are using the UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Institute) Manual , in combination with their literacy continuum documents (P-6 Reading & Phonics), to teach students how to decode. This site may also be helpful for parents and guardians who are concerned about their child's reading development. The Parent Resource Hub is an excellent starting point to help you learn more about this form of instruction. Here are some other links to resources from the UFLI system:

1. Resources - https://ufli.education.ufl.edu/resources/

2. Foundations Toolbox - https://ufli.education.ufl.edu/foundations/toolbox/

3. Virtual Word Mats - Beginner, Intermediate, Blending Board

We understand that when families help us at home, students accelerate in their development at school. It is also important to mention that this type of instruction needs to be paired with regular reading and writing. Students should be asked to look for the words discussed in their own books and use them in their daily writing. We hope these resources are helpful!

Sincerely,

Shawn Marsh

Principal

• April 3 - Out of Area Applications for the 2023-24 School Year

• April 4 - 3W and 2C Class Trip to Symphony Nova Scotia

• April 6 - Wear Blue for Autism Awareness Month

• April 7 - Good Friday (No School)

• April 10 - Easter Monday (No School)

• April 14 - School Assembly

• April 21 - Final Day of Ramadan 2023 (Eid al-Fitr)

• April 26 - SAC Meeting (6 PM) & Home and School Meeting (7 PM)

• May 11 - New 2023-24 Primary Parent Meeting (6PM)

• May 16 - Grade 3 Provincial Assessments (Reading and Writing)

• May 17 - Volunteer Tea (10:20)

• May 18 - Grade 3 Provincial Assessments (Reading and Writing)

• May 22 - Victoria Day (No School)

• May 23 - Grade 3 Provincial Assessments (Mathematics)

• May 25 - Grade 3 Provincial Assessments (Mathematics)

• May 26 - Primary Orientation (9:20 AM - 10:20 AM)

• May 27 - Spring Fair

April is Autism Awareness Month. This Thursday, staff and students are invited to wear blue in celebration and support of people who live with Autism.

“Autism is different for everyone. There are some who are verbal and others who are not, but we all deserve to be treated with respect.”

- Blake

Port Hastings, NS

Effective February 1, 2023, we will be accepting registrations for the 2023-2024 school year through our new online portal, PowerSchool Enrollment! The registration process is entirely electronic as of 2023.

Tip: Before you begin, make sure you have the following documents in electronic form (image, PDF or Word document):

• Proof of identity/age with one of the following: birth certificate, passport, immigration papers, or legal adoption papers) if you are new to the HRCE
• Proof of home address (a recently dated official government or utility document with your current address that includes your name and date, such as water bill, power bill, internet bill, home fuel bill, a tax receipt, property assessment or a mortgage contract); and
• Nova Scotia Health Card or Canadian Province Health Card or, for non-citizens while in Canada, proof of Medical Insurance Information.

Visit the HRCE website for more information and to enrol your child today!

Don’t have a child to register? Maybe you know someone who does! Please help us spread the word and pass this information on to friends, neighbours or relatives who will be looking to register for the fall.

On Friday, March 31st, our students were visited by the Woodlawn High Improv Theatre Team. They entertained our students by performing their routine and engaging many of our students in this amazing form of comedy. We were happy to support this group as they raise money to travel to the nationals in Ottawa next month.

This year, our grade 3s will write the RW3 Provincial Assessment for reading, writing and mathematics. The scores on these assessments will only be shared with teachers and families. These scores do not appear on the third term report card nor do they count for any portion of third term assessment. It is information for the school and families about how students perform independently and what the future focus of instruction should be. It is also important to note that these assessments are only one data point in time. Therefore, we always interpret results with caution. Please ensure that your grade 3 student is present on the days listed below. It is recommended that students eat a nutritious breakfast on the morning of each assessment.

• Tuesday, May 16 - Grade 3 Provincial Assessments (Reading and Writing)

• Thursday, May 18 - Grade 3 Provincial Assessments (Reading and Writing)

• Tuesday, May 23 - Grade 3 Provincial Assessments (Mathematics)

• Thursday, May 25 - Grade 3 Provincial Assessments (Mathematics)

PP-6 families from outside our catchment area can apply to register at our school for the 2023-24 school year by clicking here. Out of Area applications for pre-primary will now go to the principal of each school (new). Families should register in their home catchment areas before applying for an Out of Area spot. These applications are electronic and time- stamped to create waiting lists. Decisions about Out of Area applications will not be communicated to applicants until the third week in June when we will know more about available space for students who do live in our catchment area. Families who are accepted give up their spots in their own catchment areas and assume responsibility for travel to and from their new school.

*** Please note that orders placed in Aptil will be for 6 weeks instead of the regular 10 weeks to ofset an error that was made in Schoolcash Online. A message was sent to all families on April 6th***

Pizza orders are live again in SchoolCash Online. The payment window for this session will close on April 12th, 2023 at 11:59 PM. The last day of pizza deliveries for the previous window is Thursday, April 13th. Ordering is not renewed automatically so families wishing to continue ordering pizza beyond the 13th will need to place orders in the new payment window. If you are interested in trying SchoolCash payments for the first time, please use the links below:

Visit https://hrce.schoolcashonline.com/ and click Register to get started.

Need support? Connect with the SchoolCash Online help desk at schoolcashonline.com/Home/Support

We would like to thank the parents and guardians who recently submitted their volunteer checks. Our list is growing but it is still not at pre-pandemic levels. We will continue to advertise and promote our volunteer list until we have enough to support each of our homerooms! See below on how you can apply to be a volunteer at our school.

Are you interested in volunteering for future events or class trips? In order to volunteer with children at an HRCE school, you must submit a current Criminal Record/Vulnerable Sector ($30-$50) check and a Child Abuse Register Search (free). Please request a volunteer letter from our main office before applying for a Criminal Record/Vulnerable Sector check. This will also reduce the cost if you have it done in person at an RCMP detachment. We have some funding available upon request for reimbursements with original receipts.

After submitting both of these documents to our main office, you will be cleared for volunteering in our school for three full years from the date of issue indicated on your paperwork. Thank you for your interest and your time!

Our Home and School Committee members have begun work on the organization of a Spring Fair. Please reserve Saturday, May 27th in your calendars if this event interests you and your family.

We are looking to hire new lunch monitors. If this interests you, or if you know someone who would be interested, please phone Mr. Marsh at the main office.

902-435-8353

Please be reminded that we have students who have life threatening allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds, and eggs (ingestion only). We would ask that you do not send food items in lunch bags containing peanuts, tree nuts and sesame seeds as these can contaminate surfaces.