Parent Peek at the Week
Week of May 23rd, 2022
Thinking of you and our community....
Take care of each other and stay safe,
Mrs. Sampson
Important Dates
Monday, May 23rd - Day 0
Happy Victoria Day!!!
Tuesday, May 24th - Day 2
- School Closed due to the storm
Wednesday, May 25th - Day 3
- AM - Bus evacuation drills (or maybe not - stay tuned!)
Friday, May 27th - Day 5
- last block - Cougar Courage awards
- 3pm - Mrs. Sampson to get a pie in the face for Pedal for Hope (tentative date and time)
- Deadline to email Mrs. Sampson if you have information regarding the placement for your child for next year (see article below)
Upcoming Dates:
- Week of May 30th - EQAO for Grades 3 and 6
- June 6th - School Council
- June 10th - PA Day
At Kawartha Heights, how do we determine class placements for September 2022?
Over the course of this year, I have had many discussions with parents inquiring about the process we use to decide which class students are placed in for the upcoming school year. This article will give you more information about how the process is completed.
The allocation of the number of teachers each year is based on our projected enrollment, through the Board office. Staff assignments are subject to change each year, especially in a climate of changing enrollment. In addition, the requirement for combined grade classes varies from year to year depending entirely on the number of students. It's even more complicated in our current times, as when students move to virtual learning, staff need to move too. This reduces our number of classes, enrollment and our staffing.
Each year in June, our team meets to make up classes for next year. Before our meetings begin, we have a general idea of the number of classes we will have and whether there will be combined grades or straight grades. This is still subject to change between June and October, as enrollment may increase or decrease.
When we meet, student placement is always determined collaboratively by the team, taking into account a variety of different factors. Each meeting focuses on only one grade at a time, and the current grade teacher, SERT and Administration look at the following factors to determine best placement:
- A range of academic abilities in each class
- A balance between boys and girls (where possible)
- Consideration for ensuring a friend is with each student - this does not mean a student’s best friend, but rather a friend that best supports their learning
- Specific information provided by parents that does not include requesting a favourite teacher, requesting favourite friends or requesting straight grade classes
- Specific individual and unique issues that we are aware of as a school team
Our shared goal is to provide the best possible learning environment for each child. This is a balanced classroom. A balanced classroom also includes students with a range of academic abilities and incorporates a match between student needs and the available resources to address those needs.
After due consideration by the school team, the final responsibility for school organization rests with the Principal. This is a responsibility that is taken very seriously with the best interest of all students in mind. If there is something specific that you would like us to know when considering your child’s class placement for next year (please refer to the factors above), please inform Mrs. Sampson by email by May 27th. Note: requests for a specific teacher or for a child to be with a specific friend are not usually entertained.
As a staff, Kawartha Heights is committed to a thorough placement process in support of student achievement. Most years we share the classroom teacher's name for next year in your child's report card. Now that report cards are all shared electronically, this process may change. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available. It is very important to note that changes to enrollment over the summer may effect prior decisions about class organization. It is also important that parents understand that unanticipated staff changes over the summer, moves to or from the Virtual School or fall reorganization to balance class sizes, may require a revision to your child’s classroom.
Covid Daily Screener and Updated Resource
For your reference, the screener can be found at: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/
Bus Evacuations
Just a head's up that this will be happening on Wednesday morning!
Kindergarten Registration
We will be starting on-going communication with all registered families over the next week. We will also be setting up classes very soon, so we need to know all the names of students who will be with us!
For more information and to register, please go to: https://www.kprschools.ca/en/our_schools/resources/elementaryprograms/kindergarten.html
Pedal for Hope
What a great event we had on Friday!
As you may be aware, I was challenged by Lenyx and Lynden to see who could raise the most money. And yes, although I thought I had raised enough, in the end they beat me! So - they get to throw a pie in my face :)
Originally this was to happen today (Tuesday), but now we think it will probably happen on Friday. Stay tuned for more information, once we know what is happening with the school re-opening.
We should be very proud of our little school - we are the second highest fundraiser in the whole Pedal for Hope campaign. Way to go, Kawartha Heights!
Pathways Project
Please see below for 2 new ideas - Butterfly Banquet and Frog Watch.
News from the KPR Board Office
Dear KPR Families,
I’d like to open this week’s message with a moment to reflect on the tragic shootings in Buffalo this past weekend that left 10 people dead and 3 wounded, almost all of them Black. An incident like this elicits a range of emotions for us both individually and as an educational community. The tragedy makes us all too aware of the damage caused by acts of hate. It also demands that we acknowledge, confront and be intentional in dismantling the pervasive reality of anti-Black racism. We all have a vital role in affirming Black identities in our schools and workplaces and the action we must take when we witness acts of racism, in particular anti-Black racism, hate and discrimination.
Over the coming weeks, as part of our ongoing efforts to create and maintain safe and inclusive schools, all students from Grades 4-12 will be asked to participate in an anonymous School Climate Survey. The survey asks students for their opinion on key areas that research has shown to have an impact on student learning outcomes – with a focus on sense of belonging, relationships, safety, and wellbeing.
Students can decide whether or not they want to complete the survey and can skip any questions they do not want to answer. The survey is anonymous and confidential, and the information collected will be used by schools to build safer spaces in which everyone is respected and feels that they belong. More information about the School Climate Survey will be shared by schools directly with families.
We know that school climates can be positively influenced by the many caring adults in our buildings, and by both the work that happens directly with students, and also the work in support of students. In closing this week’s message, I would like to recognize the outstanding service of Head Custodian, Donna Colpitts and the custodial team at Dr. Emily Stowe Public School who support student success in many ways - including, maintaining safe, clean and welcoming school environments! Learn more in this week’s #WeAreKPR story.
Wishing you a safe and restful long weekend!
Sincerely,
Rita Russo,
Director of Education
KPR NEWS
Secondary School Food Services Survey
KPR has created a food services survey for secondary school families. Through this survey, we would like to find out families’ opinions about food service options for lunch breaks and snacks at high schools, with a particular focus on cafeteria service. Other food service options currently include vending machines, food carts and pre-order lunch programs.
Please complete the survey by June 3, 2022.
New Northglen School Visioning Session
KPR is pleased to be moving forward with construction of a new $19.9 million elementary school to serve students and families in the Northglen neighborhood and surrounding Bowmanville area! The school will include 769 student spaces and 73 new licensed child-care spaces in four child-care rooms.
As part of the visioning process for the school design, we are inviting parents/guardians and community partners in the Bowmanville area to join us on Thursday, May 26, 2022 at Charles Bowman PS to provide input on possible learning spaces and design features. More information is available on our website.