Southwood School
May 2020
In This Edition
-Southwood Student Contest Challenges
-Chocolate Fundraiser Update
-Library Opens for "Curbside" Pick Up
-Transition for Grade 4 Students to Grade 5 (2019/2020)
-Kindergarten 2020/2021 Orientation
-School Supplies Online Ordering - 2020/2021
-School of Choice Deadline
-Student Youtube Access @ Home
-Moving?
-Educational & COVID-19 Updates
-Did You Know? - Visiting the Southwood School Website
-Important Dates
Homework Package Pick Up
Southwood Student Contest Challenges
Currently, we are running our Earth Week Challenge - April 27th to May 4th. The details are as follows:
1) Make an Earth Day song
2) Write an Earth Day poem
3) Plant a garden, flowers or a tree
4) Go around their neighbourhood with their family and help clean it up.
Once students have completed their challenge, take a photo or video of it and send it to southwood@hsd.ca by May 4th to be entered.
*Please continue to check in at www.southwood.hsd.ca for updates on our next set of Student Contest Challenges!
-Bike Safety Month Challenge - May 11th to May 22nd
-Fort Building Challenge - May 25th to June 5th
-Science Project Challenge - June 8th to 15th
-Neighboorhood Kindness Challeng - June 16th to June 25th
Chocolate Fundraiser Update
Many weekly prizes were distributed to our students throughout the sales campaign with 29 grand prizes distributed to our top sellers. Way to go!
Also, we wish to send a special thank you to our volunteer team for the many hours of your donated time and efforts. We appreciate you!
Library Opens for "Curbside" Pick Up
Students can follow the instructions posted on the Southwood School website using their HSD username and password to login and place holds on books. Mrs. Locke will then contact the student’s parents to arrange a pick up time. (Please remember that once a request has been prepared there will be a 24-36 hour wait before books will be available).
Library books can be picked up at the pre-arranged time on the table outside the front doors of the school and there will be a drop off box on the same table for any books coming back.
Students are allowed up to a maximum of four books at a time. Please see the website for more details at https://southwood.hsd.ca/library-sign-outs/
Transition for Grade 4 Students to Grade 5 (2019/2020)
By now, all parents of students who will be attending Grade 5 at Clearspring Middle School or Stonybrook Middle School next year (2020/2021) should have received an introductory letter from their prospective schools. In mid May, these schools will be posting introductory and informative information on their websites. Please check in with their websites for any updates during this time of transitioning into grade 5.
Kindergarten 2020/2021 Orientation
Kindergarten Orientation provides us with the opportunity to connect with you, your child, and share important school information. Due to COVID-19 and the indefinite suspension of classes, our Kindergarten Orientation looks different this year.
We sent out a Questionnaire as a way to learn more about your child and allow us to better plan for their success in Kindergarten. A Southwood School teacher contacted you to ask some clarifying questions based on the information you shared, and provided you and your child the opportunity to ask questions about Kindergarten.
You can click on the link below to find additional information that would have been shared with you during our Kindergarten Orientation.
https://sites.google.com/hsd.ca/southwoodkinderorientation/home
School Supplies Online Ordering - 2020/2021 School Year
School supplies can be purchased at Staples online or at the local Steinbach Staples store.
More details to come!
School of Choice Deadline
Student Youtube Access @ Home - A Message from HSD - Information & Communication Technology Services
Student Youtube Access @ Home
Youtube is the largest video sharing service in the world and can be a valuable tool in the delivery of video content in Education. Although the service and content can be valuable it is also important to know that not all content on Youtube is considered safe. Youtube admits that their content filters are not 100% accurate. In order to provide as safe a Youtube environment as possible, without limiting access to accurate material, the Hanover School Division (HSD) recommends the following:
Students use a Chromebook when accessing Youtube. By using a Chromebook, HSD currently:
Blocks all comment sections from Youtube
Blocks all suggested videos from Youtube (some are inappropriate)
Blocks all live chatting on Youtube Live Streams
Uses AI to analyze all video content and reactively block material if it is deemed inappropriate. This AI then alerts divisional staff and a review of the content is then conducted
Monitors all Chromebook activity
Enforces strict content restrictions for all Early Years students
HSD uses GoGuardian to block and restrict the access listed above
Students using personal devices at home should NOT be logging into Youtube with their HSD email address. Google does not provide robust Youtube management tools and therefore we cannot provide filtering or restrictions to the same level as we can with Chromebooks. It is suggested that students using Youtube at home:
Stay logged out of Youtube
Have families configure Youtube Parental Controls on devices students may use at home. Instructions can be found here: https://www.lifewire.com/youtube-parental-controls-2487977 Please note that these instructions do require a parent to sign in to Youtube to enable restricted mode. Please use a home email address and not an HSD email address to configure
Students using a personal device AND logging into Youtube will:
Be able to post comments with their full name shown
Be able to see all Youtube suggested videos. These videos are linked to search items on the device being used and could contain inappropriate content
Be able to live chat on Youtube Live Streams
Moving?
Educational & COVID-19 Updates
Did You Know? - Visiting the Southwood School Website
Find information on home learning, kindergarten registration, bus schedules, and literacy links, just to name a few.
Stay connected by visiting www.southwood.hsd.ca to keep up to date!
Dates to Remember
May 2020
May 4 - Final day of the Earth Week ChallengeMay 11-22 - Bike Safety Month Challenge
May 15 - School of Choice Deadline
May 25 - Fort Building Challenge Begins
June 2020
Jun 5 - Final day of the Fort Building Challenge
Jun 8-15 - Science Project Challenge
Jun 16-25 - Neighborhood Kindness Challenge
Southwood School
Email: southwood@hsd.ca
Website: http://www.southwood.hsd.ca
Location: 155 Barkman Avenue, Steinbach, MB, Canada
Phone: 204-326-3518
Twitter: @SouthwoodHSD