Monday Memo
Week of September 2nd, 2019
I'd like to take a minute to thank all of you for all your support, kindness and generosity in helping the school - and me - with such an amazing start up. Before our students and parents even enter the building you have shown an incredible amount of commitment and thoughtfulness towards me, each other and our school community. I may not have been here long, but it is evident what a caring and wonderful group of people you are. I feel very blessed and grateful to have joined your team. As we head into this first week of school, there will be a few bumps, there will be fatigue, but there will also be incredible energy and support. It’s going to be a great year!
Normally I’ll try to send out the “Monday Memo” on Friday night before I leave - this week I’m a little behind with all that needed to get done :). If you ever have anything you’d like me to include, please just let me know. As always, any feedback (positive or suggestions for improvement) are always welcome. This communication tool needs to work for you - so if there are ways to make it better, I want to know! I apologize as this one might be a little longer than normal as well....but there's lots of great stuff to share before we get underway.
In case you missed it on the PA Day.....
Team Honk Honk.....
Team Exceptional Educators....
Team 3K4XB4.....
Team Stupendous Stars....
Team Blue Stars.....
But the real question is...
Important Dates
Monday, September 2nd
- HAPPY LABOUR DAY!!!
Tuesday, September 3rd - Day 1
- School begins - please meet outside just before 9am with your chair and sign to welcome students to this GREAT year together!
Wednesday, September 4th - Day 2
- 9:30am - Jenn meeting with Amanda Hipgrave (ELL teacher)
Thursday, September 5th - Day 3
- 8:15am - Parent meeting for Holly, Heather R and Jenn
Friday, September 6th - Day 4
A few start up pieces to help DAY #1 go as smoothly as possible....
Chair and Sign
A reminder for homeroom teachers to please bring a chair and a sign with your name on it outside just before the bell. Place the chair where you'd like your class to always line up. When the bell goes, hold those signs up tall and proud! I’ll bring the megaphone out and do my best to welcome each class....when you’ve been welcomed, please enter the school with your kiddos. I’ll attempt to have Sally’s class (primary doors) and Yvonne’s class (Junior doors) enter first since they have the farthest to travel. Announcements may be delayed a little tomorrow as we all get inside and find our new homes.
Attendance
For tomorrow morning only, please do manual attendance. You should be able to move to computer attendance by the afternoon.
Cougar ROAR expectations
Please consider different ways that you can practice our AWESOME new Cougar ROAR rules over the course of the next few weeks. Individual class practices are a great way to start, and then consider buddying with one or two other classes as well. Entering and exiting the building as practice will be really important too! Starting later this week I’ll try to add in daily announcements to talk up our Cougar ROAR as well. Last but certainly not least - remember the 3:1 ratio. As you practice, reinforce the positive as much and as often as you can. And not only with the kiddos you work with regularly - consider how you can build relationships and give that positive boost to as many other KH kids as you can. We've got this....it’s going to really make a great positive change at KH!
Important documents
Please help us in the office by reminding students to return the important information in the welcome back package ASAP. If you could please track on a class list who has returned their Student Verification Form, Info & Communications form, Agenda donations and Edsby email form in particular, it would be greatly appreciated.
Occasional Staff binder
A gentle reminder to please get the 3 key pieces of info (weekly schedule, emergency plans for 3 days, Plans of care) into your Occasional Staff binder and drop it off to Sherry by the end of the week. The remaining pieces can be added by the end of the month. Due to the fact that we all follow the KPR Math Scope and Sequence document, long range plans for math are not required.
Gym schedule
I’ve put a copy of the gym schedule on the gym door. I’ve also attached a wipe off marker. When interested in signing up for any of the OPEN times, please write it on - week by week. I know there is a lot of interest, so starting fresh each week will allow everyone the opportunity to grab a time here and there.
Social Media
Kawartha Heights is now on Instagram as well as Twitter! I strongly believe that it is impossible to over-communicate the amazing things that happen at our school every day. As you’ll see, I’ll post a lot - but I’d love your help too. If you are on either of these social platforms, please post and tag @KawarthaHPS. If you’re not on, not to worry! Send me pictures and a short blurb ANYTIME and I’ll post on your behalf. Let’s sing our praises, team!
Nut allergies
If you happen to have a student in your class with a nut allergy, it may be a good idea to let parents know to be extra diligent through your favourite means of communication. I have put a little something in this week's “Parent Peek at the Week”, but a little extra reminder (and concern when it’s in their own child's class) might really help. Thanks for considering this!
A few other pieces of important information.....
A reminder to please take a minute over the course of September to cheer on the "special someone" you received during our PA day snowball activity. Let's help each other get through this crazy month!
Boundary lines on the pavement
Over the course of this week, I'll figure out the fastest and best way to get lines on the pavement, as suggested on the PA Day. These lines are not to be crossed until a staff member has given the okay to enter the school. There was also a suggestion to put a line around the bike racks as well - since they are out of bounds during the day. Stay tuned for more info!
Wow Wall
Outside my office you may have noticed the “WOW Wall”. I’d love it if you would send down students who have impressed you in any way - read a book, worked hard on an assignment, made a good choice, helped someone......after celebrating their success, I’ll have them sign their name on the WOW wall to help reinforce coming to see me at the office is a positive thing :)
Staff directory
I’ll post our photo staff directory in the Edsby Staff room as a reference for all (as soon as I can!). This document contains all our emergency contact info, so please keep it confidential, just for our use.
Photocopiers
You’ll see that currently the photocopier that used to be in the Book room (now Noel's teaching space) is not currently there. It’s a little tight in that space right now if we were to move it back in. I’d like to propose that as a school we consider moving from 4 photocopiers down to 3, but at the same time exchange a black and white one for a colour. So although we would go down 1 photocopier, we would gain the ability to print in colour (access for staff only, not students). If you have any thoughts or worries around this suggestion, please let me know.
Noel's teaching space (formally know as the book room)
Speaking of Noel’s new teaching space, please be aware that this room is not to be used by staff from 9am until 12:10pm daily. The breakfast club will continue to set up there before school, but then out of respect and courtesy to Noel, please refrain from entering until her teaching time there is finished at 12:10pm. We appreciate your support and understanding!
Sign-ups
The sign ups for extra-curricular and staff meetings have been placed in the staff room to give you a little more time to join the fun. Please sign up by the end of the week if you are interested in anything. And just to add a little plug - I hope to meet with anyone interested in being on the “Tech committee” very soon to consider a survey for staff which will help us to develop a 5 year plan of implementation. If this interests you, sign up in the staff room.
Composting Club
Yvonne is very interested in getting a composting club up and running. She is going to start with her class, but if anyone else is interested in having their class join, please let her know. Over time we hope to include everyone in this great “green” adventure!
WORDS OF WISDOM....
Some final thoughts (courtesy of YOU as part of the PA Day scavenger hunt)..... your words of wisdom for each other during this challenging and sometimes tiring start-up:
- Just breathe.
- Breathe and let it go.
- Be positive and smile.
- Be positive. Find humour. Let the small things go.
- We're in this together. Let’s help each other out.
And from me..... You are one very special, unique and caring group of people. I can’t wait to see where our adventures take us this year.....we've got this Cougars. Let's ROAR!
Upcoming Dates to Keep in Mind...
September 5th - Year 1 Kindergartens start
September 6th - Year 2 Kindergartens start (all are here!)
September 9th - Staff meeting at 3:30pm
September 19th - Jenn at a Family of Schools meeting (am)
September 23rd - Pizza night and Open House
September 26th - Terry Fox Walk
September 26th - Marsha's class to Outdoor Ed
September 27th - PA Day
Just one more thing.....
Jennifer Sampson
Email: jennifer_sampson@kprdsb.ca
Website: https://kawarthaheights.kprdsb.ca/
Location: 11 Kawartha Heights Boulevard, Peterborough, ON, Canada
Phone: 705-742-7521
Twitter: @KawarthaHPS