Selby Star
Weekly Update - Jan. 17, 2020
Dear Selby Families,
I hope everyone is settling back into home and school routines now that we have completed our second week back after the holidays. Students have been enjoying lots of activity and excitement in our classrooms and hallways. Some of the highlights include: cooking club (organized by Kelly (parent) and Mrs. McCutcheon) every Wednesday; girls' basketball (coached by Mrs. Ruttan and Mr. Scott) and boys' basketball (coached by Mr. Craig).
Add to all of that the many engaging classroom activities that foster curiosity, critical thinking and a love of reading, writing and math.
We had some unexpected excitement this week with a gas leak near the front of the school (outside). The Fire Department suggested we evacuate as a precaution. Students and staff quickly packed up and walked to the Selby barns nearby. Many of the students enjoyed the adventure! I am grateful to our staff for their calm response and to Triboard and our families for their flexibility with pick-ups.
Please take a look at our school goals in the one page document attached below.
I am pleased to share that Mr. Adam Spiers has been hired to cover Mrs. Jacquie Rowe's grade 6/7 class while Mrs. Rowe is away.
As always, if you have questions or concerns about your child and/or their learning, please contact the school to speak to your child's teacher. We are all here to work together!
Have a happy weekend,
K. Witley
Principal
Problem-solving in grade 2/3
Our First Baking Club!
Kinders working on representing numbers
Labour Update
Labour Update – January 23, 2020
Important information about term one report cards
As you know, members of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) are participating in legal job action across the province, including here in Limestone. This ongoing provincial labour disruption involves the withdrawal of administrative duties and rotating one-day strikes.
Due to the withdrawal of administrative duties, LDSB schools will not be issuing term one report cards for elementary students in Kindergarten to Grade 8. In secondary, report cards with marks only, will be issued. As always, parents and guardians can contact their child’s teacher to discuss their progress and/or concerns.
We know how important these reports are to families and students, but it’s also important to remember that report cards are not the sole record of achievement data for your child. As always, parents and guardians can contact their child’s teacher to discuss their progress and/or concerns.
One-day rotating strikes: All Limestone schools will be open on Monday, January 27, 2020 and Tuesday, January 28, 2020. All classes will operate as scheduled. It may be prudent for families to continue to make alternative arrangements for child care should rotating strikes occur in Limestone. The Board will be given five days notice should strike action take place.
In Limestone, OSSTF represents education workers including secondary school teachers, occasional teachers, professional student services personnel, and community education instructors. ETFO-Limestone represents elementary teachers in the LDSB.
We remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached soon at the central bargaining table between the province, the unions, and the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA), which represents public school boards at the provincial table.
The Board will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
Debra Rantz
Director of Education
Field Trips Postponed
January 27 is Family Literacy Day!
10 Ideas to Encourage Reading at Home:
- Get Older Siblings Reading to Their Younger Siblings. It’s great practice for big bro or big sis to explain big words or summarize the story, and it’s also an opportunity to demonstrate a love of reading to little bro or sis.
- Practice Reading “Popcorn” Style. Each family member can read a page or two and then “popcorn pass” to the family member of their choice.
- Take Turns choosing the book or the book reading location of the night.
- Plan Themed Reading Nights. Pitch a tent in the living room and “camp out” while you read, or build a “bear cave” fort and read books about bears. Let your imagination take your themes to the next level.
- Incorporate Fun Accessories. Make your own bookmarks or sand timers. Invest in kid-friendly reading lights.
- Involve Distant Family and Friends. Books can be read aloud over FaceTime or Skype. Record your child reading their favorite book and send the video to loved ones.
- Read and Watch. Choose a book that has been turned into a movie. Read the book first and then schedule a family movie night to see the book come to life on the screen.
- Schedule It. Reading should be an activity as important as our kids’ various practices, lessons and play dates. If it’s on the calendar, it will become a higher priority.
- Book Swap. Get other families involved in a periodic book swap where kids can lend and borrow books from friends in the neighborhood or other social circles.
- Dinner Talk. Books can be a topic of discussion at family dinner. Ask family members to share about the latest books they’ve enjoyed, or how the plot is twisting in their latest chapter book.
UPCOMING DATES
January 22 - Parent Council @ 6 pm; all welcome
January 24 - PJ Day (colour house)
January 27 - Family Literacy Day
January 28 - Planetarium Visit to Selby
January 31 - PA Day (no school for students)
Grade 8 Transitions to NDSS
Bell Let's Talk Day is January 29, 2020
HEAD LICE and how to GET RID OF IT:
Tips to help stop the spread of headlice:
1) do not share hats
2) put hats in sleeve coats when not wearing them
3) pull long hair back in ponytails
4) use tea tree oil shampoo or products
5) use hairspray
6) do not share hairbrushes or combs
Diligent checking, using treatment products and pulling out ALL nits is the best way to get rid of head lice. Treatments are to be done twice to ensure that the lifecycle stops.
Sledding at Selby
Milk Bags NEEDED!
Absence Reporting on Inclement Weather Days
In past years when school buses have been cancelled due to inclement weather, parents/guardians of bused students were not required to report their absence. Only parents/guardians of walkers who chose not to come to school were to report absences.
NEW FOR 2019-2020: All parents/guardians are asked to report their student’s absence regardless of the reason, including when there are bus cancellations. Often, bused students find alternative ways to school and we want to ensure we know a student’s whereabouts to ensure their safety and well-being. Knowing who is supposed to be at school will allow school office staff to best ensure all students are accounted for. Students will report to their classroom teacher for attendance at 9:20 am as they would normally do on a regular school day. This allows school office staff to quickly determine who isn’t at school and launch SafeArrival calls to a student’s designated contacts. We appreciate your support and understanding as we work to enhance practices that ensure student safety.
Contact Us
Email: selby@limestone.on.ca
Website: https://selbyps.limestone.on.ca/
Location: 1623 Hwy 41, Selby, Ontario, K0K 2Z0
Phone: 6133882670
Twitter: @selbyschool