Southwood School
September 2019
In This Edition
-Southwood School Website
-Principal's Message - Welcome Back to School!
-School Hours - Daily Schedule
-Southwood Staff
-School Routines
-Religious Exercise and Instruction
-Terry Fox Run
-Absent from School
-Student Accident Insurance - Write up and Download
-Nutrition Breaks
-School Nutrition Newsletter Download
-Milk Sales
-Photo Days
-Southwood School a "Nut Aware School"
-Hanover School Division Parent Portal
-Strong Connections
-Hanover Parent and Child Community
-HSD Calendar
-HSD Calendar Year-At-A Glance Download
-SWIS After School Program
Southwood School Website
Principal's Message - Welcome Back to School!
Welcome Back!
I hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer. I also hope you are relaxed,
recharged and ready to start a new school year. I am so delighted that you
are part of our amazing learning community. I welcome and value your
positive energy and dedication to excellence in education, and I look forward to working
with you and your children.
All signs point to another incredible and productive school year. Our skilled and devoted
staff is already planning and preparing for your child(ren). Our enthusiastic office team is
registering new families, ordering needed materials and updating student files. Our hard
working and conscientious custodians have spent the entire summer thoroughly cleaning
the facility. We are indeed a caring community with the common goals of nurturing
responsible, caring students and promoting high-level learning. Please feel free to review
our planning report for our 2019-2020 school goals found in this newsletter and on our
school website.
New Staff
Each year brings positive change. This includes a few additions to our staff. We are
delighted to welcome Christie Durston (Kindergarten), Shania Neyron (grade one/two),
Kristy Klassen (EA), Nicole Kehler (EA), and Sarah Locke (Learning Commons).
We look forward to seeing you all at our annual Meet The Teacher Night, on September
3 rd starting at 4:30 pm and concluding at 6:00 pm.
Rod Kehler
Principal
Southwood School
School Hours for 2019-2020
School doors are open as of 8:50 a.m. and students are welcome to come into the school at that time.
As children arrive at school they will be expected to stay outdoors until 8:50 a.m. Supervision is available for early bus students and on the school yard starting at 8:30 a.m. and crossing guards for students start at 8:35 a.m.
They will not need to come into the school or classroom to put away their school bags - they can keep their bags on their backs, hang it on the fence, or place it on the ground near their door.
Pick Up and Drop Off
When you are picking up or dropping off your child at the end of the day it would be best to arrange a pickup/drop off that is outside and near an entrance to the school. You may also wait in the lobby by the office to wait for your student at 3:45 p.m.
Daily Schedule
9:00 - 9:05 - Religious Exercises for students whose parents have given permission
9:08 a.m. - Announcements & O Canada / Start of Morning Classes
11:05 - 11:30 a.m.- Gr. 1-4 Morning Activity Break / K Morning Nutrition Break
11:30 - 11:55 a.m. - Gr. 1-4 Morning Nutrition Break / K Morning Activity Break
1:10 - 1:35 p.m. - Gr. 1-4 Afternoon Activity Break / K Afternoon Nutrition Break
1:35 - 2:00 p.m. - Gr. 1-4 Afternoon Nutrition Break / K Afternoon Activity Break
3:30-3:45 p.m. - Homeroom
3:45 - Dismissal
2019 - 2020 Southwood Staff
Teaching Staff:
K1KF -Christie Durston
K2KF - Kendra Friesen
K3CB - Cheri Boschman
K4CD - Christie Durston
K5HV - Helga Vogt
1R - Stephanie Raine
1G - Susan Gudmundson
1CM - Catrina McKay
1ST - Stacey Steinhilber
1/2SM - Megan Smyth
1/2N - Shania Neyron Term
2C - Laurie Cox
2K - Sandi Kauenhofen
2J - Jaycia Koop
3B - Tara Bairos
3H - Julia Hiebert
3J - Holly Janke
3P - Kristjana Peterson
4H - Cassie Healey
4L - Audrey Loewen
4N - Marianne Neufeld
Principal - Rod Kehler
Vice Principal - Chantal Johnson
Learning Support - Melissa Heinrichs
Learning Support - Nicole Billiald
Learning Support - Jordan Hurton
Guidance - Courtney Baudry
Literacy Support - Donna Neufeldt
Numeracy Support - Kendra Friesen
Phys. Ed. - Cheryl Chernos
Music (Gr 1- 4) - Karla Brown
Music (Kindergarten) - Courtney Baudry
Support Staff:
Administrative Secretary - Shae Olfert
Secretary - Sherri James
Library Support Specialist - Sarah Locke
EA - Kathy Bergen
EA - Hilda Hildebrand
EA - Erica Nickel
EA - Amber Friesen
EA - Sandi Stampe-Sobering
EA - Kerstin Enns
EA - Sharon Osiowy
EA - Jennifer Schroeder
EA - Karen Hoffman
EA - Kristy Klassen
EA - Nicole Kehler
EA - Brittany Schinke
EA - Kylee Unray
Custodian - Russ Sobering
Custodial Assistant - Angela McDonald
Custodial Assistant - Chelsea Dawson-Sayer
School Routines
Remember to “sign in”
When you enter the school you will see a sign that welcomes you to Southwood School! This sign reminds all visitors to report directly to the office and that parents need to stop at the office. The secretaries will provide the necessary assistance.
All visitors, including parents, must sign in at the office. This allows the school to be aware of all adults in our building for safety and educational purposes.
Identification labels will be provided to all volunteers, substitute teachers, substitute educational assistants and Hanover School Division personnel that work in our school. These are to be picked up in the office when signing in.
If a friend or relative is picking up a child from school the parent/guardian needs to notify the school or classroom teacher by 3:00 p.m. the same day. If the friend or relative will be regularly picking up your student please have them added to the parent/guardian approved pick up list at the office.
Parking near and around our school:
·Obey the “loading zone only” areas of our streets that are marked out by yellow paint on the curbs. Parking is available behind the cross walk on 3rd street and past Barkman Ave. It is best to park on 3rd and 2nd streets, or further down Barkman Avenue. Please do not drop off your student in the in the middle of the intersections or by the stop signs for the safety of all of our students at Southwood school.
·Please DO NOT park, pick up or drop off your students in the bus lane or in the staff parking lot. Double parking on Barkman Ave. or on 3rd Street poses a serious risk for everyone.
·There are many students that are walking along these sidewalks and streets at the end of the day. We appreciate the extra care parents are taking as they drive their children to and from school and watching out for other students. It is important for you to establish a routine with your child to be picked up either along 3rd Street or at the front of the school on Barkman Ave. as you are waiting in the car for your child. This should allow for the traffic to flow quickly and safely at pick up and dismissal time.
Leaving Messages
Keep this in mind when you are leaving a message for your child…
·Call or email the school as early as possible to leave a message by 3:00 p.m. Any messages after this time are not guaranteed to make it to the student as it is extremely busy in the office.
·Keep the message simple.
·As much as possible, please make arrangements for your child the day before and send an email to the home room teacher and copy the office on it. All email addresses for staff can be found on the Southwood School website under staff.
Custodial arrangements:
If you have a situation where parenting arrangements are unique and specific you need to inform the office and classroom teacher about these arrangements. Schools are required to follow legal documents that describe Custodial arrangements.
Religious Exercises and Instruction
For Religious Exercises and Instruction please refer to our Southwood school website:
https://southwood.hsd.ca/parents/religious-exercises-and-instruction/
Terry Fox Run - September 26
Support our Terry Fox Run Day on Thursday, September 26th with your donation.
More details about the run as well as pledge forms will be sent home with the youngest and only in the family very soon. Be sure to check your child’s backpack for this information or have a look on our website.
Check out the website www.terryfoxrun.org/
PLEDGE SHEETS WILL BE COMING HOME SHORTLY.
Absent from School
Please call the school by 9:00 am if your child is going to be absent. You may contact us in the following ways:
· Email: southwood@hsd.ca
· Phone: 204-326-3518
· Parent Portal - under attendance
If we have not heard from the parent/guardian of an absent student, we will be calling the home and, if needed, work places to make sure the student is safe.
Student Accident Insurance
The Hanover School Division and the Manitoba School Boards Association are committed to the health and welfare of students. Injuries and accidents are everyday occurrences. The home, playground, school and community all present possible hazards to children and adolescents.
Universal Student Accident Insurance
Hanover School Division maintains Universal Student Accident Insurance coverage, underwritten by Industrial Alliance, for all students attending our division’s schools. The program provides basic accident and medical coverage while students attend school or participate in school-organized activities. It also extends to provide
coverage to high school students enrolled in an approved course or class outside of school that qualifies for credit in Physical Education. This coverage does not extend to any other activities at times outside of school; i.e. not 24 hour coverage.
The Universal Student Accident Insurance Program complements but does not replace the Voluntary Student Accident Insurance coverage purchased by parents/guardians.
Voluntary Student Accident Insurance
The Voluntary Student Accident Insurance underwritten by Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada provides enhanced accident coverage for accidents and benefits beyond that of the Universal Student Accident Insurance held by the School Division or through a parent’s benefits plan through their employer. Benefit coverage includes disability, fractures, dislocations, accidental dental, ambulance, hospital and many other benefits.
Please visit www.manitobastudentinsurance.ca or refer to the attached brochure and application form for details and how to enroll your child(ren) in the Voluntary Student Accident Program. If you have any questions, please contact Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada at 1.800.463.5437.
Student Accident Insurance - Download
Nutrition Breaks
Lunches that need to be given to students during the school hour should be dropped off at the office. Please label your student’s lunch with their name and homeroom number. The office will make sure they get their lunch by lunchtime.
Cutlery - The school does not provide cutlery to students for lunch-time use. Please send necessary utensils with your child’s lunch.
School Nutrition Newsletter Download - September 2019
Milk Sales
Chocolate and White milk will be available starting September 9th. Your child will be able to purchase milk at the canteen in the foyer Monday to Friday at the morning nutrition break at 11:30a.m.
Cost: $1.00 per milk
Please send correct change. We accept cash only.
Photo Days
PHOTO DAYS will be held on October 1st & 2nd. Details will be sent home in the near future on which day your child’s class will be scheduled.
Southwood School a "Nut Aware School"
We are a ‘Nut Aware’ school
At Southwood School we are committed to providing a safe environment that is inclusive for all children. In common with most other schools, we have a number of children with nut allergies. The purpose of this page is to give families the information they need to support us in providing a safe and inclusive school.
Why ‘Nut Aware’? Southwood School is ‘Nut Aware’. We do not describe the school as being ‘Nut Free’ because we can’t guarantee that students or adults have not brought nuts, or traces of nuts, into the building.
What is Anaphylaxis? Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that can be life threatening. Approximately 1-2% of Canadians live with the risk of an anaphylactic reaction. Food allergies are the most common cause of anaphylaxis. The most common food allergens are peanuts, tree nuts, seafood, egg and milk products. Anaphylaxis can affect multiple body systems. This can range from skin inflammation to anaphylactic shock, which is an explosive over-reaction of the body’s immune system. This can be characterized by swelling, difficulty breathing, abdominal cramps, circulatory collapse, coma and, ultimately, death.
Source: Anaphylaxis Canada
Southwood School staff receive training and information related to many life threatening conditions common in our community. These conditions include anaphylaxis, seizure disorders, and diabetes. Students with life threatening conditions have URIS (health care) plans outlining their condition and the safety procedures required of school staff members in the event of an emergency.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school.
Hanover School Division Parent Portal
Stay Connected and Informed! The HSD Parent Portal is a communications tool designed to enhance and increase parent/guardian involvement in the education of their children. The portal provides parents/guardians with secure online access to our Student Information System.
With a single username and password, parents/guardians can access the following information for each of their children attending an HSD school:
· Student Information (can update current address & phone numbers)
· Attendance Information (can advise the office of any absences for the day)
· School Fees Account ( can be paid online)
· Permissions & Consent Forms (can give consent for learning trips for the school year)
· Report Cards (access to previous and current report cards)
· School Information
· Grad/Credit Summary
· Change of Contact Form
Southwood School encourages you to set up your account today as we will be using this feature regularly as a communication tool along with email. Please ensure you have an email address on file and that it is current. If you have any questions regarding set up please contact Mrs. Olfert or Ms. James in the office at 204-326-3518.
Strong Connections - September 13 & 16
Strong Connections is an assessment and relationship building program designed to enhance the beginning-of-the-year connection, assessment and familiarity of each student.
These activities are not tests. It is a day to help us get to know our students from a variety of perspectives. The format for Strong Connections also provides an opportunity for teachers to extend and consolidate their understanding of each child through one-on-one interview/assessment times, and hopefully, help build a strong foundation for a positive relationship between the child and the teacher.
Approximately 240 out of Southwood’s 480 students will attend school only one of these two days.
Please understand that your family will NOT be at school either Friday or Monday.
Parents can view your student’s Strong Connection date on the Parent Portal or email the teacher; if you have more than one child, all of your children will attend on the same day.
2019-2020 Hanover Parent and Child Community Program
Southwood School and The Hanover Parent and Child Community Program would like to invite you to bring your preschool children to attend a weekly parent and child program. Come with your children to have fun, learn, play, create and sing. This program is free and provides a snack. No registration is needed, just drop in when you can.
Children enjoy playing with and learning from other children. It is important for children to be exposed to playing with other children so they learn how to share, participate in cooperative play and express themselves. Children will have the opportunity to play with a variety of toys, sing, complete crafts and learn new games.
This program is being provided for preschool children to promote the development of school readiness skills.
Come join Miss Lil:
When: Wednesday afternoons from 1:15 - 3:15
(This program runs Wednesdays starting September 18, 2019 and ending June 3, 2020.
(Families can attend weekly or just drop in when you can.)
Where: Room C2 at Southwood School
*We will follow the same schedule as the division school calendar in regards to school closure days.
HSD Calendar
Please note: Divisional calendars are no longer available in the print format. Hanover School Division has created an online version of the HSD Calendar which can be accessed using the following link:
HSD Calendar - Year at a Glance - Download
SWIS After School Program
To assist newcomer/ immigrant students successfully settle and integrate into Canadian society through social-recreational activities as well as to provide educational support through homework help and opportunities to build their English language skills. Our After School Program is open to all children at Southwood School.
Our motivation is to provide opportunities for newcomer/immigrant children that will allow them to harness their potential, develop leadership and set goals for their futures.
Objectives of the SWIS After School Program:
EDUCATION: To provide educational activities like literacy and homework support in order to assist immigrant children in cultural understanding and language;
RECREATION: To provide stimulating and active recreational activities for children which will promote the values of cooperation, and cross-cultural communication;
EMPOWERMENT: To create a ‘space’ where self-esteem, recognition and appreciation for self, other and the environment can be learned and practiced;
The goals are:
To foster verbal & non-verbal communication between peers
To ease the cultural transition for immigrant students
To promote cross-cultural communication and learning
To increase cross-cultural competency for all participants
To build confidence and openness among the students in their new surroundings.
This program will start on October 4th and run from 4:00-5:00 p.m
Dates to Remember
2 Labor Day - NO SCHOOL
3 Meet the Teacher Night 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm
4 First Day of School for Grades 1 - 4 students
4 - 9 Kindergarten staggered entrance (1/2 class)
13 & 16 Strong Connections for Grades 1 - 4 students
26 Terry Fox Run
30 Orange Shirt Day
October 2019
1 Picture Day
2 Picture Day
14 Thanksgiving - NO SCHOOL
25 MTS PD Day - NO SCHOOL
Southwood School
Email: southwood@hsd.ca
Website: www.southwood.hsd.ca
Location: 155 Barkman Avenue, Steinbach, MB, Canada
Phone: 204-326-3518
Twitter: @SouthwoodHSD