Bel Ayr Elementary School
May 2023 Newsletter
Administration
Dear families,
It is hard to believe that we are in the final two months of school. Your support from home continues to be our greatest asset. Spring is a time for new beginnings and growth. Our students have shown incredible resilience and adaptability these past three years, and I am confident that they will continue to thrive in the coming months. We have some exciting events planned for the remainder of the school year, including our annual Spring Fair, Field Day, and a grade 6 end-of-year celebration.
We want to take this opportunity to thank our teachers and staff for their tireless efforts in supporting our students. Their dedication to our school community has not gone unnoticed, and we are grateful for everything they do. We are also grateful for the many kind words and treats brought in this week for Staff Appreciation!
As we move forward into the spring season, let us continue to work together to provide the best possible education for our students. I am confident that with our collective efforts, we will make the rest of the school year a success.
Sincerely,
Shawn Marsh
Principal
Rosalind Rossi
Vice Principal
Calendar
May 1 - 5 - Staff Appreciation Week
May 5 - Missing Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2-Spirited People Awareness Day
May 11 - New 2023-24 Primary Parent Meeting (6PM)
May 15 - Black Excellence Day - Wear Black!
May 16 - Grade 3 Provincial Assessments (Reading and Writing)
May 17 - Volunteer Tea (10:20)
May 18 - Grade 3 Provincial Assessments (Reading and Writing)
May 22 - Victoria Day (No School)
May 23 - Grade 3 Provincial Assessments (Mathematics)
May 25 - Grade 3 Provincial Assessments (Mathematics)
May 26 - Primary Orientation (9:20 AM - 10:20 AM)
May 27 - Spring Fair 11AM - 1PM at Bel Ayr Elementary School
June 1-30 - PRIDE Month
June 7 - Visit from Halifax Libraries - Summer Reading Initiative
June 9 - Field Day
June 29 - Assessment and Evaluation Day (no classes)
June 30 - Last Day of School
Missing Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2-Spirit People Awareness Day
May 5th honours the thousands of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, 2-spirit, and gender diverse people in Canada by encouraging learning and building awareness to end violence. Sometimes this day is recognized as
Red Dress Day. This Friday students and staff are invited to wear red in support of this important day. Developmentally appropriate conversations will take place in classes so our future citizens will understand the issue and help bring about positive change.
Informational Video
Black Excellence Day
On Monday, May 15th, students and staff are invited to wear black to recognize Black Excellence in our schools. Click
here to view information about this day and to learn about the brilliance, achievements, and talents of people from African descent.
Volunteer Tea
If you volunteered in our school this year, we would like to invite you to our Volunteer Tea on Wednesday, May 17th at 10:20 AM in our gymnasium. RSVPs were sent home in backpacks to our registered volunteers on Monday. If you volunteered and did not receive this, please RSVP by emailing Mr. Marsh by the end of the week (
smarsh@hrce.ca). Thank you to all who have helped enhance the learning experiences for our students!
Staff Appreciation Week
Our staff would like to thank all of our families who reached out this week with kind messages and yummy treats. Thank you!!!
Vacant SAC Seats
Our school has three openings for the following positions with our School Advisory Council during the 2023-24 school year.
1. Community Member - An individual who lives in our catchment area but is not related to any students in our school.
2. School Equity and Diversity Member - A representative for our diverse student population. Priority will be given to applicants who have Indigenous heritage, African heritage, identify with the LQBTQ2+ community, have a disability, or are a newcomer to Canada.
3. Support Staff Position - An individual who works in our school and is a member of CUPE or NSGEU.
Please contact Shawn Marsh (smarsh@hrce.ca) if any of these seats interest you. Detailed information about the roles and responsibilities of SAC members can be found here.
We would like to thank Melissa Mbeba, Sandra Deveau, David Nash, Matt Denine, Edy Guy-Francois, Kate Cummings, Rosalind Rossi, and Connie Johnson for serving on our SAC during the 2022-23 school year.
Spring Fair
Our Home and School Committee members are busy working on plans for the first spring fair in over three years at our school. We would like to thank the Home and School for their work on this fun and important event! The doors will open at 11AM on Saturday, May 27th with the festivities lasting until 1PM. There will be games, food, and fun for all! A detailed communication from the Home and School will be sent home electronically and on paper in the near future.
Dress for the Weather
Families are reminded to ensure their children come prepared for the weather. Dressing in layers, rubber boots on rainy days, and jackets are important this time of year. When the temperature heats up, it will also be important to apply sunscreen in the mornings before school.
Grade 6 Year-end
In the near future, we will send information to all grade 6 families regarding plans for our grade 6 year-end celebration. We are still in the planning stages but wanted to let you know that your children can look forward to this. More to come!
Homework Hub
Did you know your student has access to Homework Hub? Finish the year off strong with the help of experienced tutors!
- GNSPES Access: Easy access to online resources and tutoring through your GNSPES account (gnspes.ca) by clicking on the Nova Scotia Homework Hub icon.
- 24/7 Access: Anytime access to video tutorials, practice questions and vocabulary review.
- Bilingual tutors available for students in:
- Grade 7-12 on school nights 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
- Grade 4-6 Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Watch this video to learn more about Homework Hub!
Excel Registration
EXCEL registration
The EXCEL program is a recreation-based, fee-for-service before and after school program run by the Halifax Regional Centre for Education, offering before and after school care for elementary-aged children.
At each school site, the dedicated and qualified staffing teams plan weekly games and activities that suit the needs and interests of the registered students. These individual plans are framed around EXCEL’s overall philosophy which is focused on physical activity and positive social interaction in a safe and fun environment.
Highlights of our program include:
- EXCEL offers both structured and unstructured activities each afternoon.
- EXCEL provides a minimum of 45 minutes of structured physical activity every day.
- EXCEL offers outdoor physically active play opportunities each day, weather permitting.
- EXCEL provides an opportunity for individual choice in programming each day.
- EXCEL brings in our own special guest presenters and external programmers.
- EXCEL offers P.A.L.S. Playground Activity Leaders in Schools for participants in Grades 4-6.
- EXCEL offers HRQ/Gym (Homework/Reading/Quiet Time/Gym) time each afternoon from 5:30 to 6:00 pm enabling those who wish to complete homework the opportunity to do so.
- EXCEL is a “High Five” registered organization.
Registration for returning children began April 24 and registration for new EXCEL participants will begin on May 8. Click here for more information.
Registration - Still Open!
We are still accepting registrations for the 2023-2024 school year through our new online portal, PowerSchool Enrollment! The registration process is entirely electronic as of 2023. Our staffing allocation is determined by spring enrollment numbers so it is important for families to register as soon as they move in to our area or when their children become eligible.
Tip: Before you begin, make sure you have the following documents in electronic form (image, PDF or Word document):
- Proof of identity/age with one of the following: birth certificate, passport, immigration papers, or legal adoption papers) if you are new to the HRCE
- Proof of home address (a recently dated official government or utility document with your current address that includes your name and date, such as water bill, power bill, internet bill, home fuel bill, a tax receipt, property assessment or a mortgage contract); and
- Nova Scotia Health Card or Canadian Province Health Card or, for non-citizens while in Canada, proof of Medical Insurance Information.
Visit the HRCE website for more information and to enrol your child today!
Don’t have a child to register? Maybe you know someone who does! Please help us spread the word and pass this information on to friends, neighbours or relatives who will be looking to register for the fall.
Grade 3 Provincial Assessments
A reminder that our grade 3 students will be writing their provincial assessments during the mornings on the dates below. If you have questions about these assessments please don;t hesitate to call us.
Tuesday, May 16 - Grade 3 Provincial Assessments (Reading and Writing)
Thursday, May 18 - Grade 3 Provincial Assessments (Reading and Writing)
Tuesday, May 23 - Grade 3 Provincial Assessments (Mathematics)
Thursday, May 25 - Grade 3 Provincial Assessments (Mathematics)
Volunteer Checks
Are you interested in volunteering for future events or class trips? In order to volunteer with children at an HRCE school, you must submit a current
Criminal Record/Vulnerable Sector ($30-$50) check and a
Child Abuse Register Search (free). Please request a volunteer letter from our main office before applying for a Criminal Record/Vulnerable Sector check. This will also reduce the cost if you have it done in person at an RCMP detachment. We have some funding available upon request for reimbursements with original receipts.
After submitting both of these documents to our main office, you will be cleared for volunteering in our school for three full years from the date of issue indicated on your paperwork. Thank you for your interest and your time!
Lunch Monitors
We are looking to hire new lunch monitors. If this interests you, or if you know someone who would be interested, please phone Mr. Marsh at the main office.
902-435-8353
Allergy Alert
Please be reminded that we have students who have life threatening allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds, and eggs (ingestion only). We would ask that you do not send food items in lunch bags containing peanuts, tree nuts and sesame seeds as these can contaminate surfaces.
Bel Ayr Elementary School
