February Newsletter
Ecole James S. McCormick School
Happy Hearts!
FIRE LANE PROTOCOLS
Last month, EJSMS had to call for an ambulance for a student medical emergency. Three emergency response vehicles were on site within minutes and they required direct access to the Fire Lane to provide immediate assistance. It is imperative that this lane be kept open & accessible at all times.
PARKING OR DRIVING THROUGH THE FIRE LANE IS NOT PERMITTED AT ANY TIME.
Ask The Principal
How can we help children adjust to “back to normal”?
With the return to regular schooling and the freedom to engage in community activities again, research is finding it’s not as easy as just “getting back to normal”.
The return to normal takes time and energy
to rebuild physical and mental stamina for busy schedules.
If your child suddenly says they don’t want to go to school, hockey, daycamp, or dance (which they typically enjoy), it might be that they are simply overwhelmed by being out of the house so much compared to before.
Transitioning back into pre-COVID lifestyles is likely to take time, because children are having to go from two or three years of being pretty sheltered, to participating in school and other social groups, which are very different from individual family homes. For example,
Families that are used to being together all the time might have some difficulty separating for several hours a day.
Children might find being at school all day tiring after being home all day and able to choose when to play and when to rest. At school, they expend more physical and mental energy by moving, thinking, and navigating social settings.
There is a new curriculum that is placing more demands on the children, so they might be finding school especially tiring this year.
Children might need extra support to grow independence while in school or their other activities (eg., sports, dance, social groups).
Parents/guardians might experience anxiety at the idea of their children being under the care of other adults after they’ve been home and exclusively under their care.
Children might feel anxiety at being under the care of other people when they are at school or their various activities. It might be hard for children to identify their feelings, so caregivers might have to consider what is behind the children’s behaviours, physical symptoms, or verbal complaints.
What can families do to support the transition?
(the following advice comes directly from the sources attached)
The first step in recovery comes down to a structured routine, and the three pillars of sleep, nutrition and exercise. How Can Parents Help Their Kids Recover Vital Routines Lost to COVID?
Validate children’s anxieties and fears, and reassure them that there are adults to support them, whether it’s school or a social activity. Pandemic Recovery for Kids: Handling Stress at Home, School and Play
Because children look to their parents for signs of safety, parents may need to put more effort into expressing confidence and security with words and body language in addition to facial expressions. Helping Young Children and Parents Transition Back to School
Limit passive screen time (TV and social media) and exposure to news, and spend more time outdoors and in nature. Kids and Pandemic Recovery
Help with strategies to manage stress and cope with worries. Tools for Supporting Emotional Wellbeing in Children and Youth
If you have concerns about how your child is doing at school, please contact your child’s teacher as a first step. Teachers can also reach out to the Family School Liaison Worker and/or administration to help support families and students.
The school will be contacting families of children with unusual rates of absenteeism to see how we can support children who might find the transition back to regular routines difficult. Together we can help with a smoother transition to this post pandemic “new normal”.
If you have a specific question about EJSMS policies, procedures or plans that you'd like
to learn more about - please let us know!
Contact us at:
School Council Update
Hot Lunch Helpers
School Council is looking for more some more helpers on our hot lunch days. With approximately 200 meals being served, it takes a few hands to help! If you are able to sign up for some hot lunch volunteering - please click the link below. We ask for helpers to arrive at 11:00am on hot lunch days; the meals are typically sorted & delivered to classrooms by 11:30am. Thank you for signing up!
Cookie Crumbles Fundraiser
- visit www.cookiecumbles.ca
- use order #F2000
- use passcode: McCormick
Thank you for supporting our fundraising initiatives!
School Council Contacts:
EJSMS Parent/Guardian Survey
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. We value your feedback and the information you provide will help inform our plans at the district and school levels.
You will be asked to indicate which grade your child is in at the outset of this survey. Please select one of your children to begin with. At the end of the survey, you will have the opportunity to go through another survey for your other children, if you choose to. If all your survey answers would apply to all of your children’s experiences in our schools, it is only necessary to respond once. However, you are certainly welcome to complete a survey for each of your children.
The survey should take you less than 20 minutes to complete. We appreciate your time and your very valuable feedback.
PARENT/GUARDIAN SURVEY - Ecole James S McCormick School
Sincerely,
Tim De Ruyck
Superintendent
Transportation: 23-24 School Year
Music - Concert Success!
Skating - Thank You!
Around the School
Parking Passes
Extra Clothing
Also - please dress your child weather appropriately each day; snow pants & gloves are very much a winter necessity on an elementary school playground! Thank you!
Trading Card Club
For many many years, kids have been trading cards to add to and improve their collections. At École J.S. McCormick School we have banned the trading of items such as hockey cards, Pokeman cards and cop cards at recesses. Instead, we have decided to offer a Trading Club at school every Thursday during the lunch hour recess. Children with parental permission will be allowed to come and join us to trade cards with other students in our school.
Please take some time to talk to your children before permitting them to join our club. It is important that they have a clear understanding of “trading for keeps.” Classroom teachers will not spend valuable teaching time to deal with anyone who has had “a change of heart.” If you feel that this is a concept that may not be successful for your child, you may want to consider waiting until he/she is able to accept the finality of it. There will be a supervising teacher attending the club each week to help keep things as fair as possible.
Please ask your child's classroom teacher for a TRADING CARD CLUB PERMISSION FORM if you would like your child to participate in Trading Card Club.
Community Events
Ecole James S McCormick School
Email: jsm@wolfcreek.ab.ca
Website: ejsm.wolfcreek.ab.ca
Location: 5424 50 Street, Lacombe, AB, Canada
Phone: 403.782.3096
Facebook: facebook.com/EJSMParents
Twitter: @EJSMSchool