3000 Crescent Road West, Portage la Prairie, MB

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1 3000 Crescent Road West, Portage la Prairie, MB September PRINCIPAL S Welcome back everyone! It is wonderful to see so many smiling faces in our halls and classrooms as we jump-start the new school year. A special welcome is extended to our new students and families. As previously mentioned in the June newsletter, Strong Beginnings will be implemented in all K-3 classes across the division on Friday, Sept 18 and Monday, Sept 21. It will mean that all Kindergarten, grade one, two and three students will be requested to stay home on Friday, September 18 th and Monday, September 21 st unless scheduled for testing. Appointments times on one of these days are for your child to attend a one hour assessment period with their teacher. These appointments times have been sent home to those parents. This is an opportunity for teachers to gather data about each child s learning that may not be evident during whole class assessment activities. It is also a chance to further develop the teacher-student relationship. The school is requesting that parents/guardians remain at the school during the scheduled assessment time. Refreshments for parents will be available in the Early Years greenhouse area. Strong Beginnings is an assessment period at the beginning of the school year where teachers gather student assessment data through observations, conversations, learning activities, paper/pencil tasks, and student reflections about interests and learning. The Strong Beginnings process enables us to plan for a Strong Beginning for each student. The Middle Years Philosophy continues to be in place and Grades 5-8 teachers have taken on a number of new teaching assignments to create relationships with students while making learning more meaningful for students. As well as reducing the amount of lost instructional time moving students from class to class, students will now be able to develop a stronger relationship with their homeroom teacher. Studies have shown that this has a direct positive impact on academic outcomes and social development. The Middle Years Philosophy continues to be in place and Grades 5-8 teachers have taken on a number of new teaching assignments to create relationships with students while making learning more meaningful for students. Calendar of Events: Sept.17 Cross Country Oakville Sept. 18 Strong Beginnings (K-3) NO Classes for Grade K 3 Students Sept. 21 Strong Beginnings (K-3) NO Classes for students in grades K 3 Sept. 28 Parent Advisory Council (PAC) 12:00 pm Sept. 28 Oct. 2 Student Council Elections October 2 Respect / UDL 2:30 Oct. 2 Student Council 11:45 am Oct. 5/6 School Pictures Oct QSP magazine fundraiser ( 5 8) Oct. 8 Terry Fox Run Oct 9 School PD NO Classes Oct. 12 Thanksgiving ( schools closed) Oct. 15/16 Peer Connector Camp Nov. 2 K-8 School PD No Classes Nov Remembrance Day Service Nov. 12 School Photo Retakes Nov. 12/13 Student-led Conferences Nov. 16 We Day

2 We have had a number of staff changes this year at YQS. Mrs. Shwaluk has left us for the huge school of PCI; Mr. M. Harkness is now the instructor of the Supportive Learning Program at EAMS and Ms. Ross is the guidance counsellor and community liaison for LVS. We are in the process of splitting Mr. Taylor s crowded Grade 4 class and will have another Grade 4 teacher on staff shortly. Mr. Slobodzian has the Kindergarten world under control with having 2 classes of students. Mrs. Hodge, and Mrs. Hocken are enjoying teaching Grade 1 classes. Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Krynski are the Grade 2 teachers; Ms. Sanderson is teaching one Grade 3 class while Ms. Happamaki joins Mr. Moore in teaching the other class of Grade 3 as well as Early Years music; Mr. Pynn and Ms. Laing are again in the Grade 5 classrooms; Ms. Boychuk is new this year and joins Mrs. Rodgers in teaching Grade 6; Ms. Domke has returned full time to grade 7 along with Mr. Skinner who is new to Grade 7 this year but not new to our school; Grade 8 teachers are once again Mrs. Harley and Ms. Moorhouse. Mrs. Sloik has returned from leave and will be teaching French on a half time basis for Grades 7 & 8. Our numbers have jumped and we are presently at 371 students up from the anticipated 349 so we have a full house at Yelllowquill School. Our Educational Assistants this year include: Ms. Alice Hays, Ms. Carrie Erwin, Mrs. Van Den Bussche, Mrs. Szumilak (librarian), Mrs. Moffatt (speech), and Ms. Murray (librarian). In our front office we have Mrs. Braden as our clerk (and EA) and Mrs. Rushton as our Administrative Assistant. Teachers and EA s are helping students get organized and are reminding them on a daily basis about the RESPECT agreements they signed during the first week of classes. This existing program fits very well with the continuation of a new program called Universal Design for Learning which helps understand that all students have gifts and talents and students learn and contribute in their own way to learning their individual learning and the learning community within their classroom and within the school. This newest endeavor encompasses many, if not all, of our teaching strategies and ensures students needs and learning styles are included in all aspects of planning and implementing a social and academic program. This model was designed by Dr. Jennifer Katz from the University of Manitoba, and her research has proven its success of including all students in all of the learning. Celebrating Respect, Academics, Leadership and Teamwork have become an integral part of the daily lives of students at our school and will continue to do so. Students are busy signing up for a number of activities at our school and the first sporting events will be cross-country and volleyball. The dates and times appear later in this newsletter. Page 2 September 2015

3 A hard copy of our school newsletter is offered to students during the first week of each month BUT is available on our school web site or you can have it directly ed to you by providing an address at the school office. Since the implementation of the new anti-spam legislation we as a school/school division must have you agree to have our newsletter and announcements being ed to you. The reason being that, from time to time we announce that students can purchase or financially contribute to a number of school events such as the Terry Fox Run/Walk; school magazines sales; Social Justice Projects, photo day, bake sales etc. Therefore we have attached a letter of consent at the end of this newsletter for you to sign and return it to the school with your information. You can locate all the updated information about our school activities including: sports schedules, classroom blogs, and teacher contact information by following the links through the Portage School Division web site or by simply Googling Yellowquill School. All students received a copy of the new Parent and Student handbook and I trust that parents have had an opportunity to read through it with their students to ensure they understood any of the changes from the previous year. All teachers addresses are found on our web site and parents are encouraged to contact staff using this method when wanting information about their child s progress/behaviour or relaying attendance information. REMINDER FOR PARENTS CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS: Please ensure that parent/emergency contact phone numbers are current and that parent cell phones are activated. When your children become ill or are hurt we must be able to get hold of you as quickly as possible. YELLOWQUILL SCHOOL S DROP-OFF PROTOCOL: Families of Yellowquill students are reminded that they must enter the school parking lot areas when dropping-off or picking up their children. The designated areas are located on the south west side of our building (near the K-4 entrance doors) and on the north east side of our building near the school s main entrance. At no time should students be dropped off in the bus loop or on Crescent Road West. Families should accompany their students from the parking lot to the school s fenced area. Students walking or biking to school must use the designated walking/bike route extending from the north side of Kelly K Street to Yellowquill School s main entrance and follow instructions given by our school patrols. Students must not at any time walk or ride their bike on the east road adjacent to the school where busses and autos travel. Students should use the city s designated cross walk on Crescent Road West to Kelly K and walk to and from school on Kelly K. Thank you for your concern and cooperation in making our students safe. YELLOWQUILL SCHOOL Page 3

4 PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL: The Parent Advisory Committee will hold its first meeting on Monday, Sept 28 at 12:00 noon in the library.all parents are encouraged to attend. If it any time you have any questions please do not hesitate to call the school. FCC DRIVE AWAY HUNGER: In recognition of World Food Day on October 16 th, we will be joining with our Portage Farm Credit Canada to collect donations of food to be used in our local Salvation Army food bank. Yellowquill School will be collecting non-perishable food starting September 30 to October 13 and encourage you to send food items to the school during that time. Students will be discussing the issue of hunger in our province, as well as Canada and around the world. Thank you for supporting this very worthwhile cause. STUDENT COUNCIL Elections for the YQS Student Council will take place the week of September 28-October 2. Below is a schedule for that week: Monday, September 28 Period One: Student Assembly Period Two: Nominations open for executive positions Tuesday, September 29 1:00 p.m. Nominations close Thursday, October 1 Period Five: Speeches (multi-purpose room) Period Six: Students cast ballots in their home room. Winning candidates hopefully announced at 3:25 p.m. Friday, October 2 9:05 9:15 a.m. Election of room rep. in homeroom 11:45 a.m. - First meeting of Student Council This is a very exciting week in our school as students in grades 5-8 choose their council members for the year. Dances will be as follows this year: FALL DANCE Laverendrye School October WINTER DANCE Ecole Arthur Meighen School January SPRING DANCE Yellowquill School March or April Page 4 September 2015

5 ROOTS OF EMPATHY AT YQS: This year, 3 H/M will be invited to participate in a program called Roots of Empathy. The program teaches children about feelings, their feelings, and the feelings of others. Once a month, baby Hailey and her parent(s) will visit the classroom. A trained ROE Instructor, Mrs. Hocken, will gather the children in the classroom around a green blanket and together they watch the baby grow. The children predict and cheer when their ROE baby reaches the developmental milestones of the first year. She can roll over! She got her first tooth! She can sit up!. The ROE Instructor also coaches the children in observing the baby and reading the cues she gives us about how she is feeling. Is the baby happy or sad? How can you tell? We use this discussion as a lever to get children to talk about their own feelings. Do you smile when you are happy? How can you tell that your friend is happy? Being able to understand how other people are feeling is called empathy. The Instructor also visits the classroom before and after a family visit to reinforce teachings with specialized lesson plans. For more than fifteen years across Canada and internationally, thousands of children are learning how to respect and care for one another with lessons started with their ROE baby. Koats for Kids will be collecting gently used winter outerwear for the month of October. Drop off locations are: Portage Fire Hall, Canadian Mental Health, Family Resource Centre and Portage Plains United Way. Distribution will be Thursdays in November from 2-6 pm in the basement of Century 21. To enter use the door in the back lane. Please bring your MB Healthy Card. For more information contact Dawn Froese Big Brothers Big Sisters The TERRY FOX RUN at Yellowquill School will be held on Thursday, October 8 at 11:00 am. There will be a hot dog lunch (order forms will be sent home on Monday, September 28) to follow. Pledge sheets have been given to your child so please check with them. Our goal this year is to raise $3500, so please support the TERRY FOX RUN for CANCER research. Page 5 September 2015

6 YELLOWQUILL SCHOOL Dear Parent/Guardian, In accordance with Canada s new anti-spam legislation, Yellowquill School is requesting permission to continue sending/send s regarding division and school activities, including newsletters, fundraising and promotions. If you wish to receive information of this type, via , please provide your address in the space provided below and return the form to the school. Please print your name address: Sincerely, Shawn Harkness Principal Yellowquill School [email protected]

7 COUNSELLOR S CORNER Welcome Back The guidance program offers a variety of opportunities to support the social-emotional needs of students. These include Rainbows, Roots of Empathy, Peer Connectors, Young Women of Tomorrow and Old Men of Yesterday. Individual, small group and large group sessions will take place throughout the year. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Wood at or [email protected]! As the new school year begins, here are some tips for getting off to a great start! At school... Be organized know what supplies you need to be ready for class, use an agenda and always ask your teacher if you are unsure. Get Involved YQS offers many noon hour and extra curricular activities that can help you feel part of the school community. At home... Get a good sleep set a regular bedtime and wake- up routine Limit screen time Connect get in contact with your child s teacher. Ask the homeroom teacher if they use Remind or have a classroom blog. These are excellent ways to be up to date with classroom activities, homework and your child s progress. Up : Meet the Counsellor -classroom visits New student orientations small group Peer Connector sign up last week in Sept. Coffee with the Counsellor Sept.25

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