Week End- March 1st, 2013

We had an amazing week with Jr and Sr Hockey, Jr and Sr Girls' Volleyball, Grade 8 Kiwanis, Sharing Assemblies, and the Grade 4 Clay Workshops. I'd like to thank our coaches, namely Mr. Ross, Mrs. Hall, Mr. Kuru, Mr. Littlejohn, Mr. Lanis and Mr. Bracht. I'd also like to thank Mr. Goldberg and Mr. Samotowka for taking our final grade 8 group to Kiwanis on Tuesday and finally, thanks to Parent Council for providing funds for the clay workshops!

A few photos to enjoy! Have a great weekend!

Jr Hockey



Sr Volleyball

Grade 6 Kiwanis

Grade 8 Kiwanis

Jr Volleyball

Grade 7 Kiwanis

MARCH

4th and 5th-Kindergarten visit Young People's Theatre

7th-Women on the Move Conference-some grade 8 girls and Ms. Chandra and Ms. Caddel

11th-15th-March Break

20th-Grade 6-8 Internet Safety Presentation, followed by presentation for parents @ 6:30 p.m.

22nd-Kindergarten Sharing Assembly

27th-Grade 8 Grad Photos

28th-Pizza Day

29th-Good Friday

APRIL

1st-Easter Monday

15th-Parent Council Meeting

25th-Kindergarten Sharing Assemblies

26th-Pizza Day

29th-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assemblies

MAY

13th-Parent Council Meeting

20th-Victoria Day

24th-Sharing Assembly

28th-Grade 3 and 6 EQAO begins

31-Pizza Day

JUNE

7th-PA Day

14th-Grade 8 Graduation

17th-21st-Grade 8 Quebec Trip

18th-Sharing Assembly

26th-Report Cards Go Home

27th-Lunch on the Lawn (Pizza Day); Year End Assembly; Last day for students



End of Week- Friday, February 22, 2013

I'd like to congratulate our grade 7 and 6 band members who attended the Kiwanis Festival this week. LKS has been participating since 1999. The festival is an adjudicated event usually involving 3 or 4 school groups. This year our grade 7 band placed 2nd and the grade 6 band placed first. We are so proud of the kids' achievement and we are looking forward to our grade 8 orchestra attending next week. Thanks to Mr. Goldberg and Mr. Samotowka for preparing the kids for the festival, and a special thank you to Mr. Samotowka for his efforts in organizing the event.

This week, I had a conversation with one of our grade one parents who had concerns about her child being called names and asked for strategies that she could use to help her child. I'm glad we had the conversation because parents often ask about this very "normal" activity.  The first thing to do is listen. By listening to your child, you're validating what he/she is going through, and just like adults, kids want their feelings validated. It's also important to give your child some concrete strategies such as telling a teacher or walking away. Although you don't want  to put the weight of the world on a child's shoulders, it is important to start getting him/her to use words, such as "Don't call me names". As educators, we want the kids to begin acting independently and to learn how to talk for themselves; again being sensitive to their age and the situation. It is good that youngsters begin taking ownership of these events, as it will help them face more difficult challenges in the future.

Please feel free to talk to your child's teacher also, as teachers will address issues that arise.

We are celebrating the character trait of "Fairness" in February!

I hope you have a great weekend.

FEBRUARY
25th-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assemblies
26th-Orchestra to Kiwanis; Grade 7 and 8 Math Contest; Grade 4 Clay Workshops
27th-Author visit

MARCH
4th & 5th-Kindergarten visit Young People's Theatre
11th-15th-March Break
20th-Grade 6-8 Internet Safety Presentation, followed by presentation for parents @ 7:30 p.m.
22nd-Kindergarten Sharing Assembly
27th-Grade 8 Grad Photos
28th-Pizza Day
29th-Good Friday

APRIL
1st-Easter Monday
15th-Parent Council Meeting
25th-Kindergarten Sharing Assemblies
26th-Pizza Day
29th-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assemblies

MAY
13th-Parent Council Meeting
20th-Victoria Day
24th-Sharing Assembly
28th-Grade 3 and 6 EQAO begins
31-Pizza Day

JUNE
7th-PA Day
14th-Grade 8 Graduation
17th-21st-Grade 8 Quebec Trip
18th-Sharing Assembly
26th-Report Cards Go Home
27th-Lunch on the Lawn (Pizza Day); Year End Assembly; Last day for students

End of Week - Feb 14th

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! It's been a busy week with team tryouts, grade 4-6 girl's houseleague, student council meetings and of course, the middle school Valentine's dance.

This week, report cards went home and we finished parent-teacher interviews. We also registered around 40 new kindergarten students for September 2013. This group will be the first group to experience full-day kindergarten as SKs in 2014.

We've had some concerns over the garbage in the Shale Pit and at the rink. We've talked to all the grade 6-8 students as many eat their lunch at both locations. We've reminded the kids to clean up after themselves, to use both the recycling and garbage bins and we also talked about the importance of showing respect. We ask that you reiterate this to the kids at home.  Thank you in advance.

I'd also like to remind you to only bring nut-safe Valentine's treats to school. I'm sure there will be lots of chocolate.

TDSB has begun the staffing procedures this year. We will get our projected enrolment numbers soon, but we do know that we are closed to any registrations to those not living in our catchment area. This has been the case for years.

Thank you to all the parents who came to the Parent Council meeting on Monday night. I'd like to share with you all the wonderful programs that our student body has experienced because of the extra financial support from the community:

-Author visits for each grade
-Scientists in the School for each grade
-whole school Aussie Rules Football (grades 4-8) and Netball Workshops (grades 1-3)
-"loot bags" for new kindergarten registrations
-Forest of Reading program-Grade 4-8
-Social Media Presentation for grade 6-8 and whole school parent presentation
-Kindergarten Artist visits
-Grade 4 Clay Artist

We thank you for the opportunity to provide such enriching programs. The money raised at Springfest (May 4th) and the Social @ Earth on April 19th will help us organize more of these events next year.

I wish everyone a wonderful Family Day and we will see you on Tuesday.


FEBRUARY
19th-Grade 8 Course Selection Sheets due to Secondary Schools; Grade 7 Band @ Kiwanis; Kindergarten Sharing Assemblies

20th-Grade 6 Band to Kiwanis
21st-Grade 6-8 Ski Day
22nd-Pizza Day; Grade K-2 Author Visit
25th-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assemblies
26th-Orchestra to Kiwanis; Grade 7 and 8 Math Contest; Grade 4 Clay Workshops
27th-Grade 8 Grad Photo; Author visit

MARCH
4th & 5th-Kindergarten visit Young People's Theatre
11th-15th-March Break
20th-Grade 6-8 Internet Safety Presentation, followed by presentation for parents @ 7:30 p.m.
22nd-Kindergarten Sharing Assembly
28th-Pizza Day
29th-Good Friday

APRIL
1st-Easter Monday
15th-Parent Council Meeting
25th-Kindergarten Sharing Assemblies
26th-Pizza Day
29th-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assemblies

MAY
13th-Parent Council Meeting
20th-Victoria Day
24th-Sharing Assembly
28th-Grade 3 and 6 EQAO begins
31-Pizza Day

JUNE
7th-PA Day
14th-Grade 8 Graduation
17th-21st-Grade 8 Quebec Trip
18th-Sharing Assembly
26th-Report Cards Go Home
27th-Lunch on the Lawn (Pizza Day); Year End Assembly; Last day for students

Snow Storm

In light of the forthcoming snowstorms, please listen to the media or look at the website (www.tdstb.on.ca) for  cancellations, including transportation. TDSB says that decisions will be made for 6:00 a.m.

Friday, February 8, 2013

We've had a great February so far at LKS! The "Teens for Jeans" campaign wrapped up and we are happy to report that LKS will be donating over 150 pairs of jeans to Aeropostle for distribution to those in need. I really want to commend Jessica and Jenna, the two grade 8 students who organized this event. Over the last two weeks they have made posters, announcements, presented at a Sharing Assembly, folded jeans and finally drove them (with the help of Jessica's mom) to the store. The girls have shown great leadership and compassion.

I'm including a link to an interesting read on student failure: http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/02/02/in-praise-of-failure-the-key-ingredi
Student Failure. The reporter discusses the importance of letting children take risks, fail, and develop the perseverance skills to overcome the experience. It hits upon many ideas that we continue to talk about in the school system and we'll be sharing and discussing with our own staff.

FEBRUARY
11th- Report Cards Go Home!; Parent Council Meeting @ 7:30 p.m.
12th and 13th-Kindergarten Registration
13th-Grade 7 Scientist in the School
14th-Grade 6-8 Dance
15th-PA Day
18th-Family Day!
19th-Grade 8 Course Selection Sheets due to Secondary Schools; Grade 7 Band @ Kiwanis; Kindergarten Sharing Assemblies
20th-Grade 6 Band to Kiwanis
21st-Grade 6-8 Ski Day
22nd-Pizza Day; Grade K-2 Author Visit
25th-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assemblies
26th-Orchestra to Kiwanis; Grade 7 and 8 Math Contest; Grade 4 Clay Workshops
27th-Grade 8 Grad Photo; Author visit

MARCH
4th & 5th-Kindergarten visit Young People's Theatre
11th-15th-March Break
20th-Grade 6-8 Internet Safety Presentation, followed by presentation for parents @ 7:30 p.m.
22nd-Kindergarten Sharing Assembly
28th-Pizza Day
29th-Good Friday

APRIL
1st-Easter Monday
15th-Parent Council Meeting
25th-Kindergarten Sharing Assemblies
26th-Pizza Day
29th-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assemblies

MAY
13th-Parent Council Meeting
20th-Victoria Day
24th-Sharing Assembly
28th-Grade 3 and 6 EQAO begins
31-Pizza Day

JUNE
7th-PA Day
14th-Grade 8 Graduation
17th-21st-Grade 8 Quebec Trip
18th-Sharing Assembly
26th-Report Cards Go Home
27th-Lunch on the Lawn (Pizza Day); Year End Assembly; Last day for students