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
