Thursday, March 27, 2014

Recently, we received our schools projected enrolment numbers for next year. We are projected to have 642 students, down a bit from our current number. We have also been allocated 34.5 staff members. Over the next few weeks, our staff committee and staff will be working on a school organizational model to be approved by our superintendent. I will speak more to this at the Parent Council meeting on Monday. 

At our staff meeting, we had the pleasure of watching the film "How Difficult Can this Be?". The film depicts a staff completing a variety of exercises that a teacher would typically ask students to complete in class. But, the speaker presented the activities to the staff in a way that simulated what it would be like to be a student with a learning disability. It was a great reminder to all of us in the room that all of our students learn differently and we have to be so mindful of our practices when working with students who do have a learning disability. 

Last week, our Mental Health Committee, consisting of Ms. Dacyshyn, Mrs. Militano, Mrs. Taylor, Mr. Ellerker and myself had the opportunity to create an action plan to compliment our Board's Mental Health Strategy. As many of you know, all school must now have a Mental Health Committee and plan in place to help address students' mental health issues. Today, Ms. Dacyshyn and myself attended a Family of Schools meeting to help create a plan for the area of schools under the superintendent's direction. 

We will continue to share our plans at future Parent Council Meetings, but generally we will continue to focus on fostering a healthy well-being in our students; increase an awareness of mental health issues to the students, staff and the community and finally empower students by giving them a "voice". 

Hope to see you at our Parent Council on Monday night. The focus will be on "Springfest". If you would like to get involved, please meet in the library. 

Have a terrific weekend. 

March-Honesty 

31st-Parent Council @ 7:00 p.m.; Grade 3 and 6 EQAO Parent Information Night @ 6:00 p.m.; New JK Parent Information Night @ 6:15 p.m.

April-Co-operation
1st-Scientist in the School-Mrs. Burn's Class; Grade 5 Badminton Tournament  
2nd-Walking Wednesday 
3rd- Sr Coed Volleyball Tournament 
4th-LKS Social at the Old Mill 
8th-Grade 6 Badminton Tournament 
9th-Grade 5s to ROM; Walking Wednesday 
10th-Film Festival Evening Gala (for filmmakers, friends and family); Grade 8 Badminton Tournament  
16th-Earth Ranger's Presentation; Walking Wednesday  
18th-Good Friday and Easter Monday 
22nd-Earth Day-Wear Green 
23rd-Grade 8 Grad Photo Retake; Walking Wednesday; Yard/Shale Pit Clean Up 
24th-1-8 Sharing Assembly
25th-LKS Earth Hour @ 2:00 p.m. 
25th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day
30th-Walking Wednesday 

May-Integrity
5th-Humber College Jazz Presentation-Grade 4-8 
6th-First Track Meet @ Centennial 
19th-Victoria Day
26th-Grade 3 & 6 EQAO Begins
28th-Conference Final Track Meet 
29th-1-8 Sharing Assembly; 
30th-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Pizza Day

June-Perseverance
6th-PA Day
10th-City Finals Track 
12th-Grade One and Combined 1/2 to Zoo 
13th-Grade 8 Graduation 
16th-Grade 8 Quebec Trip 
18th-1-8 Sharing Assembly
19th-Kindie Sharing Assembly
23rd-Report Cards Sent Home
27th-Last Day for Students; Lunch on the Lawn (Last Pizza Day)