Nov 29 Newsletter
Posted onIt’s hard to believe that November is done, and December is here! We are now 60 days into the school year, which marks the 1/3 point in the school year. So much learning has already happened and much more remains. At this time of year, the school is asked to check our attendance data. We take note of students who have missed a large number of days. We know that when students miss more than 10% of the year (6 days to this point), it impacts learning. Arriving late in the morning is also a concern. Because attention and focus are often at their best at the beginning of the school day, many teachers schedule literacy and numeracy early in the day. In the coming days, some families will be receiving attendance letters to let them know that their child has missed quite a few school days or has come to school late on several occasions. Having said all this, we also know that there have been some particularly long-lasting illnesses which have been making their way through the school. Thank you for keeping your child home to rest and recover when they are sick. Not only is it good for them to have the rest their bodies need to get better but having them stay home also helps to prevent the spread of the illness to other students and to staff.
As we approach the holiday season, we are sometimes asked about gift donations, food drives, and so on. Knowing how difficult this season can be for many families financially, we have opted not to ask our students to bring food, clothing, or gifts to donate at this time. If your family is interested in supporting the community during the holiday season, we encourage you to check out the local food bank or other community agencies that support our neighbours in Airdrie.
Quote for the week – The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice. - Brian Herbert; Author
Upcoming Dates (Please see the Calendar on the Website for more information)
- Dec. 2 - NO school (Professional Learning Day)
- Dec. 10 – School Council and Friends of Ralph McCall meeting
- Dec. 16 – 20 – School Spirit Week (Dec. 16 – Anything Festive, Dec. 17 – Holiday Headwear, Dec.18 – Red and Green, Dec. 19 – Ugly Sweater, Dec. 20 – Holiday PJ/Onesie)
- Dec 17 – Grade 1 concerts 5:30 and 6:30
- Dec 18 – Grade 2 concerts 5:30 and 6:30
- Dec 18 – Gingerbread bus visit for kindergarten
- Dec 20 – Last day before the break (Lost and Found will be donated)
Grade 1 and 2 Winter Concerts -
Given the size of our student population, we are dividing the classes and doing two separate concerts for each grade. The advantage is that this year we can open up the concert to all who would like to come. Feel free to invite grandparents or other family and friends who would like to see your child sing a few songs!
Students are asked to dress for the occasion. They could wear a seasonal outfit including red and green, a Santa hat, reindeer antlers, snowflake, headband, or they can just simply wear something nice. Students should not wear pajamas or onesies for the concert.
Grade 1 – December 17
1D, 1J, and 1N will perform at 5:30. Doors open at 5:15.
1M and 1S will perform at 6:30. Please arrive at 6:15.
Grade 2 – December 18
2A, 2JS, 2P will perform at 5:30. Doors open at 5:15.
2B, 2PS, 2S will perform at 6:30. Please arrive at 6:15. (We ask parents from this group to please consider staying after the performance to assist with putting away the chairs at the end of the concert. Thank you!)
Lost and Found
Our Lost and Found is piled high with gloves and hats, coats and snowpants and even a few scarves and shoes. If your child is missing items there is a good chance they may have found their way to our Lost and Found shelves. Please remind your child to take a look for any missing items, or stop by and check in on the ever-growing pile of items. Keep in mind, all the Lost and Found items will be donated to a local charity on Friday, December 20th.
Toys and Sports Equipment at School
All toys, personal sports balls, mini hockey sticks, and so on should stay at home during the school day. We know that these items are often special to children and don’t want them to get lost or damaged. Toys can also become a distraction during instructional time. Thank you for helping us circumvent issues around personal items at school.
Winter Weather is Here! (repeat information from last newsletter)
What happens when the weather turns cold and snowy? How will you know if the bus is running, or school is cancelled? You can find the details at these links:
- If your child’s bus is cancelled in the morning but school is open, you may wish to drive your child to school. However, you will also need to pick up your child at the end of the day. The bus will not do the afternoon run once the morning run is cancelled.
- Buses can be very cold even with the heater running full out, and they do sometimes break down. If you are sending your child on the bus on cold mornings, it is important that they are dressed warmly.
What happens when school is open on cold days?
- As parents, you always have the final decision whether it is appropriate for your child to come to school during inclement weather.
- Children will go outside to play if the temperature is above –20 C. If the temperature is below that, recess breaks will be inside. Having said that, it is imperative that students dress warmly on cold days in case of emergency evacuation from the school. Some areas of the school tend to be warmer than others, so dressing in layers is recommended.
PBIS
Our theme of Safety at School continues! We have been learning about commuting with caution throughout our school and outdoor play areas, following directions and being body aware. Staff have taught lessons to help students develop their understandings and the expected behaviours that go with them. This week is our “caught you” week.
Each student has a BINGO card with safety images on it and staff are busy checking to see who is demonstrating expected behaviours. As students are “caught” following expectations, they get a check on the corresponding image on the BINGO card.
Students are all working hard with their BINGO card and some are even hoping for a blackout!
Our work with the PBIS framework guides us as staff in our commitment to respond to student behaviour responsively, through prevention, teaching and responding to student need. Updates will be shared with you as we work together to strengthen our school community with our shared understandings of expectations at Ralph McCall!
School Emergency Response Program
We held our first practice lock-down drill this week, and as this was our first lock-down drill of the year, we gave the teachers, staff and students a heads-up so that they could prepare for the protocol. The practice drill went very well, and we commend our students and staff for the way they responded, following the given directions and staying quietly in their classrooms until it was done. Good work everyone!
Each year, schools are required to complete fire drills, emergency evacuation drills, and lock down drills. These are important drills to help us prepare for any type of emergency that may come our way. Rocky View has provided families with some information about the different types of drills that are covered in our preparedness plans. You can find more information about them here; "Rocky View Schools Emergency Program: A Guide for Parents and Guardians" https://www.rockyview.ab.ca/about-rvs/emergency-response
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From Parent Council
We’re planning a Winter Wonderland Dance with the Kids’ Leadership Team, and we need your help with supplies and volunteers! If you have donations or are available to help on any of the volunteer dates, please contact Melissa at misslissa16@hotmail.com .
Items Needed
• 2-3 projector lights (for gym walls).
• Streamers and foil balloons in blue, white, and silver (latex-free).
• 2-3 large balloon stand trees.
• Board games (to donate) for a quiet activity area.
• Christmas games like Cornhole or Ring Toss.
Volunteer Dates
• Dec 3 and 13: Sort and organize decorations, prep the foyer.
• Dec 16: Decorate the gym.
• (possible) Dec 19: Take down gym decorations.
• Jan 9: Take down foyer decorations.
We also need help going through old decor boxes to check lights and retire unusable items. If you can donate, lend supplies, or volunteer, please email me back. Your help will make this a magical experience for the kids!