Southwood School -- November News

Dear Southwood Parents and Guardians,

I hope this email finds you well. There is a possibility that starting November 1st, our Educational Assistants will be participating in strike action. I am writing to let you know how this will affect some of the regular programming at Southwood School, should the strike occur. While this may impact various services provided to our students, we want to assure you that we are taking steps to ensure that the disruption is minimized and that the safety and well-being of our students is maintained throughout this time.

If you are a parent who has completed the volunteer forms and checks, we could use your help... Please follow this link to the form to let us know your availability and staff from the school will be in touch with you.

During the strike, the following services will be temporarily paused or limited:

1. Crossing Guard Patrols on 3rd Street will not be out in the morning or after school. We kindly ask that you accompany or arrange for someone to accompany your child to school across those crossing. Thank you for promoting road safety and teaching your children to be extra cautious.

2. Walking School Bus: The Walking School Bus program will be temporarily suspended. We encourage you to explore alternative transportation arrangements during this time.

3. Outside Services for Students: Any assessments or supports from OT, Speech and Language, Reading Clinicians, School Psychologists or Social Workers including individualized assessments or services, will be on hold for the duration of the strike. We are committed to rescheduling any missed appointments once normal services resume.

While we understand that these disruptions may cause some inconvenience, we want to emphasize that we are actively working towards a resolution and are hopeful for a positive outcome. The dedication and resilience of our school community have always shone through during challenging times, and we are confident that this situation will be no exception. We will keep you updated on the progress of negotiations and the anticipated duration of the strike. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out to our school office if you have any concerns or require assistance. Our team is here to support you. Thank you for your understanding, patience, and support. Together, we will navigate through this situation and emerge even stronger as a community.

Sincerely,

Marge Thiessen

Principal

Southwood School

204 - 326 - 3518

CARE. LEARN. GROW Points and Celebrations

Southwood School celebrates and acknowledges our students as they act in ways that show they know our CARE, LEARN, GROW motto. Teachers and other staff fill out Care Learn Grow Slips when students show care and kindness for others, spend extra effort on learning tasks or show they learned something they didn't know or demonstrate before. Student pictures are featured on our screen in the lobby and students enter part of their House Point slip into their cohort's draw box.

Beginning in October, student names are drawn weekly from the collected CLG slips. If their names are picked, they are presented with a certificate at a party with the Principals. They also eat a snack and chat either in the Southwood Staff Room or at a local restaurant. When their name is drawn, you will be notified via email and your child will bring their certificate home so that you may also celebrate with them.

Picture retakes will be Wednesday, November 8th beginning at 9:30 a.m. until we are finished with all of the retakes. Please email your students homeroom teacher if you wish your child to have retakes.

If your child does not attend Kindergarten that day, please bring them to the front office at 9:00 a.m. and we will get them to the gym to have their picture taken.

For any questions or concerns about pictures or your order please contact Lifetouch at 1-866-457-8212.

Leading up to our holiday season, Southwood School students and staff will be collecting toys and non-perishable food items to donate to Steinbach Community Christmas.

The first is a toy drive which is for all students Kindergarten - Grade Four. We are collecting new, unwrapped toys for children newborn to 17 years old (no toy guns please).

We are also having a food drive to help fill Christmas hampers. We have decided to divide the items and ask each grade level to collect specific items.

We will be collecting these items from November 13-23.

Kindergarten

Cake mixes, juice boxes, baby formula, diapers (sizes 5 and 6), baby wipes, baby food, baby crackers

Grade One

Boxed or canned soup, kraft dinner, rice, ready to serve soup

Grade Two

Jam, peanut butter, cookies, garbage bags, ready to serve soup, gluten free products

Grade Three

Oatmeal, cream of wheat, cereal, pancake mix, pancake syrup, hand soap, toothpaste

Grade Four

Ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, canned fish or meat, deodorant

If you are able to participate, please send the items to school with your child. Thank you kindly for your support!

Term 1 Report Cards will be sent out this month. They will be available on the Parent Portal sometime on November 22, 2023. Please contact the office for information on how to get your Parent Portal account set up to view your child's report card.

Parent - Teacher conferences will be held on Thursday, November 23rd between 4:30p.m and 8:15 p.m. You may book your 10 minute appointment with your child's teacher on the Parent Portal beginning on November 16th.

Mark your calendars! Our annual Scholastics Book Fair is taking place from November 20th – November 23rd this year. Students will have the opportunity to come and browse the book fair with their classes early in the week and then will have a chance on a different day to come make purchases should they so wish. Families will also be able to make purchases online, if they are willing to pay for the shipping. A link will follow closer to the date.

We will also be having our family night that will coincide with the student led conferences on the evening of November 23rd. Join us to browse and shop in the Learning Commons between 4:30 pm-8pm!

Please consider purchasing a book to donate to your child’s classroom while you are at the fair. Your generosity is always greatly appreciated!

Remember that the book fair benefits Southwood School directly with all money raised from it staying within our own school.

See you at the fair!

Nov. 8 -- Picture Retake Day

Nov. 9 -- Assembly 12:00 - 12:25 p.m. – Remembrance Day

Nov. 10 -- Admin/PD Day - No School for Students

Nov. 11 -- Remembrance Day - Saturday

Nov. 22 -- Report Cards Term 1 On Parent Portal

Nov. 23 -- Student Led Conferences – 4:30 - 8:15 and Book Fair Evening

Nov. 24 -- Admin/PD Day -- No School for Students

Dec. 7 -- Southwood Winter Concert ( Gr. 3 & 4)

Dec. 11 -- Assembly – 3:00 - 3:25 p.m. – Holiday Celebration

Dec. 22 -- Last day of classes before Winter Break