Thanks so to our school staff - EA's, teachers and everyone involved in the concert. Thanks to Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Stegne for their dedication and creativity.
Grade 4 Farewell - Assembly for Parents on June 25th at 9:30 a.m.
We wish our current Southwood Grade 4's a great last month of school at Southwood! We are eagerly planning some special celebratory events to send them off in style. More information will be sent out from the Grade 4 teachers. Please note that on June 25th we will start the Farewell Day with an assembly for parents and family members where we honor our Grade 4's. It will be held in the gym at 9:30 a.m.
Southwood Family Picnic
June 26th at 11:45 a.m. until 12:50 p.m
We are very excited to welcome you all to the Family Picnic Event for lunch on Thursday, June 26th at 11:45 a.m. until 12:50 p.m. Mrs. Koop (Principal of Parkhill School) will join us for the picnic. Please continue reading for all the important details.
> Bring a picnic lunch, lawn chairs or a blanket to eat on. Weather permitting, everyone will eat outside on the playground.
> Please note that if you are buying restaurant food locally, we are not the only school having a picnic and lines will likely be very, very long. You may need to plan ahead so you can arrive on time. Stay tuned for a message from our Parent Council about Hot Lunch order options for the Picnic day.
At 11:45 a.m. –
Kindergarten and Grade 1 students will be waiting for you in their classrooms.
Grades 2, 3 and 4 students will wait at a designated place on the playground – See Map below
grade 2’s will be in the bus loading zone
grade 3’s will be near the garden boxes
grade 4’s will be near the swings near 3rd St.
Each class will hold a sign so that you can easily find them.
>At 12:50, the recess bell will go for students to return to their classes. At this time, families need to pack up and free up the playground as this space will be used for our afternoon activities.
> Contingency plan for rain — Families may spread out throughout the school and have an indoor picnic with their children. All of our indoor spaces will be open to parents and students.
> If you are taking your child home after the picnic, you need to let the office know either by email, by phone or check in before you leave.
> Lost and Found — Please take a look at the tables in the foyer for any lost items.
We look forward to spending some time with you celebrating a successful school year.
Next Year's Class Placements will be sent out in the final week of school as well as in the June Report Cards.
Students coming into Kindergarten for next year will be notified earlier as we understand that child care is important and needs to be arranged in advance.
Reports cards will be available for parent viewing on June 27th.
Anticipating the Excitement and Anxiety of a New School Placement
Acknowledge the loss and sadness, and/or the excitement and anticipation, of leaving their current Grade. Talk with your child about the feelings associated with leaving and starting something new. Do not judge the feelings, rather make space for your child to share all of their feelings.
Plan ahead where possible. Begin a gradual process in August that can support routines related to sleep/waking that supports school attendance.
Focus on the basics of SLEEP, NUTRITION and PHYSICAL ACTIVITY that we know help us better regulate our discomfort and stress response.
Practice walking to school so the route is familiar or drive by the school so your student knows where the bus will drop them off and can see what doors they can use.
Normalize the expected experience of stress with change. Talk with them about what can help them feel better for the first couple days of school (ie; special snacks, special item of clothing/hat; special small object for comfort).
Tell your child the name of their teacher and help them practice asking for help if needed (role-play with them what words they can use so it is more comfortable).
Offer the choices available to your child that ARE a part of the transition and that they can have a voice in. For example: picking out a new backpack/lunch kit, deciding what to wear on the first day of school, lunch/snack choices, etc. Giving choice (where possible and reasonable) can help children have an increased sense of control. This is important as there are many things about the school transition that they may not have control over (who is in their class, who the teacher is, when lunchtime is, etc.).
Make communication about their feelings, experiences and concerns, a regular daily part of interactions with them. Be curious with them and ask open-ended questions such as: “Tell me about what school was like today? What were some of the good/hard things about today?”
Role play basic social skills with your child (i.e. how to initiate play and make friends etc.) in order for your child to feel a sense of belonging and form connection and positive relationships with their peers.
It is common for the transition process to take some time (even a month or more), though here are some indicators of stress to watch for:
Frequent episodes of crying
Sleep difficulties or changes in sleep habits for your child
Changes to eating habits (eating more or less than typical for your child, restricting foods, notable changes in dietary habits)
Withdrawal from activities that previously were enjoyable
Isolation from peers, family and increased periods of being on alone
Negative self-talk about skills, abilities or competence
Regular complaints about not feeling well, physical symptoms with no known cause
School refusal
If you have concerns about how the transition is going for your child, reach out early in the school year to your School Team (classroom teacher, principal, vice-principal, Guidance Counsellor, Learning Support Teacher) so that concerns and needs can be addressed and support can be provided as soon as possible.
Provided by: Divisional School Social Work Clinicians, Student Services, Hanover School Division
This year our PAC has raised money for the following projects...
- A Shade shelter for the Southwood Playground
- End of Year events and treats, including a contribution to the Grade 4 Farewell, last day of school treats and a special secret surprise for the Grade 4's leaving Southwood.
These contributions are your contributions, as parents and community members were the ones participating in the fundraisers! We thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Hopefully, this work for Southwood School culture and community can continue into next year, but we know that each year is different. If you would like to get involved in PAC in any way, please contact one of our current PAC members at SouthwoodParentCouncil@gmail.com
Music Therapy Celebration
Southwood School is proud to have had a Music Therapy program (2019 - 2025) funded by Variety the Children’s Charity of Manitoba.
Music Therapy has given many students the opportunity to build upon social, communication and sensory skills in a fun, supportive, musical environment.
Southwood School provided the space and necessary technical equipment for the sessions to run. We are proud and very thankful for the financial support of Variety the Children’s Charity of Manitoba. We have been very lucky to connect with a few different Music Therapists over the years, who facilitated the sessions, planned meaningful learning through music and created relationships with our students.
On Monday, June 2, 2025 the CEO and Program Coordinator for Variety the Children’s Charity of Manitoba will be visiting our school, as well as some possible special guests from our community. They will be sitting in on our Music Therapy sessions and witnessing the success and joy of the students participating.
For more information on Variety, the Children’s Charity of Manitoba and the types of services and supports that are available please visit their website.
