Southwood School News
June 2024
Come Rain, Come Shine - It's Spring Time! --- Concert Success -- Thanks!
Thanks so to our school staff - EA's, teachers and everyone involved in the concert. Thanks to Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Baudry for their dedication and creativity.
Fruit for June -- Donations Welcome!
We continue to offer fruit at the front office to ensure students have an opportunity to access fresh fruit during the day if they need to. If you do any shopping, you know that food prices have risen. We have used up all of the grants and donations we received this year for the fruit. If you are willing to help with this project, please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up to bring fruit for the bowl. Thank you!
Southwood School's Achievements this Year -- Report for our Community
🗓 Coming Up!
June Events!
Volunteer Appreciation Assembly -- June 3rd at 3:00 p.m.
We are sooooo thankful for all of our Volunteers! We've have parents, grandparents, aunts, older students and community members coming in to teach us things like spinning and counting in Cree and help us out on Learning Trips. Some of our volunteers read with students regularly, help us out with math and play games with us while we eat our lunches. We appreciate all of you and all that you do to help us CARE. LEARN and GROW...
Next Level Day -- June 25th
Next Level Day will take place on June 25th. This is an afternoon event where students get a chance to try out a class a grade above in order to help them feel positive about the upcoming year. Classes will be rearranged and students will spend an hour with a teacher in next year's grade, doing some fun activities and engaging with a different group of students.
This was a very positive experience for students last year and we know that it helped them channel some of the nerves and excitement building for the next school year.
Grade 4 Farewell -- June 26th
Grade 4 Farewell - Assembly for Parents on June 26th 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. Please note that on June 26th we will start the Farewell Day with an assembly where we honor our Grade 4's. It will be held in the gym at 9:30 a.m.
Kindergarten Fun Days -- June 20th and 21st
We have scheduled the Kinder fun days for the afternoon of June 20th and 21st. These will be the dates for our K classes end of year special events. Kindergarten parents are welcome to join us for the Family Picnic day on the 27th between 11:45 a.m. and 12:50 p.m. even if it is not their school day, but their students will not be in classes.
Picnic Day - June 27th
Southwood Family Picnic
June 27th 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 27th at 11:45 a.m. until 12:50 p.m. 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.
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.
Southwood Family Picnic
Thursday, Jun 27, 2024, 11:45 AM
Southwood School, Barkman Avenue, Steinbach, MB, Canada
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Class Placements and Reports
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 28th.
Supporting Transition and Change for Our Kids!
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
Southwood PAC Achievements This Year!
This year our PAC has raised money for the following projects...
- The new furniture in our Southwood Lobby
- A new cupboard for our (always full) Lost and Found Collection
- a Bucket Plastic Swing suitable and inclusive for all students - especially those with mobility needs
- 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
Planning to Move?
If you are moving during the summer, please call our office at 204-326-3518 as soon as possible or the school division at 204-326-6471 after June 30th. Thank you!
Hanover Parent Child Community Program
Hanover Parent Child Community Program
Thank you for all your support this year and coming to enjoy our program! Keep your eyes on the student services website for a blog post about our program that we are so excited to share with you! It’ll be posted in early June. For the 2024/2025 school year we are going to be moving over to Elmdale School. We will be at Elmdale on Mondays from 9:00 to 11:30 am and Wednesdays from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Or you could find us at Woodlawn School on Tuesdays from 9:00-11:30 am and Thursday from 1:00-3:30 pm. We look forward to seeing you next year. Wishing you and your families an incredible summer!
School Nutrition NEWS
Important Dates
June 3 -- Volunteer Appreciation Assembly 3:00 p.m.
June 3 -- Grade 3 Bike Rodeo
June 25 -- Level Up Day
June 26 -- Grade 4 Farewell (Parent Assembly 9:30 a.m.)
June 27 -- School Picnic and Last Day of School
June 28 -- NO CLASSES - Final Term Report Card (K - 4) On Parent Portal
June 28 -- Admin Day – No Classes
August 19 -- School Office opens
Sept.2 -- Labour Day
Sept. 3 -- Admin / PD Day & Meet the Teacher Night
Sept 4 -- First day of classes for Gr. 1-4
Sept 4, 5, 6 & 9 -- Kindergarten Staggered Entrance Days
Sept. 9 -- Assembly – 3:00 - 3:25 p.m - Care Learn Grow
Sept 10 -- First regular school day for odd day Kindergarten students
Sept 11 -- First regular school day for even day Kindergarten students
Sept. 13 & 16 -- Strong Connections Gr 1-4