ÉSMS Year-End Gazette 2024

The staff of École St. Matthew's School would like to extend our most sincere thanks to our entire school community for joining us on an incredible journey of learning and growth during the 2023-2024 school year. It means so much to all of us here at our wonderful school to have your support and encouragement as we strive for inclusion, engagement and learning for all.

We are so grateful to our caregiver and community volunteers who have offered their time and compassion to assist us in providing nourishment, coaching and supervision for our students this year. It really means so much to us and we are hopeful that more families will join our volunteer crew next year.

As we head into our final days of the school year, we would like to share some parting notes, but also extend our wishes for a very safe and enjoyable summer break.

In hearts, minds & spirit,

ÉSMS Administration

Congratulations to our Grade 7 students who will officially conclude their learning at ÉSMS next week! We are so proud of each and every one of them and wish them all the best of success in their Junior High pursuits. As well, we send our best wishes to some of our Grade 6 students who will be going to Junior High in the Late French Immersion Program in Grade 7 - bonne chance à tous et à toutes! It has been an honor watching all these children grow over the years to become amazing individuals. They will always have a home here at ÉSMS!

Several of our current and on-leave permanent teaching staff are pursuing new and exciting opportunities in their careers in September. We would like to extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to Ms. Varghese, Ms. Devereaux, Ms. Stewart, Mme Bartlett and Ms. McKay. You will all be greatly missed here at ÉSMS, but we know you will be much loved by your new school and professional communities!

As well, we are so grateful to our replacement teachers who have been such wonderful colleagues and mentors this year:

Many thanks to Mme Grace, Ms. Stone, Mme Pearce, Mme Hutchings, Ms. Drew, Mme Martin, Ms. Thistle, Mr. Horwood, Mr. Chancey, Ms. Clouston, Ms. Murphy and our replacement Student Assistants and support staff - we appreciate all you have done for our students, our school and our community. We wish you all the best in whatever comes next!

On behalf of our École St. Matthew's School Council, staff and students, I extend thanks and a fond farewell to Ms. Charmayne Rumbolt as she concludes her ten-year Tiger tenure and prepares to bring her passionate and nurturing brand of leadership to the fortunate folks at Topsail Elementary, where she will assume the role of Principal effective September 2024.

For a decade, Ms. Rumbolt has supported the learning and well-being of hundreds upon hundreds of students, staff and families here at ÉSMS. Her presence will linger long after she unpacks her boxes - weighty with many precious memories and an impressive library - at TES. In every nook, corner and cranny of our school and its grounds is evidence of all she's done to support our learning and engagement, and we know she'll grow more of the same where she is next planted.

Ms. Rumbolt, on our collective behalf, I offer thanks for your dedicated nurturing of each heart, mind and spirit in your care over these last ten years at St. Matthew's, and hope that your final week will be a wonderful one. I personally wish you the very best in your new role, while I also look forward to cultivating partnerships with you and your Topsail Elementary team as part of my new role as Principal here at École St. Matthew's School.

Many thanks and much success to you on behalf of all Tigers, past and present,

Ms. North

Families are reminded that they will need to send along bagged lunch with their children this week as School Lunch Program has concluded for this school year. Registration and ordering information for the new school year will be shared in early-September.

The ÉSMS Outdoor Community Garden is still seeking volunteers to help during the summer break - no experience necessary! Please indicate by Wednesday 18 June any date(s) that you are available on the Google Form linked below. A summer garden volunteer schedule will be posted on our school website @ École St. Matthew’s School. You are certainly welcome to visit our garden at any time and to help in any way.

Summer Garden Volunteer Sign-Up Form

Effective September 2024, ALL ÉSMS students will be eligible for busing. Bus Routes for the 2024-2025 school year have not yet been finalized, but families MUST visit the Parent Portal section of the NLSchools website to create an account.

You will require your child's STUDENT ID number to create your account - most of you have used this number to create your parent RYCOR accounts, but we will send home another letter tomorrow with all instructions for creating your Bus Portal Account. Alternatively, you can request the number via the STUDENT TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC INQUIRY FORM or contact the school at stmatthewselem@nlschools.ca. Your parent account will enable you to access the transportation details pertaining to your child when the new bus routes become available in July.

Families will be contacted by ÉSMS administration prior to school opening with further information.

During the 2024-2025 school year, our current grade 6 students will be provided the opportunity to receive a district-issued Chromebook for use for the remainder of their schooling. Forms are available on RYCOR and are now due. If you have not submitted this form, please do so no later than end of day tomorrow - Monday 17 June.

For those students who currently have medical information on file with us (paperwork pertaining to anaphylactic allergies, diabetes, epilepsy, etc.) please contact Guidance Counselor Mr. O'Keefe at craigokeefe@nlschools.ca for new forms for the 2024-2025 school year if any of your child's current medical requirements have changed or need to be updated.

EpiPens and medications will be returned to students on the final day of classes. Information and procedures regarding medications for our upcoming school year will be shared with families prior to our return in September.

Most families have created their RYCOR accounts at this point, and for that we thank you very much! For the coming school year, many of the forms we usually send home on paper will instead be posted to RYCOR accounts as a means to reduce paper consumption. Please contact allisonnorth@nlschools.ca THIS WEEK if you still have not created your account and require assistance.

Students who have books or items that need to be returned to our LRC are asked to do so no later than Monday 17 June.

All band books and instrument rentals should now be returned. These items may be dropped at the office for Ms Pope.

Locker and classroom clean-out will occur this week. Students should bring a reusable bag to school this week to bring home any belongings. Our Lost & Found is full to bursting with forgotten items ranging from winter boots to summer hats - please remind your child to retrieve any missing items before Thursday 20 June.

For any families who are moving out of our school zone, please contact the school at your convenience and we will be happy to assist with the transition of your child to their new school.

The last day of school for students will be Thursday 20 June. Term 3 reports will be distributed on this day and students will be dismissed at 12:30. Report cards that are not picked up on the last day of school will be available at the office until NOON on Friday 21 June, after which point they will be mailed out to our families.

School resumes for students on Wednesday 04 September. Students in Grades 1-7 will begin at 8:30 am and our Kindergarten students will have a delayed start for this day only, beginning at 9:30 am. Families will receive additional information regarding our opening and first day procedures at the end of August.

Please find below our supply lists for the 2024-2025 school year; these will also be added to our school website over the coming days for access when needed. If it is of interest to you, please note that Dicks & Company NL has prepared pre-priced supply kits based on our lists - you can search for our school online or in-store.

Kindergarten Supply List

Grade 1 Supply List

Grade 2 Supply List

Grade 3 Supply List

Grade 4 Supply List

Grade 5 Supply List

Grade 6 Supply List

Grade 7 Supply List

We will relaunch our online ÉSMS swag store in time for 2024-2025 start-up - stay tuned for more on that! Any items you'd like to see offered? Send your ideas to allisonnorth@nlschools.ca!

17-19 June

Elementary STEM Activities in LRC

Monday 17 June

Grade 1 Field-Trip to Salmonier Nature Park

Tuesday 18 June

Grade 4 Field-Trip to Salmonier Nature Park

Thursday 20 June

Last Day of School for Students; Term III Reports Released

Early Dismissal at 12:30 pm

Wednesday 04 September

First Day of School for Students for 2024-2025 School Year