We want to thank the large number of parents who turned out
to Meet the Teacher, the Parent Council Breakfast, and our September Pillars of
Care assembly focused on belonging. We are truly lucky to have such a large
committed group of parents to support student learning. While these events are scheduled
to invite parents into our school, I would also like to thank all parents who
have scheduled individual meetings either in person, or by phone, with their
child’s teacher or administration to discuss their child’s achievement. We are
here to work with you and we encourage you to contact us whenever you have
questions. Teachers are always accepting of opportunities to optimize your
child’s experience and your voice is an important part of ensuring their
success.
October has been busy. The school learning team consisting
of grade teachers and administration has been meeting at regularly scheduled
times to review all children’s’ learning in the building. Class reviews have
taken place and every teacher has been present to discuss learning concerns for
individual students in their classroom. We have scheduled these meetings as
early as 7 a.m. so that all student needs are targeted. School Learning Team
meetings are scheduled numerous times throughout the week. It is important that
you connect with your child’s teacher if there are concerns you are having in
order for the teacher to bring new information forward.
Unscheduled recess continues to be a big success. We have
also been diligently addressing noise in the halls through the identification
of what “inside” and “outside” behavior looks like. This includes movement in
the building and how we use our voices. The fifth pillar this month, as decided
upon by teachers, has targeted respect. This is linked specifically to our Care
for Place and respect for the building and the learning environment. Next month, teachers have been asked, to work
with their classes to determine what our focus for the month of November will
be. We are looking for ways to involve students in the decision and look
forward to hearing their ideas.
Please mark the date for our parent sponsored Halloween
dance on Oct 24th at 6 p.m. We look forward to celebrating with
students and their families. Costumes
are encouraged at the dance. We remind parents that students are to be
accompanied by adults. There are no
“drop-offs” for this event. Please encourage children to be respectful of the
building and others, and to refrain from entering and exiting the building
unnecessarily while at the dance.
Early dismissal Fridays continue to be Bermuda shirt day.
You will see teachers in the school wearing tropical shirts and we encourage
students to do the same. Thanks to the teachers and students who worked
together to bring about crazy hair day on October 16th.
We are in the process of developing our School Development Plan
and should be prepared to share that information with you shortly. The plan this
year will focus on our overall growth for this school year, specifically on
literacy, mathematics and well-being. This will include specific learning
targets for students and improvement in teachers’ instructional practice to
meet these goals. Both our professional days in October have been dedicated to
this work and we hope to have the plan finalized in early November.
Parent volunteer response this year has been amazing.
Completed parent packages with volunteer information returned to the school has
topped at over 100. If you have not completed your volunteer clearance, we
encourage you to do so as soon as possible. Volunteer clearance must be
completed for CBE even if you have completed this for an agency or service
previously. Volunteer clearances are good for a five-year period and can be
transferred to other CBE schools if families move locations.
Looking forward to seeing you in the school.
Brian Hebert
Principal, Beddington Heights
