From the Principal’s Desk – April 15, 2024
Good morning Arbour Vista families!
As we step into another week at École Arbour Vista , our students are bustling with energy. Let’s see what exciting developments this week holds for our community!
Grad Photos- Take 2!
If your Gr 8 student missed their Grad photo session, there will be a second opportunity on April 16th. We are hosting the board wide “retake day” and Arbour Vista student photos will be taken last.
Class Building for 2024-2025 School Year
The planning process for the 2024-2025 school has started. Over the next couple of months, staff will spend many hours developing class lists based on a detailed set of criteria. We take this process very seriously and do our best to plan for the success of all of our students at Arbour Vista.
The planning process takes the following into account.
- learning partners
- ability groups – learning groups
- needs of students
- friendships
- separating some students due to relationship issues depending on the number of classrooms
- balance of gender/non-binary
- behavioural needs/ dynamics between students
- combined classrooms are not streamed (for example, a 2/3 split is not high achieving grade 2’s and low achieving grade 3’s)
We will not be taking any class placement requests for September 2024. If your child has an exceptional circumstance that is not covered above and requires consideration when doing class placements, please email me directly at [email protected] prior to May 7th, 2024
Every Day Counts! Student Support
Is your child struggling with attending school? We are here to help! Throughout the month of April we will be sharing tips and strategies with parents/guardians to help encourage regular school attendance – because Every Day Counts!
Below, we are going to focus on strategies around attitudes and beliefs – try some of these tips at home!
- Keep in mind that attendance issues can quickly escalate. Parents/guardians need to intervene and reach out for support as early as possible before it becomes the norm.
- Keep the expectation in your home of attending school and staying all day. Don’t give up. Even if your child is anxious about school, ensure the expectation of regular attendance doesn’t change. Work with the issue, not around it.
- Talk to your child to find out what is behind them not wanting to go to school. Anxiety can show up in a lot of ways and one of them can be not wanting to go to school. Encourage your child to talk back to their anxiety! Tell themselves they can do it!
- Ask questions about your child’s worries about school. Although you know your child well, try not to assume you know the answers. Keep an open mind. Validate your child’s concerns.
- If your child is having difficulty with attendance try setting a goal with them such as if they attend for a certain amount of time, they can have a special treat or do a special activity.
Below are some tips you can try that involve the routines and the environment at home.
- Practice consistent bedtime and morning routines with your child.
- Parents can model the same routine at home, as it helps students stick to the routine of coming to school each day.
- Having a set schedule for sleep and nutrition is key to a good morning and feeling good about coming to school.
- Preparing for school at night so that the morning is less hectic can be helpful. Organizing clothing, packing backpacks and including favourite foods can be reassuring.
- Putting out clothes and making lunch the night before can help get your child out the door in the morning.
- If your child does refuse to attend school, try having no screens/devices during the time when they are at home. Make staying home as boring as possible! Shutting down the home Internet can be helpful if this is a draw for your child to stay at home.
- Creating an environment conducive for improved sleep hygiene (e.g. dark room, quiet, sound machine, light in morning, consistent bed and wake times).
- Ensuring at least 30 minutes of screen-free time before bed and removing all electronics from bedrooms before bed can be helpful.
- Limiting screen time before bed is key to winding-down and getting a great night’s sleep!
For more information, please visit the UGDSB website: https://www.ugdsb.ca/parents/student-attendance-at-school-tips-and-strategies-for-families/
Tick Information
Please see the memos below with helpful information from Public Health regarding ticks and Lyme Disease.
Blacklegged Tick and Lyme Disease
https://wdgpublichealth.ca/your-community/ticks-lyme-disease
Please look to the school calendar for events and dates
https://www.ugdsb.ca/arbourvista/
Have a great week
S. Hare
Categories: News • Newsletters