ILPS -Mid-March 2020 School Newsletter
Dear Parents and Guardians,
It is hard to believe that it is the middle of March already! The weather has certainly become milder – fingers are crossed that sunny days and warmer temps are coming soon. With the constant freeze/thaw temperatures, it’s that time of year again, our field and tarmac areas are a mess! Please remind your children to stay out of the puddles – with warmer temperatures coming, we will be dealing with the mud next – be prepared by sending in extra clothing, just in case. We will be having more tarmac recesses over the next month while the field areas dry out a bit. As part of their Outdoor Education time, some of our Kindergarten classes are using the puddles to their advantage, building rivers, boats that float and learning about dams!!
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Last week we had a fantastic Black History Presentation called, “Journey of a Song”. The performances had the entire school singing and dancing along to the beats and rhythms of West Africa while we learned how those beats influenced modern day music from the Blues to Reggae to Pop. Ask your child how the “Arthur” theme is connected to Reggae music (answer at the end of the newsletter).
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We are all hoping for a resolution to the Labour Action. Please check the board Labour Relations Page at https://www.ugdsb.ca/board/labour-relations/ for updates. We thank all of our community for their continued support, patience and kindness to each other. We continue to teach and learn here at Island Lake. Students are still creating and engaged in their learning.
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We recently sent out a message from Dr. Rogers regarding the Covid-19 virus and the steps we are taking to stay healthy. We have been given posters that will be placed throughout the school reminding students and staff about the importance of washing hands properly, covering up coughs and sneezes and staying home if you are ill. The board has also provided special wipes for our custodians to use to clean high traffic areas on a regular basis.
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Public Health Suspensions for Immunization begin tomorrow, March 11, 2020. If your child’s immunization is not up to date (you would have received a letter directly from Public Health), they will not be allowed to attend school until Public Health informs the school that immunizations are up to date. Parents/Guardians of affected students will get a reminder phone call today from the school.
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Labour Updates
Please check the board Labour Relations Page at https://www.ugdsb.ca/board/labour-relations/ for updates. Some previously scheduled field trips have had to be cancelled. Please look for letters coming home detailing the cancellations. Parents and Guardians can also check our calendar on the school website to view any cancellations.
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Looking for Lunch and Recess Supervisors!
If you love working with wonderful children, who are enthusiastic, fun and engaging, Island Lake Public School wants you as a Lunchroom Supervisor. We are currently hiring for this position. We require an individual who is caring, energetic, has the ability to ensure the safety and security of our students and loves working with children. The position requires a commitment of approximately eighty minutes per day (two 40 minutes nutrition breaks, 20 minutes eating and 20 minutes outdoor recess time). This is a paid position, $14.00/hour. Your responsibilities include monitoring lunchrooms and outside recess. Nutrition break #1 10:25-11:10, Nutrition Break #2 12:50-1:35. Lunchroom supervisors are required to have a criminal record background check. If you want to be part of a great school community with wonderful students, please stop by Island Lake School for more information or call at 519 941-3292 x 224.
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LET’S TALK (NOT TEXT) ABOUT SCREEN TIME
Are screens the new smoking? Parents and students are invited to learn more about the many impacts of screens on our lives and how we might foster a healthier relationship with them. Come and join us Thursday, April 23 from 6:00p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the John F. Ross CVI – E.L. Fox Auditorium, 21 Meyer Drive, Guelph. Admission is free, but tickets do need to be secured in advance by visiting https://screenagersbyugdsb.eventcombo.com.
This free event will present two documentary films (SCREENAGERS: Growing Up in the Digital Age and Screenagers and NEXT CHAPTER: Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience) followed by a discussion moderated by Sylvie Smith, an addictions counselor at Homewood Health Centre.
ABOUT THE SCREENAGERS FILMS:
Physician and filmmaker Delaney Ruston was compelled to make a movie when she found herself constantly struggling with her two kids about screen time. Ruston felt guilty and confused, not sure what limits were best, especially around mobile phones, social media, gaming, and how to monitor online homework. Hearing repeatedly how other parents were equally overwhelmed, she realized this is one of the biggest, unexplored parenting issues of our time.
SCREENAGERS: Growing up in the Digital Age (2016) was the first feature documentary to explore the impact of screen technology on kids and offer parents and families proven solutions to help youth and their families find their way in a world with instant access to screen time. In Next Chapter: Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience (2019, 69 minutes), the filmmaker finds herself at a loss on how to help her own teens as they struggle with their emotional well-being. She sets out to understand these challenges in the context of our current screen-filled society. In particular she explores the issue of how as parents and educators we can empower teens to overcome challenges and build emotional agility, communication savvy, and stress resilience.
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It is vital to teach our children to respect and take care of the environment.
Join the global Movement! Celebrate Earth Hour on March 28th at 8:30pm.
Earth Hour’s mission is uniting people to protect the planet by raising awareness of about climate change and encouraging positive action.
“Earth Hour was famously started as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia in 2007. Since then it has grown to engage more than 172 countries and territories worldwide.”
Earth Hour is more than an event. It is a movement that has achieved massive environmental impact, including legislation changes by harnessing the power of the crowd.”
Click here to see a short video clip of Earth Hour’s story around the world and click here for the Earth Hour 2020 official video
Ideas for your family to do for Earth Hour!
Earth Hour belongs to you. Celebrate your commitment to the planet with your friends, family, community or at work – in your own way.
A simple event can be just turning off all non-essential lights on March 28th from 8:30-9:30 pm. For one hour, focus on your commitment to our planet. To celebrate, you can:
- prepare a candle lit dinner,
- talk to your neighbours, or invite people over
- stargaze, or go camping in your backyard
- play board games, or charades
- host a concert, or a sing-a-long
- create or join your own community event
- have an Earth Hour every month
The possibilities are endless!
Quotes and information taken from: https://www.earthhour.org/
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We wish all of our families a happy and healthy March Break. We hope the weather cooperates and gives us some much needed sunshine.
THE ANSWER:
The Arthur theme was performed by Ziggy Marley, son of the reggae superstar Bob Marley!!
Categories: News • Newsletter