Southwood Public School is part of the Vincent Massey Secondary
Family of Schools
April 2024
Dear Southwood Families,
April is Earth Month and it will include a full solar eclipse which will occur on Monday, April 8, 2024. This phenomenon happens when the moon passes between the sun and earth, casting a shadow on the earth that blocks the sun’s light in some areas. In Windsor-Essex County, we will experience some of the most intense effects of the eclipse between 1:57 p.m. and 3:17 p.m. Out of concern for student safety during that period of almost complete darkness, the Greater Essex County District School Board has decided to dismiss all students at 1:00 p.m. on April 8th. All after-school extracurricular activities will also be canceled that day. Buses will run at their regular times in the morning but, families will be required to make arrangements for their child to be picked up from school when they are dismissed at 1:00 p.m. There will not be student transportation services at the end of the day.
Here are a few resources which contain safety information that you can review and share with your children:
An excellent resource from Prevent Blindness.org, a U.S. organization to help protect you and your children during the solar eclipse.
This resource from the Canadian Association of Optometrists offers some great tips on how to watch the eclipse safely.
Here is another excellent resource from NASA that describes the path of the eclipse, as well as additional details on safety.
Each year, great time and effort are made to determine the appropriate classroom placement for our students. Classroom placements are a school decision that is based on careful collaboration with our school team, including sending and receiving teachers. Considerations for classroom placements include classroom dynamics, specific grouping needs such as academic, behavioural, and social needs, student profiles, personalities, gender balance, and the availability of support services. We always keep in mind the learning needs of the child when determining class placement. With this said parents/guardians are invited to write a letter to our Principal, Mrs. Lowes, where there are specific requests regarding class placement based on what is best for a child’s learning. While we cannot accept requests for specific teachers, we do try to grant requests based on our students' learning needs. All requests must be made in writing, dated and signed, before May 10th, 2024. If you have made the same request in a previous year and it is still relevant, please make the request again this year. Please note that all class placements are TENTATIVE until after the reorganization day in September.
As always, please feel free to email, message us on Edsby, or call the school if you have questions, concerns, suggestions, or compliments!
Your Partners in Education,
Mrs. Lowes & Mrs. Dugan
______
A Message from our Director:
Dear GECDSB Families:
The Greater Essex County District School Board is committed to building inclusive learning and working environments where all students and staff feel valued, accepted and know they belong. No student or staff should be harmed by the words or actions of others at school. All members of our board community should feel safe, welcome, accepted and included at every GECDSB school and work site.
In keeping with these values, the following conduct is not permitted by anyone in GECDSB schools or in GECDSB environments:
• discrimination;
• harassment and bullying;
• spreading hate including sharing hateful images;
• the use of the n-word;
• the use of any hateful slurs or epithets; and
• reprisal (retaliation) for trying to have an incident addressed.
Students are not allowed to say, write or read out any version of the n-word (including with the “a” ending) and are not allowed to ask for a "pass” from Black students to use the n-word. GECDSB staff have also received direction that they are not allowed to say or read out the n-word.
Please talk to your child(ren) and make them aware that the conduct listed above is not allowed – this includes on social media or in any other context that can negatively impact the school environment.
All GECDSB students have the right to safe, respectful, and non-discriminatory learning environments. Students or parents/guardians who hear or learn about hateful or discriminatory acts or language should report it to the school principal, vice-principal or another staff member right away. When these incidents happen, they are treated seriously and addressed by the school/board.
For more information on addressing school-based human rights concerns, please see our Human Rights webpage.
Thank you for your ongoing support as we deepen our commitment to safe and welcoming environments for all students and staff.
Yours in Education,
Vicki Houston, Director of Education
Upcoming Events
School News
School Info
Featured VideoReopening Schools at the GECDSB
Prior to the start of the school year, access to schools has been limited to authorized personnel and work continues to prepare the buildings with all the necessary safety precautions.
We have produced this short video to provide families and students with an opportunity to see what the schools and classrooms will look like and the actions taken to keep everyone safe.
GECDSB COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool
A simple tutorial for staff and secondary students who are required to submit daily self-assessment results.
Complete the GECDSB COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool to determine whether you or your child should attend school or work each day.