The Southwood Source Newsletter
March 2 0 2 4
IF Y O U R C H ILD IS A B SE N T O R L A T E P L E A SE SU B M IT A B SE N C E O N E D SB Y O R C A L L : 5 19 - 9 6 9 - 3 470.
School Bell Times
Entry - 8:15 am
1st Nutrition Break - 9:55 to 10:35
2nd Nutrition Break - 12:15 to 12:55
Dismissal: 2:35PM
Please ensure your children arrive at school on time each day.
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FROM THE DESK OF THE PRINCIPAL AND VICE PRINCIPAL ...
Dear Southwood Families,
March is the month things start to turn around in a school with the March break marking the very quick descent into the whirlwind of the spring. This month, we say goodbye to Ms. Clark (grade 4) and Ms. Curley (GAINS Prep) and welcome back Mr. Piescic and Ms. Seibel. We wish all teachers a great Spring start!
Last month, our school recognized and celebrated Black History Month by learning about the legacy of Black people in Canada, their histories, successes, sacrifices, and triumphs. During our daily announcements in February, we shared information about notable Black Canadians who helped shape Canada. Our hallways showcased our learning about the experiences of Black Canadians and how they advanced equality and human rights in Canada.
It is hard to believe, but it is already that time of year when we begin planning for the next school year. 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.
The City of Windsor is partnering with the Board to assist with enforcing traffic infractions on school board property. Traffic enforcement actions are being implemented to support the safety of staff, students, and families, as well as student bus transportation during arrival and dismissal times. We encourage families to use the “Kiss and Ride” for student pick up and drop off. Please do not park at the bus bay or stop on Mount Royal. Thank you for your support in keeping our Sabres safe.
Your Partners in Education,
Mrs. Lowes Mrs. Dugan
Principal Vice Principal
Solar Eclipse on Monday, April 8th, 2024
A full solar eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8, 2024. This phenomenon happens when the moon passes between the sun and the earth, casting a shadow on the earth that blocks the sun’s light in some areas. A solar eclipse creates a halo effect of bright light around the circumference of the sun, so even a brief, unprotected glance at the sun can damage eyesight, in some cases, permanently.
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, students will be dismissed at 1:00 p.m. on April 8th. Buses will run at their regular times in the morning but, since student transportation services will not be possible during the middle of the day, there will not be student transportation services at the end of the day. 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. After-school extracurricular activities will also be canceled that day!
Eco-Team Gold Stars!
At the Greater Essex County District School Board, we encourage schools to actively participate in environmental stewardship using these principles: Refuse Reduce Reuse Recycle Mr. Edgar and the Sabre Eco-Team have been inspecting classroom recycle bins. They look for Red bins with only paper and cardboard in them. Superstar Recyclers receive a Green Star on their door and the top Recycling class is honoured with the coveted Golden Recycle Bin! Sabres, thank you for doing your part to help keep the Earth clean!
School Advisory Council News
We would like to take this opportunity to invite parents and guardians who are interested in being a part of making Southwood a great place for our students, to join the school council. The school council helps to provide our students with new experiences, fresh resources, community growth, and to represent the families for some decisions at school.
Our next meeting is Thursday, March 28th, 2024 @ 5:30pm in the library.
SAC meetings occur 4 times a year in the school library! Please contact the school if you are interested in joining. All are welcome to join!
School Advisory Councils have 3 main goals:
1. Support Academic Achievement
2. Improve School Climate
3. Strengthen Family Engagement
Sabre Healthy Snack Program
Healthy Snack programs are a wonderful way to get students crunching and munching on all sorts of healthy foods! Through the generous support of the Ontario Student Nutrition Program and the PC Children's Charity, snack bins filled with healthy snacks, such as fruits, vegetables, dairy and grains will be delivered to each classroom every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Student Attendance Procedures
At the Greater Essex County District School Board, “Every Day Counts”. Ensuring that your child attends school regularly and arrives on time is the best way to get the most out of our programs. If your child will be absent, please call the school at (519) 969-3470. You can leave a message before and after school hours, 24 hours a day on our attendance line.
Edsby is also available 24 hours a day to report absences and planned absences. If it is necessary for your child to be dismissed early, please send your child’s teacher a note or call the office. If you are picking up your child before dismissal, please come to the office to sign your child out. Thanks to our parents for helping to make our school a safe and secure place to learn!
Please ensure that the school has at least 2 emergency contacts for your child. If your information needs to be updated, please contact the office at (519) 969-3470.
Personal Electronics at School
Southwood Public School reminds students to take responsibility for the safety of their school and board devices. Use of Personal Electronic Devices during class time is at each teacher's discretion, following our code of conduct and intended for educational purposes. Students may only use technology under the supervision of a teacher during school time.
The school phones shall be used by students only in special circumstances, such as in the case of an emergency, and in all such cases, permission must be granted by staff and/or office personnel. This includes the use of classroom phones. Cell phones are not to be used by students on school property. School phones will be made available to students for emergencies. Should a student have a cell phone in their possession, it is to remain off and secured in their backpack during the school day.
Use of School Parking Lot
Due to student safety concerns, our school parking lot is not to be used for student drop off or pickup at arrival or dismissal times.
It is the responsibility of the driver to respect the signs along the road and the safety of our students and guests. Please do not stop along Cabana Road or Mount Carmel Road to pickup or drop off your student. Please use the Kiss and Ride! Our special education buses use the parking lot entry to pick up and drop off students.
Please refrain from parking at the bus bay area located along Mount Carmel Road. If you are dropping off or picking up a student outside of arrival and dismissal times, please use the “short term” parking spots near the front of the parking lot as they are the closest to the front doors of the school.
Kiss and Ride/Pick-up & Drop-off Safety Routines
- If you are using the Kiss and Ride please fully stop at the stop sign at the end of the Kiss and Ride before proceeding and watch for pedestrians using the sidewalk. There are a lot of students and other pedestrians who are walking near our school grounds during our drop-off and pick-up times.
- It is very important that all drivers wait their turn in our Kiss and Ride. Weaving in and out of the line to pull into a closer spot in the Kiss and Ride creates unsafe conditions that endanger children, parents, and staff who are in the area.
- For safety purposes, please ensure your children exit the vehicle from the door that is on the same side as the sidewalk. Exiting from the left-hand side and walking to the other side of the vehicle may cause unsafe conditions.
- Please do not use the parking lot if you are picking up or dropping off your child during pick up and drop off times. Students and parents should not be accessing the parking lot during this time as it is reserved for school and board personnel and not safe for students to be traversing due to traffic that may be in the parking lot.
- Please ensure that students are coming to school in the morning between 8:00am and 8:15am. Supervision does not start until 8:00am. Students will not be permitted on the yard prior to 8:00am and should not be gathering at the gate before 8:00am. We encourage students to come closer to 8:10am if possible. To avoid congestion we remind our Sabres to use their designated entrance when coming to school. We thank our parents/guardians for waiting at the gate when they are walking students to and from school.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this time as we continue to work together to make school a safe place for everyone!
Allergy Aware & Scent-Free Southwood & GECDSB
Within our school community there are several students who have potentially life-threatening allergies (anaphylaxis) to foods. Food allergies are predominately to peanuts and/or nuts, but may also include eggs, egg by-products, fish, and berries. Parents/Guardians are asked to please check the ingredients of all the foods your children bring to school (snacks and lunches), and avoid sending peanut butter or products with peanuts or nuts listed in the ingredients.
We feel the best way to reduce the risk of accidental exposure to these students is to respectfully ask for the co-operation of the parents/guardians within this school community to NOT send in any food for special events, birthdays, etc. The only food that should be coming to school should be for your child’s own personal consumption. Thank-you for your assistance in keeping all of our students safe! We appreciate your co-operation and understanding. For more information regarding these types of allergies, please visit www.anaphylaxis.ca.
Medical Conditions and Medications
If your child has a serious medical condition, please contact the child’s teacher and the office. We need to be provided with up-to-date information and medication. If your child receives medication on a regular basis, GECDSB Policy (Administration of Prescription Medication Policy R-AD-17) requires that you complete a consent form and complete a form with your doctor. This policy outlines the roles and responsibilities for all in the educational community to support students with possible life-threatening medical conditions. The prevalent medical conditions covered under this policy are Asthma, Anaphylaxis, Diabetes, and Epilepsy/Seizure Disorders. If your child has one of these or any other life-threatening medical conditions, please contact the school as soon as possible.
The forms and information from families will be used to complete a Plan of Care for students who have medical conditions or require medication (e.g., inhalers, epi-pens). We appreciate your assistance in ensuring all of these forms are completed and submitted to the school. Please contact the school if you have questions or require forms (519)969-3470.
Parents/guardians should administer medication at home whenever possible. When oral medication is administered by school personnel it will be kept in the office. Non- prescription oral medication as well as prescription medication requires the completion of an authorization form by a medical practitioner before medication can be administered. This form is available at the school office. The bus company also requires a copy of life-threatening forms.
Before/Afterschool Childcare Providers
Here are the licensed child care providers for Southwood Public School. Should you wish to contact them, the numbers and information are listed below.
Childcare Centre | Onsite | Contact Information |
---|---|---|
YMCA of Windsor and Essex County | YES | (519) 969-8686 www.ymcawo.ca |
Delta Chi Early Childhood Centre | No | (519) 566-8316 (519) 250-4410 360 Curry Ave., Windsor, ON http://deltachichildcare.com |
Keep up with our School News "The Southwood Source" and stay updated on everything going on at the GECDSB.
Archived editions of the Southwood Source below:
The Southwood Source - January 2024
The Southwood Source - December 2023
The Southwood Source - November 2023
The Southwood Source - October 2023
The Southwood Source - September 2023
The Southwood Source - End of June 2023
The Southwood Source - June 2023
The Southwood Source - May 2023
The Southwood Source - April 2023
The Southwood Source - March 2023
The Southwood Source - February 2023
The Southwood Source - January 2023
The Southwood Source - December 2022
The Southwood Source - November 2022
The Southwood Source - October 2022
The Southwood Source - September 2022