Kortright Hills Public School
23 Ptarmigan DriveGuelph, OntarioN1C 1B5(519)827-1601Fax (519)827-9251
Wendy Donaldson, Principal
Della Broderick, Office Coordinator
Amy Ewing, Vice Principal
Rosemary Coghlin, Administrative Assistant
Newsletter for December, 2014
From the Principal’s Desk
November has been an incredible month at Kortright
Hills. Students have been involved in intramurals,
teams, clubs, and learning in their classrooms, but they
have also been involved in learning about how we can
make our community strong.
During the 3rd week of November, schools across our
Board have focused on Bullying Prevention Week
Activities. Last year at Kortright Hills, we learned
that most students in our school feel very safe. A
small portion of our students however, indicated that
they feel unsafe at our school because they feel they
are made fun of for what they wear and for not
feeling as smart as other people. It was not okay for
the staff and students at Kortright that students felt
that way at our school. We decided to focus on how
we would make the school community stronger by
learning about and celebrating our differences,
considering how we each contribute to our community
and learning to have some common language in our
school when someone does something that hurts or
upsets us. Bullying Prevention Week for those at
Kortright became a week to really think about how we
treat each other, how we value each other and how we
will manage conflict together when it arises. Special
thanks goes out to Mrs. Katsuno, Ms. Holliday and Ms.
Ewing for their work with this school-wide initiative.
The school community was all "a buzz" with our
discussions about what made us different. They began
by openly discussing things they struggled with and
they considered what equity really meant in Canada. I
am very proud of the work that is being done by the
staff and students at Kortright; their commitment to
working hard building our common strengths, a true
sense of belonging for everyone and openly talking
about the things that are difficult when they arise.
The goal always focused on making us a healthy and
equitable school family. As we head into December, I
would like to wish all of you the best for the holiday
season. Many of our students will celebrate Christmas
this December but many others will participate in
other important traditions and celebrations at this
time of year. Whatever this month brings you, may it
be filled with some time with family, friends and
opportunities to gather as a community.
Wendy Donaldson
Principal, Kortright Hills P.S.
Welcome from the Library
Have you completed your Holiday shopping yet? Please
consider shopping at our upcoming Scholastic Book
Fair. Books make great gifts and up to 60% of
every purchase is returned to our school.
The Scholastic Book Fair arrives Thursday, December
4th. Students will be visiting the
library for a preview, and sales
will begin at 3:00 on Friday,
December 5th. Please drop by
the library on Saturday,
December 6th during the Family
Fun Day event. Sales will continue until Wednesday,
December 10th.
Book Fair Hours
Fri., Dec. 5th
Sat., Dec. 6th
Mon., Dec. 8th
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
10 am - 1 pm Family Fun Day
8:00 am - 10:00 am
2:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Tues., Dec. 9th
8:00 am - 10:00 am
2:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Wed., Dec. 10th
8:00 am - 10:30 am
Cash, Cheque, Debit & Credit accepted
Thanks in advance for supporting this Literacy fundraiser which will help us to continue to provide a
variety of books for students to access through the
library, as well as providing our staff with high quality
resources and literacy materials to support learning in
the classroom.
Come and tour the school, see the classes, and meet
the teachers.
A special thank you to the parents and students who
have volunteered to help with the Book Fair. I couldn't
do it without each one of you!
In light of the approaching holiday season, the staff
at Kortright Hills has decided to
continue their participation in
charitable giving. We have decided to
participate in the Adopt-a-Family
project at Christmas time this year.
We are adopting 4 families and each division in the
school, primary, junior, intermediate and a combined
kindergarten and staff will be
responsible for raising funds to
purchase the gifts and food
vouchers for each family.
Our last day for donations is
December 5th
Thank you for your continued support of our library
programs,
Sheila Morgan
Teacher Librarian
sheila.morgan@ugdsb.on.ca
[Link]http://bit.ly/KHPSLibrary
https://sites.google.com/a/ugcloud.ca/khpslibrarylearning-commons/
Suggestions
If you are looking for Christmas presents for that
student who is hard to buy for, remember BOOKS
make great gifts. Ten good reasons why books make
the best presents:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Books don’t have to be assembled.
Books don’t need batteries.
Books never come in the wrong size or colour.
Books don’t need spare parts.
Books don’t need to be serviced by a dealer.
Books don’t need watering or fertilizer.
Books don’t need extension cords.
Books don’t have zippers that break.
Books don’t bite, scratch or kick.
Books don’t go out of style.
*Don’t forget to attend the Scholastic Book Fair, in
the school library, on Family Fun Day!
School Stuff
Dates to Remember
nd
th
Christmas Break - December 22 to January 5 2015.
March Break - March 16th March 20th 2015.
Grade 8 Information Night
When: January 14th 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Where: College heights Secondary School
COME SEE EDUCATION THAT WORKS!
Adopt-a-Family
Lost and Found
Our lost and found is nearing capacity! Items will be
on display in the main foyer on Saturday,
December 6th during our Christmas Family
Fun Day. Please take a look to see if any of
your children’s lost clothing has been found.
Any items remaining after Thursday, December 18th
will be taken to the Salvation Army.
Before and After School Supervision
The playground is supervised by staff beginning at
8:25 am. Students should not be arriving before that
time unless they are going to a
supervised activity (e.g. sports
practice). If your child walks to
and from school, he/she should
leave the school immediately after
the bell at 3:20 and proceed directly home.
Safe Arrival - Notifying the School of a
Student Absence
The rules of the Safe Arrival program state that the
school must know why a student is not present on any
particular day. This means that school secretaries will
continue to try to contact parents until one is reached.
Please assist us by notifying the office, either by
calling at 519-827-1601 ext 200 or by sending a note.
It is important that the office is notified if your
child(ren) will be absent or late. The office will then
inform the teacher.
Morning Attendance
Please help your child to be at school when the bell
rings – 8:45 am for Intermediates, 8:50 am for JK – 6
students. This minimizes disruption for classrooms
during learning time, and it places the value of time
management on students – a life-long skill.
Please also remember to have your child
check in at the office, if he/she
is
late. If the announcements
are on, he/she will need
to wait quietly in the front
foyer until announcements are finished to check in and
receive a late pass.
Inclement Weather
It is the parents’ responsibility
to determine whether or not it
is safe for their child to leave
for school in inclement or
severe weather. A parent must
be aware of the following:
• When a bus does not travel a route in the
morning due to fog, ice, or snow conditions, it
will not travel that route in the afternoon.
• While we have an excellent transportation
system, buses may be delayed in the morning
due to traffic, poor road conditions,
mechanical breakdowns, etc.
To ensure your child is not stranded at his/her pick-up
point; please make sure he/she knows what to do and
where to go if the bus is more than 15 minutes late.
Listen for messages on your local radio station for
the City of Guelph - Yellow Card.
Bus/Taxi Cancellations
During times of inclement weather, please listen to our
local radio stations: 1460 AM CJOY, 106.1 Magic FM or
900 AM CHML, 107.9 FM CJXY, Oldies 1090 AM,
105.3 FM CHYM, 1150 AM CKOC, 102.9 FM
CKLH, 820 AM CHAM, CKCO-TV for
school transportation cancellations.
Information on bus/taxi cancellations
and school closures are also posted on
the Upper Grand District School
Board’s website: www.ugdsb.on.ca.
If your child(ren) regularly travel(s) by bus, parents
DO NOT need to inform the school of their
child(ren’s) absence when the buses/taxis are
cancelled. If, however parents of bus students drive
their child(ren) in the morning, they must also pick
them up at 3:20 p.m.
For students who walk to school,
you are asked to leave a message
on the 24 hr attendance line
(519 827-1601 ext. 200) to inform
the school of any absence or late
arrival during bus/ taxi cancellations.
PLEASE NOTE: On days when buses/taxis are
cancelled, unless otherwise informed, the school will
be open and a regular school program will be offered.
Kindergarten Registration
Kindergarten Registration will take place during the
week of February 2nd to 6th.
To register for Junior Kindergarten your child must be
four years old on or before December
31st, 2015.
To register for Senior Kindergarten
(if your child is new to our school)
he/she must be five years old on or
before December 31st, 2015.
If you can’t register during this week, please call the
school office at 519-827-1601 to arrange an alternate
time. You must bring your child’s birth
verification and his/her immunization
record and proof of address to register.
Holiday Food Drive
Kortright Hills students have decided to help fellow
citizens of Guelph who are less fortunate by
sponsoring a holiday food drive this year.
Collections for the Food Drive will begin
Monday, December 1st till Wednesday,
December 9th.
All non-perishable items will be very much
appreciated.
Playground Safety
Our play structures are now closed for the season.
They will reopen at the beginning of April
or when the ground thaws out in the
spring.
Safety Patrollers & Winter
As the chilly weather fast approaches, the
school safety officers provide hot
chocolate as a special treat to
street patrollers on duty. In order for students to
take advantage of this special offer, they must bring
in an insulated mug with a lid, to be kept at school until
the March Break.
Winter Active…
Are You Ready For The Season?
Be involved in your children’s winter activities and
make if fun and safe for everyone.
Follow these tips to keep the family safe:
1. Dress for the weather. The
outer layer should be
waterproof.
2. Wear the right gear. Helmets
must be worn for skiing,
snowboarding, skating, and
tobogganing.
3. Practice snow safety. Make sure children don’t
play in snow banks near the road, as snow
ploughs may not see them.
4. Watch for frostbite. Signs of frostbite
include tingling, numbness, burning and/or
changes in skin colour. If you suspect
frostbite go inside immediately, take off wet
clothes and replace them with warm ones. Call
your doctor if the area remains discolored or
numb.
Snowballs
With the cold weather comes the
falling of snow. Snow is a very
fun part of the winter season
for our students; however, it
can generate trouble if it is
not used appropriately. Please help us remind our
students that snow stays on the ground at school.
Bullying: It’s Up to Everyone to Stop It!
What to Do If a Child Is Being Bullied;
•
Believe what they say, listen and try to
understand their feelings
•
Involve children in community activities to help
them make friends
•
Contact the school to talk about the problem
and get support
•
Report it using the Online Bullying Reporting
Tool
Communication is important, talk to your child about
bullying and be sure to let the school know as soon
as possible if you suspect your child is being bullied.
From School Council
The School Council would like to thank everyone for
their tremendous support of our Fall Fundraiser. It
was very successful, netting $3160.00.
The contest winners were:
Classroom Pizza Party
Winner of I-Pad Mini
Winner of I-Pod
Winner of I-Pod
Mrs. Fulton’s Class
Zoey Heath
Ethan Stephenson
Michael Lit
The Family Fun Day will be held on Saturday,
December 6th from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm. This year
proceeds raised from the raffle table will go to
support the “Food & Friends” program and Sunrise
Therapeutic Riding & Learning Centre.
There will be performances from
Grade 3 Orff (10:30am), Primary Choir
(11:00am) and the School Band
(11:30am). There will be a bake table, a
raffle table, Gingerbread House Lane, refreshments,
entertainment, a craft table, and the Scholastic Book
Fair. This is also when poinsettia orders can be picked
up. This event has become a family tradition
for many in our school community and a
wonderful way to support two local
charities all while having fun! We are always
looking for volunteers to help out, so if you are
interested please fill out and return the form
attached to the Family Fun Day flyer sent home
recently.
It will be a fun event, and we hope to see you there.
As a School Council we wanted to extend our
appreciation to the school community in their
fundraising efforts and support of School Council
events. All money raised goes directly back to the
school to support teachers, classroom needs, and the
ongoing beautification of our school playground.
The next council meeting with be held at 6:30 pm on
Monday, December 15th, 2014.
December 2014
Sunday
Monday
1
7
8
Tuesday
Day 2
Day 2
2
9
Wednesday
Day3
Day 3
BOOK FAIR
14
21
15
22
Day 2
16
23
Day 3
3
Day 4
Thursday
4
Day 5
Int. Boys Volleyball
Friday
5
29
30
Day 1
6
12:40 Mad Science
BOOK FAIR ARRIVES
BOOK FAIR PREVIEWS
FAMILY
FUN DAY
10
Day 4
Gr 8 Girls HPV #2
Gr 7 Boys & Girls
Menactra
12:40 Mad Science
11
Day 5
12
13
17
18
Day 5
19
Day 4
Day 1
7:30pm
Primary Choir Singing
At Guelph Storm Game
Day 1
Centennial Band
Presentation
Christmas Assembly
9:30am
Christmas Assembly
9:30am
24
25
Christmas Day
26
Boxing Day
CHRISTMAS BREAK – SCHOOL IS CLOSED
28
Saturday
31
Jan 1
Happy New Year
CHRISTMAS BREAK – SCHOOL IS CLOSED
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR
20
27
College Heights Secondary School
Grade 8 Parent Information Night
Wednesday, Jan 14th
6:30 – 8:00 pm
Tour the school, see the classes, and meet the teachers
Come and see Education that Works
DEVELOPMENT
THROUGH DRAMA!
Dear Parents or Guardian,
Communication skills are key to success in life! With over 30 years experience internationally the Helen
O’Grady Drama Academy is the world leader and our award winning, self-development drama program has
been helping children across the world to develop social skills that make the journey through life much easier.
Success in school, business and our personal lives comes from having: high self-esteem, a natural confidence
and being an articulate communicator – with Enthusiastic, trained teachers, and a dynamic learning
environment we motivate students to participate willingly and achieve their personal best, at all levels of
development. Weekly Classes are held Sunday afternoons at:
Performance Dance Academy -340 Southgate Drive, Unit 4, Guelph
Starting January 4th (Term 2) – cost: $240.00 (plus tax) $271.80
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION SAVE THE TAX
SPACES LIMITED *REGISTER NOW* FREE FUN DRAMA CLASS OFFER
Our teachers can unlock a path to creativity through a unique performance arts curriculum:
1 hour Classes weekly for 12 weeks Kindy Drama
3-5 years
Lower Primary
5-8 years
Upper Primary
9-11 years
Youth Theatre
12-17 years
Adults
18+ years
(Starter course)
(Foundation course)
(Intermediate course)
(Advanced course)
(Specialist course)
Contact us NOW
drama@helenogrady.ca
Gift Certs Available
Give the gift of Drama this
year! ORDER NOW.
Birthday Parties too!!!
We will help your child develop excellent social skills they will need in everyday life:
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Confidence and self-esteem will increase considerably
They will meet and communicate easily with new friends
Their English language and listening skills will improve
They will have great fun!
To find out how we can make your child feel special call 416-457-1914
Email: drama@helenogrady.ca visit our website: www.helenogrady.ca *exp:15:12:14
KINDY DRAMA 3-4 years - Our Kindy Program for pre-school children has been developed by experts in early
year development so very young children learn to take their first steps into our fast-moving world with
confidence. The key to this is to allow children opportunities to develop skills in verbal communication. These
highly creative classes involve storytelling, dramatic play, speech training, creative movement, songs and many
language development activities, all based around a central theme. Some of the important life skills our Kindy
children learn include; listening, sharing, taking turns, following instructions, memory skills, vocalizing thoughts
and emotions.
PRIMARY PROGRAM 5-11 years - The Helen O’Grady Drama Academy believes the Primary years of school are
crucial in building a positive approach to life. The extensive curriculum covering these years is designed to
quickly develop in creativity, articulate communication and overall confidence. Introductory activities develop
spontaneous language work and ad-lib skills, teaching children how to role play, speak in full sentences and be
spontaneous. By doing so, young people become better at resolving conflict and handling situations that may
come up in their lives. Speech work is always a very important part of the curriculum. Children are trained, in a
fun way, how to use their voices effectively as a communication tool.
SPEECH WORK - Exercises include: Projection - training the children how to breathe and use the full power in
their young voices. Jaw, lip and tongue exercises are used to develop good articulation. Resonance exercises
help with the tone and richness of their voices. Expression exercises bring life and vitality to speech.
MOVEMENT AND IMPROVISATION - Children are taught how to use their bodies as an expressive tool, using
music, through mime and creative movement. At the Primary level, children work on improvised performance
pieces teaching them how to ad-lib and speak out with confidence and energy. Through the Helen O’Grady
method, children are able to take on a character, role-play and make up their own lines in a creative way, and
learn how to sustain their language development, allowing multiple sentence flow. At the end of the day this
training helps children to become articulate and expressive public speakers.
YOUTH PROGRAM 12 to 18 years - Designed to accommodate teenagers, our Youth program offers further
opportunities to students with a continued interest in drama. Whilst the self-development aspect is continued
in youth theatre, the approach is more theatre arts orientated. The varied and challenging programme includes,
voice work building improvisations, mini-scripts monologues, open ended duologues, soap operas, radio plays
and theatre games.
Learn through Drama! Sign up today!
www.helenogrady.ca Telephone: 416-457-1914
email: drama@helenogrady.ca
DRAMA CLASSES
For ages 3 to 17
Helping young people develop:
l Enthusiasm l Confidence
l Self esteem l Speech
l Social skills l Creativity
FREE TRIAL CLASS
Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, Guelph, Register Now!
www.helenogrady.ca l (416) 457-1914 l drama@helenogrady.ca
KINDY DRAMA
Our Kindy Program for pre-school children has been
developed by experts in early year development so very
young children learn to take their first steps into our fastmoving world with confidence. The key to this
is to allow children opportunities to develop
skills in verbal communication. These
highly creative classes involve storytelling,
dramatic play, speech training, creative
movement, songs and many language
development activities, all based around a
central theme. Some of the important life
skills our Kindy children learn include;
listening, sharing, taking turns, following
instructions, memory skills, vocalizing
thoughts and emotions.
PRIMARY PROGRAM
The Helen O’Grady Drama Academy believes the Primary
years of school are crucial in building a positive
approach to life. The extensive curriculum covering
these years is designed to quickly develop in creativity,
articulate communication and overall confidence.
Introductory activities develop spontaneous language work
and ad-lib skills, teaching children how to role play,
speak in full sentences and be spontaneous. By doing
so, young people become better at resolving conflict and
handling situations that may come up in their lives. Speech
work is always a very important part of the curriculum.
Children are trained, in a fun way, how to use their
voices effectively as a communication tool.
SPEECH WORK
Exercises include: Projection - training the children how to
breathe and use the full power in their young voices. Jaw, lip
and tongue exercises are used to develop good articulation.
Resonance exercises help with the tone and richness of their
voices. Expression exercises bring life and vitality to speech.
MOVEMENT AND IMPROVISATION
Children are taught how to use their bodies as an
expressive tool, using music, through mime and creative
movement. At the Primary level, children work on improvised
performance pieces teaching them how to ad-lib and speak
out with confidence and energy. Through the Helen O’Grady
method, children are able to take on a character, role-play and
make up their own lines in a creative way, and learn how to
sustain their language development, allowing multiple sentence
flow. At the end of the day this training helps children to become
articulate and expressive public speakers.
YOUTH PROGRAM
Designed to accommodate teenagers,
our Youth program offers further
opportunities to students with a
continued interest in drama. Whilst the
self-development aspect is continued in
youth theatre, the approach is more theatre
arts orientated. The varied and challenging
programme includes, voice work building
improvisations, mini-scripts monologues,
open ended duologues, soap operas, radio
plays and theatre games.