Kortright Hills Public School
23 Ptarmigan DrivegGuelph, OntariogN1C 1B5g(519)827-1601gFax (519)827-9251
Kirk Runciman, Principal
Anne Bonnar, Office Co-Ordinator
Kim Kowch, Vice Principal
Rosemary Coghlin, Administrative Assistant
Newsletter for november, 2011
From the Principal’s Desk
October has been a busy, busy, busy
month! Great things are happening in
the classrooms and there are a lot of
activities happening around the school.
Soccer tournaments have come and gone,
cross country races have been run, Mad Science is
underway, all of the food programs are running
effectively and School Council has completed their
first fundraiser of the year.
This Isn't The Math I Remember!
How come the math my child brings home doesn't look
like the math I remember?
If you don't recognize the math in your child's
homework, think about how the world has changed
since you were in school. The math looks different
because the world is different.
Advances in science, technology, information
processing and communication, combined with the
changing workplace, make it necessary for all
students to learn more math.
The basics are changing. Arithmetic skills, although
important, are no longer enough. To succeed in
tomorrow's world, students must understand algebra,
geometry, statistics, and probability. Business and
industry demand workers who can;
·
solve real world problems
·
explain their thinking to others
·
identify and analyze trends from data, and
·
effectively utilize modern technology.
Instead of worksheets, your child may bring home
problems to investigate that are related to real lifeinvestigating salaries, life expectancy, and fair
decisions, for example. Giving students opportunities
to learn real math maximizes their future options.
Check with your school to make sure the math your
child is learning today is the math they need for
tomorrow's world. After all, the future is closer than
it may appear!
Kirk Runciman
Principal
A Warm Welcome from the Library
The library has been bustling with
activity! The library was transformed
into a pioneer schoolhouse and Grade
Three students dressed up to
participate in a mock school day with
their favourite school teacher “Miss Wilder”. Many
groups have been using the library and computer lab
to complete research and should be proud of all of
their accomplishments.
Our Boys’ and Girls’ Book Club meetings
have now been set for the next month
and it looks like we will be having some
interesting discussions. Groups range
from Grade 4 to Grade 8 and we
currently have 85 students who have
signed up! We also have a group of 46
enthusiastic Library Helpers who
have volunteered to help keep our
library organized by shelving
books during morning recess.
The Scholastic Book Fair will be arriving on December
1st and will be open for our Family Fun Day on the 3rd
from 10 am – 1 pm. Come and check out the great
selection of books and perhaps complete some
Christmas shopping. If you are available to help during
the Family Fun Day or during the following week
(December 5th - 8th), please send me an email or give
me a call.
A special thank you to our School Council for providing
the funds to support the worthwhile clubs, activities
and programs that we run in the library. As well, I
would like to thank all of the dedicated volunteers
who help in the library with various tasks and
activities. The students and staff all benefit from
your time and support.
Take time to read,
Sheila Morgan
Teacher Librarian
School Stuff
Blood Donor Clinic
Alysha, a grade 2 student at
Kortright Hills, needed 42
blood/plasma transfusions during
her treatment for leukemia.
Alysha and her family are hosting
a Blood Donor Clinic in honour of
Alysha, Wednesday November
9th, 4-8pm, Thursday November 10th,
4 - 7pm and Saturday November 12th, 8am - 1pm.
Located at the Guelph Blood Donor Clinic,
130 Silvercreek Pkwy N. There are lots of others like
Alysha who need the gift of blood. Book an
appointment on Alysha's website at
operationalysha.com. At Alysha's clinic you will also
have the opportunity to register for OneMatch - The
International Marrow and Stem Cell Network...Swab
to save a life!
Terry Fox Run
We would like to thank everyone who came out or
supported the Terry Fox Run on September 28th. It
was a special event, and the whole school participated.
Terry Fox’s remarkable determination and his
wonderful achievement were highlighted as an
inspiration for us all. KHPS raised $3900.00.
Class Disruptions
A major goal for staff and students is
to minimize class disruptions during
the school day. To assist them with
this goal, the office will keep interruptions of all
kinds to a minimum. If parents are bringing in
something for their child(ren), please bring these
items to the office with their name and grade on it.
These items will be distributed at recess breaks
throughout the day.
Report Cards
Term 1 Progress Reports will be sent
home on Friday, November 11th, 2011.
If you have any questions, about the
report, please communicate with your
child’s teacher(s).
An Important Reminder from the Guelph
Police Services
The Guelph Police School Safety Office has received
numerous concerns from school communities regarding
the safety of their students before and after school.
The primary problems are congestion of vehicles in
bus loading areas, areas that prohibit vehicle parking
and stopping and excessive speed in school zones.
Each school has a Safety Patrol Program. The
students who volunteer for this very important job
and assist students to cross safely are also at risk.
We ask that parents walking students to and from
school please cross with the Safety Patrollers and
wait for them to cross students. This will educate
younger students to cross with the Patrollers when
they start walking on their own.
“No Stopping” and “No Parking” signs are
posted in the areas that are
designated school crossings. If
vehicles are parked or stopped in
these areas, Patrollers cannot see
around them. This puts all students at risk. Please
park or stop in designated areas for drop off.
We ask that all parents and caregivers who drive or
walk their child/children to and from school, to please
make sure that all signs on the roadway and parking
lots are obeyed and to cross with the Safety
Patrollers. If we all work together, we will decrease
the odds of a child being seriously injured.
Traffic Facts
*Approximately 115 children are killed each year due
to pedestrian injuries.
*Approximately 1,800 children are hospitalized each
year due to pedestrian injuries.
*Most traffic injuries occur at non-intersection
locations, i.e. darting out into traffic.
CHOOSE SAFETY OVER CONVENIENCE -KEEP OUR STUDENTS SAFE!
Traffic Safety Tips
*Teach your children the rules of the road, starting
when they are young.
*Play act with toy cars - make the learning fun.
*Set a good example, i.e. cross at the crosswalk.
*Help your child to follow the patroller’s instructions.
*Drive cautiously in school areas.
*Participate in a carpool to reduce traffic in school
areas.
Dropping Students at School
Recently a number of parents have been taking their
students to their classrooms after the morning bell
has rung. This is a reminder that: (1) late students
need to get a late slip from the office to assist us
with our Safe Arrival Program and (2) all adults must
first sign-in in the office before proceeding into the
building. Please help us keep children safe.
Breakfast Tips
Children need breakfast to do their best
in school, yet breakfast is the most likely
meal to be skipped.
*Prepare the night before. Set the table
to make it easy on yourself or child in the morning
rush.
*Put it in a glass. Blend fruit, yogurt, juice and milk
(check a recipe for amounts) in a glass for a quick
and nutritious breakfast.
*Make it interesting. Keep your child’s favourite
healthy breakfast items on hand.
Supply Lunch Supervisor Needed!
We currently have three paid lunch hour supervisors
who supervise a small cluster of classrooms for 20
minutes, and then move out to help supervise the
playground for 40 minutes, from 12:40 - 1:40 each
day. If you are available to come in on an "as needed"
basis if one of the supervisors is unable to work,
please call Mrs. Kowch at the school, extension 224.
Inclement Weather
It is the parent’s responsibility to
determine whether or not it is safe
for his or her 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 they know what to do and
where to go if their bus is more than 15 minutes late.
Remember to listen to CJOY 1460 AM or Magic 106.1
FM in the event of inclement weather. They will
broadcast bus cancellations or school closures.
Listen for messages for the City of Guelph -Yellow
Card.
Cold Days + Wet Weather = Extra Clothes
Please ensure that students come to
school dressed for the cold winter
weather. Gloves, scarves, hats and
boots are a must to keep students
warm and dry. All students are
expected to go out for recess to take
advantage of the fresh air and exercise.
Indoor shoes are essential to help keep
our classrooms clean and dry. It is a good
idea to send along some extra clothes with your child.
An extra pair of dry socks and mittens is always good
things to have tucked into the backpack.
Taking Medicine at School
Please remember that student
medication must be stored and
administered from the school
office. It is important for the safety of the child
taking the medicine and other students in
the school. In order to give any
medication, the appropriate form must be
completed and signed by the student’s
parent or guardian. Please call the school
when you require these forms
Information Updates
Please help us to keep your records up-to-date. If
your telephone numbers change or your employer’s
telephone number changes, please contact the office.
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 519827-1601 ext 200 or by sending a note.
The office will notify the teacher if
your child(ren) is/are going to be absent or late.
Helping Your Child Succeed
“A healthy lunch and snacks provides
children with the energy and nutrients
they need to grow and learn and play at
school.” Eat Right Ontario
Cool lunches happen when kids get to plan and make
the foods they love to eat. Having children take
ownership of preparing lunches is a recipe for
success!
Examples of “Cool Lunch Guide”
Starting with the grain
Bagel; Pita bread; Hamburger/ Hot dog bun;
Bread; Flatbread/ tortilla; Pasta/ noodles; Rice;
English muffin; Muffins; Crackers; Breadsticks.
On top, in between, or on the side
Cheese (shredded, cubed, sliced); Cream
cheese; Cottage cheese;
Luncheon meat; Peanut
butter*; Hardboiled egg;
Leftover chicken or turkey;
canned fish (tuna, salmon…); Tofu; Hummus; Canned
beans.
Crunch!
Carrots; Celery; Lettuce; Peppers;
Cucumber; Apple; Pear; Strawberries;
Oranges; Bananas; Broccoli; Cauliflower;
Salsa; Pickles.
Thirst quenchers!
Water; Milk, white or chocolate milk;
100% fruit juice; Vegetable juice or
cocktail; Yogurt and fruit shakes.
Kid pleasing additions!
Yogurt – for eating or dipping fruit or vegetables;
Cereal bar; Pudding; Canned fruit; Snack size
chocolate bar; Squares (date, rice cereal…); Raisins;
Mini-cupcakes; Cookies (oatmeal, raisin…).
~ Dietitians of Canada (www.dietitians.ca/eatwell)
How to get the most out of Reading Time
Reading time with your child can be much more
effective than simply reading out loud. In order to
encourage true reading comprehension, you must
discuss what you have just read. This
will encourage an increase in
vocabulary, critical thinking, and the
art of conversation and discussion.
Boost your child’s reading comprehension by
incorporating the following “high-impact” strategies:
activating prior knowledge, predicting, questioning,
drawing inferences, visualizing, evaluating, finding
important ideas, and summarizing as described below:
Strategies to Maximize Reading
Comprehension
Before Reading
Activate prior knowledge by looking at the title or
cover picture and asking them to
relate the topic to what they
already know or to a story they
read previously. Or, have them
predict what the story may be about or who
the main character might be.
During reading
Stop and ask questions that will make your child think
about the story, e.g., “Why?”, “What next?”, “What
for?”, or “What does this mean?” Draw inferences by
asking about implied messages in the text, “Why do
you think the author chose to include a dragon in the
story?” Help them visualize and gain deeper
understanding by asking, “Create a picture in your
mind of what the castle looks like and describe it for
me.”
After reading
Evaluate the story; “How did you like the ending?
What would you change?” Find important ideas; “Why
did the boy climb the mountain?” Gauge their
understanding of the text by asking them to
summarize what you just read or a favourite portion
of the story.
KHPS Sports Teams
A huge thank you to Ms. Kramer and Ms.
MacLean, for coaching the Junior and
Intermediate cross country teams
respectfully; and to Mrs. Snell and
Ms. Drew for coaching the boys &
girls soccer.
Congratulations to all students
who were participants, and who
represented our school with
excellent team spirit and
sportsmanship.
Way to go, Cobras!
Lost and Found
Our Lost-and-found box is nearly full and we are only
two months into the school year! Please take a
moment to check the items in the box. You may be
surprised at what you find! Please put name labels in
your child’s clothing – it really helps!!
No Dogs on the Schoolyard
A reminder to parents and visitors that
dogs are not allowed on the school yard
during the school day. As much as we like
and trust our own dogs, when they are on
school property and encounter fast moving
and often unpredictable children, they can become
stressed and a dog’s natural reaction is to bite.
Please help us to safeguard our students by keeping
your dog(s) off school property during school hours.
Remembrance Day
This year, our Remembrance Day
services for students will be held in
the gym. Poppies will be handed out
prior to the assemblies. Money
donations for the poppies may be
handed in to home-room teachers on
November 10th and 11th.
Thank you for remembering our past and present
members of the armed forces and Peace Corps.
Safety Tips for Halloween
1. Wear costumes that are
bright and reflective.
2. If possible, wear make-up
instead of a mask.
3. Carry a flashlight with fresh
batteries to avoid tripping
and falling.
4. When trick or treating, go out with an adult or
in group of people.
5. Do not eat your candy until your parents have
checked it at home.
6. Say “please” and “thank you” when trick or
treating.
7. Older students should plan their route and
let an adult know where you will be.
8. If possible, bring a cell phone for
emergencies and wear a watch to keep track
of the time.
9. Walk, do not run. Walk along
sidewalks and cross the
street at corners or
intersections.
10. Do not enter a stranger’s
home. Stay on the
porch while trick or treating.
Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!
From School Council
Thanks to all the families
that participated in our Fall
Fundraiser! Preliminary
calculations show that we
raised approximately
$3500, which will be spent
to help improve student learning at Kortright Hills
Public School. Pick up for Tupperware and Norcard
orders will be on November 16th.
Council met on Monday, Oct. 17th to discuss the
budget for the school year. Approximately $20,000
was available for disbursement, and was allocated to
our music department, library, as well as the primary,
junior and intermediate divisions (technology
purchases for the classrooms).
We are excited to announce
that we are building a Kinder
“Garden”! The
kindergarten staff
and students are looking forward to
the planting of a butterfly garden
using native species in the
kindergarten area. This project will commence in the
Spring of 2012 and we need your help!
Anyone who is interested in donating
materials or time to the project,
please contact Angela Krueger at
akrueger@golden.net. Items we are
hoping to have donated include:
flagstones, untreated wood, extralarge tree transplanting pots, natural mulch and
gardening tools.
Watch those
backpacks for
information on the
upcoming Poinsettia
fundraiser. Order
forms will be sent
home on or around
November 3rd. Please
consider decorating both your
home and place of work with some festive plants – a
great way to get into the Christmas spirit (while
supporting learning initiatives at KHPS). Pick-up of
the poinsettias will be during Family Fun Day on Dec.
3rd.
Family Fun Day is scheduled for Dec.
3rd – mark it on your calendar!
If you have an old artificial
Christmas tree you are planning
to replace, please consider
donating your “old” tree to the
school. Tree donations can be
dropped off at the school
office prior to December 3rd.
The third and final presenter of our
Speaker Series is Susan DafoeAbbey. She will be visiting
Kortright Hills on Monday,
November 21st at 7 pm. Susan will
be discussing “Confident Kids:
Cultivating an Emotionally Safe
School Experience”. Babysitting
is available in the library on the
night of the event. Please spread
the word to ensure our community
takes advantage of this valuable
resource. Please RSVP by contacting the school at
519-827-1601.
Our food programs are well
underway. Anyone still wanting
to add pizza, hotdogs or milk to
their child's lunch menu can contact Janet
Weigel at 519-837-3521.
The next council meeting is scheduled for Monday,
November 14th in the library.
All are welcome!