October 24, 2013

HAWTHORNE'S HAUNTED HOUSE

Mrs. Robinson's class is currently hard at work setting up the 2013 edition of Hawthorne's Haunted House.  Class will be touring through the "House" during the day on Thursday, October 31st.  There will also be an opportunity for parents or former students to tour through from 3-3:30pm on that same day.  This is a fundraiser for our grade 7 class and a $1-$2 donation is suggested.  It should be scarrrrry kids:)

COSTUME SAFETY FOR HALLOWEEN

Our student council will be hosting a "Halloween Spirit" day on October 31st and we are encouraging all of our staff and students to participate by wearing a costume.  Prizes will be drawn for some lucky participants.   We are looking forward to what should be a fun day.

Coming up with a creative disguise doesn't mean that safety needs to be forgotten, so here are some safety tips to keep in mind.

• PLEASE NOTE THAT TOY /  REPLICA WEAPONS ARE NOT PERMITTED AT HAWTHORNE
• October 31 can be a chilly night so make sure that costumes are loose enough to be worn over warm clothing but not so baggy or long that trick or treaters can trip over their costumes.
• Trick-or-treaters should wear sturdy walking shoes.
• Choose brightly-coloured costumes that will be clearly visible to motorists. For greater visibility, add or incorporate reflective tape into the costume.
• Make-up and face paint are better than wearing masks which can restrict breathing and/or vision. If you choose to use a mask make sure it is one that allows the child to see and breathe easily.
• Swords, knives and similar accessories should be made of soft, flexible material.
• Look for costumes, beards and wigs labelled "Flame-Resistant" -- nylon or heavyweight polyester costumes are best. Flame Resistant does not mean 'fire proof'. Avoid costumes with baggy sleeves or flowing skirts to minimize the risk of contact with candles and other fire sources. Costumes made of flimsy materials have been found to burn more quickly when exposed to fire sources.

Think twice before changing the colour of your eyes with cosmetic contact lenses. These cosmetic lenses should be used only under the supervision of an eye-care professional. In addition, wear time should be limited to the shortest duration possible. The lenses must never be worn while asleep, and cosmetic contact lenses should not be shared with others. 

COLDER WEATHER

During the past two weeks of fog we have seen the temperature dropping steadily.  As the weather takes a turn for the worse, we are asking parents to ensure that our students are coming to school with clothing that is appropriate for the conditions.  As well,  it would be helpful if your child had a change of clothes left at the school to account for those occasions when they might get wet or muddy from outdoor play.  Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Over the last two weeks our students and staff have been engaged in some emergency planning.  We participated in the "Shakeout B.C." initiative last week and hosted our own earthquake drill.   The drill consisted of an initial "duck, cover, hold" response followed by an evacuation, building assessment, search and then rescue.  On Monday of this week, we were engaged in "code yellow" lockout drill.  Our police liaison officer,  Cst. Doolan, was on site to oversee our efforts which involved securing/locking the school and each individual classroom.  We also worked through our communication plan with staff providing updates from their classroom via an email conference.    

Both drills have left us all feeling better prepared for an emergency.  If you should have any questions or concerns with regard to our emergency planning, please contact Mr. Carruthers at the office (mcarruthers@deltasd.bc.ca).

IMPORTANT DATES

Friday,  October 25th

Professional Day

School Closed

Wednesday,  October 30th

PAC Meeting

Library  6:30pm

Thursday, October 31st

Halloween Spirit Day

Friday, November 1st

Monthly Assembly

Gymnasium 11am

Friday, Nov. 8th

Walk to School Day

Remembrance Day Assembly

Gymnasium 11am

Monday, Nov. 11th

Remembrance Day

School Closed

October 10th, 2013

TRAFFIC CIRCLE

The early reviews for our traffic circle are quite positive.  The re-located crosswalk seems to be simplifying the process for everyone and helping to maintain a steady flow of traffic.  Despite the early success, we ask that you still consider the following:

• have your child walk or wheel to school every day
• drop off your intermediate child at either the path on Grove Avenue or at the parking lot near the Hawthorne Park tennis courts
• do not leave your car unattended in the roundabout
• watch carefully for guidance from our adult and student crossing guards
• do not park in the staff parking lot between 8:30-9am

Thank you in advance for your attention to these points.  Through our collective efforts we are working to make the traffic circle as safe as possible for our students.

PARENT / TEACHER CONFERENCES

Parents are reminded that they can call in tomorrow (Friday, Oct. 11th) from 9am-noon and 1- 3:45pm to book your conference(s) time.   We will be hosting our conferences on Wednesday, Oct. 23rd and Thursday, October 24th and this will result in an early dismissal on both days (2pm).

RECREATION PASSES CORRECTION

We would like to make a correction on some information that was provided in our previous blog entry.   As of last year,  Delta Council expanded the Recreation Pass Program and the municipality is now offering a free year pass for both grade 5 and grade 6 students.  They are also providing 10 free passes for grade seven students.  To obtain a pass,  families can visit a Delta Recreation Centre and present proof of birth date and residency in Delta.

WE DAY

On Friday, October 18th we will be taking twenty students from Hawthorne to participate in the annual WE Day event scheduled for Rogers Arena.  Students will be engaged with leading activists, speakers and entertainers. This year's event features: Kofi Annan,  Martin Luther King Jr. III, Hedley, Down With Webster and so much more.  WE Day is hosted by Craig and Marc Kielburger who have been inspiring young people for many years. We will soon be following up with our own WE Day initiatives at Hawthorne and do our part to change the world in a positive way.

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR

Mrs. Ratzlaff will once again be hosting a book fair in the library on Oct. 23 and 24.  We are in need of volunteers to assist with this event and you can contact Mrs. Ratzlaff directly (jratzlaff@deltasd.bc.ca) if you are able to help.  Thank you in advance for your support.

FAMILY HARVEST BOXES

You are invited to visit a farm to see where food comes from, learn how to plant, harvest and prepare fresh produce.  The Earthwise society has also developed a program to support families in need.   Family members can "work" the farm in exchange for a Family Harvest Box.  This program is coordinated by The Delta Food Coalition and you can find more information at the following link:  http://earthw.primesignal.com/index.php/partnership/delta-food-coalition/.


IMPORTANT DATES

Monday, October 14
Thanksgiving Day
School Closed

Thursday, October 17
Shakeout BC Emergency Drill
10:10am

Wednesday, October 23
Parent/Teacher Conferences
2pm Dismissal

Thursday, October 24
Parent/Teacher Conferences
2pm Dismissal

Friday, October 25
Non-Instructional Day
School Closed