START-UP
As we approach the end of our second week, most of our programs are now up and running. I'd like to thank our parents, students and staff for making the return to school so successful. There is always a substantial amount of positive energy to be found in September and Hawthorne is off to a great start. We are excited about the changes designed to address the traffic concerns (increased parking, daycare pull out, crosswalk relocation) as they are already having an impact. We hope to have a path installed soon to address the uneven ground that can be found between the school and the new crosswalk. Thank you to all of the families who have chosen to walk to school so far this year!
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SCHOOL WILL BE CLOSED ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH DUE TO A NON-INSTRUCTIONAL DAY.
NEW STAFF
We are pleased to announce that a number of new staff members have joined our school community. Please help us in welcoming:
Ms. Fisher, Vice-Principal / Grade 6 Teacher
Miss Eppler, Kindergarten TeacherMrs. Cherry, Grade one Teacher
Mrs. Uppal, Grade 3 Teacher
Mrs. Quelch, Grade 3/4 Teacher
Mrs. Isopp, Supportive Learning Teacher
Mrs. Goldschmidt, Learning Assistance Teacher
Mrs. Collins, Education Assistant
TERRY FOX RUN
Parents are invited to join us for our Terry Fox Run scheduled for Friday, September 13th at 2:15pm. We will be gathering with all of our students outside to share a few words and then head out for a run on Hawthorne's fields. We will be collecting "Toonies for Terry" until Thursday, September 19th and any support would be greatly appreciated.
LIFE-THREATENING ALLERGIES
Many families have already received a letter advising them that a student in their child's classroom has a life-threatening allergy. These allergies vary from student to student and it is important that all of us at Hawthorne work to ensure a safe learning environment for every child. Aside from some food restrictions we are also asking that dogs are brought to the school with extra care. We have students who are severely allergic to canines and it is important that pets are secured on a leash and kept well away from entrances to the school building so that everyone feels safe. Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.
TRAFFIC REMINDER
International "Walk to School" Month is coming up in October and we are encouraging all students to walk, ride or roll to school as much as possible this year. Walking to school has very clear health benefits, is better for the environment and creates a safer space for our school community. We hope that you can support this initiative and continue to do so for the balance of the school year.
As students adjust to the routines and expectations of the new school year, they do not always pay attention to the safety rules when they walk to and from the school. Please take some time to discuss safety rules with your child(ren) and please drive carefully. As you are aware, we are very concerned about the safety of our students during the peak periods of drop-off and pick-up in our school driveway. The capacity of our driveway is not sufficient to accommodate the growing numbers of vehicles that use it for drop-off, pick-up, and visitor parking. In order to improve safety for our students and other pedestrians at school, and to increase the traffic flow in the roundabout, we are asking all drivers of vehicles including daycare, to observe the “Drop-off – Pick up” rules. These have been discussed by The Delta Police and Traffic Engineers from the Corporation of Delta. We thank you for your cooperation in this matter. We will monitor this and make the necessary changes where needed.
DROP-OFF / PICK-UP RULES IN SCHOOL DRIVEWAY:
- The curved lane in front of the school has been designated for "drop-off and pick-up" only. This is a FIRE LANE and there is NO PARKING ALLOWED, however, we are allowing only drop-off, pick-up and exiting. Do not leave your vehicle unattended, including Daycare providers.
- Enter the “Drop-off – Pick- up” lane and proceed forward as far as possible to the next car ahead so that other cars can enter the lane.
- Do not leave your vehicle (NO PARKING), as this blocks others from exiting.
- Keep your place in the line up. Do not cut in front of another vehicle.
- Please do not idle your car
- When driving, please do not use your cell phone
- Follow the correct flow of traffic indicated by the arrows on the road.
- Children should use the passenger side car doors that open to the sidewalk.
Our parking lot is restricted to staff for 30 minutes before and after school. The existing parking stalls are needed for school staff as well as district staff who arrive and leave our school at different times throughout the day. If possible, please consider having your child(ren) walk to school or walk to school with them. We will continue to participate in initiatives and events that promote walking to school, teach environmental responsibility and reduce car dependency. Please watch for an announcement, regarding our first “Walk to School” event.
PARENT CONNECT
Again this year our newsletters and school bulletins, as well as many PAC notices, will be posted on the Hawthorne website. You can access the website by going to http://ha.deltasd.bc.ca. There are also many other interesting and helpful links on the site for both parents and students.
SICKNESS AT SCHOOL
There are four important issues to consider as you try to determine if your child is too ill to attend school:
- The protection of your child. Their recovery could be delayed and their resistance to other illnesses reduced if they are unable to rest and recover in their home environment.
The ability of your child to function and learn at school.
- The inability of the school to meet the emotional and physical needs of a sick child.
- The protection of other children.
Please keep your child home if he/she:
- Has symptoms such as a cough, runny nose, sneezing, etc. If these symptoms do not clear up within a reasonable time, please see your family doctor.
- Has a fever.
- Is too sick to participate in all normal school activities.
- Has a suspected or know communicable disease (i.e. strep throat, pink eye, chicken pox or any other undiagnosed rash). Keep them home until they are no longer infectious.
- Students who have vomited at home or school should remain at home until they are symptom free(48 hours is recommended).
- If your child has exhibited symptoms of the H1N1 virus, they should be staying home for 5-7 days until they are able to return to day to day activities.
Should the school find it necessary to send your child home because of illness, please make sure you have made alternate arrangements when you are not available. Please inform the school of these arrangements.
Extra-Curricular Band for GRADE 4-7
The Beginner Band program is for children in Grades 4 – 7 with no previous band experience. Parents can choose to enroll their child in classes offered at Hawthorne Elementary, Holly Elementary or Ladner Elementary. Enrollment per class must be 15 children or more.
Ladner Elementary: Wednesdays, 7:30-8:30 a.m. beginning October 23
Holly Elementary: Thursdays, 7:30-8:30 a.m. beginning October 24
The Advanced Band program is for students in Grades 5-7 from all our local elementary schools plus home schooled children with one or more years of band experience. These children are encouraged to continue with their musical training in Advanced Band meeting at Hawthorne Elementary after school from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. on THURSDAY’s starting October 24th. A registration notice will be emailed to all of last year’s band students and/or distributed at the school assemblies in the middle of October.
The teachers of the program are retired high school band directors, Curt Jantzen and Margaret Behenna. They have been teaching elementary band in Ladner now for a number of years. Mr. Jantzen and Mrs. Behenna will make a presentation to students at an assembly in mid October to demonstrate the instrument choices and explain the program. Tuition is $295.
For further information, please contact:
Curt Jantzen cjband@telus.net 604 946 2309
Margaret Behenna mbehenna@telus.net 604 946 7304
