Tuesday, December 16th

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank the Hawthorne community for its ongoing support of our efforts at the school. The caring culture that exists at Hawthorne is evident in all the work being done by our staff, students and parents.  The new year is already shaping up as a busy one for our school, with countless special events and great opportunities for learning. In the meantime, I hope that the holidays provide you with plenty of time to spend with those closest to you. On behalf of the staff at Hawthorne, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

After a sleepless night our students awoke on Friday, December 12th to very favourable reviews for the 2014 Christmas Concert.  By all accounts it was a great success.  Thank you to all the parents, grandparents, friends and relatives who joined us for the show.  Special thanks to our teachers who invested so much time into preparing our students and creating the decorations.  It was a great way to end what has been a challenging year in education.

GRADE 7 BOTTLE DRIVE

Please note that our grade 7 students are hosting a bottle drive on Saturday, January 10th.  They are asking that you please put aside any potential donations until that day when they will be travelling through the neighbourhood.  Proceeds from the bottle drive will support the expenses associated with the grade 7 ski program and year-end activities.

DELTA COMMUNITY ANIMAL SHELTER
Morgan Levins, a grade 6 Hawthorne student, would like to you to
consider the needs of the Delta Community Animal Shelter this Christmas.  DCAS is provides a safe, temporary home that offers medical and emotional support.  They are always in need of financial support and you can find out more at this link:  http://www.delta.ca/services/animal-shelter/overview.

IMPORTANT DATES

Friday, Dec. 19th
Hot Lunch / Walk to School

Monday, January 5th
Return From Winter Break

Friday, January 9th
Monthly Assembly
11am Gymnasium

Friday, January 16th
Walk To School Day

Wednesday, January 28
PAC Meeting
6:30pm Library

Friday, January 30
Hot Lunch Day

December 3, 2014

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Thank you for returning your Christmas Concert reply forms last week.  It looks as though we will be able to accommodate everyone including those people who have made some special requests due to extenuating circumstances.   Please note the following points:

• the afternoon show will begin  at 1:30pm on December 11th and we encourage our guests to walk to the school
• the evening show will begin at 6:30pm December 11th and families are asked to leave the cars at home as our parking lot has very limited space
• students should arrive for the evening show at 6:15pm.  They can enter through the office door and head to their classroom
• if you are attending the afternoon show, please do your best to ensure that your child is in attendance for the evening show so that we have all the necessary voices
• the show should run approx. 60 min in length

Students and staff are excited about presenting this year's concert that will feature "Pete the Cat" and his discovery of what Christmas is all about.  It should be a festive occasion and we look forward to seeing you there.

OFFICE DECORATIONS

Hawthorne's staff, students and parents were provided with a treat on Monday morning of this week.  We arrived to find our office decorated as a winter wonderland featuring an igloo, polar bears, snowmen, snowflakes and a Christmas tree.  We would like to thank our parent volunteers (Mrs. Ranu, Mrs. Lawless and Mrs. Pryce) and some student helpers (Gabby and Bailey Ranu, Brittney Salikin from DSS).  It is a great display and the extra efforts are appreciated!

REPORT CARDS

Parents are reminded that report cards will be issued on Wednesday, Dec. 17th for all students.  These progress reports represent a snapshot of where your child is at the moment.  Please keep in mind that this assessment is also based on an abbreviated term.

IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Please note that we have had some neighbours express concern about the parking and traffic near their homes during the drop-off and pick up times. One neighbour cannot access her driveway because of cars that are parked and left unattended.  We are asking that you be mindful of these concerns.  As well,  please help to keep our students from running on neighbouring lawns.  

DELTASSIST

Our "Me To We" student committee has been coordinating the collection of non-perishable food items over the last two weeks.  We are also collecting "loonies" or "twoonies" in support of those Delta residents who are in need.  Our food and money drive will conclude on Friday, December 5th.  Thank you for your support.

HOUR OF CODE

The Hour of Code is a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries and serves as a 60 minute introduction to computer science designed to demystify code and show that anybody can learn the basics.   We are encouraging students, staff and parents to check out the following website for some very easy to follow tutorials: www.hourofcode.com.

GRADE 7 BOTTLE DRIVE

Please note that our grade 7 students are hosting a bottle drive on Saturday, January 10th.  They are asking that you please put aside any potential donations until that day when they will be travelling through the neighbourhood.  Proceeds from the bottle drive will support the expenses associated with the grade 7 ski program and year-end activities.

DELTA TEACHING ASSISTANT CERTIFICATE PROGRAM (DTAC)

At this free information session, a panel of speakers will provide you with information about the Delta Teaching Assistant Certificate program’s structure, schedule, and application process, and about the typical role of an Education Assistant in public schools.  Delta Teaching Assistant Certificate Program participants develop knowledge and skills necessary to work with K-12 students with special physical, behavioural, or learning needs.  The part-time program is offered over 10 months, with evening and Saturday classes and 6 weeks of full-time practicum experience.

Delta Manor Education Centre, Action Room

ID: 13264        Monday, 7:00 pm

1 session         February 2      FREE

INFORMATION PACKAGES FOR FALL 2015, including Application Forms, are available for download from the Delta School District website: http://web.deltasd.bc.ca/content/programs/continuingeducation/dtac

The deadline for applications for the Fall 2015 program is Friday, March 6, 2015. 

Register now by calling Delta Continuing Education at 604-940-5550, or on-line at  http://ConnectandLearn.deltasd.bc.ca.

IMPORTANT DATES

Friday, Dec. 5th
Crazy Hair Day
All Day

Friday, Dec. 5th
Monthly Assembly
1:15pm Gymnasium

Thursday, Dec. 11th
Christmas Concert
1:30pm and 6:30pm

Friday, Dec. 19th
Hot Lunch / Walk to School

November 17, 2014

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Further to last week's email, we are pleased to announce that Hawthorne will be hosting its annual Christmas Concert on Thursday, December 11th.  There will be two shows (1:30pm and 6:30pm) and a reply form will be sent home on November 24th so that parents can indicate which show their family plans to attend.  Please keep in mind that due to our gym's capacity,  families will only be able to attend one of the shows and we will be restricting families to 2 tickets for the evening show or 4 tickets for the afternoon performance. We look forward to what should be a fun day of holiday cheer.

DELTASSIST

Our student "We Day" committee will be collecting food and money for Deltassist beginning on Monday, November 24th until Friday December 5th.  We are hoping for donations of non-perishable food items and/or a loonie or toonie to support Delta families in need. Your support would be greatly appreciated. If you, or someone you know, is in need of extra support during the holiday season, please consider Deltassist's Christmas programs.   Registered families can have access to food and toys. You can click here for more details and to check the eligibility requirements.

STUDENT COUNCIL

On Wednesday, November 12th our Student Council met for the first time this year.  Their initial responsibility was hosting a vote in their classroom to choose a new school logo.  All of our students were provided with a vote and the school-wide results were tabulated. In the end, students have chosen the logo on the right.  This logo will be personalized to include "Hawthorne" along with our gold and navy blue colour scheme. We will also be removing the basketball. Our plan is to order school jerseys and offer this new logo on a line of clothing in the spring.

Our students also met to plan a "spirit day" for Friday, November 28th.  We will be asking staff and students to dress up their hair for crazy hair day. Some ideas may include: temporary colour, braiding, spiking, curls, 80's feathering or wearing a wig, fake moustache or beard.  We will have prizes for some lucky participants and it should be a fun day at Hawthorne.
  
Here is our student council for this year:

Grade 3:  Alexis Valle, Mattais Ljungberg, Dimitri Boufeas, Erin Wingham, Avani Johal

Grade 4: Sean Fraser, Taylor Butcher, Alyssa Aulik, Rio MacDougall

Grade 5: Tye Hemenway, Brianna Barnes, Caden Pacaud

Grade 6: Reece Palmer, Ava Da Silva, Sierra Lunan-Bramwell,  Zion Fairs-Prasad

Grade 7: Brooklyn Drake, Levi Froude, Carson Hemenway, Carson Gray, Emily Morris, 

MONTHLY VIDEO

You can view the latest monthly video by clicking here.

TARDINESS

Each year at this time, we notice an increase in tardiness and we are asking for parents to help us resolve this issue.  Chronic tardiness impacts the learning of not just the student who is late but also the classroom that is interrupted on a regular basis to accommodate a child who is late in arriving.  Your attention to this issue would be greatly appreciated and we are thankful for the vast majority of students who are at school and ready to learn by 8:55am.

SNOW PASSES: Grade 4 and 5

The snow is beginning to fall and winter is just around the corner. Get a Grade 4 & 5 SnowPass for your nine and ten year olds  and get them out on the slopes this winter! Pick up a SnowPass for your 4th or 5th grader and save this winter. Snowstorms are already starting to hit parts of Canada and with all this snow comes all sorts of fun! Don't let your kids spend the winter indoors, get them out and active; try skiing and snowboarding this winter with the Grade 4 & 5 SnowPass.

Your kids have never skied or snowboarded before? No problem! With all the snow we are expecting this season, it's the perfect time to get them started. The Canadian Ski Council has everything you need to make it easy and affordable for your children to learn. Just register for a Grade 4 & 5 SnowPass for your child and receive three free lift tickets at each and every participating ski area, all across Canada. With over 150 locations participating in the program, there are hundreds of opportunities for your kids to ski and snowboard this winter!

Registering your child for a SnowPass is easy and open to any child in grade 4 or 5 (born in 2004 or 2005). Application forms are being distributed at most elementary schools across Canada and can also be found online at: www.snowpass.ca. Online registration is fast and easy, just visit www.snowpass.ca, upload your child's picture and proof of age, enter your method of payment and presto, your child's personalized SnowPass will be mailed directly to your home in days.

The Grade 4 & 5 SnowPass is a national program and is valid at over 150 ski areas across Canada including 32 ski areas in British Columbia, 19 ski areas in Alberta, 1 ski area in Saskatchewan, 2 ski areas in Manitoba, 33 ski areas in Ontario, 57 ski areas in Quebec, 8 in Atlantic Canada and 1 in the Yukon.  With ski areas participating across Canada, families will not have to travel far to put the SnowPass to use. Kids can easily track how many lift passes they have left by visiting www.snowpass.ca. No matter where you live, everyone can take advantage of this fantastic offer. The only cost is a small administration/postage fee of $29.95 including taxes.

If this is your child's first time skiing or snowboarding, the Canadian Ski Council has it covered.  Sign up for a Discover Learn to Ski or Snowboard lesson package, which includes a lesson with a certified ski or snowboard instructor, lift ticket and equipment rental, all for a very low price. Check out www.skicanada.org for a full list of ski areas that offer Discover lesson packages and their package prices.

DELTA CONTINUING EDUCATION

IMPORTANT DATES:

Wednesday, Nov. 19th

Picture Retake Day

Friday, November 21st

Professional Day

School Closed

Tuesday, Nov. 25th

DEAR (Drop Everything & Read) DAY

Tuesday, Nov. 25th

PAC Meeting 

6:30pm Library

Friday, Nov. 28th

Hot Lunch Day

Thursday, Dec. 11

Christmas Concert

1:30pm / 6:30pm

AIR CADETS

Please note that the 828 Hurricane Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron is hosting an Open House on Wednesday, November 26th from 6:30-9:30pm.  As Canada's largest youth program, the Air Cadets offer exciting opportunities for students aged 12-18.  For more information visit www.828rcacs.weebly.com or contact via email at aircadets828@hotmail.com.

November 6, 2014

REMEMBRANCE DAY

Hawthorne will be hosting its Remembrance Day Service on Monday, November 10th beginning at approximately 11am in our gymnasium.  We have a number of classes and students who will be presenting in honour of the many Canadians who have provided service for our country.  Parents are welcome to attend this service.   We will also be providing students and staff with poppies to be worn on this day.  These poppies are provided by the local legion and donations will be collected on November 10th.  Any support you can provide will be greatly appreciated.  Please note that the school will be closed on Tuesday, November 11th.

NEW RECYCLING PROGRAM
Over the summer Hawthorne saw its traditional garbage cans replaced by 5 new recycling centers.  Staff and students have been adjusting to the new disposal routines over the first month of school and outside of a few hiccups, the program is running quite smoothly.   Each recycling centre provides us with 4 bins to choose from: refundables, non-refundable recyclables, organics and general waste.  We had some fun with this at our last assembly when we created two teams and had them correctly sort some "waste" as quickly as they could.

This effort is all part of a greater waste reduction initiative for Metro Vancouver.  With this in mind,  we are asking for parents to assist us by working towards a litterless lunch.  Here are some ideas to consider for litterless/no waste lunches:

- a reusable lunch bag or box (not a throw-away, single-use bag)
- reusable containers for packing food (no plastic wrap/bags, foil, pre-packaged foods)
- reusable drink containers for drinks
- organic waste that can be taken home or recycled at school
- non-disposable cutlery and cloth napkins

We understand that busy lives can make this a challenge but any support for this initiative would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you in advance.

DROP EVERYTHING AND READ DAY (DEAR DAY)

We will be celebrating our 4th annual DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) Day at Hawthorne this year on Tuesday, November 25.  Evidence suggests that children who read for enjoyment every day not only perform better in school than those who don’t, but also increase their general knowledge, develop a broader vocabulary and a better understanding of the world around them.  We have invited several influential people from our community to read to our students and also share personal experiences of how reading has helped them in their chosen career.  We are excited to welcome retired Hawthorne staff, Canadian National Soccer goalie and Sportsnet broadcaster, Paul Dolan, The Beat 94.5 radio morning show personality Jonny Staub, Delta Police Chief Jim Cessford, local author Ashley Spires and Mayor Lois Jackson just to name a few. Special thanks to Mrs. McGill and Mrs. Ratzlaff for coordinating this event.  We look forward to an incredible day of celebrating reading.

WE DAY

Twenty students from Hawthorne participated in the annual WE Day event  hosted at Rogers Arena on Wednesday, October 15th. Students were engaged with leading activists, speakers and entertainers. This year's event featured: Selena Gomez, Spencer West, Jennifer Lopez, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Mustafa the Poet and so much more.  WE Day was 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.  Special thanks to our teacher sponsors, Ms. Retallick and Mr. Granum, for their work in coordinating this effort.

MEETING WITH TEACHERS

This is just a reminder that teachers are available to meet with parents outside of the parent/teacher conferences that were recently held.  Please be sure to arrange an appointment with a teacher rather than arrive at the classroom for a "quick chat".  Unfortunately,  these conversations can often disrupt classroom routines for the teacher and students.  If you would like to meet with your child's teacher,  please send a request through the communication book (planner), via email or by phone. Thank you for your consideration.


IMPORTANT DATES

Friday, November 7th

Monthly Assembly

Gymnasium 11am

Monday, Nov. 10th

Walk to School Day

Remembrance Day Assembly

Gymnasium 11am

Tuesday, Nov. 11th

Remembrance Day

School Closed

Wednesday, Nov. 19th

Picture Retake Day

Friday, November 21st

Professional Day

School Closed

Tuesday, Nov. 25th

DEAR (Drop Everything & Read) DAY

Tuesday, Nov. 25th
PAC Meeting 
6:30pm Library

Friday, Nov. 28th
Hot Lunch Day

Wednesday, October 22nd

TRAFFIC AT HAWTHORNE

As we enter our second month of school, parents are reminded to avoid driving their child to school whenever possible. The weather has not been very cooperative over the last few weeks but the increase in traffic seems to exist regardless of the weather. The increased congestion does create a genuine safety concern for our students and taxes the skills of our crossing guards.  If you must drive, please consider the following alternatives: dropping off at the pathway on Grove Avenue or at the parking lot for Hawthorne Park. Thank you in advance for your attention to this issue.

HAWTHORNE'S HAUNTED HOUSE

Mrs. Robinson's class is currently hard at work setting up the 2014 edition of Hawthorne's Haunted House. Classes will be touring through the "House" during the day on Friday, 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

We will be hosting a "Halloween Spirit" day on Friday, 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. 

MONTHLY VIDEO

On Friday, October 10th our school met for its first monthly assembly.   We focussed on the notion of "responsibility" and enjoyed a presentation by Mr. Coghlan and Ms. Harris' class along with some grade 7's who helped introduce our home reading program with Ms. Ratzlaff. You can view our latest monthly video by clicking here.

BOOK FAIR

Please note that Hawthorne will be hosting a Book Fair in the library on Wednesday, October 22nd and Thursday, October 23rd.  Our school librarian, Mrs. Ratzlaff, is coordinating this effort to raise funds in support of our library's needs. Special thanks to the many parents who have volunteered to help out at the fair.   

COLDER WEATHER

As the weather begins to take 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 began by reviewing our fire drill procedures on October 9th. We also 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.  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

Wednesday, October 22nd
Parent-Teacher Conferences
2pm Dismissal

Thursday, October 23rd
Parent Teacher Conferences
Hot Lunch Day
2pm Dismissal

Friday,  October 25th

Professional Day

School Closed

Monday, October 27th

PAC Meeting

Library  6:30pm

Friday, October 31st

Halloween Spirit Day

Friday, November 7th

Monthly Assembly

Gymnasium 11am

Monday, Nov. 10th

Walk to School Day

Remembrance Day Assembly

Gymnasium 11am

Tuesday, Nov. 11th

Remembrance Day

School Closed