Thursday, September 29th

OPEN HOUSE
Thank you to all of the families who joined us for last week's Open House. It was a great night for people to get re-acquainted with each other and check out some of the happenings at Hawthorne.   We had a positive response to our Scavenger Hunt with hundreds of participants.   Special congratulations to the Balquiedra, Kittson, Last, Boufeas and Dakiniewich families.  They successfully completed the challenges and have each won TWO front row seats to our Christmas Concert in December.

TERRY FOX RUN
On Friday, September 16th Hawthorne participated in its annual Terry Fox Run. Our grade seven students led us through the course.  Special thanks to Ms. Wilson (our VP) for coordinating our efforts and to those families who supported our fundraising efforts with all funds donated to the Terry Fox Foundation.

MONTHLY ASSEMBLIES

Parents are invited to join us for our Monthly Assemblies which take place on the first Friday of every month (with some exceptions).  These assemblies feature different discussion topics, student activities, video highlights and a group dance. Our next assembly is scheduled for Friday, October 7th at 11am.  We hope that your schedule allows you to attend.

HOMEWORK GUIDELINES

These guidelines seek to find some common ground on the issue of Homework at Hawthorne.   There will no doubt be some exceptions to these guidelines but they represent the ideal that we will strive for.  We ask that you discuss this issue with your child’s teacher at the beginning of each year.

Homework should…

-       reinforce taught skills and review material covered

-       foster time management skills

-       be a reasonable amount of time considering a student’s learning needs

-       not be every day with the exception of reading/spelling programs

-       support the review of basic concepts

-       consist of unfinished classroom work

-       involve preparing for tests

Students should…

-       ensure that they have the materials required for home

-       understand the assignment criteria

-       complete work to the best of their ability

-       use the planner/communication book to keep parents informed

-       use time effectively and avoid distractions at home

-       review material covered in preparation for assessment

-       read every day (independently or with an adult)

Parents should…

-       show an interest in their child’s work

-       support  their child’s learning without doing the work

-       foster time management skills

-       create a quiet work space and establish homework routines

-       read regularly with their child

-       monitor assignments using the planner / communication book

-       review assignment criteria from teacher

-       advise the classroom teacher if homework is becoming overwhelming

Teachers should…

-       ensure that the work is important for learning

-       provide feedback on the homework when needed

-       use the planner / communication book to record tasks

-       provide written criteria / instructions for take home assignments

-       provide substantial notice with regard to projects

-       avoid, whenever possible, assigning homework for long weekends and holiday breaks

-       provide clear expectations and work that students can complete independently

-       check that the homework was completed

WALK YOUR WHEELS

Students AND parents are advised that bicycles, scooters, skateboards, etc are to be walked on the school grounds both before and after school.  Thank you in advance for your attention to this as it helps make our grounds a safer place for everyone who visits.

GRADE 5 & 6 "REC" PASSES

Students in grade 5,6,7 and 8  can drop by any Delta Recreation facility and activate a one-year Recreation Pass. There is a $5 administration fee and student will need to present proof of birth and Delta residency. With the pass, students can skate, swim or enjoy time in the Open gym.  Accompanying youths or adults can also participate for free.  For more information you can visit www.corp.delta.bc.ca/flyers.

VISITORS

Please be sure to check in at the office whenever you visit Hawthorne during the day so that our office staff can provide you with a visitor's badge.  As well,  we ask that if you would like to meet with a teacher,  please book in advance as impromptu meetings in the hallway can lead to delays in the classroom.  Finally,  please note that student lunches can be dropped off on the table provided outside the office.

INDIVIDUAL PHOTOS

Please note that individual photographs will be taken on Monday, October 3.  Proofs will arrive back at the school then sent home for you to review. Information regarding the ordering of portrait packages will follow with the proofs.

IMPORTANT DATES

Monday, October 3
Individual Student Photos

Oct. 3-7

Walk to School Week

Monday, Oct. 10

Thanksgiving Day

School Closed

Wednesday, October 19

Parent-Teacher Conference

Early Dismissal 2pm

Thursday, October 20

Parent-Teacher Conference

Early Dismissal 2pm

Friday, October 21
Professional Day
School Closed

Monday, October 24
Professional Day
School Closed

Tuesday, September 13th

START UP

We are now into our second week and most of our programs will soon be up and running.  I would like to thank 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 year ahead and plan to keep parents informed via our blog and website.  

NEW STAFF

We are pleased to announce that a number of new staff members have joined our school community.  Please join us in welcoming:

Mr. Buonanno, Education Assistant
Ms. Collins, Education Assistant
Ms. Yorke, Education Assistant
Ms. Wilson, Vice-Principal
Ms. Tennant, Head Secretary

Ms. Benson-Mah, Kindergarten Teacher

Ms. Grant, Grade 7 Teacher
Ms. Blachford Grade 7 Teacher
Ms. Grewal, Mainstream Support Teacher
Ms. Switzer,  School Psychologist

TERRY FOX RUN

Parents are invited to join us for our Terry Fox Run scheduled for Friday, September 16th at approximately 10:10am. We will first be gathering with all of our students in the gymnasium and then head out for a run on Hawthorne's fields. We will be collecting "Toonies for Terry" in classrooms until Thursday, September 22nd and any support would be greatly appreciated.

OPEN HOUSE

We will be hosting Hawthorne's Open House on Thursday, September 22 from 6-7pm. Parents are encouraged to meet their child's teacher and participate in the family Scavenger Hunt.  This challenge will ask families to answer a few questions around the school and submit their form for a draw.  We will be drawing 5 successfully completed forms and rewarding those families with TWO front row seats to the evening performance of our Christmas Concert.  We hope your schedule allows you to join us.

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

As with previous years, newsletters, school bulletins and 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. This is our fourth year with the Parent Connect program and it should be familiar to most of you.  For those who are new to the school,  please see the attached letter for more details.  Please make sure to sign in to Parent Connect, make the changes and then sign off on the forms before exiting the program.  Thank you in advance for taking care of these items.

ACCIDENT INSURANCE

For those families interested in purchasing insurance for the school year, you can visit www.kidsplus.ca for more information or you can pick up an application at the office.

SICKNESS AT SCHOOL

There are four important issues to consider as you try to determine if your child is too ill to attend school:

1. 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.
2. The ability of your child to function and learn at school.
3. The inability of the school to meet the emotional and physical needs of a sick child.
4. 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 known 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.

LICE CHECKS

With students returning to school, we are trying to be proactive with regard to head lice.  It has proven to be a perennial issue in Ladner but we will do our best to keep outbreaks under control.  With this in mind, we are asking for parent volunteers to join our "Lice Check" group.  We are hoping to do a check for all students early in the fall so if you are interested in helping out please contact Ms. Barnes via email: skbarnes@dccnet.com.  In the meantime, we ask that families consider the following precautions:

- conduct regular checks at home

- notify the school when if you have discovered evidence of lice

- avoid sharing hats, headphones, combs, coats  

- discuss this issue openly to remove the stigma that prevent disclosures

- enlist the support of our Public Health Nurse for chronic cases

- keep long hair tied up in ponytails, braids or in a bun

- consider hair products with lavender, coconut/tree tea oil (can repel lice)

- regularly clean hair care accessories

- regularly clean bedding, coats, hats and upholstery

EXTRA CURRICULAR BAND GRADE 4-7 

Once again, starting Thursday, Oct 13, two extra-curricular band programs will be offered to all Ladner children taught by Curt Jantzen and Margaret Behenna. 

 Beginner Band will be offered at the following time/location

Hawthorne Elementary           3:15-4:15 p.m.             Thursdays

This Beginner program is mainly for children in Grades 4 & 5 but any child in Grades 4 and up interested in learning a band instrument can participate.

Advanced Band, will be offered at the following time/location

Hawthorne Elementary          4:30-5:30 p.m.             Thursdays

The Advanced program is for any student with one year or more of Band experience. The Advanced Band typically has children in Grades 5 – 8 who are looking to further develop their skills and to enjoy an enrichment experience in instrumental music beyond the Beginner level.  

Tuition for the year is $295 payable at or before the first class. Mr. Jantzen and Mrs. Behenna will visit your child’s school earlier in October.  They will demonstrate all the instruments that are taught in the program and will hand out registration information.  Children need to provide their own instrument and these are available for rent at the Rental Night, Wednesday evening, Oct. 12 at Hawthorne.  If you wish further information, please contact:

Mrs Behenna (604 946 7304 /mbehenna@dccnet.com ) or 

Mr Jantzen (604 946 7304 / cjband@telus.net )

IMPORTANT DATES

Friday, September 16th

Terry Fox Run

10:10am

Thursday, September 22nd

Open House

6-7pm

Friday, September 23rd

Professional Day

School Closed

Monday, September 26th

PAC Meeting

6:30pm

Monday, October 3rd

Individual Student Photos

Wednesday, Oct. 5th

Walk to School Day

Friday, Oct. 7th

Monthly Assembly

11am