May 4th, 2017

HAWKS UNIFORMS
Our regional track meet is fast approaching and we seem to be short on our supply of team uniforms.  Can you please check the laundry and your child's room for any Hawthorne uniforms and have them returned to the school ASAP?  Thank you in advance for your attention to this.

CANADA WEEK AT HAWTHORNE
We are excited to announce that Hawthorne will be recognizing Canada's 150th Anniversary with a week of celebrations that culminates with our Spring Fair on Friday, May 12.  Here's a quick look at what is planned:

• Monday 
• morning kick off assembly at 9:30am
• Canadian themed stations for students to rotate through
• Tuesday
• Drop Everything and Read Something Canadian...students are reading Canadian literature throughout the day
• Canadian Authors will be presenting to students 
• Wednesday
• Red and White day for students and staff to wear their Canadian colours
• "Canada" challenge which will send students outside to solve a puzzle using posted clues
• Thursday
• Regional Track Meet for Intermediate students
• Canadian themed classroom activities for those remaining at school
• Friday
• Kite Flying: students construct and fly their "Canadian-themed" kites outside on the school grounds

We are also planning to provide some Canadian music and trivia each day.  It should be a fun, patriotic week!

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

On Tuesday May 16th Hawthorne will be hosting an Emergency Preparedness drill which will involve a full response from staff and students.  We may also be asking for parental involvement so that we can practice our "student release" procedures.  This will be restricted to certain grades and we plan to inform those families in advance via email.

*** It is important for parents to understand that all students, whether in kindergarten or grade 12, will only be dismissed from school in emergency situations to their parents or designated emergency release adult. Students cannot be released to an older sibling who is still under the age of 19. Students will not be allowed to leave school property until a pre-designated adult retrieves them. In order to maintain the safety of your children, there can be no exceptions.

This means that parents need to regularly plan for who will be able to pick-up their child in an emergency situation and that the information needs to be reviewed and updated annually. If both parents do not work close to the school, then they should designate another trusted adult who will, most likely, be in the area if disaster strikes during school hours. Again, this person cannot be an older sibling who is under the age of 19. Parents need to inform the school of who their Emergency Release designated adult is and they need to review this information annually and update it if necessary. They should do so via Parent Connect (instructions are listed below). This needs to be done for each child you have in the Delta School District and you need to inform each child of who his/her Emergency Release adult is.

Parent Connect Instructions:

1.   Sign on to Parent Connect

2.   Click on the BASIC tab on the main toolbar

3.   Click on the blue "Emergency/Out of Prov/Other Contacts" button

4.   Click on the Edit button to the left side of a blank line to add a new record, or on an existing line to change the information. Use the drop down option box to choose the appropriate option for this record; choose ER-Emergency Release. Fill in all of the fields.

5.  Click the Save button to update the changes. If you close the screen or go to another screen before saving, the changes will be lost.

Note: This needs to be completed separately for each child.

For more information about emergency preparedness in the Delta School District visit the DeltaPrepared website: facilities.deltasd.bc.ca/deltaprepared

WHEELS ON THE PLAYGROUND

Students and parents are reminded that "wheels" should not be ridden on the school grounds before or after school.  This includes scooters, skateboards and bikes.  The great weather of late has brought a dramatic increase in this type of activity on the grounds and it can present as a hazard.  Thank you for your attention to this. 

CLASSROOM PLACEMENTS:  2017-2018

In the coming weeks, our teaching staff will be meeting to create tentative class lists for next year.  The classes will be determined by considering the following factors:

• Learning styles and strengths

• What the child can do in relation to the program

• Degree of independence in work habits

• Social and personal needs

• Age and physical maturity

• Class Size and Composition guidelines

• Previous year's placement

• Previous teacher's input

• Parent input / requests

• Establishing a balanced group academically

• Male/Female balance

• Friendship groupings

• Equalizing class size

• Siblings/Twins

• Special needs

• Medical needs

If you have some information that you would like to include in this process,  please forward a note to Mr. Carruthers at the office or correspond via email at mcarruthers@deltasd.bc.ca. We would only ask that you please refrain from making a "teacher" request and focus on what you believe to be the best learning environment for your child.  Thank you in advance for your attention to this.

IMPORTANT DATES

Monday, May 8th

Monthly Assembly 

9:30am

Thursday, May 11th

Regional Track Meet

Delta Secondary

Thursday, May 18

District Track Meet

South Delta Secondary

Friday, May 19

Professional Day

School Closed

Monday, May 22

Victoria Day

School Closed

Tuesday, May 30

Kindergarten 2017-2018 Orientation

Sessions: 9am / 10am / 11am

Tuesday, May 30

PAC Meeting

6:30pm Library

Friday, June 9

Sports Day

2:15pm dismissal (approx.)

Friday, June 16

Final Monthly Assembly

11am

Thursday, June 29th

Grade 7 Assembly (9:15am)

10:30am dismissal for all students