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

Tuesday, October 7th

PARENT CONNECT:  LETTER GRADES
A number of parents have noted on Parent Connect that some of the third term grades for the 2013-2014 school year read as NM.  Please note that this stands for "no mark" and it is the result of the labour dispute that prevented the issuance of reports.

NEW TO HAWTHORNE?

If you are a new family to Hawthorne, please be advised your Parent Advisory Council (PAC) has a New Family Ambassador and her name is Leanne Pryce.  Feel free to contact her if you should have any questions.  Leanne can be reached via text (604-961-1033) or email (lpryce@telus.net).  She looks forward to hearing from you.  Your PAC also has a Facebook page (Hawthorne Pac) and a website that can be accessed at www.hawthornepac.wordpress.com. If you would like to find out more about the PAC,  you are invited to attend the first meeting scheduled for Monday, October 27th at 6:30pm in our library.  We hope to see you there.

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR
Mrs. Ratzlaff will once again be hosting a book fair in the library on Oct. 22 and 23.  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.

WALK TO SCHOOL

Please note that we will be hosting our first Walk to School day tomorrow (Wednesday, October 8th).  Students and families are encouraged to walk, bike, scoot or board to school.  This initiative addresses a number of concerns at Hawthorne:  traffic congestion, student safety, environment awareness and daily exercise.  Thanks in advance for your support and special thanks to Ms. Helen Sigouin who will be coordinating our monthly walk to school events this year.

MISSING BIKES
We have some good news regarding the bikes that went missing last week.  Both have now been recovered.  This experience proved to be a good reminder of how important bike locks can be as a deterrent to thieves.  We now have another bike (BMX Vibe) that has been found on the grounds.  If you have any information regarding this bike,  please contact Mr. Carruthers at the office.

PARENT / TEACHER CONFERENCES

We will be hosting our parent/teachers conferences on Wednesday, Oct. 22rd and Thursday, October 23rd and this will result in an early dismissal on both days (2pm).  We will be sending parents information early next week so that they can book their appointments through Parent Connect.

RECREATION PASSES CORRECTION

Delta Council has 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.

SCHOOL ACCIDENT INSURANCE

Please note that student accident insurance is offered to parents throughout the Delta School District as a user pay initiative.  If you would like more information,  you can visit www.kidsplus.ca or check in at the office for a brochure.

HOT LUNCH REMINDER

Hawthorne will be hosting its first "Hot Lunch" on Thursday, October 23rd.   Hot lunch order forms are due tomorrow (Oct. 8th) so that our committee can begin coordinating the work involved.   Thank you to Ms. Li for her continued work in support of the Hot Lunch program.

IMPORTANT DATES

Wednesday, October 8
Walk to School Day

Monday, October 13
Thanksgiving Day
School Closed

Thursday, October 16
Shakeout BC Emergency Drill
10:15am

Wednesday, October 22
Parent/Teacher Conferences
2pm Dismissal

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

Friday, October 24
Non-Instructional Day
School Closed

Monday, October 27
PAC Meeting
6:30pm Library

Thursday, September 25th

FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL

We have enjoyed a very busy first week of school and students are now settled into their 2014-2015 classes. Thank you to our staff for their hard work in coordinating classroom placements and our parents for their patience and understanding with this process. We are pleased to welcome the following staff members to our school community.  Please join us in welcoming:

Ms. Cadez,  Grade 6/7 Teacher

Ms. Lloyd, Grade 5/6 Teacher

Mr. Coghlan, Grade 3 Teacher
Ms. Jessica Rowa  Grade 4 Teacher

Ms. Grewal, ESL / Learning Assistance Teacher

Ms. Glover, Learning Assistance Teacher

Ms. Jensen, Education Assistant
Ms. Reme Education Assistant
Ms. Gould Vision Specialist

Ms. Woolford, School Psychologist

Ms. Sasges, Speech and Language Pathologist

Ms. Dube, School Counselor 

TERRY FOX RUN

Parents are invited to join us for our Terry Fox Run scheduled for Friday, September 26th at 2pm. We will be gathering with all of our students in the gym 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, October 2nd and any support you can provide would be greatly appreciated.



PLANNERS
Student planners have been distributed to classrooms and they are ready to be handed out. Please note that there is a $10 charge per planner.

LIFE THREATENING ALLERGIES
Many families have already receive a letter advising them that a student in tehir child's classroom has a life-threatening allergy.  These allergies vary from student to student and it is important that ll 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 be brought to the school grounds with extra care.  We have students who are allergic to canines or do not feel comfortable around them.  It is important that pets are secured on a leash and kept well away from doorways.  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.  Parents are also advised to use the Parent Connect program that has been set up by the Delta School District.  This program allows you access and update your child's information.  You can access / set up Parent Connect by clicking HERE.

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 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.

Friday, September 19th

WELCOME BACK

Hello everyone.  It has certainly been a trying time for education in British Columbia and tested the tolerance levels of all involved.  The support and patience demonstrated by Hawthorne's parents has been noticed and greatly appreciated.  Within our school community,  I am certain that people could find merit with the arguments presented by both sides of this dispute. Regardless of your opinion on the protracted negotiations,  I hope we are all united by the desire to make this upcoming year the best it can be for our students.  

I take great pride in working alongside Hawthorne’s staff. They are a caring and industrious group that is dedicated to meeting the needs of our students. Our work begins on Monday, September 22nd from 8:55am - NOON.   The balance of the week will begin at 8:55am with a 3pm dismissal.

OPENING DAY PROCEDURES

Please note the following procedures for our first day of school:

• NEW students are asked to report to the gymnasium (through the front office door) after the first bell at 8:50am
• RETURNING students should line up outside the door for last year's classroom
• KINDERGARTEN students should report to the multi-purpose room at 9:30am.  This room can be accessed through the front office door.  More information on "gradual entry" will be provided at that time
• ALL students will be dismissed at NOON from the same door that they entered to begin the day

CLASSROOM PLACEMENTS

Typically a new school year at Hawthorne sees students return to their previous year's classroom for the first day before joining their new teacher the following day.  Please note that this process will likely be delayed next week due to some uncertainty about timing, enrolment and capacity in our building.  We will be sending out further details early next week.  Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.  In the meantime,  please review the criteria that is considered when planning classes:

- 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

- 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

TERRY FOX RUN

Hawthorne will be hosting a Terry Fox Run on Friday, September 26th at 2pm.  We will begin with an assembly followed by a 20 minute run and refreshments.  We are encouraging parents to join us if available and take the opportunity to meet their child's teacher.   Donations for the Terry Fox Foundation will be collected from Thursday, September 25th - Friday, October 3rd.  Thank you in advance for your support.

June 26, 2014

SUMMER MESSAGE

These last few weeks have been very trying for everyone involved and left us unable to bring positive closure to the end of our school year.  The labour uncertainty denied staff and students of the opportunity to exchange their appreciation and properly recognize so many accomplishments over the last ten months. Quite frankly, it has been disheartening to witness the ineptitude demonstrated by the leadership on all sides of this dispute.  I am hopeful we will soon see a resolution that provides the long lasting stability our students deserve. Your patience and understanding during this time has been greatly appreciated.

As a staff, we have worked hard to foster a warm and welcoming environment at Hawthorne and that will not change in the fall.  I am very proud of the teachers and support staff that I work alongside.  I am also appreciative of the supportive parent community that works to make our school the best it can be and the students who provide us with the laughs, tears, successes and challenges that make our roles so rewarding.

I hope you all have a great summer filled with fun, rest and relaxation. We look forward to your return in the fall and wish good luck to those families who are moving to new schools.  

REPORT CARDS

Please note that due to the BCTF strike,  final term report cards will not be issued.  A letter was sent home to all Delta School District parents earlier this week.

PICK UP OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Families wishing to pick up school supplies or personal belongings can do so on Wednesday, July 2nd from 10am-noon.  Please enter through the office door.   Keep in mind that students will be returning to their classroom for the first day of school in September and items could be picked up at that time as well. Thank you for your patience on this issue.

STAFFING
There are a number of staffing changes set for the fall and we would like to thank the following staff members for the contributions to Hawthorne and wish them well in their new assignments.

Education Assistants: Mrs. Sylvester,  Mrs. Oakley,  Mrs. Hawksworth, Mrs. Square-Briggs, Mrs. Drake, Mrs. Giesbrecht, Mrs. Honigman, Mrs. Hussein, Mrs. Peters

Teachers:  Mrs. Quelch, Mrs. Garcha, Mrs. Goldschmidt, Mrs. Reid, Mr. Lum
                    Mrs. Uppal, Ms. Widsten

We would also like to recognize Mr. Bourgeois who will be leaving Hawthorne after 20 years of work with our upper intermediate classes.  His humour and dedication will be missed.  As well, we want to congratulate our school counsellor, Mrs. Davidson, who is retiring after working 38 years in Delta. We have all benefitted greatly from her care and concern for others.

SCHOOL OPENING PROCEDURES
Please note the following points with regard to the opening week for the 2014-2015 school year.

• The first day of school will be Tuesday, September 2nd from 8:55am-12:03pm.
• Kindergarten students will be working on a graduated entry as per correspondence parents should have already received
• Students will be returning to their 2013-2014 classroom for the first day and we hope to be in our "new" classes at some point in the second day
• New students should report to the gymnasium and they will be quickly placed into classrooms with their peers.

MONTHLY VIDEO:

You can view the latest monthly video here.

GARDEN WATERING?

We are in need of some volunteers to help water the garden over the summer. Volunteers would be asked to come by the school twice a week and a key would be provided for access to the water supply in our gated undercover area.  Please contact Ms. Fisher (tfisher@deltasd.bc.ca) if you are able to help during the summer.  We'd like to get the key distributed to a volunteer by next week.  Thanks in advance for your consideration.

SUMMER VIEWING

Please note the links below which will connect you to two documentaries that may be of interest. These are all part of the "Doc Zone" series aired on the CBC.  They are somewhat alarmist in nature but do raise many of the issues (anxiety, defiance, anger) that our school is working to address through its social emotional learning initiatives.  We hope you find them insightful.

Hyper Parents and Coddled Kids

Angry Kids and Stressed Out Parents