February 17th, 2017

SOCIAL MEDIA

At Hawthorne we are frequently dealing with challenges at school that either started online or gained traction there. Although there are real benefits to kids using sites like Facebook, including increased communication, access to information and help in developing a sense of self, there can be serious downsides to all this online sharing too.  Social networking is on the rise, and the study found that 22 percent of teenagers log onto their favourite social media sites more than 10 times a day, and that 75 percent own cell phones. This level of engagement online increases the risks of cyberbullying, “Facebook depression” (a new phenomenon where “de-friending” and online bullying lead to symptoms of depression), exposure to inappropriate content, and sexting.

Just as we prepare our kids for life in the real world, we should prepare them for life in the online world. Read on for tips that every parent should keep in mind at the following tips from  Parenting.com:  social media monitoring.

PINK SHIRT DAY

On February 22nd,  thousands of students and staff members around B.C. will be recognizing anti-bullying initiatives by wearing a Pink shirt.  This movement commemorates an incident that took place a number of years ago at a high school in Nova Scotia.  Students at the school,  rallied together against bullying by supporting a student who had been targeted with homophobic remarks after wearing a pink shirt to school.  The day after he was teased, hundreds of students wore pink to support him and the bullies received the message loud and clear.  Many of our staff members and students will be wearing pink tomorrow and we hope that this day provides everyone with a reminder of what they can do to keep Hawthorne a safe, welcoming place for everyone.

TALENT SHOW

Hawthorne will be hosting its annual Talent Show on Thursday, March 9th at approximately 1:45pm.  The start time will be confirmed once we have finalized our list of performers.  We will be hosting a rehearsal on Monday, February 27th in preparation for what should be a fun event.  If your child is participating, please ensure that he/she is prepared with their proper equipment or music for the rehearsal. We hope that your schedule allows you to attend.

PAC MEETING
Your PAC will be hosting its next meeting on Thursday, Feb. 23rd at 1:45pm.   The session will be completed by 3pm to allow parents to pick up their children and we hope your schedule allows you to attend.

CANADA GAMES ACTIVITY CHALLENGES
On Tuesday of this week,  Hawthorne was very pleased to play host to yet another famous athlete.  Canadian Olympian and medalist, Jennifer Heil, was at Hawthorne to share her message about goal-setting and help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Canada Games program.  Hawthorne was one of two schools in Canada (out of 4000 submissions!) that was chosen for this presentation.  Special thanks to Ms. Mack for submitting our entry.  Students and classes are now engaged in the Canada Games Activity Challenge.  You can find out more at the following link:  Activity Challenge.

PEANUT AWARE

Please note that Hawthorne is a "peanut aware" school.  We have a number of students with a life-threatening allergy to peanuts. As a result, a letter is sent home for those respective classrooms advising them of the safety concern and discouraging the use of peanut products.  We also closely monitor the contents of lunches and  clean surfaces where necessary.  For those students and families dealing with anaphylaxis it is important to know that while Hawthorne is "peanut aware" we cannot claim to be "peanut free" as we are not able to monitor every lunch or food item that arrives at the school.  Thank you for your attention to this issue.

HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMY PROGRAMS

IMPORTANT DATES

Wednesday, Feb. 22

Pink Shirt Day / Walk To School

Thursday, Feb. 23

PAC Meeting

1:45pm

Friday,  Feb. 24

Professional Day

School Closed

Monday, March 6th

Monthly Assembly

9:45am

Thursday, March 9th

Talent Show

1:45pm Gym

Friday, March 10th
Hot Lunch/Walk to School

March 13th-24th
Spring Break
School Closed

January 31st

CRAZY HAIR DAY

Hawthorne's Student Council is hosting a Crazy Hair Day on Friday February 3rd. Students and staff are invited to present their hair in a unique way. Some ideas include: temporary colour, braiding, spiking, curls, 80's feathering or wearing a wig.  It should be a fun day with great prizes going to some luck participants.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

The prolonged cold snap and icy conditions in January left behind a very muddy playground.  We ask that parents ensure their children bring the proper footwear to school along with an extra set of clothes. While we have been advising caution with our students,  the mud is proving to be too much of a temptation for some and a lot of fun:) 

At Hawthorne we try to provide our students with outdoor time every day at recess and lunch.  During inclement weather, students in grade 2-7 are provided with a choice to stay inside or go out on the playground.  Those who stay inside, including all of our kindergarten/grade 1 students, are asked to partake in a quiet activity or game in their classroom. In the event of  extreme weather conditions, all students are required to stay inside. 

LEGO / GAMES CLUB

Beginning in the New Year,  Hawthorne has been hosting a Lego Games club in the library on the following days:

Mondays:          grade 2/3 students

Wednesdays:     grade k/1 students

Fridays:             grad3 4/5

Students are also welcome to bring their Pokemon cards on these days for trading, however, this has been problematic in the past so we will monitor closely. Thank you to the teachers who are helping to supervise: Ms. Lee, Ms. Corrigal, Ms. Retallick, Ms. Schofield, Ms. Widsten and Ms. Sundaran.  As well,  special thanks to our grade 6 volunteers who set up and take down:  Ava Manzur, Reanna Rundhawa, Annise Gill, Anita Van Wieringen,

BASKETBALL 
The basketball season is now underway for our grade 6 and 7 students.  The games versus other Ladner schools began last week and we are looking forward to great season based on the following game schedule:

Grade 6 Girls / Boys                Mon. or Wed. 3:30pm
Grade 7 Boys                           Tues.  3:30pm
Grade 7 Girls                           Thurs. 3:30pm

Special thanks to our coaches:  Mr. Granum, Mr. Tang, Mr. Carruthers, Mr. Hemenway (volunteer), Mr. Wildgrove (volunteer), Ms. Blachford and Ms. Sundaran.  Go Hawks!

FREE PRESENTATION 
Your Delta School District PAC is hosting a free event for grade 6-12 students and parents called:  How to Get Better Grades in School - Learning to Study with Your Brain in Mind with Terry Small  

It is scheduled for February 7th at SDSS Secondary and you can sign up at the following link:  https://terry_small_sdss.eventbrite.ca.

BOOK FAIR

Mrs. Ratzlaff will once again be hosting a Book Fair in our library during Hawthorne's Student-Led Conferences on February 8th and 9th. Proceeds will support the purchase of new library resources.  Volunteers are needed and parents are asked to contact Mrs. Ratzlaff (jratzlaff@deltasd.bc.ca) if you are able to help out.  Thanks in advance for your consideration.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Please note that kindergarten registration at Hawthorne will be held on Friday, February 17th from 9:30am-Noon.   Families will need to bring:

• Proof of Canadian Status for student and one parent or Guardian
• Proof of Residency
• Immunization Record
• Any current/valid legal documents regarding custody and restrictions

We look forward to meeting our new kindergarten students for the 2017-2018 school year.

IMPORTANT DATES

Friday, February 3rd
Crazy Hair Day /Assembly
11am

Wednesday, February 8th

Parent Teacher Conferences

2pm Dismissal

Thursday, February 9th

Parent Teacher Conferences

2pm Dismissal

Monday, February 13th

Family Day

School Closed

Friday, February 17th
Kindergarten Registration
9:30am-Noon

Friday, February 24th
Professional Day
School Closed

January 17th

SEATTLE MARINERS VISIT
We are very excited to announce that the Seattle Mariners road show will be stopping by at Hawthorne tomorrow (Wednesday, January 18) to share their special message on "reaching dreams". This is particularly exciting because one of the attendees will be pitcher James Paxton who is actually a former Hawthorne student.  We are encouraging students and staff to wear any Mariners gear that they may have.

MOVIE NIGHT

Your PAC will be hosting a FREE Movie Night for families on Friday, January 20th.  Doors will open at 6pm with the movie (Finding Dory) set to begin at 6:30pm. There will be a limited concession and families can also bring their own snacks to this event.   Please note that parents must be in attendance with their children. We hope that your schedule allows you and your family to join us on Friday night. Special thanks to Ms. Sigouin for coordinating this event!

HEAD LICE

Last week, a number of parents volunteered to conduct a "lice check" at Hawthorne. We'd like to thank Ms. Kolinksy for coordinating their efforts.  Our volunteers checked each class and only a few cases were discovered. Here are some considerations for families at home:

• please keep long hair tied up in ponytails, braids or in a bun
• lice tend to avoid certain hair products: hairspray, gel, shampoo with lavender, coconut/tree tea oil
• regularly clean hair care accessories
• regularly clean bedding, coats, hats and upholstery

Head lice is an ongoing concern within the Ladner community but by following some of these preventative measures, we should be able to minimize its impact at Hawthorne. Thank you in advance for your support and feel free to contact Mr. Carruthers if you should have any further questions or suggestions.

MEETING WITH TEACHERS

If you wish to meet with a teacher or visit a classroom, please be sure to set up an appointment prior to arriving at the school.  As well, we would ask that visitors report to the office before heading to the classroom. Parents are always welcome at Hawthorne but impromptu visits can be disruptive to classroom routines.  Thank you in advance for your consideration.

STUDENT-LED CONFERENCES

We will be hosting our student-led conferences on Feb. 8th and 9th. As we get closer to the date,  parents will be provided with instructions on how to book their appointment online through Parent Connect.

BOOK FAIR

Mrs. Ratzlaff will once again be hosting a Book Fair in our library during Hawthorne's Student-Led Conference on February 8th and 9th.   Proceeds will support the purchase of new library resources.  Volunteers are needed and parents are asked to contact Mrs. Ratzlaff (jratzlaff@deltasd.bc.ca) if you are able to help out.  Thanks in advance for your consideration.

WHEELS / DOGS ON THE PLAYGROUND

We would like to remind parents and students to refrain from riding their scooters, bikes, skateboards, etc. while on the school grounds.  Families are also asked to keep their dogs on a tight leash when visiting the school  We have some students who are allergic to dogs while others have a fear of canines. 

NUT AWARE

As you are aware,  there are students at Hawthorne who have severe food allergies that require us all t otake the proper precautions.  Your attention to this issue has been greatly appreciated thus far.  I am writing to you with regard to “treats” that may be coming into the classroom in celebration of birthdays or holidays.   If you are preparing treats for the entire class, we ask that, whenever possible, you consider the following list as it consists of foods that everyone can enjoy safely:

Cookies / Crackers:

Chips ahoy, Chewy Chips Ahoy, Oreos (not cakesters), Animal Crackers, Premium Plus, Ritz without cheese filling, Triscuit, Wheat Thins, Stoned Wheat Thins, Teddy Grahams, Peek Freans (Digestive, Shortbread, Crème-Filled Assorted), Branson’s cookies labeled “peanut/nut-free”, Chapmans products which say “peanut/nut free”

Cereals:

Waffles,  Rice-Krispie Squares, Nutri-grain bars, Frosted Flakes, Cereal Bars, Fruit Loops, Pop Tarts

Snacks:

Dunkaroos, plain Cheerios, Fruit snacks, Fruit Rollups, Wagon Wheels,

Chips:

Hostess, Frito-Lay, Humpty Dumpty, Pringles

Candy/Chocolates:

Dubble Bubble, Rockers, Sweet Tarts, Nerds, Ramblo gum, Skittles, Starburst, Lifesavers, Tootsie Roll, Aero, Coffee Crisp

Donuts/ Cakes/  Puddings;

Touche cakes/cookies labeled peanut/nut free, Jello pudding snacks, Kraft pudding snack, Magic Moments

The safest route is to check the label every time as manufacturers do change the contents of their products.  We realize that you may not always be able to choose items from this list and we will have alternatives available for those students who are impacted. Thank you in advance for your consideration and feel free to contact me at the school if you would like to discuss this further.

IMPORTANT DATES

Wednesday, January 18th

Walk to School Day

Friday, January 20th

Movie Night
Doors open at 6pm

Friday, January 27th
Hot Lunch

Monday, January 30th
Professional Day
School Closed

Wednesday, February 8th

Parent Teacher Conferences

2pm Dismissal

Thursday, February 9th

Parent Teacher Conferences

2pm Dismissal

Monday, February 13th

Family Day

School Closed

Friday, February 17th
Kindergarten Registration
9am-Noon

Friday, January 6th

WELCOME BACK

We hope that you enjoyed  a wonderful holiday break filled with great memories and time to relax with those closest to you.  The New Year will bring countless opportunities to Hawthorne and its students.  We are excited about what lies ahead and look forward to working with our student and parent community to make this next term a memorable one for everyone involved.

PRECAUTIONS FOR ICY CONDITIONS

The New Year has brought with it some very icy conditions which have improved dramatically at Hawthorne over the course of the week.  There remain some areas (gravel field, primary sandpit) that are frozen solid however so we have used cones to restrict student access.  We are also reminding students of safety expectations in the classrooms and during P.A. announcements.

Falls are a serious concern. Falling can result in bruises, sprains, or more serious injuries like broken bones or concussions.  Melting snow can freeze overnight, forming a thin layer of ice that is hard to see. The ground can then become very slippery in the morning when the ice starts to melt. No matter how well the snow is removed from parking lots or sidewalks, there will still be places that are slippery. What you wear on your feet can make a difference whether you fall or not. Boots or shoes that are well fitting and have a good grip are the best choice. Special items like shoe grips or ice cleats can give you extra traction when you are walking on snowy or icy surfaces. ​You can buy these items from many different places like department or sporting good stores. Remove these grips or cleats when walking inside because they can make you slip on indoor flooring.

How can I avoid slipping and falling on snow or ice?

• Whether you use a gait aid or not, find a path around the snow or ice when you can.
• Walk slowly and take small steps. Point your toes out slightly to make yourself more stable on icy paths.
• Keep your head up and don’t lean forward.
• Keep your hands out of your pockets to help keep your balance.
• If you use a cane, you can buy an ice pick for the cane.
• Learn how to walk like a penguin.

More tips for winter walking

• Plan ahead to make sure you have enough time to get where you are going.
• Assume that all wet, dark areas on the pavement may be slippery or icy. If you can, walk around them.
• Walk on cleared walkways—avoid shortcuts that have not been cleared.
• Do not text and walk at the same time.
• Use handrails on stairs and ramps.
• If you are walking on a slope where there are no handrails, take extra caution.
• Consider carrying a small shaker or container of sand or grit to sprinkle on icy or sloped surfaces that you cannot walk around.
• Use sand or grit on your steps and walkways.
• Avoid carrying heavy things or large objects that block your view. They can also make you lose your balance.
•   www.myhealthalberta.ca

MOVIE NIGHT

Your PAC will be hosting a Movie Night for families on Friday, January 20th.  Doors will open at 6pm with the movie set to begin at 6:30pm. There will be a limited concession on site featuring popcorn, pizza, chips and juice boxes. Families can also bring their own snacks to this event.  It should be fun and we hope your family can attend.

LICE CHECK:  PARENT HELPERS NEEDED

We will be conducting a follow up "lice-check" for all of our classes within the next two weeks.   We  ask that parents check their children regularly so that we can limit the spread of head lice in January.  For more information, check out this Fraser Health link: head lice checks/treatment.

TRAFFIC CIRCLE

Please note that community volunteers will be on site (bright yellow jackets) over the coming months working in concert with Delta Police's traffic safety program. They will be monitoring parking/driving habits and issuing warning tickets to any traffic violators.  With this in mind,  please abide by the following traffic guidelines.

 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  drop-off, pick-up and exiting.  Do not leave your vehicle unattended, including Daycare providers
• Please note that the elevated area and the end of the roundabout is RESERVED for 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.  Our next “Walk to School” event is scheduled for Wednesday, January 18th.

BOOK FAIR

Mrs. Ratzlaff will once again be hosting a Book Fair in our library during Hawthorne's Student-Led Conference on February 8th and 9th.   Proceeds will support the purchase of new library resources.  Volunteers are needed and parents are asked to contact Mrs. Ratzlaff (jratzlaff@deltasd.bc.ca) if you are able to help out.  Thanks in advance for your consideration.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Please note that kindergarten registration at Hawthorne will be held on Friday, February 17th from 9:30am-Noon.  More details to follow in our next blog post.

IMPORTANT DATES

Wednesday, Jan. 18th

Walk to School Day

Friday, January 27th

Hot Lunch Day

Monday, January 30th
Professional Day

Wednesday, February 8th

Parent Teacher Conferences

2pm Dismissal

Thursday, February 9th

Parent Teacher Conferences

2pm Dismissal

Monday, February 13th

Family Day

School Closed

Friday, February 17th
Kindergarten Registration
9am - NOON

November 29

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Hawthorne will be hosting its annual Christmas Concert on Thursday, December 8th.  There will be two shows (1:30pm and 6:30pm) and a reply form was sent home last week 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 seats for the evening show or 4 seats for the afternoon performance. Reply forms are due back tomorrow and you can send an email to Mr. Carruthers if you require a special accommodation. We look forward to what should be a fun day of holiday cheer.

DELTASSIST

Our student council will be collecting food and money for Deltassist beginning on Thurs., December 1st  until  Monday, December 12th.  We are hoping for donations of non-perishable food items and/or a loonie or twoonie 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.

FAMOUS FRIDAY
We are looking look forward to our FAMOUS FRIDAY spirit day which is scheduled for Friday, December 2nd.  Students and staff will be encouraged to dress up as someone who is famous and inspirational.  Thank you in advance of your help with this. 

REPORT CARDS

Report cards will be sent home on Tuesday, December 13th.  Please keep in mind that our kindergarten to grade 4 students will all be receiving a new report card template that will provide more personalized feedback.  As well,  our grade 4 students will NOT be receiving letter grades.  This is a pilot project and your input would be greatly appreciated.  With this in mind, we will also be providing parents with feedback forms or links to online surveys.  It is hoped that over the course of this year,  the Delta learning community can create a reporting document that meets the needs of students, teachers and parents.

COMMUNITY FORUM

IMPORTANT DATES

Wednesday, November 30

PAC Meeting

6:30pm

Monday, December 5

Professional Day

School Closed

Thursday, December 8

Christmas Concert

1:30 and 6:30pm

Friday, December 9

Monthly Assembly

11am

Tuesday, December 13

Report Cards Issued

Friday, December 16

Hot Lunch 

Winter Break Begins (3pm)