Principal’s Message
When I first arrived at Avon, more than a year ago now, I interviewed different stakeholder groups to find out what they felt was most important about their school, in real words, what they loved about Avon! The answers within all groups included a focus on community, a sense that we are all in this together, and a strong sense of ownership for our school. For so many people, Avon is a place where we all find our niche. From Chess Club to Dance Club to Sports teams to Math Club to Drawing Clubs and so much more, the wider community around our school makes learning rich for everyone. As we move into Kiwanis season next week, the children’s excitement about performing (and the nerves that come with it!) is palpable.
We see this sense of community reflected in the Natural Learning campaign, where historically families have stepped in to keep our gardens beautiful, the City of Stratford brings us wood chips and cut logs, the Rotary Club and families like the Hahn family support the creation of a naturalized learning space for everyone. We are setting up two “clean up the yard” Saturday mornings in May to continue this tradition, and we hope many families can come and take part!
One of the reasons for creating this dynamic space on our yard was to draw the community in so that families have a space to come and play with their children. We want to encourage the use of the space after hours as well as during the day. Our Student Council has been talking about what responsible use looks like, and how we can be safe on the equipment and still have a great time. Their ideas will become part of the signage around the structure over time, so that when people come to the yard, they will understand how to use it safely.
Another dynamic part of our community is the animals that live in the building (Trixie, Ted, Vector, TJ and Ralph) and those who come to visit after hours. Of course, dogs cannot be on the property while students are present, meaning from 6 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday. But we know that our pets are a big part of our lives. Understanding that by-laws prohibit dogs being off-leash in undesignated areas and fines will apply, we do ask that they be on leash at all times when children are present. This is not a dog park and families will not have the expectation that dogs will be running free when they come —all a part of respecting the rights and responsibilities of everyone in our community. Of course, we plead with everyone to be sure that poop is scooped immediately—don’t be afraid to let dog owners know—we want everyone to be responsible and proud of this special space.
Barbara Alken
Natural Learning
Clean up days! Saturday May 7th and 14th, 9-11 am. Bring your tools and a friend and let’s get our gardens ready for planting this spring! Mrs. Hacking will be here directing us with our trowels and shovels, along with some volunteers from the Horticultural Society. Hope to see you there!
Avon School Council
Next Meeting: Mon, April 18th, 2016
6:15-7:45 pm in the library
All parents/guardians welcome to attend!
Avon T Shirts
The cost of having a new run of blue Avon Spirit Wear T-shirts printed was double the original, so we are not able to do another run. If you do have a tshirt that is gently used and your children have outgrown, it would be helpful if you could send it in for others who are new to our school. Thanks!
Healthy Snack Program
We have a wonderful opportunity this year to add another snack day to our program! We just need a couple of people to come in on Friday mornings and cut up some fruit and vegetables. A few hours of your time can benefit our entire school community! Please be in touch with the office if you are interested in helping out.
World Festival of Children’s Theatre
Welcoming the world to Stratford in June! Can you help?
During the World Festival of Children’s Theatre, Avon Public School will be hosting Colombia. The visiting children will be in your school on two mornings for intercultural workshops sharing their culture as well as learning about Canada.
Your family has a unique opportunity to make rewarding personal connections with people in another part of the world. By opening your hearts and homes to two children (7-15 yrs) from June 4 to 15, you will make lasting friendships with dynamic young
people from far, far away.
What is needed: a warm welcome, a place to sleep, breakfast and dinner each day plus help getting to activities in Stratford’s downtown core.
Please join us as a home host and help show the world what it is to be Canadian – and from Stratford!
You might choose to get to know your visitors ahead of time via the Internet. Your family can learn about their country and culture in special interactive evenings at the Stratford Public Library in May and then participate in exciting community events
with them at the World Festival of Children’s Theatre in Stratford this June. There are activities for the whole family such as attending shows – and lots of support for those who choose to host.
For more information, please go to http://wfct.ca/billeting ~ The link to the online application form is at the bottom of the page.
Have questions? For specific details about schedules and opportunities, please email: [email protected] or call Wendy at (519)272-0011
Play is Learning!
On Wednesay, April 20th, we will be having a special evening event for all families sponsored by the “Parents Reaching Out” grant. This will include some experiences of learning through play for adults and children alike, some playing around with technology, and experiences in different grades that will help to understand how we are developing inquiring minds in all our students. All families are welcome to attend from 6-7:30 pm. Snacks will be provided, and we hope to see you there!
Dress Loud Day!
On April 29th Avon will participate in “Dress Loud Day”. Students are to dress in their wackiest, loudest and wildest clothing to raise awareness for children with hearing loss. Each student is encouraged to donate $1 to participate in the event. All funds will be donated to VOICE for Hearing Impaired Children.
Want to know more? Visit voiceforkids.com.
Foundation for Education Workshops
We have been fortunate to have workshops from the Foundation for Education in our Grade 2 and 4/5 classes. These focused on Mask in Performance, and Making Sense of Food. These are wonderful opportunities for our students to see the ART/LIFE connection, more information can be found at www.foundationforeducation.ca
Email Changes
AMDSB is changing its email platform. While all emails are being re-directed, we will likely find some delays while we work through this transition process. Please be patient over the next few weeks! The new format is: [email protected]
YMCA News
Hello everyone, Welcome back to school. We hope you had a safe and fun March break. Now that March break has come to a close we just want to remind everyone about the April 22nd PA Day as well as the newly added PA day on May 9th.
If you need to enroll in the PA Day Program please contact Krystle at the YMCA 519-271-0480 or by e-mail [email protected].
Thank you
Ashley Rose, RECE
Child Care Supervisor