Principal’s Message
Well, it’s officially October – the month for giving thanks! I’d like to thank everyone whom I’ve met thus far for making me feel so welcome in your school community. It was wonderful meeting so many parents, guardians, and grandparents at Open House, out on the school yard, and as volunteers within the school this past month. Please continue to drop into the office to introduce yourself or stop me on the yard to say hello.
Thank you for the great response to our call for volunteers for the recent RCMP Musical Ride field trip and for the Terry Fox Walk! Both events were enjoyed by all students. Volunteers really help make these events run smoothly and safely – the volunteer response has been tremendous and staff, students, and myself are truly grateful. Thanks to all of our parents/community members who have already completed an OPP Vulnerable Sector Check. If you are planning to volunteer for future field trips, assist in the classrooms as a volunteer, help with our Nutrition Program, be part of our Reading Assistance Program (RAP), or any other school-based activity, and have not completed a Check, please call the office and request that we send home the appropriate application forms. We very much appreciate that some members of our community have agreed to share their time and strengths as volunteers at the school. This helps us to become a more unique and fulfilling learning place. Please consider volunteering at BCES!
In this newsletter we are sharing the fundraisers that will be taking place at BCES over the school year. We would like to let you know the plans for the year so that you too can make plans for what your family can support this year. Funds raised this year will continue to help support class outings (bus costs and entry fees), new technology, and outdoor yard equipment (a Gaga Ball pit!) and student planners. Thanks to the School Council for their involvement in supporting and running several of the fund raisers.
Always at the top of our list is the safety of children in our school. While we appreciate that parents/caregivers wish to share treats with our students around Hallowe’en, we kindly remind you that no edible treats (such as candy, home-baking, etc.) will be shared or distributed to students at school due to allergy concerns. (See our note about Hallowe’en below). Thanks to all our families for their dedicated efforts to pack nut safe lunches. We know this can be a challenge and we appreciate your efforts. With Hallowe’en occurring at the end of the month, we ask you to be vigilant in packing celebration treats for school lunches once your child has been trick-or-treating. While many manufacturers include nut-free symbols, others do not. Thanks for understanding that some Hallowe’en treats will need to be enjoyed at home!
Have a wonderful month with your family and friends and please remember that October 10 is the Thanksgiving holiday.
Student Senate
We are proud to announce the 2016-2017 Husky Student Senate:
Grade 6 – Montana W., Liza P., Aidan G., Kyla M., Madison H.
Grade 5 – Kaitlyn T., Liam B., Emily S.
Grade 4 – Jaden D., Isabelle W., Sophia B.
The Husky Senate is comprised of students who provide leadership by organizing activities to promote school pride and encourage positive citizenship by giving back within their school community and “paying forward” to other communities or groups in need.
Healthy Active Kids Group (HAK)
We had a number of students apply to be part of the HAK group at school and are pleased to have 12 members on our Executive Team! The role of HAK is to get student leaders from grades 4, 5, and 6 to work collaboratively to create active games for all other students in the school to participate in a few recesses per week, with the direct supervision of an adult. The role of HAK is to provide leadership opportunities while also promoting physical activity. We’re looking forward to rolling out some new, fun play ideas in October, so stay tuned for more from this awesome group:
Grade 6: Sarah M., Lauryn M., Jordon R., Mattias F.
Grade 5: Emily S., Preston F.
Grade 4: Kadance G., Christiaan V-F., Riley H., John H., Reagan R. Cloey W.
The Terry Fox Walk and Run
The 2016-17 BCES Student Senate chose to kick off their year by taking on our school’s annual Terry Fox Walk & Run event. So far we have raised $320.82. Student Senate will continue to accept donations for the Terry Fox Foundation until Monday, October 3. Our Husky Senators would like to thank everyone for their support towards our school’s National Fundraising Goal and are already looking forward to coming up with more fun things to do to support our Local and International Goals.
Hallowe’en Plans
The Student Senate, staff and classes will be planning special activities for Monday, October 31. More details will come home closer to the date.
Please note that BCES is a nut-safe school due to severe allergies. Homemade and packaged treats cannot be served in classrooms because we cannot ensure that these products are nut-safe. We don’t expect families to provide treats, but we certainly do appreciate your generosity and willingness to share with your child’s class. If you do decide as a family to make a gesture, some alternative suggestions are: a book or game or ball for the class, pencils, stickers, or other non-edible items. Thanks for keeping all kids safe at school!
Library News
Students check out library books for a two week period. They may return the books before the two weeks are over. If your son/daughter brings home an overdue notice for library book(s), please return the library book(s) on the next school day. If the books are lost, please write a note to Ms. Wondergem on the overdue notice, explaining that the book is lost. Students cannot check out another library book until their overdue library book(s) has/have been returned.
Library helpers will be starting in October. Students in grades 3 – 6 can sign up to be a library helper. Grade 2 students can be library helpers after Christmas. Library helpers commit to help in the library during 2 or 3 morning recesses per month. Library helpers show great leadership skills.
Please Bring Your Milk Bags to School
Ms. Wondergem is collecting milk bags again this year for our school. Have you ever wondered what happens to all the donated milk bags? She takes the milk bags to a local church group. These ladies cut the bags into strips and crochet the strips into sleeping mats. The mats are sent to third world countries.
Please continue to send your clean, folded milk bags to our school. There is a collection box outside our school office for the milk bags. If you have further questions, please contact Ms. Wondergem. Thank you to all who have donated milk bags to our school.
Lion’s Vision and Hearing Screening for JK/SK Students
In partnership with local Lions Club organizations, we are pleased to offer hearing and vision screening for JK and SK students. We understand the impact of having healthy eyes and good hearing on your child’s overall health, well-being and education. JK/SK Vision and Hearing Screening is coming to Bluewater Coast on October 14, 2016.
School Photo Day
School and class pictures will be taken on Friday, October 21, 2016. Please bring your smiles and photo forms.
Fund Raising Plans for 2016-17
September Santa’s Little Helpers
October QSP Magazines
November Desi’s Sheets (delivery in time for Christmas)
Huron Ridge Poinsettias (Delivery in early December)
February BPS Food Products
March Elmira Chicken (Grade 6 Year-End trip Fundraiser)
April/May Huron Ridge Flowers
May Book Fair (to replenish books in our school library)
Ongoing Mabel’s Labels, Milk, Pizza, Student Senate events
Profits from the fundraising will continue to support student activities and technology throughout the school year. Support is also given to student planners, school yearbooks and the Student Nutrition Program.
QSP Magazine Fundraiser
Once again we will be holding our annual Magazine Fundraiser. There are a lot of new and exciting options for your reading pleasure. Get great deals on new magazines, or continue your subscription at great prices. To order, visit Q S P website QSP.ca and use our group id for online ordering #3746641. If paying by cheque, please make payable to Bluewater Coast Elementary School. The Q S P Magazine Fundraiser will start on Thursday, October 6, 2016 with all orders due to the school office by Friday, October 21, 2016. Please remind your children – no door-to-door sales to strangers. As always, thank you for your support.
Parent Council News
Fall is in the air and just like the students, the BCES Parent Council is settling into an exciting year ahead.
October will be the start of the Friday food days for the year. Due to strict nutritional food guidelines, the Parent Council will be only offering Godfather’s Pizza on these days. Please look for your child’s order forms monthly and do your part by handing them in on time. Pizza will be $2/slice as Godfather’s offers a bigger slice than New Orleans did. Cheques made out to Bluewater Coast Elementary School and exact cash will be accepted. Please do not include other funds on those cheques (i.e. milk orders.)
The Parent Council Fundraising for the month of October will be Third Wave Fundraising (formally Norcard.) It offers a wide variety of products that include wrapping paper, calendars, greeting cards and household gadgets. It has been a very profitable fundraiser in the past and we hope it continues to be this year as well. All order forms must be in by October 4th. Please make cheques payable to Bluewater Coast Elementary School.
Our next meeting will take place on Monday, October 17th in the staff lunch room. Parent Council Executive elections will take place that night as well. All are welcomed and we would love to see some new faces out. Please email [email protected] if you’re interested in an Executive position.
Follow us on Facebook at The Husky Hub
*Please note that should you have school-based concerns, questions, or confidential matters you need assistance with (e.g., school registration), please forward those directly to the school, and not the Hub. The Hub is an excellent information tool, but it is not run by or moderated by the school administration.
Progress Reports
November Progress Reports will go home to Grades 1-6 students on November 1, 2016. Interviews will be held on the evening of Thursday, November 3, 2016 and Friday, November 4, 2016 in the morning. Parents of Kindergarten students, you will be able to book interviews during this time to find out about your child’s progress, but you will be receiving Communication of Learning First Report Card in February, 2017 and a Communication of Learning Final Report Card at the end of June, 2017 (which will coincide with our Grades 1-6 report card release dates).
Kindergarten Registration
(CATYO: Calling All Three Year Olds)
…is for students starting school September 2017 and is being held at Bluewater Coast on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 during the morning hours. If your child turns three years old by December 31, 2016 they are eligible for Junior Kindergarten beginning September 2017. Call the office at 519-262-2833 to book your registration time. If you know of a family in our school community with young children, pass this information along to them.
Managing Asthma at School
As you may be aware, Ryan’s Law, 2015, was recently passed by the Ontario Legislature. This piece of legislation is an important step to support the well-being of students with asthma in Ontario schools. Over the course of the next school year, Bluewater Coast will be working to implement the requirements of this legislation. In the meantime, if your child has asthma, we ask that you immediately contact the office to provide information about your child’s asthma medication; you may be asked to fill out a Medical Management Plan for staff to follow and adhere to should your child suffer an asthma attack at school. With your permission, your child will be allowed to carry their asthma medication. The Ministry of Education website has resources on asthma that can be found at http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/healthyschools/anaphylaxis.html As a best practice and to support your child, please let the school know if your child has any medical condition so that the school is aware and can keep this information on file. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Principal directly.
Before and After School Care at Bluewater Coast E.S.
“As part of an on-going commitment to make the school day as seamless as possible for our families, each family will be receiving an information sheet in mid-October regarding Before and After School care. Families interested in before or after school programs for their four and five year olds, and possibly older children in the upcoming school year, should complete an on-line survey by November 30, 2016. The link to the survey will be found on the Board website starting mid-October. We appreciate your assistance as we determine the feasibility of offering such programs. Should you require a paper copy, please contact the school after October 14th.”
Mabel’s Labels Fundraiser
Our Bluewater Coast Mabel’s Labels Fundraising Campaign is now live. Mabel’s Labels is the best-known brand of durable, affordable labels for families for personalized products including baby labels, child safety products, sports labels, household organizational labels and seasonal items. They’re extremely durable, they’re laundry, dishwasher and microwave safe – and they’re 100% guaranteed. Great for all of your kid’s school items including coats/shoes/hats/tupperware/school supplies/sports equipment and more!
Order online at: Campaigns.MabelsLabels.com
Search for Bluewater Coast Elementary School (Hensall)
Place your order with a credit card.
Labels delivered directly to your door.
Fundraising for our school is open until the end of December, 2016.
Wash Hands to Avoid Respiratory Illnesses
The Huron County Health Unit reminds everyone that frequent hand washing reduces the risk of catching a respiratory illness.
Several different respiratory viruses circulate every fall; cleaning your hands is your best defense against respiratory illnesses.
According to the Health Unit, “Colds and other respiratory illnesses spread easily among children. It’s important for parents to remind children to clean their hands often at school as well.”
Other measures to take are:
• avoid touching your face
• cough into your elbow or sleeve
• disinfect frequently touched surfaces often
Stay home if you are ill. When children are ill, keep them home from school until they are able to fully participate in their usual activities. Children with asthma may have a higher risk of developing severe illness. If a child develops a high fever or has difficulty breathing, seek medical attention.
Nut Free and Scent Safe School
Bluewater Coast is a Nut Free and Scent Safe School. Please do not wear cologne or scented products when you will be visiting the school.
Products change all the time. If it is not labeled peanut/nut free they are not safe. Statements such as: may contain traces of nuts or peanuts, or, manufactured in a facility that process nuts or peanuts, are not safe.
NEW! Electronic Newsletters Coming in November
Starting in November, we are going to be e-mailing the monthly school newsletters to you. If you do not receive your copy, please check your spam folder.
The newsletter also gets posted to our school website at: https://avonmaitlandschools.ca/bluewatercoast/
Our school calendar is live at:
You can scroll forward to future months to view upcoming events at our school. Book mark it in your browser and visit frequently!
Community Announcements
Huron Hurricanes Aquatic Club season starts Monday, September 12. New Members welcome. For more information, go to www.huron-hurricanes.com