Principal’s Message
Dear Families: It’s hard to believe that it is already October and it is beginning to look and feel like fall. We have had a fabulous start to our school year together here at Stephen Central.
Progress reports will be sent home with all students from JK to Grade 6 on November 2nd . Staff looks forward to meeting with all parents and guardians either after school on Thursday, November 5 or during the morning of the following PA day (Friday, November 6. Watch for more information to follow later in October.
We really do have so much to be thankful for. We have wonderful students and an amazing parent community. Our staff is dedicated and willing to go the extra mile. Our neighbors watch what is happening around our school and help us to keep your children safe. We need to take time, be thankful for, and to reflect on the jobs that our volunteers, bus drivers, and community members do in supporting our students. We are grateful for all of our new volunteers who assist with our reading programs, food days and our wonderful local school council.
It is at this time of Thanksgiving, that we need to take the time to be thankful for and celebrate a fantastic start to the school year. Happy Thanksgiving!
Have a fantastic October everyone.
– Donna Gregus
From the School Council Chair
I would like to say a special thank you to all the new faces that came out to our first Parent Council meeting of the school year. It was greatly appreciated. We look forward to a wonderful year for the students and families of our school. We will be sending home our fall fundraiser for The Whole Pig and Coastal Coffee products for students to sell during over the Thanksgiving holidays from October 5th to 19th. Watch for more information to follow. Our next meeting is October 19th at 6:30 pm at the school. Please feel free to join us.
– Paula Eagleson
Hotlunches.net
Wow! Thank-you for the great response to HOTLUNCHES!
We have 89 families at Stephen Central using the HOTLUNCHES.net.
This weekend you would have received your first “weekly lunch email reminder”. This email lists (with dates) the days of the week, and any orders associated with those days. So this week’s email may have caused some concern, as unless milk has been ordered every day, the email would have stated “No items ordered”. If your family has only ordered milk on days with meals, next week’s email will have the items that have been ordered for the day listed.
If, after you received your email and signed into your account, you would have seen your balance owing had not been updated, but you had sent in your funds, please be patient. When you order the next month and you notice your account hasn’t been updated, please send a “support request” email (under help menu) to bring this to our attention.
Reminder, HOTLUNCHES is a service provided by parent volunteers to help raise funds for student support.
If you have not set up an account on HOTLUNCHES.net, how can we “Help” you get access?
Thanks.
Alison Rammeloo
519-237-3771
Vision and Hearing Screeing for JK/SK
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 Stephen Central Public School on December 2.
Before & After School Program Continues
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, 2015. 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 15.
Calling All Three Year Olds (CATYO)
On Wednesday, November 4th we will be registering kindergarten students for the 2016-2017 school year.
Children who are 3 years old by December 31, 2015 are eligible for junior kindergarten in 2016. Children who are 4 years old by December 31, 2015 are eligible for senior kindergarten in 2016. If you have a child of kindergarten age please call the school (519-234-6302) for registration information. The registration process will include developmental screening. The purpose of the program is to help parents assess how their child is developing. CATYO allows parents ample time to link their child to any needed services and supports. This will help ensure children are better prepared for school entry the following September.
We are seeking volunteers to help with our daily “Eat & Learn” program. Every morning our students are provided with the opportunity to enjoy a healthy snack. Assistance is needed in ordering, preparing and delivering these snacks. Even an hour a week would be beneficial to this program. Thanks so much for considering this volunteer opportunity.
To Do: Please call the school to register your child for Kindergarten for September 2016. Registration packages will be sent home mid-October for those who call to register.
Sports Shorts
Cross Country – Our regional cross country meet will be held at Huron Centennial on Thursday, October 8 (rain date: Friday, October 9). For specific age groupings and start times, please refer to the schedule that will be sent home with your runner. The times listed are approximate and parents should come in advance of the times posted. The District cross country meet will be held at Wildwood Conservation Area on October 15 (rain date: October 16). Runners will be notified if they will be advancing and parents will be responsible for transporting and supervising their own child(ren) for the District meet.
Soccer – The regional Junior Soccer Meet will be held on Tuesday, October 20 (rain date: October 22). More information will follow.
Good-luck to all of our athletes! We are cheering you on from the sidelines. Go Tigers, Go!
Funding Available
Are you eligible to access $500 per child per year? This flyer contains information regarding a program supported by the YMCA and United Way. This program enables Huron families to access up to $500.00 annually per child towards sports or clubs for children 0-17, if their income is below $45,000. Read on for more information. If you would like a hard copy of this pamphlet, please contact the school office 519-234-6302 or see our posting on Facebook.
Character Corner
The character attribute of focus for October is ‘Empathy’ – understanding how someone else feels.
Parenting Tip:
Read younger children story books about friendship. Titles such as One by Kathryn Otoshi, and Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully by Audrey Penn focus on this theme, which gives you an opportunity to talk to your child about empathy.
Quotes About Empathy
“How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these.” – George Washington Carver
“Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other’s eyes for an instant?.” – Henry David Thoreau
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 books 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 can not check out another library book until their overdue library book(s) has/have been returned.
Library helpers will be starting in the beginning of 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.
A Great Big Thank You to ….
…our local Dashwood & Area Volunteer Fire Department for visiting our school on September 28 to educate our students about fire safety. Our grade 2 students liked.”crawling under the smoke in the house and sitting in the fire truck”……!
Hallowe’en
At SCPS, some, but not all of our families celebrate Hallowe’en. Therefore, we will be providing alternate activities for whom this celebration is not one they observe. For the children and their families who would like to participate, students are encouraged to wear a costume or dress in the black and orange theme. Prizes will be awarded in various categories of costumes.