Update Feb 6  - Feb 10, 2023

Black History Month

February is  designated as Black History Month.  For our prayers this month, we will take the opportunity to honour and pray each day for many of the achievements and contributions made by a variety of Black historical figures. This week we will speak to students about Rosemary Brown, Ferguson Jenkins, Willie O’Ree, Craig Gibson and Dorthy Williams. 

Valentine Dance Kindergarten Information

Please see letter regarding Valentine Dance for Kindergarten Parents/Guardians.

Report Card Information

Video for Parents - How to Access Your Child’s Report Card

FSL Pathways Gr. 3 and Grade 6 Students

Please take note that Pathway information will be sent to parents of Grade 3 and Grade 6 students on February 9, 2023.

Webinar for Parents and Guardians of Elementary School Students  

Register for this free live webinar and learn about EQAO assessment results and Ontario’s large-scale assessment program at the elementary-school level. EQAO will review highlights from the 2021–2022 assessment results. The session will also highlight how the primary-division (Grade 3) and junior-division (Grade 6) assessments have been modernized. The presentation will be approximately 45 minutes and will be followed by a live Q & A session with EQAO staff. Registration: www.eventbrite.ca/e/451955981507 

Lateness

Lateness: We have noticed that lateness of students is occurring on a more frequent basis.  Please see the following:

What can I do to help my child attend school?

1) Make a commitment to do what it takes to get your child to attend school every day and on time.

2 ) Help your child get organized by setting regular routines for getting ready for school, both at bedtime and in the morning.

3) Make sure your child has plenty of sleep as this will help increase her/his memory and concentration in school. Experts suggest 11 hours of sleep for 4-6 year olds and 9–10 hours for older children.

4 ) It may be best to remove the phone, television and computer from your child’s bedroom as it is hard to supervise, what s/he is doing or how late s/he is staying up, in the privacy of the bedroom.

5)  If at all possible, set a regular time to do homework. Some children like to  have their snack after school and then do their homework immediately so that it is finished. Others like to have some free time after school and then complete their homework right after supper. It is important for a parent to be available at that time to help them as needed.

6) Communicate with your child’s teacher regularly and attend all  parent/teacher interviews. Studies show that children of parents who are involved in the school are more likely to graduate.

7) Talk to your child about her/his school day. You could say, for example, “Tell me something about your day?” or “What is happening in the book you are reading?”

8) Show your child you are interested in school and that school is important.

9) Try to schedule appointments outside of school hours.  If your child refuses to go to school or if he or she complains of being sick frequently and has to go home, talk to your child and her/his teacher.

Bus Lanes

Most recently we have observed several cars in the bus lanes during the off limit times.  We once again remind parents that these precautions are for the safety of our students, staff and you.

Drop Off /Pick UP If you are driving your child to school in the morning or picking them up at dismissal time, we ask you to park your car away from the school and WALK-A-Block. We ask that you do not enter the Bus Lane; these are off limits to all cars between 8:15 AM - 9:00 AM and 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM  Please do not drop off students in front of the bus lanes on the street and in front of the crosswalk. Joseph, our crossing guard has voiced his concern about this very dangerous practice. This is not safe, please use the practice of walking-a-block. 

WINTER PREPAREDNESS

We are very fortunate to live in Canada — a geographical wonderland of changing seasons to enjoy.  While we love winter and all the extra-curricular activities it brings, we must ensure that we arrive at school with the appropriate clothing it requires.  Students will be taken out for recess every day unless the weather is colder than –25ºC including the wind chill.  Students of all ages should be wearing their winter jackets and snow pants, as well as boots, mittens, hats and neckwarmers. It is also a good idea for each student to keep an extra pair of dry socks and/or pants at school for those really wet, snowy days when you just can’t help but get wet!  

Please label all winter gear. It is imperative that ALL apparel be labeled so it can easily find its way back to the students. 

SNOW DAYS

In the event that extreme weather results in the cancellation of school buses, parents are not required to call in their child’s absence if they take a school bus.  The school will remain open.  Should you choose to send your child to school, parents are responsible for ransportation to and from school that day.  School hours are from 8:30 to 3:00 p.m.  If you wish to have someone other than a family member pick your child up, a written request with your signature must be delivered to the office.

Please understand that on a snowday we continue to follow the same procedures regarding our bus loading zone and parking lot.

Staff have reported unsafe situations in the parking lot during the last snow day. As result will will place pylons on both ends to keep students, parents and staff safe on a snow day where buses are cancelled.

Arrival / Dismissal Drop off / Pick up

In order to promote the safety of our students at Holy Redeemer Catholic School, we have developed and implemented a plan to ensure the safe arrival and dismissal of our children. Parents and school staff have a vital role in this process. 

ARRIVAL: Children enter the drop off zone, which is located at the West end of the school . They do so between 8:15 - 8:30 a.m. The students will then cross over the school yard line.  The Grade 1-3 students will walk to the Primary area (pavement area up to the middle door) and the Grade 4-6 students will walk to the pavement area past the middle doors and upper field area. Teachers will be in these designated areas.  At 8:30 a.m. they will proceed into the school through their designated door, and be escorted with their teacher to their classroom. Please note that Parents/Adults are asked not to enter the school yard, and we ask that parents separate from their child at the school yard line and exit the school area immediately. Parents coming from the park area pathway are asked to walk along the sidewalk in the parking lot, and make their way to the front of the school, and then to the drop zone.  We do not want parents to be in the backyard area of the school. We also caution students entering the yard from the western hill area.  During winter time this hill becomes very slippery.  Walking to our entry area will prevent a slip or fall.

In the case of inclement weather, students will enter the school from designated doors, and be directed by staff to their classrooms. This occurs between the times of 8:15 - 8:30 AM. We ask your full cooperation to implement them safely. 

Dismissal:  Our students will be staggered in their dismissal beginning at 2:50 and ending at 3:00 p.m.  They will exit from their designated doors, and make their way to the drop off zone area.  If parents are here to pick up their child, we ask them to wait on the sidewalk to the North,  and the area directly in front of the school.  The area in front of the school can be a heavy traffic area, and become very congested, therefore keep in mind social distancing when you are waiting. That is why we suggest the sidewalk to the North. Our JK/SK students will be escorted to the drop off zone area beginning at 2:50 p.m. and handed directly to Parents/Guardians. If Parents/Guardians are here to pick up JK/SK students, please stand to the West side of the drop off zone. Once you have your child, please exit the area immediately.  We ask that you do not congregate on school property. From 2:55-3:00 p.m. our Grade 1- 3 students will be escorted to the drop zone area.  Once again we ask Parents/Guardians to stand to the West side of the drop off area.  Once you have your child, please exit the area immediately.  At 3:00 p.m. our Grade 4-6 students will be escorted to the drop zone area. Once again we ask Parents/Guardians to stand to the West side of the drop off area.  

Parking

Parking has always been a  major concern at Holy Redeemer.  We received many  reports of unsafe situations in front of the school the last school year, and in our parking lot involving our students over last year. We want to be proactive and avoid these situations.  We ask our Parents to “walk a block”.  This means parking on one of the adjacent side streets, and walking over to the school to pick up your child.  We also ask that you do not use our parking lot during pick up time, and drop off.  This area is part of our Bus Loading Zone which occurs between 8:00 - 8:30 AM and 2:30 - 3:15 PM. We ask that no cars be in this area at this time to ensure the safety of both our students and staff. When a snow day occurs we will place pylons in front of the entrance and exits to our bus lanes.  We do this as a proactive measure to once again ensure the safety of our students and staff.

ONLINE PAYMENTS

For safety and efficiency reasons, we want to reduce the amount of Cash & Cheques coming into our school.  School related expenses will be available online for you to make the payment.

Parents please register.

Here is how:

Step 1 Go to this website:

https://ocsb.schoolcashonline.com

Step 2 Register by selecting the “Get Started Now” and follow the steps

Step 3 After you receive the confirmation email, please select the “click here” option, sign in and add each of your children to your household account.

Pizza 

Once again Pizza will be delivered on Thursday February 9, 2023.  We ask that all of our students take home their individual Pizza boxes.

As a result of the snow day that took place on Thursday, January 26, 2023 Pizza was not delivered to students.  We have  rescheduled the Pizza day for Tuesday,  Feb 14th.  Therefore, two Pizza days will occur that week! 

Dates

Pizza Day  February 9, 2023

Report Cards go live on Parent Portal  February 9, 2023