September 9th, 2016
September 9, 2016 – Weekly School-Day Update
1.Upcoming Dates
Sept. 14 – School Council meeting 6:30pm, everyone welcome.
Sept. 21 – Photo Day
Sept. 22 – Say ‘HI!’ Day
Sept. 23 – P.A. Day – no school for students
Sept. 30 – Terry Fox Run day
- Welcome to Mrs. Mags
“My name is Magdalena “Mrs. Mags” Ecsedi and I feel priviledged to be the new Child and Youth Worker for the Sandhills Suns! As a CYW with the board (going on 11 years now) I hope to support staff, students and the community with resources and school programming connected with social and emotional skills . A few little things about myself; I have a 3 1/2 year old daughter along with a 7 year old Giant Schnzauzer, I enjoy reading and soccer with a little Zumba on the side and as some of you may know, in the summer times I am a Camp Coordinator for Girls Rock! Camp. I am available Monday to Friday every afternoon beginning at 11:45. Many thanks for the warm welcome…I look forward to be part of the team!”
- Student Data Updates
Lots of information has been sent home with your student this week. Please review it and kindly return the Data Verification Form, The Permission of Student Personal Information Form (blue sheet), The Consent for Ongoing Off-Campus Activities Form and any important medical information by Monday, September 12th, 2016.
- Parking
Student safety is our priority, so please remember that at entry and dismissal times, the school parking lot is unavailable to the community, with a few exceptions due to mitigating circumstances or medical issues. Please respect the direction of our friendly parking lot attendants Mr. McPhee and Ms. MacDonald, whose role it is to keep our students safe. We ask that families kindly adhere to our parking lot attendants’ request not to enter/park in the school parking lot at the busiest times of the day (entry and dismissal). Thank you to all of those families respecting the parking lot guidelines, and special thanks to all of those families choosing to walk or carpool to school. This really helps to reduce the traffic and parking congestion.
- School-Day Online Payments
Student planners are available for purchase on School-Day for $6.
- Online payment with a credit card is best.
- If you choose to send cash to the school as payment, please send exact change with the order number.
- Please do not combine multiple students in a cash order.
- Please note that we are no longer able to accept payment by cheque.
6. Sandhills School Council
ELECTION INFORMATION
What are the roles and responsibilities of a School Council?
Ontario Ministry of Education and Training states that School Council will provide advice to the principal and, where appropriate, to the school board on any of the matters described below:
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• local school calendar • school code of student behaviour • the responses to achievement in provincial and board assessment programs • curriculum and program goals and priorities • preparation of the school profile • school budget priorities, including local improvement plans • development, implementation and review board policies at local level |
• school budget priorities, including local improvement plans • school community communication strategies • extra-curricular activities • school based service and community partnership related to social, health, recreational and nutrition programs • community use of school facilities • local co-ordinator of services for children and youth |
Does the School Council have any additional responsibilities?
The School Council shall also establish its goals, priorities and procedures; hold a minimum of 4 meetings per year, communicate regularly with parents and other members of the community to seek their views and preferences with regard to matters being addressed by council, and report on the activities of the council to the school community. All meetings are open to the members of the school community.
How can a parent/guardian become a member of the Sandhills School Council?
Included in this information letter is a nomination form. Please complete it and return it to the school by
October 7, 2016. If elections are necessary, they will be held October 12th at 6:30 p.m. at the School Council Meeting held in the school’s library. If the number of nominees is equal to or less than the number of vacancies, then the nominees will be acclaimed. The term of office is for one year beginning September 2016. Specific positions are open for nomination and are listed on this form below.
How does School Council function?
School Council is a collaborative partnership among parents, the community and the school to discuss school-based initiatives that focus on providing the best possible service to the entire school community. School Council can consist of the principal, the VP, one non-teaching staff, 1 teaching staff, 1 community representative and up to 15 parent members. There can also be an executive consisting of 2 co-chairs or 1 chair, a treasurer, and a secretary. School Council meetings are open to everyone. If voting on issues is necessary, only those members in attendance that have been elected to the Council have a vote.
Agenda items can be presented to Council by any parent. There will be a timeline to submit your items to either the principal or the (co-) chairs so that there is significant time to publicize the upcoming agenda. Items will be publicized before they are discussed at meetings in order to ensure proper notification of information. Agendas will be posted at the school. Agenda items focus on student learning and issues relevant to the Sandhills School Community within the Council’s mandate (i.e. school environment, program/curriculum, communication, parent education initiatives, fundraising, etc.). The School Council will operate in a manner that is welcoming, non-judgmental, based on open discussion, and uses consensus, collaboration and compromise for decision-making. For further information contact Silvana Hoxha, principal at the school or Della Sousa at 519-220-9285 (Council Chair 2015-6)
school-council-nomination-form