February 24th, 2020
February 24th, 2020
BI-WEEKLY UPDATES
What’s happening in February/March:
- Wednesday February 26th – Pink Shirt Day
- March 8th – Daylight Savings Time – Clocks Spring Ahead
- March 16- 20th March Break
- Monday March 23rd – First day back to school following March Break
- Wednesday March 25th – Kindergarten and Sibling Photos
Ice Safety
We have received reports that some of our Sandhills students have been on and/or near the drainage pond/”lake” just off of Westforest Trail. One of our students fell through the ice and was helped out by another student. We had a discussion about water and ice safety with the students involved and we are happy to report that no one was injured. We would encourage you to discuss water/ice safety with your students if you feel this might be a concern for your family.
Did You Know?
It’s Cold and Flu Season! Seasonal viral outbreaks like colds, influenza and gastro enteric illnesses start as early as October and can last into April.
For more information, check out the website listed below. Cold or Flu: Know the Difference
Follow these steps to help stop the spread of infection:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water (using proper handwashing technique for at least 15 seconds)
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hand (also avoid biting your nails)
- Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze with a tissue (discard the tissue and wash your hands)
- If you don’t have a tissue use your sleeve or the inside of your elbow/arm
- Avoid close contact with people who are ill
- Stay at home when you feel ill and get rest
- Clean and disinfect surfaces and shared items
What Can I Do to Not Get Sick?
- Encourage family members to wash their hands properly and cough into their sleeve
- Don’t share personal items (toothbrushes, pillows, handerchiefs, nail clippers, etc)
- Store your toothbrush in a drawer
- Avoid sharing food or utensils with sick family members
- Disinfect doorknobs and other touch points around the house when a family member is ill
- Take care of yourself, stay hydrated and get a sufficient amount of sleep
Technology Update
Using social media and online video-gaming becomes a risk to children and adolescents more often than most adults realize.
Most risks fall into the following categories: peer-to-peer; inappropriate content; lack of understanding of online privacy issues; and outside influences of third-party advertising groups.
Today, young people spend a lot of time on social media and online video-gaming which can lead to being more susceptible to peer pressure, low self-esteem and other issues related to health and well-being. A number of studies have found associations between increased social media or video game use and depression, anxiety, sleep problems, eating concerns, violent behaviour and in some rare cases even suicide risk.
- They are preventing kids from getting outside and having real-life social interactions
- They increase anxiety and depression
- They interfere with sleep
- They can expose kids to sexual content
As a parent, it’s not only your right but it is your responsibility to know what your child is doing on social media and the content of the video games they are playing. Don’t take your child’s word for it, take the time yourself to research the various social media and video game content and the potential dangers associated with them. The bottom line, most applications, such as Instagram and Snapchat and games such as Fortnite have a minimum age of 13 years old to subscribe.
Young children don’t have the wisdom to understand that there are predators out there. Nor do they have the ability to comprehend the potential dangers of certain apps.
UMBRELLA PROJECT UPDATE
January and February have been successful months where we have learned about Growth Mindset and the Power of Yet. It is the belief that a person’s abilities and intelligence can be developed through practice, hard work, dedication and motivation. We are learning that our mindset matters. Failures and mistakes are when learning happens and when we improve! Our brains are like a muscle and when you learn, your brain grows. When something feels difficult our brains are growing and improving.