December 3rd, 2021
What’s happening in December
For the last week of school, there will be a dress-up theme each day. Here is a list with a brief explanation to guide students (teachers will also discuss this with them in class)
- Monday is IDENTITY DAY – for this day, students are encouraged to wear anything that shows who they are and what makes them ~ them! This could be wearing the rainbow colours to show they identify with the 2SLGBTQ+ community, a hockey jersey to show they love to watch or play hockey, a Dirndl to show their European heritage. There is no wrong item to wear on this day. We even encourage students to wear multiple items to show their various identities that make them unique.
- Tuesday is MISMATCH DAY -on this day, students can wear items that could be considered mismatched. This could be wearing both stripes and polka dots, a sweater or t-shirt inside out or backward, or it might be wearing a variety of colours that don’t always work together.
- Wednesday is HAT DAY -on this day, students can wear any type of hat or head covering that they enjoy. This could be a toque, a sports hat, ear muffs, or a headband.
- Thursday is FUNKY SOCK DAY -on this day, students are encouraged to wear two different socks.
- Friday is COMFY DAY – on this day, students are encouraged to wear their most comfortable clothing including their pajamas!
December 20-January 2 – Winter Break- No School
Please ensure that you call or email the attendance line to inform us of your child’s absence.
Attendance Email: shl-attendance@wrdsb.ca or
Attendance Line: 519-744-4430 ext 1
DRESSING FOR THE WEATHER
With the colder temperatures and snow, it is so important to ensure that your child is dressed for the weather. Winter coats, boots, mitts, snow pants, and hats will keep them warm and dry so they can enjoy their time outside. It is also a good idea to bring extra socks or mittens to keep in their backpack. Also having a pair of indoor shoes will help to keep classroom floors clean and dry.
FAQ about School Parking Lots
Why are there “no stopping” and “no parking” zones around schools?
Vehicles that are stopped or parked illegally near schools when children are being picked up or dropped off can cause high traffic volumes and poor visibility, which can create a serious safety hazard. No Stopping and No Parking zones, designated by signage and by-law, are in place around schools to prevent hazardous driving behaviours. Municipal by-law enforcement officers and the Waterloo Regional Police Service regularly enforce these zones to ensure the safety of children accessing the school. It may be a small inconvenience to park in a safe place away from the school, but it could prevent a needless collision.
Why do schools close their driveways/parking lots to student pick-up/drop-off?
Many schools have closed their driveways and parking lots during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times. Generally, they are closed to protect student safety. Many school parking lots are not designed with drop-off areas and parking spaces are limited. The lanes in parking lots are not for dropping off students as it is unsafe and an unsupervised area. It is also important to keep driveways and lanes clear for buses and emergency vehicles.
Student safety is everyone’s responsibility. Please report infractions to Municipal By-Law Enforcement Officials using their online reporting tool on the City of Kitchener website.
Sandhills Public School – Important Safety Reminder
Now that the weather is changing we have noticed an increase in traffic in and around our school. We would like to remind our families that Sandhills PS is a walking school and we would encourage everyone to walk whenever possible. If you feel you need to drive, we have a few Drive to 5 locations where you can safely park your vehicles and walk less than 5 minutes to our school to drop off or pick up your children.
*We also ask that you abide by the speed limits in our community as families that do walk are noticing cars are increasingly getting faster in and around the school streets.*
For everyone’s safety, please remember these important tips:
- The Sandhills parking lot is closed to parents & families everyday from 8:15-8:45am and 2:30-3:10pm for the safety of our students and school community.
- During these times, there is NO parking available for parents in our school parking lot and NO student drop off or pick up by way of the school parking lot.
Did You Know?
Mental health affects the way people think, feel and act. Taking care of our mental health is just as important as having a healthy body. As a parent, you play an important role in your child’s mental health:
- You can promote good mental health by the things you say and do, and through the environment, you create at home
- You can also learn about the early signs of mental health problems and know where to go for help.
Learn more about your child’s mental health by visiting the link below:
https://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/mental_health
STAFFING CHANGE
We would like to share with our community that Vanessa Haffner and Karen Bruinsma will be joining our staff as educational assistants. We are also welcoming back Nadine VanHorne and saying goodbye to Laura Marek and Amna Qamar. We wish them well on their new journeys.
Dear Family & Friends,
At Sandhills Public School, we believe that every family in our region should have access to nutritious food. To make this happen, we are supporting the Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary Club’s annual Turkey Drive in support of the House of Friendship Holiday Hamper Program.
Our goal at Sandhills is to raise $500 to support a larger goal to raise $460,000 so thousands of local families will enjoy a festive dinner over the holiday. For every $100 donated, a family will receive a turkey and a gift card to purchase additional groceries while every $25 donated, will provide a Christmas turkey. All donations over $20 will receive a charitable tax receipt.
Donations can be made at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/sandhills-public-school-kcrc-turkey-drive/
At Sandhills we know that one person can make a difference. Thank you for your donation!
Categories: The Scoop