Community Weekly Newsletter - April 13-17

 

Coming Up This Week:

Monday, April 13 - Rotary Day 1

Tuesday, April 14 - Rotary Day 2

      - HWDSB Speaks @Gatestone

      - Pita Pit Lunch Day (Pre-orders only)

Wednesday, April 15 - Rotary Day 3

      - Kernels Popcorn Day

Thursday, April 16 - Rotary Day 4

      - Pizza Lunch Day (pre-orders only)

Friday, April 17 - Rotary Day 5

      - TerraCotta Cookie Day

 

Word of the Week will be JOY! Announcements this week will support students in understanding and sharing this message.

 

Save the Date, our spring Open House will be April 30, 5:00pm-6:30pm!

 

Get your gardening started early and support School Council to raise money for music class enhancements. Our Satellite Gardens School Council Fundraiser will be open on School Cash online April 7-17!

$25 and $50 gift cards are available with a portion of the funds raised going to the school to support our music programs!

The gift cards can be redeemed at Satellite Florist & Garden Centre (1167 Rymal Road)

Gift cards will be sent home with your child the week of May 4.

 

Spring into Spring – Spring Walk and Roll Day is Wednesday, April 22nd. Help our Earth by celebrating active travel to school and work. Please see the attached event poster!

 

Do you have gently used child size running shoes at home that are no longer being worn? Please consider donating them to Gatestone School. We are looking to have shoes on hand that students may wear for gym class if they have forgotten their gym shoes. Shoes can be dropped off to Mrs. Taylor in the gym.

 

Now is the time to register all children born in 2022 for Kindergarten for September. Please follow the link below for all information regarding registration. https://hwdsb.on.ca/kindergarten/

 

Time spent outdoors is an integral part of the school day. There are great benefits when children experience fresh air, exercise and time spent time outside. Outdoor play is also a break from the structure of the classroom.

During winter, it is important that children come to school prepared for the cold. Students should wear boots, mittens/gloves and hats and it is a good idea to pack extra mittens, socks, etc. in case they are needed.

We do stay inside based on the City of Hamilton guidelines (when it’s at or below -15C, or -20C with the wind chill).

 

As social media continues to play a significant role in students’ lives and communication, we are committed to helping them navigate the online world safely and responsibly. At school, we regularly engage students in conversations about respectful online behaviour, digital citizenship, and what to do if they encounter concerning content or interactions. These discussions help reinforce the skills and awareness they need to make positive choices. A reminder that our school has a no cellphone use policy during the school day. Students are expected to keep their phones powered off and stored away to maintain focus, reduce distractions, and support a positive learning environment. We encourage families to continue these conversations at home by monitoring device and social media use, reviewing privacy settings, and staying aware of the apps and platforms your child is using. Together, we can support students in developing healthy digital habits and making safe, responsible choices when they are online outside of school.

 

A reminder that our Lost and Found is located in the school office. If your child has lost something at school, please stop remind them to stop by the lost and found to have a look for their items. Any items remaining will be donated to a local charity at the end of each month.

 

A few reminders from Public Health to support good health. Hand washing with soap is important to reduce the spread of germs. Students should stay home if they feel unwell.   Students should be fever-free without medication and symptoms resolved or improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours for GI symptoms) before returning to school.

 

A reminder that, for student safety, our school parking lot is closed during entry and dismissal times. We encourage families to walk with their children to and from school, set up a buddy system for older students, or Drive to Five - rather than drive to the school to limit congestion on Gatestone Drive and improve safety for students traveling to and from school.

At times when parents/caregivers need to drop their child off by vehicle, please park on the streets adjacent to the school (where it is unsigned).

Please be sure to respect our neighbours by not blocking driveways. Also, a reminder that by-law does regular parking enforcement on the street in front of the school. Do not park in no parking areas.

Please do not block the fire lane.

 

We understand that sometimes end of day arrangement for students need to change in cases of emergency. The end of day can be quite busy for classes packing up and accessing different areas of the school so it is not always possible to get messages to students after 3:00pm. For student safety, if end of day arrangements for your child need to change, please call the school office before 3:00pm.