CALENDAR OF

October 2015 Upcoming Events

October 6 – Snack Program

Begins Again!

October 12 – Thanksgiving,

No School

October 21 – SAC Meeting

at 6:00 in the Library

October 23 – Smile, It’s

Picture Day!

From the desk of the Principal and Vice Principal …

Dear Southwood Families,

It’s been a wonderful start to the school year! I would really like to say a

special thank you to all of the students, parents and staff who have been so

welcoming my first month at Southwood! I have heard so many wonderful

things about our school community from Mr. Johnson and our staff. I look

forward to continuing to meet all of our families.

Our staff is very dedicated and have planned many great activities for our

students and families this year. We have a number of staff who have

volunteered to help support our students’ learning not only in the class but

outside of it too. Thank-you to all coaches and volunteers who work so hard at

making a difference at Southwood.

This year we are looking to bring you a number of unique Southwood events

such as spirit days and month end assemblies to celebrate and showcase our

amazing students. We look forward to the active participation from all

members of our school community. We had our first Character Counts

assembly on September 28th. A great big thank-you to Mr. Lucier for creating

an outstanding video, Mrs. Cadarette’s grade 7 class for presenting and

participating in the 100 000 poets global initiative and Mrs. Coulter, Mrs.

Mamo and Mrs. Malcolm’s classes for sharing ways we can fill buckets and

display good character.

We would like to welcome to our staff Mrs. Hobbs, our early childhood

educator who will be partnering with Mrs. Newman. We wish Ms. Tazzman

good luck as she joins Northwood’s staff.

Please note that our website contains our school calendar, a blog and twitter.

Please check it regularly for information and upcoming events. Our school

website can be found at https://publicboard.ca/schools/southwood for

information and upcoming events. Follow us on twitter @SPSSabres.

Partners in Education,

Mrs. Lowes Mr. Johnson

Principal Vice Principal Principal Vice Principal

Southwood Staff

JK/SK – M. Newman ECE – D. Hobbs JK/SK – C. Djelebian ECE – A. McKane Grade 1 – K. Malcolm Grade 1 – A. Mamo Grade 1/2 – C. Coulter Grade 2 – S. Tessier Grade 2 – D. Hunt-Robinson Grade 3 – V. MacDonald Grade 3 – S. Forget Grade 4 – M. Dragicevic Grade 4 – K. Aversa Grade 5 – N. Baughan Grade 5 – P. Mio Grade 6 – J. Piescic Grade 6 – K. Camlis Grade 7 – J. Cadarette Grade 7 – D. Chisholm Grade 8 – J. Dunlop Grade 8 – M. Cichon SERR – M. Brown LST- D. Edgar GAINS – A. Bellemore Physio – B. Johnson / M. Brown French – M. Hermle French – J. Meszaros Library – M. Lucier Music – A. Cecile Physical Education – K. Trudell DSW – D. Branch DSW – C. Jubinville EA – T. Campbell EA – S. Kovacevich EA – K. Quick EA – A. Renaud EA – S. Szostopal EA – L. Zittlau CYW – J. Glover Custodian – J. Telford Custodian – D. Sherlock Secretary – K. Renaud Clerk – H. Labelle

Follow us on Twitter @ SPSSabres

IMPORTANT DATES 2015-2016

ELEMENTARY PANEL

PA Day September 3, 2015

Classes Begin September 8, 2015

Classes Begin – Early Years September 14, 2015

PA Day October 2, 2015

Interviews November 19, 2015

PA Day November 20, 2015

PA Day January 15, 2016

Interviews February 11, 2016

PA Day February 12, 2016

PA Day June 10, 2016

Last Day of Classes June 30, 2016

Southwood School – Daily Schedule

8:20 a.m. Student Entry

8:20-9:10 a.m. Period 1 1st Learning Block (100 minutes) 9:10-10:00 a.m. Period 2

10:00-10:30 a.m. Nutrition Break #1

10:30-11:20 a.m. Period 3 2nd Learning Block (100 minutes) 11:20 - 12:10 p.m. Period 4

12:10-12:55 p.m. Nutrition Break # 2

12:55-1:45 p.m. Period 5 3rd Learning Block (100 minutes) 1:45 –2:35 p.m. Period 6

2:35 pm. Dismissal

SOUTHWOOD COLOURS: Navy Blue and Orange

SOUTHWOOD MASCOT: Saber-Tooth Tiger OUR SOUTHWOOD SCHOOL MOTTO: Spirit - Strength - Success

STUDENT INFORMATION

The school requires up-to-date information for each student. Please inform the school secretary if you change your address, phone number, work number, cell number, or custody order. For emergency purposes, we must have the phone number of two people we can call when you cannot be reached. Changes to the student health information should be forwarded immediately to Mrs. Renaud in the office.

Any questions or clarification of information please call the school office at (519) 969-3470.

HOLIDAYS & BREAKS

Labour Day September 7

Thanksgiving October 12

Christmas Break December 21 – January 1

Family Day February 15

March Break March 14 – 18

Good Friday March 25

Easter Monday March 28

Victoria Day May 23

EQAO GR. 3/6 Reading, Writing, Math May 28 to June 8, 2016

Grade 4 CAT & INSIGHT March 21 April 8, 2016

SAFE WELCOME PROGRAM

In September 2013, the Province-wide Safe Welcome Program was initiated in Ontario Schools.

As a reminder, all exterior doors of our school are locked during the instructional day. Any students, parents or visitors wishing to enter the school during our school instructional hours (8:20 a.m. to 2:35 p.m.) are required to use our main entrance on the north side of the building facing Cabana Road. Visitors must use the buzzer on the intercom system in order to gain entry to the building. Our clerk or secretary will use the security camera and intercom to verify the visitor’s identity before entry is allowed. Once the visitor has gained access to the building, he/she is required to sign in at the main office and receive a visitor pass at the office before proceeding. Students are asked to check in at the office, as always, if they are late for the instructional day.

Thank you for your continued support as we ensure everyone’s safety!

Southwood’s School Day BEGINS at 8:20 am. Parents and students are

reminded that when students arrive at school on time and ready to learn, they

have the most successful start to the school day.

We ask that students do not arrive before 8:05 am, as playground supervision

begins at 8:05 and runs until 8:20. Parents are asked to please keep this in

mind when they plan to drop off their children.

Please note: all students who are either dropped off or picked up by parents should be using the “Kiss and Ride” road located at the south end of the school property. If you are dropping your children off after the entry bell, there are three “10 Minute” parking spots at the north end of our school parking lot. Please use these spots and enter through the front doors. When using the Kiss and Ride road, please stay in your vehicles as the staff members on duty will assist your child in exiting or entering your vehicle. The purpose of this road is to ensure the safe exit and entry for the students while maintaining a system that is as efficient as possible. Vehicles that are left in park with no occupants interrupt the flow of traffic. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated!

Student Attendance Procedures

At the Greater Essex County District School Board, “Every Day Counts”. If your child will be absent, please call the school at 519-969-3470. We are fortunate to have an answering machine that enables you to leave a message before and after school hours.

If it is necessary for your child to be dismissed early, please send your child’s teacher a note. The teacher will then forward the note to the office. If you are picking up your child before dismissal, please report to the office. Your child will be paged and we will ask that you sign them out at the office. Thank you to all of our parents for helping to make our school a safe and secure place to learn!

Ensuring that your child attends school regularly and arrives on time is the best way to get the most out of our programs.

Southwood Entry and Dismissal Procedures

Before and After School Communication with Staff

Please remember that before and after school are very busy times for our staff.

If you would like to speak to one of our teachers, please your child’s teacher a note or call the school office and our teachers would be pleased to set up a time that is good for both of you to talk/meet.

Late and Early Dismissal

Please remember that whenever you need to pick up your child you will need to check into the office.

We will call your child down and have them meet you at the office.

Please remember that all students need to be signed in and out of school at the office whenever they are late or are leaving early. This is an essential part of ensuring that your child is safe.

Where Character Counts!

This year, to support our Board’s focus on Character Education, we are holding monthly assemblies for the

purpose of educating our students on ways to demonstrate good character. Parents are always welcome to

attend these assemblies!

At the beginning of this school year, we have introduced character counts coupons and students have begun

“filling their buckets”. Every class has been introduced to the idea of “bucket filling”, which basically means

“when you do something positive, you fill your bucket”. When we tie it into character education, we are

looking for students to demonstrate the 7 pillars of character education: caring, respect, responsibility,

fairness, self-discipline, diligence and trustworthiness.

For the month of September, our school focus was on “responsibility”. When students were “caught”

demonstrating responsibility, they were given a character counts coupon to be put into their classroom

buckets. At our monthly assembly,

each class dumps their bucket into their

larger division bucket. Student names

are then drawn from those buckets to

win prizes! At our September

assembly, our grade 1 and 1/2 students

presented the book “Have You Filled a

Bucket Today?” In October, the focus

will be on the character trait, “fairness”.

At the end of the month teachers will

pull a name from their class bucket and

that student will be recognized by

participating in the victory parade

around the school. These students will

also have their picture taken and sign a

pennant to be displayed in the hall.

Healthy Snack Program We are pleased to announce that Southwood’s Healthy Snack program will begin once again! Starting on Tuesday, October 6th, students will be receiving a healthy snack during the first nutrition break. This program will run each week, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

A great big “Thank-You” goes out to Southwood parent, Laurie Bradbury and her team of volunteers who run our snack program each week!

CEREAL BOX CHALLENGE

The Cereal Box Challenge began 12 years ago when as a Grade 7 Leadership candidate Alyssa McKinley

created the Challenge to help provide additional support for school Breakfast Programs at Brock and Benson

Public Schools. Since those days it has grown immensely! The Cereal Box Challenge is easy to do!

The Cereal Box Challenge will start Monday Nov. 2nd.

All cereal is due no later than Monday Nov. 23rd.

Best class average of total cereal grams per student will receive a Pizza Luncheon the week prior to Winter Break.

All cereal will be donated to numerous School Breakfast Programs in the GECDSB and other youth centered programs as well.

Pizza

Lunch

Monday, November 23rd