Dear Sister MacNamara Families:

What a May it has been! We hope that everyone is staying safe and healthy during this �me. On May 9th, 2021, the Province of

Manitoba announced that schools would be moving to remote learning beginning May 12, 2021 and ending on May 28th, 2021.

Recently they have extended the Remote Learning period to June 6th. Teachers will con�nue to provide instruc�on as per their

schedules over the past two weeks. We are delighted that students are par�cipa�ng in virtual learning mee�ngs daily with their

classroom teachers. This is so important to be connected and maintain our community of learning! Thank you for all your hard

work and quick learning on troubleshoo�ng device issues and helping your children reach their poten�al with online learning!

Call the school if you require any further assistance. Informa�on about the return of devices will be sent to you at the end of

the Remote Learning period.

Thank you to all of you who have been reaching out to the school and communica�ng your child’s absences. Please con�nue to

call the school and communicate if your child will be away, even during Remote Learning as we keep a1endance of par�cipa�on

during this �me.

During the week of May 4th- 7th our school par�cipated in Healthy Minds Week. At 11:00 am every day, the school paused to

take mindful breaks - a �me to pause and reconnect with our breathing, body and minds. We learned when we slow down our

days and focus on the here and now, our bodies feel much stronger and our brains can concentrate be1er. Con�nuing similar

ac�vi�es with your children at home can help reduce stress, anxie�es, and get everyone’s bodies feeling regulated. Connect

with your children’s classroom teacher to find out helpful websites to visit on mindfulness.

We would like to congratulate a few staff members of Sister MacNamara. Ms. Bong Sun Liu has decided that it is �me to put

away her lesson plans and re�re as of June 30, 2021. Ms. Liu has been teaching in the Winnipeg School Division for 31 years.

What a wonderful accomplishment and we wish her well during her re�rement. We also want to announce the re�rement of

Ms. Alice Williams. Ms. Williams has been working as the Vice-Principal at Sister MacNamara School for the past 6 years and

has been working for the division for 32 years! Her wise, caring and nurturing character has touched so many students and staff!

A le1er will be sent to families at the end of June regarding other staff changes that will occur at the end of our school year.

Our regular year end events will be different this year due to the COVID 19 protocols. Many have asked about our Family Fest

but we are not able to hold the event due to restric�ons on public gatherings. Our annual Field Day, Talent Show and Na�onal

Indigenous Peoples’ Day outdoor celebra�ons are also currently on hold. Teachers will look for ways to celebrate these events

virtually. The Grade 6 Farewell will be held virtually on June 24th at 1:15 to wish our Grade 6 students well as they transi�on to

Grade 7 next year. We will host our Year End Celebra�on assembly virtually on June 9th, to recognize student

accomplishments. Report cards will be sent home on June 24th at the end of the day. We appreciate your understanding as

we deal with the protocols that ensure everyone is safe at school. Our last day of school is June 30th, 2021 and students are

dismissed early at 11:30am. Please ensure that any personal belongings are arranged for take home prior to June 30th.

If you ever have any ques�ons about our school, we encourage you to call us right away. Ms. Lenhardt Mair and I are always

available to answer your ques�ons.

Wishing everyone a joyful June!

Sincerely,

♦ Message from the Administra�ve Team

JUNE 2021

Sister MacNamara School 460 Sargent Avenue

Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 1V5

204-942-6965

Joanna Langtry

Ac�ng Vice Principal

Debbie Lenhardt Mair

Principal

SISTER MACNAMARA SCHOOL CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2020—2021 JUNE ALL OF THE JUNE EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE TO GUIDELINES FROM THE PROVINCE OF MANITOBA AND PUBLIC HEALTH 24 Grade 6 Farewell—1:15 PM VIRTUAL 24 Report Cards go home 30 Last Day of School—Student Dismissal at 11:30 AM

Looking ahead to the 2021-22 school year The ten closure dates for the 2021/2022 school year have been determined for the Winnipeg School Division as follows: Tuesday, September 7, 2021

Monday, September 20, 2021

Friday, October 22, 2021

Friday, November 19, 2021

Friday, November 26, 2021 (Sister MacNamara only)

Friday, February 4, 2022

Thursday, March 17, 2022 (Sister MacNamara only)

Friday, March 18, 2022

Friday, April 22, 2022

Monday, May 2, 2022

Bill 64—Education Modernization Act As you are aware, the Province of Manitoba has introduced Bill 64, The Modernization Education Act to improve student outcomes, under four pillars of governance and accountability, high quality learning outcomes, future ready students and excellence in teaching and leadership. While the Winnipeg School Division shares many of the same views on the key priority actions recommended by the province to improve student outcomes, the actions must be connected to what will benefit the unique needs of supporting our school communities. If you are needing more information on Bill 64, please feel free to contact our Community Support Worker. Together, she can help wade through your concerns. She can be reached at the school number, 204-942-6965.

SCHOOL REGISTRATIONS FOR 2021-22 If your child was born in 2017, they are eligible to attend Nursery in September 2021. If they were born in 2016, they are eligible to attend Kindergarten. Nursery and Kindergarten are half day classes either in the morning or afternoon. In order to register your child you will need 3 things: • their birth certificate • Manitoba Health card • A lease or tenant agreement to validate your address.

WE ARE TAKING NEW REGISTRATIONS NOW FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR WHICH STARTS IN SEPTEMBER

2021. PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE AT 204-942-6965 FOR AN APPOINTMENT.

Are we entering a third wave with COVID?

Public Health experts agree that we could be entering a third wave of this COVID-19

pandemic. Manitoba, and Winnipeg in par�cular, is seeing an increase in the number of

posi�ve cases each day. With the addi�on of Variants of Concern, our efforts – both at

school and at home - to reduce the number of contacts and posi�ve cases must con�nue.

As Dr. Roussin would say – Now is not the �me for sleep overs! Now is not the �me to

gather for birthday par�es! Now is the �me to stay home when ANYONE in our household

is ill. Vaccines offer a light at the end of this pandemic tunnel, but we are s�ll quite a way

from being in the clear.

Let’s all work together to continue our efforts in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and its variants. If you have any question about possible COVID-19 symptoms, we ask that you please contact Health Links (204-788-8200) or toll-free at 1-888-315-9257).

Radean Carter, ABC

Senior Informa�on Officer

Winnipeg School Division

Phone (204) 789-0412 Cel (204) 771-5352

Vaccine Questions? Having a vaccine can help prevent COVID-19, protect the health of Manitobans, and limit the strain on our health care system. All Manitobans must still follow public health fundamentals, even when a vaccine is available, such as staying home when sick, washing your hands and wearing a mask. More than one vaccine has developed for COVID-19. In total, the federal government has agreements to access many COVID-19 vaccines, including Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca/Covishield. Health Links-Info Santé is a telephone health information service staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by knowledgeable, experienced nurses and is free of charge everywhere in Manitoba. Call 204-788-8200 in Winnipeg or 1-888-315-9257 toll-free elsewhere in the province. If you need any information or help to get a vaccine, call our Community Support Worker, Ciaran, at 204-942-6965.

SISTER MACNAMARA SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM

JUNE 2021 Just a few reminders:

Fees are due promptly on the first of each month. $30.00 for the first child and $20.00 for each additional child. Milk is an additional $5.00 per month per child. Please send exact amounts as we can not make change.

If you have outstanding fees as of May 31, 2021 your child will not have a spot in the Lunch Program for the 2021-22 year.

We expect all students attending the Lunch Program to demonstrate appropriate school

behaviour, following the school behaviour expectations. If your child has any behavioural concerns during the Lunch Program, you will be notified by either a phone call or letter home.

After three warnings, your child will lose their spot in the Lunch Program. A big thank you to all the staff of the Lunch Program, for all their hard work during these challenging times. Ms. Ning Tapawan—Lunch Program Coordinator Ms. Langtry—Acting Vice Principal

REMINDER, DUE TO COVID 19 PROTOCOLS WE CAN NOT ACCOMMODATE DROP-IN SPOTS

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Ning Tapawan, Lunch Program Coordinator or Ms. Joanna Langtry, Acting Vice Principal.

Lunch Program Behaviour Expectations

• Keep your hands and feet to yourself at all times • Use kind words to solve problems • Ask a grown up for help

If students do not follow the behaviour expectations, a letter regarding the behaviour will be sent home.

If there are three behaviour incidents, your child will lose their spot in the Lunch Program. Please ensure you review

the behaviour expectations with your child/children.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

1 Day 1 2 Day 2 3 Day 3 4 Day 4

7 Day 5 8 Day 6 9 Day 1 10 Day 2 11 Day 3

Virtual Year End Celebration Assembly

9:00

14 Day 4 15 Day 5 16 Day 6 17 Day 1 18 Day 2

21 Day 3 22 Day 4 23 Day 5 24 Day 6 25 Day 1

National Indigenous People’s Day

Virtual Grade 6 Farewell

1:15

Report cards go home

28 Day 2 29 Day 3 30 Day 4

Last day of classes

11:30 dismissal Have a safe and enjoyable summer!

School resumes Wednesday,

September 8, 2021.

See you then!