Family Literacy Day
Every year on January 27, families and communities across Canada celebrate this special day at literacy-themed events coordinated by literacy organizations, schools, public libraries and families. Family Literacy Day® (FLD) was created by ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation and Honda Canada
in 1999 to promote the importance of reading and learning together as a family all year round.
-----------------------------------------------------
January 6, 2009: Regarding the school's unexpected dismissal yesterday, Janet Meyer, Vice-Principal, reports that sudden closure went extremely well and that classes are back in session. The furnace is operating to usual standards and the school is toasty warm.
-----------------------------------------------------
The Knight Family Fundraiser
The Knight Family Fundraiser has been a great success thanks to all the students, parents, PAC members, and the community of Kitimat! Thank you so much to all of you who helped out with this; with everyone's incredible efforts we were able to raise a grand total of $4,000 for the needs of the Knight Family!
Thank you!
-----------------------------------------------
Recreation
We just want to bring your attention to the tob tab bar where there is a 'Recreation' link; here you'll be able to view or print off holiday schedules and events that your children, and family members, may be interested in!
------------------------------------------------------
Traffic Safety
Traffic safety is still an ongoing issue and we are looking at having the RCMP come and teach the children about road safety. Also, we have a few parents who have stepped forward willing to donate their time as volunteer crossing guards. That is great! Thank you...However, we need at least 6 parents to step forward before the RCMP will offer a training session. If you are able to donate anytime, please let me know ASAP. Please remember to use the Harvest Church for pick ups and please use the CONTROLLED DESIGNATED parking lot for drop offs. Please also avoid stopping near the crosswalks as this can block the view of a child walking across the road. The roads are getting slippery and we cannot stop as quickly. Please be careful and take your time...Let's keep our children safe. ...posted Nov. 22/08
----------------------------------------------------
DEAR PARENTS— Concerns were expressed in the Parent
Safety Survey are with people parking along Carlson St., Nalabila and Carswell St. to pick up their children.
This becomes increasingly more dangerous as the winter road conditions become a concern. Sharing
this information with guardians or grandparents who may also be picking up children would also help.
Please park at the Haisla Church. Arrangements have been made for snow removal.
Please do not park along Carlson Street as this makes it difficult for children crossing the parking lot driveway
to see moving vehicles. Also please refrain from parking along Nalabila and Carswell Street as this
causes too much traffic congestion.
The children should follow the sidewalk from the school and along the parking lot and cross at the
entrance of the driveway after carefully looking both ways. They then should continue to follow the
sidewalk down to the crosswalks, crossing Nalabila and Tweedsmuir and walk into the Haisla
Church Parking Lot to meet parents. Parents may also wish to meet their children on the school side
of Nalabila and walk.
Drop off at lunch follows the same procedures as morning drop off.
Roy Wilcox Safety Committee
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Literacy is more than just being able to read. Do you or someone you know want to improve their skills in reading, writing, communication, math, or information technology? Or is English not your first language? The Kitimat Community Literacy Program offers FREE group and individual tutoring services, as well as, group activities, field trips, ESL tutoring and conversation groups, and special literacy events for children and families. We are also looking for volunteers to become tutors. You don’t need to have a teaching background as we offer FREE tutor training and resources to assist you. Tutoring is a rewarding experience and only requires approximately 2 hours per week. For more information on adult learning opportunities or to become a tutor, please call Brandi at 250-632-6581. If you have an idea for a literacy program or service you’d like to see offered in Kitimat please call Marianne Hemmy at 250-632-4766.
CARSWELL STREET RESIDENTS’ REQUEST:
Several Carswell Street families have expressed a genuine concern not only
for the safety of our students, but for their RIGHT to come and go from their
driveways at any time during the day.
The official pick up and drop off area for our school is the Haisla Church
parking lot.
Also:
Section 189(1) of the motor vehicle act states:
- Vehicles must not park within 6 meters of the
approach side of a crosswalk. - Vehicles must not park on a crosswalk.
The fine for this is $40.
Please respect the RIGHTS of these families! Thank you for your support.
SAFETY ITEMS
We would appreciate it if all visitors to the school would check in at the office and if our parent helpers would sign in at the front desk. We discourage parents from going directly to the classroom when instruction is going on as this is proving to be very disruptive to the learning environment.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation!
We would also like to let you know that the doors to the school will be
locked after 4:30. As you know, quite often there are certain individuals
who hang around the school after dark and have been responsible for broken
windows and other acts of vandalism. Our custodians are alone in the
building long into the evening and would like the security of knowing that
the doors are locked and that they have a safe work environment. We
hope that this won’t be too much of an inconvenience and we encourage
our students to check their Daily Planners and backpacks to make sure
they have all of their homework and equipment before going home.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BEAR WATCH!
It’s that time of year again, bears may be in the area. Bears
have an incredible sense of smell. They can smell garbage
over great distances. When bears learn garbage means food,
they return to it again and again. This is very dangerous.
These bears may expect food every time they see people.
When this happens, they become a potential threat.
SOME SAFETY TIPS:
- Store garbage inside until pick-up.
- Ensure bins are properly sealed.
Wash and clean cans and jars and freeze pungent wastes until pick-up day. - Pick fruit off trees daily as it ripens or pick it before it ripens if
you don’t intend to use it. - Place birdfeeders out of bear’s reach and keep the area free of
seeds. - Clean barbeques after use.
DON’T:
- put garbage outside before pick-up day.
- Throw cooking oil or grease outside or stockpile garbage.
- Put fish, meat, fat, oils or unrinsed eggshells in
your compost bin. - Leave food or garbage in the back of a truck, not even one with a canopy.
IF A BEAR IS THREATENING, PERSISTANT OR
AGGRESSIVE, CALL THE CONSERVATION OFFICER
SERVICE AT 1-800-663-9453.
For more information on being BEAR AWARE check out the
website at www.bearaware.bc.ca
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cell Phones:
Many children are being afforded the privilege of cell phones at a younger age. Surprisingly, many elementary school aged children have one. School District Policy is very clear on this issue:
"....can be disruptive to the educational environment and is not acceptable. Violation of this policy will result in disciplinary measures and confiscation of the cell phone." There is a land line telephone in almost every room at Roy Wilcox. Students need not bring a cell phone to school.
Bikes:
Please make sure to secure your bike with a good lock. There have been some thefts in the past.
