Davidson School September
Newsletter 2014
Box 699 Davidson, SK S0G 1A0
Phone: 306-567-3216
Fax: 306-567-5481
Jason Low – Principal
Cathy Rettger– Vice Principal
Dates to Note
September 1Labour Day – No Classes
September2First Day of Classes
September 8 – 12Welcome Week
September 9SCC Meeting – 7:00 HS Library
September 24 Smokie/Hot Dog Hot Lunch (Sponsored
byMaple Leaf Foods & Clint Smith)
September 25Grade 6 Immunizations
September25Meet the Teacher Night – 6:00pm
September 26School Pictures
September 27Sr Boys Vball Home Tournament
September 29Division Level PD Day – No Classes
September 30Student Fees Due
October 3Terry Fox Run – 11:00am
Welcome Students and Families to a Great Year at DS!
The 2013-2014enrolment for Davidson School is 235. Welcome wishes are sent out to 17 new kindergarten students who are beginning their education at DS! Davidson School also welcomes new students Sadie Hatley-Rogers, Jethro Magno, Rian Sandoval, and Rion Sandoval in Grade 1; Kayden Desjarlais, Jayden Marier, and Jade Ulmer in Grade 2; Jessy Ulmer in Grade 3; Austin Dean and Patrick Marier in Grade 4; Mya Charette, Donta Desjarlais, and Gesmun Magno in Grade 5; Delaney Anderson in Grade 6; Gabriel Charette in Grade 7; Lynzey Sanden in Grade 9; Travis Nelson in Grade 10, Trevor Nelson and Jacey Sanden in Grade 11. We are glad to have you join our school and we welcome you and your families to Davidson!Davidson School would like to extend a warm welcome to new teacher, Mr. Garrett Bailey, and to our interns, Emma Weighill, Andrea Hogger, Kelly Garland, and Cara Owens. We are pleased to have you as part of our school and our community!
*Allergy Alert*
Please be aware that there are children in our school with a severe life threatening food allergy (anaphylaxis) to peanuts and nuts. This is a medical condition that causes a severe reaction to specific foods and can result in death within minutes. Although this may or may not affect your child’s class directly, we want to inform you so that any foods sent to school with your child are free from peanuts or nut products.
Terry Fox Run
Once again, we are planning to make a donation to the Terry Fox Foundation as a school. Friday, October 3, starting at 11:00, the whole school will walk/run the Terry Fox Run route in town. Each class will have a buddy and everyone will be walking with a partner. Affinity Credit Union and Davidson Co-op will offer a burger lunch that day and all proceeds will go to the Terry Fox Foundation as well. Order forms will be sent home at a later date. Family members are welcome to participate, and community members are also welcome to join us for the burger lunch!
School Pictures
School pictures will be taken on Friday, September 26 by Picture Perfect Portraits. Flyers will be sent home with students. Please fill in your child’s name, select a pose, and send the flyer to school with the student on picture day. If no flyer is returned, the usual school portrait will be taken. Retakes are scheduled for Friday, October 17.
SLTWelcome Week
The SLT are looking forward to hosting the following activities during our welcome week, beginning Monday, Sept9:
Monday – Frozen T-shirt Day @ Noon (K – Gr 12)
Tuesday –Pep Rally & Obstacle Race (Period 6)
Wednesday – Raider Pride Day (wear your Raider gear!)
Thursday – Street Hockey @ Noon (Gr 7- 12)
Friday – Orange & Black Day (K – Gr 6)
Halloween in September Day (Gr 7 – 12)
Immunizations
Grades 6 students will receive immunizations on Thursday, September 25. Parental consent is required to provide the immunizations. Information has been sent home with students, so please read carefully, sign the consent forms, and return to the school. For further information, contact Sheri Warkentin, Public Health Nurse at 567-2305.
Meet the Teacher Night
Parents, plan to come out on Thursday, September 25at 6:00 pmfor a hamburger and hotdog barbecue and meet your child’s teachers, the interns, and the staff of Davidson School! If you would like a course outline of your child’s classes, phone or stop by the office and pick one up.
Grade 9 PAA
A list of supplies needed has been sent home with Grade 9 PAA students – please ask for it and ensure that your child brings their supplies to school as soon as possible. The list may also be seen on Mrs. Killoh’s blog which can be accessed by scanning this QR Code!
Please Note
Student Fees
Thank you to parents for being prompt in paying the DS Student fee. This fee is used towards handbooks and other activities. Beverage purchases and hot lunches are not covered by the fee. For convenience of parents with more than one child at DS, fees may be collected together. Please indicate on your cheque names of students and the grades they are in.
Student fee rates are as follows:
Kindergarten to Grade 9 - $10.00; Grade 10 to 12 - $20.00
Maximum cost per Family - $50.00
Yearbook (optional) - $30.00
Please make cheques payable to Davidson School.
Newsletters
To help reduce the clutter of unnecessary “extra” notes to and from home, and to facilitate the flow of information regarding upcoming school events, Davidson School staff will continue to commit to including all information in our monthly newsletter. Reading through this communication with your child is anexcellent way to talk about what is going on at school. This year, the newsletter will once again be sent out to families electronically each month, so please call the school office at 306-567-3216 or email Barb at to have your email address added to the list. If you would still like to receive a paper copy, please let us know and one will be sent home with your child.
Permission Forms
Parent permission forms for publishing students’ photographs, work, and phone numbers, internet use and community trips have been sent home with students. Please complete one form for each family if you have not already done so, including all children attending Davidson School, and return to the school.
Davidson School Sports
DS students have opportunity to participate in a variety of sports this season, including volleyball, golf, and cross country running. Practice and game times are noted on our school calendar. Come out and support Raider Athletics!
Our Awesome Coaches:Senior Girls Volleyball: Tony Baldwin
Senior Football: Jason Low, Blair Frederickson, Junior Girls Volleyball: Kellie Garland, Jason Low
John Jamieson, Trevor OuelletteSenior Boys Volleyball: Paulette Killoh
Junior Football: Blair Frederickson, Trevor OuelletteJunior Boys Volleyball: Karen McConnell, Cathy Rettger
Golf: Ian OsmondCross Country Running: Karen McConnell
Parents: Remember that you must complete a Driver Authorization Form Application and a Criminal Records Check if you will be transporting students to sports events! (Available from coaches or the school office.)
Accident Insurance
Sun West School Division has purchased blanket accident insurance for the current school year, which provides basic insurance coverage for students during the school day, when students are traveling to and from school, and when students are involved in school events and activities. The blanket accident insurance purchased by the board does not cover injuries sustained while a child is participating in minor sports or other athletic events or if they are injured at home. If you wish to purchase additional accident coverage, so your child has coverage for non-school activities (24 hours a day), Industrial Alliance Pacific Life Insurance forms will be sent home with students. This is a package approved by Boards of Education throughout Saskatchewan and intended specifically for students.
School Locks & Lockers
Lockers for K-6 students are located in classrooms. Hall lockers and locks for Grades 7-12 have been assigned by the SLT. Please remember that only school locks may be used on the lockers so that staff can access them when necessary! We encourage students to use their locks at all times; lockers must be locked on weekends.Lock credits will be given out again in June for grades 7-11 students who return their locks, and the $5 lock deposit is refunded to grade 12 students. Please remember to leave valuables at home so that they are safe.
Plans, Policies, & Procedures
Student Arrival Time
We ask that students arrive at school no earlier than 8:40 a.m. when supervision of students begins. We are most happy to accommodate children at DS before 8:40 a.m. if parents request the service and accept the condition that there is no formal supervision of their child by staff. Please contact Mr. Low or Mrs. Rettger if your child must arrive before 8:40 a.m.
Students’ Health
A child’s health often affects his/her performance in school. Please keep your child’s classroom teacher informed of any chronic illnesses and/or medications your child is required to use. If your child has a health condition and/or requires daily or ongoing medications, a “Provision of Medication” form must be completed and can be obtained from the office. This form must be updated on a yearly basis or whenever medications change.
Attendance
Attendance is an important part of the learning process. We encourage students to attend school regularly but realize that absences from school are sometimes unavoidable. Excused absences include such events as doctor or dentist appointments, illness, family emergencies or compassionate leave, as well as seasonal work. If a student in grade 10-12 has 5 unexcused absences, teachers will contact their parents. Please contact the school when your child is absent. Giving a reason when you phone is important to ensure that reasons are recorded for excused/unexcused situations.
Lines of Communication
The best way for a child to receive a good education is by working together with the school. If you have questions or concerns regarding any aspect of your child’s school program please make a point of talking with your child’s educator (teacher or principal) with whom you have the concern. Dealing with concerns early before they become a big problem is best. Asking questions is the way we all learn and is probably the best way to ensure that communication does occur! We look forward to working with you and your child.
Student Handbooks
Grade 1-6 students will be using handbooks to reinforce organizational skills. The student handbook is excellent for keeping track of family activities as well as school activities. We ask that you continue to encourage and support your child’s efforts in managing and organizing their time and activities. This will ensure they have a successful, productive year.
Late Slips
We are working to assist students in developing responsibility for their own learning and attendance. We expect students to be on time for classes and have been implementing a late slip for Grade 7 – 12 students. The late slips are tracked and recorded. Students with excessive lates will be required to meet with school administration and parents to develop a plan for improving punctuality skills.
Beverage Program
The DS beverage program for the school year will begin later in September. 250ml chocolate milk is available through our voucher program. Students in K – Grade 6 may purchase a card for 10 units at the cost of $10.00 from classroom teachers. When completed, these cards will be entered for a prize draw. Milk will not be sold on a day to day basis – a voucher card must be purchased in advance!
Fruit Smoothies
Davidson School is, once again, making Raiderade available at the school! Organization of this program is still in progress – any students who would like to help, please contact Mrs. German. Raiderade will be available for $3.00 ($30.00 for an 11-drink voucher card) from 8:30 – 9:00 Tuesday and Thursday mornings, beginning on September 16. Community members are also welcome to stop by the school to purchase Raiderade on the designated mornings! Proceeds from all sales will go to the SLTto support school activities.
Fluoride Rinse Program
Davidson School will again offer the fluoride rinse program as a no-cost service to gr 1-6 students this year. Information on the benefits of oral fluoride rinse is available at the office. The program consists of an oral fluoride being rinsed in the student’s mouth for a minute, and then discharged. Consent forms will be sent home for gr 1and new students. Gr 2-6 students should contact the school office if you have any changes. The program will be offered on a weekly basis. If you are interested in volunteering for the program, please call the school office at 567-3216.
Student Counselling Services
Sun West School Division provides professional counselling services to students within Davidson School. Suellen Mills (Master of Social Work) is the DS student counselor. As the school Child and Youth Counsellor, my role is to:
* Work with students who may have issues of a personal, social, or emotional nature which is affecting their success at school and/or at home.
* Work as a team with parents, teachers, principals, educational psychologists, special education and community service providers, as needed, to provide support to students.
* Assist families to find methods of dealing with challenging behaviors in their children.
It is important to address issues, no matter how big or small they may seem. Even if a child just needs someone to talk to or vent to, I am the one who wants to listen. I cover a whole spectrum of issues, and if you have a concern with your child/youth, do not hesitate to contact me personally through email or on my cell phone at 306-567-8562. Or contact the teacher or principal of the school and they will ask me to contact parents. Students who have reached the age of 16 do not need parental consent for counselling, or teacher referrals, as they may contact me themselves and their right to client confidentiality is respected.
Suellen Mills, Child & Youth Counsellor