Week 3 - September 11, 2017
Dear Parents,
This week we will be conducting the Back to School nights (BSN) with each class. I look forward to seeing you there. This is a great opportunity to meet your child's teachers and find out more about the classroom procedures. Please note that this is a parent evening and that students should not attend. Further details are below and have also been provided by your child's teachers.
Middle School - 'Back to School Night'
The 'Middle School - Back to School Night', will take place on Wednesday September 13 starting at 6.00pm. You will get the opportunity to meet with your child’s teachers and learn about their teaching approaches, as well as gain an insight into the curriculum that we use at NOVA. Specialist teachers will be available for you to to talk to about the programs that they teach.
Elementary School - 'Back to School Night'
The 'Elementary School - Back to School Night', will take place on Thursday September 14 starting at 6.00pm. You will get the opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher and learn about their teaching approaches, as well as gain an insight into the curriculum that we use at NOVA. Specialist teachers will be available for you to to talk to about the programs that they teach.
With growing numbers of students at NOVA, we need to separate the nights due to number of people that need to move around the school. It will also allow specialist teachers to be available to see more parents each night.
PTA Morning Tea
I would like to thank the PTA for giving me the opportunity to meet with parents last week. I appreciated the chance to introduce myself and relished the opportunity to answer some of your questions. As I stated on the day, I am more than happy to talk to you if you have any questions or concerns but I would request that if it relates to a classroom based concern, that you first speak to the relevant teacher. If I have not yet met you, please feel free to come and say hello when you see me.
MS Morning Assemblies
Each Monday morning we have a brief assembly for Middle School students where we discuss relevant topics of interest and hand out awards for behaviours that reflect the schools values. We reflect on a specific value each week and have a brief discussion about it. This week we viewed a brief video clip that focused on a father and his disabled son who wanted to run an Ironman Triathlon.
(An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), consisting of a 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bicycle ride and a marathon 26.22-mile (42.20 km) run, raced in that order and without a break.)
If you would like to view an extended version of the video clip you can follow this link on youtube.
How Much Sleep Should My Child Get Each Night?
Answers vary slightly, but in general, most doctors and teachers believe that school-age children are not getting enough sleep. This can affect school performance both academically and behaviourally. Some tips for ensuring a good night's sleep include:
Dear Parents,
This week we will be conducting the Back to School nights (BSN) with each class. I look forward to seeing you there. This is a great opportunity to meet your child's teachers and find out more about the classroom procedures. Please note that this is a parent evening and that students should not attend. Further details are below and have also been provided by your child's teachers.
Middle School - 'Back to School Night'
The 'Middle School - Back to School Night', will take place on Wednesday September 13 starting at 6.00pm. You will get the opportunity to meet with your child’s teachers and learn about their teaching approaches, as well as gain an insight into the curriculum that we use at NOVA. Specialist teachers will be available for you to to talk to about the programs that they teach.
Elementary School - 'Back to School Night'
The 'Elementary School - Back to School Night', will take place on Thursday September 14 starting at 6.00pm. You will get the opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher and learn about their teaching approaches, as well as gain an insight into the curriculum that we use at NOVA. Specialist teachers will be available for you to to talk to about the programs that they teach.
With growing numbers of students at NOVA, we need to separate the nights due to number of people that need to move around the school. It will also allow specialist teachers to be available to see more parents each night.
PTA Morning Tea
I would like to thank the PTA for giving me the opportunity to meet with parents last week. I appreciated the chance to introduce myself and relished the opportunity to answer some of your questions. As I stated on the day, I am more than happy to talk to you if you have any questions or concerns but I would request that if it relates to a classroom based concern, that you first speak to the relevant teacher. If I have not yet met you, please feel free to come and say hello when you see me.
MS Morning Assemblies
Each Monday morning we have a brief assembly for Middle School students where we discuss relevant topics of interest and hand out awards for behaviours that reflect the schools values. We reflect on a specific value each week and have a brief discussion about it. This week we viewed a brief video clip that focused on a father and his disabled son who wanted to run an Ironman Triathlon.
(An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), consisting of a 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bicycle ride and a marathon 26.22-mile (42.20 km) run, raced in that order and without a break.)
If you would like to view an extended version of the video clip you can follow this link on youtube.
How Much Sleep Should My Child Get Each Night?
Answers vary slightly, but in general, most doctors and teachers believe that school-age children are not getting enough sleep. This can affect school performance both academically and behaviourally. Some tips for ensuring a good night's sleep include:
- limiting screen time and ending all screen time at least one half hour before bedtime
- having a "bedtime routine" along the lines of: drink, bathroom, story, cuddle, lights out.
- following the guidelines listed in the table below
TECH NEWS
Do you have what it takes to graduate from the Webonauts Internet Academy? Webonauts is a fun way for students in Grades 2-5 to learn about Digital Citizenship. Parents are encouraged to have a conversation with their child about safety in a web-infused, information-rich world.
Webonauts for Students: http://pbskids.org/webonauts/
Tips for Parents: http://pbskids.org/webonauts/about/parents.html
Student Services News
Each week I will try to identify articles for you to read that may provide some insight into how students learn and how you may be able to support the school as a parent. The articles are provided for interest only and may not reflect my own personal views. However, I hope that they promote a deeper thought about child development and schools in general.
Top 10 skills middle school students need to thrive, and how parents can help
By middle school, I was ready to throw myself into the mix. It wasn’t always pretty. I got tossed out of classes for giggling uncontrollably. I navigated earning my first “D” and getting demoted in math. I had a knack for choosing overly dramatic and bossy friends, and I accidentally dyed my hair brassy orange. I agreed to go to a school dance with a boy, only to panic when I realized this involved actually going to a dance with a boy. I got busted for passing notes in class and for finishing overdue homework in the girls’ bathroom. If you would like to read more of this article please follow this link.
Reasons today's kids are bored at school, feel entitled, have little patience and few real friends
As we know, the brain is malleable. Through environment, we can make the brain “stronger” or make it “weaker”. I truly believe that, despite all our greatest intentions, we unfortunately remold our children’s brains in the wrong direction. Follow this link to find out why:
Below are a selection of photos that have been taken over the past week. I hope you enjoy them.
Kindest regards,
Russell O'Neill
Principal
Do you have what it takes to graduate from the Webonauts Internet Academy? Webonauts is a fun way for students in Grades 2-5 to learn about Digital Citizenship. Parents are encouraged to have a conversation with their child about safety in a web-infused, information-rich world.
Webonauts for Students: http://pbskids.org/webonauts/
Tips for Parents: http://pbskids.org/webonauts/about/parents.html
Student Services News
Each week I will try to identify articles for you to read that may provide some insight into how students learn and how you may be able to support the school as a parent. The articles are provided for interest only and may not reflect my own personal views. However, I hope that they promote a deeper thought about child development and schools in general.
Top 10 skills middle school students need to thrive, and how parents can help
By middle school, I was ready to throw myself into the mix. It wasn’t always pretty. I got tossed out of classes for giggling uncontrollably. I navigated earning my first “D” and getting demoted in math. I had a knack for choosing overly dramatic and bossy friends, and I accidentally dyed my hair brassy orange. I agreed to go to a school dance with a boy, only to panic when I realized this involved actually going to a dance with a boy. I got busted for passing notes in class and for finishing overdue homework in the girls’ bathroom. If you would like to read more of this article please follow this link.
Reasons today's kids are bored at school, feel entitled, have little patience and few real friends
As we know, the brain is malleable. Through environment, we can make the brain “stronger” or make it “weaker”. I truly believe that, despite all our greatest intentions, we unfortunately remold our children’s brains in the wrong direction. Follow this link to find out why:
Below are a selection of photos that have been taken over the past week. I hope you enjoy them.
Kindest regards,
Russell O'Neill
Principal