Principal's Message
Students have been enjoying a variety of outdoor activities this month, which has been wonderful to see them actively enjoying the winter weather! Please continue to ensure your child is dressed for the weather each day.
We have a new procedure in place for students arriving late which has been implemented for safety reasons. If you are dropping off your child at the office after 7:55 a.m., you must bring your child to the office and sign them in. Having the parent accompany the child ensures safety across the parking lot/street; ensures that the secretary is at the desk to receive your child; and ensures that we are able to verify the late arrival in our database. Teachers take attendance at 7:55 a.m., so if your child is not at school; we need to correctly record their late arrival. We understand that at times weather plays a part in late arrivals; but please try to adjust your departure time based on road conditions to have your child arrive on time.
A huge thank-you goes out to parents for emailing Julie regarding your child’s absence. It has helped tremendously with the amount of phone calls required for attendance. Thank-you so much, we appreciate it!
School fees were due on February 28th. Please pay your fees as soon as possible if you haven’t already to ensure it does not go to Collections. Statements can be viewed on the parent portal and fees can be paid through your online banking. Please contact our finance secretary Naomie if you have any questions or concerns: nceraqui@wqsb.qc.ca
Report cards will be available on the portal on March 15th. Teachers will contact some parents after the March Break, if an interview is requested. Interviews will be held virtually or by phone on March 24th in the morning. Teachers will arrange a separate interview during that week if you are unable to attend to discuss on March 24th. If you are not contacted by the teacher, and you would like to have an interview; please contact your child’s teacher/French teacher. A reminder about report card interviews and procedures will be sent out after the Break.
We would like to wish everyone a fabulous March Break, we hope that parents are able to have some time off as well to enjoy time with your family!
TIME CHANGE Daylight Savings Time starts on Sunday, March 12th at 2:00 a.m. So please remember to turn your clocks ahead one hour. |
Events at School
QUINZEE BUILDING
As part of our outdoor education programming Grade 5 classes will be building snow shelters in a nearby reserve. Students will take a short hike from the school to the reserve.
This is a hands-on study where the students will learn how to build a Quinzee (snow shelter) and other winter skills to use in the outdoors. The outdoor education specialist, Alan Earwaker, will be joining us for these activities.
- Everson – February 28th
- Schultz – March 1st
- Stone – March 2nd
DENTAL HYGIENIST
The dental hygienist will be at school to do screenings for some grade 2 students on March 2nd.
MARCH BREAK
This year our March break is from Monday, March 6th to Friday, March 10th. School and Daycare are closed.
We hope everyone has a fabulous week.
SKI AT SCHOOL
The grade 1 + 2 classes continue their turn for Ski at School during the month of March. Some classes had their first day in February for Ski at School
- Golding – March 1 + 15
- Given – March 1 + 15
- Carey – March 2 + 13
- Pare – March 3
- Geisterfer – March 3
- Sanford – March 14
Report Cards will be available on the parent portal on March 15th.
GRAD PHOTOS
Grade 6 students get your best smile ready for March 23rd for grad photo day.
DESTINATION IMAGINATION
On March 27th Mr. Birch and Mr. McClelland are taking eleven grade 6 students to D’arcy McGee High School for Destination Imagination 2023. The students have been preparing since October and will be presenting a short play, as well as competing in short team challenges that test their teamwork and creativity.
I IS FOR INCLUSION WORKSHOP
On March 29th grade 3 and 4 classes will participate in a virtual Anti-Bullying presentation that helps participants understand the dimensions of diversity that make us all unique. A virtual workshop that helps participants explore the unearned privileges, and undeserved challenges that we all experience based on the elements that contribute to our identity. Presentation style that combines video, slam poetry, and audience participation & interaction, participants will learn how to be more inclusive and help participants on their journey towards active allyship.
HADLEY INFORMATION NIGHT
Hadley’s grade 7 information evening is back in person. It will be held on March 30th. They welcome parents of grade 6 students going into the grade 7 core program @ 5:00 and parents of grade 6 students going into the grade 7 Enriched French program @ 6:00. It will be held in the auditorium at Hadley, 80 Rue Daniel-Johnson.
MONTHLY ASSEMBLY
Our next assembly will be on Thursday, March 30th, where we will celebrate the students who have shown the chosen virtue throughout the month.
Please remember to wear your purple GG shirt or your Grizzlies shirt for all of our monthly assemblies. This creates a sense of community at school.
March is TRUSTWORTHINESS month. We hope to see students showing us how trustworthy they are. You can show this by doing what you say you are going to do, being responsible, and being reliable.
PEACE LEARNING CIRCLES AT HOME
TRUST WALK
This activity is done in pairs and you take turn being blindfolded and being a leader. One person volunteers to be led with their eyes closed or blindfolded. The other member of the pair leads the person for five minutes, taking very good care of the blind partner. After five minutes, switch roles.
TRUST CIRCLE
Make a circle with your family and friends. Have one person stand in the middle with their eyes closed and feet planted firmly. Have the rest of the people gently push on the shoulders of the person in the middle, making sure they do not fall. The group supports the person as they rotate.
Home & School
The rescheduled Movie Night will be Friday March 31, Lightyear will be the movie featured.
Our Plantables fundraiser is up and running, get a head start on your gardens and place your order.
Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held May 15 at 6:00pm. During the AGM, the President and Treasurer will present a report highlighting the events of the year. Everyone is welcome to attend, if you would like to attend please send us an email. We will also be holding elections, all positions are open, President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. A new executive will be created for the 2023-2024 school year; Communications Prime.
Each newsletter we will highlight the positions within GGHS.
SPOTLIGHT on GGHS positions
President – Duties of the President
- Chairs all meetings, prepares agendas, etc.
- Ensures that the Home and School Association follows its’ constitution, by-laws and standing rules
- Is a member of all committees (ex-officio)
- Acts as a liaison between the Home and School Association and the school administration
- Submits an activity report to the QFHSA by June 30th
- Prepares an agenda for the meeting in consultation with the Secretary
We will continue to post on our Facebook page. If you haven’t done so already, please follow us to stay up to date on upcoming events facebook.com/GreaterGatineau.
The next Home & School meeting will be on Monday, March 20th at 6:30pm. We hold our meetings through Microsoft Teams, please reach out to us via email if you would like to attend
Daycare
Tax slips are available on the parent portal this year. They were posted on February 17th. Please let us know if you have any trouble accessing your slip.
We have one PD day in March. It is on Friday, March 24th and is open to all Greater Gatineau students. Please sign up for @ggdaycare2 on the Remind app to get the notifications regarding PD days as there are registration deadlines for each PD day.
Should you have any questions about our program or to register for the PD days please do not hesitate to contact Jennifer by phone at (819) 663-4842 ext. 3 or e-mail jplaxton@wqsb.qc.ca
Special Notes
PEACE BUCKET REWARD
The Peace Bucket is almost full, and we predict that after Wednesday’s assembly it will be filled. Our Grade 5 and 6 students who are part of the “Student Council” ; have proposed a wonderful reward for the school. As long as the bucket is filled, we will have a reward this Friday March 3rd. The reward will be a Dance in the gym; as well as a Pizza lunch. Each cycle will have one period in the gym on Friday for a dance, and the music playlists will be created by the Student Council. Students will also enjoy a free Pizza lunch with funds from our Nutrition Grant.
We will confirm on Wednesday after the assemblies if the bucket is full. Peace Bucket has been filled! The reward will proceed for Friday, March 3rd.
LOST AND FOUND
We have many items in our lost and found. We also have some children who have lost items that may have gone home to different houses. Please check with your children to make sure they have not brought someone else’s items home by mistake. Also check in to make sure your children have all their items. We hope to reunite some children with their items.
Please label your child’s items with their name so they can be returned to the right child if they are ever misplaced.
PHONE NUMBERS & HEALTH INFORMATION
We ask all parents to please make sure that they keep the office advised of any changes in their phone numbers.
It is extremely important that our files are kept up-to-date should an emergency arise.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
If you have not registered for kindergarten next year, or if you know anyone who has a child turning five before September 30th please make arrangements to register by emailing Julie at jcaron@wqsb.qc.ca
It is very important to register right away in order for the school to plan for next year.
EARTH HOUR
Please join millions of people around the world on Saturday, March 25th, at 8:30 p.m. and turn off your lights for one hour in support of action on climate change.
NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH
March is National Nutrition Month and a great time to think about the importance of healthy eating.
Healthy eating means eating a variety of foods from 4 groups to feel good and maintain your health.
Follow these steps to help you eat healthy:
- Eat the right types of food by following Canada’s Food Guide.
- Choose a variety of foods from each of the 4 food groups.
- Eat the recommended amount of food for your age, gender, and activity level.
- Read food labels to compare and choose healthier foods when shopping. The Nutrition Facts table and the Percent Daily Value can help you make better choices.
- Limit foods and drinks that are high in calories, fat, sugar, and sodium.
For more useful information on food and nutrition, consult: Canada’s Food Guide
WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY
World Down Syndrome Day – annually on March 21st – is officially ratified by the United Nations. It allows communities around the world to recognize and celebrate contributions from people with Down syndrome. We want to encourage our students to celebrate WDSD on the days surrounding it.
Please wear mismatched socks on Monday, March 21st in support of World Down Syndrome Day.
TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY
International Transgender Day of Visibility is an annual event occurring on March 31st dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their contributions to society.
Please wear purple to show your support.
Anti-Racism Committee (ARC)
Land acknowledgement
The land on which we gather is traditional unceded Omamiwininiwag (Algonquin) and Anishinabewaki territory .
Featured version of O’Canada for the month of March
World Compliment Day – March 1st
It is global initiative to create the most positive day in the world, World Compliment Day is celebrated every March 1st to spread joy through simple verbal affirmations of appreciation.
World Wildlife Day – March 3rd
It is a United Nations International day to celebrate all the world’s wild animals and plants and the contribution that they make to our lives and the health of the planet.
Purim – March 6th-7th
Purim is a Jewish holiday which commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman.
International Women’s Day – March 8th
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.
Holi – March 8th
Holi is a popular Hindu festival that It celebrates the triumph of good over evil. It is also called the festival of colours, festival of Spring or festival of Love. To celebrate, people throw coloured powder or water at each other.
Pi Day – March 14th
March 14th marks Pi Day, an annual celebration of the mathematical sign pi. Founded in 1988 by physicist Larry Shaw, March 14th was selected because the numerical date (3.14) represents the first three digits of pi, and it also happens to be Albert Einstein’s birthday. A perfect excuse to eat pie.
St-Patrick’s Day – March 17th
Saint Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick is a cultural and religious celebration held on March 17th.
Vernal Equinox (First Day of Spring) – March 20th
In the Northern Hemisphere the vernal equinox falls about March 20th or 21st, as the Sun crosses the celestial equator going north.
Francophonie Day – March 20th
Francophonie Day is observed by the International Organization of La Francophonie on March 20th every year to celebrate the French language and Francophone culture.
World Water Day – March 22nd
World Water Day, held on March 22nd every year since 1993, celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2 billion people living without access to safe water.
Ramadan Begins – March 22nd
The holy month of Ramadan is the 9th month in the Islamic lunar calendar. It is a month of fasting, worship, service, communal gathering, and spiritual development.