Mark Your Calendars:
· Oct. 14, 2024: No School – Thanksgiving Day
· Oct. 24, 2024: Gr 6 Vaccinations in afternoon, if consent forms signed
· Oct. 25, 2024: No School – Non-Instructional Day
· Oct. 25, 2024: Deadline to order Subway Fun Lunch – using HealthyHunger.ca
· Oct. 29, 2024: Student Photo Retakes in morning
· Oct. 30, 2024: Fun Lunch - Subway
· Oct. 31, 2024: Halloween parade and Halloween Howler (hosted by our School Council)
· Nov. 7, 2024: Remembrance Day Assembly 10:45am – families welcome
· Nov. 8, 2024: No School – Non-Instructional Day
· Nov. 9-13, 2024: Fall Break
· Nov. 19, 2024: School Council Meeting 6:30pm in the Learning Commons
· Nov. 21, 2024: Lockdown Drill 9:30am
· Nov. 22, 2024: Wonder Day #1, Deadline to order Fun Lunch
· Nov. 27, 2024: Fun Lunch – Mucho Burrito
· Nov. 28, 2024: Storytelling Residency Starts
· Nov. 28, 2024: School Conferences 4:00-7:30
· Nov. 29, 204 School Conferences 8:30 –1:00, No School for students
Dear Silver Springs School Parents and Guardians,
As Thanksgiving approaches, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you who make our school community such a special place. This time of year reminds us to reflect on the blessings in our lives, and I am truly grateful for the hard work, dedication, and kindness that I witness every day within our school. To our students: your curiosity, enthusiasm, and resilience inspire us all. Watching you learn and grow is the most rewarding part of our work. To our parents and families: Thank you for your unwavering support, encouragement, and partnership. Your involvement makes a world of difference, and we are incredibly fortunate to have such a caring and engaged community. To our teachers and staff: Your commitment to excellence, compassion, and tireless efforts do not go unnoticed. You play a vital role in shaping the future, and I am endlessly grateful for the passion and energy you bring to your work. Let’s take this opportunity to reflect on the many things we are grateful for, both big and small.
Did you know that October is ADHD awareness month? ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. Genetics and environmental factors combine to create a situation in which the brain is wired differently. Children diagnosed with ADHD often have difficulty with an increased level of activity, challenges with executive functioning (i.e. processes that enable us to plan, focus attention and remember) as well as impulsivity and social/emotional regulation. It is important to understand that while many children may occasionally demonstrate some behaviours related to these areas, children diagnosed with ADHD experience these symptoms throughout their day and in multiple settings. As educators, our job is to support all students in developing awareness of themselves as learners while also appreciating the nuances of others’ learning profiles. We are proud of the work we do every day to support ADHD learners in our classrooms. For more information on ADHD please visit the Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada (CADDAC) at https://caddac.ca/about-adhd
Supporting a Love of Reading: How are you supporting a love of reading in your family? How can you make time every day to read aloud with your child? As part of the Silver Springs School community, we all have a role in supporting readers. Children who learn to love reading will learn more and read more. Silver Springs teachers are committed to reading aloud each day to their students. For parents, finding time to read aloud may feel like a sacrifice or nuisance. It requires commitment and patience, but it is worth every minute… Watch this video from Calgary Reads: Reading Aloud Builds Brains and Bonds
Communication with Silver Springs School Teachers: We appreciate open dialogue with you as parents to support your child/ren’s educational experience here at Silver Springs School. Please be aware that if you are emailing a teacher during the school day, they may not have an opportunity to read your message until the end of the day as they are busy working with students. If you require a faster response, please call the front office for assistance. Additionally, please allow our teachers 24 hours (during the work week) to respond to your emails. If you are requesting a teacher to complete additional forms/ letters for doctors, pediatricians or counselors, they will need at least one week’s notice to do so. We appreciate your support in helping our teachers manage their workload and priorities.
Halloween is just around the corner, and we know that our school community is looking forward to celebrating this holiday in creative ways. On Thursday, October 31, we would like to invite all students and staff to dress-up for the day. To ensure that all members in our school community are able to enjoy this holiday, we wanted to send a reminder to please be thoughtful in the selection of costume being worn to school.
The following two guidelines should be considered when selecting costumes that will be worn at school:
· Be kind and consider the school community: costumes that are revealing or could be offensive or perpetuate the stereotype of someone’s gender identity, culture, race, religion, age, or disability must not be worn.
· Be thoughtful and safe: costumes that depict violence, alcohol or drugs are not appropriate. Similarly, replica weapons (e.g. gun, knives, etc.) must not be brought to school.
If your child chooses to wear a costume, consider this his/her contribution to a wonderful day full of fun events that promote friendship and cooperation. As students will be wearing costumes for the entire day, please ensure that your child is able to sit comfortably in their costume, participate in gym class, and go outside for recess and lunch break. No costume - No worries! You are welcome to wear orange or black, our school apparel, or your favourite T-shirt!
On behalf of our entire school community, I wish you all a joyful and peaceful Thanksgiving filled with love, warmth, and gratitude.
Michelle Ryskamp,
Principal, Silver Springs School
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SCHOOL COUNCIL UPDATES – watch for a separate message today at 12:05pm providing lots of School Council news.