Dear families,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the students, staff and parents of Jean Steckle Public School for providing me the most excellent start to the year. Each day it is a pleasure to come to work and serve this great community. The children’s smiling faces continue to be my inspiration. One of the most important jobs entrusted to a school is to assure that we guide and provide children with life and academic lessons that assist in creating a community of caring, kind and productive citizens. I will continue to work diligently in assuring that Jean Steckle Public School remains a safe and positive environment for your child. I truly appreciate the support that parents have shown, and I look forward to the many exciting events in the new year.

I wish each of you a wonderful holiday. May it be one of love, peace, and happiness.

Andrea Michelutti – principal

Goodbye and Thank You

We would like to say goodbye to our secretary Sue Statz. Sue will be retiring on December 23. We wish her the best as she moves on to her next adventure in life. We are thankful for all of her work in making Jean Steckle a great place to learning.

A special goodbye to our other secretary Amanda Gibson. Amanda will be the new head secretary position at Westheights P.S. in Kitchener. Thank you, Amanda, for your hard work and dedication to the implementation of the School-Day program.

We wish Kate Scanlan (our Grade 5 teacher) the best as she begins her maternity leave.

We would like to welcome our new secretaries, Micki Jackson and Barbara Levai-Sharpe. They will start at Jean Steckle on January 9. We are excited for Ms. Nadima Mahamad to return to her Grade 5 class after a year at home with her son.

Indoor Shoes

Thank you to the families who have already sent in a pair of indoor shoes. We still have quite a few students without proper indoor shoes. Please send a pair of running shoes (we encourage velcro shoes for our primary students) with your child in January. Running shoes are required for gym class and indoor shoes keep the classrooms and school clean.

Christmas Break

Just a reminder the school will be closed from December 24 to January 8 for the Christmas Break. We are looking forward to seeing all of our students on Monday, January 9.

Police Vulnerable Sector Checks for Volunteers

To align with board policy, volunteers at the school will require a Police Vulnerable Sector Check. We are asking that parents and family members who are interesting in volunteering in the school, in classrooms, or on field trips have this check completed. Please send in your police check as soon as possible as parents will need to have this form in the school before they can attend field trips.

Upcoming dates:

January 9 – First day of school in 2017

January 11 – Grade 3 classes to Crawford Lake

January 20 – Patterns Spirit Day

January 29 – PA Day

February 14 – Valentine’s Day

February 17 – Beach Spirit Day

February 21 – Family Day