September 8th, 2017

Dear families,

Welcome to the 2017-2018 school year! A big welcome to our newest families, thank you for joining us! To our returning families, welcome back! We are fortunate to have many new teachers this year, and I encourage you to say hello to them when you see them. Be sure to introduce yourself to our new Vice-Principal, Amy Humphrys.

Please follow the school on Twitter and Instagram – @jstwrdsb. Many teachers are using social media to share the great learning that is taking place in their class, and I encourage you to follow them as well.

I am fortunate to be the principal of the best school in Kitchener as we have the best students, staff, and parents. I am looking forward to a wonderful school year! Feel free to stop by and say hello.

Sincerely,
Andrea Michelutti – Principal

Keeping all students safe – birthday treats
This year we will be implementing a “no birthday treats” guideline. This decision was made after much thought and discussion. There are a variety of reasons why we made this change, the main one being the number of students with food allergies. It is our responsibility to ensure all students are safe at school. Secondly, for some families, it is a financial strain and an unfair stress on their children to feel they are being left out. Finally, it is important that our school promotes and protects students’ health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating, physical activity, and healthy choices.

Please know we are not trying to take the fun out of birthdays, we want to create an environment that is safe for all of our students. Thank you in advance for your flexibility and for caring about the health and safety of our students.

Looking for paid school yard supervisors between 8:10 a.m. and 8:40 a.m.
We are looking for a few parents who would like to act as paid school yard supervisors in the morning between 8:10 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. You will be responsible for ensuring the safety of our students by walking around the yard and helping students. Please contact Ms. Humphrys in the office to set up a meeting for this important position.

What do I have to pay for?
As parents, you know that September can be a drain on the pocket book. Better to know in advance what to expect. At Jean Steckle, we make every attempt to control how many time we have to ask for money for items or events. We have distributed students planners to each of our students in Grade 1 to Grade 5 and 6B and have kept the cost at $7. Please submit payment for the planner through School-Day. Field trips are another expense for parents, and although we attempt to book only the most modestly priced ones, we have noticed an increase in what some of these venues or experiences cost.

Sometimes families struggle financially at different times along the way. If you find that your family is in a tight spot, please don’t hesitate to call Ms. Michelutti to discuss how we might help to support your child’s school activities. We are always here to help!
We will communicate the school council’s fundraising initiatives later this fall. Many families have shared they would prefer an opportunity to donate directly to Jean Steckle Public School, and then not be bothered with fundraising for the rest of the year. You can make your donation by following this link: https://www.wrdsb.ca/wefi/#.WbHZbBmGO00. Please be sure to indicate your donation is given to Jean Steckle Public School and a tax receipt will be issued to you.

Planners
Students from Grade 1 to Grade 5 plus 6B were given a planner during the first week of school. The cost of the planner is $7. You may send payment for the planner through School-Day. We appreciate our families who paid for the planners, and if you haven’t already done so already, please pay for the planner by Friday, September 15.

Meet the Teacher Night
Please join us on Thursday, September 14 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. We are excited to all of our students and their families.

Spirit Wear
If you are interested in purchasing Jean Steckle spirit wear, please visit http://jeansteckle.entripyshops.com/. There is a school site specifically designed for our school. Entripy is Canada’s leader for custom printed t-shirts and other apparel. This site provides families an easy and secure environment to purchase apparel from leading brands, customized with our school logo and personalized with names and numbers.

Entry and Exit Procedures
To ensure a smooth entry and exit, all students must enter and exit the school through their designated door. We are requesting that adults stand outside of this large box before school and after school to ensure students can line up and exit the building safely.

Mission statement
Our mission at Jean Steckle Public School is to develop healthy, well-rounded individuals who are prepared to face a challenging world, who will grow academically, socially, and contribute positively to the community. The educators are committed to fostering the highest standards of academic excellence, responsible citizenship and personal growth within a safe, caring environment. Our school’s success is built on the foundation of strong partnerships between students, staff, parents, and community.

S.T.I.N.G. Attributes

S- Speak with good purpose
T- Teamwork
I- Integrity
N- Never Give Up
G- Gratitude

Upcoming events:
September 22 – Professional Activity Day