June 21st, 2019
Dear Families,
Well, another school year is coming to an end – we only have one week left. The last day for students is Thursday, June 27. On Friday, June 28, the educators at Jean Steckle Public School will be working on plans for the upcoming school year.
Reflecting on this year, our students demonstrated STING (Speak with good purpose, teamwork, integrity, never give up, and gratitude) throughout the year. We had many great activities for our students to demonstrate their leadership skills. Here are a few of the many great things that happened this year: grade assemblies, sports teams, choirs, the Girls’ Talk group, WITS leaders, field trips, the Super Seasonal Sale, presentations from guest speakers, and the play Mary Poppins.
As the year comes to a close, we would like to thank parents who have supported us in our work: whether reading with their children, using School-Day, signing the planner, helping with hot lunches, volunteering for Family Fun Night, or attending school events.
At this time of year, we prepare to say goodbye to some of our students. To our students moving to Janet Metcalfe Public School or to a new school, remember your time at Jean Steckle P.S. You will always be a member of our Hive. Wishing you a great start at your new school. To our grade 8s going on to their new high schools: all the very best! You have made us proud! Take your great memories of Jean Steckle Public School with you and don’t forget the lessons you have learned along the way.
To our students and families returning in September, we look forward to working with you again. Next year will be another amazing year!
Sincerely,
Andrea Michelutti, Principal
Our Gardens
As you might have heard from your child, the school has beautiful vegetables in our gardens!
From beginning to end, the garden has been an incredible process. We had great partners within the community to help set them up. Thank you to Kitchener Waterloo Collegiate Institute, Tepperman’s, and Seeds of Diversity for helping us to get started. Throughout this process, students were all able to build frames, plant, water, and monitor growth and changes.
We tend to our plants and the students have shown great responsibility. As summer approaches, we are looking for families to take up the garden for a week at a time. This would involve watering every 2 or 3 days depending on heat and rainfall. Also, you would be able to collect some produce as it matures! The lettuce has been there for a while and the heat will start to make it more bitter (Also, packed with nutrients). The peas and radishes should start to be ready next week. Right around the end of the peas, the cucumbers should be ready along with a few cherry tomatoes. August should see some of the beets being big enough; However, we have an agreement with the restaurant Borealis that we would sell them some produce and It would be nice to have beets for this purpose. (Beets can keep maturing until the end of October, so we are not in a rush to pull these.) If you are unsure of how to harvest a plant, please contact us!
If you feel that you can commit to a week in the summer, it would be great to see two families sign up for the same period. Please sign up using the link below.
Report Cards
Report cards for students in Kindergarten to Grade 8 will be sent home on Monday, June 24. If your child is away next week, the report cards will be mailed out this summer.
Volunteer Tea – Wednesday, June 26
We would like to invite all of our volunteers to a special Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast in the library from 7:45 a.m. to 8:25 a.m. on Wednesday, June 26.
Class lists
Waterloo Region District School Board is committed to keeping your children safe. To comply with privacy legislation we are changing the way we communicate elementary students’ home classrooms. Class lists will no longer be posted on the outside windows or doors of your child’s school. Details about how to find your child’s class information can be found on the WRDSB website.
Grade 8 Graduation
We are looking forward to celebrating our Grade 8 students on Tuesday, June 25 in the evening. The doors will be open at 6:00 p.m. and the ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by a dance.
Upcoming events:
Tuesday, September 3 – First day of school
December 23 to January 3, 2020 – Winter Holidays
March 16 to March 20 – March Break