September 25th, 2020
Dear Jean Steckle families,
What a wonderful week! Thank you to our students, families and staff members for a great week of learning. It is amazing to see all of the smiling faces each morning.
On September 30, Jean Steckle Public School and the WRDSB recognize Orange Shirt Day as a way to honour residential school survivors, those who did not survive, and their descendants. It’s just one of the ways we support, educate ourselves and reconcile our relationships with Indigenous people. We encourage students, families and staff to wear an orange t-shirt on September 30.
We are still missing some data verification forms. We use these forms to update your child’s information so we can contact families quickly in case of an emergency. For our in-school students, if you haven’t already returned the forms, please send them to school on Monday.
Have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Andrea Michelutti, Principal
Supervision Monitors Needed
We are looking to hire a few paid supervision monitors who would help in a kindergarten class and in the portable during lunchtime. We have 2 shifts (10:30 a.m. to 11:10 a.m. and 1:10 p.m. to 1:50 p.m.). If you are interested in this position, please contact Andrea Michelutti (call the office at 519-748-1919 or email andrea_michelutti@wrdsb.ca) for an interview. This experience is rewarding and the students love working with our supervision monitors.
Huron Community Association
Please join the Huron Community Association on Saturday, September 26 for the annual Neighbourhood Clean-Up Day. All members of the community are invited to meet at the park on Parkvale between 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and you will receive a pair of free gloves and garbage bags to help clean up around the pond and neighbourhood. We would love to see all of our families out in the community. Please RSVP to this event to ensure they have enough supplies hcaprogrammer@gmail.com.
Terry Fox
This year is the 40th anniversary of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope and Jean Steckle Public School is proud to be continuing the legacy of one of our greatest heroes. Please join us and support this wonderful cause by donating online to
http://www.terryfox.ca/JeanStecklePSKitchener. Unfortunately, we cannot collect any coins or paper donations this year. All donations will need to be done online. We appreciate your understanding and generosity.
The event for the school will run over two days on Thursday, October 1 and Friday, October 2 to allow for each class/cohort to go outside independently for 30 minutes to walk and run along a measured route on our school grounds. Teachers will encourage social distancing during the run and students will be required to wear their masks. Please be sure to have your child dress for the weather on this day. (Rain/Alternate dates: Monday, October 5th and Tuesday, October 6th).
We are very excited to be a part of this year’s Terry Fox Run. This is our opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those who have suffered, are suffering, and will suffer because of cancer. We hope you will join us as our school community bands together in the fight against cancer. Thank you in advance for your support!
Together, we can all make a difference!!
Inclement Weather Procedures
Dress your child for the weather as we stagger the entry into our building each morning. If it is raining, students will remain outside so they will need a raincoat or umbrella.
During severe weather, kindergarten students will enter through their normal doors (door 2 or door 6). For students in Grades 1 to Grade 6, students can enter through the main door or door 5. Students will sanitize their hands and transition directly to their desks in their classrooms.
Daily Student Screening Checklist
For a daily screening, please refer to the Province’s COVID-19 School Screening Tool.
- You must screen for COVID-19 every day before going to school.
- Answer the following questions to help you decide if you should or should not go to school today.
- You can fill this out on behalf of a student.
What is Orange Shirt Day?
Orange Shirt Day is observed each September 30 and was first launched in 2013. The origin of Orange Shirt Day is based on Phyllis Webstad’s story of entering an Indian Residential School in 1973 and having her new orange shirt removed from her and replaced with a school uniform. Her experience of having her orange shirt being taken from her is symbolic of all that was taken from Indigenous Peoples as a result of Indian Residential Schools and is the reason we wear orange on September 30.
For well over a century, Indian Residential Schools were used as a tool to assimilate Indigenous Peoples into the dominant Canadian culture. Established in 1892 by the Canadian government, in partnership with churches, Indigenous children were often moved long distances from their families and lived at the schools. Once at school, Indigenous children were forbidden to speak their languages nor practise their cultures and traditions. Living conditions for students in Indian Residential Schools were often harsh and there was often significant emotional, physical, and sexual abuse of the students.
Important Dates:
October 12: Thanksgiving
November 23: Professional Development Day
December 21 to January 1: Winter Break
January 22: Professional Development Day
February 15: Family Day
April 2: Good Friday
April 5: Easter Monday
May 24: Victoria Day
June 4: Professional Development Day
June 29: Professional Development Day