Helen Detwiler December Updates
It’s hard to believe that we are already into the month of December! Just a reminder that our 2 week winter break will take place December 26th – January 6th. Students will return to school on Monday January 9th. Please read below for some school updates that are happening at Helen Detwiler during the month of December.
“Just Give It” Food Drive
The Student Council is running a “Just Give it” food drive for our local Neighbour-to-Neighbour Food Bank. If you are able, please help us support those families in our community who are in extra need of support at this time of year. The Neighbour-to-Neighbour Food Bank recommends donating such items as tomato sauce, canned tomatoes, canned vegetables (corn, green or yellow beans), Kraft Dinner, cereal and oatmeal, crackers, granola bars, canned fruit and canned tuna, salmon or ham. The class that donates the most items will be awarded a class pizza party for their efforts. If it is easier to donate some extra coins or cash instead, the Student Council will also be awarding the class that raises the most in financial donations (minimum class total of $50.00) a pizza party as well. Cash donations will be given to the Neighbour-to-Neighbour Food Bank so that they can purchase any items needed to help stock their shelves. Students can bring such non-perishable Items and financial donations to their homeroom class beginning this week and ending on Monday, December 19th. Thank you in advance for any support that you can offer to our “Just Give it” campaign.
Literacy Update at Helen Detwiler
Exciting news from the Helen Detwiler Literacy Team! In response to the Right to Read report, our educators have been learning more about the science of reading. To supplement the fabulous literacy programs already happening in our classrooms, we have invested in 2 new reading tools. The Kindergarten team will have access to a phonological awareness tool called Heggerty. Our Grade 1-4 educators will have access to a new phonics tool called UFLI. Thank you to Ashley, our parent volunteer, for taking the time to help us prep all these great learning tools that will be in classrooms soon.
Severe Weather Information
As we enter the colder winter months, it is helpful to know our school board protocols around inclement weather cancellations, snow clearing, and cold weather at schools. For more information, please on the following link: Severe Weather | Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (hwdsb.on.ca)
School Lockdown Drill – Wednesday, December 7th, 2022
Our school will be holding a secure schools lockdown protocol drill, so that staff and students are prepared in case of an emergency on Wednesday December 7th. We appreciate the co-operation of our students and staff during the drill. It is also important that we all remain aware of secure schools terminology used in all of Ontario’s publicly funded schools.
You can learn more about HWDSB’s approach to secure schools at https://hwdsb.info/secureschools
Nutrition Break Student Monitor Program
Our nutrition break student monitor program has started at Helen Detwiler. This program allows students in Grades 6 – 8 to volunteer their time to help out and support our younger students in kindergarten and primary classrooms during nutrition breaks. It is wonderful to see leadership and responsibility in action from our student monitors!
December Pizza Days – Weekly Ordering on School Cash Online
A quick reminder that our pizza days have moved to weekly listings on School Cash Online. Pizza will still be available to purchase for the entire month, but we hope weekly listings on School Cash Online will provide better flexibility for our families for Pizza Days.
The deadline to order pizza for this coming Wednesday is Monday, December 5th.
How To Sign up for School Cash Online
Has your family signed up for School Cash Online? It is an easy, safe way to pay for your child’s trips, events, pizza days and without handing in cash or cheques. School Cash Online accepts many payment forms.
To register, please click here to visit the registration page.
Click here to learn more about School Cash Online.
Updated on Thursday, December 01, 2022.