Winona News – Sept 10

Upcoming Dates

Sept 14 – Fire Drill #1 (AM)

Sept 20 – School Council AGM – 6:30 pm – Library

Sept 22 – Winona Terry Fox Run

Sept 29 – Winona recognizes National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day)

Welcome Winona families.  For those returning to Winona, you are already familiar with our weekly news bulletin.  Each week we will highlight any HWDSB or Winona news worth noting.  We will also include important dates and upcoming events.  This message is also duplicated on our school website for those who may miss the SchoolMessenger email.  For families interested in viewing our in-school announcement board from home, this can now be viewed on our school website.

Parking Lot Safety – With 920 students attending, we have a large amount of traffic that moves through our school each day. We request your continued support around student safety at drop-off and pick-up.  This a reminder that family vehicles are not allowed in the bus loading area. Take extra time and care when walking through the lot and crossing the driveway.  Use the main marked crosswalk that can be found by the side kindergarten entrance.  Do not cross between buses. Thank you again for your ongoing patience and support.

September Enrollment and Reorganization – Each fall, HWDSB reviews elementary student enrolment in schools and reorganizes staffing if actual enrolment differs from spring projections. It is normal for student enrolment to fluctuate.  Sometimes these fluctuations are large enough to require the school to reorganize the classrooms to accommodate the changes and meet provincial class size requirements.    Those with children in Kindergarten would have received an email on Friday communicating the addition of a seventh Kindergarten classroom.  As we move through the first few weeks of school, we will keep families posted on information and updates if required.

School Council – Our School Council is an active and key part of the school community.  We need your involvement to make the School Council a success.  It is a great group of people who care deeply about this school and its students. For those interested in finding out more, please view our School Council’s welcome message to families. 2023_Winona_ParentCouncil_Welcome

School Councils must hold annual elections to identify voting members and positions such as School Council Chair. Elected members vote on School Council matters and represent the group’s ideas and advisory suggestions for the Principal. Please note that you do not have to be elected to the School Council to attend meetings. All meetings are open to all parents/guardians who wish to attend.

The School Council Nomination Form is posted at this link.  We would love to have you involved!  The first meeting of School Council will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, in the Library.  Please be sure to hand in your self-nomination form by Monday, September 18, if interested in an official role on the Winona School Council.

Fire Drills – The staff and students at Winona are expected to practice fire evacuation procedures six times annually (three times in the fall, and three times in the spring).  Before each drill, teachers will have age-appropriate discussions regarding the drill and what to expect.  Our first drill will take place this week on Thursday, September 14.

Early Pick-Up – If you are picking your child up early from school, we ask that you send a note to the school in the morning.  This process is helpful as we wish to minimize interruptions to classes by calling students out during instructional time.

Student Absences – Student absences and lates are best reported through the SchoolMessenger app.  Alternatively, families can report absence directly to the Winona school office (905-643-4141) or the classroom teacher

Courtesy Transportation – Only eligible students should be riding the bus.  Please ensure that you have made alternate transportation arrangements if you are a past courtesy rider.  Courtesy forms are available in the office or online.  They will be reviewed at the end of the month, once all eligible riders have been confirmed.

Mabel’s Labels – We know many families use Mabel’s labels to label their child’s school items.  Please remember to use the following link  Fundraising Support | Mabel’s Labels | Raise Funds With Kids Labels (mabelslabels.ca) and search for Winona.  A portion of the cost will come back to Winona and be used to support program enhancements, such as special guests or performances.

Indoor/Outdoor Shoes – For safety reasons, students are expected to wear shoes at all times in the building.  Assist us in keeping the mud, dirt, water and salt outside by sending an additional pair of indoor-only shoes with your child each day.  At this time of year, rain can lead to some very wet conditions in our schoolyard.  With two outdoor breaks, it is also a good idea to leave items such as extra socks in your child’s backpack in the event they are needed.