Winter is in full swing and some colder temperatures have come along with that. Please be mindful of our temperature swings that seem to be part of this years season. Check the weather daily on an app on a portable device or computer and please send your children wearing the appropriate clothing; boots, hats, mits, snowpants, jackets and scarves. Students will regularly go outside for recess to get exercise, fresh air and to burn off some energy that helps make them better more focused learners in the classroom.
Throughout the first term, students have had many opportunities to be engaged outside of the classroom during recess and after school extracurricular activities. Some of those activities include; Eco-club, knitting club, Yoga club, junior and intermediate boys and girls volleyball and intermediate boys and girls basketball, healthy schools initiatives, reading clubs, student leadership, and school spirit days, to name a few. These opportunities allow students to engage in interest based activities and teams; some that focus on participation and others that are more competitive in nature. These activities help students develop a better sense of health and well-being by helping them develop a sense of commitment, dedication, responsibility, and sportsmanship.
Your child brought home their First Term Report Card on February 18th. It's important to sit down and share your thoughts about your child's progress so far. Please pay particular attention to the learning skills section as this directly relates to many skills required to be successful and achieve higher grades. Discuss their strengths and praise them. Take time to discuss their needs as well and brainstorm ways to better support them so that they can improve for Term 2. Remember, these learning skills are life skills, which, when mastered, will support students to future success regardless of the academic/career pathways they choose.
We would like to acknowledge that Ms. Loopstra will be on leave indefinitely. We would like to welcome our new Retired on Contract (ROC) VP, Mr. Al Mainprize, who joins us for the near future. He comes with a wealth of knowledge and expertise and will be in the Pine Grove office supporting students and the school 2.5 days per week. We would also like to bid farewell to Ms. Nancy Redman who completed her contract at Pine Grove on January 29. We bid her farewell and wish her a joyful continuation of her retirement.
Please remember to communicate your child's absences in a timely manner prior to the day starting at 8:25 am. Parents have the option to leave a message after hours on school voicemail or call first thing in the morning at 8 am when our office opens. If you know that your child will be absent in advance please let the office ASAP. Thank you to those parents who do this consistently! We need to make sure that all of our students are accounted for in a timely manner each and everyday.
Greg Brown
Principal
