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Safety is our priority at St. Margaret.

Parents and staff will continue to work together to ensure the safety of our students and community members. We are beginning to review and implement changes to parking, pick up and drop off routines. Beginning Monday February 25th staff will park at the side of the school by the gym. That parking lot will be off limits to parents and will have cones at the entrance. Please respect the staff monitors, and the gates.

Students should be directed to walking on the side walks and NOT run through the parking lot areas. Cambridge By-Law will be meeting with me next week to address concerns from the neighbourhood about blocking driveways etc.

Next week is our FITGO Challenge and it would be a good time to begin having non bus students walking to school (if possible).

Thanks for making safety a priority!

Mr. J. Schnarr

Principal

St. Margaret is participating in the FITGO challenge from: February 25 – March 1, 2019!

We will be challenging other schools within our family of schools in a friendly competition that involves completing activities in the following focus areas:

• Daily physical activity (DPA)
• Healthy bodies
• Healthy eating
• Healthy minds
• Healthy environment

What does this mean for you?

 You may hear your child discuss classroom activities at home. Also, as part of the challenge, students are encouraged to try the following activities at home:

• Turn off (this screen) _________ and do this ________ (physical activity).
• Pack lunches that include fruits and vegetables
• Try to walk or bus to and from school one day
• Dress appropriately to go outside for recess

Watch us go! Schools are invited to post their FITGO activities on Twitter using the following hashtags:

• #FITGO2019DPA
• #FITGO2019HealthyBodies
• #FITGO2019HealthyEating
• #FITGO2019HealthyMinds
• #FITGO2019HealthyEnvironment

So, let’s join in having some fun, friendly competition within our family of schools and celebrate being a Healthy School!

Watch us FITGOoooooooo,

Mr. Schnarr                           Mrs. Mendes                 Mrs. Vandepol

Principal                                Teacher                         Public Health

Family Night with Junglesport will still happen tonight. If you signed up and feel you can get to St. Margaret safely for your scheduled time, remember to bring your running shoes.

If you will not be attending please call the school asap so we can add families from the waiting list.

There is no additional cost for Family Night. (The original student payment covers the evening!)

Girl’s Volleyball scheduled for today at Christ The King has been rescheduled for this Friday at the same time and same place!

Due to the school closure today, scheduled appointments for new registrations are rescheduled to next Tuesday February 19th at the same times.

If you have any problems please contact the school!

Due to the school closure yesterday, the scheduled Pizza Lunch will be provided tomorrow Friday February 8th. Lunchbox did send reminders to those families as well.

Just a reminder to call the office if your child or children are not coming to school. When buses are cancelled, bus students do not have to call the office if they are absent. All other students not attending must call.

Junglesport is coming to our St. Margaret School Gym the week of February 11-15th! Your child will have around 4, 40-50-minute gym blocks this week to be in the gym with the Junglesport leaders so please keep his/her running shoes at school the entire week and come prepared to be active every day!

In addition to these blocks of time, Family Night is scheduled for Wednesday, February 13th. Three session times were offered (5:00-5:45pm; 6:00-6:45; and 7:00-7:45pm). THE EVENING SESSION IS NOW FULL. For those attending, please arrive 15 minutes BEFORE your start time for instructions to be given and to get forms signed, if needed). Again, you must be age 4 and over to participate and have the two permission forms signed.  Unfortunately, some families are on a wait list. If we get any cancellations OR if you cannot make your assigned session, PLEASE let us know ASAP so another family can make use of the session time. NO walk-ins are allowed, as there is a maximum of 50 participants per session. Thank-you for understanding as this was offered on a first come, first served basis.

Please Note: Family Night Confirmation Letters will be sent home, one per family, by Tuesday, Feb. 5th to let you know what session you are scheduled for. If you have not received a letter by the end of this week, and you have signed up, please contact us at the school. Thank-you! 

This in-school Junglesport experience aligns perfectly with many of our Healthy and Physical Education expectations in our curriculum (these were previously emailed out to you) and is a class activity for all students to participate in! All students will go to the gym as a class during the scheduled times!

We still have a few forms and online payments that we are waiting for. At minimum, please complete the two permission/consent forms and hand in ASAP so your son/daughter has permission to participate during their 4 gym blocks this week (one from Junglesport and one 2-sided form from the WCDSB). Cash payment will be accepted if you are having School Cash Online difficulties or contact the office for support for instructions on how to pay online.  (If you need support in anyway please contact me at the office). Unfortunately, if students do not have BOTH permission forms, they are unable to participate but will stay with the class during their 4 gym blocks next week.

We look forward to having fun and learning with Junglesport climbing and adventure program next week! As always, if you have any questions, please ask!

Sincerely,

Mr. J. Schnarr

Principal

February 2019 News

St. Margaret of Scotland School Community,

We are pleased to offer ‘Junglesport’ to all of our students and their families the week of February 11 to 15^th. There is still room to sign up for the February 13^th family night.

Happy Valentine’s Day on February 14^th. Please consider purchasing ‘Caring Cookie Grams’ offered by our Student Parliament. Term 1 Report Cards go home on February 14^th. What a Valentine’s gift to celebrate successes and plan for next steps!

February 18^th is Family Day, so no school! Take the opportunity to do something as a family!

All students will participate in a Bus Safety presentation on February 22^nd.

Watch for more information about our FitGo challenge beginning February 25^th until March 1^st.

Stay warm and continue to play and pray together!

Mr. Jodie Schnarr,

your Principal

FAITH

COMMUNICATION FROM THE OFFICE

Registration for September 2019 can be done on-line at any time.

Children born in 2015 (Junior Kindergarten Year 1 registration) and Children born in 2014 (Kindergarten Year 2 registration for children who have not attended year 1).

Our registration days at the school are Monday February 11 (9:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m.), Tuesday February 12^th (9:45 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.). Please call the school 519-622-6100 to book an appointment!

See the attached flyer for the WCDSB Extended Day Programs

Extended Day Program flyer 2019-20

Inclement Weather:  In the event of inclement weather, the Board may cancel school for the day.  This decision will be announced on local radio stations, and notices affecting bus cancellations will be given between 6:45 A.M. and 8:30 A.M. Please listen to CHYM FM 96.7, Dave FM 107.5 or Oldies 1090 AM, KOOL FM 105.3, CKCO TV CHANNEL 12 for a decision about bus cancellation or school closure from the Waterloo Catholic District School Board. Also visit the board website: www.wcdsb.ca or check out our board Twitter account: @WCDSBNewswire. Information is also communicated on the Transportation website: www.stswr.ca.

Note: When schools are open parents are required to call the office if they choose to keep their child (ren) at home. This does NOT apply to bus students when buses are cancelled. Parents may choose to drive bus students to school when buses are cancelled and pick them up at the end of the school day.

MATH FOR GRADES 3 TO 8

 Knowledgehook, is now a Board approved “Green Tool” which ensures student information is stored in a secure manner.  This online, interactive math resource will support student learning in grades 3-8. Knowledgehook will provide additional math support and instruction for learning both in the classroom and for differentiated home-practice. If you have any questions or concerns about this program, please speak to your child’s classroom teacher.

UMBRELLA PROJECT

The February Umbrella Skill is MINDFULLNESS

During the month of January, we focused on the skill of RESILIENCE!

ECO / GREEN TEAM

Trash Less Tuesdays are encouraging students and staff to bring their lunches in reusable containers.

Thirsty Thursdays encouraging everyone to drink water from a reusable water bottle that can be filled at our water bottle filling stations throughout the school.

We would also like to invite families to send in used batteries for our battery recycling program that is linked with Free the Children’s ME of WE campaign as each AA battery has enough zinc for 6 children in developing nations! Thank you to everyone for your support and look for new eco-friendly initiatives happening in our school each month.

February 2019 Fitbit – Cooking with Children

Involving children in menu planning, grocery shopping and food preparation with age-appropriate tasks has huge rewards for the entire family, including spending quality time together, building important life skills and boosting self-confidence. Children are more likely to taste and eat foods they help prepare and will become better at choosing and eating healthy foods for themselves. Each child is different in their growth, development, and readiness – gradually build on their skills in the kitchen as they are ready and able to do so safely. To help get you started, age appropriate tasks can be found at Unlock Food; some include:

• Two to three year olds may wash vegetables and fruit and help find ingredients in the kitchen
• Four to six-year olds may stir, slice soft items with a plastic knife (e.g. a banana) and may assemble foods (e.g. yogurt parfaits)
• Six to eight-year olds may use simple kitchen equipment, such as a grater or can opener, after shown how to do so safely and may assemble more complicated recipes (e.g. fresh spring rolls)
• Eight to eleven-year olds may make their own lunches and may use a stove with supervision to make basic recipes (e.g. omelets, quesadillas)

Try making quesadillas as a family; giving your child(ren) age appropriate tasks and letting them provide input on specific ingredients to include.

Basic ingredients:

• Small amount of vegetable oil
• Vegetables (e.g. bell peppers, onions, zucchini, corn)
• Whole grain tortillas
• Meat or alternative, cooked (e.g. chicken, tofu, black beans, scrambled eggs)
• Cheese grated

Directions:

1. Lightly coat a skillet with vegetable oil over medium heat, add vegetables and cook until soft, then remove from heat.
2. Lay tortilla on work surface and sprinkle half the tortilla with chosen meat or alternative, vegetables and cheese, then fold the tortilla to cover.
3. Heat non-stick skillet over medium-low heat and toast quesadilla, turning once for about two minutes or until golden on both sides.
4. Cut in triangle slices. Serve with salsa, if desired.

Adapted from Unlockfood.ca

Brought to you by Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services

STUDENT PARLIAMENT

-Popcorn sales will continue every Friday for only $1.00!!

PARKING

Thank you for respecting our ‘Student Safety Zone’ sign at the entrance to our parking lot. I thank the staff that volunteer to be at the gates in the morning and after school. Also, please be extra safe while picking up on the road. Please do not block driveways, and do not let students cross the road unattended to be picked up.

Please respect our friends at the YMCA. Please do not park in front of the entrance or use the designated parking spots.

SCHOOL SAFETY

Please continue to send students dressed to be active outside during recess and lunch!

CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL

Remember to sign up for our Wednesday Pizza lunches at lunchboxorders.com.

Our next meeting is Tuesday February 5^th at 6:15 p.m. in the school Literacy Room.

“Due to the extreme weather we have faced this week our collection date has been changed, you now have until Monday February 4th to bring in any of your unwanted cloths, shoes, linens and have a chance to win your class a pizza party.”

Our pick from the company is on Tuesday at 10:30am.

bags2schoool

Cookie Grams