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Hawkey Herald

RJ Hawkey’s School Newsletter

October 31, 2022

Principal Mrs. Jackie Root

Assistant Principal Mrs. Lisa Guy

School Phone Number 403-948-3939

School Email rjhawkey@rockyview.ab.ca

With the colors of fall and the hint of frost in the air comes discussion of harvest and Halloween. Many classrooms are planning some afternoon celebrations on Monday, so be sure to read any information coming home from your child’s teacher as they may have for some fun activities planned.

We had an assembly yesterday to kick off our new schoolwide Home Reading Program! We are all very excited to check out the book carts and select a couple of stories which include a variety of genres, topics and characters. Please take a look in your child’s backpack and enjoy a story together this weekend!

At the assembly, we also had a chance to review some of our schoolwide expectations. The three we talked about were; I can move around the school safely, I can actively listen to others and I can make things right when I make a mistake. We had fun with the students coming up with example for each one. Ask your child about these and I’m sure you will be happy to hear their ideas.

Warmly,

Mrs. Lisa Guy - Assistant Principal

Mrs. Jackie Root - Principal

Did you know that students who frequently miss school, even as early as kindergarten, are more likely to have difficulty in school? While we know, there are times that students miss school due to illness, appointments, or other family events, we want to help all our students attend school as much as possible.

Students who are often late or absent from school miss instruction and guidance from their teacher, have difficulty catching up on what they missed, and can have more problems connecting with their peers.

If your child is having difficulty coming to school, please reach out to our Child Development Advisors, Ms. Allen or Ms. Clark, to discuss available support for your child.

Teachers will also reach out to families if attendance or consistent lates arise for students. Our goal at RJ Hawkey is to help all students be successful learners. Below are a few resources for families about student absences.

Every Student Counts:Make the Attendance Connection

Attendance Works

At RJ Hawkey, we value our relationships with parents and guardians as we work together to support your children. I want to take this opportunity to clarify our communication processes so you know who to contact if you need to ask a question or discuss a concern.

If you have questions about attendance, your PowerSchool account, SafeArrival, School Cash, or other general inquiries, please call the office at 403-948-3939 or email rjhawkey@rockyview.ab.ca and Mrs. Williams or Mrs. Creamer will be more than happy to help you.

If an issue or concern arises, your first communication is with the homeroom teacher. Feel free to email or call them with your concerns. The general expectation is that the teacher will respond to you within 24 hours during the week and on the next instructional day on the weekend. As per RVS administrative procedure 145, school staff are not expected to be on work email outside work hours (8-5) or weekends. If you would like to meet with the teacher, either online or face to face, please set up an appointment, as they cannot always accommodate drop-ins.

If you are unsatisfied after your conversation with the teacher, please reach out to Mrs. Guy or me. As with teachers, if you would like to meet directly with the administration, please call the school office or email and arrange an appointment. We, administrators, are often in meetings, many of which can be out of the building. Thus an appointment assures that time is set aside to hear your concerns thoroughly and find solutions to your concerns promptly.

RJ Hawkey has other layers of support available to students and families. If you have questions or concerns about social-emotional support, friendship issues, etc., our Child Development Advisors (CDAs) are here for you and your child. They can assist students with emotional regulation, stress, anxiety, social skills, and much more. Mrs. Cunard, our Learning Support Teacher, is available to speak with families concerned about their child's learning, speech and occupational therapy support.

We cannot speak highly enough of the work these individuals do daily to remove barriers for students and support them to be successful.

Students in Sparks, Brownies, Guides, Cubs, Beavers, Scouts, Cadets etc., are welcome to wear their uniform to school on November 10.

Reading at home can make a HUGE Difference!

On Tuesday, October 25, we launched our new Home Reading Program at R. J. Hawkey. The focus is on the joy of reading, and all students will have access to a variety of books to borrow and enjoy at home. Families are encouraged to set aside time each night for some shared reading time. Please note that your child may select books that require an adult or older sibling to read. The goal is to enjoy the time, regardless of who is reading the book. Students are welcome to borrow up to 2 books at a time and to exchange them for new books once they are ready. All home-reading books will have a label on the back of the book to identify it as a home-reading book rather than a library book. Please see the checklist below for some ideas for supporting your child as they read.

Halloween can be tricky for a public school with a Christian program. We are aware of the concerns that some families have around Halloween festivities. As a public school with a Christian program, we are uniquely positioned to care for and about families that do not engage in Halloween as well as those that do.

The school feels it is essential to strike a delicate balance with these activities. Many families in the public system and ACP celebrate Halloween, and this will continue, as it is a long-standing tradition at the school. However, RJ Hawkey has an equal duty of care to families who do not wish to celebrate Halloween. ACP students are welcome to wear a costume to school. However, should teachers choose classroom activities will focus on Fall/Harvest/Pumpkins and connecting with friends rather than Halloween.