Welcome and welcome back to George Waters Middle School (Home of the Sharks)! We are looking forward to a successful 2013-14 school year with your daughter or son. The information in this letter is intended to keep you informed of opening day procedures and general school routines. The regular school hours at George Waters Middle School are 8:30 am – 11:15 pm and 12:15 pm - 3:20 pm.
The opening year (2013) schedule is as follows:
Monday, Aug. 19 School office opens
Monday, Sept. 2 Labour Day (No school)
Tuesday, Sept. 3 Divisional Inservice-no classes
Wednesday, Sept. 4 Opening year team/triad conferences (no classes/no bussing)
Thursday, Sept. 5 Opening year team/triad conferences (no classes/no bussing)
Friday, Sept. 6 First day of classes (regular school hours) (Day 4)
Please note that regular school bus service will start today. Bus pick-up and drop-off schedule will be in your child’s June report card unless the student is not presently attending our feeder schools or GWMS in June/13.
Tuesday, Sept. 17 PD Meeting (Early dismissal at 2:40pm)
Tuesday, Sept. 17 Meet the Teacher Event (5:30 – 7pm) GWMS Gym Tuesday,
Sept. 17 Parent Council AGM (7pm).
All parents are encouraged to attend to meet our Parent Council and learn more about how it supports your children and school activities. Friday, Sept. 20 Picture Day Friday, Oct. 18 Picture Re-take day
OPENING YEAR TEAM/TRIAD CONFERENCES
On September 4 and 5, 2013 parents and students are expected to attend opening year team/triad conferences with their parent(s). At the interviews parents, students and teachers will have an opportunity to meet one another to discuss the child’s education. Parents can share important information about their child, discuss the use of the agenda book and review their child’s educational goals for the school year. Student fees should be paid at this time.
The purpose of this meeting is to promote open and ongoing communication between home and school. Parents will also have a chance to meet with non-homeroom teachers such as physical education, resource, guidance, band and practical arts. The school administration team (principal/vice-principal) will also be available.
Students will be allowed to bring their supplies with them to the interview and may place them in assigned lockers. For grade 6 students, this is also a chance to practice using the combination lock. Student iPads will be discussed and distributed during the first week of school. To accommodate parents in our community, we will be conducting 20 minute team (parent, student and homeroom teacher) interviews at the following times: Wednesday, September 4th, 2013 Thursday, September 5th, 2013 1:00 PM – 6 PM 7:30 AM – 1:10 PM
BOOKING APPOINTMENTS Beginning Tuesday, August 27th at 8:30 AM to Tuesday, September 3th 3:00 PM, parents may BOOK ON-LINE through our online booking program to set-up their appointment. If you do not have access to a computer you can phone our school (204-888-4898) to arrange an interview time with your child’s homeroom teacher. Parents who can meet with the teacher during the day are encouraged to do so, as evening and morning times are limited.
STUDENT FEES
Students at George Waters pay their student fees to the homeroom teacher during the triad conference. We are announcing this procedure well in advance so that you might have an opportunity to obtain the required money during the summer. In the event you are unable to pay the student fee that day please see one of the administrators.
Student fees are spent as follows:
$20.00 Student fee (Student Council activities, student phone)
$15.00 Yearbook
$5.00 Locker/Lock Fee, Agenda Book (this will be the last year GWMS offers an agenda book)
$10.00 GWMS ‘House’ t-shirt (Optional)
Total $40 or $50 (with Shirt)
**Families with more than one child at George Waters pay $40.00 for the first child and $30.00 (includes yearbook) for each additional child (or $23.00 - no yearbook).
THE ATTENDANCE POLICY It is very important that the school be informed by the parent or guardian by phone within 24 hours of the student’s return to school if the absence is to be considered excused. Messages before 8am may be left on our general office voice mail. Ph.204-888-4898. Any changes to phone numbers or addresses should be reported to the office as soon as possible to allow us to be able to contact someone in case of an emergency or school closure.
LUNCH PROGRAM (LUNCH HOUR IS 11:15 – 12:15)
Students eat lunch in the cafeteria and not in their classrooms or on the school playground. They are able to purchase a full range of lunch items at reasonable prices or bring a bagged lunch if they prefer. Courteous behavior and cleanliness are always expected. Students are to remain seated when in the cafeteria and remain there until they are dismissed. Food and drink are not to be consumed in the halls, gymnasium, or classrooms. Anyone found to be misbehaving in the cafeteria may lose their lunchroom privileges for part or all of the remainder of the school year.
SCHOOL PICTURES
Wednesday, September 20th. Retakes Friday
October 18, 2013
(Students will receive order forms prior to this date).
REPORTING DATES for the 2013/14 school year are as follows:
- Nov. 5 Parent/Teacher Conferences 4-7:30 PM
- Dec 13 1st term report card
- Feb 18 Parent/Teacher Conferences 4-7:30 PM
- Apr 9 Second Term Report Card
- June 26 Final Report Card
STAFF/PD MEETINGS
Please note, the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month will be staff meeting/pd days resulting in early dismissal (2:40 pm). The Bussing schedule is adjusted to accommodate this change in time. If you have questions or require further information, do not hesitate to contact the school. The School Office will be open until 4:00 PM June 27, 2013 and starting August 19, 2013 UNTIL 2:30 (ph.204-888-4898). We will be happy to assist you or answer any of your questions. The staff and I hope you had a relaxing and enjoyable summer vacation and that students will be ready to return soon, keenly interested in renewing their studies.
We look forward to meeting all parents and students during the first two days of triad conferences on September 4 and 5, 2013 and at the Meet the Teacher Event and Parent Council AGM on September 23, 2013.
George Waters Middle School Home Page http://georgewaters.sjsd.net/
George Waters News Blog http://gwmssharks.blogspot.ca/
George Waters School Events Calendar http://gwmssharks.blogspot.ca/p/gwms-calendar.html
George Waters YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/feed/UC0zMYuhbpEBE4Dqvb-z5yNA
Mr. Mead on Twitter @principalmead
Sincerely,
Mr. B. Abram, Vice-Principal
Mr. A. Mead, Principal babram@sjsd.net amead@sjsd.net
No comments:
Post a Comment