11520 - 203rd Street, Maple Ridge, B.C. V2X 4T6Phone: 604-460-1136 / Fax: 604-460-1137Website: (https://schools.sd42.ca/hammond/)Twitter: @HammondSD42

Principal: Mr. Wes ReamsbottomVice Principal: Ms. Kyla Cameron

Newsletter #3 – November 29, 2018

At Hammond

Elementary,

students and staff

work hard to build a

positive school

culture. We believe

that everyone has a

responsibility to

create a caring, safe

and orderly learning

environment.

Upcoming Events

Dec 6 Hot Lunch

Dec 9 Kids Only Shopping

Dec 10 Kids Only Shopping

Dec 11 Kids Only Shopping

Dec 13 Hot Lunch

Dec16 Spirit Day – Ugly Sweater

Dec 17 Spirit Day – Holiday Headwear

Dec 18 Christmas Concert @ 9:00 am

Dec 19 Christmas Concert @1:00 pm

Dec 20 Spirit Day - PJ DayLast day of classesHot Lunch

Jan 6 Schools Reopen after Winter Break

Jan 14 Spirit Day

Jan 16 Montessori Meeting 7:00 pm (library)

Jan 24 Non Instructional Day

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGENovember is always a very busy month at Hammond with so many activities for our students. Our craft fair Bazaar was very well attended with over 800 visitors! Thank you to the PAC for organizing! Our grade 6/7 girls had a great season with Volleyball. We Scare Hunger was a huge success; significantly surpassing our total cans collected last year and our leadership students had a fantastic experience at We Day. Finally, we completed the month with our door decorating contest which was an excellent kick off to our Book Fair.

December is always an exciting time at school with preparations for our Christmas Concert as well as getting ready for our Winter break. I am excited to see the students perform this year and I look forward to seeing many of you there to help celebrate and enjoy our student performances.

As always, feel free to say hello to Mrs. Cameron or myself before or after school while we are out supervising the students.

Wishing everyone a safe December!

REPORTINGTuesday afternoon, November 26, and all day Wednesday, November 27 was dedicated to 3-way conferencing. It is our hope that sharing learning and goal setting was a positive experience for our students. We appreciate all the support our families give to their children. Your time and encouragement result in your child having a positive outlook on school and learning. Once teachers have submitted conference highlights to the office, reports will be sent home.

CALENDAR ITEMS…o A reminder schools close for Winter Break after

dismissal on Friday, December 20. We welcome students back on Monday, January 6, 2019.

o On Friday, January 24, 2019 there is no school for students as staff will be involved with School Growth activities.

Please always check the calendar on our Hammond website page https://elementary.sd42.ca/hammond/

LIBRARY NEWS…A big thank you to the PAC and especially Latiesha Biles, for all the work they do to make Hammond great! This year’s “Snow Much to Read” Book Fair was a great success and the funds raised will be used to support the “Birthday Book” program.

The Hammond Bookfest Club attended the wind up at the Act and got to see the author of Caravaggio, Signed in Blood, Mark David Smith. Thanks to the parents for driving us to the event.

Happy Reading,Sue Sigvaldason

SPORTS AT HAMMOND…We would like to thank Ms. Meedin, Ms. Hough and Ms. Voytechek for a successful season coaching our girls Volleyball team! The girls learned new skills and clearly had a lot of fun. We are looking forward to our boys and girls basketball teams starting up in the new year!

THANK YOU PAC…Thank you to the PAC for organizing the recent Fall Bazaar. Countless hours of preparation and organization go into supporting this event. We are all very appreciative of all the hard work the PAC does to support our students. Once again, the PAC has generously supported us by providing additional funds for fieldtrips and classroom supplies. Thank you!

PARKINGPlease be respectful of Hammond’s neighbouring properties and not block driveways when dropping off or picking up your children. Please do not park for any length of time in our designated handicap parking spaces. Those spaces are for vehicles with handicap passes ONLY. If you park there thinking you will only be a moment, that moment could be the time one of our handicap students needs that spot. Your respect and consideration is appreciated.

To all new families to Hammond, and a reminder to those families using the parking lot at the end of the day, if everyone follows our procedures and is patient for 10 minutes things will go smoothly and safely. It is with cooperation, patience and following a few simple guidelines that we can minimize the frustrations and keep the parking lot safe for everyone.  Guidelines:

When double parked or stopping beside a yellow curb you must stay in your vehicle so you can move it if the person you are blocking needs to exit the lot.

Do not block an open parking space. It is imperative that we leave a clear path through the middle of the lot so traffic can keep moving. If you get to the flagpole and your child has not arrived yet, continue to circle the lot until they

do. Do not park at the entrance that funnels traffic into and out of the lot as it blocks traffic flow. Use the perimeter sidewalks to walk to the overflow lot rather than weaving in and out of the cars. Travel through the parking lot at idle speed.

LEADERSHIP UPDATE…Our Hammond WE team ran a very successful WE Scare Hunger campaign. They collected items of food and arranged donation to our local food bank. They collected over 800 pounds of food! Thank you to everyone who contributed.

In other leadership news, Hammond had 13 students attend the WE DAY event in Vancouver last week. Students had an awesome day filled with music and inspiring messages. Look out for more ideas coming from the WE team to help and support others.

Leadership students will be selling hot chocolate and cookies at lunch and after school on December 13th and 14th for $1.00 each. If students purchase both, they will receive a free candy cane! Students are also asked to bring their own mug. If you bring your own mug, you will receive a free candy cane.

SPIRIT RAISER NEWS…Hammond Spirit Raisers, made up of a group of grade 4 and 5 students in Division 5, have organized three December Spirit Days:

UGLY SWEATER DAY on Monday, December 16 – dig up your favourite, ugliest Christmas sweater. The uglier the better;

HOLIDAY HEADWEAR DAY on Tuesday, December 17 – come to school wearing your favourite Santa hat, elf hat, reindeer headband, candy cane barrettes or anything you can find in the spirit of the holidays; and

PJ DAY on Friday, December 20 – stay warm and cozy and come to school in your PJ’s!

A BOOK FOR ALL GRADE ONES…Every year, the Canadian Children’s Book Centre and TD Financial Group generously give every grade 1 students their very own book. This year’s book is entitled “My Heart Fills with Happiness” written by Monique Gray Smith and illustrated by Julie Flett.

DRESS FOR THE WEATHER…As the weather is about to get rainier, it is important that your child is sent to school dressed appropriately for the weather. As well, an extra set of clothes kept at the school will enable your child to change should he or she get wet or muddy while playing during recess or lunch. We will be sending the students out during these breaks rain or shine. Please encourage them to dress for the weather.

CHRISTMAS CONCERTS…Once again this year there will be two whole school concerts - one on Wednesday, December 18 at 9:00 AM and again on Thursday, December 19 at 1:00 PM.

Concerts are not overly long. We would appreciate it you stay for the full concert - not only is it disruptive having people leave, but it is unfair to the classes performing later in the program. As well, in the past we have had people double park during the concert and we have had to interrupt the concert. Please park in designated parking spots, walk or car pool. Parking spaces will be limited. Thank you.

STUDENT ATTENDANCE REMINDER…Just a friendly reminder we request that you telephone, email HA_reception@sd42.ca, or advise via the parent portal to let us know if your child will be late or absent from school. There is an answering machine to take your messages if calling after hours or early in the morning. Thank you.

MONTESSORI SOCIETY NEWS…Thank you so much for the generous donations the Montessori program has received so far through the alternative fundraising program! The teachers will be ordering lots of new learning materials for their classrooms thanks to the funds that were raised.

Our next meeting is January 16, 2019 at 7:00 pm in the library. All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.

We wish you all a safe and joyful holiday season!

SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS…

Become a Host Family: School District 42’s International Education program welcomes international students from all over the world. We are currently looking to increase the number of host families in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. If you are interested and would like more information, please give International Education Department a call at 604-466-6555 or visit https://inted.sd42.ca/homestay/.

Registration for kindergarten begins January 2019. Find out about the online registration process for both below:

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION – Registrations begin January 8Kindergarten registration for the 2020/21 school year is open to children who are 5 years old on or before December 31, 2020. Visit the district website for detailed information on the five phases (sibling registration, choice registration, general registration, and late registration), registration timelines, and other important information:  http://www.sd42.ca/kindergarten-registration/

Kindergarten Registration Phases:JAN 8-14: Sibling Registration. Open for siblings of students already attending the desired elementary school (currently in grades K-6).JAN 22-27: Choice Registration. Open for all students who want to participate in any one of SD42’s unique program offerings (e.g. Environmental School, French Immersion, Montessori).FEB 5-12: General Registration. General registration for English school.FEB 26-June 22: Late Registration. This phase is for parents who may have missed previous registration phases.

GRADE 8 REGISTRATION: General registration online opens FEB. 4 to FEB. 19

**online registration always opens at 12:00 pm on each of the first registration days**

School Closures: It is recognized that from time to time, it may be necessary to temporarily close school/facilities when extreme weather conditions exist and may endanger the health and safety of students/staff. When a decision to close schools is made, information is posted on the SD42 Twitter feed (@sd42news); posted on the SD42 Facebook feed (SD42Facebook); shared with News 1130, CKNW 980, and CBC 690 radio stations; and posted on the SD42 Website (www.sd42.ca).

Casual-On-Call Education AssistantsThe Maple Ridge - Pitt Meadows School District (SD42) is looking for qualified Casual-On-Call Education Assistants.  For more information please visit our website: (www.sd42.ca and click on the careers tab)

COMMUNITY NEWS…Grade 5 Active Pass 2018/19: Eligible School District 42 grade 5 students can access drop-in services at no cost! Get your application today from the Maple Ridge Leisure Centre or find it online at www.mapleridge.ca/1471.

Grade 4 and 5 SnowPass: Now in its 21st year, families across Canada continue to enjoy the best ski & snowboard deal in Canada!! Ski or ride 3 times at each participating ski area. Cost of SnowPass is $29.95. More information is available at www.snowpass.ca.

WINTER BREAK…A reminder that schools close for Winter Break after dismissal on Friday, December 20. We welcome students back on Monday, January 6, 2019.

Be sure to take advantage of education savings opportunitiesEducation Savings Week is from Nov. 18 to 22, 2019.

Almost 80% of job openings in British Columbia over the next decade will require some form of post-secondary education.

Families can open a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) and the Government of British Columbia will deposit $1,200 into the RESP for their children. No additional money is needed to receive the $1,200 B.C. Training and Education Savings Grant. Families can ask their local financial institution if they are one of the 56 official promoters of the grant, and are urged to not be part of the 40% who leave this grant unclaimed.

The grant allows parents and families who may not be able to currently afford to put money aside to start a RESP. Studies indicate that children with RESPs are more likely to pursue higher education. Students can use the money to pay for their education expenses (e.g., books, tools, rent or transportation) in an apprenticeship program, a trade school, college or university.

Applications are open to eligible children between six and nine years old. Eligibility deadlines:

Children born in 2010 have until the day before their ninth birthday to apply. Children born in 2011 have until their ninth birthday in 2020 to apply.  Children born in 2012 have until their ninth birthday in 2021 to apply. Children born in 2013 have until their ninth birthday in 2022 to apply. Children born in 2014 can start applying on their sixth birthday.

The Government of Canada also offers eligible families with modest incomes up to $2,000 for each child’s RESP from the Canada Learning Bond. As well, the Canada Education Savings Grant matches RESP contributions up to a maximum of $7,200 per child. More information can be found at: www.Canada.ca/education-savings

Learn More:

B.C. Training and Education Savings Grant: https://www.gov.bc.ca/BCTESG

What is the importance of formative assessment in the classroom?  There are two types of classroom assessment. Summative assessment provides information about student progress for reporting purposes. Formative assessment provides feedback that supports student achievement and moves student learning forward. Clear goals with timely feedback inform students of where they are and what their next steps need to be. Formative assessment is given through written or verbal feedback and does not involve grading. When students are encouraged to act on teacher feedback, they begin to take ownership of their learning. As teachers work to build community and encourage students to take risks with their learning, they understand that mistakes should be embraced as opportunities to become proficient learners. In this way, teaching and learning become cyclical, each informing the other to promote independent and lifelong learning.

For more information about the curriculum, visit https://www.sd42.ca/new-curriculum/

Coming in January: Critical Thinking.