April 2nd, 2024
As Spring has arrived, we have many exciting events coming up in the next few months. On Wednesday, April 3, at 5:45-8 pm we will be gathering in the gym for the Internet Safety Information Session for Parents. Here is the updated information about this exciting event that is posted on our website:
Internet Safety Information Session for Parents Reminder
2024-25 School Year:
We are starting conversations about the 2024-25 School Year and will be planning student placements in classes at the end of May into June. We recognize that this can cause anxiety and wonder for our families and want everyone to know that teachers, educators and staff members work very closely together to make decisions for students that best support their academic, social, and emotional needs. While many parents are concerned for their own children and want to advocate, please also understand that we have to consider what is best for all students at Suddaby P.S. Decisions about teacher assignments will not be shared until September, as these assignments are tentative and can change up to the end of September 2024. When placing students, we also work hard to ensure students have at least one familiar person in their class as a friend. Therefore, we ask families to trust our educators and staff to use their best judgment when placing their child for next year.
That being said, sometimes there are situations that have occurred in the past that the current teachers/educators and/or principal/vice-principal are not aware of. If this is the case, we ask that you send an email to myself to make us aware of any information that should be considered. Please send these emails to barb_tomkins@wrdsb.ca. Please understand that this information will remain private and will only be considered, not guaranteed, as there are many factors that we have to take into account for all of our students. Thank you for your trust in our professionalism and dedication to do what is best for all during this process.
Monday, April 8th Spirit Day-Hat Day
On Monday, April 8th, we encourage all staff and students to wear a wide brimmed hat on this day to celebrate the sun and this special solar eclipse experience.
April 8th-Solar Eclipse Information:
We wanted to provide parents with some initial information about April 8th so that parents can make informed decisions about their children and plan ahead. On April 8th, a total solar eclipse is expected to pass through Canada, giving stargazers an opportunity to view the celestial phenomenon in which the sun is completely covered by the moon. Please note that the board will be releasing more information going forward.
Student safety is a priority for us alongside the continual engagement in real life learning opportunities that support student growth, learning and achievement. In reaching our decision, we considered multiple factors including:
- Maximizing student learning opportunities
- Ensuring that parents were aware that they still had autonomy around their children’s attendance on the day
- The impact a date change would have on families who would require child care support or need to adjust existing arrangements for the day
As a public institution, we will be providing valuable education for students on April 8 as previously scheduled. We are confident WRDSB staff will make the most of the once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity connected to the eclipse.
We ask that parents discuss the safety risks for this day and ensure they understand that they are not to look up at the sun during this time. The following link provides more details and information:
https://sud.wrdsb.ca/2024/03/06/april-8-eclipse-supporting-student-learning-and-safety/
The most “at-risk” time during the eclipse is from 3:00-3:35, which includes the time that our students at Suddaby are dismissed (3:20). As always, families and caregivers are able to make their own decisions regarding their child’s attendance on April 8. In cases where families feel the best choice is to keep their child home, or take their children home earlier in the day, they are welcome to do so.
We ask that families email our Suddaby attendance at (sud-attendance@wrdsb.ca) by Friday, April 5th at noon, if they decide that their child will be absent or picked up early. Please include each of your child’s name, teacher, grade and whether they will be absent or the time they will be picked up on April 8th. If you plan to send your child just as usual on this day, there is no need to send an email. If you change your mind on Monday, April 8th, please ensure you send an email to the above attendance address and provide the information as noted above as early as possible. This will help us in the office to ensure everyone is accounted for on this day. If you are picking up your child at an earlier time, you will still need to follow the process of pressing the office button before we send out your child. The office will ensure your child is signed out at that time.
Dismissal Routines will slightly change so that students have less time outside with the temptation to look up:
Bussed students will gather in the gym (instead of outside) until their bus arrives. When the bus arrives, we will remind all students to keep their heads down and not look up while walking to the bus and while riding the bus home.
Walking students will be dismissed as usual with the reminder to keep their heads looking down and not up at the sun. We ask that parents who decide to have their child(ren) walk home, to please review the safety precautions and remind their child(ren) to follow them during their walk home.
**Please note that educators will not be responsible for ensuring students are wearing any glasses with specialized filters that are provided by families on this day. We do not have enough staff to ensure these are damage-free or worn properly. Our message will only be to not look up at the sun. Thank you for your understanding.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to us at sud@wrdsb.ca.
Take care,
B. Tomkins, Principal