Weekly Update Nov 30 - Dec 4

Southwood - Weekly Update!/Mise à jour hebdomadaire

Week of Nov. 30th – Dec. 4th, 2020

Reminder from Your SCC – Vandermeer Winter Fundraiser

Hello Southwood Families:
We hope you’re doing well and staying healthy.
Just a little reminder that our Vandermeer Winter Fundraiser is in full swing, and the December 8th order deadline is fast approaching.
A heartfelt thanks to those who have already made a purchase; your contribution in helping us support and enhance our students’ learning is truly appreciated.
To make a purchase, please do so via School Cash Online. These $30.00 Vandermeer gift cards can be used for a wide range of products and do not expire. They make great gifts, and will be distributed December 14th and 15th, well before the Winter holiday break!
Thank you!
Your Friendly Neighbourhood SCC.

Holiday Showcase

As you know, our holiday concert is one of the times of the school year where our families look forward to connecting with our school and our broader community.
As you are also most likely aware, because of restrictions, we are not able to run a concert - nor many of the performance types - in the same in-person format that we have been able to do in past years.
Despite the current challenges, we wanted to be able to put together something to help us connect in some way with our school community during the holiday season.
Our staff and students have begun to work on collectively putting a holiday showcase slideshow for our school community. It will be a chance to virtually showcase some fun things that our students are doing,
For security purposes, this slideshow will be shared through your child’s Google account. The link will be shared on Thursday, December 17th and will be made available for a couple of days.
Looking forward to enjoying some holiday cheer with everyone!

Gifted Screening -Durham District School Board Gifted Program

The Durham District School Board’s has a screening process for Gifted and potential consideration for self-contained Gifted classes for identified intellectually gifted students beginning at the Grade 4 level at host elementary throughout the region.
The core curriculum as determined by the Ontario Ministry of Education remains the same, but the teaching methods are differentiated to meet the needs of the gifted learner. The self-contained programme has been carefully designed to meet the strengths, needs, learning styles and interests of the gifted learner.
The Ontario Ministry of Education defines giftedness as “an unusually advanced degree of general intellectual ability that requires differentiated learning experiences of a depth and breadth beyond those normally provided in the regular programme to satisfy the level of educational potential indicated.”
The DDSB offers a screening of the CCAT7 for students in Grades 3 or higher.
Please be aware that you may nominate your student in Grade 3, or any subsequent grade.
Students may take the test with the DDSB no more than twice.
If you are interested in nominating your child this year, email your school SERT the nomination form at: email our school SERTS the nomination form at: mailto:carole.dumouchel@ddsb.ca or mailto:shereen.patel@ddsb.ca by Monday, November 30th, 2020. Late nominations will NOT be accepted. Title your email “Nomination for Gifted Testing 2020”.

Message to Families - There are a few matters that the DDSB wanted to share with you that we hope will interest you:

1. COVID-19 Health and Safety Reminder
2. Human Rights Policy Consultations
3. School Bus Cancellations
4. Immunizations for Grade 7 and 8 Students

RE COVID-19 Health and Safety Reminder

We thank you in advance for your engagement and hope that you find this information useful as we navigate this new environment together.
COVID-19 Health and Safety Reminder Southwood Park and the DDSB are committed to ensuring that learning and working environments are safe for staff and students. The school has implemented a variety of health and safety measures, including strongly encouraging all students to wear a mask (masks are mandatory for students in Grade 4 or higher), encouraging frequent handwashing, requiring students and staff to stay home if sick, employing physical distancing strategies, and undertaking enhanced cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces to name a few. You can always review the Elementary Daily Checklist for students as a reminder on what to do every day before coming to school.
The DDSB is encouraging families to continue to follow the advice of public health officials, including taking appropriate precautions in their day to day lives such as: wearing a mask in indoor public spaces, frequent handwashing, staying at home if sick and avoiding social gatherings. Remember - limiting your close contacts to those in your household (i.e., the people you live with) will help to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Now more than ever, we must take care of ourselves and each other. We can do this by following the advice of public health agencies and government officials to minimize the risk of COVID-19 in our communities. For more information, please download the Red Zone Requirements or visit: https://www.durham.ca/COVID19

Human Rights Policy Consultations

At the Durham District School Board (DDSB), human rights are part of everything we do. Protecting these rights is very important for everyone’s safety, well-being, mattering and belonging. The DDSB is writing a new policy on human rights.
The policy will help us:
? Share information so everyone knows their rights and understands their roles and responsibilities
? Address racism (including anti-Indigenous racism, anti-Black racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism), ableism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia and other forms of discrimination and harassment in DDSB learning and working spaces.
You can have your say on the policy. Your voice matters and is very important to us. Please share your thoughts with us by December 8, 2020.
Here are some ways you can have your voice heard:
1. Fill out a short, anonymous survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HRPconsult2020-12 and/or Thoughtexchange https://my.thoughtexchange.com/464641328
2. Share your thoughts by email: humanrightspolicy@ddsb.ca or phone (905) 666-6396
3. Join a virtual meeting. Further details coming soon.
Note: We cannot have in-person meetings right now because of COVID-19 restrictions.

Want to know more?
? Watch this video https://youtu.be/Xy9VPQ_OUGM
? Read the plan for the policy and who will be involved
? Learn more about human rights https://www.ddsb.ca/en/about-ddsb/equity-inclusive-education.aspx

If you need this information in an alternative format, or need Human Rights Code related accommodation or communication supports to take part, please contact humanrightspolicy@ddsb.ca or (905) 666-6396.

School Bus Cancellations

With colder temperatures approaching, we are sharing information on how the DDSB approaches the cancellation of buses due to winter weather in order to ensure everyone remains safe. In the event that transportation services are cancelled due to inclement weather, elementary schools will remain open. This is the same approach as in previous years and we will be taking extra health and safety measures in order to ensure that class cohorts remain intact and are appropriately supervised.
How will I be notified if transportation services are cancelled and/or schools are closed?
Families will be notified as soon as possible (no later than 7:00am) through a posting on the DDSB website, social media and where possible, through local radio stations.
What zone am I in?
Students at Southwood Park Public School are in Zone 4 (Southern Area).

Immunizations for Grade 7 and 8 Students

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Durham Region Health Department will not be conducting immunization programs in schools. School-Based Vaccine Immunization Clinics for Grade 7 and 8 students are now available in the community. Visit www.durham.ca/immunizationclinics, to book an appointment for your child. You will have the option to book an appointment based on a time and location most convenient for you and your family.
If you have any trouble accessing the booking site, please call into Immunization Program at 905-668-6242, or Durham Health Connection Line at 905-668-2020 for assistance.

DAILY EVENTS

Nov. 28th - Holodomor Memorial Day
Nov. 29th - First Day of Advent (Christianity)

Mon., Nov. 30th - Day 3

• Guru Nanak Jayanti (Sikhism)

Tues., Dec. 1st - Day 4

• World AIDS Day
• Equity Team Meeting – 8 am

Wed., Dec. 2nd - Day 5

• International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (UN)
• Int. classes taking part in Your Drug Questions Answered session – 10:30 am

Thurs., Dec. 3rd - Day 1

• International Day for Disabled Persons (UN)

Fri., Dec. 4th - Day 2

• **SPIRIT ALERT** - Hat Day!
• TGIF!

Upcoming Dates…
Dec. 8th – Vandermeer Winter SCC Fundraiser orders due
- Bodhi Day (Buddhism)
Dec. 11th - **SPIRIT ALERT** - Festive/Ugly Sweater Day!
Dec. 14th and 15th – Vandermeer Winter SCC Fundraiser orders distributed
Dec. 18th - **SPIRIT ALERT**…back by popular demand…PJ Day!
Dec. 19th to Jan. 3rd – Winter Holidays :o)

Have a great week!!!

Attachments

Weekly Update: Nov 30 - Dec 4