Dear MLS Families,
At Wednesday evening’s School Council meeting, council members shared an update on their fundraising efforts and the grants they have submitted to support the new playground build. Their goal is to meet the fundraising target this spring to support a summer construction timeline.
If you have connections with Rotary, Kinsmen, or Lions clubs, or with local businesses and corporations that may be interested in supporting this initiative, School Council would love to hear from you! Every connection has the potential to make a difference in bringing this exciting project to life. Please reach out to mlschoolcouncil@gmail.com to explore opportunities to help.
This week, we also completed our third fire drill of the school year, which was a first for our PM Kindergarten students. Our students did an excellent job of exiting the building calmly and quietly. We even managed to include a few parents who arrived to pick up their children for appointments just as the alarm sounded!
Fire drills are an important part of keeping our school community safe. While we know these drills are practice, it is reassuring to see both staff and students approach each one with care and take their responsibilities seriously. We are proud of the way our students continue to demonstrate these important safety routines.
Grade 4 & 5 CBE Well-Being Student Survey
Between October 27 and November 10, students in Grades 4–12 will have the opportunity to participate in the CBE Well-Being Student Survey.
The CBE Well-Being Student Survey is an anonymous, voluntary perception survey administered twice during the school year. It is an internally developed and validated tool used in CBE schools to gather student voice and better understand the learning experiences students are having at school.
The information gathered helps schools better understand students’ experiences and identify specific actions to support their well-being and learning. Survey data are also analyzed at the district level to develop a broader understanding of student experiences across CBE and to inform the Board of Trustees.
Parent/guardian consent for student participation in surveys was included in the annual authorization forms due in September. If you have not yet indicated your consent preference, please do so by October 27. If no preference is indicated by this date, consent will be assumed and your child will participate in the survey.
We would like to remind families that there is no school for students on Monday, October 19. McKenzie Lake School will be used as a polling station, and ToppKids will also be closed. As a result, students will not be in the building that day as teachers participate in professional learning.
Halloween at McKenzie Lake School
On Friday, October 30, students are invited to wear costumes to school if they choose. Please ensure that costumes allow students to safely participate in all school activities, including recess and physical education, and allow them to move safely throughout the school. PM Kindergarten are able to dress up on Thursday, October 29, since they do not attend on October 30.
We ask that weapon-like accessories and any other accessories that are not appropriate for school remain at home and be saved for Halloween night.
Students may wear face paint. If a mask is part of a costume, students will be asked to keep it in their backpack during school hours.
Classes may also participate in some fun Halloween activities throughout the day. We are looking forward to celebrating a fun and memorable Halloween together!
As an allergy-aware school, please do not send whole-class treats to share. We have many students with dietary restrictions and allergies, and we do not allow students to share or distribute food at school.
Staying for Lunch
Students are not required to remain at school during the lunch period. However, Grade 1–6 students who stay at school for lunch are required to be registered for the CBE’s noon supervision service.
Students in these grades must be supervised during the lunch period. The noon supervision fees help cover the costs associated with providing this service. For more information, please review Administrative Regulation 3048 – Noon Services and the Education Act.
If you have not yet registered your student for noon supervision, please visit the CBE’s step-by-step registration instructions for assistance.
Sincerely,
Dayna McComish