Rickson Ridge News

May is always an important and active month in the lives of our students.

For all staff, May is still a busy month as teachers are actively involved with the curriculum at each grade level: planning, questioning, evaluating and reinforcing skills and values through the learning process and related assessments. It is especially busy for students in grades 3 and 6, as the annual EQAO testing occurs at the end of this month.

It is also the month of warming weather, with skipping, outside games and sunny days. Many class activities and trips occur this month; Victoria Day is celebrated shortly and our End of the Year Family Fun Night is in planning for 3 June. In addition, as a school we continue our concentrated focus upon ‘being kind and caring students at Rickson Ridge”.

And, of course, June is just around the corner.

Every day is new. As we continue through the year, each and every day our students are learning a little bit more. And we are very proud of their successes.

Gord Heasley

[ View the May 2013 Newsletter ( PDF ) ]

An information meeting for the Sir Isaac Brock PS Grades 7/8 Feasibility Study will be held in the in the gymnasium at Rickson Ridge PS on Thursday, May 2, 2013 from 7 to 9 p.m. This will be an opportunity to learn more about the study, and to provide feedback.

Until May 24, 2013 you can also submit comments through a feedback form on the study’s web page at www.ugdsb.on.ca/sibfs.

Happy spring !!! I wish I could say that we are moving into warmer weather. Doesn’t really feel like it yet !!!

Soon, however, we will see the many spring flowers and plants pushing their way up into the world through the messy grasses, weeds and hard ground. Just as these flowers persevere, I yearly think about our students, their growth, success in life and the skills they need.

According to the Ontario Government’s Skills Passport, which lists skills and work habits for the workplace, students need to have three main groups of essential skills. They are:

• – language – reading, writing, document use, computer use and oral communication
• – numeracy – money math, scheduling or budgeting and accounting, measurement and calculation, data analysis and numerical estimation
• – thinking skills – job task planning and organization, decision making, problem solving and information finding.

Daily, we are preparing our students with these skills. During class time, teachers work hard to maximize time on task to make the instruction valuable. To this end, we continue to stress the importance of good attendance and on time arrival by the 8:45 a.m. start of school. After going early to bed, getting a good sleep and having a good breakfast, we encourage students to ‘rise and shine’ by coming to school daily and on time.

Hoping to see you at School Council Monday, 29 April, at 7:00 p.m......

Gord Heasley

[ View the April 2013 Newsletter ( PDF ) ]

If approved by trustees, board staff will soon begin a study on the feasibility of adding Grades 7 and 8 to the program at Sir Isaac Brock PS. Visit www.ugdsb.on.ca/sibfs to learn more.

On behalf of the whole staff of Rickson Ridge Public School, we hope that you will enjoy a peaceful & refreshing March break.

First Day of March Break: Monday, 11 March, 2013

Students return to school: 18 March, 2013

[ View the March 2013 Newsletter ( PDF ) ]

The second term report cards will go home Tuesday, 5 February, 2013.
I encourage you to sit with your child to share the second term results and celebrate your child’s successes.

Review whether your first term plan of action helped your child address the areas of need indicated in the progress report issued 13 November, 2012.

Look at her or his strengths and use them to help improve their areas of concern. If visual learning is strong, try using visual models of mathematics operations or study by writing details out. If the oral memory is better, try repeating mathematical steps in an operation aloud when studying. All individuals do not learn the same way.

Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions or concerns regarding programming, homework assignments, test results, etc. Be a positive advocate for your child. When parents and teachers work collaboratively, the child makes the best progress. Communicate through the child’s planner or via the telephone. Remember we are always here for you.

Encourage your children to “make every day count” while at school. Continual support from home helps student success and we always need your support.

Sincerely, Gord Heasley

[ View the February 2013 Newsletter ( PDF ) ]

Welcome to another school year as we move into mid January. We look forward to the remainder of the school year with enthusiasm.

[ View the January 2013 Newsletter (pdf) ]