Belfast Parent Update:
Important Dates
- March 21 – Conferences, 4:00 – 8:00; last day of classes
- March 22 – No school; Conferences, 8:30 – 12:00; Mrs. Davidoff’s last full-time day
- March 25 – April 1 – Spring Break
- April 2 – Classes Resume; Ms. Evans returns
Dear Belfast Families,
We had a busy and exciting week with our Passion for Glass residency. Each student was able to create an art piece based on curricular topics; from sky science to plants, and identity to community, students conveyed their understanding through art. Students will be bringing home their glass pieces in a few weeks. Check out our Instagram for a sneak peek!
Special events like Passion for Glass could not happen without our Belfast School Fundraising Society and the School Council. The Council helps to determine our initiatives, and the fundraising society provides the funds to make them happen. Belfast School is a special place to learn and grow – and a big reason for that is all of the little extras we get through Council and the Society. We encourage all parents to attend meetings to have a voice in what is happening at the school, and to learn more about how to support Belfast students. We thank everyone involved in Council and the Society and all of you who have donated to their initiative this year.
We encourage all our families to follow our school’s Instagram account (@BelfastSchoolcbe) and visit our school website to see pictures from the week.
Ms. Evans & Ms. Davidoff
We are so pleased to announce that Ms. Evans will be returning on April 2, after Spring Break. We are happy to have her back at Belfast! Ms. Davidoff’s final full week of work will be March 22, but the great news is that she is going to continue to work with us roughly one day per week. We have loved having Ms. Davidoff here and are happy that she can stay a bit longer to support Ms. Evan’s transition back.
Conference Bookings Open TODAY at 4:00
We will have school conferences next Thursday, 4:00-8:00 and next Friday, from 8:30-12:00. To book your 15 minute in-person timeslot, you will go through your myCBE account. Please note that the booking closes next Thursday at 9:00 AM.
You will need to sign into your PowerSchool account to access the conference system. Please see this link for instructions. If you are having log in issues, please visit the Parent Account Help Line
Flipping Eating/Playing for Grade 1 and 2/3 Lunch & Kindergarten Play Time
Starting the first day back after the break, our Grade 1s and 2/3 classes will eat first, then go out to play at lunch. The lunchtime will remain the same (11:45-12:30), but for various reasons, we are switching the order of eating and playing. The good news for kindergarten students and families is that the playground will be accessible for play after kinder pick up until 12:05.
ARF Fundraiser Begins After the Break
The Grade 5/6 Leadership Club is running a fundraiser for the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF), starting April 8. Stay tuned for more information about items we are accepting and how you can help!
Online Speech Language Pathologist Sessions – Free for K-2 Families
Families of K-2 students are invited to join CBE’s Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) in a live, online, two-part series focusing on building foundational skills for reading, vocabulary, grammar and sounds. To register for this free program, please click here
Reminder: Ramadan is Here – Supporting our Fasting Staff and Students During this Holy Time
The holy month of Ramadan is here and we want to reassure our Muslim families that their children will be supported as they fast at school. During Ramadan, some of our students and staff will be fasting from dawn until dusk. When the fast is broken after dusk, there will be eating, drinking, and prayer. We know some students stay up late to break fast, and get up early to eat, so we are aware some students may be tired. Some of the ways we support our Belfast students during fasting are:
- Sharing information about Ramadan with all classes
- Letting the child lead: encouraging them to let us know how they are feeling
- Providing prayer space between 1:45 – 2:00 PM. Please email your child’s teacher if your child will be praying
- Reminding fasting students that during PE, they can ask for breaks and let the teacher know if/when they need to stop and rest
- Giving students the option of going into the kindergarten room during the eating portion of lunch so they are not around food
Reminder: Volunteers Needed – No Clearance Needed for this Job!
Do you like organizing? Do you like being warm? Well, we have the job for you! Our basement is warm, full of cool things, and is in need of some organizing help, particularly with all of our kindergarten toys and centres. If you are interested in spending a few hours helping out, please sign up here
Reminder: Kindergarten Registration is Ongoing
Kindergarten registration opened January 15 online through MyCBE/School Engage.. Registration is ongoing, but from a school perspective, the sooner, the better. The earlier we know our projected numbers for next year, the better we can plan. If you have questions about the registration process, please call Kari in the office!
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out if you have anything you would like to share.
Have a great weekend,
Meagan Lundgren
Principal
Belfast School