Author: Lynn Campbell

École J.B. Mitchell School

Newsletter

April 2024

From The Eagle's Nest
Dear J.B. Mitchell Families,
Welcome to Spring! We hope that this newsletter finds you all feeling well rested and rejuvenated after the break! There are many exciting events and activities to celebrate from March and many to look forward to in the month to come! The month of April will most certainly bring renewed energy for everyone as the days get longer and warmer.
We kicked off last month with our school wide “March Into Reading” theme and the students then indulged in a long list of engaging reading activities. The month culminated with a reading themed Spirit Week. It was truly inspiring to watch our school community come together with such a strong sense of pride, all in the spirit of reading. One thing is certain, we definitely have a robust and skilled community of readers at our school!
We would like to welcome Mme Brianne Hebert (bhebert@wsd1.org) to our school as Vice-Principal beginning April 1st. Mme Hebert is coming from a vice-principalship at Meadows West School and she has a variety of experiences in French Immersion in several grade levels. We welcome her to our school and we thank Mme Unrau and Mme Sheikh for their contributions to our school community.
As we embark on our 3rd and final term of school for the 2023/24 school year we find ourselves looking forward to our Spring Concert. SPRING CONCERT- SAVE THE DATE May 9th “Festival of the Arts” will bring together visual and performing arts. Scripts, costumes, and sets are being prepared and soon the stage will be set for a fun-filled evening of entertainment. As with years past, each family will be provided with a letter in April containing 2 tickets (adults) for the evening show. Tickets will be required for entry, this is to ensure we do not exceed the maximum capacity of our gymnasium. Any tickets your family does not require can be returned to the office. Once unneeded tickets have been returned to the office we will then send out information to the community pertaining to the distribution of additional tickets.
Spring showers bring May flowers! The JBM Parent Council is holding its annual plant sale. Plants are available from Glenlea Greenhouses. The excellent quality of the plants made them a huge hit last year. Proceeds from the Plant Sale will be used to fund PAC initiatives such as Family Fun Day and school grounds improvements. More information will be sent to you in the coming days.
Thank you to the many families who attended our Student Led Conferences in March. Your children have worked hard and have grown in so many ways. These conferences were a wonderful way to showcase & celebrate all their efforts and progress. If you were unable to attend, please call your child’s teacher to set up a convenient time to meet.
Class composition meetings will begin shortly. Class lists are compiled with administration, resource, and classroom teachers for the following school year. Please be advised that not all requests can be honoured, despite our best efforts. When making class lists for next year we always consider the following, but not limited to; class size, academic & behavioural balance, social-emotional dynamics, and friendships. If you have a request for your child next year, please email M. Couture directly at mcouture@wsd1.org by May 3rd.
Enjoy the warmer weather and sunshine!
Sincerely,
M. Couture, Mme Hebert,
Principal Vice-Principal

Announcements

Kindergarten Registration
We are now accepting registrations for the Nursery (English Only) and Kindergarten (English or French Immersion) Program for the 2024- 2025 school year. Registration forms are available in our office and at https://www.winnipegsd.ca/jbmitchell/page/2161/school-registration-information. Please note that Grade 1 is also an entry point for the French Immersion Program.
Nursery students must be four years of age by
December 31, 2024 (born in 2020)
Kindergarten students must be five years of age by
December 31, 2024 (born in 2019)
To register your child, the parent/guardian is required to present a copy of the birth certificate, Manitoba health card and proof of address in the form of your most recent property tax assessment or lease agreement. To fully complete the application form, please have the name and phone number of an emergency contact in the event we are unable to contact the parent/guardian.
These can be presented in person or emailed to
jbmitchell@wsd1.org
Registrations will be taken on a first-come, first-serve basis from the students who live within our catchment area. If you are registering your child for kindergarten and live outside our catchment area or school division your application will be numbered. You will be put on a wait list and advised as soon as possible if space is available once all students within our catchment have been registered. Nursery students living outside the division must pay a fee and are only accepted if there is space available.
For more information about our Nursery and Kindergarten programs you can also view our slideshow
https://sbwsdstor.blob.core.windows.net/media/Default/fgg/344/JB%20Mitchell%20Open%20House%202023.pdf

PAC Initiatives

Glenlea Plant Sale

You know spring is right around the corner when the annual Glenlea Greenhouse Plant Fundraiser begins!
Get ready for our online campaign from now until April 15.
Act fast, as these spring goodies sell out quickly!
Place your orders and select 'Ecole J.B. Mitchell PAC' to support us. Plants will be available for pickup on May 22.
1) 2024 Spring Fundraiser Home Page – Glenlea Greenhouses
2) Shop for desired items
3) Go to Cart and select “To support & pickup at a fundraiser group”
4) Use the drop down menu to select ‘Ecole J.B. Mitchell PAC’ before completing your order.
5) Share with friends and family and help support our school!

Movie Night

Due to the success of last year's movie/pizza night, we're planning another one! Stay tuned for details on this fantastic community event.

Family BBQ

June 6:** Save the date! The PAC is cooking up an event filled with food, laughter, and community spirit. More details are on the way.

50/50 Draw

Purchase your tickets 2024 JBM PAC 50/50. Share the excitement with friends and family in Manitoba. The draw is on June 6 at noon, and updates on the pot size are coming your way. Good luck to all participants!
https://www.fundingchange.ca/jbm-pac/ZBPFzngsm2lR1fSD?ref=ZBO-FD2fpWlXF9Zq

Calendar

Lunch Programs

The supervision of students during the lunch hour in all Winnipeg School Division schools is the responsibility of the parent councils or parent run lunch programs. Students that are registered in On the Move and Carpathia Children’s Centre are under their care during the noon hour.
All children, full-time and casual, attending the lunch program at J.B. Mitchell must have a registration form completed in order to attend. These forms are available from our office if you have not completed it as yet.
All students, except those in the two daycares who eat together, will eat lunch with their classmates in various locations in the school. The J.B. Mitchell Parent Council collaborates with all parents to meet the needs of J.B. Mitchell students throughout the school year.
If you need further information, you can reach the J.B. Mitchell Lunch Program by contacting the school or by email at jbmlunchprogram@gmail.com. Please find registration forms and information at the link below:
https://www.winnipegsd.ca/jbmitchell/page/2441/lunch-program

Important Notice About Allergies

A number of students in our school have severe food allergies caused by a variety of allergens, including peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and eggs. Some of these allergies are life threatening and can be triggered by just the smell of certain foods. It is important that we all work together to make sure we provide all our children with a safe learning environment. Each classroom has a sign at the door that indicates the allergens for their room.
Families can help keep all our children safe by following these guidelines:
* Send lunches and healthy snacks for your child that do not contain nuts, fish, or eggs.
* Remind children to NEVER share food.
* Wash hands after snack and lunch.
We ask that you not send snacks for the whole class.

Questions About Your Child's Day At School

Our teachers are using the Seesaw platform to communicate information about your child’s learning and their school day. Seesaw is a safe alternative for everyone handling materials shared between home and school. With the Seesaw App, you can ❤️ and comment on your child’s posts and message the teacher. Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher by phone or email should you need help accessing Seesaw. In the next week, you will be receiving updates about Library Books, Home Reading and Homework expectations. Thank you for your patience as we work through our school and classroom protocols around the safe handling of materials and books shared between home and school.

Stop, Drop, and Go Zone

The City of Winnipeg has designated our STOP DROP GO as a No Parking zone. The Winnipeg Parking Authority has indicated that the STOP DROP GO Zone can be used for pickup and drop off and vehicles can wait momentarily in the Zone providing the driver remains in the driver’s seat. Please be aware that parking and leaving your vehicle in the Stop Drop Go or Bus Loading Zone may result in a Parking ticket issued by the City of Winnipeg.
Please note that children who are brought to school via the “Stop Drop and Go Zone” need to be old enough to independently walk to their line up location at the back of the school. Parents of younger children who need assistance walking to their line-up locations are encouraged to park on neighbouring streets and to escort their child(ren) to the designated lineup location(s).

School Patrols and Adult Crossing Guard

School Patrol Information
We are extremely proud of our dedicated school patrols. Patrols are on duty in the morning at 8:40 - 8:50 a.m., before lunch at 11:55 a.m. - 12:10 p.m., after lunch at 12:40 - 12:55 p.m., and after school at 3:30 - 3:45 p.m. Please ensure your child crosses with the patrols between these hours and that your child respects their guidance.
Adult Crossing Guard Important Information
We will continue to have an Adult Crossing Guard on duty at the corner of Grant Avenue and Lanark Street and Corydon Avenue and Lanark Street at the following times:
8:30 – 9:00 a.m. 11:55 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. 12:40 – 12:55 p.m. 3:30 - 4:00 p.m.

Safe Arrival Program

At Winnipeg School Division, one of our greatest priorities is ensuring students arrive safely at school each day.
We use the SafeArrival absence reporting system. This system reduces the time it takes to verify student attendance, makes it easy for you to report your child’s absence, and easy for staff to respond to unexplained absences.
With SafeArrival, you are asked to report your child’s absence in advance using any of these 4 convenient methods:
Using your mobile device, download and install the SchoolMessenger app from the App Store or the Google Play Store (or from the links at https://go.schoolmessenger.ca). The first time you use the app, select Sign Up to create an account. Select Attendance then Report an Absence. When searching on the App Store, type “School Messenger” and select the Blue App.
Use the SafeArrival website, https://go.schoolmessenger.ca. The first time you use the website, select Sign Up to create your account. Select Attendance then Report an Absence. When you go online, make sure you are on the Canadian website (ending in .ca). If you are on the U.S. website (ending in .com), you will not be able to access the school account.. Or call the toll-free number 1-855-278-4513 to report an absence using the automated phone system. Please make sure you go online and set up a PIN. Please keep this PIN private.
If you are unable to use any of the first three options, feel free to call the school at 204-488-4517 to report an absence to the school office directly.The first 3 options are available 24 hours/day, 7 days a week. Future absences can be reported at any time.The 4th option is only available during school office hours, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please report absences in advance using SafeArrival instead of sending notes or calling/emailing the school. Staff will being using the SafeArrival notifications to let you know if your student is absent (when you haven’t reported the absence in advance). Please do not email teachers or put notes in agendas to notify the school of an absence. You must either report the absence on the SchoolMessenger App or the school office directly. If you do not report the absence on SchoolMessenger or the school office directly, you will receive notifications of your child’s absence. If your child will be late, please report it on SchoolMessenger as a “Late Arrival”. As this is a safety issue, your child will remain marked absent and you will receive notifications until that child arrives at school and checks in at the office. If you have children attending other schools, please continue to report absences using the existing procedures for those schools.If you have not consented to Electronic Notifications and Emails at the school, or if your email on file at the school is incorrect, you will not be able to access the SchoolMessenger App or the SchoolMessenger website. Please contact the school office to make changes to your email on file.

Parent Advisory Council

What is the Parent Advisory Council (PAC)?
For those who don’t know, the PAC is the collective voice of parents in our school that meet to discuss matters affecting our school and the education of our children. We have an opportunity to voice opinions and concerns, ask questions regarding what’s happening in our school, and discuss ideas that can help our teachers, staff, students and community. It’s an excellent way to meet other parents and help facilitate special events or fundraise for our school community. We will be hosting our sixth PAC meeting of the 2023-24 school year in-person, Tuesday, March 5th at 6:00 p.m. where everyone is welcome.
Lunch Program
The start-up of the Lunch Program has been a great success. A few reminders that we would like everyone to be aware of to help continue to keep our program as safe and healthy as possible:
There will be frequent hand washing and sanitizing.
Microwaves are available to warm up lunches.
If you have question or concerns, please email Nancy at jbmlunchprogram@gmail.com or leave a message with the school and your call will be returned. Volunteer Opportunities: At École JB Mitchell, we are very fortunate to have a school community that is involved and supportive of PAC initiatives. Please consider sharing your time, experience and voice to better our school community. If you would like information on any of our PAC vacancies, please email your PAC at
jbmitchellpac@gmail.com. SAVE THE DATES: JB Mitchell PAC Meeting; Tuesday, April 2nd· 6:00 pm

École J.B. Mitchell School
1720 John Brebeuf Place Visit us on the web at
Winnipeg, MB, R3N 0M1 https://www.winnipegsd..ca/jbmitchell
204-488-4517
jbmitchell@wsd1.org

We will once again be having the Scholastic Book Fair this spring.
The Book Fair will be held in the library from March 11-15th.
During the day on March 12 and 13th students will have the opportunity to tour through the library to view all of the items that are available for sale. Students are not permitted to make purchases during this time.
The Book Fair will also be open during Tri-Conferences Thursday evening, March 14th, and Friday morning, March 15th. Parents can join their children to purchase items during this time. Purchases can be made using cash, debit, or credit cards.
If you want to purchase an item from the Book Fair and we have run out of copies, your order will arrive within 1-2 weeks and will be given to your child during school time.
During the Book Fair you will also notice wish lists posted around the library. These are lists of books that teachers want for their classrooms. Families can “Grant Wishes” by purchasing these books for that classroom. Just let the cashier know you are granting a wish when you make your purchase.
If you have any questions about the Book Fair please email the main school email address jbmitchell@wsd1.org