Wednesday, 27 August 2014

Gearing up for a great start to the school year!

Greetings to all of our MidSun families!

We are very excited for the start of the 2014-15 school year.  We have a great line-up of staff to support your child's learning.  We have worked with our feeder schools, last year's teachers and administrators to create classes that are balanced for learning needs, sex, academic strengths and complementary subject selections. We are ready for a great year.

Some important information:

-The office is open at 1:00-4:00 PM on Wednesday August 27, 8-4PM on Thursday August 28 and 8-3:30 PM on Friday August 29.  We are welcoming registration of students in grade 7-9 who have moved into Midnapore, Chaparral, Sundance, Walden and Legacy communities over the summer.

-Bus schedules will be available on our website.

-September 2, 2014 is the first day of school.  Grade 7 students only from 9:00-Noon and Grade 8 & 9 students from 1:30-3:30 PM.  Buses that day will only run in the morning and after school so grade 7 students need to find their own way home, grade 8 & 9 students need to find their own way here.

-Please read the student handbook with your child and print, read and sign the forms for the grade your child is in.  They are located on our website by Friday. Teachers will be collecting them on the first day.

-Class schedules, lockers, and information about school programs will be given to students on the first day of school.  A list of school supplies will appear on the course outlines that your child will receive from their teachers at their first class in each subject.  We ask that students bring a pen and paper with them to the first days and have their school supplies by Monday September 8, 2014. Student are welcome to bring their own device to school and use our wireless access in class. The school is not responsible for the safety of these devices.  Please review with your child your expectations around their care.

-If you are going back to school shopping for new school clothes please review our dress code.  Students are asked to make sure they clothes reflect a dress for work approach, with Bermuda style shorts and shirts that have appropriate logos and cover shoulders and/or bellies. We ask that underwear is not visible.  Students need appropriate running shoes for physical education and a gym strip. Gym strips can be ordered on line and sizes are available for viewing outside of our main office this week.

-Prepare your child for the first day of class by discussing how they might handle tough social scenarios.  How will they make new friends?  What will they do if they do not know anyone in their class? How do you work a combination lock?  What will you do if you are not sure where to go? Let them know the first days at a new school can be challenging but they will get better. Many students go through a bit of transition anxiety, they are not alone.

-Establish routines before the first day of school.  Get to bed early, get up in time for school.  Have a spot for homework and use the time they will be doing homework to read.

- Make sure to return to school the demographic sheet and note any changes in your contact information.  It is important that we can contact you!

-Sign up for our blog!

-We appreciate parents who pay their fees on line but ask that you wait until you receive the complete invoice that will come home with your child on the first week of school.

Finally, thank you for entrusting your children's education to us.  We value your support and want to work with yo to build a better world, one student at a time.  See you at Meet the Teacher on September 11 from 6:00-7:30 PM.

Veronica Saretsky