What a Great Week!

Dear GAA Community,

Welcoming back all the students this week is what we have been waiting and preparing for over the last few weeks. It was so wonderful to see so many familiar smiling faces along with a number of new faces that are joining our learning community this Fall. There are a few things that I would like to remind families about how they can both support, and be engaged with, this year’s learning.

Student Handbook

This week your child brought home a handbook outlining everything you need to know as a parent at GAA. The last page has a space that you can sign to show your understanding of our policies and procedures.

It is important that you return this signed page with your child by Thursday, September 12.

Parent Communication

Teachers will be communicating with parents through the email addresses families have provided. If you have not yet received an email from your child’s homeroom teacher, please contact the school as your email address might not be correct in our system. This is very important so that families can stay informed about important information.

Back to School Night

I look forward to seeing everyone on September 17th from 5:30 to 7:00 when families have an opportunity to learn more about the coming school year from the teachers. You will be receiving more detailed information next week on what to expect that evening.

Lunches

This year, all students from KG1 to Grade 5 will eat lunch in their classrooms and should either have a packed lunch or have one ordered on the Slices catering site. If your child prefers to have a hot lunch from home, we suggest purchasing a thermos. From experience, I know that a hot meal prepared in the morning can remain so until lunch time.

We shifted the upper grades away from the cafeteria as we found that students were spending a lot of time transitioning between classes, the cafeteria and the playground/field. By eating in the classroom, we are able to allow the students to have more time learning.

Morning Drop-off & Afternoon Pick-up

To those parents who drop their Grades 1- 12 children off at school in the morning, we ask that you use the back gate if possible. It allows our large population of smaller KG students to use the front gates- and it is not as busy in the back.

Also, encouraging your children to carry their own backpacks into school is a great way for them to practice the skills of being independent and responsible for their own belongings.

If you are collecting your children at the end of the day, we also thank you for waiting outside of the classroom corridors as teachers are wrapping up the day’s learning and large groups of families right outside the classroom door can be very distracting.

Dress Code

Please be aware of the school’s dress code and ensure that your children are following it appropriately (ties and collared shirts on non-PE days, black shoes, navy blue sweaters without busy logos, and the other items of the GAA school uniform).

Community Shares

Throughout the year, your child’s homeroom class will have an opportunity to share some of their learning in a short assembly-like gathering in our Auditorium on Wednesdays mornings for KG and Thursday mornings for Grades 1-5. Your child’s teacher will share the date as it gets closer.

With thanks,

Mike Hopaluk

Elementary Principal

email: esprincipal_gaa@gemsedu.com

Since it is the first week of school, we are all transitioning into new patterns and routines. A good night’s sleep is a vital factor that has huge impacts on your child’s learning and success at school. I would like to share some points from some of the latest psychological studies on the impact of sleep:

• For small children, their bodies and brains go through so much growth and regeneration when asleep that it is essential for them to have 10 to 12 hours per night.
• Studies have shown that ’students who had more regular sleep patterns had better average school grades’ (Study International). Emphasizing our children’s need for regular routines that support consistent bedtimes.
• Students with irregular sleep patterns take up to 2 ½ hours longer to fall into deep sleep than students with regular sleeping patterns. So while the number of hours of sleep is important, the quality of sleep is also important.
• The idea of catching up on sleep is a myth. A late night throws off your body’s sleeping rhythm (circadian clock) and sleeping longer to catch up may actually keep you from getting back to your normal sleep rhythm. Getting back to a regular sleeping rhythm is more important than trying to balance late nights with ‘catch up’ nights with more hours of sleep.

We all want our children to start the school year well and be successful. The surprising thing is that some of the most impactful ways to help our children in the classroom happens on their pillow at night. I wish you all a great start to the school year and look forward to talking to you soon.

Sincerely,

John OʼNeill

Elementary Vice Principal

email: esugvprincipal_gaa@gemsedu.com

Attention all 3^rd through 5^th grade families!

The Elementary musical will be during first semester this year and it will be Madagascar Jr. Auditions will be Sunday-Thursday from 15:00 to 16:00 on September 8-12 in room 165 and you can sign up with Ms. Pugh or Ms. Caitlin during class.

Rehearsals are three times a week Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday and the performances will be January 28^th and 29^th. Please make sure you can commit to these times.

For the audition the student should have one song ready to perform for us to hear their voices and we will prepare a script for them to read from. Be a risk-taker and come try out!

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