September Principal’s Message- Welcome Back to MTS
We were thrilled to see our students again in school. Thank you for your patience and support throughout our entry planning and messaging to you.
We had a smooth and calm return to school. Our school is spotless and sparkling after undergoing a thorough cleaning this summer under the direction of our facility operator, May Reynaldo and her support, Joel Farinas. We are fortunate to work in a building that provides such a bright and healthy environment and that maintains its sense of being new and fresh after almost 15 years. As well, the painting of the school this spring has brightened and enhanced the interior of the school even further.
School organization, enrolment and staffing
We currently have 554 students registered at our school in K-4 including 27 students in our EES (Enhanced Educational Supports) program. Our grade configuration and numbers are:
Five Kindergarten classes; five grade one; five grade 2; five grade 3; three grade 4, and three EES classes.
Mrs. Karen Woodrow, our Assistant Principal, joined our staff last year. She has an extensive teaching and administrative background and is enriching our school with her expertise, background, and friendly and open personality. I have the privilege of working with Ms. Seana Blake (Resource/LL), Mrs. Dawn Penner (grade 4/LL), Mrs. Kerry Pynn (grade 2/LL) and Mrs. Katie Bitz (Kindergarten/LL) as members of the administrative team. Our office team of Tara Robinson and Karen Perry are your first point of contact in the school and provide a welcoming environment for staff, students, parents and guest to the school.
Soft Entry
We will continue the soft entry this year. Doors are opened at 7:50am and locked at 8:00am. During this 10 minute interval, students will be greeted at their entrance door by a teacher in the grade team who will supervise student entry. Please note that there is no teacher supervision on the playground during this entry time. Students are expected to directly enter the school during this 10 minute time interval and go to their classrooms where their teachers will meet them. The bell will ring outside at 8:00am. If your child arrives at school past that time, please have them enter through the front door. We are trying very hard to keep everyone safe. Please make an effort to arrive on time to avoid large numbers entering through the front door in the morning. Use of the front door is only for students who arrive at school after the bell. A reminder that the Hug 'n Go zone is a drop off area for parents and not a parking zone. Please obey the signage at the zone to facilitate all parents who want to use the zone to drop off their children. A reminder that there is no stopping in the bus zone in front of the school. The zone is monitored by the Calgary Police who will be issuing tickets for violation within the zone.
Dismissal
It is also very important to have a designated meeting spot for 2:30pm pick up times Monday – Thursday and 12:00pm on Fridays. All students in grades 1-4 will be dismissed from their exit doors and are to go immediately to the meeting spots that they have identified with their families. Please ensure you have not chosen a meeting place in the school parking lot. Kindergarten is the only age group where teachers will wait for a parent to arrive before dismissing students. All students have been taught in class, that if they get to their meeting spot and there is no one there to pick them up, after waiting a few minutes, they are to come to the office through the front entrance of the school for help. On occasion, we understand that parents may be running late and we ask you to call the school to inform us if that is the case. We appreciate that children are met and or picked up from the school at dismissal time of 2:30pm since we do not have the resources to supervise children for a lengthy time after dismissal in the office or in classrooms where teachers are often involved in after school planning and professional activities.
Communication Methods
Open, continuous communication is of utmost importance throughout the school year. Classroom teachers will use the following methods to communicate learning updates.
- Classroom Blogs – (classroom teachers will provide blog posts every Friday beginning September 5)
- Phone Calls
- In person school meetings at arranged times
Communication from the school administration will include:
- School Website – will highlight events occurring at the school
- Principal Monthly Message on website
- Email, phone calls
- Weekly School Messenger sent to parents on Thursdays
- In person meetings, previously arranged and scheduled with administration
Lunch at MTS
MTS continues to be committed to a litter free lunch. Litter free lunches at school are the best form of recycling and composting. On average, a school-age child with a disposable lunch generates approximately 30 kg of waste per school year. We ask that whatever comes in your child's lunch bag goes home in their lunch bag, including uneaten food, empty containers, and food wrappers. In this way, we will create far less garbage at school, and you will have a much better idea of what your child is finishing or not finishing for lunch. Please remember to provide utensils for your child to use if required, as the school is unable to provide them. As well, a reminder that we do not have the use of microwaves to heat up lunch.
Over the last several weeks there has been considerable information that has been provided to parents both through the CBE and MTS website as well as through School Messenger. The information can be overwhelming to process. If you require clarification, please do not hesitate to call the school and speak to the office staff regarding questions that you may have related to operations within the school. Please address concerns you may have about your child and his/her learning to their classroom teacher through email of phone call. When additional support is required in a situation the administration will be involved.
I hope to see you in the school this month for our Open House on Thursday, September 11, between 4:30 and 6:30. This is an informal event and provides the opportunity for you to meet your child’s teacher, visit their classroom with them and tour the school. No formal appointments are required and teachers will not be reporting on student progress at this time, given that we will have been at school for only two weeks.
Wishing everyone a wonderful September and successful start to the school year!
Sincerely,
Dr. Lorraine Slater
