Monday, January 25, 2010

Dear Parents/Guardians:

As noted in our last BLT Newsletter and as indicated in Halifax Regional School Board media communications, the month of February is student registration month. This is the time of year we identify students who will be starting school for the first time in September 2010, the number of students who will be transitioning to the next grade level and the number of students who will be moving on to the next level of school, such as middle school (junior high) and senior high school. This is an important process in that the enrolment figures we pass on to Central Office in early March will determine the number of teachers assigned to École Beechville-Lakeside-Timberlea School, the level of support services we will receive and our class configuration for 2010-2011.

Registration of students who will be eligible to start school in September 2010 will occur from February 1 to March 1, 2010. Parents/guardians who have children eligible to start school are asked to drop by the school (P-2 building) to complete a student registration form and pick up some important information. The last date to do this is March 1, 2010.

Parents and guardians are reminded that in order to be eligible to register your child for school and start school in September 2010, your son/daughter must be five (5) years of age on or before December 31, 2010.

In addition, parents/guardians must present the following information at the time of registration:

Students cannot be registered without providing this information.

It is critical that during the registration process we identify students who have special needs and will require additional supports. The support services our school is allocated is based on the information we pass along to Central Office in early March. If you have a child who has special needs, please let us know when you register or contact us in advance (876-3236) so we can set up a time to meet with you to review the specific physical and/or learning needs of your child.

École-Beechville-Lakeside-Timberlea School is a dual track school, meaning that we offer programming in both English and French. Instruction in French is offered through the Early French Immersion program which starts at the Grade Primary level. Parents have a choice as to which program they wish to register their child in.

To support parents/guardians in making decisions as to which program to register their child in, we will be hosting a French Immersion Program evening information session for parents and guardians. This session will provide a program overview and will help guide parents/guardians in making a decision. This evening information session is scheduled for:

Wednesday, February 10

6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

P-2 Building Cafeteria

In addition to the meeting noted above, there will be a general information session for all parents/guardians of new Primary students, including French Immersion. This evening session will provide an overview of the Primary program and information pertaining to the school. Parents/guardians will have an opportunity to meet school administration, Primary teachers, specialist teachers and the Public Health nurse. This evening session (parents/guardians only) is scheduled for:

Wednesday, May 19

6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

P-2 Building Gymnasium

An orientation session will be provided for our new Primary students. Students will be invited to spend part of a day in a Primary classroom. This will provide some opportunity for students to become familiar with the classroom setting, our school and some of our staff. This is for students only. Parents are asked to drop off their child for this short period of time and pick them up afterwards. Orientation for students is scheduled for:

Friday, June 4

12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

P-2 Building

We will conduct our Public Health vision screening on the same day as the orientation for new Primary students – Friday June 4. Public Health nurses will be on hand from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (except for 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. when students are taking part in the orientation). Parents/guardians will book a 15-minute time slot for this when they register their child.

We have scheduled the Orientation day for students and the Health Vision Screening on the same day in recognition that many will have to take time from work and/or make alternate arrangements.

For our Primary students, the school will take care of ordering school supplies that students will need for the entire year. This eliminates the need for parents to purchase school supplies in August. We will be collecting $30 per student (cash or cheque). This is payable at the time of registration in February.

February 1 – March 1 Parents/guardians drop by the school to register their child

Wednesday, February 10 Parent French Immersion Evening Information Session

6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

P-2 Building Cafeteria

Wednesday, May 19 Primary Parent Information Night

6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

P-2 Gym

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Orientation for Primary Students

8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Vision Screening

1:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Vision Screening

Our Grade 5 students will be moving on to Ridgecliff Middle School. A 2010-2011 HRSB Student Registration Form will be sent home to parents/guardians of our grade five students February 1.

We ask that these be completed and returned no later than Friday, February 5. There will be an Orientation session for students in the spring, exact date and time TBA.

While we are able to send this notice home to you, we recognize that many new students may not have older siblings in the school. We ask that you pass this information on to other parents, relatives, neighbours and friends in this situation and ask that they contact the school directly regarding student registration. Thanks for your assistance with this.

Should you have any questions or concerns please contact the school’s main office at 876–3236.

Sincerely

Principal

École Beechville-Lakeside-Timberlea School