The Grove - Marny Burke - Aug 24

The Grove

AUGUST 30, 2024

THE LATEST NEWS, EVENTS, AND UPDATES FROM NEWTON'S GROVE SCHOOL

IN THIS ISSUE Welcome Back 2024/2025 School Theme New Staff First Day of School Personal Electronic Device Policy Communication Is Key Global Learning Program Nia’s Eats Key Dates

Welcome Back As we gear up for the new school year, I want to extend a warm welcome to all our families, both new and returning. I’m thrilled to have our students back in the building soon and I am looking forward to an exciting year ahead.

For those who may not know me, my name is Marny Burke, and I have the privilege of serving as the Middle School Vice Principal for grades 6-8. I’ve been a proud member of the Newton’s Grove community since 2003, contributing in various capacities, from classroom teaching to leading the Primary-Junior Division, and now I am thrilled to be assuming a new role this year, leading our Middle School students and teachers.

In my time at Newton’s Grove, I’ve come to deeply value the strong sense of community and the supportive culture that define our school. Working alongside Eva Diab, our Whole School Principal, and our dedicated team of teachers, we remain committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment where each student can thrive. Our focus is on encouraging personal growth, both academically and beyond the classroom, to ensure every student feels supported and empowered throughout their journey at Newton’s Grove.

This Year’s School Theme Is: Gratitude This year our school-wide theme is, “Finding Daily Gratitude” in our teaching and learning. We look forward to sharing these moments of gratitude with the community in our weekly editions of, “The Grove”. We ask that you chat with your child about the benefits of practicing gratitude and why it is so important to practice daily.

Welcome to Our New Middle School Staff We are thrilled to welcome several skilled and accomplished teachers to the Middle School Division this year. In the short time they have been with us, they have already shown the warmth, enthusiasm, and dedication that we value so much in our teaching staff. We are excited to see the wonderful contributions they will bring to the Newton’s Grove community!

We look forward to the positive energy and fresh perspectives these educators will bring to our school!

I believe all children can learn and each deserves a chance to grow into the best person that they can be.

Jennifer Cole-Quinn Grade 6 Language and Visual Arts

Whether guiding students through challenging material or fostering a love of learning, I am dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of young learners.

Clara Ballesteros Grade 8 Language & STEM

Jennifer Cole-Quinn is joining our Grade 6 team, where she will be teaching Language and Visual Arts from September to February. At that time, we’ll be welcoming back Adrianna Sutherland (formerly Tallevi-Keller) as she returns from her maternity leave.

The Grade 8 team is excited to have Clara Ballesteros join them, teaching Language and STEM until December, when Marha Jo Lewis will return from her maternity leave.

My love for education and children’s well-being fuels my drive to invest myself 100% in what I do. I believe that each child is unique and possesses innate abilities

I am an educator that takes each student’s learning path very seriously as well, fostering an inclusive classroom, adhering to the individual needs of each student, encouraging them every step of the way.

Shireen Daureeawoo Middle School French

Alexandra Stabins Grade 7 Science, History & Geography

In the French Department, we are delighted to welcome Shireen Daureeawoo to our team.

In Grade 7, we’re pleased to welcome Alexandra Stabins, who will be teaching Science, History, and Geography.

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First Day of School What to Expect Please join us for a fun-filled morning as you drop off your child on the first day of school. We welcome you to enjoy coffee and to connect with others on the basketball court.

When your child arrives, they should visit the appropriate table, designated by grade. There they will be given a sticky tag printed with their name, their teacher’s name, and their homeroom class. They will be directed to their morning entrance point and volunteers will be waiting to escort them to class where their teachers and friends (new and old), will be waiting to greet them.

The first day will be a “Day Zero” and will have an alternate schedule planned which will allow students to spend ample time with their homeroom classes to begin building connections, to understand the “ins and outs” of the Middle School Division, and to co-construct some classroom agreements and expectations, starting the year off on the right foot! Students may come to school dressed in their regular school uniforms. Summer uniform pieces are acceptable.

They do not need to bring gym uniforms.

What to Bring The following item are the basic supplies needed by Middle School students that should be brought on the first day of school: 3 large binders (1½ inch) Subject dividers Lined paper graph paper Pencils and erasers Pencil sharpener Blue and red pens A combination lock (Dudley is highly recommended)

Correction tape Pencil crayons and/or markers Highlighters A ruler A laptop A calculator

Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs) at School As always, but especially at the beginning of the school year, relationship building is key to social-emotional learning and overall well-being. “Personal electronic devices” or “PEDs” can impede a student’s efforts to build new friendships. For this and many other reasons, they are strongly discouraged at school.

Middle School students who bring these devices (e.g., cell phones and smart watches) will be required to place their PEDs in a bin at the start of the day and can retrieve them at 3:30 p.m. Any students needing to purchase lunch must purchase a lunch card or use methods of payment other than their phones to purchase items. Any student needing to call home, may do so through the main office phone.

The above-mentioned expectations are mandatory for all Middle School Students. Those students who disregard these rules may have their PED confiscated and a call made home by the Vice Principal.

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Communication Is Key! Communication is a cornerstone of our partnership with parents. Our commitment is to keep you well informed about your child’s progress, achievements, and any areas of concern that may arise. You can anticipate receiving a welcome letter from your child’s teacher during the first week of school. This letter will comprehensively outline the most pertinent information for the specific class, including timetables, teacher contact information and more. On a regular basis, if you have inquiries or matters of concern, your first point of contact is your child’s teacher. If further assistance is needed, please do not hesitate to contact me at mburke@newtonsgroveschool.com.

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Our school uses the online Learning Management Tool, “Edsby”. If you are new to the school, please watch your inbox during the first week of school as you will receive an email invitation to join the platform. If you have more than one child, you will receive multiple invitations and you will need to accept each one. Edsby serves as a vital communication tool at Newton’s Grove School. Parents and students should check Edsby each day for important school information, permission forms, events, homework, and to message backand-forth with their child’s teacher. Note that parents should always login with their parent account as some communications will only arrive in parent inboxes.

Global Learning Program!

We are excited to unveil our new “Global Learning Program”. This year we will be offering national and international “Global Learning” experiences for the students at Newton’s Grove.

Be sure to click on the link below to read about the experiences available from grades 6 – 12.

To highlight a few Two new excursions for Grade 9-12 are New York City, USA and Machu Picchu, Peru!!!

The Grade 6 students will be heading to Algonquin Park in the spring!!!

Read more about the Global Learning Program

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Nia’s Eats

Who Needs Uber Eats, when we have Nia’s Eats!

At Kat’s Catering, we are committed to providing healthy, delicious meals that fuel our students' minds and bodies throughout the day. Our team has been hard at work curating a diverse menu filled with flavorful, nutritious options tailored to meet a variety of dietary needs. Whether your child follows a vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or halal diet—or has any other dietary preferences—we’ve got you covered. Let us know your needs, and we’ll take care of the rest. This year we’re excited to introduce a new salad/sandwich/bowl bar, where possibilities are endless. A detailed menu will be sent out next week. Also new this year we will be extending our weekly specials to include a soup of the week, a sandwich of the week and a hot table special.

Lunches and Snacks Students can purchase lunches and snacks directly from the cafeteria during their designated nutritional breaks If you prefer to order on behalf of your child, you may do so through the website, katscatering.ca, before 10 a.m. each day.

Birthday Lunches We are delighted to continue the cherished tradition of Birthday Lunches! Make your child’s special day even more memorable by treating their class to a catered lunch. Orders can be placed via text to 647-922-1339. For a full list of options, please see the Birthday Lunch Menu.

As a thank-you for celebrating with us, your child will receive a special birthday loot bag and a festive hat. Please place your orders at least 4 days in advance of the celebration date.

Payment Options We offer several convenient payment options at the cafeteria: cash, credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Your child can also make use of the convenient Kat’s Catering Cafeteria Card. This card can be preloaded for easy purchases both in-person and online. To apply for a Cafeteria Card, simply complete the online Cafeteria Card Application Form. Card balances can be checked online and funds can be reloaded at any time.

Please note that due to school policy, students in grade JK to 8 cannot have their cell phones with them between 8:30am and 3:30pm.

Students in these grades wishing to make purchases at the cafeteria, will need to use either cash or the Kat’s Catering Cafeteria Card.

We are eagerly looking forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting new ones this year. Stay tuned for updates on weekly specials and other exciting news from Kat’s Catering on Edsby.If you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here to make this school year exceptional for everyone.

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key dates tuesday, sep 3rd: 8:15AM-9:15AM first day of school & Coffee on the Court friday, sep 20th fashion friday

Event Icon Legend PARENT & CHILD

PARENTS & GUARDIANS

Casual dress day, a.k.a, “Fashion Friday” (students may wear their choice of clothing; see family handbook for guidelines)

tuesday, sep 24th: 5:30pm - 6:30pm meet the teacher night

STAFF

STAFF & STUDENTS

monday, sep 30th National Truth and Reconciliation Day

ALL

Students are invited to wear an orange shirt in recognition and solidarity with Indigenous Canadians across the country

Marny Burke The year ahead is filled with promise, growth, and countless opportunities for children to shine. Thank you for entrusting us with the privilege of helping to shape your child’s future!

I am looking forward to the year ahead! Until then, please contact me with any questions or suggestions.