The Grove MB Sept 24

The Grove

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

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

IN THIS ISSUE Fall-ing Into a Great School Year The Advisory Program A Chance to Lead National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Fall-ing Into a Great School Year

Uniforms

As we settle into the new school year, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for your continued support and partnership.

Parent Referral Program Key Dates

The fall is an exciting time as our students dive into their learning and extracurricular activities, and we are thrilled to watch them grow. We are looking forward to our upcoming community-building events this season, as well as two unique leadership opportunities, which will provide students with opportunities to connect and collaborate.

Grade 6 are putting gratitude into daily practice by taking time each day to reflect

The Advisory Program This year, our Advisory Program will focus on building essential social-emotional learning (SEL) skills through the highly regarded Second Step curriculum by the Committee for Children. The program covers key areas such as managing emotions, setting goals, building positive relationships, and making responsible decisions— all critical for the developmental needs of middle school students. SEL is especially important during this time, as it helps students navigate the complexities of adolescence while supporting their mental and emotional well-being.

Students will engage in SEL three times per week, and at least once per month, the entire middle school division will come together for a community-building event, centered on diversity, inclusion, and our school’s theme of gratitude.

During the first week of school, the division united for our first Advisory activity together, a reading of The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi, a story that highlights the importance of names and cultural identity.

Students participated in small group discussions about the significance of a person’s name, sharing personal stories and reflecting on the origins of their own names.

To conclude the activity, they each created a puzzle piece showcasing their name’s significance, which is currently displayed in the Middle School hallway to celebrate the diversity and individuality within our school community. We are grateful for every piece of our Middle School puzzle!

A Chance to Lead We are thrilled to offer students two unique opportunities to make a difference in their Middle School community this year!

STUDENT-LED CLUBS This year, students will have the exciting opportunity to propose and lead their own student-driven clubs, empowering them to take initiative and explore their personal interests.

Student-led clubs are highly valuable because they foster leadership skills, encourage creativity and collaboration, and provide a sense of ownership and pride as students see their ideas come to life.

We will pilot this concept in the fall, and if it proves successful, we plan to open the application process for additional studentled clubs in the winter and spring, allowing for a wide variety of interests to be represented throughout the school year.

Applications for the first session are due by Friday, September 20th, and the application package has been emailed to you.

YOU MAY ACCESS THE APPLICATION BY CLICKING HERE

03 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL ELECTIONS: SEPTEMBER 18TH-OCTOBER 15TH This year, grade 7 and 8 students will have the exciting opportunity to run for Middle School Student Council.

There are nine different roles available, each with its own set of key responsibilities.

Being part of the Student Council offers several benefits: it helps students develop leadership and communication skills, fosters a sense of responsibility and teamwork, and gives them the chance to have a positive impact on their school community. While this leadership experience is fun and fulfilling, it is also a valuable addition to a young student’s resume, whether they’re applying for a part-time job, preparing for future involvement in Senior School Student Council, or participating in other activities both inside and outside of school.

INFORMATION INCLUDING DUE DATES AND REQUREMENTS CAN BE ACCESSED HERE

Recognizing Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation On September 30, Newton’s Grove School will observe Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day honors Indigenous communities across the country and recognizes the painful legacy of Residential Schools, reinforcing the message that “Every Child Matters.” We invite all staff and students to wear orange in a show of solidarity. In preparation for this day, our classrooms have been engaging in meaningful activities. Students have been involved in discussions and activities focused on themes like preserving Indigenous cultures and supporting community healing. On September 30, our school-wide assembly will include moments of reflection, learning, and a commitment to honour the 94 Calls to Action.

We are proud of our community’s compassion and understanding, and we encourage families to continue these important conversations at home as we work together toward reconciliation.

If you are looking for an orange shirt here are three organizations that still have stock and who support Indigenous Communities with 100% of their proceeds.

1. Giant Tiger (online and in-store): “100% of the proceeds from our sales are donated to Indspire, in support of the Learning from the Past Fund. This fund provides bursaries to Indigenous post-secondary students pursuing an education in Indigenous Studies and Languages.” https://www.gianttiger.com/pages/truth-and-reconciliation 2. The Native Canadian Centre of Toronto (online): https://thecedarbasket.com/collections/orange-shirts 3. The Orange Shirt Society (online and instore): This organization links retailers they have partnered with to sell official “Orange Shirt Day” t-shirts. They list easily accessible stores such as Canadian Tire, Mark’s and Aritzia: https://orangeshirtday.org/merchandise/

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A Quick Note About Uniforms We know how active our students are with all the varsity teams and athletic activities happening at school, and we understand they may prefer to stay in their gym clothes.

However, students are only allowed to wear their gym uniforms all day on designated gym days.

On days when they are trying out for teams, they should bring their formal uniforms to change into after tryouts. We appreciate your support in helping us uphold the uniform policy at Newton’s Grove.

Parent Referral Program

Share Your Extraordinary WE INVITE YOU TO SHARE YOUR VERY OWN NEWTON’S GROVE EXTRAORDINARY WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT NEWTON’S GROVE ... ... BECAUSE EXTRAORDINARY SHOULD BE SHARED.

SHAREYOUREXTRAORDINARY.COM

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Event Icon Legend

key dates MONDAY, SEP 30TH Last day for Student Council Application

TUESDAY, OCT 1ST

TUESDAY, OCT 15TH

Winter Uniforms Begin PARENTS & GUARDIANS

FRIDAY, OCT 18TH

#1 Uniform / Blazer Day

Fashion Friday

MONDAY, OCT 7TH

THURSDAY, OCT 31ST

Picture Day (#1 Uniform for all grades)

PARENT & CHILD

Fashion Fri Halloween Dress Up Day / Junior + Middle School Activities day

STAFF

STAFF & STUDENTS

ALL

MONDAY, OCT 9TH & 10TH Middle School Elections

FRIDAY, OCT 11TH Michelle Temple Walkathon

MONDAY, OCT 14TH NO SCHOOL – Thanksgiving Day

Marny Burke As we move through this exciting fall season, I want to once thank you for your ongoing support and involvement. It’s truly inspiring to see our students engaged in their learning and forming strong connections within our school community. With many enriching events and opportunities ahead, I look forward to sharing more of these moments with you. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need further information as the year progresses.

Warm regards.