River Heights Elementary School
February 2020
Please take the time to read through this month's Newsletter and check out the embedded links as well, as there is a lot going on, including a number of recent and upcoming changes, and opportunities for parents to provide feedback for the school and School Division, including:
- the conducting of the provincial Accountability Pillar Survey for parents of students in grades 4, 7 & 10 (as well as all teachers and RH students in grades 4-6).
- the implementation of the SafeArrival program to help make communication of student attendance more convenient for families;
- the introduction of MHPSD On-line Registration and Early childhood program applications, including Kindergarten, Early Learning Program (ELP), Play & Learn Program
- Mini Town Hall Meeting (MHPSD budget consultation with parents) in conjunction with the regular Parent Council Meeting (7:30 pm on Wed, Feb 5th)
Your feedback and support as parents will go a long way towards our on-going quest for providing positive learning experiences and opportunities for student growth. Although we see long-term advantages to these initiatives, we also know that there will likely be some questions and glitches along the way, so please feel free to check the website for more information, or contact the school or MHPSD Central Office if you have any questions or require assistance.
Thanks for your anticipated support and have a fantastic February!
Explore Create Reflect program 2020
Why we do it:
Our Explore, Create, Reflect program is intended to provide our students with four opportunities:
1) to experience our school motto (explore, create, reflect) in a way that is clear, overt, and obvious
2) to further develop critical and creative thinking skills as well as grow in independence and interdependence
3) to meet and build positive relationships with students and staff throughout the school, whom they may not have otherwise encountered
4) to gain knowledge, skills, and understanding in an area of interest, outside the regular curriculum
How it works:
Our teachers each choose an area of interest and design learning experiences which are appropriate for students of all ages. These learning experiences must offer a clear experience of exploring, creating, and reflecting.
Students are told about all of the options available and then share with their classroom teachers their top three choices. Classroom teachers use that information to place students.
The structure of the program is 5 one-hour sessions over two weeks: the explore session, two create sessions, the reflect session, and then a showcase session (where students share with others what they have learned and experienced).
Upcoming February Events
Wed. Feb. 5 -- Explore-Create-REFLECT session (1:45-2:30 pm)
Wed. Feb. 5 -- Mini-Town Hall & Parent Council Meeting (7:30 pm)
- Parents are encouraged to participate in the Budget Consultation process to provide feedback on funding priorities for MHPSD for the coming year(s).
- Parents are welcome to stay for the regular Parent Council Meeting if they wish, but are not required to do so.
Thur. Feb 6 -- Application Day for Early Childhood Programs & On-line Registration
- Kindergarten (K), Early Learning Program (ELP), Play & Learn Program
- Power School Parent Portal
Thur. Feb 6 -- Explore-Create-Reflect SHOWCASE (2:00-3:00 pm)
Fri. Feb 7 -- No School - Staff Meeting and Professional Learning Day for teachers
Thur. Feb 13 -- Come Alive Assembly with Alex Zerbe (courtesy of Parent Council)
Fri. Feb 14. -- Kinsmen Skate-A-Thon
Mon. Feb. 17 -- No School -- Happy Family Day!
Tues. Feb. 18 -- No School
Wed. Feb. 19 -- No School
Thurs. Feb. 20 -- No School -- Teachers’ Convention
Fri. Feb. 21 -- No School -- Teachers’ Convention
*Please check the following calendar links to the River Heights website for updates:
- Monthly Calendar with Daily Events
- 2019-20 at a Glance - Please note that there is No Day in Lieu in May as there has been in the past. We apologize for any possible confusion.
RH Community Book Club
If you think of a book that might be a good read for the River Heights Book Club, please contact Laura Gale
Learning at River Heights
River Heights Elementary School provides an instructional program that enhances the delivery of the Alberta Education Curriculum. We emphasize critical and creative thinking skills within a safe and caring environment. We promote the integration of subject areas using technology as a vehicle. We encourage and facilitate student independence and interdependence.
Our motto describes our shared educational philosophy: "Explore, Create, Reflect”.
1) Student-Centred Integrated Learning (including the use of meaningfully integrated technology)
2) Critical and Creative Thinking Skills
3) Student Independence and Interdependence
4) Safe and Caring Learning Environment
River Heights Elementary provides parents with one option to consider as they make a selection best suited to meet the needs of their child and his/her learning style. By making the deliberate choice to attend River Heights Elementary, both parents and children are demonstrating a commitment to the education philosophy and goals of our school.
Parent Council Information
Our next meeting is Wednesday, February 5th, 2020 at 7:30pm in the staff room (by the
gym). Carolyn Freeman from the school board is joining us for a mini Town Hall meeting regarding the upcoming Medicine Hat Public School Division (MHPSD) budget for 2020-21. Following the Town Hall meeting, we will quickly move through our regular Parent Council meeting. Our Parent Council meetings are a place where information is shared from MHPSD as well as River Heights school admin. We learn first hand what our amazing teachers are doing
in the classroom and we discuss ways we as parents can best support them … with our time and resources. It is also a place where we can connect as parents of our school community. All parents and guardians are welcome!
Thank you so much to Jerri-lynne Worth and Tara Betts for the many hours put into organizing and working the River Heights Casino a few weeks ago! We are also super thankful to each parent volunteer that took time out of their busy schedules over that weekend. It is always a fun time and great way to get to know other parents. The money from the casino massively funds field trips at our school and we are so grateful to receive it.
The Kinsmen Skate-A-Thon is coming up on February 14th. All families should have received an information package to get pledges for their students. The proceeds of this event are shared with the Kinsmen club of Medicine Hat. Our share helps fund various events throughout the year, while the Kinsmen Club uses their funds so support free family skating and swimming, the YMCA, FLC, MHPL Children’s Library and other items. Please send skates and a helmet with your child that day and contact the office if you are able to volunteer to help tie skates and/or skate with classes. [**Note: due to new safety regulations, only volunteers with skates and helmets are able to participate on ice].
Save the date(s) for student Red Cross safety courses for children:
- Stay Safe! Course (9:00-3:30 on Fri, March 20th) $50 for Gr 3-4 students
- Babysitting Course (9:00-3:30 on Sat, March 21st) $50 for Gr 5-6 students
Note to ALL PARENTS: please sign up for our Parent Council Remind App. If you have the app search for @rivheipc and if you do not have the text (587) 409-2952 and put @rivheipc in the message. We will send messages communicating with hot lunch volunteers, calling out for more volunteers, informing of meetings, etc.
Make sure you check out our Facebook Group: RIVER HEIGHTS SCHOOL PARENT COUNCIL
Parent Council Meetings
- Wed. Feb 5th @ 7:30 pm (Mini Town Hall Meeting to start)
- Wed. Mar. 4th @ 7:30 pm
- Wed. Apr. 1st @ 7:30 pm
- Wed. May 6th @ 8:00 pm
- Wed. June 3rd @ 8:00 pm
Hot Lunch Menu
February:
- Thur, Feb 6 - Dairy Queen & Veggies
- Fri, Feb 14 - Pizza 73 & Veggies
- Fri, Feb 28 - Heartwood Cafe & Veggies
- Fri, Mar 6 - Farros Pasta & Veggies
- Fri, Mar 17 - Argos
- Thur, Mar 19 - Pizza 73 & Veggies
- Fri, Mar 27 - Heartwood Cafe
Hot Lunch Information
We are always looking for help! Without volunteers this fundraiser would not be a success. Please connect with a Parent Council member or the school office if you are able to volunteer to serve hot lunch!
All ordering is done online. Follow this link to place your orders:
http://www.schoolcashonline.com/
Reminder, all hot lunch orders are due one week before. No late orders can be accepted.
If your child is absent from school on hot lunch day, we are unable to provide refunds or credits because we have to pay for the food upfront. You can call the school if you would like to pick up your child's order and it will be set aside for you.
Staying Connected
We use this page to share information and love to share our celebrations and little glimpses into our days at school together!
*Please note that there is a River Heights School page and a separate River Heights Parent Council Facebook group page.
Our School website can be found at http://riverheights.mhpsd.ca/
Bring a Child a Smile - Pajama Campaign
Lost & Found
Please remember to add your child's name or initials on the tags of any clothing, jackets, hats, shoes, boots, backpack, etc. It helps us to find the rightful owners and hopefully saves parents money.
CHHS Gr 7 (2020/21) - Information Evening & Open House
Grade 6 feeder school students and their parents/guardians are encouraged to attend the Grade 7 Information Evening/ Open House at Crescent Heights High School on Tuesday, February 25.
The evening will include a brief presentation in the theatre and an Open House that will showcase the various classes, programs, staff, and facilities that exist at CHHS.
Families are welcome to tour the school between 6-8pm.
We will welcome you in the theatre at the following times:
Dr. Ken Sauer, Vincent Massey and Webster Niblock school families - 6:00pm
Elm Street and Connaught School families -7:00pm
All other school students & families-7:00pm
- French Immersion presentation to follow the 7:00pm theatre presentation
Community Resources
Medalta has a new, never before offered class for kids during the February break: https://medalta.org/learning/childrens-programs/
Jessica Knodel
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Medalta in the Historic Clay District
713 Medalta Avenue SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada T1A 3K9
p. 403-529-1070 ext. 103
A Message from Children's Allied Health
Children’s Allied Health (previously CHADS) Behavioural Services would like to share our current programs and services information with you.
Children’s Allied Health, Behavioural Services is a family based, early intervention program designed to support and educate parents and children under the age of 8 with behavioural needs in the home. We would like to share our updated programs and services information with you. Please find the following attached:
- Children’s Programs information - Our children’s programs are designed to support children ages 3 through 7. These are held in Medicine Hat throughout the year, and registration for these programs are ongoing.
- Sleep Seminar schedule (Jan. - Apr. 2020 dates) – Our sleep seminar is held monthly in Medicine Hat and is available by videoconferencing to other Alberta Health Services sites. This information is for parents of children ages 18 months and older.
- Children’s Allied Health Referral Form – Referrals are accepted for children under the age of 8. Parents are welcome to call us directly or referrals can be made through your organization using this form.
Leisa Carney
Therapy Assistant
Children’s Allied Health, Behavioural Services
631 Prospect Drive SW
Medicine Hat, AB T1A 4C2
P: 403-502-8257 F: 403-528-8135
River Heights Elementary
Email: rvrhgts@sd76.ab.ca
Website: http://riverheights.mhpsd.ca
Location: 301 6th Ave SW Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 5T6
Phone: (403) 527-3730
Facebook: facebook.com/RiverHeightsES
Twitter: @RiverHeightsES