Newsletter #1 – September 2022

Dear Parents and Guardians:

I am happy to report that the first days of our school year have gone very well. In visiting the classes, I have been impressed with the eagerness to learn and in the positive learning environments our teachers and support staff have been able to establish in such a short time.

Thank you for your cooperation with transportation, drop-off, pick-up and all other procedures we have asked you to follow. Your help has been invaluable in ensuring a smooth start to 2022-2023!

I look forward to getting to see our returning parents and guardians, as well as those who are new to Lord Aylmer. I invite you to become involved in the school and in your child’s learning as much as possible through our Home and School Committee, governing board, other volunteer opportunities and our events. Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teachers, Vice-principal Horner or me should you have any questions, concerns or suggestions that impact your child’s educational experience or that of others.

Please read below for important news items and reminders for September.

– Eldon Keon

MAZZOLA HOT LUNCHES

For parents/guardians who would like to learn more about the menu and how to order hot lunches for their children from Monday to Thursday, please access the following link: https://lordaylmer.westernquebec.ca/mazzola-hot-lunches/

Orders do not have to be placed for all four days. Also, the order can be placed on the same day for an additional charge. Mazzola orders will start on September 6, 2022.

STUDENT RECOGNITION ASSEMBLY

We will hold our Student Recognition Assemblies (virtually for now) at the end of every month to recognize students who have best demonstrated our Lord Aylmer values. “Respect” is the value we are promoting throughout September. We are very proud of our students and appreciate their efforts in living our values.

VIRTUAL MEET THE TEACHER – OPEN HOUSE

Our Meet the Teacher Open House will take place virtually on Thursday, September 15th . Teachers will host a virtual Open House using Microsoft TEAMS. Senior campus classes will start their meetings at 6:00 PM and junior campus classes at 7:15 PM. During the meeting, your child’s homeroom teacher will provide you with a Parent Syllabus. This document will include a breakdown of what will be taught, how students will be evaluated throughout the year as well as the names of all teachers working with your child’s class. Class expectations and other pertinent information will be shared during the virtual open house meeting. Teachers will not be able to answer questions about the progress of individual children. If you wish to meet to discuss specific needs or concerns regarding your child, please schedule in a time with the teacher to discuss these. You will receive an invitation for the open house meeting before the day of the meeting.

ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR PARENTS

Elections for Parent Representatives to Governing Board – Outdoor Meeting

On Wednesday, September 21st at 6:30 p.m., parents will be invited to our parent assembly in the gymnasium at the senior campus to elect their representatives to the school’s governing board from among the parents in attendance. The Governing Board is comprised of parents, teachers, support staff, the principal and community representatives. Parent members serve for two consecutive years. The purpose of the Governing Board is to make decisions about the aims and objectives for the school and to monitor how these are being achieved. This includes voting on policies and overseeing the implementation of the Educational Project, fundraisers, Code of Conduct, budget, school fees, school trips and other important items. Meetings usually take place one evening per month. If you are interested in becoming part of this organization, please ensure that you attend the Annual General Assembly. All parents present will be able to nominate themselves or another parent who is present, and then vote for the candidates of their choice to fill the vacant positions that are up for election this year.

Elections for Representatives to Parent Committee

Once governing board parent representatives are elected, one of the parents (on governing board) will also be elected to represent Lord Aylmer on the school board’s Parent Committee. An alternate will also be elected.

Parent Participatory Organization

Any parents who are interested in forming a Parent Participatory Organization are invited to submit their names during the meeting. The PPO acts as a consultative body and can help the school through fund raising activities and school events.

Special Education Advisory Committee

Parents who wish to take part in the school board’s Special Education Advisory Committee (S.E.A.C.) will also have an opportunity to submit their names for consideration. Interested parents must have a child with an Individual Education Plan (I.E.P.). Selection of parents for this committee will be made later by the school board’s Parent Committee. If you are interested in submitting your name for SEAC and cannot attend the Annual General Meeting, you can also do so by contacting the principal.

Home and School Committee

Finally, after the AGA, the president of our Home and School committee will be on hand to explain all of the wonderful things this committee does to support the school. She will take names of anyone interested in joining the Home and School team. Our Home and School is extremely active and contributes greatly to many of the school’s projects. It also plans and runs many events for our students and school community throughout the year.

TERRY FOX WALK & RUN

Our annual Terry Fox Walk & Run will take place on Friday, September 23rd this year! An information letter will be sent home shortly in order to begin fundraising for this important cause – finding treatments and cures for cancer. Parents and students are encouraged to discuss the values that Terry Fox inspired with his Marathon of Hope and to do our best to keep his dream alive!

ALLERGIES

Please note that we have several people with severe allergies at the school. Exposure to these foods either by eating them, touching them, or touching a contaminated surface, can result in a serious life-threatening reaction for certain individuals. As such, we ask that all lunches sent to school be nut-free. Some classes may have other food allergies of which you will have been made aware already. We also do not permit any food to be brought into the school by students or parents for birthdays or other special celebrations for safety reasons. We thank you for your understanding.

HEALTH AND CONSENT FORMS

If you have not yet returned your health form and consent form, please do so as soon as possible. If for any reason you need another copy of either, please contact the office at either campus and we will be happy to send it home with your child.

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS FOR PARENTS-WEBSITE

Lord Aylmer’s contains important documents for parents and students. Please access them through the following link : https://lordaylmer.westernquebec.ca/

Standards and Procedures for Evaluation and Reporting: While the Parent Syllabus document is prepared by each teacher and is specific to each classroom, a more general document explaining the types of evaluations and reporting methods throughout the school is being prepared for you as well.

Curriculum Documents: The Quebec Education Program, Progression of Learning, and Framework for the Evaluation of Learning in Quebec are the official curriculum guides for educators across Quebec.

Lord Aylmer Code of Conduct: Another document you can access on the site is the Lord Aylmer Code of Conduct, which outlines school rules, expectations and possible consequences.

MORNING DROP-OFF AND END-OF-DAY PICK UP

We would like to thank all of our parents/guardians for their cooperation in ensuring smooth and safe drop offs and pick ups in the first week of school. As bus routes get sorted out and arrival times at bus stops (and at the school) continue to stabilize, wait times for parents will be minimized. We appreciate your patience very much!

PRINCIPAL’S CIVICS LESSONS

Every year, principals across Quebec present the school’s rules to the students in September. Mr. Keon will conduct the sessions with the classes in the month of September.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLANS

The school is conducting fire evacuation drills and lock down drills in the first weeks of school. The discussion with students about the lock down (in case of a threat on premises) is approached in an age-appropriate manner with our students. The drills for lock downs are conducted in a sensitive and calm manner and announced ahead of time. Our approach was developed with the Sureté du Québec police and approved by the Gatineau Police. You may wish to discuss the matter with your child ahead of time.

PD DAY AND DAYCARE

September 16th is a PD day and the daycare will be open. Our daycare closes at 5:00 p.m. on this day. If you wish to have your child enrolled to the daycare on that day, please ensure you have registered with the daycare services ahead of time. For more information, please contact Julie Belisle at jbelisle@wqsb.qc.ca

Junior campus morning daycare drop off is between 7:00-7:40 a.m. After 7:40 please go to regular drop off.

Senior campus morning daycare drop off is between 7:00-7:45 a.m. After 7:45 please go to regular drop off.

Please call daycare at 819-684-1494 for any changes in your child’s daycare schedule (change of days, withdraw from daycare etc.…) A two-week notice is required.

SCHOOL FEES

School fees will be invoiced later in the Fall. Parents will be advised by Remind when statements of account and procedures for processing payments are available on the Parent Mozaik Portal.

MOZAIK PARENT PORTAL

If you have not yet set up your parent portal account and need assistance, please contact Corinna Abraham at the Sr. Campus at cabraham@wqsb.qc.ca. It is necessary to access the parent portal to view your child’s Statement of Accounts, Written Communication (October 7), Report Cards and Re-registration.

STUDENT ABSENCES

Please don’t forget to call the school if your child will be absent or late. When leaving a message please include the date and the reason for your child’s absence. If you wish to make any changes to your child’s after-school routines, you must contact the office and the daycare before 2:00 pm. Messages left after 2:00 may not be heard until after dismissal.

Jr. Campus: 819.684.4888

Sr. Campus: 819.684.6801

Daycare: 819.684.1494

ORANGE SHIRT DAY

On Friday, September 30th, people across the country will observe Orange Shirt Day. Children will learn about the significance of the orange shirt and learn about the impacts of residential schools and on ways we can each contribute toward Truth and Reconciliation.

MESSAGE FROM OUR AMAZING HOME & SCHOOL

Our Lord Aylmer Home & School is welcoming new members. Families may visit our website at lordaylmerhs.ca or Like our Facebook page @lordaylmerhs to learn about our organization. All are welcome!

Take note! The Pizza & sub shops will be open soon!!! Our first Pizza Day will be Friday October 7th and Wednesday, October 12th will be the first Subway Day. (Pizza days and Subway days will generally take place on Fridays except on weeks in which Friday is a PD day.)

Access the Home and School website to learn about ordering as there is a deadline: lordaylmerhs.ca

Do you want to make a difference at Lord Aylmer? If so, join us for our first Home & School meeting of the school year on Tuesday, September 13th at 6:30 PM in the staff room at the senior campus. All are invited to find out about our Home & School, meet our Executive Committee and join our team!

Home and School includes voting and non-voting members. To be a voting member, which includes votes on how raised funds are spent, there is a $25 membership fee. There is no fee for non-voting members.

Make sure to visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LordAylmerHS