Thursday 24 October 2013

October 24, 2013


HAWTHORNE'S HAUNTED HOUSE

Mrs. Robinson's class is currently hard at work setting up the 2013 edition of Hawthorne's Haunted House.  Class will be touring through the "House" during the day on Thursday, October 31st.  There will also be an opportunity for parents or former students to tour through from 3-3:30pm on that same day.  This is a fundraiser for our grade 7 class and a $1-$2 donation is suggested.  It should be scarrrrry kids:)

COSTUME SAFETY FOR HALLOWEEN

Our student council will be hosting a "Halloween Spirit" day on October 31st and we are encouraging all of our staff and students to participate by wearing a costume.  Prizes will be drawn for some lucky participants.   We are looking forward to what should be a fun day.

Coming up with a creative disguise doesn't mean that safety needs to be forgotten, so here are some safety tips to keep in mind.
  • PLEASE NOTE THAT TOY /  REPLICA WEAPONS ARE NOT PERMITTED AT HAWTHORNE
  • October 31 can be a chilly night so make sure that costumes are loose enough to be worn over warm clothing but not so baggy or long that trick or treaters can trip over their costumes.
  • Trick-or-treaters should wear sturdy walking shoes.
  • Choose brightly-coloured costumes that will be clearly visible to motorists. For greater visibility, add or incorporate reflective tape into the costume.
  • Make-up and face paint are better than wearing masks which can restrict breathing and/or vision. If you choose to use a mask make sure it is one that allows the child to see and breathe easily.
  • Swords, knives and similar accessories should be made of soft, flexible material.
  • Look for costumes, beards and wigs labelled "Flame-Resistant" -- nylon or heavyweight polyester costumes are best. Flame Resistant does not mean 'fire proof'. Avoid costumes with baggy sleeves or flowing skirts to minimize the risk of contact with candles and other fire sources. Costumes made of flimsy materials have been found to burn more quickly when exposed to fire sources.
Think twice before changing the colour of your eyes with cosmetic contact lenses. These cosmetic lenses should be used only under the supervision of an eye-care professional. In addition, wear time should be limited to the shortest duration possible. The lenses must never be worn while asleep, and cosmetic contact lenses should not be shared with others. 

COLDER WEATHER

During the past two weeks of fog we have seen the temperature dropping steadily.  As the weather takes a turn for the worse, we are asking parents to ensure that our students are coming to school with clothing that is appropriate for the conditions.  As well,  it would be helpful if your child had a change of clothes left at the school to account for those occasions when they might get wet or muddy from outdoor play.  Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Over the last two weeks our students and staff have been engaged in some emergency planning.  We participated in the "Shakeout B.C." initiative last week and hosted our own earthquake drill.   The drill consisted of an initial "duck, cover, hold" response followed by an evacuation, building assessment, search and then rescue.  On Monday of this week, we were engaged in "code yellow" lockout drill.  Our police liaison officer,  Cst. Doolan, was on site to oversee our efforts which involved securing/locking the school and each individual classroom.  We also worked through our communication plan with staff providing updates from their classroom via an email conference.    

Both drills have left us all feeling better prepared for an emergency.  If you should have any questions or concerns with regard to our emergency planning, please contact Mr. Carruthers at the office (mcarruthers@deltasd.bc.ca).

IMPORTANT DATES

Friday,  October 25th
Professional Day
School Closed

Wednesday,  October 30th
PAC Meeting
Library  6:30pm

Thursday, October 31st
Halloween Spirit Day

Friday, November 1st
Monthly Assembly
Gymnasium 11am

Friday, Nov. 8th
Walk to School Day
Remembrance Day Assembly
Gymnasium 11am

Monday, Nov. 11th
Remembrance Day
School Closed