Welcome back everyone!! As I sit here thinking back to the last couple weeks, our first few weeks of this year, I’m amazed that so many things have already taken place this school year! This fall was our first year in a long time to have students return to school after the Labour Day long weekend. I hope each of the Hanley School families enjoyed the longer summer break. Teachers and support staff were in the school and around the division taking part in some meetings and professional development opportunities in the last week of August, getting ready for another great year of teaching our students.
I want to welcome back Mrs. Burgess who was away part of last year on a medical leave. It’s good to see you back in the halls! Mrs. Burgess is here for shortened days in September and October, so we also welcome Mrs. Harder for accepting the other part of those days for the fall. Great to have you here as well, Mrs. Harder! Also, welcome to Miss Martineau, teaching in the grade 2/3 room this fall and helping coach Senior Girls Volleyball! We welcome Mrs. Pozniak, formerly known as Miss Rancourt, and congratulate her on her recent wedding this fall! A summer order of tables went AWOL this fall, and the grade 4/5 room has been doing a wonderful job making due in the arts ed room – thanks everyone! I’d like to also welcome two interns we have in the school this fall – Mr. Howie and Mr. Bartsch, both with Physics and Math backgrounds, and working with Mrs. Prakash and Mr. Herman. Hanley School will also have a couple education students from the U of S every other Friday this year as we give them a chance to work and experience various classes in a school setting. We also welcome Mrs. Ashdown to our support staff as an EA in the mornings, and two new bus drivers, Mr. Drever and Mrs. Mooney, meeting those smiling sleepy faces for the morning ride to school. Welcome everyone to another wonderful year at Hanley Composite School.
Hanley School will be on NUT ALERT again this year as we have three students with serious allergies and peanuts and nut products are some triggers of those allergies. There is a danger of anaphylactic shock in these cases which involves a closing of the airways. This safety concern for students will require families to be aware of what food items we’re bringing and sending to school. Please check packages for food items that may contain nuts or nut products or be produced in a facility where they may come into contact with those nuts or nut products and please look for an alternative that doesn’t. Thanks for your help in keeping our students in Hanley School safe and healthy.
Many of our extra-curricular activities are fully under way this year. Our Saber Football team has had two very successful games, one exhibition and one league, starting off their season in the right direction. The Senior and Junior Girls’ Volleyball teams are also doing great this year, with a couple tournaments already under their belt and a full season ahead. Our Cross Country runners have been practicing and competing already this fall, looking forward to an- other great season, and we also have a couple students, Nathan and Taylor, heading off to Provincial Golf competition this weekend. Our SRC is also taking off today for their fall Student Leadership Conference in Watrous for the rest of the week. We look forward to the new ideas and plans for the year they bring back.
A couple dates are approaching before our next newsletter in October to make you aware of. Awards Night will take place again on the first Tuesday of October at 7:00pm in the gym – congratulations to everyone who will be winning an award! Also, our fall Tri-Conferences will take place this year on October 16th and 17th from 5:00-7:30pm, prior to the report cards going out in November. It’s a good opportunity for parents and teachers to get stu- dents on the right track with classes and behaviours, as well as an excellent time to encourage all the good things students are doing to continue! We hope to see you all there. The School Community Council (SCC) will also be holding their Meet the Staff BBQ that night starting at 5:00, so come on out for a burger and take some time to talk to the staff! The library will also be holding the annual Book Fair so make sure you stop in to check out the new reading materials and other items!
We’ve got a big day ahead on Friday this week with a bunch of happenings at school. There is a pizza sale at noon and a short recognition event for the donations and volunteers that improved our outdoor court this summer. A pep rally by the SRC will follow, including some face painting last class. It’s a Saber Pride dress up day and we have a home football game starting at 4:00pm as the Sabers host Loreburn-Kenaston. CTV news is also in town filming their Rural News broadcast on Friday and their plan is to broadcast some of their afternoon from the school as well.
Picture Day is Monday, Sept 24th, with an SCC meeting that night at 7:00pm. Enjoy the year everyone. Mr. Anderson and I would love to talk to you if you have time to drop by the office. Take care and I’ll talk to you soon.
Chris Tucker
Principal
Hanley Composite School