From the Office – May 2022

Posted on May 18, 2022 by christucker

This is Track and Field week for our school division and our Conference event is today in Saskatoon today – Good luck to all our competitors! I hope the weather gives them a chance to be competitive and we are able to have students move on to Districts and further as well.

Our Track season will be the last of the school athletics offerings this year but I know the elementary staff are still working on their plans for some June activities around track and field and First Nations activity day as well. Please stay tuned for more details that will come with that.

I’m super happy to let you know about another school building item that will help us in our warm summer weeks ahead and our upcoming fall weather also. The facilities department has started an air conditioning project in our school that began work about a week ago. Some new furnaces and air conditioning units will be a welcome addition to our school and help keep the temperature lower. Everyone knows how warm it can be in our building and so this project is totally appreciated by all.

We had an SCC meeting on May 9 and it was good to see some additional names and faces showing interest in joining our School Community Council. We discussed some future planning and how the SCC supports the school and the school goals that are also part to the school division goals. Thank you to the SCC for your ideas and feedback. It looks like we may have some work to do in June on some elementary events and then we’ll get to work again this fall.

Graduation is scheduled for June 10^th at a new time of 5pm and we’re able to move to exercises for the public back into the school this year. I know we’re looking forward to hearing about the student plans and life changes as they move on from life after high school. Congratulations grade 12 students! You’re almost at the end! We’re proud of you all!

Speaking of courses and finishing high school, a draft of course selections was given to students on Monday to help us make some plans for next years timetables and high school credits. Please talk to your grade 10 or 11 students about planning for life after grade 12 now so we can support them on their next few years. I’d like the draft choices back asap this week. Thank you.

My last paragraph before I sign off would be to give props to our SRC leadership students this year. Your work on helping find some fun days for the students of Hanley School this year was a focus of your own as a group and the students and staff all benefited from your efforts. Point in fact is the great afternoon of the gym blast last week and how much of a success it was – great job!

That’s all for now. For further information and updates from the students and classrooms, check out our school website at http://blogs.spiritsd.ca/hanley/. As always, Mr. Hindmarsh and I would love to talk to you if you have time to send us a message or give us a call. We’ll talk to you soon.

From the Office – March 2022

Posted on March 15, 2022 by christucker

It’s been a nice change for us to move back to some of our previous habits and annual traditions this last month. The staff has been commenting on it as well, but we all know that building up some of those routines and traditions will take some work and support. The SRC planned some activities this week and a movie for the elementary students on our ski day and it’s great that we can support their plans as they arrange a pep rally and spirit week dress up days, and leprechaun trap building, and more! Stay tuned for other details as the year moves ahead. To the SRC: we’re all super proud of your efforts and energizing these events!

Our grade 5-12 ski trip to Table Mountain was a great success and even though the cold weather that morning made us wonder if we’d indeed have buses to take us there, it was a great day of fun for the students and staff and we look forward to another day like it next year! Thanks again Mr. Block for arranging the day for everyone!

There was also some attention given to Pi Day on Monday this week as grade 7 classes had some fun activities with math and some apple and blueberry and pumpkin pie treats to go with it. Grade 7s also have a bake sale this week and a field trip planned later this month.

Extra-curricular activities and athletics are continuing as we move through the year as well. Our curling teams hosted districts here and the mixed senior team competed at Regionals but their progress ended there. Thanks to Mr. Freeden and Mr. Freeden for sweeping that one to the finish and both of them and myself will work with those students who are interested in Badminton this spring. Mr. Hindmarch also worked with the junior boys who wanted to practice some basketball skills after school in January and February. And I know that Mrs. Koroll has also looked ahead to Track and Field season and booked a T&F clinic day for students to kick off those events. As is common each spring a lot of staff help out supervising after school and we’ll look forward to the district meet in May for students to compete.

Thank you to Mrs. Jamie Blacklock for volunteering her time and efforts to coach the Senior Boys Basketball team this season. I know the boys appreciated the season to improve on their skills and compete against other schools that also had teams.

We have our spring Tri-Conferences scheduled for March 30^th and 31^st this month from 5pm-7:30pm on Wednesday evening and 3:30pm-6pm on Thursday. Many families have already booked interviews but there are still lots of openings for you to book yourself and your student in for. Call or email Mrs. Block and she can help you do that for an in-person, or online, or phone call interview of your choice.

Some of our grade 9 and 10 students have been chosen to take part in this year’s PISA testing across the country. Those students born in 2006 who are Hanley School students will complete an online test in May and the combined results will be used to help program plan for students across the country.

From the Office – February 2022

Posted on February 16, 2022 by christucker

We are a bit of a last stretch this week before the break in February and I can tell that families and students are probably feeling that the multiple days of cold and turbulent weather this winter has been enough for all of us. If we all hope and wish together, maybe our positive energy for it will have us all come back to warmer temperatures in March. That said we’ll all have to be considering whether March comes in like a lion or like a lamb and what the end of that month will have in store for us.

I know everyone is talking about the provincial announcement about masks and not requiring them after the break. The school division has done a great job of sending out updates all year as they get new information and so you’ll be aware that starting on February 28 we will not require students to wear those masks in school. I look forward to seeing those faces and smiles again after not having a chance for a couple years. I also look forward to meeting some students face to face who we’ve never had the chance to do that with before. That all said, we also want to support families and staff and students who are uncomfortable with the change and will encourage those students and staff to continue to wear the masks as they might need to. Please contact me if you’d like to discuss this and how we can support your student.

Our school year was split into quads for the senior grades this year after a school division survey completed last year by staff and students, as well as parents gave feedback in support. Another survey was sent out this year and the responses collected showed a variety of supports for quads and also for semestered classes. We will be connecting with students and staff in the school as well to hear that variety of supports for both and making timetable plans that reflect those answers and our current staffing levels and course offerings.

With the end of the month changes to the health mandates, much of our previous practices at school will return. Like many schools and staffs and students, we hope that some simpler days are ahead of us. Thank you again for your adjustments to our practices over the last school year and a half. Your cooperation through some difficult changes and restrictions is appreciated.

I wish you a relaxing and enjoyable break with family and friends and hope your students return on February 28 rejuvenated and ready for the next chunk of the school year. I’ll also leave you with a heads up reminder of the March 7 day of no school for students.

From the Office – January 2022

Posted on January 19, 2022 by christucker

Well, I think I can speak for all of us here when I say it’s been an abnormal January to start the year off as far as school is concerned. That cold snap that pitted in with us in December managed to hang on through the Christmas break and keep it’s claws in us for the first week back to school, keeping buses from running and many students away from home. The latest round of COVID variant is also making this past week of school abnormal for classes and student progress as we near the end of this quad and semester one.

Parents, please push your students to help their teachers keep moving ahead in their courses by having them keep working on their school work while they are at home. Students have a year plan of course outcomes that teachers will be focusing on completing this year, and so teachers are posting assignments online for students who are missing school so they can work at home to keep caught up. Please have your students send in what they complete as it gets done, so there is understanding built up and checked. Teachers will assess that work sent in and provide students feedback as well including marks.

Not every home has an easy time in helping their students in this way and we know Google Classrooms and internet speeds don’t always work like we want them to. If that is an issue for your student, please have them contact the teacher, or parents are always invited to do the same.

The second quad as well as the first semester will finish at the end of January. Staff will have January 31 to grade final exams from the week before and mark assignments turned in by then, as well as prepare the grades on PowerSchool and prepare for the next quad. The parent/student view of PowerSchool will close January 24 and open again on Feb 1. That’s the start of the second semester and the third quad.

We’ve had nine recess days for the Cold Cats again and I don’t doubt some more might be still coming this winter. Let Mrs. Block know if you want to add your son/daughter to the list of students I’ll still take outside when the temperatures drop colder than minus 25 and indoor recesses take place.

PSSD will be sending out new surveys to parents, students and staff regarding block scheduling in quads as we were directed to do this year. Please take time to respond when you are able to as your responses have a definite impact on our timetabling and course selection for next year. The surveys should be shared in the near future.

From the Office – Dec 2021

Posted on January 6, 2022 by christucker

We get to December and through the snow and chilly temperatures, we also get a chance to look back at our school year up to this point and search for ways to improve and also to celebrate. Those improvements and celebrations can take many forms, and the reality is we want our school to be a wonderful place for everyone. Our year has been another strange one with so many other pieces to consider, and I always appreciate your help and support with the day-to-day items and working with you on how best to support your student at our school. No school is perfect – there are just too many moving parts and personalities, but the important thing is the working together to do the best we can. I know your own lives are just as busy and sometimes just as difficult. Please remember that our job of helping your students learn the curriculums and be successful in those courses is always improved when we continue to work as a team of students, parents and school.

We used an online opportunity at the end of November for students in grades 11 and 12 to participate in a Career Fair of many colleges and universities. Access was online as is so much for details about those post-secondary schools. Transcripts of marks for applications are requested online as well from the Ministry of Education.

One of our continuing struggles this fall continues to be the COVID regulations and how best to keep student-teacher relationships strong at the same time. I think we are all longing for this to look different as soon as we’re told it can, but until that time we’re still expecting masks on everyone and used correctly. Please have a quick talk with your student about that and helping us with those expectations.

A big “way-to-go” to the SRC this fall for their work on making school fun for students! The Spirit Week plans, candygrams and the catered Christmas Lunch this week are examples of thinking outside the box to make things great! Thank-you parents for your support on this as well and for your donations to the Christmas lunch meal.

I know that students and staff and families are looking forward to the upcoming break and the chance for families to get together and celebrate with each other and find time from all the hustle and bustle of the year and our jobs to rest, relax, rejuvenate and be thankful of so many things. From my family to yours, have a Merry Christmas and and Happy New Year! That’s all for now. For further information and updates from the students and classrooms, check out our school website at http://blogs.spiritsd.ca/hanley/. As always, Mr. Hindmarsh and I would love to talk to you if you have time to send us a message or give us a call. We’ll talk to you soon.

From the Office – Nov 2021

Posted on December 2, 2021 by christucker

It seems like at least once each winter I find myself writing our newsletter message while we have a winter storm rolling outside. If you’ve had students in our school before this year, you know the next part of my message is going to remind families that adequate footwear and jackets and mitts and head coverings are important not only for recess time outside, but also includes for bus students in case of a bus breakdown on route.

Thank you for your emails of support and well wishes as we all move ahead this year. Staff continue to do an amazing job adjusting to this year’s restrictions and I know a lot of that is also due to the way our students take in stride the adjustments they have to make as well. We’ll continue to find ways to be creative in our planning for annual Hanley School events. We moved ahead with a Remembrance Program this year, and the grade 11 students did a wonderful job planning it for a separate elementary group in the gym followed by a second program of grades 7-12 students, separating the grade 7-8 students on the balcony and the grade 9-12 on the gym floor. Great job, Grade 11 and your teachers Mr. Hutchinson and his intern teacher Mr. Imes!

We were so happy around here this fall to plan and cheer on our extra-curricular programs as well! The SRC and School clubs as well as Cross-Country, junior and senior Volleyball and Football teams moved ahead this fall and the good feelings brought to our school this fall are making a big difference for the positive for everyone. We all hope that continues and we can plan for more of the same as the year moves ahead.

With the current weather happening I’ll add here some details of the PSSD policy of bussing in cold weather – a combined temperature and wind chill that drops to minus 40 degrees at 6am will cancel buses for the morning run. That announcement can be made at https://www.spiritsd.ca/buses/ In previous years that would cancel the trips for the day – the new practice will be that if the temperature improves then the bus will run in the afternoon. Classes will never be cancelled on those days – the school is required to remain open for those students who do make it to school, including those whose parents drive them in. Class work will continue and students can look for online work posted by their teachers to keep up on those days.

I’ll offer the Cold Cats program for students again this year for students in grades K-7. Again, remember that this is an option on the indoor recess days for students who still want to go outside for some fresh air and outdoor play. I’ll be supervising them on those days on the playground. They can go back in when they get cold or once they’ve had enough, but it’s sure a great option for many of them to get some fresh air and exercise, even though its very cold. Please ensure those students are prepared with warm clothing and accessories so they can enjoy the recess – head and face coverings are a must. Call or email the school to sign up your Cold Cat student to be on our list. We even have long sleeve Cold Cats shirts for sale for $10!

The annual Christmas lunch and the Family Fun night will still need to be cancelled this year while the restrictions about large gatherings are still in place. That said I know that the staff will work on a few in-school ideas that will be done instead in December.

The Quad One classes are now completed for High School students and the first evaluation part of the year as well. We are not sending home paper copies of report cards again this year and I’ll direct you to the PowerSchool Parent app that will give you access to all the details of those marks and comments on the progress your children are making this year. Teachers are always reachable by email or phone calls at the school if you have questions or concerns on the details of the student progress reports.

From the Office – Oct 2021

Posted on December 2, 2021 by christucker

What a great day it is today! I’m writing this as we get prepared to host another home football game and the hustle and bustle around the school on these days always makes for an exciting afternoon. We also have had some volleyball games schedule inside out school and ones that teams are travelling to. I’m constantly reminded how these extra-curricular offerings are so much valued by the students and are such a big part of our school. I hope we continue to be able to offer them without any interruption as the details out from the division continue to update us on their decisions and the directions from Health when a case comes up.

This week we have virtual TriConferences scheduled after school on Tuesday and Wednesday. Both evenings are opportunities for parents to connect with their child’s teacher(s) by phone call, Zoom call, Meet, or Teams etc. Many parents and teachers have contact with each other much before these times, but it’s our dedicated time scheduled to focus on the first six weeks and the progress or lack of progress and the behaviours and habits already in place that either we can encourage or hope to change before too much of the year or semester or quad has gone by.

This year we were directed to schedule classes by Quads again for the high school classes. That means that the end of quad one will be complete at November 10^th and the second quad will start November 15.

The weather has taken a turn to fall temperatures. Please remind your students of that so they bring a warm jacket in the mornings for the playground. They might not need it by afterschool but it still is a good idea.

It’s a good practice to keep checking for the division emails that are sent out as it’s the best way for them to get details out to families about COVID and announcements as well as any school division policy changes. They will use the same email addresses on file through PowerSchool that we use for these school newsletters and other parent communications. We’ll continue to keep you up to date on happenings around the school this year and look forward to our year continuing the best we can under what restrictions we have. Thanks for your support again this year and for the various emails and other messages we’ve received thanking us for the part we play in keeping the school a safe healthy place for students to learn.

From the Office – Sept 2021

Posted on December 2, 2021 by christucker

Well, it’s great to be back at school with our students and staff again and I know we’re all looking forward to as positive a year as we can create together with you, the parents and community.

We’ve got a good start going this fall and it’s been a delight to see the smiles on the faces and the students interacting at school this fall. We’ve done as much as we could in the first few weeks to take advantage of this time for the students to experience some of the normal pre-covid school events and opportunities that we thought was reasonable while still possible.

We did make a conscious effort to increase the sizes of the cohorts as we described the groups of students last year. We hope that helps the students in the school make interaction between some classes possible as it was the most difficult part to overcome for the students. We have had some sports teams start up again and to date, have hosted two football games and attended one volleyball tournament. Junior teams are also holding practices and our aim is to work on getting as many of those opportunities back for the students. It’s great to have this part of our school routines back and we hope to keep them going for as long as we can this year.

Today (Sept 14) we were directed to have the students start wearing masks while indoors again, and while I know that makes some parts more difficult, it’s a step made to help keep kids healthy and keep it possible to have students all in the schools and that’s a shared responsibility for all of us. Parents, thank you for doing your part to support that and to encourage your students to be good role models for all of the grades younger than they are.

Like last year, please assess your child’s health before they head to school – if they are showing symptoms of COVID please keep them home for the day and check them again the following day before sending them to school. If students present symptoms at school, we have been directed to have you pick them up similar to last year with the reminder they aren’t to return until 24 hours after symptoms disappear. I understand how difficult that can be and the disruption for working parents. I appreciate the efforts you’ll make to keep our students healthy again this year.

Welcome to the new families and students who have joined our school this fall! We hope you find Hanley Composite School a warm, inviting and safe environment and invite you to contact your student’s teacher with your questions and concerns without waiting. Teachers have been encouraged to do the same thing. Our success in helping all students achieve to a high degree at school is best accomplished when we do that work together.

Welcome also to our new staff. Miss Junop is our new SERT teacher. Mrs. Mellquist is one of our support staff has joined us from Dundurn School. Mr. Hindmarsh is our new Vice Principal and is teaching some middle years courses.

Our calendar was changed at the end of August to include a day off for staff and students on Sept 30 for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Please consider how you can also use this day with your students to discuss the reason for the holiday – a day to honour survivors, families and communities, and to ensure the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of reconciliation.

Lastly before I wrap this up, I recognize that all schools are not perfect but should strive for improvements where we see a need to improve – as a staff we discussed a need to make some improvements with our own school environment. Some students from other years have expressed that they haven’t felt safe and welcome at our school and we want to change those perceptions so all students feel that Hanley School is a good place for learning in a positive environment for all. We hope you also support us in that area as we work on making it a great place for learning.