Joyceville Family Update
Hello Joyceville families,
It has been another busy week at Joyceville, and as we head toward the middle of November, I wanted to take a few minutes to share some highlights from this week and let everyone know about the many things happening around the school next week.
A Wonderful Remembrance Day at Joyceville
I want to say a sincere thank you to our students and staff for the wonderful Remembrance Day ceremony held at Joyceville this week.
Our students did a terrific job helping us pause, reflect and remember, and I was very proud of the respect and thoughtfulness they demonstrated throughout the ceremony. Thank you to the staff and students who put so much time and care into preparing and leading this important gathering for our school community.
A Busy Week Ahead!
There is lots happening at Joyceville next week!
Book Fair: November 16–19
Our Book Fair runs from Monday through Thursday. Classes will have an opportunity to browse the Fair during their first visit and create a wish list and will have another opportunity to shop later in the week if they wish. The Book Fair will also be open during Movie Night, and orders are expected to arrive before the holidays.
Kingston Frontenacs School Day Game: November 18
Students from grade 3/4 to 7/8 will be heading to the Kingston Frontenacs School Day Game on Wednesday. Students are encouraged to wear their Jayhawk gear, and buses will be leaving promptly at 9:30 a.m. Families who ordered additional tickets should watch for communication early next week regarding meeting locations. Concession stands will be open and accept cash, and outside food and drinks are permitted.
Movie Night: November 19
SAC is hosting Movie Night on Thursday evening. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the movie begins at 6:30 p.m. Families are welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Snacks will be available for purchase with cash, and the Book Fair will also be open for shopping that evening.
Gould Lake Field Trip
A reminder as well for families of students in our Grade 2/3 and Grade 3/4 classes about their upcoming field trip to Gould Lake. Please make sure you have reviewed the information that has been sent home and completed any required permission or School-Day items. We are looking forward to a great day of learning outside the classroom!
PA Day: Friday, November 20
A reminder that Friday, November 20 is a PA Day and there will be no school for students.
While students are away, our staff will be engaged in professional learning and School Achievement Planning. A significant part of our day will involve looking closely at current student data, discussing what we are seeing in our classrooms and planning the next steps in our work together.
Our school improvement work continues to focus on literacy, mathematics and student well-being. The goal is not simply to look at numbers, but to use the evidence we have to identify where students are doing well, where there may be gaps and what instructional strategies or supports will make the greatest difference for our learners.
At Joyceville, this work is already leading us into more focused learning around primary writing, mathematics, responsive assessment and short learning cycles.
Progress Reports
Progress Reports will also be coming home soon.
It is important to remember that the fall Progress Report is a little different from the Provincial Report Cards students receive later in the year. At this point in the school year, the focus is not on assigning a final level, letter grade or percentage for achievement. Instead, the Progress Report provides families with an early picture of how their child is progressing toward the curriculum expectations and how they are developing important learning skills and work habits.
For each subject, students are identified as Progressing with Difficulty, Progressing Well, or Progressing Very Well. Teachers also provide feedback about strengths and next steps, with particular attention to learning skills, Language and Mathematics.
The six learning skills and work habits you'll see are Responsibility, Organization, Independent Work, Collaboration, Initiative and Self-Regulation.
Think of the Progress Report as an early check-in on learning: Where is my child right now? What is going well? What are they working on? What are the next steps?
After reviewing your child's Progress Report, if you have questions or would like to talk more about their learning, please don't hesitate to reach out to their classroom teacher. We value that ongoing communication between home and school.
Thank You!
A big thank you to the Vanderlinde family and Waddell's Orchard for donating delicious apples for our students to enjoy this fall! We really appreciate your generosity and support of our Joyceville students.
Interested in Working with Mrs. Kenny?
Families who may be interested in having their child work with Mrs. Kenny are welcome to contact the school office for more information. We would be happy to help connect you and answer any questions.
Looking Ahead
A few dates to keep on the calendar:
- November 23: Pancake Breakfast hosted by SAC with help from our firefighters
- December 2: Grade 7 Immunizations
- December 3: Poinsettia Pickup
- December 7–9: Gift Room
- December 9: SAC Turkey Lunch
- December 16: Holiday Show, with more details to come
Thank you again to our Joyceville students, staff and families for another great week. There is lots happening in the weeks ahead, and we appreciate everyone's continued support of our school and one another.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Scott Morency
Principal
Joyceville Public School