nother school year has begun for Hopewell teachers, students and their families. We welcome six new teachers, library technician, returning families and our new families, some of them from as far away as Hong Kong and Australia!
Many thanks to the parents who worked to maintain the grass yard over the summer. The extra seeding and fertilization not to mention the rainy summer - have been a big boost to the yard's condition!
Kicking off the year were our successful "Meet the Teacher" nights on September 13 and 14, a great opportunity for parents to meet their children's teachers and hear about the curriculum and school routines. Many thanks to Starbucks for providing coffee for all the parents and staff.
Hopewell's priorities this year will continue to be the teaching and learning of math, the primary/junior music program, the "safe and caring" schools initiative and the teacher advisor groups (TAGs) for grade 7 and 8 students, this year focusing on community outreach activities.
Our School Council has set another new priority: our school library. New materials and equipment are greatly needed and plans are underway for a book fair and other events with a literacy theme.
Many thanks to the parents who agreed to take on many of the vacant positions at the first School Council meeting on September 12. There are still executive positions left to fill, however, so be sure to come out to the October 10 meeting when the new executive will be voted in. The Council provides an essential forum for communicating among parents, students, staff and local community.
School closures are of greatconcern to the Hopewell community and our school's population could swell by another 125 students next year (already up by 25 since June to 785).
Hopewell school council will be making a submission to OCDSB trustees on September 26 that closure decisions be postponed until January when better demographic data (upon which decisions are made) is available. Parents are urged to contact Board trustees before October 23 to express their concerns about the decision process or to support schools in our area facing closure.
At Hopewell, our volunteer program is a vibrant part of our school life, promoting a positive feeling between school and community. Parents are encouraged to get involved in areas as diverse as the school newsletter, maintenance of the grass yard, the early literacy program, track and field activities. There are so many ways to enhance our children's lives at school.
Last but not least, a big thank you to JC Sulzenko for her great job reporting on Hopewell's activities during the past two years. Her enthusiasm and generous support of our music program will be greatly missed!
Here's wishing everyone a fulfilling and exciting year at Hopewell!