The first week of school is underway and I would like to take an opportunity to inform you of our plans for the remainder of this week. We will spend the next 3 days of this opening week of school focusing on building connections and relationships. Social Emotional Learning (SEL) remains our over-arching school goal this school year and over the next 2 days, students will participate in a series of planned educational and fun activities focusing on Emotional Intelligence. On Thursday morning, beginning at 9:15 a.m., Mrs. Banks will host an information session on the RULER approach. RULER is an acronym that stands for Recognizing, Understanding, Labeling, Expressing and Regulating emotions. Students practice the 4 Anchors of the RULER approach at school and families can also practice the anchors at home. Spirit Day will take place this Friday, September 11th, from 9:00 – 12:00. Parents are welcome! Students will participate in a variety of stations during the morning and lunch will be at 12:00. If you would like to help our teachers and staff with a station, please let your child's classroom teacher know. After lunch, we will have a brief "sing along" assembly and then go on a school wide walk around our immediate neighbourhood. Although we will not have a formal early dismissal on Friday, parents are more than welcome to either remain at the school to wait for students to be dismissed, or take students home after the walk. If you plan to take your child(ren) home after the walk, please make sure to inform his/her classroom teacher. Please join us for lunch on Friday. Lunch will be provided for our school community, students, staff and families, on Friday, September 11th. Hot dogs and lemonade will be provided by Hampton Park PAC. A very warm "Thank You" to our PAC for providing hot dogs and lemonade for Friday's Spirit Day lunch.