Those of you who have been around the school in the past few weeks will probably have noticed that it is getting smaller!  The opening of the new Maude Clifford Elementary School has resulted in the easing of the pressures that have been placed on I.V. Macklin by its growth over the past few years.  This summer five portable classrooms have been removed from the school and we expect the enrollment of the school to drop from the high point of 840 reached last year to approximately 620 this year. 

As always, September will be a very busy month at the school.  Our school photo day will be early in the school year, with pictures being taken on Thursday, September 10 and Friday, September 11.  Once again this year we will be having we will be having Paquin’s Sprucewood Studio doing our school photos.  Your child will have brought home a letter from Paquin’s with information about their program with the other materials and forms they have brought home today.

Another important event in September is our school Open House evening on Tuesday, September 22  from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.  Look for more information about this event in upcoming editions of the school newsletter.

Some other important events in September include our school Terry Fox Run on Friday, September 25 and the Macklin Magic Volleyball Tournament on September 25 and 26.   

As well, the establishment meeting of the I.V. Macklin Parent Council will take place at 7:15 p.m. on Monday, September 21 at the school.  If you have not previously been active on the school council please consider joining us this year.  This group performs many extremely valuable services for the school and for our children.  Without the support of a strong council, many of the events and activities that your children are able to participate in would not be possible. 

The following is some information which should help us all continue what has so far been a smooth beginning to the school year: 

Basic school fees this year are $50 for Kindergarten (most parents will have paid this fee when they registered their child), $90 for Grade 1 to Grade 6 students (this fee also includes school supplies), and $165 for Junior High students.  Please note that the Junior High fee now covers all of the costs for Junior High students – there are no additional fees for individual option courses as was the case in the past. Students can give fee payments to their homeroom teachers on Monday or Tuesday.  After Tuesday, fees should be paid at the school office.  Fees can be paid in cash or by cheque payable to I.V. Macklin School.  School fees are set by the School Board and are a necessary part of our school operation, helping to fund the provision of both basic and supplementary resources and, specific student program needs.

We would like to remind parents and students that, while traffic congestion around the school should be eased by the reduction in the number of students attending this year,  we have a very limited parking area at our school and that the streets around the school are very congested at school opening and dismissal.  Due to this fact, pedestrian safety is a major concern at the school.  We ask that parents consider having their children walk to school when possible to reduce traffic congestion, both before and after school.  In addition to reducing traffic concerns, walking is an excellent way for students to be more physically active.  We will be reviewing parking lot and crosswalk safety with students in upcoming assemblies.  Please help them to remember to not jaywalk and to use the three crosswalks which are located around the school.  Please set a good example for our students by following these same safety precautions. 

A & J edibles, our lunch service provider, will be open for business tomorrow.  Order forms are available in all classrooms.   Copies of the order form are included in the student agenda booklet and are available for downloading on the school website.

The school “Breakfast Club” program will begin operation for the year on the Tuesday following the Thanksgiving Break.

We would like to remind you that I.V. Macklin Public School has many students who suffer from severe allergies to nuts and nut products.  The consequences of even incidental contact with nuts and in particular peanuts/peanut butter can produce severe and even life threatening results.  We therefore ask parents’ and students’ cooperation in our school being a “Nut Sensitive” environment by not bringing food to the school that contains nuts or nut products.  Thank you.

Once again, welcome back! We are looking forward to working with you and your children this year.  Please feel free to contact us at any time if you have a question or if there is some way we can help make your child’s experience at I.V. Macklin Public School the best it can be.

Mr. Andy Farquharson

Principal

I.V. Macklin Public School