Dear Niton Central School Community,

This four-day week finds us in December with Report Cards going out Thursday and no school Friday (staff PG day). In addition to academics, your children are planning their Virtual Christmas Concert. We will kick-off the holiday season on December 1 by wearing red & green and launching our "Coins for Christmas" drive. Additional activities are noted in the UpComing section of the News.

White Hatter Cyber Safety presentations take place this week and next. If you would like to make a change to your student's permission form, please inform your child's teacher. The grade 8/9 is scheduled for December 2, grades 6 & 7 on December 7 and grades 4 & 5 on December 8.

Wishing everyone a great week ahead!

Ms. Jan Wiens, Principal

Niton Central School

780-795-3782

mailto:janwien@gypsd.ca

This season, NCS students have an opportunity to give back to their community through our first "Coins for Christmas" drive. Each class will have a donation jar where students may donate their coins throughout the month until December 15. Our NCS donations will go to the Niton Community Pantry housed out of library. Cash donations allow the Community Pantry staff to purchase perishables or needed items. Donation jars will also be placed in the library and the school office for parents/community members who wish to contribute.

Yellowhead County has reached out to the school and asked us to help promote Santa's Anonymous and the Christmas Hamper programs. Please see the attached information that can be used as application for the programs. The information can also be found at the public libraries. The deadline to apply is December 10.

Please follow the Lobstick BEST facebook page for programs and activities BEST provides outside of the classroom. Please see the information below from BEST Success Coach Erin Paterson. Caregiver FREE education sessions are brought to you by Alberta Health Services and the Mental Health Foundation. Sessions are offered online through Zoom conferencing application. There are some great sessions offered within the next month.

On October 15, the Alberta Government updated the Parent Guide to Covid-19 management in schools. Please see the following link for more information including when a school would pivot to online learning. Thank you for your continued support of the Niton Central School community and for completing the Alberta Health Daily Checklist before sending your student to school. Please call the school if you have any questions and I will be happy to discuss this with you.

1. Please ensure your student is dressed for the outside weather. Some students may need an extra pair of socks and mitts in case they become wet. Grades K - 6 students go outside three times per day until the temperature (including windchill) reaches -20 C. We always include the windchill when we are gauging the temperature.

2. Last week, our K - 6 students enjoyed playing in the snow. It was great to be outside with them! Many of our younger students made use of their extra set of dry clothing. Please ensure your child has an extra set of clothing as well as a pair of socks to leave at school.

To arrange to meet your student's teacher or if you have questions concerning the classroom, please email the teacher directly or call the school at 780-795-3782 and leave a message with our secretary who will have the teacher call you back.

preK/K Mrs. Jenna Robinson mailto:jennrobi@gypsd.ca

Grade 1/2 Ms. Shania Miller mailto:shanmill@gypsd.ca

Grade 3/4 Mr. Thomas Meier mailto:thommeie@gypsd.ca

Grade 5/6

Grade 7 Mrs. Jacey Maskell mailto:jacemask@gypsd.ca

Grade 8 Mr. Aaron Fern mailto:aarofern@gypsd.ca

Grade 9 Mr. Alan Stoyles mailto:alanstoy@gypsd.ca

Please continue to phone the school or email Mrs. Benson at branbens@gypsd.ca or your student's homeroom teacher if your child will be absent. Sign-out your student through the office if they will be picked up early and please notify their bus driver.

December

1st - RED/GREEN DAY and Christmas Kick-Off

1st - CTF Skills Canada Exploration Day

2nd - Report Cards go home

3rd - PD day for staff; no school for students

6th - Virtual School Council, 10 AM

14th - Winter Craft Day

16th - Holiday Sweater Day

16th - Virtual NCS Christmas Concert

17th - PJ DAY = last day of school before Christmas break (December 20 - January 3)

January

4th - First day back after Christmas break