Monday, June 29, 2015

Information for the 2015-16 School Year

We are looking forward to a successful 2015-16 school year with your daughter or son.  The information in this letter is intended to keep you informed of opening day procedures and general school routines.

The regular school hours at George Waters Middle School are 8:30 am – 11:15 pm and 12:15 pm - 3:20 pm.

The opening year (2015) schedule is as follows:

Thursday, Aug. 20                    School office opens
Monday, Sept. 7                       Labour Day (No school)
Tuesday, Sept. 8                       Divisional Inservice-no classes
Wednesday, Sept. 9               Opening year team/triad conferences (no classes/no bussing)
Thursday, Sept. 10                   Opening year team/triad conferences (no classes/no bussing)
Friday, Sept. 11                         First day of classes (regular school hours) (Day 4) Please note that regular school bus service will start today.  Bus pick-up and drop-off schedule will be in your child’s June report card unless the student is not presently attending our feeder schools or GWMS in June/15.         
Tuesday, Sept. 15                       Meet the Teacher Event (4:30 – 6pm) GWMS Gym
Tuesday, Sept. 15                       Parent Council AGM (6pm).  All parents are encouraged to attend to meet our Parent Council and learn more about how it supports your children and school activities.
Tuesday, Sept. 22                    PD Meeting (Early dismissal at 2:40pm)

Opening year team/triad conferences
On September 9th & 10th, 2015 parents and students are expected to attend opening year team/triad conferences with their parent(s). This is a great way to meet staff and learn more about our school. At the interviews parents, students and teachers will have an opportunity to meet one another to discuss the child’s education.  Parents can share important information about their child, discuss the use of iPads and review their child’s educational needs for the school year. The purpose of this meeting is to begin open and ongoing communication between home and school.  Parents will also have a chance to meet with non-homeroom teachers such as physical education, resource, guidance, band and practical arts.  The school administration team (principal/vice-principal) will also be available. Also, parents can pay for student fees at this time.  Below is a breakdown of fees for the 2015-16 school year.

Students will be allowed to bring their supplies with them to the interview and may place them in assigned lockers.  For grade 6 students, this is also a chance to practice using the combination lock. 

To accommodate parents in our community, we will be conducting 20 minute team (parent, student and homeroom teacher) interviews at the following times:
Wednesday, September 9th, 2015                             Thursday, September 10th, 2015
1:00 PM – 6 PM                                                                 7:40 AM – 1:20 PM


Booking appointments
Beginning Tuesday, September 1st at 8:30 AM to Tuesday, September 8th 3:00 PM, parents may BOOK ON-LINE through our website http://georgewaters.sjsd.net to set-up their appointment.  If you do not have access to a computer you can phone our school (204-888-4898) to arrange an interview time with your child’s homeroom teacher.  Parents who can meet with the teacher during the day are encouraged to do so, as evening and morning times are limited.

Student Fees
Students at George Waters pay their student fees to the homeroom teacher during the triad conference.  In the event you are unable to pay the student fee that day please see Mr. Mead or Mr. Abram as a payment plan can be arranged to suit the needs of individual families)

Student fees are spent as follows:
$20.00   Student fee (Student activities)
$15.00  Yearbook
$ 5.00    Locker/Lock Fee
                                $10.00   GWMS ‘House’ t-shirt (Optional)
Total      $40 or $50 (with shirt)   
**Families with more than one child at George Waters pay $40.00 for the first child and $30.00 (includes yearbook) for each additional child (or $23.00 - no yearbook).

Other possible fees       

Library Fees                                                       Music Fees
Lost magazine                   $3                           Shirt:                                     $10
Lost book                            $10                         Method Book                    $10
                                                                                                Instrument Rental           $120

Hockey Academy             $550
(unless registered through the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Academy then it is free)

Textbooks                           Cost to replace book (varies)     

iPad                                       $250 - $400, cost to replace lost or broken iPads

Code of Conduct
In alignment with the Manitoba Education Provincial Code of Conduct and the St. James-Assiniboia School Division’s Student Conduct policy (JK), George Waters Middle School’s goal is to provide a safe, secure and caring learning environment, which fosters students’ personal growth, self-respect, and a sense of belonging which encourages them to be responsible citizens in the present and in the future. The complete George Waters Middle School Code of Conduct can be found on our website: http://georgewaters.sjsd.net.

The Attendance Policy
It is very important that the school be informed by the parent or guardian by phone within 24 hours of the student’s return to school if the absence is to be considered excused.  Messages before 8am may be left on our general office voice mail by calling 204-888-4898. Any changes to phone numbers or addresses should be reported to the office as soon as possible to allow us to be able to contact someone in case of an emergency or school closure.                 

Reporting dates for the 2015/16 school year are as follows:
Term 1                                                  Term 2                                                  Term 3
Starts - Sept 11                                  Starts Dec 8                                        Starts - March 16
Student Led Conferences – Nov 17        Student Led Conferences – Feb 25         Ends - June 26
Ends - Dec 4                                        Ends - March 12                                June 29 – Report Cards
Dec 9 – Report Cards                      April 6 – Report Cards                   

Lunch Program (Lunch hour is 11:15 – 12:15)
Students eat lunch in the cafeteria and not in their classrooms or on the school playground.  They are able to purchase a full range of lunch items at reasonable prices or bring a bagged lunch if they prefer.

Staff/PD Meetings
Please note, the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month will be staff meeting/pd days resulting in early dismissal (2:40 pm).  The bussing schedule is adjusted to accommodate this change in time and there is no late bus on these days (or Friday).

Connect with George Waters Middle School
To find all many of the different ways to learn what happens at #GWMSwpg ad to keep in touch please visit:
               
George Waters Middle School Home Page         http://georgewaters.sjsd.net/ 
George Waters News Blog                                          http://gwmssharks.blogspot.ca/
Twitter                                                                                 @GeorgeWatersMS
Instagram                                                                            @gwmswpg
George Waters Facebook Page                
                https://www.facebook.com/GeorgeWatersMS
School Office                                                                     204-888-4898
Mr. Mead Cell phone (text or call)                          204-223-5622    
Mr. Mead’s email                                                            amead@sjsd.net
Sign up for text message alerts                                 Text gwmsa to 204-800-2782
Staff Email                                                                          http://georgewaters.sjsd.net/Staff%20Online
SJASD Website                                                                 http://www.sjsd.net


The School Office will be open until 3:45 PM June 30, 2015.
From August 24, 2015 to August 31 the school office will be open from 7:45 AM until 2:15 pm.  
Starting September 8, 2015 regular office hours will begin (7:45 am until 3:45 pm daily).
If you have questions or require further information, do not hesitate to contact the school using any of the platforms shown above. We will be happy to assist you or answer any of your questions. 

We hope you have a relaxing and enjoyable summer vacation and that students will be ready to return in the fall, excited to start school again. We look forward to meeting all parents and children during the first two days of triad conferences on September 4 and 5, 2015 and at the Meet the Teacher Event and Parent Council AGM on September 15, 2015 at 6:00 PM.

Sincerely,



Mr. B. Abram, Vice-Principal                       Mr. A. Mead, Principal          

babram@sjsd.net                                            amead@sjsd.net

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