Learning the art of living; living the art of learning.
August, 2014
Dear Parents/Guardians of Students New to Cawthra Park S.S.:
The staff and senior students at Cawthra Park Secondary School respect and value
the unique nature of each student. The staff is committed to forging strong partner-
ships with parents and guardians to ensure that each student at Cawthra Park
maximizes his/her academic, social and emotional growth.
The 2014-2015 school year promises to be exciting, filled with challenges and stimulating opportunities.
We welcome your child into the Cawthra Park school community. We are proud of our caring staff, who are dedicated to making the transition into secondary school a positive experience for all our new students.
Registration & First Day of School:
Tuesday, September 2nd
Students in grades 10, 11 & 12 will attend from 12:30 to 1:30 pm
Busses will run on a regular school timetable in order to accommodate all students.
Students are asked to come to the Main Foyer, where there will be information on how to locate their homeform classroom. All registration material and timetables will be in the homeform class. Timetables will not be distributed prior to Tuesday, September 2nd. Wednesday, September 3rd will be a regular school day, starting at 8:30 and ending at 3:04.
Please bring to registration:
q $55.00 School Fee – cash is preferred
q Accurate contact information. If your address, telephone contact number or email information has changed recently, it is imperative that the school has accurate contact information in the event of emergencies.
School Fee:
At Cawthra, we provide program enhancements that have a fee associated with them. The enhancements offer students opportunities outside of their academic classes. Often these experiences become the most memorable part of a student’s school career. The student fee for is $55.00 and is to be paid when registering on September 2nd. This fee includes the cost for: school awards, events and athletics, student activity card, student printing, and the yearbook.
Lockers & Locks:
Students will be assigned a locker and a lock by their homeform teacher. Grade nine students will be required to share a locker as space is limited. Students are not to bring their own lock; the school assigned lock must remain on the locker.
School Supplies:
Students should prepare for secondary school with regular school supplies. Binders are recommended for each subject, or at least one for morning classes and one for afternoon classes. Any specialized supplies for courses will be discussed with students during the first week of classes.
BYOD – Bring Your Own Device Policy:
Students are welcome to bring their own electronic devices for appropriate class use. The use of electronic devices will be discussed with students by staff in the first week of school. Students and parents need to be aware that there are responsible for the security of their own devices.
School Photographer:
The school photographer, Edge Imaging, will take student photos on Monday, September 8th. The photographer will be back for photo catch-up and retake day on Wednesday, September 24th . Photographs will be for the school yearbook and Student Activity Cards. It is necessary for all students to have a Student Activity Card. This card is to be carried by students at all times and must be presented for entry to school events. It is also necessary to access Library resources. Photo packages will also be available for purchase. Photo package purchase information will be sent home, on September 8th.
Important Events During September:
The month of September is a busy month for everyone. In addition to special activities, we will be working with students to ensure a collective commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all students and that expectations are clear regarding students' behavior and we are specific about the issues of bullying. All students sign a pledge that acknowledges this commitment.
Students promise to:
· value differences and respect others
· not bully or encourage bullying
· support students who have been bullied
· provide a good role model to others
· help the school deal with bullying
· report incidents of bullying so that all involved can get help
We welcome both you and your son/daughter into our school community. The Vice Principals are
Mr. Jeff Schust (A – L) and Ms. Rita Betro (M - Z).
Communication from the School:
· www.cawthrapark.com is the school website and contains the most current information on school events, policies and program information. You can sign up through the website to receive information updates.
· Watch for us on Twitter at #cawthraparkss.
· The school has an automatic dialing system that places a phone call to your home in the evening to report absenteeism by students. The system is also used to send information updates.
· Report cards are issued six times throughout the school year. Each semester has an Early Progress Report – semester 1 Early Progress reports will come home on October 16th , followed by a Parents’ Night on October 23rd at 6:30 pm.
· Information is sent home with students on a regular basis, particularly at report card periods.
Get Involved – School Council:
Cawthra Park is very fortunate to have excellent support from parents and guardians. Please see the attached document about how to get involved with the School Council. The first Council meeting is September 17th.
We wish you a safe and relaxing summer and look forward to meeting your son/daughter. Classes and registration for students in grades 10, 11 & 12, is on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2014 at 12:30 p.m. and conclude at 1:30 p.m. Welcome to Cawthra Park Secondary School.
Sincerely,
Wendy Lautamus,
Principal