October 2019 – Elementary School E-Bits
For Educators
New 2019–2020 Vision Screening Program for SKs in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark. Health Unit Staff will provide 3 screening tests done at every school, which takes about 10 minutes per child. Each child will get a results letter with next steps to be taken depending on the screening outcome. Free annual eye exams are available for children and youth 0 to 19 years of age with a valid Ontario Health card by an Optometrist. It is recommended that children have an annual comprehensive eye exam with an Optometrist. Please visit our website at https://healthunit.org/health-information/babies-children/visual-health/ for more visual health information.
Kindness in the Classroom® (K–8 and High School) is a social emotional learning based curriculum to help schools create a culture of kindness. Six key kindness concepts (Caring, Courage, Respect, Responsibility, Integrity and Inclusiveness) are covered in a six-week format: four weeks of lessons and two weeks of projects. For teachers, your self-care is not forgotten! Each lesson begins with a section called “Teacher connection/self-care section”. For families, each unit includes a letter to send home to parents outlining what their child will be learning about and how to create common language at home. Find the lessons at Random Acts of Kindness | Free K–8 Lesson Plans: New & Improved.
Language Express is here to help with JK Speech and Language Referrals As you have heard by now, the process for referring children in Junior Kindergarten to Language Express is different this year. Referrals for children in JK will only be accepted directly from parents or legal guardians, but we still want to talk with teachers! If you are unsure about which students would benefit, or have any questions about the service we provide, please call our office to speak with intake staff or with a speech-language pathologist. We want to support you in encouraging parents to refer. JK teachers can use speech and language milestone checklists to support conversations with parents about their children’s development. Checklists are available at www.language-express.ca. If the teacher and parent agree that a referral to Language Express is warranted, then the parent must call Language Express to refer the child. The deadline for referrals for children in Junior Kindergarten is November 30, 2019. This means that children born in 2015 must be referred by November 30, 2019. Children referred before November 30 may continue to receive service until the end of JK. Please contact Language Express at 1-888-503-8885 if you have any questions.
Take Me Outside Day October 23! In its ninth year, Take Me Outside Day continues to help raise awareness about the importance of outdoor learning, and simply spending more time outside. Are you in to get out? Visit: http://takemeoutside.ca/tmoday/ for more information on the event and ideas on how to integrate weekly outdoor learning.
For Families
Keep an eye out for vision screening information! Vision problems may go unnoticed, and children constantly use their eyes in the classroom and at play. Vision screening will be offered to all SK students, so watch for information from your school explaining the 3 simple tests that will be provided. This screening does not replace a complete eye examination with an optometrist, which is FREE for children 0–19 with a valid Health Card. There are also programs available to help with the cost of glasses. For more information contact the Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit at 1-800-660-5853 or www.healthunit.org/health-information/babies-children/visual-health/
Encourage your child or teen to get involved in school activities! This can help them look forward to their day at school. Even just one or two activities in a school year can help a student feel more connected. School activities can; provide a chance to try something new, learn new skills, encourage building friendships, help students see their teachers and other adults in a different role. School is more than just book learning! It’s also a place to learn skills through extracurricular activities that will last a lifetime. What will your child or teen try this year at school? For more info, visit www.triplep-parenting.ca, call 1-800-660-5853, or email [email protected]. Parenting Matters!
foodcoreLGL developed a School Toolkit to connect schools to the Food Charter for LGL. Now foodcoreLGL wants to evaluate it to learn if and how it is being used and for improvement ideas. After feedback has been submitted you’ll find details on how to be entered into a draw. There is a minimum of five prizes including a slow cooker, gift certificates for local food and gift bags from local food & health programs.