Happy Saturday you A-W-E-S-O-M-E Hurricanes and Happy New Year!
It was great to see all of our staff and students return to H.T. Country on Monday! We hope everyone had a great two-week holiday break and enjoyed some slower-paced family or recreation time over Christmas. However, judging by the faces on our Hurricanes, staff and students will likely be needing to get some sleep and rest this weekend, after a busy week transitioning back!
Please peruse our attached Hurricane ‘WEEKLY’ Newsletter for January 15th – 19th, 2024.
As we all know, we picked up right where we left off, with all kinds of events and activities for our students. We are nearing the end of Term 1, so please stay tuned for information on Term 1 Report Cards (Grades 1-8) and Communication of Learning Reports (Kindergarten) coming out on February 13th and Parent-Teacher Conferences taking place on February 15th. Educators will be preparing these reports on January 26th which is our next Professional Activity Day (no school for Elementary students). In addition, we’ve had a fantastic start to our Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 school year! Please help us spread the word to any new families, that H.T. is a great place for children to learn and grow, and that registration is NOW OPEN by visiting wellingtoncdsb.ca or calling the school!
Public Health is offering a virtual parent webinar with Dr. Tenenbaum on youth vaping on Wednesday, January 24th @ 7-8pm. Questions can be submitted online prior to the event. Information and registration for this webinar can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/youth-vaping-virtual-parent-information-session-with-dr-tenenbaum-tickets-776992875607
Finally, this month’s Umbrella-Trait-of-the-Month is PURPOSE! Each month provides students and staff with a different trait to help them further develop skills, strategies and values to help them become more resilient and optimistic in life! Purpose is a way of each of us always looking introspectively, and asking ourselves “WHO AM I, WHO DO I WANT TO BECOME and WHAT IS MY GIFT TO THIS WORLD?” We spoke to our young people about this, and we hope you can support us too! We reminded them THAT GOD LOVES US NO MATTER WHAT, GOD’S MERCY IS FRESH AND NEW EVERY MORNING and the beautiful words from Pope Francis solidify that God has a special plan and purpose for each and every one of us; “Dear young people, do not bury your talents, the gifts that God has given you! Do not be afraid to dream of great things!” And this doesn’t just go for our young people, because Pope Francis reminds every one else that your purpose is always to return to that source of youth, hope, optimism, wonder and awe! So regardless of any New Year’s resolution you’ve made, remember to find those gifts God has created in you, and go share those gifts with the world, whatever that might be, that is your “special power,” that is your purpose Hurricanes! As we begin this new adventure and chapter in our lives called 2024, we invite you to live out these words from St. Paul;
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith: if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Wishing everyone a very purposeful 2024! Thank you as always, for your ongoing belief and support in our school community! Bringing our gifts together always makes a special difference and gives us much more PURPOSE – raising children should never be seen as “extra” work, but the “important” work we are gifted and called to do! And we do a better job together!
Take care of yourselves and each other Hurricanes!