Woodlawn School

At this time of year, the staff start looking ahead to the next school year. In early June we will start to put together our class lists - the planning for this has already begun. This is a complex process and as in previous years we are seeking parental understanding and support of this process. It is our strong belief that the learning atmosphere in the classroom must be the first consideration in the formation of class groupings. Classes are organized to ensure Appropriate Education takes place for all students.

Staff teams strive to create classes that are heterogeneous and balanced in all respects. The following criteria (in no specific order) are considered when determining class lists:

• Student abilities

• Our knowledge of social interactions and dynamics between individual students and groups of students

• Student/teacher match

• Placement of students new to Woodlawn School

• Male/female ratio

• Parental information

• Approximately equal class sizes

Parents can assist the class formation process by:

• Helping their children to understand the importance of class formation

• Supporting placements that have been made

As part of this process we recognize that having a positive learning partner contributes to this success and engagement. You should have already received a Learning Partners Request form (due Friday, May 8). This is not only about having a good friend in their class, but about having a positive learning partner with them. We ask that you please discuss this with your child and respond to the classroom teacher by Friday.

Given appropriate support at home and at school, it has been our experience that the vast majority of placements are successful. Where a placement is proving to be difficult, we ask that parents and students give it the time required for friendships and classroom community building to develop.

The name of your child’s teacher for 2026-2027 will be included with the June report card. Please note that the deadline for parent requests for 2026-2027 class placement has passed and further requests will not be considered.

Growing Flexible Thinkers & Strong Feelers

May brings sunshine, movement, and a lot of growing energy in our students! Along with that comes a great opportunity to strengthen skills that help kids handle challenges, friendships, and big feelings with confidence.

As the weather warms up, we often see the following:

• Bigger energy

• Shorter patience

• More friendship ups and downs

This is very typical for this time of year. We continue to support students with regulation, problem-solving, and connection each day.

Flexibility & Problem-Solving

We invite students to practice how to handle those tricky “this isn’t what I wanted!” moments.

We call this using our “flexible brain”:

• Trying a different way

• Accepting when plans change

• Moving from “stuck” to “I’ll try again”

We can encourage our children by saying:
“I can find another way.”

BRAIN CORNER
Why flexibility can feel hard

When something unexpected happens, the brain’s alarm system jumps in fast. That’s why kids might

• Get upset quickly

• Refuse or shut down

• Have big reactions to small problems

Our role as adults is to support our children in building the brain pathways that help their thinking brain step back in and guide their actions.

Stop
Breathe
Think
Try again

These are skills that grow with practice over time.

FRIENDSHIP FOCUS
Handling bumps in play

At Woodlawn we are encouraging our students to work on the following:

• Including others

• Hearing “no” without getting stuck

• Using words to solve problems

Let’s encourage practicing simple steps:

1. Pause

2. Say how you feel

3. Think of a solution together

Things you can try at home:

Keep it simple and natural:

Model it:
“Hmm… that didn’t work. I’ll try a new way.”

Name it:
“You’re feeling frustrated; that makes sense.”

Guide it:
“What’s another choice you could try?”

Small moments = big learning over time

Check out this book!
The Most Magnificent Thing

This book is a wonderful story about frustration, creativity, and not giving up when things don’t go as planned.

Wishing your family a calm, flexible, and joyful May!

Rebecca Mackie
School Counsellor

Hello Woodlawn Families,

Thank you to all who participated in the Sunshine gift card fundraiser. We are excited to use the funds to continue to add to our playground this spring.

As always at PAC we are excited to have new faces at our meetings. Our last meeting of the year will be on June 2nd, at 11:50am-12:50pm in the Library @ Woodlawn School. We would love to have you join us!

If you have any questions or concerns for us, please email us at woodlawnelementarypac@gmail.com

Ang Plett

Your PAC Chair

Woodlawn will be participating in the Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser this year. All fundraising will be online and more information on that will be available closer to the date. Some important dates to remember are May 22, which will be our kick off assembly and start of fundraising, and June 5 which is our Jump Day and the fundraising deadline. Thank you ahead of time for any fundraising you are able to do!

We are so excited to be a part of your child's learning journey! Our Kindergarten Welcome Event will be on Tuesday, May 12. During this time you and your child will have the opportunity to meet some of our kindergarten teachers, take a tour of the school, play, and your child will even take a school bus ride! It is a short event, but a great first meet and greet.

You should have received an email to schedule the time your child will be attending the Kindergarten Welcome Event. You can email the school office with any questions at woodlawn@hsd.ca

Kindergarten Registration is open online. If you live in Woodlawn’s catchment area and plan to send your child to Kindergarten in September 2026 but have not registered your child yet, please click the link below. Please pass this information along to any friend, neighbor or relative who may have children eligible for Kindergarten and who might not be aware of the registration process. To be eligible for Kindergarten children must be 5 years of age on or before December 31, 2026.

In order to help us prepare for the next school year, please let us know if you will be moving locations or returning from home school. You are welcome to call or email the transportation office at any time before school starts at 204-320-2347 or email hsdtransportation@hsd.ca so we can ensure your child will have transportation set up for the school start up. We are open all summer long.

For nearly 20 years, Woodlawn students and their families have been involved in harvesting root vegetables for Southeast Helping Hands. We started with a Woodlawn Community Garden, and have since transitioned to inviting our families to donate from their own gardens, or to purchase and donate vegetables in the autumn. These vegetables have benefited families in need from our local community.

We are inviting Woodlawn students and their families to participate in our annual: Grow a Row for Those in Need gardening campaign. We are looking for root vegetables like: potatoes, carrots, onions, turnips, beets, pumpkins and squash.

Participating families are asked to bring their produce to Southeast Helping Hands in the autumn, located at 525 Main Street in Steinbach.

If you don’t plan on having a garden, but would still like to donate some root vegetables, your contribution is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your willingness to participate! We are excited to continue Woodlawn’s legacy of giving back to our local community and teaching children how to be generous, thoughtful, and caring citizens.

Email: woodlawn@hsd.ca
Website: www.woodlawn.hsd.ca
Location: 411 Henry St, Steinbach, MB, Canada R5G 0R1
Phone: 204-326-6110
Twitter: @WoodlawnHSD