Woodlawn School

September was a wonderful month at Woodlawn! It was great to welcome everyone back for another school year - although there is no denying it felt a bit different this year. With Parkhill School opening, and the early years catchment lines being redrawn, Woodlawn School shrunk by around 100 students and several staff. Change can be hard, but it is also refreshing at the same time. And a smaller school means the hallways are a bit less chaotic and it's easier to get to know new faces!

We have several new faces on our Woodlawn Staff. Please welcome:

• Rebecca Friesen (Kindergarten)

• Kendra Friesen (Grade 3)

• Mary-Anna Aaldyk-Doerksen (Grade 2)

• Joelle Boese (Music)

We are trying something new with our school assemblies this year and we want you to be part of it! Every grade group will be leading one assembly this year, and parents of students participating in the assembly are welcome to join us! Keep an eye on your child's SeeSaw account for the dates of upcoming assemblies where your child may be participating.

Finally, a quick reminder to regularly check our school website, follow our NEW Instagram account and keep an eye on the school calendar so you don't miss any important events in the coming weeks. There are lots of fun, exciting and educational events happening in October and November!

Vince Hiebert - Principal

Marla McEachern - Vice Principal

At Woodlawn School, we believe that positive relationships between home and school are essential for every child’s success. These relationships are built on mutual trust and respectful communication. We want to remind all families that all conversations with teachers, support staff, and administrators must remain respectful at all times.

Disrespectful, aggressive, or inappropriate behavior toward staff will not be tolerated, as it undermines the safe and supportive environment we work hard to provide for our students.

When concerns arise, they must first be addressed with your child’s classroom teacher, who is most directly involved with your child’s learning and well-being. If the concern is not resolved, it may then be brought forward to the principal or vice-principal. Following this process ensures that concerns are handled fairly and effectively.

For further guidance, please review the Hanover School Division’s Positive Problem Solving Protocol, available here: Positive Problem Solving Protocol (PDF).

We appreciate your cooperation in working together to maintain a safe, respectful, and positive school community for all students and staff.

Hello Families,

October brings change—falling leaves, cooler days, and new routines. It’s a perfect time for social-emotional growth and self-care! At Woodlawn, students are using the Zones of Regulation to manage emotions, build relationships, and practice kindness.

Tips for home:

• Take a breather: Deep breaths, stretching, or a short break can help.

• Celebrate wins: Recognize effort, progress, and acts of kindness!

• Check-in daily: Ask your child about their feelings—helping them name emotions builds emotional awareness.

We’re also highlighting the Zones of Regulation this month—students are learning to identify their emotional states and use tools to stay regulated. Ask your child about their zone and what strategies help them feel calm and ready to learn.

Let’s make October a month full of growth, connection, and positivity!

Rebecca Mack, School Counselor

We are currently seeking donations of gently used, gender-neutral clothing items to support students in our school community.

If you’re able to help, we are specifically in need of the following items:

• Pants (kids' sizes 7 and up)

• T-shirts (kids' sizes 8–12)

• Socks (all sizes welcome)

These items will be used to ensure that all students have access to clean, comfortable clothing during the school day when unexpected needs arise.

Donations can be dropped off at the school office during regular hours. We kindly ask that all items be freshly laundered and in good condition.

Thank you so much for your generosity and continued support!

Please remember to pack spoons or forks in your child's lunch if they need them. Thank you!

Pizza hot lunch is available for purchase on the Munch A Lunch app.

Hearing screening will take place at Woodlawn School in October/November. The screening helps to identify children who may have educational difficulties due to undiagnosed permanent or long-term hearing impairment. Early identification is expected to result in earlier intervention and thus fewer and less severe associated difficulties.

All students in Kindergarten and grade 1, new students to Hanover School Division, and students whose teachers have suggested hearing screening will be screened. Children with known hearing impairments will not be screened. The students will be brought to the area where the screening is taking place by a staff member or a parent volunteer.

If after the screening it is determined that further testing with an audiologist is needed, parents/guardians will be contacted by the school.

If you have any questions about the screening please contact the school.

The Hanover Parent and Child Community Program invites parents and their preschool children to attend free parent-child programming!

The program will not be held at Woodlawn School this year but you are welcome to join them at Southwood School on Monday morning, Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning or at Elmdale School on Tuesday morning and Thursday afternoon. They will meet in the mornings from 9:00 to 11:30 am and afternoons from 1:00 - 3:30 pm.

Children will have the opportunity to play, learn, create, sing, and develop skills to prepare them for kindergarten. Parents will stay and play with their children. Snacks are provided. Families can attend once or twice a week or drop by when able. Children should bring indoor footwear.

We will follow the school schedule in regards to school closure days and inclement weather.

Please contact Stacey Marcoux at 204-326-9829 or email smarcoux@hsd.ca should you have any questions.

Hey Woodlawn Families, your friendly neighborhood PAC here.

Hope everyone has had a smooth transition into this new school year.

There are a few things we would like to make you aware of.

Tuesday October 7th @ 11:50 will be our first meeting of the year. Everyone is welcome, we would love to have you.

We are excited to kick off the school year with a Niakwa pizza fundraiser starting October 1st. Notes will go home with students.

And last but not least we are extremely excited to announce that installation of the new Musical Playground is scheduled to happen on October 21st.

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

Ang Plett

Your PAC Chair

Mark your calendar for our School Picture Day on

Thursday, October 16 and Friday, October 17.

For your convenience orders may be placed online.

All students will be photographed for school service products.

For Tips on preparing for photo day visit www.lifetouch.ca

Any questions, please call Lifetouch at 1-866-457-8212 or email: guestservices@lifetouch.ca

Click this link to check the date that your child's class is scheduled for photos

Picture Day Schedule

If your child will be away from school or will be late or will not be returning to school after lunch please ensure you call the school at 204-326-6110 or email woodlawn@hsd.ca to let us know. If you know ahead of time that your child will be absent please enter the absence in your child's parent portal account, email woodlawn@hsd.ca or leave a voice mail. When the school is not advised of an absence or late arrival, the office begins a call back procedure to parents and emergency contacts. Many of these calls can be avoided if parents call ahead to advise us of the absence.

Thanks to all the students who brought a money for the Terry Fox Fundraiser. We will be donating $195.00 to the Terry Fox Foundation.

To ensure the safety of our students and due to congestion of our staff parking lots and bus loop areas, parents are not to enter those areas between 8:15 - 4:30.

Also note there is no public parking available at Entrance D (Barkman Street) at any time. All parking is reserved for school staff.

If you are dropping off or picking up your child please DO NOT park on Henry Street as there are signs for no stopping and you may be ticketed. Please park on the church parking lot across from the school, leaving the spots closest to the church open for church staff/members.

For the safety of your child we request that you escort your child across Henry Street. For students' safety, please avoid parking along Barkman Street across from the school during 8:30 - 9:00 am and 3:30 - 4:00 pm.

If your children walk to and from school it is always best if they walk in small groups and never alone. There is a crossing guard at the corner of Penner and Barkman from 8:35-8:50 and 3:40- 3:50. There is a crossing guard at the corner of Hespler and Ashford/Barkman from 8:30-8:50 and 3:30-4:00. Please remind your children to always go straight to school/home so they don't miss the crossing guards.

An urban bus catchment area map is posted on the HSD website. Any urban or rural bus that will be late due to weather or mechanical issues is listed on the HSD website under the bus delay tab.

Go to the drop down menu of Services/Transportation Services and you can select:

1. School Bus Delay Bulletins - where any bus that is late is posted with the approximate delay.

2. Catchment Maps

Thank you for checking these options before calling the Hanover School Division Transportation Department with your questions regarding bus delays and Steinbach urban bus routes times and maps. Any questions for transportation please call 204-320-2347.

Most school bus fatalities occur when children are outside the bus and 75% of these fatalities involve children under the age of nine.

Things Parents Should Know About Bus Safety

• School buses are the safest form of transportation
• The most dangerous part of the bus ride is getting on and off the bus
• Young children are most likely to be struck because they:
  
• Hurry to get on and off the bus
• Act before they think and have little experience with traffic
• Assume motorists will see them
• Don't always stay within the sight of the driver
  

Things Children Should Know About Bus Safety

• Stand back from the curb
• NEVER run to or from the bus
• NEVER try to pick up something that has fallen under the bus
• Stay in your seat and sit quietly so that the driver is not distracted
• Wait for the driver's signal and then cross in FRONT of the bus

Fire Prevention Week is October 5-11 and the Office of the Fire Commissioner website has been updated with all Fire Prevention Week – “Charge Into Fire Safety!” material.

There is a contest that children Kindergarten to Grade 4 can enter to win a $200 gift card as well as items for their class. Click HERE to read about the contest.

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