Forest Heights Community School

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Here is the latest message from the South Shore Regional Centre for

Education on the coronavirus:

Dear Students, Staff and Families, COVID-19 has now been declared a Pandemic. As we deal with this

extremely rare world event, we as Nova Scotians must take care of each other. We can do that by

taking immediate steps to keep our schools safe. To that end, the Province is directing public sector

employees, including teachers, who travel outside Canada to stay at home and self-isolate away from

the public for 14 days after returning to the country. These travel protocols also apply to students of

Nova Scotia public schools who have travelled outside the country with their families and all education

and support staff. In addition, the Province, CSAP and Regional Centres for Education are taking steps

to protect students while keeping schools open. As of today, the following steps are being taken:

- All out-of-province work travel, including Article 60 travel out-of-country, is being suspended for

teachers and administrators and Regional Centre for Education staff until the end of April

- All professional development activities are suspended until the end of April

- All extra-curricular activities including sports are suspended until the end of April

- All attendance policies or initiatives (provincial, regional and school-based) that penalize students for

staying home, or reward students for showing up to class, are suspended until the end of April,

- All external meetings are suspended until the end of April

- All co-operative education placements are suspended until the end of April

- All assemblies or gathering of students are suspended until the end of April.

Learning supports for students in self-isolation will be announced soon. A decision about future student

trips and the above activities planned for May and June will be made in mid-April. Currently, there are no

cases of coronavirus in Nova Scotia. However, more cases are expected in Canada. Public health officials

continue to advise Nova Scotians to stay at home and self-isolate if they feel unwell. Individuals who

develop a fever, with a temperature 38°C or higher, and/or cough should call 811 for assessment.

Doctors also say the best advice for Nova Scotians continues to be to follow proper hygiene practices,

which help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses like influenza and coronavirus.

Information is available at: - https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/ , and - Government of Canada toll-free

line: 1-833-784-4397 We are working closely with public health officials and the Province of Nova Scotia

to keep our staff and our students as safe as possible. You will likely have more questions over the coming

days, and we are committed to keeping you informed as new information becomes available.

PS: This includes all Community Use Events booked at our school (ie: Drivers Education, private

birthday parties, meetings, etc.) will be suspended after March break until the end of April.

Dates to Note:

Wednesday, March 11 - Embedded CLT Day

                                - Dismissal at 1:40

March Break is Monday, 16th to Friday, 20th inclusive.

Wednesday, April 1, 2020 - Embedded CLT Day

                                     - Dismissal at 1:40

 Friday, April 10, 2020- Good Friday (No School)

 Monday, April 13, 2020- Easter Monday (No School)

 Thursday, April 23, 2020- Report Cards go home

 Wednesday, April 22, 2020 -Embedded CLT Day

                                       - Dismissal at 1:40

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March break opportunity for grades 9-12:

A Free Job Skills Program is being offered by the

YMCA at Bridgewater Junior High starting Tuesday, March 17

to Friday March 20, 9-3 daily. Snacks and lunch are included.

Linda Jensen B.S.W, R.S.W

SchoolsPlus Facilitator/Parent Navigator

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Dear Students, Staff and Families of Forest Heights Community School:

    In 2019, Health Canada lowered the acceptable level of lead in drinking water and

introduced new testing guidelines. As a result, all schools in the South Shore

Regional Centre for Education will be tested to the new Health Canada standard.

    On December 19, the Province announced that all public schools across the

province will be provided with drinking water in January, if:

• They have not yet been tested for lead; or
• If they have been tested and it has been determined alternate water is needed.

Forest Heights has not yet been tested.

Testing can only happen in warmer weather. For your school, that will happen in spring 2020.

Until testing can take place, students and staff will not be able to access drinking water

fountains. Instead, your school will be provided with alternate drinking water for the rest

of the school year.

    To ensure we are being environmentally friendly, we encourage families to send a water

bottle or reusable cup to school with their child in the new year.

Please contact Tina Williamson, Director of Operations, if you have any questions

– This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Nova Scotia Education and Early Childhood Development has issued

an announcement regarding Changes to Gender Documentation in

Schools.  Here is the link to this document:

Changes to Gender Documentation in Schools

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Student Attendance Matters !

We want our students to reach their full potential. To reach that potential, it’s important that

they come to school regularly and on time. Regular attendance is one of the best ways

to help ensure students are successful in school and later in life. It can lead to better

grades, developing important social skills and friendships, and a greater opportunity

of graduating from high school.

When attending school regularly, students are present for class discussions,

demonstrations, group work, hands on activities, etc. These are among the most

effective ways for students to learn.

Absenteeism Facts:

•Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged,

successful and on track to graduation.
•Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling

with school work,
dealing with a bully or facing some other potentially serious difficulty.
•For high school students, missing 20% of class time puts them at risk for

losing credit in a course.
•Students can be chronically absent even if they only miss a day or two

every few weeks.

Every Day Counts...........

Missing 1 or 2 days a week doesn’t seem like much but...
If your child misses...     That equals about...      Which is about...            Equaling...

1 day/week                        40 days/year               5.5 weeks/year            22% of the school year 

2 days/week                       80 days/year              11 weeks or 3 mos       43% of the school year
3 days/week                     120 days/year               6 months                    65% of the school year

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Education and Early Childhood Development - Student Attendance Website

Fact Sheet
Policy
Operational Plan

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high standards of learning that we expect all students to achieve.

-seek and implement promising strategies for improving student

         achievement on a continuing basis;

-and demonstrate a personal commitment to the academic

         success and general well-being of all students.