UMCA Elementary School Newsletter - September 17th, 2020
Dear students and parents,
We would like to wish all our families who celebrate the Jewish New Year; Rosh H’ashana, Shana Tova! This year, more than ever before, we wish you good health!
Read MoreUMCA School Newsletter September 11, 2020
Dear parents and students,
The first week of school is over, and before we wish you all a wonderful weekend, we must say what a pleasure it was to welcome you back to school after such a long time. We would like to extend a special welcome to the students and families who are new to our school this year, and we are looking forward to an exciting, productive, and successful school year.
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Logging into your Office 365 account
Dear Students and Parents,
For a better learning experience and recent upgrade of UMCA learning environment, we are kindly inform you about some changes in our school policies.
Starting from this week every enrolled in our programs student must have UMCA office 365 account. Most of you should have it already. It looks like This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Not sure that you have one, or you have forgotten the password?
Creating Email Forwarders
Dear Parents!
As you all know we are in a process of switching to the new education platform and as a part of this process we are changing our policies on use of personal emails. From now all students must have school's email which will be used as a main communication platform. For those of you who wants to receive copies of incoming emails please watch following video which explains how to create email forwarder and add their email to their child's account.
Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0RjsuAdcQY&feature=emb_logo
Welcome Back Letter
Dear parents,
It is our pleasure to welcome our students back to school. We are happy to say that the UMCA community is growing and this year we have many new students. We would like to extend a special welcome to the students and families who are new to our school. We hope you all had a refreshing summer so that you can return to school routine with lots of energy.
Return to School Plan
Shared Responsibility
UMCA Rich Tree Academy prides itself for building a community of students, parents, faculty and staff with a shared goal of creating a safe, joyful and challenging learning environment for every student. Now, facing unprecedented times, we must all work together to keep the health and safety of our students and employees. We strongly recommend that all members of our community download the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Alert App, which can notify people about possible exposure before any symptoms appear. That way, we can continue to take care of ourselves and protect our communities.
Elementary School Newsletter - December 17, 2020
Dear Parents and Students,
We wish to use this opportunity and thank all the parents who sent us so many beautiful and thoughtful gifts. Your generosity and attention are very much appreciated, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Only a few more days until we will celebrate the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021, and what a year it was! Globally, this was one of the worst years. A world pandemic leading to economic crisis all over the world. For UMCA though, this was a great year. When the pandemic started, we successfully transitioned all our classes into online learning, keeping our students busy and on track of their academic schedule. In the summer we moved to our new home, a state-of-the-art building, with spacious classes, its own theatre and art studio, and wide hallways. We implemented strict protocols to keep our students safe and healthy. We increased our student population and even welcomed international students. We have many new teachers and subjects that we never had before, such as Spanish and Design. For all that, we are very thankful, to you, the parents, who trust us with the dearest to you – your children. Without your trust this would not have been possible.
We wish you and your families a wonderful 2021! May this year bring you good health, success, happiness, joy and prosperity! We are looking forward to seeing you all back in school, safe and healthy, on Monday January 4, 2021.
School Material
On the last day before going on winter break, all students must take their container which includes their notebooks, binders, books, and all their school material. They also must take everything from their locker, their snow pants, indoor shoes etc. While the Ministry of Education has not announced an extension to the winter break and we expect all students to return on January 4, 2021, it is important that everyone bring home their belongings. Please remind your child to take tech devices, coats and any other belongings that may be needed.
All students must bring back the containers on Monday January 4, 2021.
Homework for Winter Break
Students did not receive any work for the holiday except for some students who need to close the gap with the rest of the class and strengthen their knowledge. Please use this time to complete those assignments, as this will help you be at the same level as the rest of your class. Students who received poems to memorize, please do so over the holiday and come prepared with your poems well memorized.
If you Go on Vacation
During the holidays, it is important for everyone to adhere to the public health measures in our communities. By following public health advice, we can all have a safe and fun holiday season. You can check the government’s holiday web page for more direct and up-to-date guidance on how individuals and families can plan for a safe holiday season, including suggestions for safer holiday activities for children and families. Anyone travelling outside of Canada must follow the Government of Canada’s mandatory 14 day quarantine.
Self-screening
As a reminder, anyone feeling ill should not attend school. All children, students, staff and visitors must be screened for symptoms of illness every day before attending school or child care. Self-screening will still be a requirement when we return to school and we will continue to reinforce masking and hand hygiene as well as cohorting and physical distancing with students and staff.
High School Presentation for Grade 8 Students
On January 12, Grade 8 students and their parents are invited to a Zoom presentation about high school courses, how high school is different from elementary school, how to choose your electives wisely, and why UMCA is your best option. More information to come closer to date, please book off this evening in your calendar.
Photos
Please follow the links to enjoy the pictures we took in the past week:
Science Class https://photos.app.goo.gl/5Lcy9Z25ivNeUncX8
Art Class https://photos.app.goo.gl/2uRvrc1SPopzMaEm6
Math Class Grade 4 https://photos.app.goo.gl/dYEvezzxAmzoGycJ6
Early Bird Registration
Please be reminded that the early bird registration for the 2021-22 school year has begun! Hurry up and register to reserve your spot and enjoy reduced price. Please follow this link https://reg.umca.app/ or go to our website umca.ca and choose the registration form relevant to your child (elementary school registration for students grades 1-7, high school registration for Grade 8).
Sharing the Caring Letter
As you probably remember, a few weeks ago, our students joined efforts and collected money so they can donate it to our health care workers as a token of appreciation. Please see below the letter our Principal, Suzana Pinsky attached to the gift card:
To our beloved front line workers,
It is with immense pleasure that I am reaching out to let you know that here in UMCA the faculty and the students have come together through our ‘Sharing the Caring’ initiative to show our support and gratitude for the first line workers during the pandemic. We are profoundly grateful for all your efforts and the sacrifices you are making for us.
As the principal of UMCA, I am honored to bring the attached gift card to your attention. It is a very small token of appreciation, yet each and every student has made a contribution towards it. We would be grateful if you could write back to our students to let them know that you have received their contributions and their cards.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a very safe and happy New Year.
Kind Regards,
UMCA principal,
Suzana Pinsky.
UMCA wishes you all happy holidays, and all the best for 2021!
Elementary School Newsletter - December 10, 2020
Dear Students and Parents,
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The Week of December 14-18
It is the UMCA tradition to have the last week before Winter Break be a fun week. All teachers will not teach new material but will dedicate their class to fun and educational activities related to their subject. Therefore, if you are going on vacation you can rest assured that your child is not going to miss any new material. Please be reminded that if you leave the country you must quarantine for 14 days upon return to Canada.
During this week, attendance is optional for grades 6-8.
School Material
On the last day before going on winter break, all students must take their container which includes their notebooks, binders, books, and all their school material. They also must take everything from their locker, their snow pants, indoor shoes etc. We do hope that the Premier will not put the province on a lock down, or extent the winter break to fight the raising numbers. However, if we will be forced to shut down and go on remote learning, we want to make sure all students have all their school material with them.
Unit Tests
The units are being sent home. Please check them together with your children. No need to bring it back to school.
Reading for Grades 1-3
The students of grades 1-3 will receive books with assigned pages. As this is the only assignment for the winter break, we kindly ask you make sure your child will complete it over the break.
Early Bird Registration
Please be reminded that the early bird registration for the 2021-22 school year has begun! Hurry up and register to reserve your spot and enjoy reduced price. Please follow this link https://reg.umca.app/ or go to our website umca.ca and choose the registration form relevant to your child (elementary school registration for students grades 1-7, high school registration for Grade 8).
Photos
Please follow these links to enjoy photos taken in the last week:
Art Class - https://photos.app.goo.gl/YSBrDbTLMGirf7D46
Yoga Class - https://photos.app.goo.gl/Pk8m3gjF7BirF8ZP9
Chess Tournament Winners - https://photos.app.goo.gl/T8bcFgojst7FpruMA
Hanukkah - https://photos.app.goo.gl/g5VSyVRGDG6mHEqq8
Hanukkah Celebration
Today our students enjoyed eating Sufganiot, and heard the story about this holiday. UMCA wishes all its students and families a happy holiday, full of light, good health and happiness
UMCA Wishes you all a wonderful weekend!
Elementary School Newsletter - December 3, 2020
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Dear Students and Parents,
Winter Lights Car Drive Through
We wish to remind you that the Chekhter family is inviting all our students, their families, teachers, and staff to the Winter Lights Car Drive Through at Improve Centre parking lot, free of charge, on this Friday, December 4th from 4:00pm - 7:00pm. Complimentary hot chocolate for the students is waiting inside. We also recommend the thin Italian pizza and coffee they sell. Please find the invitation attached.
Early Bird Registration
We are happy to announce that the early bird registration for the 2021-22 school year has begun! Hurry up and register to reserve your spot and enjoy reduced price. Please follow this link https://reg.umca.app/ or go to our website umca.ca and choose the registration form relevant to your child (elementary school registration for students grades 1-7, high school registration for Grade 8).
The Week of December 14-18
It is the UMCA tradition to have the last week before Winter Break be a fun week. All teachers will not teach new material but will dedicate their class to fun and educational activities related to their subject. Therefore, if you are going on vacation you can rest assured that your child is not going to miss any new material. Please be reminded that if you leave the country you must quarantine for 14 days upon return to Canada.
Money Matters Class
In the past few weeks, our grades 6-8 enjoyed the enriching extracurricular class “Money Matters”. They learned how to manage their saving, what “good credit” means, and how to invest their money. This coming Monday is their last class in this session (this is the first part of the session. After the holidays we will continue with the second part), and we kindly ask parents not to pick them up before 4:30pm.
Being Punctual
As parents, your children look up to you and follow your behavior. Using proper language, kindness, and respect is the right example you want to give your children. Being punctual is a quality that shows respect, time management, and organizational skills. Unfortunately, we have students who constantly come late to class. This not only shows disrespect to the teacher, but also interrupts the lesson, distract the teacher and students, and makes the student miss an important part of the class. As most of the students depend on their parents for their commute to school, we kindly ask YOU the parents, please, give your child a good example. Show your child how important it is to be punctual, and not be late to school. Work with us to implement good life habits that will serve your children in their lives for many years ahead.
Candies
We kindly ask you not to send students with candies to school as they tend to share them. We have students with allergies and therefore sharing of this kind is not allowed.
Extra Clothes
We already had our first snow, and the kids love it! Weather permitting, we go out every day to play outside and breath fresh air. Please send your child dressed up for the weather. Make sure they have their outdoor boots, snow pants/splash pants, hat and gloves. With the younger grades, having an extra set of clothes (especially socks and pants) would be very useful.
Chess Tournament
In the past week, our school looked like a scene out of Queen’s Gambit. All students sitting over Chess boards concentrating on their next move. Today, we will have the final round. In two weeks, the winners will play against our teachers. So, stay tuned for news about the winners!
Photos
To enjoy pictures taken at school we invite you to follow us on FaceBook and Instagram.
Please follow these links to enjoy pictures taken in the past week:
Yoga Class – https://photos.app.goo.gl/Pk8m3gjF7BirF8ZP9
Chess Tournament - https://photos.app.goo.gl/mq3XM2g31q6ddpuu6
Design Class - https://photos.app.goo.gl/5JFpjY8i7Uni3MZ2A
Science Class Grade 6 - https://photos.app.goo.gl/79prDFSR4YbVUV7aA
Science Class Grade 4 Studying Reflection - https://photos.app.goo.gl/YMN6ChgGjScZvjvdA
Science Class Grade 3 Studying Balanced Structures - https://photos.app.goo.gl/dwLJ6ryhWoeBDuQDA
Thank you
UMCA has many followers on social media, and this week one of our posts generated so many wonderful replies from parents, it really overwhelmed us with joy! It is always nice to hear a good word and know that all our hard work is being appreciated. Thank you, dear parents, for your kind messages!
We wanted to share with you some of the comments:
“my kids are in UMCA in SK and Grade 3, They are delighted. And I am glad that they are comprehensively developing, eating deliciously, surrounded by attention and care”
“We are very pleased with this wonderful school! Attentive, kind, conscientious teachers, and the whole school’s staff. Thank you UMCA”
“this is the best school for my kids since JK! Thank you for everything!”
“We are very happy that this year we came to you in Grade 4. I regret not doing this sooner”
“I moved my girls here from public school. I am so happy I moved them. What an amazing school!”
“The best school with the best teachers team! My kiddos and us love you!”
“We have moved our 3 kids this year to UMCA from public schools and it was the best decision ever! I’m very happy with the curriculum and how the kids are progressing. UMCA has become the second home for our kids. I would definitely recommend this school. Thank you UMCA!”
“Very good school. I recommend to everyone”
“Home from home. We love you UMCA”
“Amazing school, amazing staff”
“I miss the School”
“The best school”
UMCA wishes you all a wonderful weekend!
Elementary School Newsletter - November 26, 2020
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Dear Parents and Students,
Raising Resilient Children – Lecture by Victoria Prooday
Victoria is an outspoken Occupational Therapist working with parents and children. On Monday, November 30, at 7:00 PM, Victoria will have a lecture to all parents via Zoom. In this lecture, Victoria will inspire parents with practical parenting tools for raising resilient children equipped with a mindset and life skills necessary for conquering the challenges of the real world.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87130636508?pwd=UlhTbWwvTmNHNU9ic244NEF2ckF6Zz09
Meeting ID: 871 3063 6508
Passcode: 216370
Chess Competition
Please be reminded that next week until December 4, we will the UMCA Chess Competition! We will have 3 age groups: group 1 – Grades 1 and 2, group 2 – Grades 3, 4, 5, group 3 – Grades 6, 7, 8. You can still sign up with Ms. Alina. The winner will receive $100.00!!!
Health and Sexual Education Classes
Please see below the schedule for the Health and Sexual Education classes which will start this coming Monday.
Monday, November 30th.
Grade 7 @ 2:00pm .
Grade 8 @ 1:00pm .
Thursday, December 3rd.
Grade 6a and 6b @ 2:00pm 30 min each class.
Grade 5a and 5b @3:00pm 30 min each class.
Monday, December 7th
Grade 7 @ 2:00pm .
Grade 8 @ 1:00pm.
Thursday, December 10th.
Grade 6a and 6b @ 2:00pm 30 min each class.
Grade 5a and 5b @3:00pm 30 min each class.
Photos
Please follow the link to see some picture we have taken during Math class:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ud7Yrq3yQ4M9TEkB8
and Crazy Hair Day:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ryWwFaPPZ4aU4eEp7
2021-2022 School Year Registration
The next school year is closer than it seems, and as our student population is increasing, we strongly recommend you secure your spot for the next school year, as well as enjoy the early bird registration discount. Please follow this link to complete your registration form:
https://umca.app/registration2122/registration/
The month of November is almost over, and we are very happy that three months into the school year, we are still COVID-19 free. This is thanks to extensive cleaning and sanitizations as well as wearing protective masks. UMCA is doing all it can to protect its students and staff. We ask all parents to keep reminding students the importance of always wearing masks, keeping social distance, and washing hands. We all have elderly parents or grandparents, that we wish to protect, as well as students with asthma who are at a higher risk if infected. Let's all work together to protect each and every student and staff member and keep our school COVID-free. We ask parents to avoid birthday parties with many participants, sleepovers, and playdates.
UMCA wishes you all a wonderful weekend!
