Individualized Program Plans (IPPs) Ready for Parent Review
Individualized Program Plans (IPPs) for students who require additional learning support (based on professional diagnosis) have been developed for this school year. IPPs are created to provide a personalized plan of action designed to address each student's unique educational needs. These plans are a collaborative effort between the student, their family, and their learning team, and they aim to ensure that each child receives the support they need to succeed.
By now, families with students on an IPP should have been contacted and received a copy for review. We kindly ask that you review the plan with your child and sign off on it, then return the signed copy to the school as soon as possible. Your input is essential in helping us tailor the plan to best meet your child's needs, so we encourage you to share any feedback with your child's teacher.
If you have not yet received your child’s IPP, or if you have any questions or concerns about the plan, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s classroom teacher to discuss further.
School Photo Day – October 21st!
Mark your calendars! School Photo Day is coming up on October 21st, and Lifetouch Photography will be on hand to capture beautiful individual student photos. Make sure to dress sharp and bring your brightest smile!
If your child is absent or you’re not fully satisfied with the original photos, retakes will be available in November. Additionally, in spring 2025, we’ll have another round of photos where full class photos will be taken, and students will have another opportunity for individual photos. This spring session also ensures that any new students who join our school during the year can have their pictures taken.
We’re looking forward to seeing everyone looking their best on October 21st!
Join Us for the Capitol Hill School Council & CHEES Meeting – October 17th
We invite all members of the Capitol Hill School community to the upcoming Capitol Hill School Council (CHSC) and Capitol Hill Elementary Enhancement Society (CHEES) meeting on Thursday, October 17, 2024, starting at 6:00 PM at the school. These meetings provide an excellent opportunity to get involved, share ideas, and stay informed about important school activities and initiatives. Whether you're a long-time participant or first-time attendee, we warmly welcome your presence and input.
At this month’s meeting, we’ll be discussing key updates and ongoing projects aimed at enhancing the learning environment for our students. Your voice matters, and we encourage all parents and guardians to attend, ask questions, and contribute to the conversations shaping our school’s future.
For more details on what we’ll be covering, the agenda for the October meeting can be reviewed here. If you missed the September meeting, you can catch up by reading the minutes here.
School Apparel Now Available through Sportfactor
We are excited to announce that Capitol Hill School’s official Fall 2024-25 apparel is now available through our online swag store! Whether you’re looking to show your school spirit or stay warm this season, there’s something for everyone in our stylish collection. The store features a variety of custom-made items, including t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, hoodies, jackets, hats, and toques/beanies, all available in multiple colours to suit your style.
Additionally, we are excited to offer the Donate a Shirt Program, which provides families with the opportunity to pay it forward by donating a t-shirt or hoodie to a Capitol Hill student who may not be able to purchase one. Through this initiative, we ensure that every student has the chance to wear their school pride. Thank you in advance for your generosity and support!
Important Dates:
The online store will close on October 25, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Be sure to place your orders before the deadline! Reminder, all items are custom-made and cannot be returned. Orders will be delivered to the school approximately 4-5 weeks after the store closes.
Ready to shop? Visit the store now at Capitol Hill School Fall Store or https://chsfallstore24.itemorder.com/shop/sale/
Let’s show our school spirit this fall - order your Capitol Hill School gear today!
Reminder: Playground and Campus Closed During School Hours
For the safety of our students, we remind families that our playground and school campus are closed during school hours, from 8:30 AM to 3:10 PM. While we expect parents to drop off and pick up children, including at midday for Kindergarten, we ask that you avoid lingering on school grounds or using the play structures during this time.
Occasionally, we encounter unexpected visitors, and it’s important that our staff maintain a safe environment. Remember, not all staff may know who you are, so please report to the main office if you are visiting to sign in and obtain a visitor badge. Our campus is closed to the public, and anyone on school grounds without a clear reason may be asked to leave. Thank you for helping us keep our school safe. If you have any questions, please contact the school’s principal.
Alien Inline Skating Residency – Week 2 Highlights
This week, our Alien Inline Skating Residency continued with excitement as the Grade 1, 2, and 4 students laced up their skates and took to the gym! It’s always a special delight to see how quickly our youngest skaters—like the Grade 1s and 2s—learn and master their new skating skills. From gaining confidence on wheels to gliding through the gym, they all did an amazing job.
A huge thank you to all the parent volunteers who came out to help our students with their safety gear. If you’ve ever tried to strap on all that protective equipment, you know it can be just as challenging as learning to skate!
Looking ahead to our final week (for Kindergarten and Grade 3), please remember that while students are encouraged to bring their own helmet, they aren’t mandatory—students can use the provided helmets if necessary. Also, don’t forget to send your child with socks for their inline skates. Lastly, the Acknowledgement of Risk and Consent Forms must be submitted for students to participate, so if you haven’t returned them yet, please do so as soon.
Thanks again to our wonderful School Council and CHEES for funding this fantastic program, and we look forward to more fun on wheels next week! The schedule for the final week can be viewed here.
Introducing the WITS Strategy for Conflict Resolution
This year, we are excited to introduce the WITS strategy—Walk away, Ignore, Talk it out, Seek help—as a school-wide approach to help students resolve conflicts in a peaceful and constructive way. WITS provides simple, clear steps that students can follow when they face challenges with peers, whether it’s on the playground, in class, or during everyday interactions. By empowering our students with these tools, we’re not only supporting their social and emotional development but also fostering a school culture of respect and positive problem-solving. We’ve tailored the strategy with simplified versions for our younger students and more detailed steps for older grades, ensuring that every student has the resources they need.
What makes the WITS strategy even more powerful is its flexibility—it can be used anywhere, anytime, and even by adults! We are sharing this approach with parents and families to promote consistency between school and home. When students hear the same language and steps in both environments, it reinforces their ability to handle conflicts effectively and calmly. Whether they’re at school, home, or elsewhere in the community, students can apply WITS to navigate tricky situations. We encourage families to practice using WITS at home to further support our goal of building confident, resilient problem solvers.
CHS to Participate in Take Me Outside Day – October 23
On Wednesday, October 23rd, CHS students and staff will join schools across Canada in celebrating Take Me Outside Day. This special day encourages outdoor learning and exploration as a way to promote environmental awareness and enhance educational experiences beyond the classroom. Each class will participate in a way that aligns with their unique context and curriculum. Activities may include engaging in community walks, practicing land-based learning, working in our Geodome greenhouse, or other hands-on projects designed to foster a connection with the natural environment. Whether it's exploring local ecosystems, learning about plants, or simply enjoying time outdoors, students will have the chance to experience how nature can support their learning across various subjects.
Take Me Outside Day is part of a larger national initiative aimed at getting students outdoors, and we are thrilled to be part of this movement. By stepping outside, students will be able to observe, learn, and reflect on the world around them in meaningful ways that directly relate to their educational journey. We look forward to seeing all of our classes embrace this opportunity and bring the classroom outdoors in a way that supports their learning goals.
Capitol Hill School Participates in Secret Path Week
We are proud to share that Capitol Hill School will be taking part in Secret Path Week, which runs from October 17-22, as part of our commitment to reconciliation and understanding Canada’s history. Secret Path Week is a national movement led by the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund to commemorate the legacies of Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack, a 12-year-old Anishinaabe boy who tragically died after running away from a residential school in 1966. This week serves as a time to reflect on the history of residential schools and take meaningful action toward reconciliation.
As part of our school’s ReconciliACTIONs, our Grade 6 students will be participating in the Walk for Wenjack. This symbolic walk honours Chanie’s journey and offers a powerful way for our students to connect with his story while reflecting on the importance of learning from Canada’s past. By walking together, we hope to foster empathy, understanding, and a commitment to making positive change in our community.
In addition to the Walk for Wenjack, classrooms will engage in activities and discussions that align with the values of Secret Path Week, using resources provided by the Downie Wenjack Foundation to explore the history and impact of residential schools.
We encourage families to ask their children about what they’re learning during this important week and continue the conversation at home. For more information about Secret Path Week and the work of the Downie Wenjack Foundation, you can visit downiewenjack.ca.
Save the Date – Halloween Dance!
Mark your calendars for our spooktacular Halloween Dance on Thursday, October 24th! Hosted by School Council & CHEES, this event will feature a DJ, lights, a fog machine, delicious treats, pizza, and drinks—all for the incredibly low cost of just $2!
We can’t wait to see everyone in their amazing costumes as we celebrate Halloween with fun, music, and great food. It’s going to be a frightfully fantastic night, so be sure to join us for an evening of fun and festivities! See you on the 24th!
Volunteer Opportunities at Capitol Hill School
Looking for ways to support your child and their school? We’ve made it easier than ever to get involved by gathering all of our current volunteer opportunities in one convenient place on Volunteer page of our school website. As more opportunities become available throughout the year, they will be added here for easy access.
Just to remind people of what’s currently available, the volunteer opportunities are listed below. Please feel free to sign up if you have time to spare!
- Fun Lunch Support: Help sort and distribute lunches to students. Sign up here: Fun Lunch Volunteer Sign-Up
- Casino Fundraiser: Assist with our biggest fundraiser of the year by signing up for a shift at our casino event. Sign up here: Casino Fundraiser Volunteer Sign-Up
Upcoming Dates
Oct. 14 – Thanksgiving Day – no school
Oct. 17 – School Council & CHEES meeting @ 6:00 PM
Oct. 21 – Picture Day
Oct. 17-22 – Secret Path Week
Oct. 23 – Take Me Outside Day
Oct. 24 – Halloween Dance
Oct. 25 – Non-Instructional Day – no school