I have a lot to share so I will try to keep it manageable and readable.
Thank-you for all the support at last night's after school meeting- I am very encouraged that there are so many willing and able bodies interested in helping the fundraising efforts for our children. Fundraising 'sucks' (to put a student descriptor on it) but unfortuately, it is a necessery evil.
The following decisions were made about our fundraising ventures and the dates were agreed to- thank- you for your ideas, for listening and for the quick, grumble-free sign up :)
- March 27th- Garage Sale- household items only (no clothing) If you could gather and collect some working but no longer needed household items that you wouldn't mind donating to our Camp Garage Sale please consider bringing them to our sale- some details are being looked into right now about whether we can have the gymnasium or will use the undercover area.
- A few other ideas for the Saturday of the garage sale was to offer a bake sale table, bags of popcorn, maybe some hotdogs (M&M) and coffee (Starbucks) and possibly see if we have access to water for washing cars!! Busy but it shopuld offer us some really good opportunbities to hit the local community and not just our families.
- One parent has agreed to put our Ad in the paper and we can advertise with local posters and on Mtn. F.M.
- April 17th (Saturday) has been earmarked for a bottle drive. More info. will be forthcoming- one thing at a time but please be aware that we have an account at the bottle Depot on Queensway and you can add to it anytime if you want to assist the fundraising effort- a few parents said that they would ask for the recycling at the office and add it to our account. My husband has been doing our class recycling to date and we have a bit of start money for Camp (not huge- but every little counts)
- I have agreed to write and mail a standard letter asking local businesses to perhaps sponsor one student or even provide a donation towards the transportation fund. If you have any other ideas they would be welcome- it is just that time seems to be very limited due to the early camp date of May 3-7th. We could possibly try a couple of fundraising ideas after camp but I always find that the impetus is not there after the fact!!
Don Ross Presentation
Mr. Massey, the vice-principal, and Mrs. Perkins, the principal, of Don Ross made a power point presentation to share information about the 'middle school program' that is being undertaken in the fall when all the grade sevens go to Don Ross for grade eight. This presentation is available on the Don Ross website which is worth a visit and the District wqebsite if you would like to access it yourself.
They left extra copies of the handout "Course Selection 2010-2011" and I can, if you are interested, send these home with your son or daughter before the day we do our course selection at school next Tuesday (March 16th). Among other discussion, the following things were what I considered to be the most pressing for you to know
- there is no current information on bussing routes, bus times or any final decision on the possible time change for classes Don Ross (currently they start classes at 8:40am). They are considering a start time change to later (not confirmed)
- the grade eight program has little curricular choice as it is mandated by the government. The only decision for timetabling is whether to go into the Band or Art/drama rotation.
- An Open House is being planned for May and all the grade seven students and their parents will be invited and given a tour. Date and details TBA
- A grade seven Rally day will be held in June when all the students will get the chance to mingle and socially meetr each other and the staff. Date TBA
- The organization of classes seems to be a bit different - using teams and small pods and having students in a 'home room' of approximately 15 - but they will move through different classes and experience different teahcers and get the chance to try 'electives' (computers, shop, drama,art, music etc.)
- The principal is very willing to hear from you by phone or e-mail and is encouraging any parent questions or concerns to be addressed to her or Mr.Massey at any time - just let us know and we will do our best to get the right person to answer.
- next year there will be grade 10's there for one more year. The current population at the school is 390. Next year it will spike a little to 450. (the school was originally built to hold 550)
Hope this is comprehensive enough to at least give you some idea of what the presentation was about. Again any questions or concerns just let me know.I might not have all the answers but this is a big change and we need to work through it together. I'm still not 100% sure how I feel about it yet as a teacher and a parent!!
Today at school
Reminders: collecting for Sledge hockey fieldtrip, floor hockey permission, Regal Sales (include 12% tax) and Purdy's- all orders and sales due by this Friday March 12th
returned the majority of socials projects (some away) and thje spelling tests Unit 17 and 18
spelling unit 19
journal write
SRA reading lab.
Math- extension of integer skills and a journal entry about personal math confidence
Physical Education
DEAR
Personal Planning - inventory of social needs - Belonging? Power? Freedom? Fun? you'd be surprised (or not) that approximately 50% of students scored highest in the need for FUN- it is just where they are at developmentally.
Art
Dismissal
Homework
asked students to complete the math worksheet (integers) if they had not yet finished
novel Dragon Keeper
forms, sales, orders and a school newsletter went home today
Have a good night- enjoy
Mrs. J.
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