April 21st, 2011

Thank you so much to our Eco-Warriors and the committee of teachers and parents who organized all of our Earth Week activities. Today, the entire school met in the Shale Pit for a group shot. Check out SNAP for our "green" photo. A special thank you to Ms. Moser, Mrs. Cooper and Mrs. Besner for all their hard work.

Just a quick reminder that if your child will not be here in September, to please inform your class teacher and the office. The information is very important as we continue with our planning. As we head into the last two months of school, we will also be completing student placements. As in previous years, staff work together in teams to place the students in classes for the following September. Gender, academic achievement, social needs, and ministry caps are among the list of things that we consider when placing children. The goal of student placements is to have 'balanced' classes. As most of you know, we do not take 'teacher' requests from parents and we ask that you honour this part of the process. By the end of the year, teachers have a good understanding of their students and place the children accordingly. In most cases, staffing hasn't fully been completed until the end of the year, and as most of you know, changes happen all the way into September. We thank you in advance.

I hope you have a great long weekend. For those of you who celebrate Easter, I hope you have a wonderful time with your friends and family.

April
25th Easter Monday-no school
29th-Sharing Assemblies

May
6th-Mr. Lanis and Mrs. McGee attend Literacy Conference with some students
14th-Springfest
16th-Dental Screening; Grade 8 Artwork on Display at Islington (Contact Exhibition): Junior and Senior Soccer
19th-Pizza Lunch
20th-PA Day and Victoria Day (23rd)
24th-27th-Book Fair!
26th-Grade 4 Scientists in School (and 27th-afternoon)
May 30th-June 1st-Grade 3 and 6 EQAO
May 31st-Grade 1-5 Music Concert @ 6:30 p.m.

June
1st-Grade 6-8 Music Concert @ 7:00 p.m.
2nd-Grade 2s visit Harbourfront
6th-Grade 8 Quebec Trip
10th-Pizza Lunch
13th-Parent Council
17th-Sharing Assemblies
24th-Grade 8 Graduation
29th-Last Day for Students; Lunch on the Lawn; Year End Assembly

Earth Week

Thank you to Mr. Mclean, Mrs. Perry, Mrs. Cooper (Parent Council Environmental Rep), and the many parent volunteers for all their help organizing all the events that will take place next week. Our Kick-Off Assembly starts on Monday, followed by Green Day on Tuesday, the evening presentation on Wednesday, Litterless Lunch on Thursday and the final clean-up of the grounds on Friday. It should prove to be a great success. A special thank you goes out to the student Environmental Warriors! You've done a great job so far encouraging all of us to be more conscientious of our environment.

This week we met with the City and the Board to finalize plans for expanding our playground into the property next to the pool. The plan is to have the work complete for September. Also, the windows in Mr. Bracht's room are to be replaced with ones that open; we are hoping the work gets done sooner than later.

This week we had an entertaining play, Robin Hood, for the primary and grades 4-5 classes this week. Thank you to Parent Council for organizing this great event. We do love hosting performances for the kids as they allow another learning opportunity for storytelling.

Our grade 6 and 3 teachers having been working with our math consultant to help plan for EQAO. The students have been practising sample questions in preparation. The kids really get a chance to see where they can improve their skill level as they take the questions up together. If you would like more information on EQAO, please feel free to visit the Ministry website.

May Dates
3rd-Springfest
8th-Dr. de Braga and a few grade 8 scientists attend Hydraulics workshop
9th-Sharing Assemblies
12th-Senior Girls' Soccer all day and Parent Council Meeting @ 7:30 p.m.
13th-Mrs. Caddel & Mr. Blais take grade 6 & 8 students to an Equity Conference
15th-Author Veronika Charles visits and Jr.Girls' Soccer
16th-Senior Boys' Soccer all day; Free the Children Assembly
20th-Forest of Reading Celebration @ Harbourfront for some grade 6-8 students
22nd-Celebration Lunch for Forest of Reading; Junior Boys Soccer all day; Kindergarten Spring Concert
23rd-Track & Field
26th-EQAO Begins for grade 3 & 6