Last Saturday, our grade 6 classes participated in an Instrumental Music Camp organized by Michael Samotowka and subsidized by community funds through Parent Council. The day was spectacular as the students had a day full of instruction on their instrument from professionals in the industry. Mid-day the students were treated to some pizza and had a recreational break. After their afternoon instruction, they, along with parents, were treated to a short performance by their instructors and the students. Mr. Goldberg, our strings teacher taught a small group also. Mr. Samotowka should be commended for bringing forth such a great idea as the experience for the students was outstanding. We've had many positive comments from our grade 6 parents already. Thank you to Ms. Greifenberger, Ms. Burdon, Ms. Lawson, Ms. Kranias, Ms. Syptak, Ms. McNeely and Mr. Virani who helped organize the pizza and details.
I'd also like to thank Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Young and members of the Parent Council Education Committee for organizing our Anaylphylatic Day again. The kids really enjoyed the performance by Kyle Dine as he informed us, through song and dance, about food allergies. Posters have been placed around the school reminding kids to be a PAL (Protect a Life) to their peers who have allergies. In class presentations, students were reminded about what to do in the event of an allergic reaction and further instruction on how to use an epi-pen took place; their favourite part! Our dedicated parents will be back next week for our grade 5-8 Sharing Assemblies. I'd also like to thank Loblaws (Humbertown & Humbercrest) for donating our safe snacks!
We had our second Parent Council Meeting on Monday; the first for the new Executive consisting of Mrs. Laco, Mrs. Townsend, Mrs. Haslam, Mrs. Hinckley, and Mrs. Miller. Each sub-committee was given the opportunity to update us on their committee work and Grace, our grade 8 student rep talked about her role on the grade 6-8 student council and Seeds of Hope. Thank you to Mrs. McGee who gave her staff report and Mr. Lanis for making a presentation on our EQAO and other data that we use at LKS to inform our practices. I was given some time to remind parents to use our new on-line booking procedures for booking Parent/Teacher Interviews (please see Grade Parent email this week again). Also, our kindergarten teachers will be sending home an Early Literacy Survey to our kindergarten parents to help us continue to better program for our little ones and to provide a starting point for a workshop that we would like to present to parents on best practices for teaching your child to read and write at home. We are really looking forward to this project. All Parent Council minutes should be on our website.
Finally, this week I had a few chats with some children in our younger classes as they were struggling with some pretty common issues around "friendships". I thought I would send you this link that might be useful to you if your child is of similar age and dealing with some social "concerns". The article gives strategies that parents can use when discussing positive and negative aspects of friendships at this age: http://childparenting.about.com/od/socialdevelopment/a/makefriends.htm
24th-Mrs. Gibson/Mrs. Olson to Outdoor Ed
25th-Junior/Intermediate Sharing Assemblies
27th-Kindergarten Sharing Assemblies; Sr Football @ Deer Park
28th-Photo Retake Day and Sibling Photo Day; Mr. Blais morning class performs mini-concert and visits Retirement home; Grade 2/3 Author visit
31st-Happy Hallowe'en Parade
November
2nd-Q-Mac Anti-Bullying Assembly at 1:00 for K-8; Eco-Warrior Meeting
4th-Pizza Lunch
11th-Remembrance Day Assembly
14th-Report Cards Go Home; Scientists in the School visit Mrs. Younger and Mrs. Olson; Parent Council @ 7:30 p.m.
14th-18th-Parent Teacher Interviews
15th-Scientist in the School visit Mrs. Gibson/Mrs. Hall
18th-Professional Development Day-End of Parent/Teacher Interviews
22nd-Parent Information Night @ 6:00 p.m. (Topic: Children's Eating Disorders)
25th-Kindergarten Sharing Assemblies; Parent Social: Earth @ 7:30 p.m.
29th-Junior and Intermediate Sharing Assemblies
December
2nd-Pizza Lunch
7th-Eco-Warriors Meeting
9th-PA Day
21st-Kindergarten Sharing Assembly
22nd-Junior and Intermediate Sharing Assemblies
23rd-Last Day of School
January
9th-School Begins; Police Visits for Mrs. Gibson, Mrs. Younger, Mrs. Hall, Ms. Mandel, Mrs. Olson and Mrs. Shklar
11th-Eco-Warriors Meeting
13th-Pizza Lunch
16th-Police visit Mrs. Seitz, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Iafrate, Ms. Walker, Mrs. Young; Parent Council @ 7:30 p.m.
27th-PA Day
February
8th-Eco-Warriors Meeting; Kindergarten Registration
9th-Kindergarten Registration
10th-Pizza Lunch
13th-Parent Council @ 7:30 p.m.
14th-Happy Valentine's Day
17th-PA Day
20th-Family Day
March
7th-Eco-Warriors Meeting
12th-16th-March Break
April
6th and 8th-Good Friday and Easter Monday
16th-Parent Council @ 7:30 p.m.
20th-Pizza Lunch
May
2nd-Eco-Warriors Meeting
11th-Pizza Lunch
14th-Parent Council @ 7:30 p.m.
21st-Victoria Day
June
1st-PA Day
6th-Eco-Warriors Meeting
8th-Pizza Lunch
15th-Grade 8 Graduation
18th-22nd-Grade 8 Quebec Trip
26th-Reports Go Home
28th-Year End Assembly and Lunch on the Lawn
