December
2008 Newsletter
Band
News
more
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Decorations
for Donation
On Tuesday, December
9, students from 6 van Hoof will visit classrooms
to collect donations for school uniforms for less
fortunate children within the Dominican Republic.
As a thank you, students from 6 van Hoof will
reward each donation ($1.00 - $5.00) with a handmade
holiday decoration.
Thanks for your support!
Muffin
Sale!
On
Wednesday December 10th, Student Voice is having
a muffin sale! For only 75¢, you can buy
a muffin! Choose from banana chocolate chip and
oatmeal chocolate chip.
All
proceeds from the sale will go to the Ladybug
Foundation, a program that raises money for homeless
people in Canada. So, if you want to help homeless
people and you like a good muffin, buy one on
December 10th!
by
Harrison and Sam
Report
From Parent Council
Parent Council continues
to meet on the second Tuesday of each month, although
it will not be meeting during December due to
the hectic holiday season. The next Parent
Council meeting will take place on January 13,
2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the school library.
The Parent Council, with the strong support and
advocacy of Van Walleghem's school administration,
is actively addressing its safety concern in the
use of elementary schools as polling stations.
This issue stems from an incident some 18 months
ago where, during a provincial election, there
was an attempted abduction of a student from the
school's playground during a recess break . While
the school administration took appropriate safety
measures immediately upon learning of the incident
and the student found safety, the Parent Council
is very concerned that the safety of our children
continues to be put in jeopardy through the continued
use of elementary schools as polling stations.
As a result, the Co-Chairs of the Parent Council
attended a recent meeting of the School
Trustees. The Co-Chairs presented to the
Trustees our position that: (a) the safety
of our children should be the paramount consideration
for any activities that occur in our schools;
and (b) our children continue to be placed at
risk each and every time an elementary school
is used as a polling station. The Trustees
advised that they would respond to our presentation
in due course. Presently, we are awaiting word
from the Trustees as to their position on this
issue.
On other fronts, at the November Parent Council
meeting, committee members reviewed a possible
addition to our newly installed play structure.
The committee also received a report on the highly
successful Fall Classic event that occurred in
October. As well, planning continues for a family
social night for parents and students for late
winter/early spring of 2009. We would welcome
and encourage parents to attend our next meeting
on January 13th to contribute their views and
ideas regarding all of these endeavors.
On a final note, parents may have noticed that
to date, there has not been a "hot lunch"
offered for the children. In past years,
there has generally been a hot lunch organized
by the Parent Council hot lunch representative
on a monthly basis. Unfortunately, we have
not been able to recruit a hot lunch volunteer,
despite our best efforts to do so. If there
is a parent (or parents) who would be interested
in organizing the once a month hot lunch program,
please contact Debra Poskar at 489-4066.
We wish each of you, and your families, a wonderful
holiday season and a happy and healthy new year!
Debra Poskar and Ron Banister
Co-Chairs Van Walleghem Parent Council
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Administration
Message
Van
Walleghem is a 5 star school but this time of year
the fourth star seems to shine the brightest. The
Action Star calls us to help our community and the
world, to reach out to others and to make the world
a better place.
In
November, we had a visit from Auntie Rita, a member
of the community in Uganda, that has benefitted
from the support our community has provided. She
came to Van Walleghem to thank the students for
their generous gifts of school supplies last school
year and to show photos of her country including
the many children that have benefitted through the
support of Heart Strings Mission. Our Student Voice
will pursue a campaign in February as part of their
global initiative for Action.
Many
classrooms will be preparing hampers to assist families
in need in Winnipeg. It
is heart-warming to see that our students appreciate
that they are fortunate and are actively involved
in helping others.
With
the arrival of winter weather, you may wish to add
your name to the notify list for our advisory page.
We use the advisory to send an electronic message
in the event of bus or school cancellation. To add
your name to the notify list simply click here,
choose 'notify' and continue.
Have
you ever wondered what improvements the staff of
VW have planned for this year? If so visit our school
plan at http://www.pembinatrails.ca/vanwalleghem/
schoolplan2008.pdf.
Plans include the implementation of the new
math curriculum which will include the purchase
of new resources such as texts, software and hands-on
materials. We will also continue with the implementation
of the Olweus Anti-Bully program. Specifically,
all students will participate in classroom meetings
where discussions and role-plays will take place
about bullying. The first meetings will take place
this month.
We
would like to take this opportunity to wish you
and yours a season filled with beautiful moments
and cherished memories.
Brad
Burns & Cheryl Chuckry
Your
Admin Team
Once
on a Housetop - Holiday Concert
Please
Circle your calendars for our annual Holiday Concert
which will be held at Church of the Rock on December
16th at 7:00 pm. Doors open at 6:30.
There is loads of parking and seating for 2000,
and a high stage so that all students will be seen
and heard!
Since
we have moved to a new venue this year, we will
be having a silver collection to cover the cost
of the facilities. We ask that a $2 donation
be made for each adult attending the performance.
As
well, we will be collecting items for Christmas
Cheer Board hampers that will be assembled by 'Church
of the Rock'.
more
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Roots
of Empathy
Mrs.
Craddock’s class is having a wonderful time
watching baby Hazel grow and develop! Hazel is rolling
over, smiling at her class, loves to listen to the
class singing, and indicates clearly when she has
had enough of us! Students are learning and relearning
their early childhood songs and are taking much
delight in Hazel’s visits. We have one more
visit before the holiday break. For the next visit,
we will have a CD ready of our voices in song for
her to enjoy between school visits.
Wolverine
Words
The
volleyball season at Van Walleghem is coming to
an end during this the last week in November. In
many ways it has been an excellent season with many
successes and some failures. The failures or losses
are really just excellent teaching opportunities
as everyone learns to keep it in perspective and
deal with it in a positive way. And then learn what
they need to do to improve for the next time. It
is an excellent practice planner as it gives you
things to work on.
more
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Christmas
Hampers
It
is that time of year when we begin to scurry around
preparing for our holiday celebrations. For a second
year, Ecole Van Walleghem School is teaming with
Child and Family Services to provide hampers to
those less fortunate.
The
families that we have are extremely impoverished
and desperately need our assistance. These particular
families have no connection with the work done by
the Christmas Cheer Board and without our help;
they would have no Christmas at all. Besides the
usual food items and a new gift for the children,
we are also accepting “gently used”
age and size appropriate clothes, toys, books, etc.
The families for whom we are preparing hampers really
need and appreciate our efforts.
Please
help Ecole Van Walleghem make someone’s holiday
brighter.
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Calendar
(online)
Home
Notes
from the
Music Room
Remembrance
Day Choir:
Special thanks to our Grade 3 and 4 Choir participants
for their excellent efforts in performing at our
recent Remembrance Day service, and a week later,
for the Hearts Strings delegates! Bravo! Their poise,
and musicianship were appreciated by all audiences!
Term Two Choir Opportunity:
There will be a 5/6 choir formed for interested
participants after the Winter Holiday break. These
choristers will have an opportunity to perform at
the PT Sings festival in early February. More information
will be sent home in a letter in the New Year!
Lost
and Found Items Sent to Charity
After
items have had a reasonable amount of time to be
claimed, they are processed for charity. If
we find a name in the garment they are returned
to the child. If there is no name they are
washed and sent to charity.
As you can see by the photo, it is the exception
to find a child's name.
Counsellor's
Corner
November
was a very busy month meeting many students and
their families. Thank you to all of those students
and parents who went out of their way to introduce
themselves to me in the last month. This has helped
me tremendously in getting to know who’s who
at Van Walleghem.
more
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Community
News
The
Festival of Trees and Lights celebrates its 20th
year in 2008. This year the Festival runs from November
21 to December 7 at Assiniboine Park Conservatory.
Some highlights include; open daily at 9:00 a.m.,
free admission, entertainment daily, family day
December 6 with a visit from Santa with live reindeer
and the Folklorama mascot, and the tree raffle December
7 at 3:00 p.m. For more information please phone
895-4560 or visit the website at www.friendsfestival.com
.
more
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Reduce
Reuse Recycle
Van
Walleghem is starting an environmental committee
to raise awareness about recycling and environmental
concerns around the school. Here's how you
can help!
more
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Craft
Club
With
the return of the cold weather, Craft Club has begun
again. The club takes place during the noon
hour and is run by lunch hour supervisors Shelley
Fisher and Tina Strong.
more
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Library
Links
Circle
of Love Reading Event:
Thank
you to all our guest readers who attended our November
Circle of Love! A special thank you to Mrs. Chuckry,
who was our Special Reader.
Our next Circle of Love will take place on Wednesday,
December 10 th with our kindergarten classes
(AM) from 9:30-10:30 am in the Library and (PM)
from 1:30-2:30 pm. A very special reader will
be “flying in” for this occasion!
more
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