| January
2009 Newsletter
Wolverine
Words
Happy
New Year and welcome to 2008! We hope everyone
had a terrific holiday and that you are prepared
for an exciting New Year full of fun and fitness.
Here
are some of the activities our students will be
enjoying this winter at Van Walleghem:
more
. . .
Toys
Needed
The
kindergarten classes are looking for any gently
used toys who are looking for a new home. If you
should be sorting through your toys and come across
some toys you feel would be appropriate please send
them to the kindergarten classroom. We would like
to thank you in advance for your donations. They
will be well used and greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Swintak and Mme Fillion
Counsellor's
Corner
Happy
New Year Everyone! I hope you had an enjoyable winter
break.
Returning
to school in January can bring challenges to students
and families with the return to routine of getting
up early in the morning and having to focus for
long periods of time during the day. Irritability
and tiredness is often noticed the first few weeks
back at school by parents and school staff. It is
very important that we try to get enough sleep,
both as children and adults, to function at our
best throughout the day.
more
. . .
Community
News
A
Public Budget Consultation Meeting to discuss the
2009/10 Pembina Trails School Division budget will
be held at:
The
Pembina Trails School Division Administration Office
181
Henlow Bay
Meeting
Room A/B
Tuesday,
February 10, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
more
. . .
|
Administration
Message
Today's
weather forecast is +22 degrees … well inside the
school anyway. The sun has been shining a
lot lately, which as any Winnipegger could tell
you, in January that means cold temps. But
inside, we are engaged in learning.
In
December we started school-wide classroom meetings.
In classroom meetings we have been focusing on bullying.
These meetings are a chance for important dialogue
amongst students and with the teacher about important
social issues. Meetings are characterized
by lots of student voice. Desks are often
pushed aside in favour of a more informal discussion
space. Ask your child what they have been
talking about. Classroom meetings will happen
on a weekly basis. Research indicates that
ongoing classroom dialogue about social issues is
the most successful strategy to reduce bullying.
Later
this week we are having and Anti-Bully pledge assembly.
The pledge is … "1. I will not bully others.
2. I will help students who are bullied. 3.
I will include students who are left out.
4. If I know that somebody is being bullied, I will
tell an adult at school and an adult at home."
Our
Charity Hamper drive was a huge success with much
praise from various outreach workers that contacted
the families after the hampers were delivered.
Thanks to the Van Walleghem community for their
tremendous generosity.
We
can now say that we have a SmartBoard or Interactive
Whiteboard in every class from Kindergarten to Grade
8. Ongoing training for teachers is taking
place with the help of our Information Communication
Mentor, Mr.
Justin
Lawson.
If
you know of anyone who would like to attend our
Kindergarten Information Evening,
please invite them to join us on February 5th at
7:00.
Welcome
to Gail Aguiar! Gail will replace Kim Wilson
in Grade 1 for 3 months while she recovers from
routine surgery.
As
always, we invite you to contact us if ever you
have a matter to discuss.
Brad
Burns and Cheryl Chuckry
Your
Administration Team
Library
Links
VW Chess Club has begun!
There are 2 Chess Clubs:
1. Chess Club- Students
in grades 5-8 who are not new to chess are encouraged
to attend. When and Where? Monday and Wednesday
from 12:25-1:00pm in the Library.
2. Learn to Play- Students
in grades 3 and 4 with limited or no Chess experience
are encouraged to attend.
(This Club will begin in February! More details
to follow in the February newsletter.)
more
. . .
|
Calendar
(online)
Home
Notes
. . . From the Music Room
A
huge thank you to our Van Walleghem Community, staff
students and parents, for their support around our
recent holiday concert ‘Once On A Housetop!' The
students worked very hard on their musical selections
and were pleased to see such a large audience come
out to hear their various grade performances.
more
. . .
Band
News
more
. . .
Christmas
Hamper Drive
I
would like to congratulate the Teachers and Students
from Van Walleghem School for all their efforts
with the recent Christmas Hamper Drive. You can
be assured that your generosity was much appreciated
by our clients and staff alike.
The
sheer volume of food and gifts was quite overwhelming
for many of our families. Most of these people would
not have enjoyed such a bountiful Christmas if it
weren't for all your hard work.
We
are hoping that your Students also benefitted from
this experience by realizing how much is gained
by giving unconditionally.
Our
Social Workers can not thank you enough. The true
meaning of Christmas is alive and well at Van Walleghem
School. Thanks again!
Terry
Williams and the River East Unit, Winnipeg
Child and Family Services.
Parent
Council Reminder
Parent Council next
meets on Tuesday, January 13 th at 7:00 p.m. in
the school library. We would welcome all interested
parents to attend the January 13 th meeting. We
look forward to seeing you.
Ron Banister and Debra Poskar
Co-Chairs Parent Council
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