Administration Message

Happy Thanksgiving! We have much to be thankful for.

The school year is off to a great start at VW. It takes a whole community to make such a fine school possible. We can all celebrate that things are running very smoothly!

We look forward to seeing many VW families on Thanksgiving Monday for the Fall Classic. Walk or run and enjoy a free hot brunch and lots of prizes. The Fall Classic is the main fundraiser for the VW Parent Council. For more information visit www.lwfc.ca .

The Walkathon was a huge success. Walkathon funds are used for a variety of in-school initiatives including bringing Artists in the School to Van Walleghem. Last month we enjoyed the entertainment of Jake Chenier, a Juno award winning St. Boniface entertainer.

Later this month, we will be holding conferences. Your child's teacher is looking forward to meeting with you and your child to discuss goals for the year. In the younger grades the teacher will take some time with parents only and then the child will be asked to join the conference. The inclusion of the students in the conference helps the child to grow in personal responsibility for their learning.

Election Day is October 14 and for many people, Van Walleghem is their polling station. There will be several special initiatives to ensure student safety and get kids involved in the election process. Student will be asked to enter and exit through the Middle Years doors so that the main hallway can be used for citizens who are coming to vote. A security guard will help guide voters to the gym. Hallway doors off the main hallway will be locked for the day. We are also asking for parent volunteers to take part in supervision on Election Day. If you are available, please send an email to bradburns@pembinatrails.ca . We will especially need support from 3:00 to 3:45 in the front loop. On the educational side, many students will visit the gym with their teacher to witness the community voting and will then have the chance to vote in a mock election (results to be announced the following day).

Have a happy Thanksgiving.

Brad Burns          Cheryl Chuckry

Principal              Vice Principal

l

Working Together

I dreamt I stood in a studio
And watched two sculptors there.
The clay they used was a young child's
mind
And they fashioned it with care.
One was a teacher-the tools he used
Were books, music and art.
The other, a parent, worked with a guiding hand
And a gentle loving heart.

Day after day, the teacher toiled
With touch that was deft and sure.
While the parent laboured by his side
And polished and smoothed it o'er.
And when at least their task was done
They were proud of what they had
wrought.
For the things they had molded into
the child
Could neither be sold nor bought.
And each agreed they would have failed
If each had worked alone.
For behind the parent, stood the school
And behind the teacher the home.

- Author Unknown

Wolverine Words

Hard to believe, but it is true that we have almost finished the month of September and that fall is truly here. Our Grade 8 volleyball teams are busy prepping for the upcoming volleyball season. A big thank-you to our coaches Mme Munro and Mme Hutchinson who are working with the girls and Mr. Toews who is coaching the boys. Thanks as well to Mr. Brewster, who is helping out as a special consultant. The boys will be playing on Mondays and the girls will be playing on Wednesdays. All parents and grand-parents are invited to come out and support their favourite player. Van Walleghem School will be hosting two volleyball tournaments for each team. The Grade 8 girls will be hosting a tournament on Saturday October 25th and the Grade 8 boys will be hosting a tournament on Saturday November 1st.

more . . .