October 2015 newsletter - Spitzee Elementary School

Message from Administration
Spitzee Elementary
October, 2015
Spitzee Elementary School
409 Macleod Trail
High River, AB
Phone: 652-2376
Fax: 652-4402
Welcome back to another exciting school year!
News and Highlights from Spitzee Elementary School
We are excited and happy to be back for the 2015-2016 school year! Welcome back to our existing families and a warm felt welcome those families
who may be new to us. We look forward to working with all of you this up and coming school year.
At Spitzee School we believe that life long learning occurs when the child is nurtured in a respectful, safe and caring environment that honors the
uniqueness of each child. We, in cooperation with our parents and our community, encourage our students to be risk takers, fun seekers, leaders
and owners of their own learning. Spitzee will continue to be a great place for all students, parents and community to learn through balanced programs, which stress academic, physical, social and emotional development.
Staff News!
At Spitzee we are incredibly proud of our staff. We work collaboratively together to ensure that all our students continue to learn at high levels. To
begin with we have a number of new staff members who have joined us. Ms. Shawn Baxter will be teaching Kindergarten, grade one music and
working with teachers to support our literacy goals. Miss Chelsea Bulmer, Mrs. Krista Mace and Mrs. Laura VanderSpoel will be teaching in grade
2/3 multi-aged classrooms. Mrs. Jenean Westworth will continue in the grade 4/5 multi-aged classrooms. Mrs. Kirsten Saliken and Mrs. Katie Arnholz
will be teaching grade one. As well, we would like to welcome Mrs. Vida Styra, Educational Assistant, and Mrs. Ryley Hatchard our new Family
School Liaison Councilor to our school. We are excited for you to meet our newest staff members and invite you to check out their photos and existing staff members on our front bulletin board by the office.
Construction Update!
We continue to grow in numbers! As a result we have been approved to receive a modular classroom for the 2015-2016 school year. Unfortunately
this classroom has yet to arrive. We had hoped to have it in place for the start up. We are looking at a December move in date if weather and other
variables cooperate! However, we are pleased that we have been able to accommodate children and create learning spaces that are temporary. The
learning spaces are as follows: Mrs. Misura will be teaching music primarily out of the classrooms that your children are presently in. Mrs. Misura will
travel to each of her classes and use the technology and resources available to continue to provide a top-notch music program. She will be able to
continue to offer drumming, guitar, ukuleles, choir classes etc. on the stage. We have moved to providing five Kindergarten classrooms. Ms. Baxter
has temporarily taken over the music room. This is a beautiful space, as it has access close to the washrooms, gym, and water fountains. Once we
get our new portable her class will be moving into room 119 (right across from the music room). Mrs. Westworth is in her old classroom for the time
being. Once our new modular classroom arrives she will be moving into it!
If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to come and discuss with either Mr. Mark Traber, Vice Principal or myself.
Parking, dropping off and safety!
Foothills School Division cares deeply about the wellbeing of your children. However, we need your support to help keep our students safe on their
way to and from school.
We understand how busy it is in and around the school – both along Macleod Trail and behind the school – particularly during peak drop-off and pick
-up times.
Last year school staff, parents and community members have witnessed a number of traffic issues, including:
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double parking
parking in our handicap zone in front of the school
illegal parking (including in front of or on residents’ driveways)
illegal U-turns
speeding
children being dropped off in front of the school and not using the designated cross walks
unaccompanied children darting out into traffic
Let’s work together to protect students
If you’re driving your children to school, please allow some extra time in the morning for drop-off, observe the rules of the road, heed the directions
of our school patrollers, and take care not to block area residents’ driveways. The safety and wellbeing of your children depends on our collective
efforts.
For additional parking, we have been given permission to park in the Christian Reformed Church (across the street on Macleod) during
drop off and pickup times. We are grateful to the church for providing this space to help alleviate parking congestion.
Thank you for your cooperation. Together, we can keep our children safe!
TIBITS to help us get everything up and running!
Parents and/or caregivers your children will be coming home with verification sheets that need to filled out. These forms are very important as the
information provided goes into our system and provide us with pertinent medical information about each child. As well, a Network User Agreement
has been sent home. All students in Foothills School Division must have it filled out. These forms must be back prior to September 22nd. Students
whose forms that have not been returned will not have access to computer systems. So… check back packs and ask your kids for the forms. If needed we can resend them home.
We believe we must model “conservation” to our students. Therefore, we are attempting to reduce the amount of paper we use each
month! Therefore, for September we will be sending home a paper copy of our newsletter. After that we will be posting the newsletter on the website with a goal of emailing each month a copy to all parents and/or caregivers .
On behalf of our school community we want to thank you for a wonderful start-up. We all loved seeing the kids and meeting our newest families.
Brooke MacNeill
Principal
Mark Traber
Vice Principal
O CTOBER 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
1
4
5Kananaskis 6
7
in the Classroom
Presentation
11
12
19
2 Hotdog 3
Hot lunch
8
9
10
Pizza Hot Day in Lieu
Lunch
NO
SCHOOL
13
14
15
16 Chicken 17
&Wedges
hot lunch
Thanksgiving
NO SCHOOL
18
Fri
20
21
22
23
24
Pizza Hot Staff Learning Day
lunch
NO
SCHOOL
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Hotdog
Hot lunch
Sat
Halloween @ Spitzee School
Spitzee School is celebrating Halloween on October 30 th. Students are invited to wear their costumes
on Halloween. To help make this celebration successful the following guidelines will be used:
Costumes will be put on AFTER Lunch Recess.
Students should be able to put their own costume on.
Students must be able to sit, walk, breathe, see and hear in the costume. Shoes
must be worn with costumes.
Costumes must not be of a scary, gory or adult themed nature.
Facepaint and makeup may not be worn as there isn’t time for students to put it on
during the day.
Costumes cannot be associated with drugs, alcohol or weapons in any way.
No ‘props’ such as swords, wands, guns, knives, etc.
Events happening in each class will vary. Teachers will provide information to their class about Halloween Afternoon.
Spitzee Elementary School
409 Macleod Trail
High River, AB
T1V 1B4
http://spitzee.fsd38.ab.ca
September 30, 2015
Dear Parents/Guardians:
In partnership with Bow River Regional Collaborative Service Delivery we are working together to support children/youth,
families and staff in our school.
This year, members of the School-Linked Team will be visiting our school regularly. This Team may include:
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Speech-Language Pathologist
Occupational Therapist
Mental Health supports
Other supports as required.
The School Linked Team will visit classrooms and work alongside teaching staff to plan and support all learners. The
school will contact you, followed by a call from a member of this Team, if any follow-up is required for your child. If
specific services are required your consent will be obtained prior to your child being seen the recommended supports.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the school at 403-652-2376.
Sincerely,
Brooke MacNeill
Principal
Darcy Koberinski
Learning Coach
“We All Belong”
SPITZEE SCHOOL
QSP Fundraiser
This year’s Fundraising Goal is $5,500
This will go towards OUR SCHOOL LIBRARY!
Because new materials and equipment enhances the ability for our students to learn in a
fun and safe environment.
Register Online
Why Magazines?
> Promotes ‘Raising a Reader’ at home
> Titles for all ages and interest areas
> Promotes literacy for the whole family
> Children enjoy reading topics of interest to them.
> Go to www.qsp.ca/etools and register
> New texting tool
> Share with family and friends
> Snap a selfie and send personalised messages
Online Ordering at www.qsp.ca
> Easiest way to order Magazines and Photo Products
> Save 4-6 weeks delivery time vs ordering on paper order form
> Receive photo product redemption codes immediately
> Register as parent or student to set personal goals
Online Ordering Code 3694882
Cash, Cheques and Credit Card available when using paper order form.
Cheques payable to SPITZEE SCHOOL
www.qsp.ca
Volunteers are highly valued at Spitzee School .We do
require a Criminal Record check on file. You can pick up
a letter from our front office that indicates that you are
volunteering and there will be no charge.
Page 5
We’re on the Web
Http://
Spitzee.fsd38.ab.ca
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Daydreams and Sunbeams Child Care Centre Ltd. is a progressive, inclusive learning environment,
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We strive to keep up to date in best practice and are always looking for ways to improve our facility. Because of this thirst for
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What is the Alberta Curriculum Framework? The Framework is intentional, child initiated but teacher framed, it is collaborative/
creative work between the child and educator. The Curriculum is meant to be an educational interaction between a child and educator, which enhances a child’s ability to be independent, test their abilities, pursuit knowledge in an active exciting way, and
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