tiger times - South Branch School Council

JUNE 2011
South Branch Elementary School
TIGER TIMES
John Gow
Jennifer Moore
Principal
Vice Principal
“We cannot afford poverty of vision, let alone poverty of aspiration.
There are always risks in changing, but the risk of failing to change is
much greater.”
Principal’s Message
Dear South Branch Families,
Our Plant, Bake, Book and Craft Sale was a huge success! Our parents worked very hard to
host the successful event on Saturday, May 14th. Another fine example of community
support for our great school.
Champion
for Kids
Fun RunWalk
Throughout the year, I have many opportunities to tour prospective students and their
families through our school. It is with great pride that we receive our new families who are
thrilled to join our highly effective school.
Our former Office Administrator, Dana McMillan has moved to Benson PS. We are pleased to
welcome Leslie Thompson to our team.
Sincerely,
J. Gow
Extra Mile Award for Chair, David Watson
In this Issue
Our Parent Council Chair, David Watson, received the Extra Mile award from
• Principal’s Message
our Director of Education. David committed much time and skill to leading
• Le Coin de Français
our Parent Council and organized two successful Parent University sessions
• Talent Show
• Sports Update
• African Drummers
• Music Notes
• Monthly Calendar
• Arts Festival BBQ
• EQOA Testing
for our school community. On behalf of our students and parents, Thank you David!
TIGER TIMES
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Plant, Book & Bake Sale: Thank-you to everyone who helped to make the Plant, Book & Bake Sale a huge success! Thank you to those who donated plants, books, silent auction items, raffle basket items and baked goods;
to those who helped set up and tear down; to those who worked at the tables; and lastly to those who braved the
weather and came out to support the event. A total of $3269.38 was raised, and we had some record breaking
sales in plants and baked goods this year. Thanks to all!!!!
Back to School Shopping Made Easy: South Branch Elementary has partnered with Best Tools for Schools! Best
Tools for Schools provides customized school supply kits based on individual classroom teachers’ lists. You can
conveniently purchase your child’s school supplies at www.toolsforschools.ca from June 24 to August 21. Kits will
be delivered to our school the week before classes start and a contribution of $4 per kit will be made to South
Branch. Thank-you to Candace for coming out to our school’s Plant, Book and Bake Sale to showcase the Best
Tools for Schools kits.
Free Hot Lunch: Parent Council will be sponsoring a free hot lunch to all students on the last day of school. Students will receive a free hot dog, drink and chips.
Notice to all Graduating Grade 8’s: There has been a change from the Ministry of Education regarding the
mandatory volunteer hours required to graduate from High School. All Grade 8 Students can start collecting their
volunteer hours during the summer between Grade 8 and Grade 9.
Big Brothers and Big Sisters: At the last Parent Council meeting a presentation was made by Lindsay Butcher of
Big Brothers and Big Sisters. A new Big Brothers and Big Sisters office has opened in Kemptville at the Municipal
Center. There are already some “littles” waiting for a match. If you are interested in volunteering please visit their
website at www.mentoringmatters.ca .
Volunteers Needed: All of the Parent Council initiatives are run by parent volunteers. In order to keep these great
programs going, we need your help! In the fall we will be looking for volunteers to help with: Book Swap, Hot
lunches, the Parent University, and the Plant, Book and Bake Sale, to name but a few areas. All volunteers are
required to have a current Vulnerable Sector Screening (police check); forms can be picked up in the office. If you
have any questions about the upcoming volunteer opportunities at South Branch, please contact Sheri Getz at
[email protected] .
Thank-you and Good-Bye: At the end of this school year Parent Council will say good-bye to our current Chair
David Watson. David has been a devoted member of Parent Council, and has sat more than once as the Chair.
David has been involved in numerous initiatives and activities associated with Parent Council and he has given
many hours and much hard work to the school. David recently received the “Director’s Extra Mile Award” for his
work on South Branch’s “Parent University”. Congratulations to David and thank-you for your time and dedication
to South Branch; your wit, humour, and hard work will be missed!
Mark Your Calendars:
• Arts Festival Night: Keep June 23rd free and come out to the South Branch Arts Festival. Each class will present something unique.
• Family of Schools “Make it Your Own Day”: The North Grenville District Family of Schools is hosting a "Make It
Your Own" day for Grades 5, 6, 7, & 8 from Kemptville Public, Merrickville Public, Oxford-on-Rideau and South
Branch Elementary on June 13th.
• Book Swap: The final Book Swap for this school year will take place on Tuesday June 14th. Make your selections for summer reading! A reminder that students can receive credits to use at the Book Swap by donating
books that they have finished reading.
• Parent Council Meeting: The next South Branch Parent Council meeting will take place on Tuesday June 14th
at 6:30 p.m. at South Branch School. Join us at a meeting to share your thoughts, ideas or concerns.
Ribfest: In support of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Leeds and Grenville, the first Annual Ribfest will take place
June 17th-19th at the North Grenville Municipal Centre. Ribfest will offer many free family activities.
Don’t forget, you can visit our website at www.southbranchcouncil.ca for contact information, lunch order forms,
the bus cancelation link, and up to the minute information on what’s happening around the school.
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South Branch Badminton
On Tuesday May 17th, the Badminton team competed in a family of schools tournament at North
Grenville DHS. Excellent badminton skills and sportsmanship were shown by South Branch players.
Scores were close and lots of experience was gained.
In Men’s Singles:
Andrew MacFarlane and Riley Schoonderbeek played very good games that were really close.
Andrew placed 3rd in the finals.
In Ladies Singles:
Kelly Snider and Morgan Davies played an outstanding tournament and put forth an excellent effort
but did not make it to the finals.
In Mixed Doubles:
Allison Huff and Kiefer Delorme played some great games and gained valuable experience. Andrew
Caicco and Dana Meester played well to get into the semi-finals and placed fourth overall.
In Ladies Doubles:
Both Ashley Allen and Ashley McEwen and Callie Adamson and Carrie Pala displayed excellent
sportsmanship and gained valuable experience for next year. Ashley Allen and Ashley McEwen were
undefeated throughout round robin play and lost in a heartbreaking final to place second overall.
In Men’s Doubles:
Jonny Karam and Alaric Eamon played an intense number of matches making it to the finals and
placing third overall. The team of Wesley Keating and Aaron DeVille also played well and advanced
to the final placing fourth overall.
All players gained valuable experience and congratulations goes out to everyone. Thanks for a
great season.
Mrs. Prosper
Le Coin de Français Mdme Smith
We are into the home stretch of our year! All my classes have been working on final
projects related to the plays and have also presented their plays to their peers. I am
very impressed with all of the hard work and effort that has gone into these
assignments and it is evident that we have made a great deal of progress this year.
Every student should be extremely proud of their achievements. Portfolios have
been sent home for sharing, and I encourage you to spend some time listening to
your child explain the story and show you the activities that they have completed.
There is a form for you to sign and share your comments. Please return it to the
school, so that I can read all of the wonderful things you have to say about your
child. This is my favorite part of our final assignments!
Over the course of the last few weeks, we will change gears and focus on some
different themes in each of my classes. We will take a more artistic approach and
the fruits of the students’ labor will be on display at the arts festival.
It has been a great year filled with many activities and a great deal of learning. I
wish everyone a fantastic summer holiday, and I look forward to working with you
again in the fall.
“Merci beaucoup” for your support of our French program at South Branch!
Page 4
Saturday, May 28th in Kemptville: See more notes on Page 9
Page 5
Character Education
Our final Character Education assembly of this year will be held on June 15th at 9:30 am. The Grade 8
classes will be hosting the assembly and the virtue they will be recognizing is resilience. Parents are welcome to attend the assembly.
PINK SHIRT DAY
On May 6th South Branch students and staff celebrated Pink Shirt Day. We had a
SEA of PINK assembly in the gym for all our students. During the assembly we
had a group of grade 6 students (Megan Watters, Hannah Oliver, Owen Crawford,
Billy Farrell, Grace Stephens and Emma Poole) present an informative slide show
they created on types of bullying and tips to beat bullying behaviour. Constable
Lindsay joined us and spoke to the students about the consequences of bullying. We viewed student created movies from Wolford Public School and the Empathy video our grade 3 students entered in the REEL to REEL Film Festival. The
newspaper came and took a group photograph of all the students who wore pink.
TIGER TIMES
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REGISTERING FOR NEXT YEAR?
New registrants are asked to contact Miss Thompson at
613-258-1919 ext. 300 by June 10th to reserve a classroom space
for your child.
Talent Show 2011 Mrs.
Kay and Mme. Sutherland
This year's talent show will be held on June 24th. The event begins at 11:50-12:00 and runs for approximately 1 hour. Please come out and celebrate your children's voices, works of music, dance routines, drumming, ballet , rap, break dancing and instrumentals. Cameras are encouraged!!
School Council Meeting
You’re invited to join our last School Council meeting for this
school year – it is a great way to get involved in your child’s
future. School Council is constantly looking for new volunteers
for their many endeavours. Come join the School Council by
coming to our meeting this month, on Tuesday, June 14th, at
6:30 pm in the staff room.
Book Swap
Our final opportunity to
exchange books at our
wonderful Book Swap is
on Tuesday, June 14th!!
Library Books
All library books are due to the
school’s library by June 21st.
Lunch Day
Parent Council would like to thank all of the kids (and their parents) in supporting the Lunch
program throughout the year by treating ALL KIDS to a free lunch (hot dog, chips and juice box)
on Tuesday, June 28th A– Group Kindergarten on Monday, June 27th Order forms to follow.
Testing
Tue
28
27
Grade 8 Graduation (evening)
Kindergarten “A” free lunch
10th
Last Day for Students ☺
29
Grad Trip (grade 8’s)
22
Staff
LunchI R
BAppreciation
O O K FA
hosted by School Council
15 Character Assembly @ 9:30 am
June
Track & Field Championships
8
until
Student FREE LUNCH today
Gr. 8 Graduation
21
20
1
Wed
2
10th
Thu
30
☺
P.A. Day
Arts Festival
4:30 8:00 pm.
23
Volunteer appreciation breakfast
Grade 7’s to Fort Henry
(overnight)
16
9
June1st—June
SCHOLASTIC
Book Swap
14
testing
Council Meeting 6:30 pm
7
EQAO
EQAO
NG Day for Gr. 5—8
Students
13
6
Mon
June
Fri
Kindergarten B
Kindergarten B
Talent Show
24
Kindergarten A
Gr 7 return from Ft. Henry
Ross, Lynch to Foley Mtn.
17
10
3 Kindergarten A Group
Come and join South Branch E.S.
On Canada Day at the Parade
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Tiger Times
Page 8
Scholastic Book Fair
The Spring Book Fair was a huge success
enabling the school to purchase many
new books for our library, classrooms and
reading resource rooms.
Thank you to all parents and staff who volunteered to make
this Book Fair a success.
Lost & Found
Don’t
forget
to
check the lost &
found beside the
table in the office.
All items will be
donated
to
Salvation
the
Army
during the summer
holidays.
4:30—8:30 pm
Thursday, June 23rd, 2011
(Hotdogs, Hamburgers & Drinks)
Plant & Bake Sale
School Council would like to thank all the
volunteers who generously gave their
time, plants, baked goods and auction
items for this fundraiser. It was a great
day.
Through
Beat the heat at Rideau Hill Camp! Rideau Hill Camp is an interdenominational overnight camp located near Kemptville, Ontario. We
offer camps for children, youth, and adults. Some of our activities
include arts and crafts, canoeing, and fun games in the pool! This
year, we are pleased to be offering a new ARTS camp and a SPORTS
camp. Please check out our website at www.rideauhillcamp.com for
this
yearly
event, we raised over
$3,200.! AWESOME!
more information.
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Band