April 2015 - Bright`s Grove Public School

Bright’s Grove Public School
2612 Hamilton Road,
Bright’s Grove, Ontario NON 1C0
Phone: (519) 869-4284 Fax: (519) 869-4285
http://brightsgrove.lkdsb.net
Zone 2
Twitter@BGPSBulldogs
Mr. Andy Parnham
Mrs. Nancy Faubert
_____________________________________________________________________________________
April, 2015
Dear Bright’s Grove P.S. Families,
Improving Student Achievement
Students in Grades 1-8 continue to work on the narrative form of writing and will continue to do so
through part of April. A narrative can be written either as a fictional or non-fictional piece which
entertains the reader by telling a story. It progresses sequentially, includes characters, is usually written
in the past tense, has a setting, a plot, and contains dialogue and descriptive language. Some excellent
samples of narrative writing are being produced within our classrooms. Explanation writing will begin
after narrative writing concludes. An explanation is written to explain an experience or an event. It
progresses sequentially, describes a cause-and-effect relationship, uses impersonal, objective tone and
is written in the present tense.
Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)
Our school has been randomly selected to participate this year. TIMSS assesses student
achievement in mathematics and science in Grades 4 and 8 in more than 50 countries
around the world. The test will be administered to Mr. Mika and Ms. DenBoer’s Grade 4
students and to Mr. Thompson’s Grade 8 students on Tuesday, April 14. Mr. Martin’s class
was not selected to participate in the study. The Grade 4 test will be 72 minutes long and
the Grade 8 test will be 90 minutes. The test will contain multiple-choice and openresponse questions on mathematics and science, as well as a series of questionnaires. To
ensure confidentiality, no TIMSS result will be reported for individual students,
teachers or schools.
Parental Involvement
Supporting Your Child(ren) With Homework: How Can Parents Help Their Child(ren) With Homework?
As you know, some of the challenges facing parents with helping their child(ren) with homework are:
busy schedules, kids don’t want their parents involved, they would rather watch T.V. or use their
electronic devices than do homework, their friends/peers don’t value school work, and parents aren’t
sure how to help their child(ren).
Parents can help their child(ren) with homework by: communicating regularly with them about their
school work, setting realistic goals, establishing a routine, helping them get organized, never doing your
child(ren)’s homework for them, praising their progress and efforts, and focusing and building on their
strengths and working on the areas where they need improvement. Setting a consistent time and place
for your child(ren) to do their homework is also extremely important.
News from School Council
The next Bright’s Grove P.S. School Council meeting will be held on Thursday, April 2, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.
in the library. All Bright’s Grove P.S. parents/guardians are invited and are encouraged to attend.
Parent/Guardian Reminders
Easter Holiday – Good Friday and Easter Monday take place on Friday, April 3 and Monday, April
6 respectively. As such there will be no school on these days. Students return to school on
Tuesday, April 7.
Attendance and Safe Arrival Policy – The safety of our children is paramount. If your child(ren)
is/are absent from school in the morning or the afternoon, please remember to inform the
office. In accordance with the Safe Arrival Policy, the office has to make contact with a
parent/guardian to confirm the whereabouts of all absent students. As well, students who
change their normal lunchtime arrangements need to have a note from their parents/guardians
in order to leave the school.
Yard Supervision – This is a reminder to parents/guardians that there is no student supervision
at the school prior to 8:40 a.m. or at the end of the day after 3:15 p.m. Please make sure that
your child(ren) is/are not arriving at school before that time and that they are exiting the school
grounds immediately after dismissal at 3:15 p.m.
As always, please feel free to contact the school at any time.
Sincerely,
Mr. A. Parnham
Principal
Important Dates to Remember for April
April 1 - Caribou Math Contest
April 1 – Dental Screening – FDK, Gr. 2, Gr. 8
April 1 – Gr. 6 (Verville) Gymnastics Trip
April 2 – Dental Screening – FDK, Gr. 2, Gr. 8
April 2 – School Council Meeting – 6:30 p.m.
April 3 – Good Friday
April 5 – Easter
April 6 – Easter Monday
April 8 – Gr. 6 (Verville) Gymnastics Trip
April 8 – Day of Pink “A Day to Stop Bullying of LGBTQ People”
April 9 – Fruit Cup Day
April 10 – Favourite Character/Book/TV/Movie Day
April 13 – FDK (Bouma) Trip to Home Depot
April 14 – Choir Pizza Lunch
April 14 – EQAO TIMSS – Gr. 4 & 8
April 15 – Gr. 6 (Verville) Gymnastics Trip
April 15 – PIC School Council Event at LKCS – 6:30-8:30 p.m.
April 17 – Narrative Writing ends
April 20 – Explanation Writing begins
April 22 – Earth Day
April 22 – Gr. 6 (Verville) Gymnastics Trip
April 24 – Gr. 8 Pizza Lunch and Tacky Tourist Spirit Day
April 28 – Jump Rope Kickoff Assembly – 2:00 p.m.