Please visit the school website for information on the Premier's Awards for Teaching Excellence, teaching awards from the Ontario Teacher's Federation, OCRI and the Majic 100/Alterna Savings Golden Apple Award.

Thanks to everyone who remembered to bring in their toonie to support Toonie Tuesday, and initiative which believes in "giving a little and helping a lot". All proceeds were donated to Education Foundation of Ottawa which helps support students in crisis in the OCDSB. Our school was able to raise $333.17, so thank you everyone who participated!!!

Tickets for select Silver and Bronze games are being offered with a portion of ticket sales going to School Council supported initiatives. Order early to avoid disappointment as tickets are subject to availability. Visit www.castorvalley.ca for more information.

Submitted by Mrs. Atkins, Library Technician

The Spring Scholastic Book Fair will be held during the days of Wed. MARCH 2nd to Fri. MARCH 4th (before March Break) and open to parents and members of the community on the Thursday evening from 4:30 to 7:30pm. Books in both English and French will be available, in addition to usual posters, pens, pencils and "boutique" items. Parents please contact our library technician, Mrs. Atkins if you would like to help during the sale. We receive a Scholastic book credit based on our sales which will be used to update and expand our library book collection. Stock up on books for birthday presents and encourage literacy at the same time! We are working on getting a "French ONLY" Scholastic sale for next September and "Meet the Teacher" night. Thank you to School Council for providing $500 to purchase French books which are currently on the shelves and in the hands of staff and students.

The excitement is building for Talentfest which will take place on Thursday April 14th. Auditions are underway and will continue until the beginning of March. There are approximately 90 students auditioning in 50 different acts ranging from JK to grade 8. Several intermediate students have signed up to help out behind-the-scenes and we will be meeting with these students soon to discuss their roles. Parent volunteers helping out are: Jen Danby-McDonald, Lauriel Wills, Julie McDonald, Heather Wyche and Karen Warren. A huge thank you to Mme LaCharity for dedicating her time to be the teacher representative for Talentfest. For more information, contact Karen Warren or Lauriel Wills.

'Castor Connections', are information evenings for parents of our school community held frequently throughout the school year, and are funded through the Ministry of Education $1000 Parent Reaching Out Grant.

Many thanks to teachers Mr. Mott, Ms. Ryan and Mme LaCharity, our principal Mme Patterson and our vice-principal Mme Abboud for hosting the parent information night on Assessment, Evaluation & Reporting on Thursday February 10th. It was a very informative evening on this topic across all three divisions (primary, junior and intermediate) and provided parents with an excellent opportunity to dialogue with teachers and administration. Many thanks to our grade 8 students Megan S, Tamra B, and Victoria R. who provided childcare.

The next 'Castor Connections' evening will be on Enhancing Children's Resilience: Helping Children Manage Stress and Anxiety- Tuesday March 29th. Registration will be at 6:15, presentation 6:30 to 7:45 targeted to kindergarden to grade 8 parents, guest speaker Catherine Austin, MSW, RSW.

This workshop will provide and overview of:

   > early signs of emotional distress in children

   > skills that help children cope with difficult or stressful situations

   > how parents can support their children in difficult situations

   > helpful resources for children and parents

Please encourage friends and neighbours to join us regardless of what school their children attend. All are welcome but please register in advance by emailing Kim Sheldrick with the number of adults attending and the number of children requiring care.

Moving Up Divisions?

Wondering about transitioning to full day school from kindergarden, moving up from the primary to the junior division (grades 4 to 6) or from the junior to the intermediate divisions (grades 7 & 8)?

Join us for three different parent information sessions during Education Week, May 2nd to 6th:

Welcome to Grade 1 and Full Day School in the Primary Division (for current SK parents)

Welcome to Grade 4 and the Junior Division (for current Grade 3 parents)

Welcome to Grade 7 & 8 and the Intermediate Division (for current Grade 6 parents)

More details to follow in the next newsletter and on our website.

Make some space in your basement and on your bookshelves by donating your gently used books to the Annual Used Book Sale scheduled for Friday, April 29th. Students will be visiting the sale with their classes between 9:30 and 3:30. Children's books prices will range from 25 cents to $1. Parents are welcome to shop during the day as well. The sale will be open to the public from 4:00 to 7 pm, so please tell your friends and neighbours!

We will be accepting donations of children's fiction and non-fiction, comic books, puzzles, DVDs and CDs and adult fiction ONLY. Donations can be dropped off in the foyer starting Monday, April 18th.

Please do NOT send in encyclopedias, adult non-fiction, damaged books or used activity books as these types of materials do not sell and require many volunteers to pack up and recycle

Submitted by Ria W, and Rebecca D, Grade 8 Ambassador students

Thank you to our teachers, staff and parents who have supported and encouraged our 7 & 8 students to think locally and globally and reach out to help others in need.

School Supplies for Jamaica

Thank you to everyone who was able to send in school supplies and cash donations to support our night custodian, Easton Flemming's efforts to provide his childhood school, Wheelersfield Basic School in the parish of St. Thomas, Jamaica with school supplies. The Castor Valley Grade 7 & 8 Ambassadors raised approximately $135 through their Booster Juice Smoothie fundraiser for grades 5 to 8 and $440 from their Valentine's Day Dance. Many thanks to Paul Hill, Jamaican born owner of Prime Time Entertainment , who reduced his DJ service fee in support of this fundraiser. Together with cash donations of $120, Easton plans on shipping 4 barrels of school supplies to Jamaica at the end of February.

Free the Children

The Ambassadors are currently planning their Free the Children Five Days of Freedom campaign from April 11th to April 15th. It is five days of fundraising for our Adopt a Village Alternative Income Program in Sierra Leone, Africa and raising awareness to help people be free from poverty, exploitation, thirst and disease. They will be hosting the canteen at the upcoming Talentfest, April 14th. Proceeds to support this project which helps low-income families by supplying then with alternative income resources eg, cows, pigs, goats or sewing machines. The overall goal for this program is to raise $5000.

Milk Bags for Haiti

Please continue to send in your milk bags which will be woven into sleeping mats for people in Haiti.

Pop Tab Collection Project

We continue to collect pop tabs to raise money for the Ontario March of Dimes Wheelchair Pop Tab Fund. As a school and community we have collected over 3 million tabs and hope to have enough money (by receiving cash for the aluminum tabs at an Ottawa metal recycle) for a third wheelchair by the end of this year. Please keep bringing in your tabs.

Thank you for your continued support, as we try to make a positive difference in the lives of people in need.  Lets keep up the great work Castor Valley!