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Members with Portfolio
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Class Rep Coordinators
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COUNCIL WEBSITE
| | Check out our Council website for up to date info on school events, news, calendars, fundraising, forms, parent resources and much much more! www.castorvalley.ca |
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FEBRUARY 8TH....
| ...is REPORT CARD day! Please note that there will be no parent-teacher interviews for this report period, unless requested by either teacher or parent.
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CLASS REPS
| Thanks to everyone who volunteered to be a class rep this year! A complete list of class reps and their emails can be found on our Council website here.
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NUT FREE SCHOOL!
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Due to the large number of students that have nut allergies, Castor Valley continues to be a nut free school. We ask families not to include nut items in snacks - this is for the safety of our anaphylactic children. Should you be unsure as to the contents of a food item, please do not send it. If you'd like more information on the government of Ontario's anaphylaxis policy, please click here and you can read about our new request regarding soy-based *nut* butters here.
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NEW NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES
| The Ontario Ministry of Education's new School Food and Beverage Policy came into effect on September 1st, 2011. For information on this new policy, please visit www.ontario.ca/healthyschools and for a great resource for nutritious lunches and snacks, visit www.eatrightontario.ca.
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POP TABS
| We are collecting pop tabs again this year. The tabs are recycled for cash and the proceeds sent to Ontario March of Dimes to provide a wheel chair for someone in need. Please send your tabs in with your child. There is a collection can in each homeroom class. To date, Mme LaCharity's class has collected the most, followed by Ms. Reeb's class and Mme Beaupré's class. Keep collecting!
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Welcome to a new year!
We have a lot of great events coming up at CVES in the next few months - please read on!
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KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION NIGHT
| CVES will be holding a Kindergarten Information night this Thursday, January 26th from 6:30pm - 7:30pm. Our Kindergarten teachers will be presenting our program and answering questions. Please pass along to anyone you know who is considering sending their child to Castor Valley!
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KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION - NEW POLICY
| Please read if you will be registering a child for kindergarten this year!
The OCDSB has mandated that every family have equal opportunity to register their child for their preferred Kindergarten program. This means it will not matter WHEN or WHAT TIME you register your child this year, as the office will NOT be date or time stamping your forms. If you have a preference between morning or afternoon Junior Kindergarten, please make sure you attach a note that explains your preference. The office staff will make every effort to accommodate your request, but will not be able to guarantee you get your first choice.
You may register your child for Kindergarten any time between January 30th and February 3rd.
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| Thanks to all the teachers and staff who helped put on the wonderful holiday concerts for the Kindergarten and Primary concerts in December, and a huge thank you to everyone who helped make the postponed Junior and Intermediate holiday concert put on last Wednesday a huge success.
A special thanks to CVES parent Anna Dalvi who provided piano accompaniment!
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CHRISTMAS SHOPPING DAY A HUGE SUCCESS!
| Once again, our Christmas Shopping Day was a great success due to all the families who donated gift items, our amazing parent volunteer support and all the grade 7 and 8 student volunteers who so enthusiastically helped the younger students pick out gifts and assisted with wrapping!
A special thanks to Marg Clunie and Laurel Perry-Hapli who organized both the shopping event and the very well-received gingerbread house contest! Hopefully you got the chance to see all the delicious looking houses that were showcased in the school foyer!
The event raised $1,075 which will go toward School Council initiatives.
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*PALS* at CVES!
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We are pleased to report that we have 28 very enthusiastic grade 5 students participating in our PALS program. They have been trained to act as playground activity leaders for the primary students (grades 1-3) and will be planning and leading fun and safe activities on the playground! PALS stands for Playground Activity Leaders in Schools and is a leadership program that encourages all children to participate in activities regardless of their gender, size, or ability.
Schools who run the PALS program have observed:
- increased physical activity in participating children
- decreased playground conflict and bullying
- increased leadership ability and self esteem in students through skill development in leadership, communication, problem-solving, organization, and cooperation
- increased community building between primary and junior grades
For more information, please click here. |
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ROOTS OF EMPATHY PROGRAM
| We are excited to announce that the Roots of Empathy (ROE) program has begun at Castor Valley! At the moment, we have one grade 1 class participating and the students are excited to meet baby Leah this week!! Baby Leah and her parents will be coming in to the school to visit Mme Bernfeld's class once every three weeks; and the students, along with a trained ROE instructor, will gather around the baby and watch her develop over the upcoming months.
This is a program that teaches children about feelings - their own feelings, and the feelings of others. The children are asked to predict and cheer when their ROE baby reaches developmental milestones of the first year (rolling over, teething, sitting, crawling). The ROE instructor also coaches the children in observing the baby and reading the cues the baby gives as to how he/she is feeling: "Is the baby happy or sad?" "How can you tell?" and the instructor uses this discussion as a lever for the children to talk about their own emotions and to understand how their classmates feel: "Do you smile when you're happy?" "How can you tell if your friend is happy or sad?" The hope is that they learn to understand how other people are feeling and learn empathy. The ROE instructor also visits the classroom before and after each baby visit to prepare and reinforce teachings using a specialized lesson plan for each visit.
For more than ten years across Canada and internationally, the program has helped thousands of children learn respect and care for one another with the lessons learned through their Roots of Empathy baby.
You can read more about this wonderful program here.
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* LITERACY AT HOME * - A PARENT INFORMATION EVENING
| As part of our *Castor Connections* series, CVESC is holding a parent information evening entitled *Literacy at Home* on Tuesday, February 28th. This session is for parents of children in Junior Kindergarten through grade 2 and offers information on French and English reading comprehension, as well as a variety of strategies to support building literacy at home.
This is the 4th year we've held this particular information evening as parents who have attended in past years have found it very useful, especially because our kids are learning to read in both English and French, and this can present a few challenges helping out at home, especially if parents are not bilingual!
Stay tuned for more information coming in the next few weeks.
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BABYSITTERS NEEDED
| School Council is looking for student volunteers who have completed their babysitting course to help with childcare at our upcoming Castor Connections' *Literacy at Home* event to be held at the school on Tuesday, February 28th. Duties will include supervising and playing games with children in the school gym, with at least 2 parents helping out. If interested, please contact Jen Danby McDonald. Permission forms will be required and will be made available in the office prior to each event or can also be emailed.
Thanks!
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FALL ( & ONGOING ) FUNDRAISERS
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- We continue to offer on-line discounts through our website on QSP magazines - they make great gifts! When you order your QSP magazines, please make sure you use our code: 10727. So far we have raised ~$411 through this program.
- Don't forget you can order discounted Ottawa Senators tickets on our Council website! Next game is Tuesday, February 7th against St. Louis - click here for more information.
- Need labels? Don't forget you can order Mabel's Labels directly through school council. By clicking on the Mabel's Labels widget on our website (in the right column), we automatically receive a portion of your purchase. Thanks!
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USED BOOK SALE
| CVESC will be putting on our used book sale again this year! The sale will be held on Friday, April 13th for one day, and only during the day.
We will be looking for volunteers to help out - both to set up on Thursday, April 12th and for the actual sale on the 13th.
As we get closer to the date, we will also be asking for donations of used books - kids books and adult fiction (no adult non-fiction!)
Stay tuned!
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TALENTFEST
| Back by popular demand - Talentfest is a go this year! We have a great group of teachers and parents forming a committee for this event and they would love company!
The plan this year will be to spread Talentfest over 2 nights at the beginning of May.
If you are interested in helping out in any way, please email Karen Warren!
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FUN NIGHT - we need YOU!
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Looking for a fun way to contribute to the CVES community? Consider volunteering to coordinate this year's Fun Night, a long-standing CVES tradition held each June! School Council is looking for a parent or team of parents to take over organizing Fun Night, as well as individuals to coordinate various aspects of the evening such as:
Primary Games (JK to grade 3)
Junior Games (grades 4 and up)
Set-up and/or Clean-up
Student and Adult Volunteer Coordination
Refreshments
Bake Sale
Face Painting
Basket Draw or Silent Auction
Marketing the Event
Parents Marg Clunie, Laurel Perry-Hapli and Heather Wilson are ready and willing to provide guidance and some hands-on assistance, but after planning and organizing the event for the past few years, want to transition it to others in the school community who may have other great new ideas! If you have any questions, are interested in coordinating the event, or taking the lead on one of the various aspects of Fun Night suggested above, please contact Marg Clunie, Laurel Perry-Hapli or Heather Wilson before the next School Council meeting on Thursday, February 9th.
This is a great opportunity to get involved in your school and contribute new, fresh ideas to a fun event!
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YEARBOOKS
| If you haven't already done so, it's time to order your 2012 CVES yearbook! You should have received the order form via student backpack - if you haven't, you can find the form here.
Yearbooks will be for sale until February 1st and are $25 each.
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UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS FOR OTTAWA PARENTS
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IEP* Presentation & Q&A
with Lamar Mason (OCASC)
Thursday, January 26th, 2012 7-9:30 pm
at Woodroffe High School Library, 2410 Georgina Drive
- Is your child's IEP* working for him/her?
- Do you understand what the IEP is supposed to achieve?
- Is it SMART? (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely)
- What can you do to help?
- If your child needs Special Education help in Elementary or High School and you want help in understanding how a good IEP can help him/her, come out to the
*Individual Education Plan
************************************************************************************************************************* CHEO Connects in partnership with OCDSB (Session Four):
Monday, February 6th, 2012 - 7pm
This portion of the CHEO Connects series will introduce parents to the major developmental stages of ages 1 to 5 and what to expect from them. It will also highlight the top five red flags to watch out for, and how parents can encourage healthy development in their children during these years.
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Presented by Lamar Mason (OCASC)
With Q&A afterwards 815 St. Laurent Blvd.
Thursday, April 5th 2012 7 - 9:30 pm
at Rideau High School Library
ALL PARENTS WELCOME Elementary or High School An IPRC document that accurately identifies your child's strengths and needs is an invaluable aid in determining what measures should be put in place for your child's education.
If you have a child with Special Education needs and want to better understand your role in helping your child to reach his/her potential, come to this session
Questions? Contact: ocasc.seac@ocasc.ca
*IPRC - Identification and Placement Review Committee
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CHEO Connects in partnership with OCDSB (Session Five):
Monday April 16th 2012 - 7pm Adult High School - 300 Rochester St @ Gladstone
Questions about what to expect from puberty? Wondering how to connect with your child during this important transitional period? These are just some of the topics that will be explored during this informative session for parents of children 9 - 13 years old. The session will include discussion of potential issues of mental health and the different aspects of a child's life that are affected at this age, such as anxiety, self-esteem and bullying. As well as, there will be a general discussion on emotional intelligence.
Parents will also learn about healthy living - a problem that is facing many pre-teens - from lack of physical activity, nutrition and personal hygiene to body image issues.
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Dr. Gordon Neufeld, a Vancouver-based developmental psychologist, Canadian best-selling author, international speaker, and foremost authority on child development & attachment will be in Gatineau in February for 3 presentations:
Making Sense of Anxiety in our Children and Youth Wednesday, February 8th, 2012 - 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO), Pavillon Alexandre-Taché,
283, boulevard Alexandre-Taché, Gatineau
"The Teachability Factor": a 2-Day Presentation
Thursday, February 9th AND Friday, February 10th, 2012 - 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO), Pavillon Alexandre-Taché,
283, boulevard Alexandre-Taché, Gatineau
Making Sense of Preschoolers and Young Children: What every child needs us to know about them
Monday February 13th, 2012 9:00 am till 4:00 pm
Travelodge Ottawa Conference Centre
$120.00 per person with paid registration before February 3rd: $135.00
For all questions concerning this event please contact or (450) 672-4010 extension 6788
Please see the event brochure here, and to read more about Dr. Gordon Neufeld, please go to his website. |
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GRADE 7 & 8 AMBASSADEURS
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The Ambassadeurs have raised $790 so far this year through their pancake breakfast and the intermediate dance, enabling them to send hundreds of English books to Zimbabwe on February 5th!
CVES will be collaborating with OTHS next year so that our intermediate students will be able to continue with the projects they began at Castor Valley.
GREAT JOB!
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IMPORTANT PARENT RESOURCES
| Ever wonder how and where Council receives all our information?! We are regularly updated on information, events and initiatives put forth by various education-related associations, as well as by our school board, and we think it's important that these resources are shared with you! In each monthly newsletter we are highlighting one of these associations, explaining what they do and how they support parents. All the information shared here will also be available on our website under the *resources* tab. This month, we are highlighting:
Besides providing us with the useful school year calendar and links to bus cancellations, the OCDSB is a wealth of information for parents! Check out their website, especially under the *Parents* and *Students* menus for information on every aspect of your child's learning. The OCDSB holds many information evenings, workshops and helps connect you to other associations who hold events that may interest you. You can sign up to be on their mailing list to be informed of such events by clicking on their *Stay Informed* icon at the top of the main page.
The following are just some of the events and information they have listed on their site - check it out!
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Other organizations we like are:
Ottawa Carleton Assembly of School Councils
Canadian Parents for French (highlighted in our October newsletter)
People for Education (PFE)
OCDSB - Parental Involvement Committee (highlighted in our November newsletter)
If you know of an organization that has helped you support your child's learning, please let us know!
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CVESC BUSINESS DIRECTORY
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Thank you to the CVES family businesses who have supported CVESC by being part of our Business Directory. You can find the complete Business Directory here with contact information and links to their websites. Please support our community!
Avon - Heather Wyche
Bug A Zoo Home Preschool - Jackie Visser
Produce Depot - Danny Docksteader
Tupperware - Jackie Visser
Wilson Law Partners LLP - Andrew Wilson
Oriana Financial - Susanna Penning
Mortgage Alliance - Windy McCarty
Shaklee - Melanie Bennett
VSP Printing - Jane Desrosiers
Clip 'N Climb at Altitude Gym - Cassandra Ritchie
Millenium Roofing Inc - Earl & Christina Brazeau
If you own a family or home-based business and would like to be included in our directory ($25 per year), please contact Jen Danby-McDonald (or phone 613-821-7967). Funds raised go towards supporting School Council initiatives.
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The CVES Council newsletter is sent out mid-month from September to June. If you have any items you would like to have included in our next newsletter, please send them by February 13th to castorvalleycouncil@gmail.com.
THANKS!
We hope you found this newsletter helpful and relevant :)
Sincerely, Communication Coordinators
Castor Valley Elementary School Council |
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