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Council Executive
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Vice Chair - Parent
Engagement, Volunteers and Inclusive, Safe & Caring Schools
Jen Danby-McDonald
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Members with Portfolio
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Class Rep Coordinator
Intermediate Engagement Committee Leads
OCASC Rep Volunteer Coordinator Website Coordinator
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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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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.
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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.
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Welcome to the new school year!
Welcome to our first Council newsletter of the year! We will be sending these 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 October 12th to castorvalleycouncil@gmail.com. THANKS! |
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SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING
| We had a great start to the school year with over 30 people (parents and staff) in attendance at our first Council meeting! We welcomed new council members and saw some shuffling in both our executive team and our portfolio members. Please see our new Council line-up in the left column!
If you're interested in joining us for a meeting or would like to be on our Council mailing list, please email castorvalleycouncil@gmail.com.
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SCHOOL PHOTO DAY
| Earl Havlin Photography will be in our school this Thursday, September 20th to take school photos. Proofs will be sent home that same day in backpacks. Retake Day is Tuesday, October 9th.
Family Photo Night will be that evening (same prices as school photos) from 4:30pm - 7pm. No appointment required, and pets welcome!
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LUNCH PROGRAM for GRADES 1-8
| Forms went home in backpacks last week and are due!
If you have any questions, please contact Trudy Docksteader by email or phone: (613) 821-4515.
Electronic versions of the forms can be found on the Council website under the FORMS tab.
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AGENDA / USB FEE
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In order to offset the cost of student agenda, the school is asking parents to voluntarily contribute a small school fee.
For students in grades 1 to 3 an $8.00 contribution for the agenda would be appreciated.
For students in grades 4 to 8 a $15.00 contribution for the agenda and USB stick would also be appreciated.
Click here to read the Principal's message.
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TERRY FOX NATIONAL SCHOOL RUN DAY
|  Bring a TOONIE for TERRY!
The school will be participating in the Terry Fox National School Run Day on Thursday September 27th by running a circuit on school grounds.
If you'd like to, please send a toonie with your child starting the week of September 24th. All money will be donated to the Terry Fox Foundation to help find a cure for cancer.
Volunteers aren't needed, but you are welcome to join your child on run day! |
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JUMP ROPE FOR HEART - ANOTHER SUCCESS!
| CVES raised over $23,000 in Jump Rope for Heart last Spring!
Jump Rope for Heart raises money to fund research for heart disease and stroke. *WAY TO GO* everyone who participated and donated - what a phenomenal success!
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FALL FUNDRAISING
| Back by popular demand - Entertainment Books are being sent home in backpacks this week!!
This year we are bringing back our most popular fundraisers, but want to stress that participation in these fundraisers is completely voluntary. We are raising money for more Arts performances and workshops for students, special presentations, and technical items like mobile computer labs for the classrooms, wireless keyboards and wireless mice.
We are continuing our tradition of selling MacMillan's Gourmet Frozen Food in November (forms to be sent home in October) and are also offering on-line discounts through our website on: QSP magazines (don't forget to renew your magazines!) - enter group #10727 Mabel's Labels (reduce our lost and found pile!) We also look forward to continuing Christmas Shopping Day, our Used Book Fair, Fun Night, and of course our Milk and Alternative Lunch Programs! |
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DONATE YOUR OUTGROWN SKATES and HELMETS!
| Every winter Hawthorne Public Elementary School builds an ice rink in their schoolyard to give their students - many of whom have never put on a pair of skates - the opportunity to try skating!
The school lends out skates to its students, however they have just had to throw out a bunch of old skates that no longer provide proper support, and so they are looking for donations of used skates.
There will be a bin in the school foyer if you have any skates and/or helmets you'd like to donate - they are looking for all sizes as they are a JK - grade 8 school.
Hawthorne Public is also the school which asked for donated dresses for their grade 8 graduation ceremony last June. Thanks to the generosity of Castor Valley families, there were many happy grade 8s who were able to get dressed up for their important day! - thanks so much!
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PALS & Student Lunch Monitors
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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.
We are pleased to report that PALS is a *go* for the primary grades (1-3) again this year and we had 27! grade 5 students step forward wanting to develop and expand their leadership skills. The school will bring in a public health nurse to train these students, and then they will act as playground activity leaders for younger students. For more information, please click here.
Schools who run the PALS program (including ours!) 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
We also had 55! grade 6 students express interest in being lunch monitors for the younger grades this year! It's so great to see how engaged our students are :)
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STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE
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Student accident insurance is available for purchase, on a voluntary basis, through Reliable Life Insurance Company. Forms can either be downloaded at www.binks.ca, or you may apply online at www.insuremykids.com.
The OCDSB encourages all parents/guardians to consider purchasing this insurance. If your child is involved in after school related sports activities or is participating in any field trips out of the province you may wish to seriously consider the coverage options, which range from $13.00/year to $31.00/year. This coverage is for the entire calendar year and also applies outside of school hours. If you have any questions, please call Binks Insurance Brokers directly at 613-226-1350.
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There has been considerable media coverage about labour relations issues and in particular, the possible impact on extra-curricular activities. The Director of Education - Jennifer Adams - posted a message to the OCDSB website about this subject. Click here to read it!
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UPCOMING EVENTS AND PRESENTATIONS
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An Evening with Sir John Jones
Wednesday, October 3rd from 7pm - 8:30pm
The OCDSB, in collaboration with PIC (Parent Involvement Committee), is pleased to present Sir John Jones, author of 'The Magic-Weaving Business'. Sir John is a world renowned education specialist who focuses on student engagement. This event is open to parents/guardians, community members and OCDSB staff. Seating is limited to 500 participants and everyone must register to attend.
You may go early - at 5:30pm - to tour creativity initiatives, enjoy light refreshments, engage with other parents and community members
Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School, 149 Berrigan Drive.
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Monday, October 15, 2012 from 7:00pm - 9:00pm The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and the Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) will host a free information session for parents on mental health issues at Sir Robert Borden High School, Auditorium, 131 Greenbank Rd.
The event will be a two-hour Q&A session with a panel of mental health experts, including Dr. Ian Manion, Dr. Phil Ritchie and Dr.Clare Gray, focusing on warning signs, practical tips and "how to" talk to your teen. Audience members can ask questions at the session, submit questions in writing at the event, or pre-submit their questions online. (Please register at www.cheo.on.ca) |
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PARENT SUPPORTED LITERACY PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
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Our Parent Supported Literacy Program will be starting in a few weeks. We are looking for volunteers who are available to come into the school during class time to read one-on-one or in small groups with students in grades 1-3 who could benefit from the extra practice. A short training session will be provided.
If you are interested, please contact Heather Wyche or call (613) 821-4518, and specify your availability (mornings or afternoons, which days of the week), and whether you are able to help with the English reading program or the French reading program, or both!
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REQUESTS FOR SCHOOL COUNCIL FUNDS
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Teachers, staff and parents are invited to submit any requests for 2012-13 School Council funds by printing off and completing a "Request for Funds" form available HERE or through the Council website. All forms are to be returned to the CVESC mailbox in the school office by October 11th, 2012.
The Ad Hoc Finance Committee meeting will be held on October 18th, 2012 at 6:30pm in the library. Come join us to review the Requests for Funds submitted to School Council for 2012-13, and to determine our fundraising goal for this school year! If you have any questions, please contact Alka Moorjani.
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NEW DISMISSAL/PICK-UP PROCESS
| Parents have been asking about the different pick up process this year. Hopefully below clarifies the new procedures (from the school newsletter):
The school will no longer announce the names of students not taking the bus home. Parents will be asked to send a note into the homeroom teacher if their child will not be taking the bus at the end of the day. Parents will not need to call the school to have students' names added to the pick up list nor will they be required to sign their child out at the end of the day (3:45 p.m.). Instead, we ask that parents wait outside at the front of the school for their child, who will exit with his/her classmates through their regular exit door.
If you need to unexpectantly pick up your child during the day, please call the office and they will get the information to the homeroom teacher and to your child. If you are picking up your child before the end of the regular school day, you will still need to sign them out at the office.
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BALANCED SCHOOL DAY
| Our Balanced School Day has changed a little from last year! With the change to a home room period in the morning, the 300-minute instruction school day is divided into a 140-minute block, a 90-minute block and a 60-minute block of teaching/learning time, separated by two 45 minutes of nutrition breaks and physical activity (recess).
CVES' Balanced School Day Timetable
9:15am students enter building
9:15-11:35 140-minute learning block (independent snack allowed)
11:35-12:20 20 minute nutrition break followed by a 25 minute recess
12:30-2:00 90-minute learning block
2:00-2:45 20 minute nutrition break followed by a 25 minute recess
2:45-3:45 60-minute learning block
3:45pm students board buses
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EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NETWORK VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
| We are still looking for volunteers for our Emergency Telephone Network. Please email Kim Sheldrick if you are able help out.
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If the layout of this newsletter didn't work on your system, please let us know!
We hope you found this newsletter helpful and relevant :)
Sincerely, Communication Coordinators
Castor Valley Elementary School Council |
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