March 2010 ~ Boissevain School Newsletter

PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL

High School Information Night

School administration and the school guidance counselor will present information about the high school program on March 8 at 7:00 p.m. This session, being held in the band room, is very important for parents and students entering grade 9 in the next school year. The evening may also provide useful information for parents of students currently in grades 9 - 11 as well. Come and learn about the credit system, courses offered at Boissevain and much more. All are welcome!

REPORTS & PARENT-TEACHER INTERVIEWS (K - 8)

Division Outcome Reports for K - 8 students will go home on March 16. Parent/Teacher Interviews for selected students in K - 8 will be from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. on March 18. Please call the school (534-2494) if you wish for an interview.

Markbook Reports (showing assignment marks) can be viewed online – parents/guardians need a userID and password to access their accounts by clicking on “Maplewood for Parents” found on the school homepage. UserID and Passwords were mailed out in early February. Please contact the school office if you are experiencing difficulty logging on. (Parents of students from Grades 5 - 12 will need to view marks online using Maplewood!) You may need to download Adobe Reader and/or Firefox for this.

MHSAA – PROVINCIAL GIRLS AA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.

Boissevain School will once again host a High School Provincial Championship. This year our #1 ranked Varsity Girls Basketball team will participate in the Championship on March 18, 19 & 20. The School’s organizing committees have already spent numerous hours in preparation for the weekend and are seeing progress as the time arrives.

Thank you to all the local businesses and service groups who have been extremely generous in their support of hosting the tournament. Championship information, tournament draw and other details can be found at the following website: http://boissevainschool.ca/bballprovincials/Provincial%20title.htm

LUNCHROOM TIPS

The lunchroom is located in the small gym and is set up at 11:35 each day. Lunch hour begins at 11:50 and all students from Kindergarten to Grade 8 are required to stay in the lunchroom until 12:05 when at that time they are dismissed by the teacher on duty.

In order for our cafeteria workers and custodians to prepare the gymnasium for 12:30 classes, students are required to be done their lunch and out of the gym by 12:15. Students are expected to go outside for their noon hour break.

ATTENDANCE

At Boissevain School we use the “call back system” for Kindergarten to Grade 8. If the school is not notified of a student’s absence, we will phone home to ensure the individual’s whereabouts. For all students (K to 12), parents are asked to call the school before 9:00 a.m. if students are absent for any reason. For your convenience, you may leave a message at any time on our answering machine. Your child’s safety is our utmost concern.

LIBRARY NEWS

Please check out the link for the School Library found on our homepage (boissevainschool.ca) as Mrs. Kentner provides reviews for the different area groups. If you want some suggestions on new books, this would an excellent spot to read about what is recommended.

USED BATTERIES PILING UP?

As part of a Green Schools Initiative, Boissevain School received a grant and purchased a variety of Recycling Containers. You will see all kinds of Blue Boxes, carts and pails to collect recycled material. Parent volunteers are great to help out 3 students each noon hour to recycle the material from the lunchroom.

Do you have some smaller (AAA, AA, etc.) batteries at home?

A reporter in the Brandon Sun wrote about recycling small batteries rather than throwing them in the landfills. The City of Brandon only gets rid of hazardous waste twice a year, and the RM of Riverside accepts hazardous waste. What can we do? If you send your small batteries to the school they can be placed in the containers we have and then we will deliver them to the following businesses who accept tired batteries – Canadian Tire, Future Shop, The Home Depot, & Home Hardware. The easiest would be to send the batteries with your child and they can deliver them to the containers located in the office and in the shops room. If you do not have children at the school, please stop by anytime and leave the batteries with us.

WORLD VISION FUNDRAISING

Mrs. Krowchuk's Grade 5/6 class would like to thank everyone who contributed to their World Vision Fund Raising. After adding everything up they collected $2291.50 for World Vision and another $276.20 that was sent to the Red Cross for the Haiti Relief Fund! From the World Vision catalogue, the following items were purchased: clean water for a family, a fish farm, a stable of animals, help for exploited children, help to start businesses for 2 families, rabbits, solar panels for electricity, supplies for 2 medical clinics, supplies for 2 classrooms, warm blankets and warm clothing for 50 children. Thank you again for supporting their worthwhile project.

LAKE ADAM DAY

by Mrs. K. McKay

The K-4 classes had a great time out at Lake Adam on Friday, February 19. We had a lot of fun skating and tobogganing. Thanks to the many parents who offered their help with the morning and afternoon activities.

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

by Ms. C. Dyck

This month’s report will be short and sweet! I am pleased to announce that we have reached our fundraising goal for the local theatre. For us to accomplish this, we had a staff jeans day, sold candy canes, carnations, and Mr. Wettig’s grade 2 class made a very generous donation instead of exchanging class Christmas gifts this year. What a great idea! Thank you very much!

Our Miss B.C.I pageant took on a different flavor this year. It became Mr. & Ms. B.C.I. It was fun, and the singing portion gave us all a good chuckle! Thank you to the participants for being such good sports. We are still busy with basketball, and I hear baseball has started practice. It is never dull around here.  Last, but not least, we are working on a dance for mid-March.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT WITH OUR “HOPE FOR HAITI” FUNDRAISER

$820.00 was sent to MCC

$820.00 was sent to the Red Cross Society

We were able to send the amount of $1.640. which was mailed before the deadline to be matched by the Canadian Government!

JUNIOR & SENIOR BAND NEWS

by Mrs. J. Lawson

The Westman Band Director’s Association organizes a weekend every February for select students from every band in the Westman area. 162 students were accepted into either the Junior or Senior Honour Band. Sarah Usick performed in the senior group, led by Dr. Wendy McCallum from Brandon University, while Owen Armstrong, Alex Klassen, Chris Usick, Willow Dyck and Jennifer Hildebrand played in the junior group, conducted by Mr. Taylor Schmidt from Springfield Junior High in Oakbank. Rehearsals were held from 9:00 – 5:00 on Friday, February 12, and again from 9:00 – 12:30 the next day. Each band then performed the 4 or 5 pieces they had learned in the 2 days at a concert in the afternoon. The Brandon University Symphonic Band also performed for the students at the concert. While the weather was poor again this year, all of the students made it for the concert and the experience they gained was invaluable.

The Senior Band took part in the provincial Optimist Festival in Winnipeg on February 25. They performed two pieces for 3 internationally renowned adjudicators. They returned with a trophy and many compliments about their performance and also some hints to take them to the next level. They received a 4-star rating from 2 of the adjudicators and a 5-star rating for superior performance from the other. Bands have to achieve at least one 5-star rating to receive a trophy and at least one 5-star or two 4-star ratings to be invited to MusicFest 2010 or 2010 (the national band festival held in Ottawa). This is the first Senior Band from Boissevain to earn a trophy at this particular festival so they are to be commended. They will be performing the same 2 pieces at the Spring Band Concert on March 23. Hope to see you there.

GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING

by Mr. B. Birch

Are you concerned that your child is struggling? If so, the please contact Mr. Birch at 534-2494 or bbirch@tmsd.mb.ca.

PEER HELPERS

The Peer Helpers continue to meet bi-weekly, with the purpose of addressing the needs and concerns of high school students. It is the belief of Peer Helping that peers are more understanding, accessible, and easier to approach than adults. Therefore, students having problems or needing someone to talk to, can connect with a Peer Helper for assistance. So if you are looking for help, the Peer Helpers are available.

WASTED

On Friday, March 26, students in Grades 7 - 12 will have the opportunity to view Wasted, a MADD Canada multi-media presentation. The assembly brings high-energy drug and alcohol awareness and risk reduction messaging to the world of education. Each school year close to 1 million students across Canada see the organization’s uniquely Canadian high school productions.

Wasted is a very dramatic, hard-hitting and impactful story about three good friends and their tragic fate when one decides to drink alcohol and smoke marijuana before driving his friends to a party.

CAREER EDUCATION

Career Symposium

On Wednesday, March 10, the Grades 10 and 11 students will be touring Assiniboine Community College and attending the Brandon Career Symposium at the Keystone Centre. The purpose is to expose students to the large variety of educational and career opportunities that are available. As the world of work is constantly changing, it is evident that continued training and learning are a prerequisite to many areas of employment. As well, there is an increased demand for skilled workers in several sectors of the labour industry, and it is important for students to examine career areas and to be aware of their options. Information on exhibitors and speakers can be accessed at www.career-symposium.ca.

Canadian Forces

On Tuesday, February 23, the Grades 11 and 12 students attended a presentation about careers in the Canadian Forces. Sergeant Dave Stantial and Master Bombardier Jason Lussier were present to discuss various aspects and opportunities available in the Canadian Forces.

CTS NEWS

CAREER & TECHNOLOGY STUDIES ~ Learning that builds bridges

Patty White ~ Co-ordinator

INTERNSHIP PROGRAM ~ “because education & training is part of good business practice”

QUESTION: What have you learned at your worksite that you previously did not know?

Work Site ~ Westview Lodge

Intern ~ Breanna Burton

I have learned how important it is to care for the elderly and the work that goes into guaranteeing their comfort.

QUESTION: How will this experience assist you with your future career planning?

Work Site ~ Boissevain School

Intern ~ Jordyn Dickinson

My internship gave me the opportunity to confirm my desire to become a teacher. Working with children in a Grade 5/6 classroom environment enabled me to become familiar with the expectations and personal qualities necessary to be successful in my chosen career.

Work Site ~ Boissevain School

Intern ~ Natalie Forsyth

As my career goal is to become a primary teacher, my internship has been an invaluable experience. Interacting with children individually, as well as, in large and small groups has been an enjoyable and realistic experience.

Work Site ~ Evergreen Place

Intern ~ Chelsey Halloran

Previous to my internship, I knew I wanted to work in an area where I could help people. This experience has assisted me with further career planning because now I know, I want to work with elderly people. I enjoy working at the Evergreen Personal Care home and find it to be a very rewarding experience.

QUESTION: What motivated you to pursue this particular career pathway?

Work Site ~ Tiny Turtle Day Care

Intern ~ Alyshia Chambers

Participating in an internship at Tiny Turtle Day Care has motivated me to pursue a career in Early Childhood Education. Working with children requires a creative, understanding and patient nature, and I realize through this experience I possess the ability to work well with children in this environment.

DATES TO REMEMBER

(for important dates throughout the year, see the school calendar on the web site!)

March 8 – Prairie Theater Exchange

March 8 – PAC Informational Night (Gr. 8 and 9) @ 7:00 p.m. – Band Room

March 10 – Career Symposium – Gr. 10 & 11 travel to Brandon

March 12 – Administration Day – No Classes

March 16 – K - 8 Reports

March 18 – Parent / Teacher Interviews – K to 8

March 18 - 20 – Girls Provincial Basketball Championship

March 23 – Spring Band Concert @ 7:30 p.m.

March 26 - Last day of classes before Spring Break

March 29 – April 2 – Spring Break

April 5 - PD Day – No Classes