~ École Bellevue School ~

~ École Bellevue School ~

October 2015 octobre

October Principal’s Message – Patrick Gamache Hutchison

Greetings,

The year is off to an excellent start as students and staff are engaged in learning.

As we continue to plan for the year, we would like to solicit parent feedback and input to continue to improve the school experience for your child/children. A couple of ways that we wish to do this is with this brief survey and the Black Gold Innovation and Implementation Fund. If you have ideas to share with the Innovation Fund please share them via the survey or at the next School Council meeting on October 15th_{. As always, if ever you have questions or concerns, please contact me at the school or by email.}

Running Club: Along with staff members and parent volunteers, it has been a pleasure for me to coach Running Club and see the students develop as runners. Bellevue students have represented themselves and the school very well competing at various cross-country meets. School Fees: School fees have remained at $60 for Grades 1-6 and $110 for ECS. These fees are collected by the school division and returned to the school to be spent on your child’s education. Thank you to all the families who have paid their school fees. If you have any questions regarding school fees, please contact me at the school.

Student Learning Assessments (SLAs):

Bellevue Grade 3 students will once again participate in the Alberta Education pilot SLAs this month. By being at the start of the year, the SLA should allow teachers to use them as a learning tool. To find out more, check out this Facts Sheet for Parents from Alberta Education. Homework and Reading: Home reading and a very limited amount of homework are encouraged. Parent support is key. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak with the classroom teacher.

Ways to Become Involved at School:

Parents are encouraged to become involved at the school. Below are some of the many volunteer groups and opportunities available during the year. Thank you to all who volunteer to make Bellevue a better place.

· School Council (Parent Advisory Council) · Hot Lunch Committee

· Fundraising Society

· Volunteering with our various clubs and class excursions · Local Advisory Council (LAC/Kindergarten Parent Council)

o Family Dance Committee o Children’s Festival Committee

To assist us in keeping the school community a safe place, we ask the following: · All visitors to the school sign-in at the office.

· Report any absences as soon as possible.

· Use the designated crosswalks, drop-off, and parking zones.

· Please do not park in the Staff Parking Lot. As construction across the street continues, drop-offs are permitted in a drive-thru format in the staff parking lot. Please use extreme caution and do not use it for after school pick-ups. Consider having your child meet you down the hill on one of the nearby streets connected to our school grounds by pathways.

· Avoid bringing aggressive or unpredictable animals to the school and playground.

· Ensure that students are dressed appropriately for the weather and for Physical Education classes. · Speak with your child about school zone and park safety.

Web Page: ebs.blackgold.ca Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

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3rd Floor 1101 - 5th Street Nisku, Alberta T9E 7N3

Phone 780-955-6025 Fax 780-955-6050 www.blackgold.ca

October 2015 octobre

Positive Referrals

Each morning, teachers send some students to the principal’s office. Together we celebrate their good deeds as the students strive to “Be the Best They Can Be”. Each month the Beaumont Boston Pizza will donate a

pizza to be shared with the lucky students whose names are drawn from all the students who received a Positive Referral during the month. Congratulations to our September winners of the pizza lunch for Positive

Referrals!! Rebecca A., AJ R., Carson D., Tyson C., Chantel B., & Jaida M. Thanks to Beaumont Boston Pizza for donating the pizza!

Wristband Challenge

We are grateful to the Beaumont Aquafit Centre for their donation of swim passes as prizes for the wristband challenge. September Family Swim Pass recipients are Claire M., Ethan E., & Sadie M. Enjoy your swim.

To enter the wristband challenge simply write your first and last name on a wristband from the Beaumont Aquafit and enter it in the drawbox outside the front office.

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Farm Credit Canada's campaign to Drive Away Hunger!

THANKSGIVING is a time for being grateful for all that we are fortunate to have in our lives. It can also be a perfect opportunity for children to learn to share their blessings. In the spirit of giving, the Religion classes are organizing a school wide collection of non-perishable food items for the Leduc and district Food Bank by supporting the Farm Credit Canada campaign to Drive Away Hunger. Every classroom will receive bags to collect the donations so they can see the bags fill up every day. Thank you for your generosity to help those who may be in need in our community, and for helping your child learn about generosity and caring for our brothers and sisters. Collection will be until Wednesday, October 7, 2015. For more information on FCC please see the link below: https://www.fcc-fac.ca/en/in-your-community/fcc-drive-away-hunger.html

Halloween Celebrations

Each class will have their own Halloween events. Homeroom teachers will let you know when their

celebration will be. We request that costumes be school

and age appropriate. Please do not bring any props such as toy knives, axes and guns to school. More

details about parties will be sent home by the classroom teachers. Grades 1 – 6 will dress in costumes for the afternoon only. Thank you for your support.

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From the Library

It is wonderful to have the students back in the library! Please

remember to follow the book rules, so the books will stay in good condition for many to enjoy. Also, please help your children remember to return their library books each week.

New volunteers are always welcome – please contact Mrs. Dyckerhoff. Thank you! BOOK RULE OF THE MONTH : Always transport your library books in a plastic bag to protect them from spills and the weather.

Bell Choir

Again this year we will have a bell choir group. We are excited about having motivated students to learn and play these wonderful hand chimes. We had a meeting for all Grade 4,5 and 6 students who were interested last

week at recess. All forms needed to be handed in by Tuesday, September 29. The choir members will be notified by the end of the week.

Singing Choir

Soon we will begin our singing choir for grades 4, 5 & 6. A student information meeting will occur later this month. All students in these classes are welcome to join the singing choir.

Electronic Equipment & Special Toys

We ask that students not bring electronic games, trading cards, or special toys to use while at school unless requested by the teacher. We feel students should be active during recess. Special toys should not be brought to school as sometimes they are lost.

Lost & Found

Our lost & found has accumulated a large number of jackets and sweaters. If your child is missing an item please encourage them to check the lost and found. It is located in the south center boot room. Photos of items are also occasionally posted on our Facebook page.

School Fees

Parents can now pay all of their children’s school fees through a secure online

website. You can pay with Visa, Visa Debit, MasterCard, and Interac Online Debit.

Please contact Rita in the office if you require assistance with this.

The school fees for 2015-16 are due by October 1, 2015. The fees for the year are as follows:

Grades 1-6: $60.00 Kindergarten: $110.00

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News from School Council

Many thanks to all the parents and guardians, along with the staff members that attended this years’ first School Council meeting, held on September 21, 2015.

At this meeting we filled the remaining executive position, enacted Bylaw 16.1.b which allows for a monetary donation to be made to the family of a Bellevue student who has lost a parent, and mentioned that most activities brought forth by past School Councils would be continued this school year (i.e., Christmas oranges, year end picnic, staff appreciation lunch, etc.). Patrick Gamache Hutchison (Principal) also solicited feedback on potential changes to school supply list and the Bring Your Own Device initiative. All of School Council agendas and meeting minutes are posted to the École Bellevue School website: http://ebs.blackgold.ca/about/school-council/

In order to make any event a success, we are always in need of volunteers. Please contact School Council if you are interested in volunteering your time to help out at any point during the year. We look forward to working with the staff and all of the parents/guardians here at École Bellevue School.

All parents and guardians with children attending our school are members of the École Bellevue School Council and are encouraged to attend the monthly meetings. Our next School Council meeting is on Thursday, October 15, 2015 at 7:00PM in the Learning Commons (upstairs library).

Janis Sherman, Chair Halsi Sears, Vice Chair Sacha Knorr, Treasurer Andrea Rathburn, Secretary

For more information about the Alberta School Councils’ Association visit: http://www.albertaschoolcouncils.ca/

Warm fall greetings from the École Bellevue Parents' Fundraising Society.

Working together with the École Bellevue School Council we provide fundraising opportunities to benefit the students.

Another school year is in full swing, as is our society. We are excited to announce our executive this year:

Danielle Andersen, Chair Ashley Orthner, Vice Chair Genessa Belzile, Treasurer Andrea Rathburn, Secretary

Plans are already underway for an exciting Halloween Family Dance, book sale, our year round hot lunch program, family movie nights as well as other fun, fundraising events.

As always, every parent/guardian of Bellevue students are invited to attend our meetings which follow Parent Council meetings. Our next

meeting will be at approximately 8 pm on Thursday, October 15th. All Fundraising Society agendas and meeting minutes are posted to the École Bellevue School website: http://ebs.blackgold.ca/ecole-bellevue-school-fundraising-society/ Please do come, we would love to see you and receive your input. It’s a great way to get involved.

School Council Meeting Dates Thursday, October 15 Thursday, November 19 Thursday, January 21 Thursday, February 18 Thursday, March 17 Thursday, April 28 Thursday, May 26 All meetings are in the

Library @ 7:00 p.m.

Fundraising Society meets after the School Council

What happened in SEPTEMBER?

The students learned ways of staying safe in the playground. Also, we played modified soccer games. As for the volleyball unit, the emphasis was on the technique of jumps, volleys, bumps, serves and modified games.

What is coming up in OCTOBER?

It is the Gymnastic/Conditioning unit for all October.

SLIP-ON RUNNING SHOES

Thanks to all of the families that are making the effort to help their children to learn to tie their shoes. Students that have slip-on type running shoes are finding that they become lose very quickly so although this seems to be an easy way for students to get their shoes off and on quickly they may not be safe in the gym. Several students have either run right out of their shoes or twisted an ankle while wearing them. Please check your child’s shoes frequently and ask if they are still tight. Running shoes are the most important piece of equipment the children have in the gym. Velcro is a good alternative if they are still learning to tie. Slip on type shoes may need to be replaced for use in the gymnasium. Also, the fancy thin strap ballet type shoes don’t stay on very well.

CLOTHING

Please label your child’s gym wear and shoes so they can be easily returned to them if left in the change room. Take a look in the lost and found box or check in the gym for any lost items when you are at the school. The gymnastic unit will require all students (Grade 1 to 6) to change for the month of October. It is a safety issue. Thanks for making sure your child has her/his gym clothes at school!

CANADIAN TIRE MONEY

Once again we are collecting Canadian Tire Money. If you have any hanging around your house send it in and help provide recess or DPA (Daily Physical Education) equipment for the students to use. Thank you!

SCUFF MARKS

We are finding more than usual SCUFF MARKS on the gym floor this year. Please ensure that school running shoes have non-marking soles. This will help our custodians keep the gym floor clean. Thank you!

M. Serge Pelletier

Physical Education Teacher

Gym News!

Music Notes

Music classes are in full swing for our grade one through six classes. We are amazed by how quickly the students are acquiring music

knowledge while having fun and developing an enjoyment and

appreciation of music. Please ask your child to share some of the songs and activities that they are doing in music class.

We continue to extend an open invitation for musical guests (parents, siblings or family friends) to come and share their talents with our students. Please contact me if you would like to come and perform informally, even if only for one or two classes. It's wonderful for our students to see local artists. For many it is the only opportunity they have to experience live music.

Sarah Reves Christine Ivanc

[email protected]@blackgold.ca

Absences

Please notify the school if your child will be absent using one of the following options:

1. Go to our website and click on the Absence Reporting Online Form link.

2. Call the school and leave a message at any time - 780-929-8663.

October 2015 octobre ÉCOLE BELLEVUE SCHOOL CALENDAR

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Save the evening!

Friday, October 30th _{– Bellevue Family Dance Event}

1 2 Custodian Appreciation Day 3 4 Walk to School Week  5 6 Deadline for Food Drive is tomorrow 7 2:30 pm Early Dismissal No kindergarten classes 8 9 10 11 12 No School Thanksiving 13 PD Day No School 14 15 School Council & Fund. Soc. Mtg. 7:00 pm 16 Jersey / Sports Shirt Day Booster Juice (Drink Only) 17 18 19 Election Day 20 21 22 23 Subway Lunch 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Dairy Queen lunch Family Dance 31 Halloween

November 2015 novembre ÉCOLE BELLEVUE SCHOOL CALENDAR

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1 2 3 4 2:30 pm Early Dismissal No kindergarten classes 5 6 Wok Box Lunch 7 8 9 Photo Retakes 10 11 Remembrance Day No School 12 Mid-term break No School 13 Mid-term break No School 14 15 16 17 18 19 School Council & Fund. Soc. Mtg. 7:00 pm 20 Wear Neon Day Tim Horton’s Lunch 21 22 23 November Conferences 24 November Conferences 25 26 27 PD Day No School 28 29 30 Students, visitors and staff are invited to dress casually on Fridays. This gives everyone an opportunity to wear school t-shirts (if they have

them), or other favourite casual

outfits

Students, staff, and parents are also encouraged

to participate in our monthly theme dress-up days, usually held

the 3rd Friday of each month. 2015 -2016 Theme Days October: Jersey/Sports Shirt Day November: Neon Day December: Santa Hat Day January: PJ Day February: Red/White/Pink Day March: Wacky Hair Day April: Hat & Glasses Day May: Career Day