Queen Elizabeth
Elementary
School
4102 West 16th Avenue,
Vancouver,
BC V6R 3E3 Telephone: (604) 713-5408 Fax: (604) 713-5410
| Liaison
Trustee: |
Ms. Sharon Gregson
|
Associate
Superintendent: |
Mr.
Thomas Grant |
| Principal: |
Mrs.
Donna Procter
|
District
Parent Representative: |
Ms.
Deanna Sisler |
SCHOOL NEWSLETTER #3 ~ October 9, 2007
Principal’s Message
Evidence is everywhere indicating that the school year is in full
swing. There are so many exciting things that have already happened,
are ongoing, or are on the horizon. Queen Elizabeth, from the
perspective of a newcomer, is a vibrant school community that functions
well to offer students an exciting variety of learning experiences
within a safe and caring environment. Queen Elizabeth is a great place
for your children to be.
Thank you for your participation in the recent Goal Setting
Conferences. The goal setting conferences are a new approach for this
school. They allow us to meet as a team and focus on individual
achievable goals, and help establish the appropriate focus that
improves student success.
Congratulations to Ms. Sallusti, who will begin a parenting leave on
October 16, 2007. She will be traveling to Ethiopia to pick up her son.
We wish her well at this very exciting time. Her position will be
posted and filled shortly.
Our next PAC Meeting is schedule for 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October
10, 2007. Please plan to attend.
It has been a pleasure to be here and support this excellent school
community over the last few weeks. I will continue as Acting Principal
until Ms. Procter returns.
Mike McEwan
Acting Principal
Important Dates
☞ PAC Meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Library on
Wednesday, October 10, 2007.
☞ Tennis Instruction Program, with Jerry Macken,
begins on Monday, October 15th, and runs until
Monday, October 29th.
☞ Province Wide Professional Development Day Friday,
October 19th, 2007.
☞ X-Country Meet Thursday, October 11th, at Jericho
Beach Park from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
X-Country Finals Thursday,
October 18th, at Trout Lake Park from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
☞ Family Portraits in the Library on Thursday,
October 25th, and Friday, October 26th, 2007 from 3:30 – 9:30.
☞ Professional Development Day on Thursday, November
1st, 2007.
☞ Individual photo retakes on the morning of Friday,
November 2nd, 2007.
☞ Kindergarten Goal Setting Conferences on Monday,
November 5th, 2007
Daylight Savings Time
Remember
to set your clocks one hour back on
Sunday, October 28th. Daylight
Savings Time begins.
Kindergarten Goal Setting Conferences
The Kindergarten Goal Setting Conferences will take place on Monday,
November 5th from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and again from 5:00 p.m. to
8:00 p.m.
Ms O’Malley and Ms Ongley will also be scheduling morning meetings from
8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. for parents who are unable to make it during the
above times.
School
Safety Patrol
The School Safety Patrol, under the guidance of Mr. Knibbs has been
organized and has received training from Constable Greg Bismeyer of the
V.P.D. Our thanks go out to the large group of student leaders from
grades 5, 6, and 7 who have taken on this important responsibility.
Patrol will begin at 8:30 in the mornings until the first bell at 8:46
a.m. and from 3:10 p.m. until 3:25 in the afternoon.
Congratulations to you if one of these responsible students is a member
of your family. Please look at their schedule and assist them in
following through with this important service.
I would also ask the rest of the school community to respect the
direction that the School Patrol Members give to parents and students
in the execution of their duties.
Sports
Update
We have a dedicated group of primary and intermediate students who have
been training hard to represent themselves and our school at the cross
country meets. There has been two zone meets to date with one remaining
on October 11th, at Jericho Beach Park from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. The season
concludes with the X-Country Finals Thursday, October 18th, at Trout
Lake Park from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Thanks to Ms. Lorne, Mr. McDonald, Ms.
Moldowan, Ms. Ongley and Ms. Carter for their sponsorship of this team.
Volleyball practices have begun in anticipation of the upcoming season.
We will be putting both junior and senior boys’ and girls’ teams into
the leagues which will begin a six week league starting the week of
October 29, 2007. Grade 6 & 7 students interested in playing should
listen for meeting and practice time announcements.
Student leaders for the Noon Hour Games have also begun training so
that those activities can begin for students in grades 4 to 7 soon.
Terry
Fox Run
Our Terry Fox Run was a tremendous success. The weather cooperated
which added greatly to the enthusiastic participation of the students,
staff and a good number of parents. Many of the intermediate students
ran for the whole 40-45 minutes allotted for the run.
We will proudly make a contribution of $775.00 to the Terry Fox
Foundation to fund further cancer research and to do what we can to
keep Terry’s Dream alive. His dream, and our efforts, has resulted in
major advances in cancer treatment and we remain confident that an
ultimate cure will be found as long as we continue to do what we can.
To this end parents can still make a contribution to the school
campaign on line at: http://www.terryfoxrun.org/english/national%20school%20run%20day/default.asp?s=1
Thanks to Ms Donnelly and Mr. Castellarin for their efforts in
coordinating the school event.
Professional Development Day - Thursday,
November 1st
School is not in session for
students.
UNICEF Campaign 2007
As part of our school’s Social Responsibility goal, Queen Elizabeth
students will once again be involved in the UNICEF Halloween Campaign
to address malnutrition, preventable diseases, and lack of educational
opportunities experienced by so many young children across the
world. The focus for this year’s UNICEF campaign is addressing
the needs of children in Malawi and Rwanda.
UNICEF is in the second year of a new program that encourages children
to collect donations prior to Halloween night, and return their
collected funds to the school by October 31st at the latest. All
students will be receiving information and collection envelopes shortly.
As children accumulate donations totaling $20, they are eligible to
place a ‘brick’ with their name onto the ‘school-building poster’ in
their classroom ($40 raised equals two bricks, $60 raised equals three
bricks, and so on). Each brick will symbolize the schools that
Queen Elizabeth students are helping to build in Malawi and Rwanda by
collecting donations for UNICEF this year.
Please assist your child in collecting donations from trusted friends
and family, and return all money to the school by October 31st.
As a thank you to students, UNICEF will be providing sturdy Halloween
and colourful trick-or-treating bags (to be given out just before
Halloween).
Last year, Queen Elizabeth was among the top ten schools in all of the
Lower Mainland, raising more than $5000! Wow!
If you have any questions please contact Ms Allyson Donnelly, Queen
Elizabeth UNICEF Coordinator, at (604) 713-5408. Thanks so much
for your help with this very worthwhile campaign for UNICEF!
Canada Safety Council - Halloween
Safety Tips
COSTUMES:
✔ Use fire-resistant material, preferably bright
colours fitted with reflective strips.
✔ If children are wearing a mask, make sure it is
well-fitted with large eye holes for good vision. Better still, use
make-up and your imagination.
✔ Avoid long, dragging costumes which will hamper
mobility.
ON THE STREET:
✔ Always travel with an adult, preferably in groups,
or use a buddy system. Never go alone.
✔ Start and finish early.
✔ Carry a flashlight, never a candle or open flame.
✔ Stay on the sidewalk, trick-or-treat on one side,
then cross at a corner to do the other side.
✔ Go only to homes you know.
✔ Be careful crossing the street. Remember, drivers
may not see you.
✔ Do not play with firecrackers or fireworks.
Fireworks may be used by an adult or under adult supervision. Never
hold them in your hand!
✔ Never eat anything until your parents have
inspected it.
AT HOME:
✔ Throw out anything unsealed or suspicious.
✔ Eat only packaged treats. Home-made goodies are
subject to tampering and could be dangerous.
PAC Meeting
Tomorrow, October 10th at 7:00
pm in the school Library
Photo
Retake Day
Photo Retake Day will be Friday, November 2nd. In order to ensure
delivery of all portraits before Christmas, portrait packages will only
be provided for students who submit a Photo Order Envelope with payment
to the photographer on November 1st. There is no risk as all photos are
fully guaranteed.
If your child was absent during the original photos, or if you have
chosen not to order from the first previews, please have your child
obtain a Photo Order Envelope from the School Office. The student will
give the photographer your payment enclosed in the Order Envelope on
Photo Day.
Please Note: Late orders handed in after Retake Day require special
processing and are, therefore, subject to a $10 handling fee. These
orders will be processed separately and mailed directly to the
customer’s home address.
Mountain West Studios would like to thank parents for their confidence.
Open
Area Trip to Loon Lake
by: Kathleen
When our teachers, Georgina and Gavin, announced that our class of
about sixty kids was to be leaving on the bus bound for Loon Lake in
only a few minutes, the pent-up excitement in our systems was too much
to bare. Luggage was strewn everywhere across the classroom floor and
we were sitting in little groups on the carpet chattering on excitedly
about the three days and two nights we’d be spending at camp.
Our cabins were fantastic, each roomy and interesting in different
ways. Once we all claimed our bunks and dumped our stuff, we were
brought to the field where we separated into our activity groups. We
met the instructors, played a few games, then we all filed into the
dining hall where we waited in single file, each holding a place and
standing in wet socks. The food had exceptional quality, the tables
were spotless, but what caught everyone’s eye was the machine at the
head of the dining hall near the kitchen. It had a choice of four
drinks. I don’t know what they did to everyone, but everyone was lined
up one after another as our glasses drained by the minute and so we
stood, waiting for more.
After lunch, we each split up into our activity groups and left to do
their first activity. The activities were archery, rock climbing, high
ropes, and canoeing. Although some of us were somewhat intimidated by
some of the activities, we all challenged ourselves to the best of our
abilities and pushed the limit of our comfort zone.
Once we had dinner, the whole class returned to the girl’s barraks for
a review of the day with our teachers. Then we feasted on hot chocolate
and cookies and talked till it was time to sleep.
We all woke to the sound of the breakfast bell. The girls ran down the
hill to the dining hall in their pajamas as the boys ran up the hill.
We all gorged on syrup-drenched pancakes, bacon, sausages and lemonade.
As we left our cabins after showering and changing, we separated into
our activity groups again for the day. Littld did we know that the
clouds were plotting against us.
The rain started sometime during lunch, and by dinner, we were all
soaked, so everyone fled to the girls cabin again and lounged on the
couches since the rain cancelled our campfire. We simply had our
campfire inside our cabin. An instructor named Joy led our singing and
clapping. I knew that night in my heart, and I’m sure many others, that
the camp had changed us all. We’d each made new friends who we didn’t
know that much, learned more about those we already knew, and became
closer with our old friends.
In the morning, we had breakfast, and then we got into our activity
groups and played relay races. We had to come up with a cheer and team
name. The races were eventful and fun and we used the points we earned
for an auction at the end, to purchase things that would protect an egg
from being dropped off the high ropes course. When we returned to the
dining hall, we ate our last lunch. Pizza. We each lined up to purchase
our last drink from the machine. I couldn’t help but utter a sad
“good-bye” to it as I filled up my cup. My pals, new and old, talked
about the memories we’d cherish forever as we devoured our pizza.
The bus was waiting for us as we dragged our luggage reluctantly from
our cabins. We sat, sighed and stared behind us as the bus departed.
But we weren’t to be sad or reluctant, because this camp had affected
us in so many ways. There were memories to treasure, some dramatic,
some hilarious. Everyone had something to share, and everyone learned
something.
Loon Lake was definitely the perfect start to a new year in the Open
Area.
Leaving
the School Grounds
Students must eat their lunches in the lunchrooms or (for Intermediate
students) at the picnic tables. Please note that all students must
remain on the school grounds at recess. In the case of a specific
arrangement (going to a friend’s house or to the store to purchase
lunch) a note is required from the parent and the student must sign out
and back in at the office. To help us be as vigilant as possible with
the supervision of students over the lunch hour, please take the time
to explicitly state to your children your expectations.
Hot
Lunch
Hot lunch days are scheduled for the following dates this term:
Thursday,
October 25th
Thursday, November 8th
Thursday, November 22nd
Thursday, December 6th
Thursday, December 20th
Thank you to Yvonne Marcus and Mae Jang for coordinating this PAC
fundraiser.
PAC NEWS
Edited by Susan Tees, Chair
Queen Elizabeth Parent Advisory
Council
FUNDRAISING
Over the course of the school year, there will be several fundraising
initiatives to raise money for the QE PAC and the new playground. The
following is the tentative plan for the 2007/08 school year. Details of
each event will be provided in due time. Thanks for all of the
volunteers that have offered to help already and thank you in advance
for your support of these initiatives.
September - bulb campaign
October - shopping fundraiser, bake sale, family photos
October/November - magazine fundraiser
December - shopping fundraiser, bake sale, Holiday Bazaar
February - Valentine raffle
Late winter/spring - Family pot luck/silent auction/basket raffle
March - shopping fundraiser
May/June - shopping fundraiser, bake sale
Fundraising co-ordinators: Erica Levy, Janice Mah and Kris Jensen
INCLUSION
SURVEY
In November 2007, CACL will issue its first report card on how Canada
is measuring up when it comes to the inclusion and participation of
persons with intellectual disabilities and their families. The November
2007 report card will comment on four key areas -
deinstitutionalization, disability supports, family supports, and
inclusive education.
CACL wants to make sure the report card is accurate and reflective of
the voices of people with intellectual disabilities and their families.
In order to do this they need help from all members of our Federation.
They are asking for help with two things:
1. Story Collection
The report card will showcase brief stories / illustrations about the
successes and challenges of inclusion. CACL is seeking a range of
stories from a range of participants - personal stories, family
stories, stories from teachers, community members, employers etc. The
story can reflect anyone's experience in relation to the issue and need
to be turned in by October 31, 2007. Stories will be highlighted in
CACL's on-line National Report Card and may also be used in the printed
version of the National Report Card that will be issued in November
2007. Please find attached a flyer that may be helpful to families,
individuals, partners and allies in developing their story. Please copy
BCACL on your story by emailing Harini at hrajagopal@bcacl.org or by
mailing your story to 227-6th Street, New Westminster, BC V3L 3A5.
2. Data Collection for the Report Card: A survey on Inclusive Education
To get data on comparable indicators about the educational experiences
of children with disabilities and their families, CACL has created a
short survey for families of children with intellectual disabilities in
the school system. The survey will take about 10 minutes to complete.
The data obtained from the survey will be critical in painting a
picture on the national status of education for students with
intellectual disabilities, the extent to which it presents as an
inclusive experience, and the extent to which families are satisfied
with this experience.
The survey can be found on-line at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=PBiTxo3P0ApmO3aHwpXaVA_3d_3d