NEWSLETTER #7
For our students and their parents
February 26th, 2010
SIR JAMES DOUGLAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Principal: Mrs. Donna Emeno
Associate Superintendent: South Area - Mr. Gary Little - 713-4491
Trustee: Carol Gibson - 713-5000
Main - 7550 Victoria Drive Annex - 7668 Borden Street
Vancouver, BC V5P 3Z7 Vancouver, BC V5P 3E1
Phone - 713-4817 Phone - 713-4885
FAX - 713-4819 FAX - 713 -4887
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
Spring Break is just around the corner for staff and students and everyone is looking forward to a well deserved break. Our Spring Break starts one week early this year; Monday, March 8th to Friday, March 12th. School reopens Monday, March 15th. If you are taking some time off during the upcoming break, enjoy a happy, safe and relaxing holiday with your family!
It’s been a very busy time here at Douglas this past month. Our Grade 7 French Immersion students went to Quebec for their cultural exchange and had a wonderful time. We are in the midst of planning our camping experience for the Grade 7 English students and right now teachers are starting to prepare report cards which marks the end of the second term. The staff and myself have also been involved in several meetings with facilities’ personnel regarding our new school design. Our parent rep, Mr. Michael Watkins has been involved with these meetings as well. Several more meetings are planned for the upcoming weeks which will involve staff talking about design process that match teaching and learning practices. We have been focusing our discussions around creating classroom clusters and learning communities at Douglas. Further details will be discussed at the Parent Advisory Council Meetings so please try to come out and join us. I also attended a Leadership Conference which focused on a culture of high expectations for all students. This environment is one in which instruction comes first, decisions are made based on what is best for the learning environment and ongoing professional development is aligned to school goals and focused on student achievement. We work hard at Douglas to be student focused and to ensure that our students are developing academically, socially, emotionally and physically. Some of the sessions I attended were on Brain Research, Creating a Culture of Excellence, Using the Principles of Adaptive Leadership and Powerful Tools for Instructional Leadership.
READY/SET/LEARN
Ready/Set/Learn is an early childhood initiative sponsored by the Ministry of Children and Family Development, Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health Services. The purpose is to support preschoolers’ learning and development and school readiness. Douglas has two events that three and four year olds are invited to attend. Our first event was in December when a number of preschoolers came to our school library to listen to a presentation by children’s author Robert Heidbreder. Our next event will be on Wednesday, March 3rd, from 9:00 - 10:00 in the school gymnasium. Each child receives a tour of the school and a package of materials that will include an age appropriate book and information on supporting preschool learning and development. If you know of any preschoolers in the community please pass the information on to the families.
PARENT SATISFACTION SURVEYS
Our grade 4 and 7 students will be completing Ministry Satisfaction Surveys on line at the school in March and information for parents to complete the survey on line will be coming out soon. No paper surveys will be used.
REPORT CARDS
Report cards will be sent home, Monday, March 29th and our conferences are scheduled for Tuesday, March 30th from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. and Wednesday, March 31st from 12:10 - 5:00 p.m. At that time, the teachers will be able to discuss the contents of the report with you and answer any questions you may have or you will be able to set up a time to meet separately with the teacher if you are involved in student led conferences. We look forward to seeing you. Please note that students will be dismissed early on both these days, 2:00 on Tuesday and 12:10 p.m. on Wednesday.
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS
Please remember to turn your clocks ahead 1 hour on Sunday, March 14th, 2010.
SCHOOL ORGANIZATION FOR 2010/2011
We are starting the process of establishing our enrolment projections for the 2010-2011 school year. It would be greatly appreciated if you would fill out the red form that was sent home a few weeks ago or telephone the office if you know you will not be returning to Douglas in September 2010.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION FOR SEPTEMBER 2010
We are currently filling our final Kindergarten Class for September 2010, if you have a child born in 2005 please register them ASAP in order to help guarantee your child’s placement in their home school. Once classes are full new Kindergarten students will be placed on a waitlist. Application/registration forms are available in the school office. Please bring your child’s birth certificate, care card, proof of residence (rental/lease agreement or property tax/home ownership papers) and immunization records with you when you register.
DOUGLAS ATHLETICS
Basketball - The basketball season has come to an end with all four of our teams having experienced great success! There were no city finals this year due to the Olympics, however our teams would have done excellent and made Douglas very proud. Congratulations to all the students and coaches for all their hard work and for having a fantastic season!
Track and Field - Get ready for Track and Field season to begin! Practices will start after we return from the March Break. See Ms. Schultz for more details.
Dance Throughout the Decades - The students at Douglas have been working very hard this term learning new dance styles and putting together dance routines. On Friday, March 5th we are having our Dance Throughout the Decades performances. Divisions 13-24 will be performing after recess at 10:45am-11:45am and divisions 1-12 will be performing after lunch at 1:00pm-2:00pm. Everyone is welcome to attend and we look forward to seeing you there!
GRADE 7 QUEBEC TRIP
In grade 7, all Douglas French Immersion students get a chance to take a trip to the amazing province of Quebec. In my opinion this exchange trip is a great way for French Immersion students to build up their French vocabulary and communication skills as the family they are staying with uses french all the time. Also, this is an amazing way to learn about Quebec’s culture. During this incredible trip, many field trips were taken to teach us about the amazing province of Quebec. For example, Carnaval, the sugar shack and so much more. Finally, this trip is an incredible bonding experience for children and creates friendships to last a lifetime. The Quebec trip is a once in a lifetime chance that I think all French Immersion students should take.
~ By Jodie Houck, Divsion 3F - Grade 7
This year, the grade 7's in French Immersion got to adventure in Quebec, Canada’s biggest province. We had a chance to discover and explore old Montreal, tour the huge underground city, meet Bonhomme from Carnaval, and most importantly spend time with our new friends. The students who went on this trip got a correspondent, with whom we made wonderful friends. Most of the population in Quebec spoke only French, which helped us practice and improve our French.
In Montreal, there are many tourist sites. We got to visit the Château Frontenac and see the Fleuve-St-Laurent. Their city beneath Montreal is just amazing. It has every store you can name. There is even a hotel in this underground city. The Carnaval is what Quebec is known for. There are many ice sculptures including Club Penguin figurines and an ice castle. The teachers did a great job matching us with our correspondent as from the day we met it’s like we knew them our whole life.
Our trip was not only fun and exciting, it was a great learning experience. It filled our heads with great memories we will never forget. We were able to do and learn all these things because of the wonderful teachers, Mme A. Miller and Mme H. Hodson who organized and made this trip so extravagant.
~ By Amanda Tang, Division 3F - Grade 7
LOST AND FOUND
Lost and found items will be displayed in the second floor main hallway just outside the gymnasium for pick up during Parent Teacher Conferences March 30th and 31st. Please stop by to look through the clothing articles that may belong to you. Students will also be reminded to look through the lost and found as all remaining items will be sent to charity the first week of April.
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM - Eat Your Colours Every Day
For Breakfast: sprinkle blueberries (blue/purple) on your cereal or add frozen strawberries or raspberries to your breakfast smoothie (red) or add green pepper to your scrambled eggs (green).
For Snacks: pack carrot sticks (yellow/orange), or a red apple, or some green grapes.
For Lunch: try cherry tomatoes (red), a kiwi (green) or nectarine (yellow/orange).
For Dinner: have a green salad, some potatoes (white), corn (yellow), or beets (red).
For Desserts: make a multi-coloured fruit salad or try an apple and berry crisp.
You get the picture - try to eat a rainbow of colourful fruits and vegetables every day.
* Pick a variety of colourful fruits and vegetables
* Wash fresh fruits and vegetables before eating
* Enjoy the taste of different coloured fruits and vegetables
LIBRARY NEWS
Our congratulations to Cora Lee (mother of Jaime Lee in grade six)! Her book Number Rumble won the American Institute of Physics’ science writing award in the children’s book category. She has also written a physics book for children: The Great Motion Mission. She has donated copies of both her books to Douglas library. Math and Science fans should check them out! Cora can be found volunteering in Douglas library most Wed. mornings when she is not working at her job as a science writer.
Stay tuned for our upcoming Scholastic Book Fair during parent conferences days on March 30 and 31st.
Webcat is where it’s at! For projects and fun, don’t forget to use webcat at home. (webcat.vsb.bc.ca) Through the Douglas library webcat page, you can access databases for students paid for by the VSB.
For most resources when login is required, use: 39do / library (username/password). Access World Book Online with vsbstudent / vsbstudent (username/password)
Go to the databases tab and click on ‘recommended links’ to connect to the Winter Olympics School site that has lots of fun and information.
HOPE FOR HAITI
Douglas has once again proven that we really do care, both locally and globally. Soon after the devastating earthquakes in Haiti, a large group of staff and students came together to find a way to help the victims. We developed a plan to have a coin drive, as well as a bake sale and a garage sale on February 3rd and 4th, with all proceeds going to the Red Cross. The outpouring of support from our Douglas community was overwhelming. Contributions of all kinds came from families in all divisions. On Friday, February 5th, we deposited all of the money we had raised at that point which was transferred directly to the Red Cross. We exceeded all expectations with a deposit of $2,620! Since we acted quickly and made our donation before February 12th, we were within the time frame for the federal government to match our donation. This means that Douglas was responsible for a donation of $5,240. Since then, we have received further cash donations of over $100 and we continue to accept donations. A huge thank you to every student and staff member who contributed their time, effort, and money to help the victims of the earthquakes in Haiti. You have made a difference.
HAITI
earthquake, injured
working, rebuilding, helping
homeless, hungry, poor, ill
saddening, hurting, hoping
thirsty, lonesome
Haiti
By: Teresa Nguyen
Grade 3, Div. 15
PAC UPDATE
Upcoming Events: Mark your calendars for the annual and ever so popular, Movie Night/Silent Auction on Friday March 26th. Details will be coming home soon.
Purdy’s Easter Chocolates: The grade 7 parents are putting together a PAC fundraiser to sell Purdy’s chocolates for Easter. Order forms will be coming home soon. Don’t miss this chance to have a delicious Easter and support the PAC at the same time!
PAC UPDATE CONT...
Looking for volunteers for next year’s PAC Executive: Many of the executive will be “graduating” soon, as our children move on to high school. For parents of younger children, consider joining the PAC executive. It is an excellent opportunity to be involved in your child’s school and make a difference. I will not be the PAC chair next year, but will still be around to help out.
Campell Soup Label Program: Many thanks to Theresa Sturby for running this program over the past years. We are now looking for a volunteer to take this on, as Theresa will be leaving Douglas at the end of this year. If you are interested, contact the PAC via email at douglasPAC@Aucontraire.net
COMMUNITY NEWS
This notice is provided on a courtesy basis only to inform you of events occurring in the community. The Vancouver School Board is not affiliated with nor does it sanction the content of or participation in the event.
DAVID THOMPSON COMMUNITY SCHOOL TEAM - SPRING UPDATE - Happy Spring Everyone!
The DTCST is pleased to offer Out of School time Programs for Douglas Elementary School on Tuesdays After school. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to get involved in activities after school they might not otherwise have an opportunity to participate in. Keeping fit and active, developing new skills and friends and increased success in school are all some of the outcomes that we have found in children who participate in After School programs.
We are pleased to offer some new programs for spring this term. All of our programs will be offered from 3pm – 4:30pm on Tuesdays. We are going to offer a FREE BHANGRA class on March 2nd as an introduction to our spring BHANGRA DANCE CLASSES offered to Grades 4-7. All are welcome to attend and try it out to see if they like Bhangra, this is excellent fitness and lots of fun! We will also offer CREATIVE CRAFTS grades 2-3 and a READING BUDDIES program where students in grades K & 1 have the undivided attention of a DT student to read with them and play games after school, this program is finished at 4pm. Finally we are offering PRIVATE PIANO LESSONS for students in grades 2-7. We are fortunate at DT to have many talented piano instructors who have Grade 8 and higher piano certification and offer 30 minute piano lessons after school. The students receive a beginner book and a series of lessons to try their hand at playing piano. Call for more details and see the brochure.
IF YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER IS REGISTERED IN THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB WE ARE HAPPY TO ESCORT THEM ACROSS THE STREET WHEN THE PROGRAMS ARE OVER.
Look for our bright green DTCST brochure coming home the week before the March Break and sign up quickly for the programs. Some have limited numbers so it will be important to sign up quickly. It is first come, first served. Please contact Tim by e-mail at tbegley@vsb.bc.ca, Gaelan at gconnell@vsb.bc.ca or Vanessa Fee at vfee@vsb.bc.ca or you can call our Community School Team office at 604-713-5886 if you have any questions about the programs.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
B.C. Eating Disorder Awareness Week - March 1-5th - Today, in a society that places high value on thinness, eating problems such as bulimia, anorexia and overeating are evident. Helping your children develop a healthy attitude about food, weight and body size will support a healthy sense of self and can prevent disordered eating.
To help your child develop a healthy attitude towards food and body size:
• Be aware of what you say about body size and weight. Comments like ‘she could lose some weight’ or ‘I feel fat’ are contagious. Challenge yourself and your friends and family to a Fat Talk Free Week. Search ‘fat talk free week’ at www.youtube.com.
• Have a look at your own food attitudes and behaviours - if you are always on and off diets or if you control the foods you eat, your child will notice.
• Avoid using food as a reward. Offer praise, hugs, and your time and attention instead.
• Refrain from forcing your child to clean his plate; when he is done eating - he is done!
• Be a healthy role model for your kids by sharing healthy meals and snacks and getting moving with them.
If your child is worried about his or her size, shape, or weight, call the Healthy Attitudes Program, a free program for 11-24 year olds. A counsellor, dietitian, doctor and nurse are available to provide individual confidential appointments. (604) 321-6151.