FALMOUTH DISTRICT SCHOOL
March 3rd, 2016 Volume 7
MARCH NEWSLETTER
PRINCIPAL’S NOTES
The Rink – Although winter has not been kind to us and our use of the rink, the students did get out on the rink 3 times so far this winter. Our Skating Program will conclude at March Break. I am hopeful that we will get on the ice one or two more times. Once again, this program runs with cooperation from many people. Jamie Leary and Arnold Whitehead put in hours of work from New Year’s to March Break making sure our rinks are flooded and fit for skating. Parents, Grandparents, Hantsport Fire Department, Nova Scotia Power, FDS Home & School, students and staff all help to make sure our students get ready and out on the ice. All of your work is very much appreciated and definitely something we can be proud of!! I would like to thank our community for adhering to the signs when we close the rink at times when it is not suitable for skating.
Trout Eggs – Our trout eggs arrived and are housed in the refrigerated fish tank in the foyer. Mrs. Petten’s class will be caring for the eggs once again and eventually releasing them into a Falmouth stream.
Grade Five and Six Transition – We have started the process of transitioning our students to WHMS. Transition meetings are happening and information has been sent home. All Grade Five and Six students will go to WHMS March 9th for a morning to meet staff and discuss routines and expectations. Some of our students will take extra trips to become comfortable with their new surroundings. Please keep checking in on our website (www.falmouth.ednet.ns.ca) for updated information under the Transition tab.
Theme Week – Students will be involved in a variety of school based activities during the week of March 7 – 11. We will have theme days and activities for students at lunch time. Students will still carry on with regular classes. A more detailed schedule will come home shortly.
GRAND FRIEND TEA PARTIES
Each of the P-2 classes will host a Tea Party in the spring. Invitations will come home the week before your child’s Tea Party. We would ask that you make every effort to find an older person, grandparent, neighbor, aunt, uncle, family friend to come as a guest. It is a chance for your child to expand their social skills. Below you will find the schedule:
DATE / TEACHER / GRADE LEVEL / ROOM #Tuesday, April 12, 2016 / Mrs. Leary / 2 / 1
Tuesday, April 19, 2016 / Mrs. Mulloy / 1/2 / 2
Thursday, April 21, 2016 / Mrs. Shields / P/1 / 3
Tuesday, April 26, 2016 / Mrs. Harrington / P/1 / 4
Thursday, April 28, 2016 / Mrs. Fry / P/1 / 5
WINDSOR ELMS VILLAGE WINTER/SPRING VISITS
The Elms is a very special place for our students and staff. They are our Safe Haven if we have to evacuate and we are their Safe Haven. The Elms often helps us out when we are in need of cooking food in bulk, like cases of sausages for the Christmas Breakfast. We also have classes that visit with the seniors on a regular basis. See the scheduled visits for Winter and Spring below.
DATE / CLASSROOM / GRADE / NEIGHBOURHOODSTuesday, January 12, 2016 / Mrs. Matheson / 4/5 / Fundyview
Wednesday, January 20, 2016 / Mrs. Petten / 3/4 / Osprey
Monday, February 8, 2016 / Mrs. LeBoutillier / 5/6 / Fundyview
Wednesday, February 10, 2016 / Ms. Cox-Jardine / 5/6 / Osprey
Wednesday, February 17, 2016 / G. Fisher/K. Hubley / 3 / Meadowview
Wednesday, March 30, 2016 / Mrs. LeBoutillier / 5/6 / Meadowview
Thursday, April 21, 2016 / Mrs. Matheson / 4/5 / Osprey
Monday, April 25, 2016 / Mrs. Petten / 3/4 / Fundyview
Wednesday, April 27, 2016 / Ms. Cox-Jardine / 5/6 / Meadowview
Wednesday, May 18, 2016 / G. Fisher/K. Hubley / 3 / Osprey
IN-COMING PRIMARIES
We are still trying to get all of the new primaries registered for next year. We have started to set up appointment times for the ones that have already registered and a letter will be sent home in April with your appointment times. If you have a friend or neighbor that may have a child ready to start school in September, please have them call the school at 792-6710 to register their child.
NEW PRIMARY INFORMATION – APRIL - MAY 2016
DATE / EVENTWednesday, April 27, 2016 / Primary Parents Meeting – 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 5th, 2016 / Primary Screening Day (by appointment)
Friday, May 6th, 2016 / Primary Day Camp 9:30 am – 1:00 pm
MARCH BREAK WEEK
Please remember we have a large assortment of snowshoes, skates and helmets that can be signed out.
CANTEEN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
I cannot say “Thank You” enough to the parent and student volunteers.
We are in need of helpers/volunteers to help out in the canteen on Mondays & Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. or earlier if possible. This will be of great help to us. We encourage parents and families to purchase meal cards for their child. They are available in the amounts of $15, $20, $25, $30, and $50
FALMOUTH SCHOOL
NO SCHOOL & EARLY DISMISSAL DATES
MARCH - 2016
DATE / PARTICULARSMarch 14 – March 18, 2016 / NO SCHOOL – MARCH BREAK
Friday, March 25, 2016 / NO SCHOOL – Good Friday
Monday, March 28, 2016 / NO SCHOOL – Easter Monday
WEST HANTS MIDDLE SCHOOL
GRADE SIX TRANSITION INFORMATION MARCH – JUNE 2016
Date / ActivityFebruary – March / Concert Band Tour (Emily Brossoit will be in contact to set dates)
March 9 / Grade 5 & 6 Students will visit WHMS
March 23 / Grade 6 Parent Information Meeting at WHMS Cafeteria (6:30 p.m.) Storm Date – March 29.
March 30 / Grade 5 Parent Information Meeting at WHMS Cafeteria (6:30 p.m.) Storm Date – April 6
March – April / Resource and/or Guidance staff will set up times to come in and meet with each school.
April 8 / Registration handout must be returned to the Grade 6 Teacher
April 12 / Lottery Draw for French programs if needed. (4:00 p.m. at WHMS)
May – June / Transition Activities at WHMS
GRADE SIX GRADUATION PHOTOS
Our Photographer, LIFETOUCH, will be taking Grade Six Graduation Photos on Monday, March 21, 2016.
NOTES FROM MRS. FORAND
SKATING SUCCESS
What variety in the weather this winter for skating! Students have enjoyed the opportunity to be on the outdoor rinks, which many now know is completely different than indoor skating. Our non-skaters have learned to skate, due in part to the support and encouragement of their peers, parent volunteers and pure determination! It has been wonderful to see older students working with younger students and vice versa! Thank you to all our parents, grandparents, students and adult volunteers for helping: find skates, put skates on, tie skates, retie skates, help with helmets, and then take everything back off again, each and every day. We hope you, your family and friends have enjoyed the community rink, and of course the light for night skating!
Thank you to students that help to set up and then put away the benches and mats needed in the gym before and after skating each day. A BIG THANKS to those who kept the rink cleared and in skating shape this winter, especially Jamie Leary and Arnold Whitehead! You have both gone above and beyond, yet again.
Mrs. Forand - PE Teacher
INTRAMURALS
Intramural Basketball has brought out many enthusiastic players this term with the emphasis on teamwork and having fun with friends. We run two leagues: A Grade 3/4 League and a Grade 5/6 League. In addition, Grade 5 & 6 students are helping as coaches, referees and scorekeepers during the grade 3 & 4 games, and have helped bring the love of basketball to over 40 students in these grades. Thank you all students in grades 3, 4, 5 & 6 for demonstrating great sportsmanship in each games, and a BIG THANKS to the student helpers for setting up the gym, acting as referees, scorekeepers and timers each game.
MUSIC
After March Break students in grades 3-4-5-6 will be doing a unit in recorder. I am assuming most students will have a recorder from previous years, so encourage them to have a look around the house and find their recorders so they are ready. I will be placing an order for recorders through a music store and any student/parent wishing to purchase one from the school may do so. Please do not buy recorders from the dollar store as these are toys and not musical instruments and the sound does not blend well. There will be a memo going home soon with all the details regarding this unit and purchase information.
LIBRARY
I can barely believe that March is here. Although I am looking forward to spring! Thinking of spring we have a change this year to our Spring Book Fair. It will be held in April to correspond with our parent/Teacher evening rather than in March as in previous years. I will be looking for volunteers later this Month.
Hackmatack Book Club is moving right along. Once again we have a great group of readers. In fact, one of our students has already read all 20 books (go Jessica) and others are on their way to being done. This year has a terrific collection of books. I would recommend the Dear Canada book “All Fall Down: The Landslide Diary of Abby Roberts” the story of Frank Slide in Alberta and “The End of the Line”, wartime story of five year old Beatrix who gets left behind on a streetcar in Amsterdam in 1942. I am enjoying our conversations about all of the students favourite books.
Thank you to all the students who have been helping to shelve books especially our grade P/1 and 3 / 4 students who are very keen.
Enjoy Spring
Mrs. Meuse
BOXING/FITNESS PROGRAM
Back by popular demand! Falmouth District School will be offering a boxing/fitness program for boys and girls in the spring. The students will be learning basic boxing skills in a non-contact setting. The goal is to build confidence, improve fitness levels, as well as develop a passion for fitness. It will be a unique opportunity for our students to learn boxing in a non-competitive environment, designed especially for them. The program will be designed and run by Kathy Johnston, a qualified boxing and fitness instructor, with assistance from parent volunteers. Kathy is a Boxing Canada Level 1 boxing coach, Kickboxing Canada Level 1 Fitness Boxing Instructor and a CanFitPro personal training specialist.
The sessions for boys and girls will be held on different days. We have spots for 30 to participate in each session. New this term, we will be opening the program up for students in grade 3, so the program will be available for students in grades 3 to 6. The sessions for girls will be held on Mondays and will begin April 4th. The sessions for boys will be on Fridays and will start on April 8th. All sessions will end the first week of May.
FALMOUTH RUNNING CLUB NEWS
Grade 3, 4, 5, & 6 students at Falmouth District School will have an opportunity to participate in the spring running club. It will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays after school when winter is over. There will be a new feature this year on Thursdays; A Learn to Run Program, teaching first time runners the basics to get started in a life-long adventure of running.
Events for Spring running include The Bluenose Youth Run in May and the Annual Wish Run for the Children’s Wish Foundation. Mrs. Wheaton, Mrs. Shields, Ms. Cox Jardine, Mrs. Hubley, and Ms. Frank are the staff supporters. Volunteers are welcome. Listen and watch for announcements following March Break.
HOME & SCHOOL
February was a great month, the kids celebrated 100 days of school and did get a few skating days in even with the weird and wacky winter we are having. We celebrated Staff Appreciation week; we thanked and celebrated all our amazing staff. Home & school purchased a new microwave for the staff room and we are lucky enough to have a parent in our school who is a chef. He prepared a delicious Vietnamese themed lunch for all of our staff, and with the help of a group of parent volunteers, the staff were able to enjoy their lunch over the lunch break.
Thank you once again for supporting our blueberry fundraiser. The blueberries will be available for pick up on Thursday, March 10th, from 5:30pm - 8:30pm at the school.
The next Home & School meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016at 6:30 p.m. in the library.
SPRING FLING 2016
Spring Fling 2016 – NEW & IMPROVED!
Thursday, May 26th
This is Falmouth District School’s largest fundraiser – a family night at Falmouth School with games, activities, prizes, canteen & more! Volunteers will be needed so please keep this in mind when the call goes out for help. More details will come home as the date gets closer.
New this year – GRAND PRIZES & PHOTO BOOTH!
If you’d like to help out or hear more about this, come to the Home & School meetings on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at Falmouth District School (March 2nd, April 6th, and May 4th).
Stay Tuned!
Natalie Kendrick
SUPERNATURAL KIDS – ALL ELEMENTARY AGE KIDS WELCOME!