Churchill Newsletter - January 20th, 2012

CHURCHILL ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL COUNCIL

Email Blast for Friday, January 20^th

1.  Next CASC Meeting:  Will be held on Tuesday, February 7 at 6:30 pm in the 2^nd floor staff room.  We’ve changed the date! It is a week earlier. 

2.  Churchill Presents: Come and enjoy an evening with Dr. Gordon Neufeld,^, author of “Hold On To Your Kids”, on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in the Nepean High School Auditorium. Tickets in advance:  $20 per person  or at the door:  $25 per person.   Tickets can be purchased online through Dovercourt Recreation Centre (enter course # 76642), or call 613–798-8950

3.  January School Newsletter and Calendars:  Please find attached.

4.  Winter Walk to School Day and Carnival:  Come and celebrate Churchill Alternative’s 2^nd Annual Winter Walk to School Day and Carnival. This fun event organized by our “Active and Safe Routes to School Committee” will be held Wednesday, February 8^th from 7:45-8:30 am in the school yard! There will be music, games, hot drinks and more! Please see the attached poster for more details!

5.  Sub Lunches:  You can now pay for your February Sub 2012 lunches with Paypal. Fill in the regular form (submit to teacher) and in the payment section select PayPal.  Then click the link below to make the payment. Sub Lunches February

6.  Booster Juice:  Will be starting in February.  Look for the order form.  There will be a Paypal option.  If you can help, please contact Paula McLeod paulaandbruce@gmail.com

7.  2011-2012 Yearbook:  Our 2011-2012 Churchill Alternative School Yearbook is in the works! This year’s yearbook will be a 56 page full colour, soft cover book of wonderful memories!  Remember you can personalize  your child’s yearbook, but this offer ends Friday, January 27^th.  How to order……Fill in the form sent home (if you need another form please contact your teacher) and return it with a cheque made payable to Churchill Alternative School.  Or log on to www.jostensyearbooks.com, click on ‘Buy Your Yearbook’. Make sure you type in Churchill Alternative in the spot marked ‘school’ and follow the prompts!   Lynn gets a confirmation list of web ordered books each day.  Please feel free to e-mail any questions to Lynn Dupuis (Koch) Lynn.koch@ocdsb.ca

8.  Knitting Club: Knitting Club is held every Friday in the library from 12:20 to 12:50.  Our parent volunteers will be helping to teach knitting, crochet, spool knitting, pom-pom making and finger knitting. We welcome volunteers of all skill levels, so if you are interested in helping please contact Eloise Holland (collison@aei.ca) or Andrea Wall (anoelw6@yahoo.com) . You can still donate yarn and knitting needles.  Find the box in the school lobby.

9.  Family Literacy Day:  Mark your calendars for Friday, January 27^th. Check out the website http://abclifeliteracy.ca/family-literacy-day.  See what you can do with your family to celebrate this important day!

10.      Resources for Families:  Resources for Families:  Each week we will be trying to share links to helpful or interesting education-related resources. Thanks to those who sent in links this week! Please send any suggestions to Dan (dmackinnon1@gmail.com). This week we suggest:

a)    January "Boy Smarts" Newsletter from Barry MacDonald (mentoringboys.com)

http://www.mentoringboys.com/newsletter/Jan2012_RegulateEmotions.pdf 

b)   "For years parents and teachers have told me that boys who lack social awareness and control of their emotions need structured or traditional learning environments... Best-practice classroom research indicates something very different, however."

c)    Article on Finland's Education System in The Atlantic Monthly

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/12/what-americans-keep-ignoring-about-finlands-school-success/250564/ 

" The Scandinavian country is an education superpower because it values equality more than excellence. "

d)   Globe and Mail article: Parents want to spend more time teaching kids

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/the-hot-button/parents-want-more-time-to-teach-kids---but-miss-teachable-moments/article2297257/

" A majority of parents - 62 per cent - said that “they don't have as much time as they'd like to spend helping their kids learn,” according to the Canadian Press."

11.      Important Dates to Remember

·       Kindergarten registration  – Jan. 30 – Feb. 3

·       Kinder Info. Night – Jan.31

·       CASC Meeting – Feb. 7

·       Sub Day – Feb. 1, 15, 29

·       Pizza Day – Feb. 8, 22

·       Winter Walk to School Day – Feb. 8

·       Movie Night – Feb. 10 (yes, it’s a Friday night!)

·       Student Transfer Period Begins – Feb. 13

·       Dr. Neufeld Evening – Feb. 16

·       PA Day – Feb. 17

·       Family Day – Feb. 20