January Newsletter Dear Parents/Guardians, Happy 2015! I hope you all had a relaxing and enjoyable Christmas and New Year. The weather was cooperative, for the most part, making travelling far less stressful than last Christmas season. A New Year marks new beginnings and a fresh start. For many of us, we have still managed to follow through with our New Year’s resolutions. Before we know it, report cards will be coming home again! With these cooler temperatures and wet weather, comes the need for boots, hats, mittens, and extra mittens. Thanks for remembering to pack these! The winter season also means that our traditional Burkevale ski days will begin. There will be four ski days this year. The dates for these are listed below. On behalf of the Burkevale staff, we would like to wish you a very Happy New Year! Mrs. McLaren School Events December Events: Christmas Concerts: Our primary and junior/intermediate Christmas concerts were a huge success. There are so many students with amazing dramatic and musical talents. The feedback from board members, staff, and parents was that they were “top drawer.” A huge thank-you needs to go out to our two MCs – Abbie-Lynn Hamilton and Abbie Lotton – for their fantastic humour and wonderful job. Mrs. Gilchrist, Mr. T., Mr. Smith, the rest of the staff and students also need to be thanked for their efforts and part in making these two evenings such special events. Curling Bonspiel: Many of the grade 7 and 8 students participated in a curling bonspiel on Tuesday, December 16th. The teams placed 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th. Way to go Burkevale students! Student Council: The student council collected non-perishable food items for St. Vincent de Paul this year. We collected over 500 items for this great cause! Thanks to the student council, Mrs Puddicombe, Ms. McIvor, Ms. Archer, Mr. Cowan and all of the parents for their generosity! Bayfield House and Georgian Manor: Once again, our choir and music groups went to the Bayfield house to share their musical talents with the residents. Thanks students, Mrs. Gilchrist, Mr. Tourigny, and Mr. Smith for helping to support this valuable community connection. January Events: Bottle Drive: Information regarding a fundraising activity for the students attending the Halifax Music Festival was sent home the last day of school before Christmas vacation. Your support on January 10th, would be greatly appreciated. Primary Skating: The grade 1 to grade 3/4 classes will be going skating throughout January, February, and March. Ski Days: The primary students will be going cross country skiing for 4 half days throughout January, February and March. The junior and intermediate students will be going skiing for 4 full days, with the option to go downhill skiing on the last 2 days. Cross Country Ski Team: Once again, Burkevale will have a cross country ski team for grades 4-8 students. Information regarding the ski program will come home in January. Junior Curling: Grades 5 and 6 have the opportunity to participate on the curling team in the New Year. An announcement will be made in January regarding details. Winterama Float: We will be participating in the Winterama parade again this year. Two staff members have volunteered to chair this committee. We would welcome parent and student volunteers as well, as this is a massive undertaking. Basketball and Volleyball: Boys basketball and girls’ volleyball will commence in January for our intermediate students. An announcement will be made in January regarding details. UPCOMING DATES th January 10 : Bottle Drive for Halifax group January 16th: Grades 1-3/4 Skating (10:30-11:45) January 28th: Cross Country Skiing - Grades 4-8 (All Day) Grades 1-3/4 (pm only) February 4th: Grades 1-3/4 Skating (1:30-2:45) February 12th: Cross Country Skiing- Grades 4-8 (All Day) Grades 1-3/4 (pm only) February 23rd: Cross Country Skiing - Grades 4-8 (All Day) Grades 1-3/4 (pm only) Optional: Downhill (4-8) February 26th: Grade 8 students go to PSS February 27th: Grades 1-3/4 Skating (10:30-11:45) March 4th: Grades 1-3/4 Skating (1:30-2:45) March 12th: Cross Country Skiing -Grades 4-8 (All Day) Grades 1-3/4 (pm only) Optional: Downhill (4-8) March Break: March 16th to the 20th HEALTH AND SAFETY Emergency Booklet: The health and safety committee created a new emergency flipchart for staff and supply teachers. The booklet was designed to be a quick and accessible tool for staff to outline procedures in the case of school emergencies. This chart was also added to all supply teacher folders. Yard Incidents: As indicated in past months, your child’s safety is of our utmost concern at the school. Our yard duty supervisors are outside to help keep the yard safe. We are concerned with the “horseplay” going on in the yard, as of late. Please discuss the dangers of this with your children so that the message being delivered is consistent. Thanks! Safe Schools Committee: The Safe Schools Committee feel safe, included, and accepted, where positive interactions and behaviours are the norm. The safe schools committee will be sending home a climate survey in the spring. Your input and feedback regarding this survey is crucial. INVALUABLE VOLUNTEERS Classroom and Special Event Volunteers: With our upcoming skiing and skating days, many volunteers will be needed. Your support during these special events is greatly appreciated! A reminder that all volunteers need to have a copy of their current Police Check (or Offence Declaration) submitted to the office and the volunteer training must be completed. (The volunteer handbook and training are available on the Burkevale website). CAUGHT YOU CARING AWARDS The following students received “Caught You Caring” awards for their extraordinary acts of kindness this month: Benjamin King, Mitchell McMullen, Madelyn Ritchie, Sarah McMullen, Dolsey Curran, Myla Parent, Kevin Gamble, Cole Warren, and Reese Cloutier-Roberts. Benjamin King was the winner of a gift card, sponsored by Winmar. DECEMBER STUDENTS OF THE MONTH Grade 1 : Sunny Graham & Katie Mace Grade 2: Julie-Ann Jessop Grade 2/3: Lincoln Mixemong & Dolsey Curran Grade 3/4: Aleksa Quesnelle & Tia Callas Grade 4: Carson Thayer Grade 5: Sophie King Grade 6: Teaghan Couling Grade 7: Abbie Lotton Grade 8: Chloe LeClair French: Juliana Lashbrook Music: Dante Morrison Library: Leo Woods COMMUNITY SUPPORT Parents/Guardians/Staff/Students: A special thank you to parents/guardians, staff and students for their contributions to the “adopt- a –family” and the St. Vincent de Paul food drive. Your generousity was greatly appreciated. Bayfield House: Thank you tothe Bayfield house for inviting some of our classes down to share in the experiences of the Planetarium. Our students thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity.