L’Ecole Trafalgar Elementary School 4170 Trafalgar Street, Vancouver, BC, V6L 2M5 Tel: 604-713-5475 Fax: 604-713-5477 Safe Arrival (to report absence/late) 604-713-5479 Principal Vice-Principal Administrative Assistant Mme Adele Tremblay Ms. Sarah Kramer Ms. Selina Liu Direction of Instruction VSB Liaison Trustee PAC Co-Chairs Ms. Denise Johnson 604-713-5097 Mr. Ken Denike 604-889-0564 Gord Lau, Karen Sadler, [email protected] Newsletter #8 2014 December 18 _____________________________________________________________________________________ Dear Parents, Guardians & Students, Like every year, these last school days of December have brought with them the usual mix of excitement and tradition that leads us into holiday mood. As usual, some of the greatest highlights of the last two weeks of term have involved music, acts of generosity, and shared food. The Musical Season Our school choirs, under the direction and accompaniment of Catherine Campolin and Dr. Eleanor Chambers, have been busy with two recent events: the Senior Choir’s performance at Stanley Park’s “Bright Nights” last week and both Junior and Senior Choirs entertaining the entire school body at this past Tuesday’s school concert. Thank you so much for your lovely voices; we are indeed fortunate to have such highquality vocal music in our school. At Tuesday’s concert, we were also treated to our first performance by this year’s school band, led by Mr. Law. Staff, parents, and our choir leaders all commented on the remarkable musicality demonstrated by both groups: Grade 6s who started only two months ago and the Grade 7s who’ve been playing their instrument for little over a year. Congratulations to all for your hard work! This year’s Music in the Halls has been a great success so far. Parents and children have been brightening up these darks days by coming in to sing between 8:30 and 8:55. Thank you to our accompanist Katrin Poemmerl, school parent Michelle Anderson on clarinet, and finally school parent Shaleena Jeraj for coordinating the singalong carols each day. Much appreciated! If you’ve been unable to join us for early morning caroling, you’ll have two more chances on Friday: the usual 8:30 one and the afternoon assembly in the gym. We will be calling classes down at 1:30 p.m. for a 1:45 sing-along. Do come by – you will find it a delightful way to begin the holidays… and might even get to meet a famous personality in our midst! Did you know? A quick internet search on the key components of health and well-being might reveal a surprise: “Exercise. Eat right. Get plenty of sleep. Join a choir.” Singing not only relieves stress, it also improves breathing, facilitates concentration and overall brain function, and boosts our immune systems. Along with sports, every one of us should be singing every day…. and the perfect place to start is the school choir. Think about it for the New Year! The Season of Giving Another of the cherished traditions of this time of year is certainly that of giving, including to those less fortunate. Our school’s Care Team took on the organization of this year’s Food Bank Drive, one they feel has been a great success. Project leaders Kieran M. and Marcus D. report that they are hoping to collect 1044 non-perishable items (two per student). As of late Wednesday, they were up to 638 items and still feeling optimistic about meeting their target by Friday afternoon. One class took on their own fund-raising project this week. Anne-Marie and her students hosted an in-class event where the room was transformed into "La Galaxie de la division 11". They explained to all invited parents what they had learned around the Solar System this term at different stations set up in class and in the hallway. The kids also produced beautiful art projects on that theme and lots of creative writing, poems, and had a special silent auction item. The money raised from cash donation entry fees and the silent auction went to a very worthy cause: a Superstore gift certificate of $351.00 for the family of a little girl at the school of a former Trafalgar VP, Mr. Krug. If you were in the school Wednesday, you will have seen former school parent and current library volunteer, Annie Law, working at the Library Used Book Sale. All profits from this event will be donated to Children’s Hospital in memory of Annie and Leo’s dear son and our former student Liam who died in February 2013. Students of Divisions 14 and 15 cleaned their houses and found all kinds of things they could donate to needy people through Ray-Cam Cooperative Centre: clothing, toys, food, toiletry items, etc. All this will be picked this week and will be much appreciated over the Winter Holidays. They are very proud of their efforts! An event introduced by a new Trafalgar family, Santa’s Workshop, was much appreciated by students… and by Mother Nature who loves to see us reusing her precious resources! Families were encouraged to donate used toys, jewelry, and books that were then transformed into presents students could buy for family and friends, all for a loonie. Ms. Kindrachuk/Ms. Coulter-Boisvert and Mr. Kabele’s Div. 2 and 3 set up, wrapped gifts, operated the cash boxes… and chose the charity to which to donate the profits: Covenant House. We thank Div. 2 and 3… and of course all of you who donated! The Season of Food! Throughout the week, classes have been organizing breakfasts, Hanukkah stories, concerts, and celebrations, almost all with some of the traditional tastes of the season: potato latkes, shortbread cookies, candy canes, mandarin oranges, eggnog, and chocolate. Thank you to all of you for filling our tummies and memories with such treats. Staffing Update When we return from holidays, we will be able to welcome a new staff member. Mme Emily Wlodyka will be taking over in Div. 17F, Mme Andrea Rosin’s Grade 1 position. If you see her around the school, please welcome her. We will also be happy to welcome Mme Aynslee Bauder back to the school after her leave; she will be returning to her Div. 20 Kindergarten class four days/week. Mme Jennifer Loukidis, whom we thank for covering the leave since March, will continue one day/week, Mondays. Div. 12 families learned just yesterday that with Ms. Deanna Krushinsky’s leave being extended, their teacher Ms. Aileen Yoon will continue at least until Spring Break. Looking for a New Year’s Resolution? You may want to help with the traffic congestion around our school during drop-off and pickup times. Two school parents have volunteered to spearhead this important improvement project, Caren Lombard and Anita Wilbur. More information will come in the New Year with the name and number of a person to call to register complaints. We have already made a good connection with the Community Road Education Safety Team that will support us in lobbying for improved signage around our school. Happy Hanukkah & Merry Christmas However you celebrate this season, with whatever traditional foods and customs, our entire staff wishes all our families a restful and joyous holiday full of song, bright warm lights, good cheer, and lots of fresh air. We will look forward to seeing you all back on Monday, January 5th. Important Dates Dec 19 Music in the Halls, 8:30 to 9 a.m. Last day of school before Winter Break. Sing-along in the gym, 1:45 p.m. start Dec. 21, 3:03 p.m. Winter Solstice – the days start getting longer! Jan 5 School re-opens Jan 9 Hot Lunch Jan 14 FI Info Night for incoming K and Gr. 1 parents, 7 p.m., library Jan 19 Pro-D Day; school not in session Jan 23 Hot Lunch Jan 28 Grades 2-5 English to North Vancouver Outdoor School (until Jan 3o) Jan 29 Grade 7 FI to Drummondville, Quebec (until Feb 5) Jan 30 Immunizations O, wind, if winter winter comes, can spring be far behind? ~ Percy Bysshe Shelley In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer. ~ Albert Camus Yours truly, In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy. ~ William Blake Adele Tremblay, Principal I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it Sarah Kramer, Vice Principal Selina Liu, Office Administrative Assistant says "Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.” ~ Lewis Carroll
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