Principal's Message
Welcome back to a new school year! As the new principal I am extremely
excited about the upcoming year. Our school continues to grow
in reputation and student population. We are projecting 630 students
to start the year, 40 more than last year. We have added a portable
to the school to accommodate a new French Immersion division.
The staff has spent numerous hours during the summer to prepare
classrooms and materials for the new school year. Many interesting
and exciting curricular and extracurricular opportunities will
be available to the students of Chief Dan George this year. Best
wishes to all as we enter into our new year.
Attendance
One area that assists the school in maintaining a safe and secure
environment involves our attendance policies. It is essential
that students and parents work with school staff to ensure that
we have accurate data regarding student attendance. Parents are
asked to call the school office in the morning to report the absence
of their child. Students who are late to school must check in
at the school office and have their school planner stamped. The
stamped planner is needed to gain entry into class. Students who
are required to leave the school early must bring a note from
home and wait in the school office until they are picked up by
an adult family member or friend. Please assist us in ensuring
that we maintain an efficient attendance tracking program.
School Goal
The School's Planning Council has carried over last year's goal
into this school year. The goal is formally stated as "To
maintain or improve reading comprehension and attitudes toward
reading, school wide, by June 23, 2005. To maintain and/or improve
reading comprehension in the language of instruction for English,
Early French, Late French and French Immersion by June 23, 2005"
and is supported by numerous strategies that staff will undertake
through the school year. Such an important goal requires that
our students receive support at home to reinforce the work that
is being done at school. Your assistance plays a critical role
in your child's development and success. We look forward to working
with you to support your child.
Extracurricular Athletics
Thanks to the good work of many teachers and parent volunteers
the school has supported a large number of athletic extracurricular
opportunities over the last three years. With each new season
of play we will be seeking parent involvement in supporting our
extracurricular program. The first season of play will involve
cross country running, swimming and volleyball. We are blessed
with a number of teachers who will coach these teams. Mr. Richards
and Mr. McTaggart will oversee cross country. Mme. Veldhoen, Ms.
McMillan, Ms. Janzen and Mrs. Batryn will oversee our swim program.
Volleyball coaches will include Mr. Dudzik, Ms. Landry, Mr. Piper
and others. We will, however, require additional support from
the parent community in working with some volleyball teams. If
you are able to assist with volleyball or another sport, please
contact P.E. Coordinator and Athletic Director Mr. Jeff Piper.
Code of Conduct
The school and school district have adopted a formal code of conduct.
Behavioral expectations are outlined in each student planner.
Please spend time with your child in the first week of school
familiarizing yourself with the information and sign page 8 to
indicate that this has been done. .
Dress Code
With the new school year starting it is necessary for all
students to familiarize themselves with our school dress code.
Although the school does not have a formal uniform policy we do
expect that students are dressed appropriately for a middle school
learning environment. Please take some time to review the dress
code standards that are listed in the front of the student planner.
Open House
You are invited to a BBQ and Open House at Chief Dan George Middle
School on Thursday, September 16th. The school will be open from
5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Classroom visits, to meet the teachers and talk
about the year's activities, are scheduled as follows:
Grade 6: 5:00 - 5:45 p.m.
Grade 7: 5:45 - 6:30 p.m.
Grade 8: 6:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Of course you will then be free to use the rest of the time to
eat and socialize with other parents, students and teachers. Dinner
consists of a burger, chips and a drink for your eating pleasure
(by donation) served up by Mr. Lilly our Home Ec teacher and members
of our student leadership team. We would appreciate a donation
of $3.00 per person if possible, or $10 per family (immediate
family only please) to cover the costs of food and beverage. Also,
please note that beef as well as veggie burgers are available.
We hope that you can take the time to visit the school and make
new connections or renew previously developed connections with
the staff.
Calendar for September and School Newsletters
A calendar of events for September is attached to this newsletter.
Please keep this as a reference for various events and activities.
We will provide you with monthly calendars throughout the school
year. With the exception of the first week of school, we will
send out newsletters from the school office twice per month (i.e.
every second Friday). The newsletters for the upcoming three months
will tentatively be issued on September 17, October 1, 15, 29,
November 10 and 25. If you are not receiving newsletters please
consult with your child. They will be issued by homeroom teachers
during the afternoon homeroom. Newsletters are also available
on our web site and we can also emailed to you. If you would like
them emailed, please send your address to donna_hollanti@sd34.bc.ca.
Calendars and newsletters are also available at the office counter
in the event that you do not receive one. For more information
about Chief Dan George Middle School events and activities visit
our website at cdgms.com
Fund raising opportunities
Various groups have established regular fundraising activities
through the school year. We will endeavor to keep fundraising
to a minimum, however recognize that some groups rely heavily
on such initiatives to assist in supplementing the costs of special
opportunities. The student leadership team is "kicking off
the year" with a chocolate fundraiser. Teacher Mr. Lilly
is spearheading this event and you will receive information about
the sale in the next few days. Some upcoming fundraisers that
you can look for include a school band chicken fundraiser and
a P.A.C. magazine and Christmas items sale through QSP.
Sewing Help Needed
We need parent helpers for our sewing classes every Thursday
(no experience necessary!). If you can volunteer for the morning
(8:15 - 11:00 am.) or afternoon (12:40 - 2:30 p.m.) or both, please
call or see Mr. Lilly at the school. We will have a meeting of
interested parents this Thursday, September 9th, at 8:30 am to
put the sewing kits together. Thank you!
Bus Passes
As in previous years we will be selling City of Abbotsford
Bus Passes in the school office. The cost this year is $28.00
per month per pass. A bundle of four passes (for September, October,
November and December) is also available this month only. Cost
for the 4 months is $85.00 (which works out to $21.25 per month).
If you wish to purchase the bundle package please come into the
office and purchase prior to September 16th. We cannot accept
orders after this date. Thank you.
School Meal Program
The primary purpose of the School Meal Program is to provide meals
to students who come to school hungry. The program is intended
to help feed children from homes where parents are struggling
to provide food for their families (i.e., Social Assistance recipients,
low income earners, families who are experiencing financial hardship
due to work shortage, medical reasons, etc). Documention and studies
have proven that children who are well nourished are better able
to learn, become healthier and demonstrate improved overall performance.
The School Meal Program is funded by the Ministry of Children
and Family Development and through contributions from parents.
While we rely on parent contributions to keep the program running,
no needy student will be turned away because of an inability to
contribute. Students receive a nutritious cold lunch consisting
of milk or juice, a sandwich or similar entrée and fruit
or dessert. The menu has been developed with the assistance of
the public health nutritionist with variety, nutrition and value
in mind. Our meals are monitored regularly and approved by the
Ministry of Health. If you feel that your child/ren qualify to
be placed on the School Meal Program, please contact your school
office or the School Meal Program Coordinator, Helen Duval, S.B.O.,
859-4891, Local 251.
September 2004 Calendar
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| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 6 Labor Day |
7 School Opening (to 10:30 am) |
8 Leadership Chocolate Fundraiser starts |
9 | 10 Spirit Day Welcome Assembly |
11 |
| 12 Week 1 |
13 | 14 | 15 | 16 Open House 5 - 7 pm |
17 | 18 |
| 19 Week 2 |
20 Band Rental Night 7 - 8:30 pm |
21 | 22 Picture Day |
23 Chocolate Fundraiser Ends |
24 Pro D Day |
25 |
| 26 Week 3 |
27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | ||
Upcoming Dates to Note
Tomorrow, September 16 Open House, Meet the Teacher Night,
5:00 - 7:00 pm
Monday, September 20 Picture Day order forms go home
PAC Meeting, 7:00 pm
Band Rental Night, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Wednesday, September 22 Picture Day
Thursday, September 23 Chocolate fundraiser ends
Friday, September 24 Professional Development Day - NO SCHOOL
Open House
Reminder that you are invited to a BBQ and Open House tomorrow
night, Thursday, September 16th, 5:00 - 7:00 pm. Classroom visits
to meet the teachers and talk about the year's activities are
scheduled as follows:
Grade 6 5:00 - 5:45 pm
Grade 7 5:45 - 6:30 pm
Grade 8 6:30 - 7:00 pm
You are then free to use the rest of the time to eat and socialize
with other parents, students and teachers. Dinner consists of
a burger, chips and a drink. We would appreciate a donation of
$3 per person or $10 per family (immediate family only please)
or whatever you can manage to help cover the cost of the food
and beverage. Please note that beef as well as veggie burgers
are available. We hope you can join us!
Wolf Den Lunches
It's that time of year again! Supplies, backpacks, books, pencil
cases and school lunches. If your children don't eat well in the
middle of the day, their energy levels drop, affecting their ability
to concentrate and learn. A lunch that's fast to prepare, as well
as nutritious and something they'll eat, is a daily challenge.
To help you with this challenge, we are again going to open the "Wolf Den" at lunch beginning next Monday, September 20th. This program is separate from the "Pit Stop" Canteen which continues to offer a variety of lunch options in the MPR. "The Den" will help you safeguard the health and well-being of your children by serving a hot nutritious lunch each school day at an affordable price. We hope to teach and model good nutrition habits in our school that will last a lifetime with our students.
The "Den" Daily Menu
Monday Hamburger (oven baked, not fried), salad, milk
Tuesday Chicken strips, caesar salad, milk
Wednesday Meat pie, salad, milk
Thursday Chicken strips, caesar salad, milk
Friday Chili dog, salad, milk
We would like to make these nutritious lunches available to everyone so we are offering each lunch for $4.00 or $3.00 if prepaid. The students may pay cash every day or you can prepay and an index card will keep track of your child's credit. This way your child does not need to bring money to school each day and the money you send can only be used in the "Den", guaranteeing that your child is eating a good hot nutritious lunch. If you wish to prepay for lunches, please send a cheque or cash to the office (any multiple of $3) and a card will be made up. If you would like to help in the Den please call Mr. Lilly at 852-9616.
Now that we are settling into the new school year and the students are settling comfortably into their classes I find this the perfect opportunity to introduce myself. I am the Drug and Alcohol Prevention Worker at Chief Dan George (emphasis on prevention). At Chief Dan George we believe in promoting positive peer relationships and enhancing a school climate that encourages positive behaviors. This of course, includes a commitment to staying drug-free. I am anticipating a fun year ahead and looking forward to working with your children during the coming year. Please feel free to contact me at the school if you have any questions or concerns regarding the drug and alcohol program.
··················
DID YOU KNOW
20% of the population aged 15 and older in British Columbia smoke?
··················
In addition to my duties as Drug and Alcohol Prevention Worker,
I also oversee the First Nations Program. Students involved with
this program have the opportunity to take part in field trips
and cultural presentations: storytellers, art demonstrations,
beading, weaving, etc. These students also have school presentations
available to them during regular school hours of operation. This
program also allows for the enrolled students to have assistance
in One-on One mediation, small group assistance, life skills training
and cultural program. If your son or daughter has Canadian
ancestry that includes Native Indian (status and non-status),
Inuit, and/or Metis and has not received a a Parent Consent Form,
please contact the school at 852-9616 and leave your son/daughters
name at the office.
Sincerely,
Susan Lynch,
Drug and Alcohol Prevention Worker & First Nations
Library Help?
Mr. Lilly is looking for volunteers to help in the Library. He
specifically needs someone during the lunch period on Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday to supervise the library so that the computer
lab may be used. Without an adult present the lab can not be opened.
Mr. Lilly is also looking for volunteers who are familiar with
the "Library Pro" system and circulation. If you have
worked with this system or would be willing to learn it, please
call Mr. Lilly (852-9616).
Carpool Corner
Is there anyone interested in carpooling from Mission? Contact
Elaine 604-864-4645 (days), 604-826-7621 (evenings)
Interested in carpooling from the Clearbrook Road/Dahlstrom
area? Call Kerri Carter, 604-615-1510.
Extracurricular Report
If you're interested in assisting with any of our Fall sports, please contact Mr. Jeff Piper, our P.E. Coordinator and Athletic Director.
Key Communicators
Key Communicators who represent each school's Parent Advisory
Council, meet with the Superintendent during the school year.
The purpose of the meetings is to provide information of interest
to parents. Key Communicators then disseminate the information
to their respective PAC's. This year the meetings will be rotating
through our middle schools. The first meeting for 2004/05 is scheduled
for 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, September 22, 2004 at Cascade Community
Church/Salvation Army. ALL parents are welcome to attend. Topics
for September 22nd meeting: District Review, New Organization
Chart, Accountability Contract, Enrolment, Textbooks
14th Annual Abbotsford Police Challenge
This 10K Challenge and 5K Fun Run will take place September
25th at the Civic Plaza in Abbotsford. Runners, walkers, wheelchairs
and strollers are welcome. All proceeds raised will be donated
equally between BC Special Olympics, Upper Fraser Valley Habitat
for Humanity and the United Way of the Fraser Valley. For further
information please call 604-859-5225 or 1-800-898-6111 or visit
their web site at www.abbotsfordpolice.org Post race events
include refreshments, prizes and entertainment at the finish line.
Picture Day is Coming
Remember that student photos will be taken next Wednesday,
September 22nd.
Points to note:
Office Reminders
For Sale
Jupiter Flute for sale (w/case) $200. Good Condition
- Used two school years. Call Nellie @ 604-855-7646
Walk to School
The week of October 4th to 8th is "Walk to Work/School
Week". At Chief Dan George our walk to school day is Wednesday,
October 6th. We will have staff at Abbotsford Pentacostal Assembly
Church (at corner of Gladwin and MacLure Roads) and at the Ag
Rec parking lot at 7:45 am. From these points we will walk together
to school. Last year we had a great turnout and this is another
healthy way to build school spirit. Parents, join us, on our walk
if you can. Hope to see you there!
2004 FSA Results
Parents and guardians of last year's grade 7 students will
be getting or have received their child's individual FSA (Foundation
Skills Assessment) results.
School wide results are very positive.
Reading 83% of our students are at or above expectations
Writing 94% of our students are at or above expectations
Numeracy 89% of our students are at or above expectations
We have shown positive growth in our goal area of Reading Comprehension and attitudes. Our results are also above the district and provincial averages. If you would like more detailed results please visit either the Ministry website or come and see me, AnnaLisa Osterby-Batryn, Vice-Principal.
Our 2004/2005 School Goal
Our goal this year is to maintain or improve reading comprehension
and attitudes towards reading, school wide, by June 2005. To maintain
and/or improve reading comprehension in the language of instruction
for English, Early French, Late French and French Immersion by
June 2005.
Our current School Focus Team and School Planning Council are busy preparing our School Growth Plan to present to the Abbotsford School Board in October.
Academic and Effort Honour Roll Criteria
Our Honour Roll committee met towards the end of last year
and reviewed honour roll criteria. They were satisfied with the
effort honour roll criteria, but recommended changes to academic
honour roll criteria.
Effort Honour Roll Criteria: All G's and O's with at least 5 O's and the rest G's (13 effort marks in total).
Academic Honour Roll Criteria: A minimum of 2 A's and 2 B's in core curricular areas. For students with both Français Langue and English an A or B in either, but not necessarily both is required in relation to the first criteria.
Grade 8 Student of the Month Program
We are pleased to announce that the local Kiwanis Club has
agreed to include Chief Dan George Middle School in their student
recognition program. Each month a Grade 8 student will be honored
for their contributions to the school and the community. Students
so honored will have their picture posted in a prominent place
in the school and will be invited to a dinner meeting at the Kiwanis
Club. Local company "Bev's House of Frames" is also
a major contributor to this program. Our first Grade 8 Student
of the Month will be announced at our assembly next Monday afternoon.
Athletic News From Mr. Piper
Chief Dan George Middle School takes pride in attempting to offer
a quality athletic program that meets the needs of all its students.
This year there are an astounding array of extracurricular sports
for students to involve themselves in. An amazing coaching staff
has created a program which measures success not only in wins
and losses but also in giving every student a chance to participate
in meaningful physical activity. Currently, there are 11 teams
which are practicing in and around the school. Volleyball, swimming,
soccer, cross country, football, and dance programs are in full
swing and have attracted more than 350 students!
Although the seasons of play have just begun, there have already been some great results. In cross country, our team just participated last week in their first meet of the season over at Clearbrook Park and did a tremendous job. Approximately 45 athletes participated in a rain drenched race. There were a large number of students who recorded top 10 finishes including Victoria Thomas, Michelle Earl, Amelia Ritchie, Erin Jenstad, Rebecca Mason, Kathy Melynchuk, Nicole Holm, Kayla Panchmatia, Valerie Anderson, Michael Rose, Jordan Hiebert and Geordi Shepherd. Great job runners!
On the football front, the combined team comprised of Chief Dan George and Colleen and Gordie Howe Athletes participated in their inaugural game of the 2004-2005 season. Facing formidable opposition against Holy Cross our team left the field with a 28-2 victory! The victory was especially significant considering that Holy Cross has been one of the top ranked teams in the province for the last decade.
Lastly, the grade 8 boys volleyball team kicked off their season in fine fashion losing a heartbreaker to a strong squad from MEI. Going the distance, in a five game match the boys ended up losing by just a couple of points 25-22. Parents and coaches alike commented that the game was an excellent contest between two very evenly matched teams.
Coaches and athletes should be commended for their efforts! Awesome work Wolves!
Student Leadership Fundraiser a Great Success
Many thanks to all students who assisted with the Student
Leadership fundraiser to start the year. Thousands of dollars
were raised to support a variety of extra initiatives and activities
planned for all students though the year. A huge thank you also
to Mr. Lilly for all his time and work!
Just a note that the PAC will be holding only two fundraisers this year. The first will be in conjunction with QSP and will involved the sale of Christmas items and magazine subscriptions. The PAC will send information home with your child at the end of next week. The second fundraiser will be a Walkathon, which will take place in the Spring.
Hello all FI parents!
French for Parents Workshops
The French for Parents Workshops are for Anglophone parents
whose children attend a French Immersion program. The workshops
are designed to help parents learn French so they can help
their children with French homework and activities. The instructor
will help parents with grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation,
and give them opportunities to practice French and be corrected
when necessary. Various materials will be used and many exercises
will be based on the children's school activities and homework.
As well, in every class, homework, books and activities brought
into class by the parents will be reviewed."
We offer different levels to best suit your learning skills.
Cost 85$ per person + 15$ for a workbook
Beginner 2 : Sandy Hill Elementary Wednesday October 20th to
December 8th. 7h00pm to 9h30pm.
For general information about the program please call: 866-266-6613
or frenchforparents@educacentre.com
How to Help Your Child in French Immersion
Canadian Parents for French (CPF) will be holding their regular
chapter meeting at Sandy Hill Elementary school library on Wednesday, October
6, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. Mme Joanne Neveux, Vice Principal of Ecole
Clearbrook, will provide information on how to assist your
French Immersion child. The chapter meeting is open to members
and non-members, and all meetings are conducted in English.
We look forward to seeing you there!!
How to Get Better Grades in School
You can make this your child's best year ever in school. Smart
students have secrets. What does it take to be a superior student?
The most important secret is a great study strategy. Terry Small's
student success system shows your kids how to take charge of their
time and succeed. Parents and students attend this seminar together
to learn proven strategies and study secrets that have helped
100,000 students to excel. Guaranteed: better grades, self-confidence,
more free time, and fun in learning! Good grades have never been
more important than today. Come and learn how to get them! You
will have fun and be entertained. The seminar is suitable for
students of all abilities in Grades 4 - 12. This seminar sold
out early last time so call early. Get a head start on good grades.
| When: | October 19th, 7:00 - 9:00 pm |
| Where: | Abbotsford - location tba |
| Instructor: | Terry Small, B.Ed., M.A.(www.terrysmall.com) |
| Price: | $39 for the whole family |
| Phone: | Langley Continuing Education, 604-533-4227 |
Matsqui Blades Speed Skating Club
Matsqui Speed Skating Club invites you to come and try a week
of skating to see if you like it.
| When: | Monday and/or Friday for a week in September or early October (sooner the better as equipment is limited) |
| Where: | Abbotsford Recreation Centre |
| We Provide: | Speed skates |
| You need to Have: | Some safety equipment common to other sports |
| Contact: | Saya Mullings at 604-852-4004 to sign up or ask questions |
Mission Arts Council
This is a non-profit umbrella organization for the visual
and performing arts. They would like to extend an invitation to
the students and parents in Abbotsford to come and participate
in their many courses that they to offer to children, teens, adults
and seniors. Classes are in the Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall
with ongoing lists of new courses and instructors. Attached are
some of our upcoming sessions. Call Sharole Mortimer for more
information: Phone: (604)826-0029/ Fax: (604)826-0090 /Email:
macart@shaw.ca
Shades of the Arts
FALL classes for KIDS FALL classes for YOUTH & ADULTS
Parent & Tot "Craft Corner" Pencil Drawing
& Colour Techniques for TEENS (ages 13 - 17)
Art After School (for ages 5-8) Sketching and Painting
(Seniors)
Art After School (for ages 9 13) Water + Colour
= Paint (Seniors and under)
Kids Can Draw (ages 7 12) Block Printing
Krafty Kids (ages 8 12) Portrait Sketches in Pencil
& Charcoal
Watercolour for Kids (ages 8 13) Portraits in Colour
Writer's Toolbox
Wirey Wearables
Calligraphy
Stained Glass Art (Intermediate) (18+ yrs)
Patio Bricks Workshop (18+ yrs)
Weaving for Beginners and Refresher Course
Upcoming Dates to Note
October 18 PAC Meeting, 7:00 pm
October 21 Interim Reports go home with students
QSP orders due at office
October 22 Professional Development Day - no school
October 26 Picture retakes
October 29 Spirit Day - Pep Rally
Student of the month for September
We are pleased to announce that our first recipient of the Kiwanis
sponsored Grade 8 student of the month is Cassandra M.
Cassandra has distinguished herself as an outstanding student
who has supported a number of groups and clubs at the school.
Presently she is a member of the Student Leadership Team, provides
assistance daily in the library and also assists with our lunch
program. A display case will be built to house the pictures of
all of our Students of the Month for this school year. In addition
each recipient is invited to the Kiwanis monthly dinner meeting
and at the end of the year is awarded with a gift certificate
from Bev's House of Frames, another sponsor of the program. Congratulations
Cassandra!
Recycling program
This school has an extensive recycling program in place for drink
containers and paper. Each class has representatives who make
up a team of students that assist in overseeing the program. Staff
sponsors include Mrs. Howard, Mrs. Bryson, Mrs. Bunbury, Mr. McCarthy,
Mrs. Stark and Ms. McMillan.
Picture Retakes and Student ID Cards
Picture retakes will take place on Tuesday October 26th. Students
who wish retakes, will need to bring their original package back
to the school on that day in exchange for another sitting. Students
who missed ordering a package on picture day last month may order
a package this time (remember, the order with money must be handed
to the photographer when photo is taken). Last week students were
issued their students cards for this year. Unfortunately the Principal's
name listed was that of Mr. Brian Revel. New cards are being printed
with Mr. Dudzik's name listed and will be issued soon. If you
have any questions about the photos, please call Jostens directly,
604-294-5838.
School Play
A number of students have been spending numerous hours in rehearsal
in preparation for our second major production in four years.
This year's play is entitled "The Best Christmas Pageant
Ever" and will be performed at the Abbotsford Arts Center.
There will be two matinees, one for the students at this school
and another for students of feeder elementary schools. In addition
there will be two evening performances, on Thursday November 25th
and Friday, November 26th. Cost for the evening performances will
be $10.00/ticket and will include desserts and coffee at the intermission.
Evening performances will begin at 7:00 p.m.
Questions
A reminder to parents and guardians that if you have questions
or concerns related to your child's classroom that you should
contact your child's teacher directly for information or clarification.
Grade 8's on a Mountain Top
On Wednesday September 29/04, three classes of grade eight students
(divisions 19, 20, 21) from Chief Dan George Middle School had
an exciting adventure at Grouse Mountain. They experienced an
exciting ride on the gondola and saw two large orphaned grizzly
bears and four gorgeous wolves. The students also saw a very enriching
and educational First Nations performance, a very exciting lumberjack
show, and much more. We will be focusing on division 20 and their
wonderful experience at Grouse Mountain.
The adventure of the students started at approximately 10:00 a.m. When they went up the gondola. The gondola can hold up to 17200 lb. Manjot Toor a division 20 student exclaimed". the gondola ride was a new and exciting experience because at one point in time the gondola swung and some of the students screamed. At points it felt like your heart would jump out of your body." The gondola ride was eight minutes long.
After getting on the top of the mountain all the divisions split up into three groups, division 20's Grouse Mountain's guide was Elaine. Elaine took the students to do a hands on activity. The activity involved model animal skulls and model paw prints. In this activity the students learned about carnivores, herbivorous, and omnivorous. After the hands on activity, the students saw an educational slide show on the ecosystem.
After the slide show, division 20 went to go see the two beautiful
orphaned grizzly bears Coola and Grinder, and four gorgeous wolves
with white fur that looked like velvet.
At first it was a huge disappointment because the wolves and the
bears didn't come out. But when the bears came out, some of the
students scared the two bears away with all the commotion. The
students were lucky that Coola and Grinder both came out again
and the students got to take their picture. Then Elaine told them
the wolves came out, so everyone went and looked at the wolves.
At that point in time it was lunchtime. All the divisions reunited to see the lumberjack show and eat their lunches. The students thought that the show was hilarious and interesting. The two lumberjacks Jhonny and Willy put on a great show. One of them carved a bunny and the other carved a cute little chair. They also had a race climbing two poles and walked on logs in water.
Finally, the division 19 and 20 students stayed together and both of the divisions went to see a First Nations performance at the Hiwus Feast house. When the students got settled down they found out that Chief Dan George's nephew was the person who told the students about culture and respect. The students said, "We learned a lot from the feast house".
It was time to go and all the divisions got back on the gondola to go down this time it was much easier. Here is a quote one of the division 20 students Kernveer said, "I enjoyed this field trip and I learned a lot. I hope one day I will come back". After they got down from the gondola they boarded the bus at 1:45 p.m. to go home.
By : Ace Reporter: Jyoti Davesar
Noon Supervisors
If you're interested in being a noon hour supervisor please
contact Mrs. Osterby-Batryn at the school (852-9616). Thank you.
Grade 7 English
For the next eight weeks, the students will get to experience
a student teacher from Trinity Western. Ms. Fraser will help Mrs.
Sookachoff teach Language Arts on Thursday mornings. Ms. Fraser
is a second year practicum student who is eager and excited to
work in grade seven!
*
Music News
· Uniform for concerts for band and choir students is black
pants or long skirt, with black socks or nylons and black shoes,
a white Chief Dan George music shirt will be handed out this month
and then returned in June. There is a replacement fee of $20.00
if the shirt is lost.
· Chicken and more fundraiser coming up soon! Poinsettia
orders will also be available this year.
· General fundraising for the music department will buy
equipment, music and help cover costs of workshops, trips and/or
festivals. Grade eight will be the designated "trip"
year to keep students motivated and excited about continuing on
in band.
· Parents are asked to indicate if they are available to
help with fundraising activities.
An example of an individual fundraising event could be the Chicken
& More fundraiser where students would raise individual amounts
of money based on the amount sold. Money would then be used for
music trips, retreats etc. An example of a general fundraiser
would be something like a bottle drive.
· Students should be practicing 20-30 mins. 5 times
a week. There is information in the students method book on
proper care for the instruments. Care Kits are available for the
various instruments at local music stores. This has also been
discussed in class.
· Parents are asked to monitor how their child is playing
the instrument at home. Proper posture and hand position are shown
in the first two pages of the method book. Please make sure
your child's name and division are on the outside of their case
and in their book.
· An assignment schedule will be been given to every band
student. This is a list of theory assignments, playing tests and
quizzes from now until December.
· Students all received a performance calendar in the first
week of school. All Grade 8 band students, Choir students and
Jazz Band students will be performing for the Remembrance Day
assembly. All students will be performing in December. Please
mark all these dates down in your calendar at home. If a student
is going to be absent from a performance, please give Mrs. Farley
a note prior to the performance.
· Reed players - beginning saxophone and clarinet students
should be playing on a size two reed. Boxes of reeds are available
from local music stores. Advanced players should be on size 2
1/2. All students should have the 5 items of the "daily survival
guide" for each band class. Items are: a pencil, theory package,
method book, instrument and student planner
Help is always available. Students are invited to make an appointment with Mrs. Farley at lunch or after school for extra help!
P.A.C. News
The P.A.C. is presently working with Q.S.P. in a Christmas item
and magazine subscription fundraiser. Although this is strictly
optional we would ask families to consider participating. The
P.A.C. recently received its allocation from the Provincial Gaming
Commission in the amount of $20/student. We have over 600 students
at this school so the amount received was slightly over $12,000.
Over the last three years the P.A.C. has supported a wide variety
of initiatives at the school. These have included specialized
equipment for P.E., a staging area for the band, extra library
books for the library, computer software and equipment for our
Home Ec room. School staff and the P.A.C. work together each year
to target areas to support. The next P.A.C. meeting will be Monday,
October 18th.
French Grade 8 Voyage au Quebec
The response to this year's trip to Quebec has been outstanding
and so far there are 70 students committed to go. Mme Bonneau
is working tirelessly to finalize all of the plans and ensure
that this trip is as good, if not better, than the trips taken
in years previous. Just a reminder to parents that the deadline
for the first installment is Tuesday, November 2nd. Students going
on the trip will be coming home with a sticker in their agendas
as an extra reminder of the deadline. Merci Beaucoup!
Extracurricular News
· Last week many students took time to participate
in the annual Walk To School Day. Despite the torrential downpour
which ripped through the skies on the evening prior to the event
many teachers and students braved the elements. Beginning at 7:45
the walkers left their staring points and together made their
way to school. Grey skies did not appear to dampen spirits as
laughter and smiles were in abundance. As the walkers made their
way to Chief Dan, music filled the air courtesy of the band led
by Mrs. Farley. After the walk, numerous draws were made for prizes
for those students who were in attendance. "It was cool!"
was the catch phrase of the day as the walkers decided that they
would certainly take time to participate again.
· As the fall extracurricular activities are in full swing,
our Wolves can be found displaying their athletic prowess in numerous
venues. The current lineup of fall activities includes cross-country,
volleyball, swimming, dance, soccer, football and cheer leading.
The amount of activities offered at Chief Dan is unsurpassed by
any middle school in the entire district! Our many coaches should
be commended for volunteering their time to give our athletes
such quality activities to participate in.
· As the results have been pouring in, there are many scores
to pass along. Inside the gym, the volleyball action has been
creating a stir. At the grade eight level, Coach Buki has reason
to be proud of his girls team who recently triumphed over Abby
Christian 3 games to 1. Alexa Creelman and Paula Shugg were the
recipients of high praise from the coach for their consistent
effort and great teamwork. Coaches Longpré and Janzen are
celebrating the success of their grade 8 boys team who crushed
the Abby Christian Knights in three games straight. Patrick Escott-Bedford,
Riley Boychuk and Harjoot Dhillon had much to do with the victory.
Grade seven girls, led by coaches Schmor and Constant, have molded
a quality squad who have consistently been on the winning side
of their matches against the likes of Abbotsford Middle and Clayburn.
The coaches mentioned Shayla Radli and Ali Taylor as standouts
in their recent successes. Coach Piper, of the grade seven boys
team, has been proud of the developments on the court. Matt Aiken,
Shaun Lund and Lee Johansen are just a few of the leaders on the
large team.
· The cross country team just wrapped up their season as
they competed in the final race of the Grand Prix Series. Coaches
Richards, Bunbury, Schafer and McTaggart have led a large group
of athletes to some impressive results. Numerous students are
expected to finish in the top ten in the series including Geordi
Shephard, Jordan Hiebert, Amelia Ritchie and Erin Jenstad. As
results are finalized in the coming days more names are sure to
be added to this list. Stay tuned!
· Great results from the boys on the gridiron are again
a topic of conversation in the halls of Chief Dan. The team was
recently involved in a big game versus Frank Hurt School. As the
clock ticked down to zero the Wolves were victorious by a score
of 34-6. Coach Goerke says that Boseko Lokombo and Cory Jensen
have stood out as leaders on the squad.
· As always, all of our student athletes have represented
Chief Dan George as terrific ambassadors for our school. The Wolves
have made an impact throughout the district for their leadership
on and off the playing surface. Go Wolves!
Key Communicators
Key Communicators, who represent each school's Parent Advisory
Council, meet with the Superintendent several times during the
school year. The purpose of these meetings is to provide information
of interest to parents. Key Communicators then disseminate the
information to their respective PAC's. This year the meetings
will be rotating through our middle schools. The next meeting
is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, October 20, 2004 at Clayburn
Middle School (35139 Laburnum Avenue). ALL parents are welcome
to attend.
Parents Make a Difference Feature Speakers Series
Multiple Intelligences and Learning Styles - with Maple
Melba Crozier, Tuesday, October 19, 2004, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm @
Simpson Middle School Library. Maple will be presenting Multiple
Intelligences and Learning Styles. She will explain the different
ways that children learn and how parents can support their child's
style. Refreshments will be provided. Sponsored by Simpson Traditional
Middle School - 30691 Simpson Road, Abbotsford. Ticket information:
Contact the school office at (604) 850-3511. Cost is $5.00 per
person.
Conflict Resolution - with Mr. Morley Morgan, Tuesday, December 7, 2004, 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm @ Howe Middle School Library. How parents can help provide their children with conflict resolution skills, and how they (parent and child) can use them within the home. Sponsored by Colleen & Gordie Howe Middle School - 3174 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford. Ticket information: Contact the school office at (604) 859 - 8700. Free.
Cadets
NLCC 125 Columbia and RCSCC 169 Columbia are inviting kids
to join cadets. Ages are 9 - 12 years for Navy League and 13+
for Sea Cadets. They are located at 4315 272nd Street, Aldergrove,
B.C. Phone 604-856-3700. Registration every Tuesday, 6:30 pm.
We hope to see you there!
Reading Strategies
As with any skill, practice is necessary for maintenance and development.
We would ask parents and guardians to continue to encourage reading
for pleasure by your child in the evenings and on the weekends.
Research indicates that asking questions of your child about the
books that they read with regards to story line (plot), characters,
connections to real-life events and predictions about what will
happen next are very powerful in assisting children in developing
their reading comprehension skills.
Healthy foods
With all of the discussion at the Ministry and local School District
level around the topic of healthy food choices in schools you
will be happy to know that at Chief Dan George we are are promoting
healthy life styles and working to provide nutritious food options
for our students. We presently have four vending machines at the
front of the school. In recent months we have dramatically increased
our selection of "healthy choice" snacks and at the
same time reduced our options for items with little nutritional
value. Drinks sold at our canteen (The Pit Stop) and in the vending
machines are all non carbonated and include various juices, water,
ice tea and sports drinks. We have contacted a vending company
that is offering a cold milk selection of plain and favored milk
and will be bringing in a milk machine in the next few weeks.
We are working with our Pit Stop to eliminate the sale of chocolate
bars and other sweets, replacing them with granola bars, fruit
snacks and fruits. Our canteen also regularly serves homemade
soups, baked potatoes, bagels and will soon be offering grilled
cheese sandwiches. Hot lunches are served out of our Home Ec room
(The Den) with a typical full meal selection daily that includes
a salad and milk. Individual lunch costs are $4.00 but tickets
can be purchased at the office to reduce the cost to $3.00/lunch.
Remembrance Day
We will be holding a Remembrance Day ceremony at this school on
Wednesday morning, November 10th at 10:30 a.m. This has become
a significant event at this school each year. This year will be
no exception. We have invited the Legion Color Party to attend
and also invited a number of veterans to join us in honoring the
men and women that have served this country in peace and in war.
Many students and staff have already spent numerous hours in preparation
for this important assembly. Each child will be given a poppy
on November 10th - a small donation for the Legion would be appreciated.
School Closure Days
The first two school closure days of this year will take place
on Friday, November 12 and Monday, November 15. Thursday, November
11 is the designated Remembrance Day holiday. Classes will not
be in session on any of these three days.
School Play
Teachers Mrs. Farley and Mr. McAvoy as well as dozens of students
have already put in many hours of rehearsal on this year's school
play. The play is entitled "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever".
We will provide a matinee performance for all of our students
free of charge on Friday morning, November 26th. Evening performances
are set for November 25 and November 26th. Curtain is at 7:00
p.m. and will be held at the Abbotsford Arts Center. Tickets are
$10.00 and will include dessert and refreshments at intermission.
Tickets are available at the school office. Please consider supporting
our drama program and joining us at the show.
Hallowe'en
Sunday, October 31st is Hallowe'en. We wish to remind parents
and students to take all precautions that day with regards to
traveling around the community. We want to wish everyone a safe
and happy Hallowe'en.
Huge Thanks!
A HUGE THANK YOU to Thumpers Patch for donating oranges for
our cross country team at the last meet in Clearbrook Park. It
gave them a real boost!
Spirit Day/Pep Rally
Today a full school assembly took place to celebrate the school
spirit that exists at Chief Dan George. We honored our Grade 8
Kiwanis sponsored Student of the Month for October. We recognized
the accomplishments of our extracurricular program, we highlighted
our student Council program and we had some fun with a celebrity
look alike contest. Many thanks to teachers Mme Rousseau, Mr.
McAvoy and Mrs. Howe for their efforts in bringing this event
together.
News from Division 22
Division 22 has had a great year so far. Our first bottle drive
in September was a great success. We collected well over 7,000
bottles. Thanks to all the students and parents who supported
us by sending in returnable bottles.
We are entered in the Recycling Contest through Encorp again this year. We could win $1000.00 for our school! Please check out our results at www.encorp.ca. Click on High School Fund Raisers to see our standings. Please keep donating your returnable containers to us at the school (room 170). We will be having another bottle drive in January. We will be looking for the class that can collect 2005 bottles first.
Our Grade 8 students - Brie Weiss-Gibbons, Brent MacPhersen, Rosie Morel and Kristen Westerberg enjoyed a great field trip to Grouse Mountain with the Grade 8 classes. It was a beautiful day and an excellent opportunity for integration.
Our whole class went on a trip to the Apple Barn last week. We learned about apple trees and sorting apples. We also went on a hay ride and as a special treat each student was allowed to pick their own pumpkin from the pumpkin field.
Remember to Keep Recycling Your Bottles with Division 22!
Our Lost and found is Full!
Parents we ask that you have your children check the Lost
and Found Box for missing items or come and check it yourself.
As our box is approximately 3' x 4' x 3' (36 cubic feet!) you
can imagine how much is in there! There are new runners, gym strip,
binders and coats. We will have our students do a "walk by"
the Lost and Found items next week. The following week we will
bag it all and give to Mr. Goerke's class "Help the Homeless
Program".
Recycling Committee
On October 20th we had a representative from the Abbotsford Mission
Recycling Committee do a presentation here. The representative,
Samantha, showed all of us what could happen in the future if
we don't recycle. Did you know our school throws out around 570,312.5
pounds of garbage in a year? That's a lot of garbage! Also, did
you know that 70% of the school's garbage is kids lunches? So
if your kids are always hungry after school, that might be why!
In conclusion, it's better to recycle or compost, than to throw
away your garbage.
by Tania B.
Sporting News
Our Wolves were again displaying their athletic talents on an
impressive number of athletic fronts. Here is the latest sporting
news from Chief Dan George.
Swimming
The Wolves recently participated in the Upper Valley Swim Meet
and left the competition in their wake. Swimming against the best
swimmers from Mission and Abbotsford, our Wolves outscored the
competition by nearly a hundred points on their way to capturing
the first place honours! Chief Dan was victorious with a score
of 157, while our nearest competitor could only muster a measly
67 points. Our swimmers are looking to be in top form as they
move on to the upcoming Fraser Valley meet. A number of swimmers
were singled out by coaches Veldhoen, McMillan and Stark for their
swimming results. Hailey Hayes who competed in the 100 individual
medley placed first overall. Other top finishers included Patrick
Welch who was second in the 50m backstroke and 100m freestyle,
Kevin Rama placed second in the 50m breast stroke and fifth in
the 50m backstroke, Julie Kanya was fifth in the 100m freestyle,
Tri L. was second in the individual medley and fourth in the 50m
breaststroke. Other Wolves who ripped through the waters included
Cody F., Natasha E., Martin M., Jill C., Sarah T., Mariah G.,
Jennifer T. and Alex L. The Mixed Relay teams were also awesome
capturing second and third place overall.
Dance
A new addition to the athletic lineup at Chief Dan George Middle
School this year has been the dance squad which is led by coach
Cutler. Mme Cutler has a fantastic group of girls who are currently
getting set to perform for their very first time. The coach has
singled out Shayla Radli, a grade seven student, for her tremendous
efforts, as she has taken on great responsibility in choreographing
the dance team's first routine. Mme. Cutler says the dance is
a fun yet technical dance. The whole team has worked hard at learning
the steps in practice and are very excited to show off their skills
in the near future.
Football
The Chief Dan /Howe team took on one of the top rated teams in
the province last week, the Eugene Reimer Ravens. The game was
a close match which was back and forth all game long. In the end,
our young Wolves left everything on the field but still came up
a few points short. The final score of the game was 16 - 14 for
Eugene Reimer. Again, the coaches were extremely pleased with
the play of Boseko L.
Volleyball
As the season of bumping, setting and spiking comes to a close
all the Wolves involved in our volleyball program are busy preparing
themselves for their upcoming end of the year matches. In grade
six action, Coach Landry of the boys team, has her squad prepared
to compete in the Clayburn Middle School tournament. As well,
the grade six girls, led by coaches Sookachoff and Finch are also
looking forward to the games taking place at Clayburn.
In Grade seven action, coach Piper is completing the finishing
touches on the boys squad as they get ready for the upcoming zone
tournament at Clayburn Middle School next week. Coaches Schmor
and Constant are also getting their girls team ready for the zone
tournament which will be taking place at Chief Dan George on Tuesday,
November 2nd and Wednesday, November 3rd.
The Grade Eight teams, led by Coaches Buki, Janzen and Longpré,
continue to play exceptionally well. Standouts for the teams include
Mark V. who is a leader on and off the court, Riley B. who is
a fierce hitter, Paula S. for her great digs and Anouschka B.
for her determination.
Cheer Team
Another recent addition to the athletic lineup at Chief Dan has
been the cheer team led by Judy James. She is also currently the
coach of the Valley Stars Cheerleading Team in Abbotsford so her
knowledge is a great benefit to the team. Although the girls have
just begun to work with coach James the development of the team
has been outstanding. Coach James is looking forward to showcasing
the girls talents in the near future.
Cross Country
The Chief Dan Wolves Cross Country Team is perhaps the largest
in the entire district. Each week, over the duration of the cross
country season, our school fielded over forty athletes. Running
wild, over the landscape at Clearbrook Park, the Wolves displayed
great grit and determination as they represented Chief Dan in
memorable fashion. Led by an outstanding coaching staff which
includes coach Bunbury, Coach McTaggart, Coach Richards and Coach
Schafer the runners did a great job. There were numerous awards
presented to our athletes this past week. Great job coaches and
runners!
Soccer
Yet again, another dynamic development to enhance the development
of the Chief Dan Athletic program has been the intramural soccer
program. Led by Mr. Cervo and Mr. Piper, the league is currently
serving the soccer needs of the boys in grades 6 to 8. Taking
place during the lunch period, the fields are alive and well with
the spectacular soccer skills of our Wolves. The action has been
magnificent with amazing goals and great defensive plays. As the
season progresses, the top scorers are starting to separate themselves
and are looking to led their teams to victory. Official league
stats will be coming along in upcoming newsletters. Please stay
tuned! (Girls intramural soccer will take place in the spring.)
What is going on during PE?
The gymnasium is one of busiest classrooms in the school as students
fulfill the requirements of the physical education curriculum
and participate in a plethora of extracurricular opportunities.
As reported in previous newsletters, the Chief Dan George Athletic
program is top notch. This can be attributed to numerous factors,
including the dynamic work being done by our physical education
teachers. They have implemented curriculum this year that has
challenged and enhanced the skills of our students.
Thus far this year the students of Chief Dan have undertaken studies
in the areas of volleyball and fitness. Students have learned
many things including individual goal setting, the components
of fitness, heart rate monitoring, rule and regulations of the
game of volleyball, history of the game of volleyball and, of
course skill acquisition in the various disciplines. these are
valuable skills which are in line with the philosophy of physical
education at Chief Dan George which is to provide students with
the opportunity to develop appropriate fitness and motor skills.
As well, our aim is to encourage students to demonstrate a positive
attitude and effort in a variety of recreational and team related
activities. The ultimate objective of the physical education program
is to instill in our students the value of lifelong participation
in daily physical activity.
As the year progresses, please ask your son /daughter about what
they learn at school. Please ask them what they did in gym class
and what they learned. You will be very impressed with what you
hear. The upcoming units of instruction for P.E. include basketball,
gymnastics and dance.
If you have any feedback regarding the physical education
curriculum or extracurricular athletics please feel free to contact
Mr. Piper, the physical education coordinator / Athletic Director.
Thanks for your support!
November Calendar
Upcoming Dates to Note
November 11 Remembrance Day - No School
November 12 School Closure Day - No School
November 15 School Closure Day - No School
November 18 Grupo America - Dance presentation
November 25 Drama Performance at Abbey Arts, 7:00 pm
November 26 Reports go home
All CDG students go to Abbey Arts to see play in morning
Drama Performance at Abbey Arts, 7:00 pm
School Play at Abby Arts
Our directors and two talented casts are working on putting final
touches to our winter play "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever"
at the Abbotsford Arts Center at the end of November. Two evening
performances will be available to the public, Thursday, November
25 and Friday, November 26. Curtain will be at 7:00 p.m. and tickets
can be purchased at the school office for $10.00. The ticket price
includes refreshment and dessert at intermission. The casts will
also perform at two matinees that are set for the mornings of
November 25 and 26. On November 25, 700 elementary and middle
school students from other schools will be attending while on
Friday morning Nov. 26th all of our students will have the opportunity
to attend the matinee free of charge. Further information and
permission forms will be sent out next week. Please note that
we will need parent volunteers to help supervise on this trip,
if you can help please contact your child's homeroom teacher.
First Term Report Cards and Parent Teacher Interviews
First term reports will is issued on Friday, November 26th. The
following Thursday afternoon and evening have been set aside for
Parent/Teacher interviews. Interview forms will be sent home next
week. Friday, December 3 the school will not be in session.
Exciting News
Scholastic Book Fair is coming to CDG from November 30th -
December 2nd. Our theme this year is tropical/tacky tourist. Come
on out and find great Christmas gifts and promote reading. If
you are able to volunteer some time at our Book Fair, please contact
Mr. Lilly
Thank you!
CDG Wolves Athletic Report
Achieving excellence as athletic performers is the goal of many
of our students here at Chief Dan George Middle School. Our Wolves
have demonstrated tenacity, grit and determination as they have
achieved great results in the last couple of weeks. The coaching
staff have reported many impressive examples of athletic achievement.
Here are the latest results.
Football
Allan Dicks came up huge and rushed for two touchdowns to lead
the combined team of Chief Dan George / Colleen and Gordie Howe
to a lopsided 42-0 victory over Abbotsford Middle school last
week. This follows their previous victories over Mission by the
score of 38-7 and Kamloops by the score of 34-6. Our football
team now sports a 5-1 record for the season. The boys look to
be peaking at just the right time as playoffs are just around
the corner.
Volleyball
The Chief Dan George Middle School Grade 8 volleyball team went
2-1 this past week to bring their season record to 6-3. The Wolves
easily crushed the competition from Mission's Hatzic Secondary
and Howe Middle by winning both matches in three straight games.
However, the big test came from cross town rivals, MEI, who managed
to sneak one away from our boys. Despite the one loss, coaches
Longpré and Janzen believe the team is ready for the playoffs.
They pointed out the consistent strong performances of Riley B.,
Reece B., Patrick E. and Jake T. as reasons for their recent success.
The Grade 8 Girls volleyball team seems to have been mirroring the progress of the boys team, as they share nearly identical records. The girls, led by Coach Buki, have looked sharp on the court. Consistent hitting from the whole team has allowed the girls to flourish regardless of who is on the floor.
In grade 7 boys volleyball action, there are numerous developments
to be proud of. The boys headed into the 'A' zone championships
this past Wednesday under the watchful eye of Coach Piper. Facing
the likes of Abbotsford Middle and Clayburn Middle the boys had
their work cut out for themselves. However, the boys were able
to advance to the finals by narrowly sneaking out a one point
decision over the CLayburn Cougars. In the final match against
Abbotsford Middle School, the boys played valiantly but could
not put away their rivals. Coach Piper was very pleased with the
way the boys played. Eric C. had some amazing serves and Lee J.
played very well at the net. The very next day, the grade seven
team was involved in the 'B' Zones and came away victorious! The
three boys teams from Chief Dan ended up in first, third and fourth
place! The team of Hayden J., Matt A., Justin H., Jeffrey C.,
Jon R., Jason P., Sammy G., and Vishal C. beamed with Wolves pride
as they won all their games and captured the first place honours!
The grade seven girls were also in action this past week and did
remarkably well. Led by coaches Constant and Schmor, the girls
captured the 'A' zone championship! The girls were dominant as
they crushed rivals from Clayburn and Abbotsford Middle. Capturing
the zone title means the girls will be moving on to the District
finals. As well, the girls came up big in the 'B' zone games finishing
in second, third and fourth place.
The development of our grade six volleyball players has been fantastic! Coaches Finch and Sookachoff who lead the grade six girls and Coach Landry who leads the boys team have facilitated the consistent improvement of our youngest Wolves. As there is no formal league play for the grade sixes, our teams have been involved in a number of recent exhibition play days with other middle schools who also have grade six teams. These play days have been a huge success allowing many athletes to showcase their skills in a competitive setting. Congratulations to all the grade six volleyball players and coaches for their commitment and hard work!
Soccer
The super soccer skills of our Wolves were again displayed on
the fields of Chief Dan during intramural soccer action. The league
is set up with a grade 6/7 boys division and a grade 8 boys division.
As the leagues enter the home stretch there are numerous teams
jockeying for position in the standings. Added to that are the
battles for goal scoring supremacy. Currently in the grade 8 boys
division there are three scorers tied for the lead. This includes
Stuart W., Trevor O. and Travis R. with 7 goals each. In the grade
6/7 division there are two scorers who have put a strangle hold
on the scoring title. Amrit S. has 11 goals and Hardeep G. has
a 15. Hardeep is coming off a gigantic game in which he scored
8 goals! Mr. Cervo and Mr. Piper, who operate the league, have
been very impressed with the skills and sportsmanship of all the
players involved in the league. (Again, a reminder that girls
intramural soccer will take place in the spring.)
Music News..................
Thank you to Darlene Mackenzie for organizing our first Chicken
and More fund raiser this year! If you missed the delivery on
Tuesday please contact Neufeld Farms to pick up your order.
We will be selling poinsettias this year again. Thank you to Denise Hartman for organizing this successful fund raiser! Orders are due into the office by November 26th.
Our Christmas Concert is confirmed for Wednesday, December 15th at New Life Church 35270 Delair Rd. The concert begins at 7:00 p.m. all students are asked to be there in uniform by 6:30 p.m.
Our rehearsals for our school production of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" are going very well. We are doing two morning shows on November 25 & 26 at 10:00 a.m. at the Abbey Arts Centre for elementary schools and our students as well as two evening shows at 7:00 p.m. Please feel free to purchase tickets for the evening shows at our school office.
Wanted - New or used Fashion Magazines and/or catalogues
Division 15 and 16 are looking for any used fashion magazines
and/or fashion catalogues for an art project. Mens, women, children,
and/or atheletic wear. Please bring them down to room 160 or the
office. Thank you
Mlle Perron
Fraser Valley senior boys volleyball championships
Our school will be hosting four of the finalists in the Fraser
Valley Girls AAAA volleyball championships at our school next
Wednesday afternoon. Action will start at 3:00 and will run into
the evening. Spectators are welcome.
Literacy Week
During the first week of December we will be promoting literacy
at our school. A variety of activities will take place in classrooms
and other areas of the school to spotlight the importance of this
skill. As advertised our school goal this year revolves around
strengthening reading comprehension. Our School Planning Council
will be presenting our school goal to School Board Officials next
Tuesday evening, November 16th.
Key Communicators
KEY COMMUNICATORS, who represent each school's Parent Advisory
Council, meet with the Superintendent several times during the
school year. The purpose of these meetings is to provide information
of interest to parents. Key Communicators then disseminate the
information to their respective PAC's. This year the meetings
will be rotating through our middle schools. The next meeting
is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 17, 2004 at Abbotsford
Middle School (2222 Ware Street). ALL parents are welcome to attend.
National Institute on Media and the Family Responds to the
Release of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
On October 26, another video game in the Grand Theft Auto
series became available in stores. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
is expected to sell more games than its predecessor, Grand
Theft Auto: Vice City. Analysts predict the video game will
sell between 13 and 15 million copies.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is rated "Mature" by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). It includes the following ESRB content descriptors: "Blood and Gore," "Intense Violence," "Strong Violence," "Strong Language," "Strong Sexual Content," and "Use of Drugs."
With the highly-anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and the start of this year's holiday shopping season, the National Institute on Media and the Family again calls upon parents and retailers to keep inappropriate video games away from children. Parents should use the ESRB ratings system and also limit video game playing time. Retailers should strictly enforce policies that prevent children and teens from buying M-rated games without parental permission.
The National Institute on Media and the Family has developed
tips for parents and other caregivers to make sure their kids
play the right video games for the right amount of time.
This information can be found at http://www.mediafamily.org/facts/tips_tamevideogames.shtml.
School Christmas Play
Over one hundred students and dozens of school staff and parent
volunteers worked together for many weeks to produce our fabulous
Christmas production this year. Many roles were needed to be filled
due to the scale that this year's production involved. There was
a cast of sixty students, a technical crew of twenty and over
twenty others involved in providing hospitality for guests. The
production took place at the Abbey Arts center. Seven hundred
Abbotsford School District elementary and middle school students
viewed a matinee on Thursday morning and were treated to a wonderful
experience. On Friday morning almost 600 students from our school
were transported to the Abbey Arts for the show. The evening public
performance on Thursday played to hundreds of members of our school
community. The production was extremely well received. Many commented
on the professional look of the sets and the high level of acting
that took place. In addition many comments were made that the
production assisted them in "getting into the Christmas spirit".
Executive producers/teachers Mr. Grant McAvoy and Mrs. Pam Farley
invested many, many hours in working with participating students.
Without their initiative and drive the production would not have
taken place. In addition, the following staff played various important
roles in assisting Mr. McAvoy and Mrs. Farley. That group included:
Mrs. Bunbury, Ms. McMillan, Mrs. Reimer, Ms. Janzen, Ms. Cutler,
Ms. Howe, Mr. Piper, Ms. Schafer, Mr. Sakai, Mrs. Hollanti, Mrs.
Andrew, Mr. Lilly, and Mrs. Batryn. We were also very well supported
by the parent community in arranging rides and preparing meals
to assist during lengthy rehearsals. Three parents whose roles
were very significant were Mrs. L. Boyko, Mr. R. Friesen and Mrs.
P. Rus. Congratulations should go to all those who represented
the school so well in this major event. Reminder that there is
one final public performance, this evening, Friday, November 26th
at 7:00 p.m. TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR.
Report Card Issue and Parent Teacher interviews.
Term one report cards were issued on Friday afternoon, November
26th. By now you should have received information about the structure
for Parent Teacher interviews for this year. The interviews will
be conducted in the afternoon and evening of Thursday, December
2. We will do our best to accommodate those families that have
more than one child in the school so that their interview times
are relatively close together. The school will not be in session
on Friday, December 3, in lieu of the afternoon and evening interviews
that will be taking place on December 2. If you have any questions
or did not receive your interview time, please call Donna at the
office and she will arrange a time for you. The Abbotsford Youth
Commission will have a display in the MPR during parent teacher
conferences - go chat with them to find out what programs are
available for your child.
Wolves School Clothing
Many students have taken the opportunity to bring home a handout
which details the latest Chief Dan Fashions for the 2004 - 2005
school year. Unfortunately the window of opportunity has closed
on the order form, as yesterday was the last day to get these
in. The orders which were received are currently being processed
are slated to arrive just in time for Christmas. However, all
is not lost for those of you who missed out! There will be a second
clothing order placed in February which will give everybody a
second chance to purchase something from the Wolves School clothing
form. Please stay tuned for details as to a new order date! As
well, thank you to all those who ordered this week. The items
coming your way promise to be amazing!
Grade 8 Voyage to Quebec
First off, we'd like to thank all of the parents for their cooperation
in having all money in on time. Just a reminder that the second
installment of $725 will be collected in the first week of February.
Parents that have already paid $750 as the first installment need
only pay $700 for the February date. Mme Bonneau is putting together
an exciting itinerary for this year's trip and the first copy
will be sent home with students in January. A final copy of the
trip itinerary will be ready to send home in April.
Due to the high cost of airfare, as well as school board policy
regarding the number of days absent from school, the dates of
the trip have changed slightly. We will be leaving from CDGMS
on May 13th (departure time TBA) and returning to Vancouver International
Airport on May 19th (arrival time TBA). Just a reminder to parents
to make arrangements to pick up their students or arrange for
carpools home from the airport.
The student involvement for this year's voyage is wonderful and
we have a total of 49 girls and 20 boys confirmed to visit la
belle province. Our crew of teacher supervisors include: Mme Bonneau,
Mme Rousseau, Mlle Perron, Mrs. Osterby-Batryn, and M. Cervo.
We'd also like to recognize our wonderful parent supervisors:
Mrs. Mason, Mrs. Beaumont, and Mr. Warmerdam. Our parent supervisors
are all veterans of the voyage and will be a welcome addition
to the supervisory crew.
We will be meeting with our Quebec students before Christmas Break
to provide information and answer any questions. If you have any
questions regarding this year's trip, please feel free to contact
Mme Bonneau at (604) 852-9616.
Merci Beaucoup!
Book Fair
Once again it is Book Fair time and we are excited about the possibilities
of acquiring many new books for the library as a result of a successful
fair. The fair will run during the week of Nov. 29-Dec. 2. It
will be set up Monday (Nov. 29th) in the classroom part of the
library.
The fair will be open to the different divisions for viewing and purchasing during class time on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It will also be open to parents Thursday evening during the parent teacher interview. This is a great opportunity for parents to purchase wonderful Christmas gifts for their children. Just ask your child to view the books, pick a favourite and let you know which books they would like. You can then pick them up Thursday evening.
We are still in need of parent volunteers to help man the till at the store, specifically Tuesday morning 8:00-10:00, Wednesday afternoon 12:30-2:30 and Thursday morning 8:00-10:00. If you are available at these times, we really need your help. We could use more parent presence on all of the days and would love to hear from you if you are interested in participating.
This year's Book Fair theme is Tropical/Tacky Tourist and on Thursday the whole school will be dressing up. We are offering a $10.00 gift certificate for the book store to the six best dressed students and an ice cream sundae party to the class with the best participation.
The more books we sell the more books we get for our library. Please keep these dates on your calendar and help support your library. We are looking forward to a great book fair. See you there!
Library Help
Mr. Lilly is still looking for parent volunteers to help with
the library lab supervision during lunch. If you are interested
and could spare an hour a week, please call @ 852-9616. Lunch
is from 11:50-12:40.
Free Throw Competition
All students are currently in the midst of developing and refining
their basketball skills during their physical education classes.
Many students have already shown remarkable improvements in their
abilities. To assist in providing focus for this unit of instruction,
our school has become involved in a district wide free throw competition.
Here is how the competition works. During p.e. classes, all students
will be given at least one opportunity to take 25 shots which
will be used to determine our top shooters. Based upon a student's
success in their 25 shots they may then be invited to participate
in a lunch hour free throw shoot out in the gym on Friday, December
10th. Our top three 'shooting stars' in each grade will then be
asked to represent our school at the district free throw competition
on January 17, 2005. Good luck to all our students as they prepare
to take their best shots! Please note: Parents are encouraged
to ask their children what 'Beef' has to do with basketball!
Leadership
Congratulations to the following leadership division representatives.
They do a great job presenting each week in homeroom. Tara
S., Danielle K., Cassandra B., Alex I., Caitlyn W., Kristen B.,
Taylor J., Chandelle M., Kara F., Nicole J., Taylor H., Delanie
J., Mackenzie L., Caitlyn P., Andrea M., Alex L., Tyson F., Nicole
B., Andrea L., Danielle L., Catherine C., Brent M.
Athletic Report - by Mr. Piper, Athletic Director/P.E. Coordinator
Sweat plus sacrifice equals success. This is the new math
that the athletes of Chief Dan George Middle adhere to. Much time
and effort, by both coaches and athletes, has gone into the extra-curricular
sporting exploits of our Wolves and achievement has been the inevitable
result. Here is the latest update on our Wolves in action.
Volleyball
The Chief Dan George Middle School Grade 8 volleyball teams were
on fire! In recent action, both the boys and girls teams progressed
through the first round of the playoffs by crushing their competition.
The girls team faced the Abby Christian Knights and were able
to win in three straight games. Tenacious serving from Alexa Creelman,
and pinpoint passing from Paula Shugg were huge reasons for the
girls success. Coach Buki had the team in peak form and believed
they were a threat take it all in the playoffs. In round two of
the grade 8 championship finals the girls traveled to MEI to take
on the Eagles. The girls played a fantastic match but ended up
losing a nail biter in four games.
Meanwhile, the boys team handled rival Colleen and Gordie Howe with relative ease in their first round match-up. The boys defeated the Bulldogs in three straight games. The team was led by Riley B., who played tremendous at the net, and Trevor O., who was stellar as he took on the roll as the team's primary setter. Coaches Longpré and Janzen were extremely pleased with the boys' effort. With the victory over the Bulldogs the boys secured a place in the final four championship . The boys headed confidently into their final games. First up, the boys faced a stellar squad from Yale. The match was a close one and our Wolves were narrowly defeated by the host team. This meant the boys had to settle for a place in the bronze medal game against their cross town rivals from Clayburn. Superior skill on the part of our boys was evident from the outset as our Wolves won their match and claimed the bronze position in the Abbotsford/Mission league! Awesome work!
Dance Team
Our Wolves dance team continues to gather steam as they refine
their skills for an upcoming performance in the new year. Led
by Coach Cutler, the team has been practicing hard and looks amazing.
There are approximately 35 students who are involved in the dance
team which currently practices twice a week. As the winter athletic
season gets underway the team will continue to meet a couple of
times a week but with a slightly new schedule. The new practise
times that Coach Cutler wants to pass along are Monday at 2:45
- 4 pm and Wednesday at lunch.
Cheer Team
Led by Coach Judy James, the Wolves cheer team has 30 members
who are looking forward to the basketball season so they can help
support our athletes in action. The team features elements of
dance and gymnastics which are melded together to create a group
that is sure to fire up our Wolves fans and teams.
Intramural Soccer
As the weather looks to have taken a turn for the worse, the soccer
league playoffs have been put on hold this week. However the boys
teams at all grade levels remain focussed and are looking forward
to the bragging rights of claiming the first place honours for
the season. As well, the top grade eight teams are battling for
an opportunity to square off against the staff of Chief Dan George
during the lunch period on December 8th. Good luck to all our
soccer players!
Basketball
The upcoming basketball season is nearly upon us! Our Wolves will
be led into action on the hardwood by a skilled group of coaches
which includes Mr. Cervo and Ms. Janzen for the grade eight boys,
Ms. Schafer and Mr. Chapman for the grade eight girls, Mr. Dugdale
for the grade seven boys, Mrs. Guppy and Mr. Kathler for the grade
seven girls, and Mr. Piper and Mrs. Batryn for the grade six teams.
Practices and games will be under way shortly! All interested
athletes are asked to listen for upcoming announcements and to
check the Wolves athletic board in the multipurpose room for more
information.
Student of the Month
Congratulations to Ryan B. who was chosen as
our Kiwanis Grade 8 "Student of the Month" for November.
Ryan was nominated for this award by M. Cervo and Mme Perron.
He received a "straight A" report card, is in the school
band and jazz band program and played for our Remembrance Day
Assembly. We appreciate his many contributions to our school including
representing the school in soccer and supporting his teachers
and peers in many ways. Congratulations Ryan!
B.C. students score well on international assessment
A recent press release indicated that 15 year old students in
the B.C. school system perform at an extremely high level relative
to the rest of the world. In the Program for International Student
Assessment B.C. students were near the top in Math, Reading and
Science scores. Extensive breakdown of the results had B.C. students
5th in the Math assessment (Hong Kong was #1), 3rd in Reading
(Finland was #1) and 6th in Sciences (Finland was #1). When
taking all provinces into account, Canadian students placed 7th
in Math, 3rd in Reading and 11th in Sciences with the students
in B.C. and Alberta being the highest performing students in our
country.
Awards Assembly Data
Over 250 students (40 % of the student body) were honored at the
school's first term Honor Roll assembly on Thursday morning, December
9. These students received certificates for academic or effort
honor roll performance. We are extremely proud of the effort
and performance of our students and are confident that there will
be even more students recognized at the end of the second term.
Band Concert
On Wednesday evening, December 15, our talented music students
will perform a Christmas concert at New Life Church at 35270 Delair
Road. The performance starts at 7:00 p.m. and is free of charge.
We hope you can make time to attend as we promise to put you in
the Christmas spirit that evening.
Spirit Day
The student leadership team, under the guidance of teacher Mrs.
Brandy Cutler, is organizing an activity session for the afternoon
of Friday, December 17th. Students will be able to select from
various activities which will include a sock hop, board games,
G rated videos and computer games. Students will be encouraged
to dress in "seasonal colors" that day.
Bus Passes
January city bus passes will be available next week - $28.00
per month per pass. A bundle of four passes (for January, February,
March and April) is also avilalbe. Cost for the 4 months is $85.00
(which works out to $21.25 per month). If you wish to purchase
the bundle package please come into the office and purchase prior
to January 11th. We cannot accept orders after this date. Thank
you.
Best Wishes
On behalf of the staff of Chief Dan George Middle School
we wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas (Bonne année)
and
Happy New Year (Joyeux Noel)
Thanks again to Denise Hartman for organizing the Poinsettia Fundraiser!
Our concert is coming up on Wednesday, December 15th at New Life Church 35270 Delair Rd. All students should meet at the church at 6:30 pm, and the concert will begin at 7:00 pm. All students have received a white band shirt and should wear black from the waist down. All students are responsible for transporting their own instruments and music to the church. Bass players must bring their own amps and snare drummers should bring their own drum.
Thank you!
Mrs. Farley
Library
Mr. Lilly would like to thank everyone involved in this years'
very successful Book Fair. Thank you students, teachers and parent
volunteers for all your time and effort. The Fair would not have
happened without your amazing help! The school was able to add
130 new books to our library from proceeds from the Fair.
The winner of the Family Event Door Prize was Kate Irving. She and Mrs. Sookachoff won $25 worth of books each.
Thanks again for all your help with the Fair.
Mr. Lilly
Merry Christmas from Division 22
Thank you to everyone who has supported our bottle recycling program.
Please check out www.encorp.ca to see our official standings
in the provincial wide competition. Right now we are in third
place. That is why we need you to save all of your returnable
bottles (pop, juice, liquor and beer) over the holidays. We will
be having our second school wide bottle drive starting right after
Christmas break. To celebrate the new year, we will be awarding
prizes to the class (or classes) that brings in 2005 bottles
January 4 - 14, 2005. Help us to reach our goal of winning the
$1000.00 for our school this year by donating your returnable
bottles to Division 22. Merry Christmas.
A Place to Call Home
If your family is alone this Christmas or are unable to afford
the cost of a Christmas dinner, then you are invited to come to
Sevenoaks Alliance Church for a Christmas Celebration, December
25th, 2 - 4 pm. Dinner and the festivities are free, but seating
is limited, so please get your FREE tickets by contacting the
church office at 2575 Gladwin Road (behind West Oaks Mall). They
look forward to celebrating Christmas with you!
Abbotsford Olympians Swim Club
Fall registration is ongoing with a new session starting January
4, 2005 at the Matsqui Recreation Center Pool. Space is limited
so try to register as soon as possible. AOSC offers children
who are between the ages of 5-18 who can swim one length of the
pool an opportunity to join the club and learn to enhance their
swimming skills, life skills, self confidence and friendships.
AOSC has certified N.C.C.P. coaches who teach swimming skills
in a positive and progressive environment. They offer programs
after school once a week or more depending upon your interest.
To become more technically sound and to strive for better swimming
endurance give them a call. If you would like more information
call 604-825-1856, email bmetcalfe@telus.net or go online to www.olympiansswimming.com