September to December of 2011



September 12, 2011

Upcoming Dates to Note
Monday, Sept 19-PAC Meeting - 7:00 pm in the library
Monday, Sept 19-Band Rental Night - 7:00 pm
Tuesday, Sept 20-Picture Day
Friday, Sept 23-Pro-D (NO SCHOOL)

Principal's Message
As I embark on my first year as the principal of Chief Dan George Middle School I am pleased to see the outstanding foundation that has been built over the last ten years.  Our incredible teachers and dedicated support staff have helped to build an excellent school culture based on strong universal values.  Students at Chief Dan George are receiving an education that emphasizes academic rigour and a real life connection to social responsibility.
I truly believe in building strong relationships with the parents of Chief Dan George students.  If you have any concerns please feel free to approach me or set up an appointment.  I may not always give you the answer you are looking for, but I can assure you that I will listen.  I am looking forward to an exciting year of learning and fun at Chief Dan George Middle School!
We are very fortunate that we have not had huge staff turnover for the 2011-2012 school year.  However, we have added a few new people. Please join me in welcoming the following staff to Chief Dan George:  Mr. Angell will be teaching band/music while Ms. Mills is on her maternity leave; Ms. Lawrie is our new Youth Care worker who will be working afternoons from Monday to Friday; Ms. Hadden, Ms. Beasley and Ms. Webster who are all new teaching assistants. 

Attendance
One way that the school seeks your assistance in maintaining a safe and secure environment pertains to our attendance policies.  It is essential that students and parents work with the school staff to ensure that we have accurate data regarding student attendance.  Firstly, we ask that you do everything possible to have your child on time for school each day.  Students who arrive late must be processed through the school office and must have their student planner stamped to gain entry into class.  As much as possible we would ask you to schedule appointments for your child outside of scheduled classes. In the event that a student is required to leave school early they must bring a note from home and must wait in the school office until they are picked up and signed out by an adult family member or friend.  Parents are asked to call the school office or email joanne_mcmillan@sd34.bc.ca or donna_hollanti@sd34.bc.ca before classes in the morning to report the absence of their child.  Please assist us in ensuring that we maintain an efficient attendance tracking program.

Student Picture Day
Once again this year we will be working with LifeTouch Photography to take individual and class pictures of our students.  On Tuesday morning, September 20th individual pictures will be taken of all of our students.  These will be used for student cards and for our school Yearbook.  Families that wish to purchase affordable picture packages will be able to do so with LifeTouch on this day.  Order envelopes will be sent out with all students at the end of this week.

School Fees
The Abbotsford School District has set school fees at all three levels of instruction (i.e. elementary, middle and secondary).  At the middle school level there will be an Activity Fee charged in the amount of $30.00. This will cover the cost of the student agenda, guest speakers, student cards, lock and locker rental, student leadership initiatives and student recognition.  Band students will be asked to pay a deposit of $15.00 for a practice book and CD, with those funds being returned at the end of the school year to those that return the items to the school in good condition. A fee collection envelope was sent home this week.

School Meal Program
The primary purpose of the School Meal Program is to provide lunches to students who come to school hungry. The School Meal 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). Scientific research provides compelling evidence that poor nutrition negatively impacts behaviour, school performance and cognitive development in children. The School Meal Program is funded in part by a grant from the Ministry of Education and through contributions from parents. While we rely on parent contributions to keep the program going, 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 to provide 1/3 of the daily nutrition requirements, keeping variety and value in mind. Our meals are monitored on a regular basis.
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, Mrs. H. Duval, Centre of Resources for Education (C.O.R.E.) 604-504-4610, Local 1814

Chocolate Sales - Leadership Sponsored Fundraiser
Our Leadership Team has arranged a chocolate sale to raise money for their many projects during the year such as pep rallies, spirit days and weeks, fun days, entertainers, etc.  Your child has brought home a bag containing 10 packages of chocolates that sell for $3.00 each for a total of $30.00.  The student who sells the most chocolates will win a their choice of an Ipad or a shopping spree gift certificate at Sevenoaks Mall in the amount of $500; second prize: $400 @ Sevenoaks; third prize: $300 @ Sevenoaks.  As well we will have many draws for prizes including a 5 pound chocolate bar. If you do not wish your child to sell the chocolates please have him/her return them immediately to the school as we will have many students who want to sell more to help them reach their goal of winning the grand prize.  Money + chocolates returned must equal $30.00.  Mr. Lilly will be in the Library every morning before the bell to collect.  Please make cheques payable to CDGMS. Deadline for returning chocolates and money is Monday, September 19th. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call the school.

Emergency Contact Information
It is important for the school to have accurate information regarding your child. We will soon be sending home an Emergency Contact sheet with every student and ask that you make all corrections to the information and have your child return that information to the school ASAP.

Severe Peanut Allergies
Each year the number of students dealing with severe food allergies continues to rise.  Some of these students are required to carry an EpiPen with them at all times. Generally these students have severe allergies related to the ingestion of peanuts and peanut products.  We would ask that all families support us in reducing the risks to these children by eliminating peanut products being sent to the school with their child. Your cooperation in this matter would be greatly appreciated.       

Red Cross Babysitting Course
Course focus is: Child care skills with special emphasis on child safety. A Canadian Red Cross certificate will be issued upon completion of the course. This course is designed for students 10-15 years of age. It teaches the basics of babysitting, rights and responsibilities, getting along with participants, holding, diapering, feeding, bedtime, toys and activities, accident prevention and handling emergencies. This four week program is  taught by Petersen's First Aid Training at our school on the following dates: October 3rd, 17th, 24th and 31st from 2:40 - 4:40 pm. The cost is  $45.00 per participant. If you are interested in having your child take this program we have registration forms at the office. The class maximum size is 24 and space is first come, first served - please note that the course fills up very quickly!

City Bus Passes
Each month our office will have a limited number of city bus passes for sale. These passes are $30 each (make cheque payable to CDGMS please). In September and January (these two months only) we also have a 4 month City bus pass for sale for $85 (i.e. for September - December or January - April). This works out to $21.25 per month which is a substantial savings. A note of warning though is that the 4 month pass is just one card (not one card per month). If your child loses the card it will not be replaced. If you're interested in purchasing a pass or have further questions please see Mrs. Hollanti in the office.

Drag Racing News
Our drag racing team will be out at Mission Raceway Park this Friday, the 9th, as well as, the 16th and the 30th. Our arch rivals, Mouat Secondary is a ahead slightly in points, so these last three race dates of the season are very important. We lost a few of our good drivers to Mouat again, but our team will do its best to bring home the championship. For those interested in joining Wolves Racing, our current season ends on the 30th, but will ramp up again in April for the 2012 season. Watch the newsletter in March for news on how to join the team for the next race season.

Parents, we are constantly looking for sponsors. Our team is very unique. We may be the only middle school in all of BC with a drag racing programme. We are part of the BCSSMA (British Columbia Secondary School Motorsports Association). We compete with the secondary schools at Mission Raceway Park and Eagle Motorplex in Ashcroft. If you know of any company that would like to form a partnership with our team, please let them know about us. We can offer advertising on our three vehicles and tax receipts.

Band Info
All interested Gr. 6 band students will be sent home next week with some important information regarding the band program here at CDG.  Please read it carefully and sign it before sending it back.  Also, the King's Music instrument rental night will be here at CDG in the multi-purpose room on Monday September 19th at 7:00 pm.  Please mark your calendars.

Trumpet for Sale
"Bach" Trumpet for sale, one of the brands recommended for school band, serviced at King's Music, and ready to use. Comes with case and cleaning kit. $225. Call 604-504-0076 if interested. Thanks!

School PAC
Mr. Craig van Herk is our school's PAC president. The first meeting will take place next week on Monday, September 19th at 7:00 pm in the library.  We have been very blessed with great support from the PAC over the years.  Every parent is invited - we hope to see you at the first meeting of the year!

Cross Country
CDG Cross Country running club is now open.  We will practice on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 2:30 - 3:30 pm.  The Grand Prix series at Clearbrook Park will begin on Wednesday, September 21st.  Come out and join!  See Mrs. Bunbury, in Room 174, for more information.

Carpool Help Needed
Looking for after school car pooling to Mission for 2 CDG students, willing to drive in the am, please contact Kathy at 604-820-8174 or kat0909@hotmail.com.

Gardening Club
Leadership and laborers wanted for the gardening club.  Students and parents come to our start up meeting Tuesday, September 13th from 11:50- 12:30 pm in the small courtyard.




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September 29, 2011

Upcoming Dates to Note
Wednesday, Oct 5-World Teacher Day
Monday, Oct 10-Thanksgiving (NO SCHOOL)
Tuesday, Oct 18-Photo Retakes
Friday, Oct 21-Non-Instructional Day (No school for students)

Principal's Message
As many of you know this is my first year at Chief Dan George Middle School. I am a strong believer in having students, parents, and the school working together to help students be successful. As I have shared with the students, I believe we should all live by the “Golden Rule”. We all need to treat others like we want to be treated. We all make mistakes and it is imperative that we learn from them. 

I am also a strong proponent of open communication. I am available to meet with parents to discuss concerns or issues that you might have about the well-being of your children. I can also be contacted via e-mail or phone. Currently we have 576 students enrolled at Chief Dan in grade 6 through grade 8. Students have been placed in 22 divisions. Special thanks to everyone who has been making the effort to be on time for school each day. It is vitally important for all our students to have a positive start to the day.

On a personal note my wife and I have been married for 31 years and we have 3 boys (men) aged 28, 26 and 23. One of the boys is living in Victoria where he hopes to graduate from the University of Victoria in April 2012. Our middle son is a teacher in Abbotsford. Our youngest son is working in Abbotsford and is hoping to return to school in the near future.

Attendance
One way that the school seeks your assistance in maintaining a safe and secure environment pertains to our attendance policies.  It is essential that students and parents work with the school staff to ensure that we have accurate data regarding student attendance.  Firstly, we ask that you do everything possible to have your child on time for school each day.  Students who arrive late must be processed through the school office and must have their student planner stamped to gain entry into class.  As much as possible we would ask you to schedule appointments for your child outside of scheduled classes. In the event that a student is required to leave school early they must bring a note from home and must wait in the school office until they are picked up and signed out by an adult family member or friend.  Parents are asked to call the school office or email joanne_mcmillan@sd34.bc.ca or donna_hollanti@sd34.bc.ca before classes in the morning to report the absence of their child.  Please assist us in ensuring that we maintain an efficient attendance tracking program.

Band
The CDG Band program is now in full swing. Almost all students have their instruments and are making wonderful sounds in the music room. A number of parents offered to donate their unused instruments to the school. We would welcome these and would be able to put them to very good use. Please see Mr Angell if you can help.
Choir started on Wednesday at lunch. If your son or daughter likes to sing, send them to choir on Mondays and Wednesdays at lunch time.

Instruments for Sale
Jupiter Alto Sax  with case -  mother of pearl keys. It is in perfect condition and was purchased from King Music. $500 OBO.
If anyone is interested please email Karen Brown at karen@forsitedevelopments.com

Yamaha Trumpet for sale. For further information please email: csentell@telus.net

Flute for sale for $300. Purchased for $400. For further information please email: traceymanweiler@shaw.ca

Breakfast Program  Starts Up on Monday, October 3
Volunteers from Northview Church will once again be sponsoring a weekly breakfast program at our school.  Starting Monday, October 3rd and continuing every Thursday and Monday morning thereafter students will be able to enjoy a hot breakfast at no charge or no obligation.  Breakfast is served between 7:40 and 8:00.  We have been extremely fortunate to have Northview Church support our school in this way for a number of years. Many CDGMS students have benefited by the opportunity to enjoy a hearty breakfast served with a smile, all courtesy of Northview Church.

Carpool
Looking for car pool:  We live in Yale School area.  I would like to drive to CDGMS in the morning and have another parent drive home in the afternoon.  If you can help, please call Danielle 604 850 9512.
 
Pit Stop Menu

ALL ITEMS/PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Monday                   
Hot Dog                  1.50       
Chicken & Dip            1.75       
Caesar Salad             1.75       
Pizza Pretzel             1.75       
Ciabatta Bun-Ham        2.00                   
Butter Chicken with Rice    2.50       

Tuesday                   
Hot Dog                 1.50               
Taco Salad                 1.75                                     
Taquitos                 1.75       
Ciabatta Bun-Turkey         2.00                                       
Chili & Bun             2.50                                 

Wednesday           
Hot Dog                 1.50
Green Salad             1.75       
Ciabatta Bun-Ham        2.00
Spanish Rice             2.00
Chimichanga             1.75
Chicken Burger             2.50
                   
Thursday
Hot Dog                1.50
Mac & Cheese             1.75
Egg Roll                 1.75
Greek Salad             1.75
Ciabatta Bun-Tuna        2.00
Mini Burgers w/small bag of chips    3.50

Friday
Pizza from Ricardo’s
Choose from:  Cheese, Pepperoni, Ham & Pineapple 1.50/slice

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October 13, 2011

Important Dates to Note

Tuesday, October 18th: Photo Retakes
Friday, October  21st: Non-Instructional Day (No school for students)
Monday, October 24th: PAC Meeting - 7:00 pm

Principal's Message
We are now six weeks into a new school year.  Routines have been established and high expectations have been set for all our students.  Thank you to our entire school community for also helping us to keep our students safe each day.  Drop off and pick up times are now running more smoothly with students only crossing Old Riverside Road by the four orange cones set up at the front of our school.  The majority of our students are now being picked up by 3:00 pm each day.  Please note that we are now moving students out of the multipurpose room after school so they can be supervised by Ms. Jurcic and Mr. Voth.  This allows us to see the students while they are waiting for their rides.

Two of the important pieces of data that we track at Chief Dan George are the attendance and lates of our students.  We believe it is vitally important to the success of all our students for people to be in school and on time on a regular basis.  If you are driving your children to school each day please make sure you are giving yourself enough time.  Regular attendance and being on time are habits that will be important right into adulthood.  Your support and consistency in making this happen at Chief Dan George Middle are greatly appreciated.

Special thanks this week go out to the staff members who are volunteering their time to coach students at Chief Dan George.  Mr. Klim is our Athletic Director  for this school year.   Mrs. Bunbury is coaching our Cross-Country running team;  Mr. Cervo is coaching grade 8 girls’ volleyball and Mr. Baruta and Ms. Jurcic are working with our grade 8 boys.  M. Sawatzky, Mlle. Liboiron and Mrs. Finch are coaching our grade 6 girls’ volleyball.  Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement around grade 7 volleyball. 

Drag Racing Update
We did it! We won the championship! Up until the race on September 30th, we were 7 points behind Mouat Secondary. On the last race date, our drivers eliminated both Mouat cars in the first round. We took home the championship thanks to the awesome driving of M. Pinto who took first place. K. Parsons who was runner up that day also did a fantastic job. Now that the season is over, we will be busy taking the cars apart to get them ready for winter storage. Next season starts in April and we will be recruiting new members in March, so for those who are wanting to be on the team for the 2012 season, look for news about how to join the team in late February. We are looking for half a dozen keen grade six students.

Also, at this point, Wolves Racing would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Provost for their continued support. Without them, this unique program would not exist. They have formed a partnership with our team that spans over six years. Mr. Provost, being a drag racer himself, has offered so much to our team in the way of expertise and support and is one of the major reasons we come out on top year after year. A big thanks go the parents who take the time off of their busy schedules to come out and help at the track and at school during practices. Mr. McCarthy and I really appreciate it. 

                                                        Mr. Sakai

Picture Retakes October 18
Life Touch Photography representatives will be back at our school on the morning of Tuesday, October 18th to take photographs of any student who was not present on the first day of pictures on September 20th. Also, any family who ordered a picture package and wish a retake will be able to do so on that day.  Students who wish retakes must return the old picture package  to the photographer that day.    Remember, payment must be submitted along with the photo package envelope.   Picture order form packages are available in the office.

School PAC Meeting
The next PAC meeting will take place on Monday, October 24th at 7:00 pm in the library.   Every parent is invited - we hope to see you at the meeting.

A Note from Canadian Parents for French
We would like to invite you to come and join us, Canadian Parents for French (CPF) for a family movie night on October 20th at Ecole Sandy Hill Elementary. We will be showing a French family movie from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. in the Gymnasium. Dress in your Halloween costumes and we will be judging and awarding prizes for the most creative costumes. Come out and meet other French Immersion families and your local CPF chapter. This is just the first film in a series of movie nights to be held throughout the year at the French Immersion schools in Abbotsford. We look forward to seeing you. If you have questions or comments, please send your inquiries to Melisssa Cameron at cpfabbotsford@gmail.com

Instrument for Sale
Vintage Pearl Acoustic Full Size Drum Kit - includes high top, snare, crash, 3 tom toms, base drum, ride, stool and 2 sets of drum sticks, great shape
$700 obo  Call Donna Barker @ 604-866-0718.


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November 3, 2011


Upcoming Dates to Note

Thursday, November 10        Remembrance Assembly, 10:30 a.m.
Friday, November 11             Remembrance Day (No School)
Wednesday, December 7        Christmas Concert
Monday, December 19            January 2-Christmas Vacation
Tuesday, January 3            School re-opens


Principal's Message
               
Term One Ends at Chief Dan George Middle
As I reflect on the completion of Term One I am pleased to see the incredible progress that many of our students have made at Chief Dan.  While formal report cards will not be going home parents are encouraged to connect with teachers to discuss student progress. This should be an opportunity to celebrate many of the positive accomplishments over the first ten weeks of the school year.  Parents can play an important role with student progress by acknowledging student success and also encouraging children to work on specific areas requiring growth.  Goal setting for term two will enable students to plan for success.  If you have any questions or concerns about report cards please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Voth at the school.

Tips to create term two Success:
1)  The family that reads together learns together.  Studies show that children with better verbal skills do better at school.  Have your child read to you.  Talk about what you are reading.  Words are the tools for the imagination.
2)  Have a daily U-S-S-R reading time for your children.  This means Uninterrupted Sustained Silent Reading.  No TV, no computer, no phone.  Be consistent and diligent about your child reading every day
3)  Set aside a time and place where homework can be completed each day.  Make sure the location includes everything needed to complete homework.
4)  Be on time for school each day and attend classes consistently.  Structure and routine are the building blocks of school success.

R.P. Voth
Principal of Chief Dan George Middle School


Early Dismissal Days Postponed

Please note that, as a consequence of the current teacher strike, the District has postponed the upcoming one hour early dismissal days scheduled for November 23rd and 24th, 2011.  Early dismissal days are specifically designed for the purpose of facilitating parent teacher interviews that relate to student progress reports. However, since teachers will not be issuing formal report cards the early dismissal days will be postponed to a date when they can be used for their intended purpose.  Please note that our teachers are committed to meeting with parents to share information about your child's progress. Feel free to schedule an appointment by telephoning the school or emailing your child's teacher directly.  Thank you for your patience during this time.


Video Transfer Service

Did you know that analog tapes are notorious for fading over time? Transferring your home videos to digital is a vital way to keep your cherished records from vanishing over time. Keeping those memories safe is now easier for you!  Chief Dan George Middle School's drag racing team, Wolves Racing, will be offering video transfer services to the community as part of its fundraising program. If you have old videos on VHS, VHS-C, 8mm analog, Hi8, or Digital8 tapes, we can transfer the contents to DVD. This service only covers direct transfer and does not include any enhancements or editing. Please note that we cannot fix output that has been degraded over time, nor can we fix poor filming techniques (out of focus, jitter, bad composition, etc.). Please note that we cannot convert old super 8 film - the kind that played and recorded on movie cameras.
The transfer process will be performed exclusively by Mr. Sakai. Care will be taken to ensure that your valuable memories are protected at all times. Tapes that have not been protected (tab not removed or in unlocked position) will be put into protected mode. Any loose labels will be removed or taped down to prevent damage to our equipment. DVD's will be returned unlabeled, except for markings on the sleeve.
Please send tapes to Donna in the office, along with your completed form (pdf attached).  We will not be responsible for any jamming of tapes due to its poor physical condition. You will be notified before we proceed if any tapes are deemed to be too much of a risk. Also, please preview your tapes to ensure that they are in good working condition.
COST:
The price for this service is $15.00 per tape up to two hours in length. Longer videos will be charged $10.00 per additional two hours or any portion thereof, as long as the content is on the same physical tape.   Of course, this service does not extend to any and all commercially copyrighted videos.


September Kiwanis Grade 8 Student of the Month

Congratulations to Grade 8 student Patricia F. for being named our Kiwanis Student of the Month for September. Patricia has been nominated by her teachers for a variety of reasons. She is  an incredible student who always puts extra effort into her work.  She is very helpful to her peers in class and is always extremely well prepared for class. Patricia also helps  on the Leadership Yearbook team.

Congratulations to Grade 7 Student Mignon T!
Mignon joined 21 students in Abbotsford at the FVRL “Sport of Spelling”  Competition. After 11 rounds Mignon won first place!

Champion word:  ASPHYXIATE
Well done Mignon!

Cross Country News

Congratulations to all cross country runners for an excellent season. We would like to congratulate Matthew Conner (grade 8) for finishing in first place all 4 weeks. Other top 10 finishers were Danielle T. and Emma V. (grade 8); Nicolaus B. (grade 8); Liam B. and Tia M. (grade 7); and Alvara P. (grade 6). Thank you for all the hard work and dedication you put into your running. Keep up the good work.


Band News

The Chief Dan George Christmas Concert, featuring all of the Concert Bands, Jazz Bands and Choir, will be held at 7:00 pm at Central Heights Church on Wednesday, December 7th.  Mark your calendars for this festive event.


Instruments for Sale

For sale: almost new Coda 3/4 Prodigy fiddle bow for $150 - retail price $350 - if interested please email: oldtimefiddlekids@yahoo.com. Or,   if you or your child wish to learn how to play the fiddle (taught by students who are at championship level), $20 per hour, please email same address. Thank you.

Plant Donations

The gardening club is looking for annual plants for the school’s small courtyard. As you clean up your garden this Fall, if you have some smaller annual plants you would like to donate, please contact Bruce Glum.


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November 17, 2011

Upcoming Dates to Note
Monday, November 21 - PAC Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 22 - Thursday, November 24 - Book Fair
Wednesday, December 7 - Christmas Concert
Monday, December 19 - January 2 - Christmas Vacation
Tuesday, January 3 - School re-opens

Principal's Message

Routines and Policies for Chief Dan George Middle School

This week we are reviewing two important policies that help to make Chief Dan George an excellent school:

1.  Attendance

Except for illness or unavoidable family concerns, all students should attend school every day.  Absent students miss not only the lessons of the day, but also the learning that takes place in group discussions where students begin to appreciate the different views and abilities of others.  Learning that is lost due to absence cannot adequately be replaced.  Students are responsible to find out what work was missed and to make it up.

Please call the office before 8:00 am if your child will not be in attendance for that day, or will be late.  The answering machine is available outside office hours if you wish to leave a message.  It is important to provide your child's name, division number and teacher's name.

Please contact Ms. Jurcic or Mr. Voth if you plan on being away from school for more than two weeks.

We strongly discourage students missing part of a day and then attending a school extra-curricular event.  Please help us keep the priority on studies.

2.  Lates
It is very important that students are on time for school each day.  Students who are late to class may disrupt, annoy and waste the time of classmates, teachers, office staff and administrators.  We believe that developing strong work habits starts by arriving on time for school.  Please support your child and the school by making sure that your child arrives at school on time.

R.P. Voth
Principal of Chief Dan George Middle School

Congratulations!
Congratulations to grade 6 student, Ben E. who won an Art Award from the Abbotsford Arts Council on October 29th in the Youth Talent category.  Ben has a wonderful talent in drama and was SCAR in last year's production of the Lion King at North Poplar.  He was nominated last year when he was at North Poplar in grade 5.

Operation Christmas Child News
Chief Dan George School would like to thank Price Smart Foods in Abbotsford for donating a case of whip cream for our Operation Christmas Child "pie in face" contest. Because of their generous donation Chief Dan George will be able to provide shoeboxes filled with wonderful items for many deserving children around the world.

School Book Fair Next Week!
The school will once again offer an opportunity for parents and students to purchase affordable books.  This is a win-win initiative in that the school will receive credits for books sold and from those credits will be able to purchase new books for our school library.  The Book Fair will be set up in the library classroom starting Tuesday, November 22nd. Students will have an opportunity to view the material and make wish lists of books they would like parents to purchase.  The Book Fair will also be available to parents to view and purchase books during the following times:

      Tuesday, November 22nd            From 7:50 am - 8:20 am and 2:20 pm - 3:00 pm
      Wednesday, November 23rd                From 7:50 am - 8:20 am and 2:20 pm - 3:00 pm
      Thursday, November 24th        From 7:50 am - 8:20 am and 2:20 pm - 3:00 pm

This is a great opportunity for those looking for Christmas gift ideas. Please consider supporting our Book Fair this year. 

PAC News
At the next PAC meeting (Nov 21) we are voting on our PAC budget for the year.  Please see attached for the budget proposal. All parents are invited to the meeting.

October Student of the Month
October’s Kiwanis Student of the Month is Avery W.  She is nominated because she is an exceptional student and person. She is a straight A student with top marks in all of her classes and subject areas. She is a key member of the grade 8 girls volleyball team, is involved in the school concert band and Student Leadership,  being the co-editor of the school yearbook. Avery has a terrific attitude and is always positive and is a great example and role model for her classmates and peers. Avery is an absolute pleasure to teach and always participates in class.

Trumpet for Sale
Paid new  - $750.00
Selling for $575.00 or reasonable offers.
Case included at no additional cost.
If  interested, please call 604-825-1510


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December 02, 2011

Upcoming Dates to Note

Wednesday, December 7: Christmas Concert
Monday, December 19 - January 2: Christmas Vacation
Tuesday, January 3: School re-opens
           
Principal’s Message
               
Routines and Policies for Chief Dan George Middle School Continued
This week we are reviewing important policies that help to make Chief Dan George an excellent school:

1)    The multi-purpose room is open to students starting 40 minutes before the first bell (7:30 am) each morning and 40 minutes after school (3:00 pm).  This should help parents when early drop-offs or late pick-ups are more convenient.  We would ask parents to avoid any arrangements for pick-up after 3 p.m. unless your child is directly involved in an adult supervised after school event or activity.  In order to make this time before and after school available in the multi-purpose room we will need cooperation from all and student adherence to specific guidelines.  Going to lockers, classrooms or in and out of the school is not allowed.

District Code of Conduct
The Abbotsford School District expects all students to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the respect of others:
    o be honest and forthright
    o treat others with respect and courtesy
    o respect the property of others
    o attend regularly and punctually
    o work to the best of his/her ability

And to promote and maintain a climate which is free of:
    o lying
    o cheating
    o theft
    o intimidation
    o violence
    o weapons
    o prejudicial behaviour
    o racism
    o harassment
    o illegal substances, or substances which can be abused

R.P. Voth
Principal of Chief Dan George Middle School

Christmas Concert
All students, parents and friends of Chief Dan George Middle School are are invited to attend our first music concert of the year, "Christmas Celebration", on Wednesday, December 7 at 7:00 pm. The location is Central Heights Church, 1661 McCallum Road, Abbotsford (just south of Hwy 1). Come and hear the concert bands, jazz bands and choir perform  an exciting repertoire including seasonal classics.  Choir students need to arrive by 6:15 pm and band students at 6:30 pm.   Mr. Angell is looking for 6 parent volunteers to help distribute uniforms at 6:15 pm. If you can help, please call the school or email michael_angell@sd34.bc.ca.   Thank you.

Book Fair
A huge thank you to all parents and students who supported our book fair last week. Also, thanks to the parent volunteers who donated their time during the three days. They sold over $3000 worth of books which enabled us to choose $1711 worth of free books for our Library!

Congratulations again Mignon!
On November 26th Mignon T. won the FVRL Spelling Bee Grand Championship! Mignon joined 20 spellers from Langley, Delta, Chilliwack, Mission, Abbotsford, Surrey and Agassiz.
Her winning word was: INDIVISIBLE
Mignon won a $100 Chapters gift card and a new book.
Well done Mignon!

Vinyl Plotter/Cutter at Chief Dan George Middle
For some time, we have wanted to have the ability to make our own decals and signage. This year, we purchased a mid-level vinyl plotter/cutter that would meet our needs. We are now able to create vehicle graphics and signage, banners, and templates for airbrushing, etc.

To help recoup some of our costs, we have decided to offer families at CDGMS our vinyl cutting services at a reasonable charge. If you or your business is in need of window decals or signage, we may be able to fulfill those needs. If it is a company logo you would like made into a decal, all we will require is a high resolution digital copy of it; preferably a vector graphic.

For more information about these services, please contact Mr. Sakai at the school. The average cost for a simple, single colour decal or sign is $5.00 a square foot. We carry a limited supply of various popular colours, but can order specific colours for larger jobs. Of course we will not reproduce copyrighted material other than your own.

CDG Gr 8 Girls Volleyball
The Gr 8 girls volleyball team capped off a successful 9-2 season by winning the AMSSAA Championships a week ago. Our Wolves defeated Clayburn 3-0 in the semi-final before defeating Fraser 3-1 in an intense see-saw championship final. Next up was the Fraser Valley Championships where we finished a respectable 6th, coming in behind a number of very strong teams. Congratulations to all team members: Sarah S., Marianne S., Mariessa P., Taya C., Erika S., Emma P., Sydney R., Danielle T., Anna W., Avery W., Cassidy D., and Madison H. and coaches Mr. Cervo and Mr. Plommer for a very successful season!

GearBots after school program (ages 9-14+)  * See attachment

Air Cadets
861 Silverfox Air Cadets
Youth ages 12-18 years old interested in challenge, adventure, and fun are invited to join the 861 Silverfox Royal Canadian Air Cadets. There's something for everyone: Band, Leadership, Biathlon, Marksmanship, Aviation & Aerospace Technologies, Survival Skills, and Citizenship.
Meeting Nights: Wednesdays from 6:45pm to 9:30 pm
Location: Air Cadet Building 32470 Haida Drive, Abbotsford
Registration is ongoing. For more info contact Jennifer at 604-855-0329 or visit http://cadets.ca/  

 BMX programs for youth (see attachment)
Two indoor programs being offering in  Abbotsford at  Exhibition Park:
 -- The Fraser Valley Mountain Bikers Association has 4X racing Tuesday evenings and practices Thursday evenings. 32470 Haida drive Agri fair Arena.
For Mtn Bike 4X  604-853-4563 Gary Harder  or http://www.fvmba.com
 -- The Abbotsford BMX society  Racing indoors Saturday evenings  at 7:00 pm and Sunday mornings at 11:00 am. 32470 Haida drive Agri fair Arena.
Need any info?  For BMX, call 604-308-2291 president Steve Baxter or http://www.abbotsfordbmx.ca


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December 15, 2011


Upcoming Dates to Note
Monday, December 19-January 2-Christmas Vacation
Tuesday, January 3-School re-opens

Principal's Message - Holiday Wishes
It is hard to believe that we have completed the first 4 months of the school year.  I am very pleased with the progress that we are making as a middle school.  I believe our staff is working very hard to ensure that students are learning about academics and social responsibility on a daily basis.  The teachers and I are working diligently as a team to make sure that we have high expectations for all our students.  We consider it a privilege to have the opportunity to teach your children each day.

Please remember that the January to March segment of the school year is often one of the most productive times of the school year.  We are looking forward to students returning to school on Tuesday, January 3rd well rested and ready to work hard!

At this special time of year we want to thank all our school families for the ways in which you are supporting our students and staff at Chief Dan George Middle School.  We want to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  We are eager to work with students and parents to make our school even better in 2012.
               
R.P. Voth
Principal of Chief Dan George Middle School

Grade 8 Quebec Trip
If  any parents would like meet to talk about fundraising to help defray the Quebec trip costs this year please contact Leanna Bonneau at 604-866-6121. 

Congratulations Taya!
Taya C., one of our Grade 8 students, was the youngest player, at 13 years of age, chosen to play with the Under 18's, Abbotsford's representative women's rugby team.  The team had a perfect season with no losses! The provincial championships were held last Sunday at Rotary Park and the team defeated Richmond in the semi-finals with a score of 42-10 and then won the gold medal after a 37-7 win over Bayside. Well done Taya!

Friday Nite Basketball - Winter Registration
January 13-March 9, 2012 (Friday Nights)
Age 4 - Grade 12
Boys and Girls in separate gyms (Grade 3 and up)
Cost:  $80.00

Registration:
Frank’s Home
3804 Thornton Place (near Robert Bateman Secondary)
Monday - January 2nd from 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Tuesday - January 3rd from 6:00 - 9:00 pm

Register at MEI Elementary
31655 Downes Road
Saturday - January 7th  from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

More information call Frank at 604-859-1147 or email frank@athletesinaction.com


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