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February 11, 2005

Upcoming Dates to Note
February 14        Band chicken orders due
February 21        PAC Meeting, 7:00 pm
February 18        Professional Development Day - no school
February 22        Late French Open House for Grade 5 parents, 7:00 pm

High Risk Offender in the Community (Update)
There was a confirmed sighting of 36 year old Alexander Bathgate who is a high risk offender currently wanted by the Abbotsford Police Department on a warrant for Breach of Recognizance. The sighting, which occurred at approximately 11:00 am yesterday morning in west Abbotsford, was followed by a report of a theft of vehicle from a strip mall at the corner of Old Yale Rd and Mt. Lehman Rd. Coincidentally the same area Bathgate was last seen. While Bathgate's involvement in the theft has yet to be determined, investigators are asking the public to be on the look out for a 1996 Volkswagen Jetta four door black in colour, bearing BC license plate 555-EBM. Investigators believe Bathgate may be en route to either Prince George or Alberta. Anyone seeing the vehicle is asked to contact their nearest police agency.
 
Literacy Week
Literacy Week will be happening at Chief during the week of February 28th to March 4th. During this week the whole school will be participating in "SCHOOL WIDE WRITES" in response to Cinderella stories from around the world which will be narrated over the PA. The week will  be an opportunity for students to listen to great writing, engage in their own great writing and of course focus on literacy. We are planning a BOOK DRIVE as well and will be asking families to dig through book shelves at home in search of novels and books that kids at home are finished with and are willing to donate to our classroom libraries. So watch for more info coming soon about Literacy week and plan to donate those books that are just waiting to come to school!

Band Visits Bondar
Mrs. Farley’s band and choir visited Roberta Bondar Elementary School last week to perform. The students, teachers and parents were thrilled with the experience.

Dress Code

With Spring in the air we thought it was timely to remind parents and students of the following (as printed in the student agenda).
“Although the responsibility for personal dress and grooming rests primarily with students and their parents, clothing which is comfortable, clean and modest is conducive to a positive educational climate.
The following points indicate our expectations for student attire at Chief Dan George Middle School.

• Clothing should be appropriate to a learning/working environment, and should not be distracting to others (e.g. beachwear, spaghetti straps and clothing which is too revealing is not appropriate for school).  Tops: no spaghetti straps, three finger width for shoulders, no tummy showing, and no undergarments visible.  Shorts/Skirts:  mid-thigh, hem should be past fingers when arms are extended.  Slacks/Pants:  no undergarments visible.
• Dress and grooming must not create a health or safety concern for the student or others who attend/work at the school.  Clothing accessories must be appropriate.
• Hats and sunglasses should not be worn inside the school.
• Jackets should be removed during school hours and stored in lockers.
• Clothing items which promote alcohol, drugs, inappropriate language, racism, or are in poor taste are unacceptable wear for school.
• Proper gym strip (i.e. shorts, T-shirt, and non marking gym shoes) are required for Physical Education classes.”

Parents and guardians please assist us in maintaining a positive working environment. Thank you.

Magazine Subscribers
Thank you very much for ordering your magazines through the Chief Dan George Middle School PAC. Your magazine subscription should arrive no later than January 28, 2005. If you have an inquiry regarding any of the magazines you ordered, please phone the toll free number at 1-800-667-2536 with the following information and someone will assist you:

1. Name of magazine
2. Name, Address and Postal Code of recipient
3. Approximate Date of purchase

In Motion Rally Material
Coming home today is an informational/permission letter regarding the planned In Motion rally at the Ag Rec Center on the afternoon of March 1st. In Motion is a community initiative to improve health awareness and fitness among all citizens of Abbotsford. We hope you will allow your child to participate. Parents are welcome to join us at the rally.

Friday, February 18th
February 18th will be a District Wide Professional Development Day. Our staff will be engaged in various training sessions. A number of the options available to teachers next Friday relate directly to our school literacy goal.

PARENTS - FYI - MSN AND NEXOPIA
Issues involving students and MSN have continued to impact this and other schools in negative ways. It surprises us when students neither recognize the dangers nor the inappropriateness of behaviours while using MSN or other “chat” lines.

There are few safeguards on MSN, so anyone can enter online to chat. In some cases these participants are not who they say they are and are not even children. We know of one incident where a student has arranged a meeting with someone they met “online”. Also of great concern is that some of our students have shared names, addresses, photos, phone numbers and personal information. This can put students, their families and their friends at risk. Where defamatory remarks, foul language, threats, and coordination of fights have been reported to us, we have referred parents to the police. MSN use by students is not done during school hours or on school property and typically not a school matter. We do, however, like to be informed by parents if they know of conflict arising that may carry over to the school. There is no MSN use permitted at Chief Dan George Middle School.

The best way for parents to prevent inappropriate web use is to monitor their child's web use closely. Further guidelines can be found at: http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/specialinitiates/web awareness.

The Chief Dan George Wolves Athletic Report by Mr. Piper, Athletic Director/P.E. Coordinator

ATHLETICS AWARD ASSEMBLY
Recently we took time to celebrate the amazing achievements of our terrific student athletes.  This year the goal of our athletic program was to involve as many students as possible in extracurricular activities.  We hoped to achieve this by offering a wide spectrum of choices for students to enjoy.  In our fall season of athletics our Wolves were very committed to a large range of endeavours.  These included cross country, volleyball, football and swimming.  As well, we had a number of students sign up to participate in both our dance team and our cheer team and these activities are slated to continue throughout the year.  Added to this already impressive mixture was the chance for our boys to try out intramural soccer.  So many great choices and fantastic coaches to lead these activities meant that approximately 350 of our 600 students committed themselves to participating in some kind of athletic pursuit!  These numbers are staggering!  Congratulations to all our Wolves who have participated in our fall athletic program!

COMING SOON...
As our dance team, cheer team, juggling club and basketball teams continue to operate many students are again involved in our athletic opportunities.  However, there are a number of coming attractions which will likely inspire many more students to participate as an athlete here at Chief Dan Middle.  These include our rugby team, our track and field team,  our intramural soccer program for girls and our new mountain bike club/team.  These activities will be getting under way in the very near future.  Please stay tuned for further details!

ALL-STAR VOLUNTEERS
All our athletic programs are made possible by the wonderful contributions of our great coaches who willingly give their time to ensure that the students of Chief Dan George Middle School have a plethora of opportunities.  Please remind your son/daughter to thank their coaches for a job well done!  In addition to our coaches, a number of student volunteers willingly give their time to allow our athletic program to thrive.  These students assist with equipment maintenance, gym preparation, scorekeeping and refereeing.  Lee Johanson, Jordan Schulstad, Adam Schulstad and Stuart Wallace are currently spending many extra hours a week at school to allow our basketball games to function.  They are truly awesome!

GRADE SIX BOYS BASKETBALL
Unbelievable!  Stunning!  Amazing!  The boys recently pulled off the comeback of the year  to capture a one point victory over their rivals from Abby Middle by a score of 37-36.  Despite being down by nearly 20 points at half time, the young Wolves showed huge heart to play terrific defence and almost completely shut down the opposition in the second half.  In addition to swarming defence, the comeback was also attributed to a balanced scoring attack.  Each line went out in the second half and dominated the opposition.  It was a complete team effort which captured the game for our Wolves!  Next up for the boys are the Reimer Ravens.

GYMNASTIC - C’est fantastique!
This past month students from all grade levels have endeavoured to become experts at a wide array of gymnastic skills.  Our gymnasts started off the month of January by learning some basic skills such as balances and rolls.  As the month progressed, the students were given the opportunity to try out some larger pieces of apparatus such as the springboard, the vault box and the balance beam.  After much hard work, students found themselves completing many challenging manoevers.  In addition to the expeiences in our gym, a number of classes have also visited Twister’s Gymnastics Club to broaden their knowledge and enhance their skills  Here are few great shots of the action!


                                  

COMMUNITY NEWS

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, February 16, 2005 at Eugene Reimer Middle School (3433 Firhill Drive).  ALL parents are welcome to attend.

Cheer Squad Camps
As a fundraiser for the Yale cheer squads they are hosting 2 camps at Yale Secondary over Spring Break. The camps are broken down into one for students in grades 2-7 , which runs from 10-12:30 and one for older students  in grades 7-12. The second camp runs from 1-4:30 pm. Both camps are 5 days from March 28-to April 1st. The peewee/youth camp is $75 and the Junior / Senior Camp is $95. The costs include instruction by certified gymnastic coaches and experienced cheer coaches, t-shirt, and games / crafts.

Restorative Justice
The Abbotsford Restorative Justice & Advocacy Association (ARJAA) is holding a special event on February 15th - 6:30 p.m. at Matsqui Centennial Auditorium (City Hall). The theme is "Youth Violence: Breaking the Silence”. Features include a one act play "Kryptonite" by Yale Secondary and guest speakers Katy Hutchison & Ryan Aldridge. SD34 is actively partnering with ARJAA currently piloting "Restorative Action"  at Abby Middle & Mouat Secondary Schools. This event is open to the public - general seating.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
You are invited to the musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” presented by the students of Abbotsford Senior Secondary School featuring choirs from the Abbotsford Middle and North Poplar Elementary. This lively and colourful journey through ancient Egypt follows the rags-to-riches story of Joseph, his eleven brothers and the coat of many colours. At Abbey Arts Centre, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 2   Breast Cancer Benefit (No tax receipts will be issued), and March 3, 4, 5th. Prices:    Adults: $15.00    Students/Children: $10.00. Breast Cancer Benefit Gala Evening: $20.00. Tickets available at the office at Abby Senior 604-853-3367. On Wednesday, March 2, 2005, the evening benefitting Breast Cancer, refreshments will be served at intermission. At all other performances, there will be a concession open.

Classes and Workshops for children, teens, adults and seniors
The Mission Arts Council is a non-profit umbrella organization for the visual and performing arts in the Fraser Valley. We have ongoing classes and workshops for children, teens, adults and seniors throughout the year. Listed below are classes and workshops starting in February 2005.
    Parent & Tot "Craft Corner" 6 sessions $36 (includes materials)  Feb 24 - Apr 7
    Printmaking 3 sessions $20 (includes materials) Feb 21 - Mar 7
    Pencil Drawing & Colour Techniques for TEENS 13-17 6 sessions $45 Feb 21 - Mar 14 & Apr 4 - 11
    Sketching for Seniors 6 sessions $45 Feb 25 - Mar 18
    Water + Colour = Paint for seniors & under 6 sessions $45 Feb 25 - Mar 18
    Portrait Class 5 sessions $60 Feb 15 - Mar 15
    Fabric Wax Sculpture 1 session $40 Feb 19

Abbotsford Angels Hardball Association
Baseball Season is almost here. Registration is now being accepted for all levels  at Mad Dog  Sports on SFW. For more information contact Lisa @604 852-9311

"All Shook Up"
The ADTA proudly presents Randy Friskie, as Elvis and more.  Special guest, Cassie Friskie as Patsy Cline. February 17, 2005, 8:00 PM to 1:00 AM at the ADTA Hall, 2570 Cyril Street. $20.00 per ticket or 2 for $35.00. Light snacks served at 11:00 pm. Door prizes!

MediaWise
Watch What Your Kids Watch. Check out the new Public Service Announcement on video game violence. The PSA, distributed nationally, focuses  attention on the issue of kids & violent media.     
http://www.mediafamily.org/mediawise/index.shtml]

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February 25, 2005

Important Notice Regarding Wolf Den
Please mark your calendars - the Wolf Den lunch program’s last day of operation this school year will be Friday, April 15th. Term 4 starts on Monday, April 18th and as we have one more division than last year,  Mr. Lilly has a Home Ec class scheduled into the block just before lunch each day. This  means he cannot do both the Den and teach his class. We apologize for the inconvenience this will cause families but unfortunately we do not have an alternative. The Pit Stop Canteen will be running as usual.

Student of the Month for January
Congratulations to Andrea Loland on being selected the “Student of the Month” at Chief Dan George Middle School for the month of January. She was nominated for this award by Mr. Lilly and her classroom teachers. Andrea is an outstanding student and has impressed her teachers with her many volunteer hours in the den and her volunteering every day in the library to oversee circulation. Andrea’s service as a member of the school’s yearbook staff as well as her helpfulness in the classroom was also  mentioned.

Breakfast program
A few of the public schools in Abbotsford offer a breakfast program to middle school and high school aged students.  Surveys of teenagers indicate that many do not partake of breakfast in the morning, and nutritionists agree that this is a very important meal during the day.  Breakfast programs at Colleen and Gordie Howe Middle, Abbotsford Middle and Abbotsford High school are sponsored by local church groups that donate food and volunteers one morning per week.  Volunteers arrive at the school an hour before classes commence and put together a hot breakfast that includes pancakes and juice.   The service is free of charge.  Two local churches have agreed to volunteer time and materials to support a breakfast program on Monday and Friday mornings at Chief Dan George Middle School.  Monday's fare will be provided by the United Church and Friday's fare will be provided by the New Life Church.  Our breakfast program will begin on Monday, February 28th and will run out of our MPR on Mondays and Fridays for next few weeks.  Breakfast will be served to students between 7:15 and 7:45 a.m. on these days.

In Motion
Next Tuesday afternoon, March 1st, the entire school is scheduled to attend a major rally at the Ag Rec Center to "kick off" In Motion in Abbotsford.  Mayor Reeves will walk over to the Ag Rec complex with our students and staff and there will be a one hour program that we will partake of.  There will be various dignitaries and celebrities present at the rally.  All students will be issued their own free In Motion t-shirt and are asked to wear it to the rally.  Our school's Dance Team will perform.  A reminder that in order for us to take your child off campus we require written permission.  Please ensure that your son/daughter has returned their signed permission form to their homeroom teacher.   Thank you.
               
Math Speed Games
On Tuesday 12 of our top Mathematics students in Grade 6 and 7 traveled to Seven Oaks Mall to participate in the district sponsored Math Speed games.  Students competed against the clock and other students to demonstrate their speed and accuracy in dealing with basic math facts.  Although our school's team had very limited time to prepare, they finished 4th out of 13 schools.  Congratulations to all the team members.  Grade 6 students were Jordan V., Sammy J., Barry S., Lucy C., Kate S., and Zaida R. Grade 7 students were Alan M., Gabbie J., Corbin S., Jon R., Nick S., and Brett O. 

HAS YOUR CHILD LOST IT???
Well .... we may have it. Our Lost and Found bin is overflowing ... literally. The very large bin is filled with coats, pants, lunch bags, backpacks and shoes. Many of the items are brand new! Our main office Lost and found is also brimming with jewelry, watches, sunglasses and prescription glasses. PLEASE have your child check the Lost and Found for missing items. If they are not that good at checking, please come in and check yourself.

ALL UNCLAIMED CLOTHING WILL BE BAGGED AND DONATED AT THE END OF NEXT  WEEK

Chess Tournament
Two weeks ago we fielded a team of 6 players (5 grade sixes and 1 grade seven) at the Fraser Valley Regional Chess Championships in Surrey. All players did very well considering this was their first ever tournament. Kyle P. came in second place in the grade 6 category and qualifies for the Provincial Finals. (Justin) Hyo L. and Tony K. tied for third place and both qualify to attend the Provincial Finals. The Grade 8-12 Championships are being held on March 12th and we will be sending students to that tournament as well.

The highlight of the afternoon was the fifth and final round. Kyle P. and opponent (name unknown) both had 3 wins out of 4 games and were playing for second place. The game took so long that the judges decided to introduce the clock. Kyle had lost his queen early in the game and it looked pretty much hopeless. Instead of folding, Kyle kept his composure and waited for the right moment. Kyle's opponent made one fatal error in the last half of the game that cost him his queen. From that point on, the game was pretty much a seesaw battle. As the number of pieces dwindled, it became obvious that the end game for both players was something they lacked experience in (something the coach will have to address).

When a clock is introduced into the game, most players panic because the loser is the player who runs out of time on their side of the clock -- regardless of the number of pieces or position advantage they have on the board. By the time the clock was introduced, both players had four to five pieces left. Added to the pressure of having to play under the clock rule, everybody in the building started to come over to have a look at, what turned out to be, the most exciting match of the tournament. In the end, Kyle made a brilliant move to end the game. The crowd broke out into a thunderous applause -- a great game to cap off a great afternoon of chess. Because Kyle's opponent lost the fifth game, he came in fourth place with 3 points -- he was totally devastated and was in tears as the trophies were handed out. Kyle accumulated 4 points (4 wins). Our two International students, Hyo L. and Tony K., both earned 3.5 points.

Kyle could have won all five games if he had known about the infamous three move check mate. As it turned out, the person who beat Kyle never placed in the tournament -- someone told me he only won the one game. I had just warned the players on our team about the "newbie killer" move, but the players were much too nervous to listen. Kyle will be better prepared by the time the provincials come around.

Alex L., Hyo's brother won two games, Daniel V. and Jacqlyn both earned 1.5 points.

Our 3rd Annual Chess Tournament will be held on Saturday, May 28th. We are hoping for 200+ students from across the province (Grades K - 12). For further information about our tournanment visit our websit at cdgms.com/chess2005.htm

Quebec Trip Update
First off, we’d like to thank all of the parents involved for their cooperation in getting the payments in on time.  The next information meeting for parents will be held on March 15th at 6:45 pm in the Multi-purpose room.  It is important that all parents attend and arrive on time.  We would also ask that you sit down with your son/daughter to review the rules and etiquette package, sign it, and return it to the school before March 1st.  It is very important that you and your children are aware of the rules and expectations surrounding this trip.

We will be receiving a list of what is needed in terms of clothing, suggestions for suitcases and backpacks, spending money, phone cards, papers and identification for Quebec, along with all of the phone numbers for the sites and hotels that we will be visiting and staying at.  The booking is almost complete and there are only a few things left to take care of.  So far, everything looks great and the excitement for the trip is building.  We have a final count of 68 students going on the trip, along with parent supervisors Mrs. Beaumont, Mrs. Mason, and Mr. Warmerdam, and teacher/administrator supervisors Mme Bonneau, Mme Rousseau, Mme Perron, Mrs. Osterby-Batryn, and M Cervo.  Only 77 days until departure.

Concours d’art oratoire (French Public Speaking)
This year’s concours d’art oratoire is going to take place in our gym on Monday, March 11th, during blocks 1, 2, 3, and 4 (8:15 – 11:45 am).  There will be 6 students per grade level representing early French immersion, 6 students in grade 7 late immersion, 6 students in grade 8, along with all grade 6, 7, and 8 students who are eligible to participate in the francophone category.  Parents of the winners from each category will receive a letter of invitation to the concours presentation.  This letter will be sent home on March 4th.  4 students from each category will represent our fine school on May 6th at the Centennial Hall Auditorium.  More information will be passed along as it is received.  Many thanks go out to our immersion teachers for their tireless efforts in helping our students with their discourses.  Bonne chance aux élèves!

Literacy Week @ CDG
As part of our reading goal initiative we will all be participating in Literacy Week (February 28 - March 4). The week long activities are a result of the hard work and planning of our Literacy Leadership Team. Reading and literacy are closely related but not synonymous. Reading is one way a person becomes literate. To be literate is to possess the basic information needed to thrive in the modern world. The Literacy Leadership Team has provided week long activities that spotlight our reading goal and also include cultural and communication aspects.

BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS
We will have a school wide book drive where we are asking all students to bring in books from home. Do you have lonely books at home that you are not reading anymore? Are they sitting on the shelf collecting dust? Why not donate these books to the school so that other students get to enjoy reading them. We are asking students to bring books to their homeroom teacher throughout the week. There will be prizes awarded to the class which brings in the most used books. Furthermore, we will have 3 school wide listen and respond activities throughout Literacy Week. Students will listen to a story read over the P.A. and will be involved in written response activities after the story is read. We are excited and look forward to seeing all Chief Dan George students participate during literacy week. Nous allons bien nous amuser. N'oubliez pas d'apporter vos livres!

Quebec trip fundraising
Kudos to the families involved in the Car Wash Saturday, Feb. 19th. Mr. Melnychuk, Ms. Stobbart, and Mr. & Mrs. Schellenberg.  We washed 20 cars and raised $191!  A great success, considering we weren't sure what we could expect.

There will be a Bake Sale on Friday, March 4 at lunch and after school in the Multipurpose Room.  In order to fairly divide proceeds and to keep things organised, any interested families MUST contact Grace Hildebrand, 604-504-3128, so that we can set up a schedule.  There will be more Bake Sales in the future, especially if there are more students interested in participating. Thank you!

Extra-curriculars
Our basketball season is winding down.  Our Grade 8 teams were competitive but were unable to get past the top teams in the league during playoffs.  Our Grade 7 teams competed in season ending mini tournaments in the middle of this week.  The Grade 6 boys and girls teams are looking to put their skills to the test in the next couple of weeks as they have a number of exhibition games remaining. As well, our young Wolves are eagerly awaiting their season ending tournament versus tough Grade 6/7 competition from throughout the city. This tournament takes place March 4th and 5th.  Rugby will now take center stage for the next few weeks as our Grade 8 boys and girls begin training for our upcoming spring season.  Presently there are over 30 boys and 20 girls in Grade 8 out for daily after school practices.  Practices run Monday through Thursday from 2:45 to 4:15.  We would ask that you arrange to pick up your child before 4:30 if they are involved in our rugby program.  After Spring Break we will add Track and Field for Grade 6, 7 and 8 students to our extracurricular opportunities.

Do you have an academically capable child in Grade 8?
Does your child need a challenge? Then you will  be interested  in the District 34  Choice Programmes for IB and  the Fine Arts and want to attend an evening meeting at Abbotsford Senior Secondary School on Tuesday March 8, 2005 at 7:00  in the Abbotsford Senior Library. All parents and students who want to know about university prep and the world renowned International Baccalaureate programme  and/or The  Integrated Fine Arts Academy are invited.

An opportunity to improve your French Language skills
For a number of years the federal government has provided a subsidized opportunity for parents of students registered in French Immersion programs to develop their own French language skills.  This year Mme Ahodekon will once again run eight consecutive evening sessions out of Sandy Hill Elementary beginning March 7.  Evening sessions start at 7:00 and end at 9:30.  Mme Ahodekon has been teaching this course for five years in the Abbotsford/Chilliwack area with great success.  The actual cost of the program is $200 but the subsidized cost to eligible parents is only $85 plus another $15 for a course work book.  This works out to less than $5.00/hour of instruction---a great value!  If you would like a registration form we have copies at the office.  The form has a toll free number that allows you to register by phone. 

Bike Week - April 6, and 7th, 2005
In an effort to reunite stolen bikes with their owners, the Abbotsford Police Department is initiating a new program designed to catalog and store bicycle information in a database. In doing so, they are creating “Bike Week” where they visit the schools, meet with students and their parents, and record the bicycle and owner information. In the event the bicycle should be stolen, their hope is that with the recorded information, they will have a greater chance of reuniting the owner with their bike. They will be coming to the school and setting up a booth before school, during lunch and after school where students can bring their bicycles to and have their parent’s B.C.D.L. number engraved onto the bike. A detailed description of the bike and the student’s information will be taken and added to the database. If the student is not able to bring their bike to school during the scheduled “Bike Week”, they may bring in the necessary information about the bike to have it added to the data base. If this is the case, they would like the following information: serial number, make and model of the bicycle, color, speed, size, and any distinguishing marks or features, i.e. after-market accessories.  Additional information on bike safety and current laws as they apply to bicycle safety will also be available to anyone who wants it. Dates the booth will be at our school are April 6th and 7th, 2005.

Sport Discovery Camps - Grades 3, 4 and 5
These camps are designed for all children to enjoy exploring less mainstream sports in a non-judging environment.  All of the sports offered are Olympic or Paralympic sports and each session is led by knowledgeable, certified coaches. Some examples of sports likely offered are: judo, fencing, goal ball, luge, archery, speed skating, water polo, sledge hockey and wheelchair basketball. Come out and test drive some sports! Price: $30 per day. To register: call 604-864-4657 or www.pacificsport.com

MS Walk
The 14th Annual SuperCities Walk/Run for MS is taking place on Sunday, April 10th, 2005.  The walk starts at Upper Sumas Elementary at 1:00 pm.  This year we are encouraging more students to participate so if you have yourself and 3 other friends you can form a team and raise money to benefit those afflicted with MS.  There are brochures available at our school office with more information.  Take steps to fight MS, please come out and walk. Submitted by Joanne Craven, Abbotsford Site Coordinator 604 852-2362

Parks and Recreation - Call Abb. Parks, Recreation & Culture, 604 - 850 - 5536 if interested in the following
Dodgeball, March 5, 10:00 am - 12 noon or 1:00 - 3:00 pm., Ag Rec, Ages 12-15 yrs.  Come join the fun, have a blast, listen to the latest music while playing this fast paced, adrenaline pumping game!  Prizes!!  Cost:  $10.00 / session. 
Let's Play Ball! Mar. 2 - Mar. 30 (no class Mar.16), Wednesdays 6:30 - 7:30 pm, Exhibition Park Show Barn, Ages 8-12 yrs. Instruction for beginners on throwing, catching & hitting and development of technique and extra practice for those who need to brush up on their skills.  Cost:  4/ $15.00. 
Easter Egg Craft & Hunt March 28, 1:00pm - 3:00pm, Ag Rec. All ages  Come and search for Easter treasures and then stay for a craft and play some bunny games! Cost:  $5.00 
Balloon Twisting Workshop March 5, 9:00am-12:00pm, Ag Rec Gallery, All ages. Ever wanted to learn how to make balloon animals? A workshop designed for you to learn the tricks of the trade! Cost:  $15 all supplies included.  
Preschool Blast Ball  March 8, 9 & 15,16, 2:00pm - 3:00pm, Ag Rec, Ages 3-5 yrs.  Come out and try a free afternoon of blast ball.  Abbotsford minor baseball will host a free drop in for your little ball players. Bring your ball gloves and your energy! 
               

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March 2005 Calendar

• Clothing should be appropriate to a learning/working environment, and should not be distracting to others (e.g. beachwear, spaghetti straps and clothing which is too revealing is not appropriate for school).  Tops: no spaghetti straps, three finger width for shoulders, no tummy showing, and no undergarments visible.  Shorts/Skirts:  mid-thigh, hem should be past fingers when arms are extended.  Slacks/Pants:  no undergarments visible.
• Dress and grooming must not create a health or safety concern for the student or others who attend/work at the school.  Clothing accessories must be appropriate.
• Hats and sunglasses should not be worn inside the school.
• Jackets should be removed during school hours and stored in lockers.
• Clothing items which promote alcohol, drugs, inappropriate language, racism, or are in poor taste are unacceptable wear for school.
• Proper gym strip (i.e. shorts, T-shirt, and non marking gym shoes) are required for Physical Education classes.”

Literacy Week
Last week our Literacy project was  a huge success. Part of the week including writing diaries about “Cinderella”. Below are two:
Dear Diary, I hate my evil stepsisters! They take any chance to mock me! What have I ever done to them? Oh well, my fairy godmother saved me. It was truly amazing when she turned that pumpkin into a beautiful carriage. I met the prince! Oh he is so handsome, but I fear we will never meet again! My stepmother won’t let me out of the house again if she finds out! My night was so much fun! We danced all night but I lost track of time! When I was running away I dropped one of my glass slippers. When I got home, all my clothes vanished except one glass slipper.
                            Cinderella    (by Kayla P.)

Dear Diary, tonight my kingdom is having a ball with the whole town. I was quite bored with it at first but then I heard the music stop and everyone had stopped dancing. I looked to the top of the stairs, and there she was, the most beautiful woman I  had ever seen in my whole life. She slowly walked down the stairs and came to me, we danced. But all of a sudden she left and all she left was a glass slipper. So the next morning I went looking for her. When I finally found her, we fell in love. I’m so happy with Cinderella. I love her so much!
                            Prince        (by Krista F.)

Rugby - Boys
Coaches Farley and Laudadio are excited about the upcoming season with a huge roster of Wolves hungry for dominance on the rugby field.  The team is made up of approximately forty students.  The turnout for rugby is remarkable considering nearly 75% of the squad has never played rugby before.  Many students are learning the rules and skills of the game for the first time.  The team is in the midst of a rigorous practice schedule which sees them  working hard on the field Monday through Wednesday.  As well, the coaches have planned a number of exhibition games in preparation for the upcoming season.  Stay tuned to upcoming newsletters for all the latest scores and stats.

Rugby - Girls
The girls of the grade seven / eight girls rugby team are led by the dynamic duo of coaches McAvoy and Farley.  They are pumped about the upcoming year as a few key students have returned for their second year of rugby and this leadership is an invaluable commodity.  The girls have been working as hard as the boys in preparation for the upcoming season!

Juggling Club
What do a scarf, a rubber ring, a plastic pin and a beanbag have in common?  Only the members of the CDG juggling club know for sure.  The club, led by Coach Dudzik, has been fine tuning their skills after school on Wednesdays and Fridays working on a variety of skills.  Although they are not yet ready for a performance, the club members have made noticeable improvements and are looking forward to showcasing their skills in the future.

Coming Soon - Mountain Bike Club and Track
On a daily basis, students continue to ask about these exciting teams which will start  in the near future.  Coaches for both these teams are asking for students to be patient as they will get underway shortly after spring break.  Please ensure that your son / daughter continues to listen to announcements, watches for posters in the school and reads the newsletter to get the latest info on these and other exciting athletic opportunities.

In Motion
In Motion's upcoming lecture series is open to everyone, and involves three health and fitness professionals from UCFV. Cost is $15 for the series. All lectures will be held at Matsqui Centennial Auditorium and will run from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) For more lecture information and registration, visit: http://www.abbotsfordinmotion.ca or call 604-615-DO IT (3648).
Lecture 1, March 23: Physical Activity - For the Health of It! with Greg Anderson, PhD.
How much exercise is required to increase one's health and wellness? This lecture will talk about physical activity as it relates to the prevention of disease, disability and death, and its contribution to quality of life. Further, based on the best scientific evidence available, this lecture will guide you through the surplus of physical activity guidelines, and help you understand how much physical activity is required for increased health and wellness.
Lecture 2, April 13, The Role of Nutrition on High Quality Physical Activity with Rebecca Frechette.
This lecture will focus on understanding the Science of Nutrition. Treat your body well: high quality food + liquid = high energy and good health. When to eat and drink when engaging in activity and how to make good food choices a high priority every day!
Lecture 3, May 18, Stress - EMPOWER yourself to deal with it! with Karen Strange, PhD
Stress has an effect on our lifestyle and our health. How can you manage it? This lecture will look at the effects of stress on your health and empower you with tools that can be used to maintain a healthy lifestyle when life gets hectic.


Concours D’art Oratoire 2005
The 6 winners of each grade level and category who presented their speech on Friday March 11 at the school level did an awesome job. Four students per level and category will be competing at the District level on May 6 at Centennial Hall auditorium. We will keep you informed. Parents, students administrators and, of course our fabulous judges were all in attendance. A special thanks to all our judges: Charles Laudadio, Courtney Janzen, Mme Beaumont, Mme Hélène Lee, Mme Louise Rousseau and Mr. Ron Dufault.

Students who competed at the school level are: 6ième année Immersion Précoce  (2 à 4 minutes)
Walker B             - L'électricité solaire sur une île
Taylor J             - Mon voyage en Alaska
Tyler R                 - Mon héros de hockey
Rebecca K             - Mes soeurs
Kurtis B            - Le diabète
Jaslyen S                - L'union

7ième année Immersion Précoce(3 à 5 minutes)
Martin M            -Le génie dans la bouteille
Melissa S                -Noel avec ma famille
Jessi Hl                -Le triangle des Bermudes
Ben T                -La Schizophrénie
Mackenzie L                -Les taquineries
Kayla W                -Les superstitions

8ième année Immersion Précoce(3 à 5 minutes)
Pamela C            - Les jeunes célébrités
Nisha W            - Mon voyage en Inde
Rebecca M                - La vie à la ferme
Kayla P            - Le chocolat
Kevin R               - Walt Disney
Nicole B                - Cendrillon

6ième année Francophone (2 à 4 minutes)
Nick D                - L’exercise physique
Maddy G                - L’histoire du ballet
Jaydee M            - La forêt noir

7ième année Francophone(3 à 5 minutes)
Sarah F                            - L'influence des médias sur le adolescents
Alexandra L                - La vie d'un clown

8ième Francophone(3 à 5 minutes)
Mark C                - Pearl Harbor
Anouchka B            - La gomme à mâcher
Jennifer M            - Le ski et planche  à neige
Boseko L            - Les jeux olympiques
Geneviève S             - Les annonces publicitaires

7ième année Immersion Tardive  (3 à 5 minutes)
Matthew L             - L'Europe
Leigh L                  - Mes expériences à CDG
Arielle H              - Un jour à Disneyland
Emily G             - L.V. Beethoven
Carly B              - Les rêves
Jessica W              - Comment dire <<Bonjour>>

THANK YOU!
A HUGE thank you to the Panago on Immel Street for supporting our school Library “Super Reading Program” by donating reading award coupons.

Wrestling Experience Opportunity for Grade 6/7/8 Boys and Girls
Head wrestling coach at Mouat Secondary, Mr. Jim Mitchell, would like to provide a wrestling experience for our students. Starting Tuesday, April 5th and running for 6 weeks every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon Mr. Mitchell and some of his senior wrestlers will be here at the school to instruct in the art of high school wrestling. No experience necessary and all are welcome.


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April 8, 2005

Walkathon
Our P.A.C. is seeking the school community’s support of its annual Walkathon, slated this year for Friday afternoon, April 15.  Pledge forms went home with report cards and students who return pledges early will be eligible for prize draws taking place through next week.  Please consider supporting the P.A.C. in this endeavor.

Concours D'Art Oratoire
The district French Immersion public speaking contest was held on Wednesday evening, April 6 at Centennial Auditorium.  The quality of presentations was very high and all of our student representatives acquitted themselves exceedingly well.  Congratulations to all of the students selected to participate from our school.  We will be sending the following students to the provincial level competition in Surrey at the beginning of May.  Grade 6:  Jaslyen S. and Nick D. Grade 7:  Jessica W.,  Mackenzie L. and Sarah F.  Grade 8:  Nisha W. and Jennifer M.  We wish them the best of luck at this elite level of competition.

Extracurricular Athletic Report
Two new opportunities are available to all students over the coming weeks.  W.J. Mouat wrestling coach Mr. Jim Mitchell is holding clinics Tuesday and Thursday afternoons over the next five weeks.  Sessions run from 2:45 until 4:15.  No experience is necessary.  Athletic Director Mr. Jeff Piper is offering an opportunity for students to participate in a Mountain Bike Club.   An informational meeting was held at lunch on Friday.  Students are still able to join but need to see Mr. Piper to obtain an information/permission letter.  After school Track and Field will begin in a few weeks.

Term Two recognition assembly
We will be holding our Term two recognition assembly on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 19th.  The event will start at 1:00.

Class pictures
Josten's will be returning to the school on the morning of Tuesday, April 19th to take class pictures.  All students will receive a complementary copy of this picture.

Music News
Mrs. Farley is in Zambia from March 27-April 17th doing a music camp for 165 kids from three different African countries.  She will be excited to share her pictures and experiences with all staff and students when she returns!!  Please mark the following important dates in your calendar:

April 6th    Hanging Basket Order forms went home
April 19th    Jazz Band performs in CDGMS Awards Assembly
April 20th    Spring Concert at Northview Church 32040 Downes Rd. 7:00 pm.  All band and choir students please be there at 6:30 pm in uniform.
April 21st    Hanging Basket orders are due
April 22nd    Jazz Band performs at Middle School Conference. Time and Location to be announced.
April 25th    Jazz Band performs at Nights of Music at Abbey Arts  Centre at 7:00 pm.
May 5th    Hanging Baskets are delivered to the school for pick up
June 2-4    Grade 8 Band Trip to Vancouver Island (Confirmation and Information Package will be sent home soon)
June 15th    Final Concert at Northview Church 7:00 pm.

Science Fair
Congratulations to our Top 10 French Science Fair Participants: Jonathon W., Jacquelyn C., Victoria T., Tyler R., Devin D., Nicholas H., Jordan T., Daniel van G., Sean D., Walker B.

French Books Are Coming!  French Books Are Coming! One Day Only!
Monday, April 25th, will be your opportunity to purchase French novels at our annual Book Fair in the library at Chief Dan George.   Students will have the chance to look over the books the previous week and can make their purchases on the April 25th.  This is a great opportunity for you to show your support of reading! Parent helpers are needed, please call the school if you can help that day.
 

Middle Years Conference on Friday, April 22
Our district will be hosting a major educational conference on Friday, April 22. Our staff will be involved in a series of training session.  No classes will be held on that day.

Another Bottle Drive!
Mrs. Howard’s class will be having a bottle drive  April 11 - 22nd. Her class is currently in 3rd place in the provincial bottle drive competition and hope to end up in 1st place by year end! As usual, top donating classes will win prizes. Further details will be announced to students next week.

Carpool Help
One of our families is looking for help carpooling from the Countess Street side of town. They can bring to school in the morning if you can pick up after school. Please call Mrs. Hollanti at the office if you can help and she will forward your number to them. Thanks!

April 2005 Calendar

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