​​​​Principal Thoughts
​At Champlain Discovery, your child's safety is important to us. Many of us are parents as well as teachers who care about the safety of the children in our care. As such, we may seem to be over protective. We care about all the children at our school and want to make our school as safe and respectful as possible. With that in mind we have expectations to help children learn how to be safe and respectful. We have rules about safe and respectful classroom behaviour, safe hallway behaviour, respectful ways of talking to adults and others. We learn strategies to help us know how to solve small problems and when to get help o solve bigger problems. We have guidelines about what to wear to school and how to use electronics safely and respectfully. Your child's safety is important to us. Helping them to learn how to be safe and to show respect is both of our responsibilities. We have included the school dress code and the school electronics policy for your information. Students who do not follow either may need to call home or have you come to the school. The Pembroke Police and the OPP will be doing a presentation to grades 6-8 students on cyber bullying, texting and sexting, (date to be announced soon). Thank you for helping us to teach them how to be safe and act safe and respectfully.
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Attendance Letters - Duty to Inform
Our School Support Counsellor / Attendance Counsellor, Ms. Elliott, is required by the Board to send out attendance letters to parents of students who have accumulated more than 10 days absent. This is a "duty to inform" parents. When the number reaches 25 or more days, only then does the school support counsellor notify the Board to seek their assistance. The ltter is to encourage students to improve their attendance so learning gaps do not develop. The SSC does understand that medical reasons are often the reason for absences and will let administration know this. When a parent receives this letter, please let the SSC know if there are serious medical conditions that are the root cause so that she can alert the appropriate parties.
Let's Flex our Flexibility
What is Flexibility? Well flexibility is "being open to the need for change". Being flexible is a skill that allows you to not get upset and react in a negative manner; you are able to see difficulties as a challenge instead. Flexibility means having the ability to NOT ALWAYS have to have things go your own way all the time. You are open to the opinions and feelings of others without resorting to shame and blame. Being flexible is a life skill that allows you to try new things instead of holding on to old habits that no longer work for you. So keep practicing your flex muscles so when things get tough at school or at home, you become stronger and are willing to learn and grow along the way.
The County of Renfrew Parent Newsletter for April 2013 is available on the Child Care website at:
http://www.countyofrenfrew.on.ca/_documents/childcare/ParentNewsletterApr2013.pdf
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Fun Fair - May 16
As in previous years, each classroom will choose a theme and students will bring in items for a basket for the raffle table. Students have fun doing this and the baskets always turn out wonderful!
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If you have any items that you would care to donate to other raffle baskets, please call the school or drop them off at the office.
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We are also looking for gently used children's books and plants to sell. Volunteers Still Needed: We have 39 one hour spots to fill. Let us know if you can spare a 1/2 hr or an hour spot to bring smiles and giggles to children. Money raised will be going to our accessible playground.
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Thank you to the Pembroke Professional Firefighters Association for their monetary donation to our Breakfast Program. Our local firefighters will be coming in to help serve breakfast for the students in the month of June!
Also a big Thank You to our parents who so generously contribute to the Breakfast Program.
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On May 2, our school is hosting a video dance for students in good standing - Grades 6,7 and 8. Students from Highview will be joining us as well. The cost for a student in good standing is $5.
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We are also gearing up for the badminton season. Students have already begun practicing. The Grade 7 tournament is on May 8th at Fellowes High School while the Grade 8 tournament is on April 30th at Bishop Smith.
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​Goodbye to Mrs. Tripp who is off to have a baby. Hello to Mrs. Holtz who will be teaching Grade 5 students until the end of June.
​Thanks to all who sent in their Canadian Tire Money. The Kinderpark is about to get a makeover with new toys with the $500 for them. The primary, junior and intermediate classes have been asked to submit ideas for toys/sport items hey would like to have. They have nearly $500 to spend as well.
Keep your information current. If you have new contact information or would like to have the call out sent to your email, let the school know. The callouts go out on Monday nights. It can be sent to your email, if you prefer.
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​Classroom News Bits
Mrs. Burns: Many Grade 7 and 8 students borrowed their instruments to take home for extra practice or working ahead.
Mme. Harris: Grade 4 students are making respectful French speaking robots out of recycled material. Kindergarden and Grade One students are learning French plays. Grade Three students have been talking, reading and writing in French about their families.
Mrs. Berny & Mrs. McClelland: Check out our website for the kindergarden newsletter http://kindergartendiscovery.wordpress.com
Mrs. Robillard: The students will learn how people's needs are met in the local community through their interaction with each other and their physical environment.
Mrs. DeRepentigny's students are learning about different cultures.
Mrs. Shields' students are researching animals and will do oral presentations on their research.
Mrs. Montgomery: Students are using the new class set of netbook computers to do research on animals for projects in Science.
Mrs. Instance is often found having working lunches with students who need extra time.
Mrs. Blais' Grade Three class have been constructing a "The Story of our Learning" board in their classroom. The board focuses on the story of our numeracy learning which is being built upon and reflected on in our daily activities, games, partner and group talks, and through throughful writing in our Math Journals.
Mr. Moore: The Grade Seven students have been learning history using clips from CBC that present historical events in a humorous way.
Ms. Edwards: Grade Seven students are finishing up their novel studies of Gary Paulson novels: Woodsong, Dog Song and Hatchet.
Mr. Simard: The Grade Eight students have been busy making levers. They will soon be making pulley systems.
Ms. Schiz is busy working with our students to prepare for a spring musical. Show time is expected to be after EQAO testing but before Grade Eight grad.
Mrs. DeRepentigny, Ms. Mitton, Ms. Murphy, Mrs. Simard and Mrs. Tripp's classes are all learning about water safety and improving their swimming skills for the next eight weeks or so.
Ms. Stacey is collecting surveys so we can improve the nutrition and health of our students with an extra $1000 for our breakfast program. Thanks to all who are participating in the health survey.
Ms. Elliot is learning how to ref mini-stick hockey games.
In Mrs. Murphy's class, Reid Somma is collecting loose change. He is participating in a 5km walk to "Find a Cure for Diabetes."
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​CHEO - Mental Health Issues Facing Children and Youth
A free public event for parents, caregivers, service providers, teachers at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School, 228 Mason Ave. Renfrew, Ontario Thursday April 18 Special Session at 6:30pm Regular Session at 7:45pm
Choose one of the following: Parenting your Tweens and Teens: Quick, do something before they repeat the mistakes you made! Let's Talk Preventative Parenting: Mood & Anxiety 101, Body Image and Self-Esteem - Practical advice and understanding, Parenting your Young Child: Expectations and Reality, The Importance of Sleep: Why and What to Do and Concussions and Neuropsychology: The Latest Information. Participants will meet together with the CHEO psychologists for a Question and Answer session on your issues and concerns.
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​Dance and guitar lessons will be offered after school. Dance lessons are open to students in Grades 3-5, beginning on Tuesday April 23 from 3:50 t0 5pm. The cost is $60. Guitar lessons are open to students in Grades 5-8, at a cost of $80. Spots are limited and are on a first come, first served basis. Cheques can be made out to "Champlain Discovery Public School".
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