View Monthly Newsletter - St Clair CDS Board

TIGER TALES
Director of Education: Mr. Dan Parr
Superintendent: D. Crawford
Volume 12 Issue 5
Newsletter from GEORGES P. VANIER CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Mrs. K. Matthyssen, Principal
Board Chair: C. Bryden
Trustee: A. Labadie
January 2014
Visit us on our school web at
http:/gpvweb.st-clair.net
INSIDE THIS ISSUE . . .
☞ Christmas in Muskoka
☞ Lego Club
☞ Student Council News
☞ School Advisory Council
☞ Kingdom Assignment Fundraiser
☞ School Cash Winner
☞ Parking
☞ Winter Weather
☞ ☞ Morning Supervision
☞ QSP reminder
☞ Helping Your Child to Succeed
☞ Trustee Corner
Georges P. Vanier
Catholic School
20 Cecile Avenue
Chatham, ON
N7M 2C3
Phone: 354-6550
Fax: 354-6554
Principal’s Message
Happy New Year!
Dear Parents,
On behalf of the staff and students at Georges P. Vanier
Catholic School I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year!
The school will re-open on Monday, January 6, 2014. I hope everyone
has an enjoyable and relaxing Christmas holiday.
We have many activities occurring in January. Please refer
to the school calendar on the last page of the newsletter for all upcoming
dates!
The Junior Volleyball teams are having a great season and
will participate in their annual Knights of Columbus tournaments this
month.
I remind everyone as the winter weather is upon us, please
remember that our area for communication regarding inclement
weather is Zone 7 and 8. In case of severe snow, freezing rain, or
bus cancellations students and parents are to listen for information
on the CKSY 94.3 FM radio.
I would like to thank all those who were able to help out for
the Christmas Luncheon. It was very much appreciated as the staff
and students enjoyed being able to come altogether as a school
community to celebrate the Christmas season. Thanks also to all
parents and friends who came to watch our Christmas concert ‘The
Great Christmas Giveaway”. The students performed exceptionally
well and helped us celebrate the
true meaning of Christmas.
We look forward to a great
new year of learning and fun. If at
any time you have any questions or
concerns please do not hesitate to
call (519 354-6550).
Sincerely,
Mrs. K. Matthyssen
During the month of December, the teachers were searching
for students who exhibited the virtue of compassion.
Congratulations to the following students: Jocalin H., Mya S.,
Jayna G., Brysen P., Makaela M., Libby B., Connor D., Liam
W., Olivia T., Alyssa L.
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January 2014
Christmas in Muskoka
We would like to thank everyone who
generously donated items for the
Christmas tree at the Muskoka fundraiser.
All proceeds raised will go towards
the Grade 7 Leadership camp
for all grade 7 students
going in May. Thanks to
Mrs. Goodall, Mrs. Rylett
and Mrs Ventura for
their work decorating the
tree.
Georges P. Vanier Catholic School
Lego Club
We would like to begin a Lego club in January for primary
students to be held at noon hour. We are currently
looking for LEGO. If you have some at home please consider
donating to the school.
Student Council News
This year, we asked families to once again help us to remember
the less fortunate during the Christmas Season.
We collected new colouring books, crayons and markers as
well as gently used children’s books. They were donated to
the Goodfellows to help ensure that there is “No Child
Without a Christmas”. Thank you!
Our classroom challenge this month is to see how many
hearts each classroom can collect during our ‘kind hands,
kind hearts’ campaign. ‘Let us Serve Like Jesus’.
Our next meeting will be Wednesday, February 4th at 6:30 in the library. All are welcome to attend
and babysitting is provided.
At this meeting we will discuss Pancake Tuesday, Playground Equipment, Safe School Plan,
and future fundraising.
As we enter a new calendar year we would like to thank our School Council for coming out
and taking on this important role at Georges P. Vanier Catholic School !
KINGDOM ASSIGNMENT FUNDRAISER S
All profits from our Spirit Wear sales and our
concert raffle were donated to the
Kingdom Assignment (United Way fundraiser).
The Student Council raised approximately
$500.00.
This will be presented at a special ceremony at
UCC on Thursday, January 16th at 11:00 am.
Morning
Supervision
Students are reminded
not to arrive
on the school
grounds before 8:15
am. The yard is
unsupervised prior
to this time.
PARKING
Due to very limited spacing in
the parking lot all spaces are
allotted for staff parking. Do
not pull into the parking lot
when dropping off or picking
up students. There is NOT
enough room to turn around.
SCHOOL CASH WINNER!
The class with the highest percentage on December 6 th
and winner of the Block Rocker for their classroom was
the Grade 1/2 class with 72% of their class registered for
‘On line Cash’ payment.
Way to go Tigers! Again, thank you for your continued
support in this endeavor.
QSP Reminder
Thank you for supporting our magazine fundraiser. Magazines
can continue to be sold with a percentage of the magazine sales
coming back to the school. Just logon to www.qsp.ca and use
our code 6938 to order new or renew your old magazines.
WINTER WEATHER
Just a reminder that students are outside
for 2-20 minute recesses and for a half an
hour at lunch. Please make sure your child
has hat, mittens, boots and snow pants.
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January 2014
Helping Your Child to Succeed at School
Each month in this space, look for tips on ways in which parents can help keep their children safe when using online
tools and social media.
For January, I will highlight some specific examples of cyber bullying.
Dan Parr
Director of Education
Source: Ontario Provincial Police
Cyber Bullying
Although there are different definitions regarding the topic of cyber bullying, it can generally be defined as sending or
posting harmful or cruel text messages or images using the internet or other digital communication devices.
Some Specific Examples of Cyber Bullying Would Include:
Sending cruel, vicious and sometimes threatening messages;
Creating websites that have stories, cartoons, pictures and jokes ridiculing others;
Posting pictures of classmates online with intent to embarrass them;
Breaking into an email account and sending vicious or embarrassing material to others;
Engaging someone in IM (instant messaging), tricking that person into revealing sensitive personal information
and then forwarding that information to others;
Taking a picture of a person using a digital phone camera and sending that picture to others without consent.
Trustee Corner
Happy New Year from the Board of Trustees for the St. Clair Catholic District School Board!
As you may know, St. Clair Catholic, along with the Diocese of London and the Huron Perth, London and
Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic district school boards, have worked to organize an evening with Terry
Nelson-Johnson. The event for St. Clair Catholic is at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, January 20 th at the Ursuline
College theatre in Chatham.
Dr. Terry Nelson-Johnson is the Animating and Creative Partner of Soul Play, an experiential, theological
and education enterprise serving congregations families and adults. His art is the written and spoken
word. Through storytelling, poetry and humour, he connects our life stories to the story of the birth, life,
death and resurrection of Jesus.
Ten seats have been reserved for each elementary school; and 25 seats for each secondary school; however,
more seats can be made available. Please contact your principal if you would like to attend.
The event is free and is made available through a Ministry of Education “Parents Reaching Out” grant.
I hope you are able to attend.
Yours in Catholic education,
Carol Bryden, Chair of the Board; John Van Heck; Vice Chair of the Board
Trustees – John Fontaine, Anita Labadie, Michelle Parks, Brenda Rumble and Linda Ward.
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