School Newsletter Template

Important Dates
December 2012
4 – Bookfair starts
5 – Skill & PLP to COP
6 – Jr. Choir to Sing and
Skate at Olympic Plaza
6 – Parent Teacher
Interviews 4-8pm
7 – Parent Teacher
Interviews 8:30 am – 1pm
10-18 – Christmas Store
open
13 – Family Craft and Choir
Evening
17 – Gr 5 Vaccinations – 2 nd
round
18 – Jr. and Sr. Choirs
performing at South Centre
Mall
20 – Last day of classes for
Winter break
21 – PD day – no classes
for students
Winter Break
is from
Friday, December 21 to
Monday, January 7, 2013.
Happy Holidays!
School resumes on
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Newsletter | December 2012
Principal’s Message
The coming snow and cold has marked the change in seasons and brings us closer to the
holidays. School life continues to be filled with opportunities to share learning experiences.
November is reporting month for schools and EMJ is no exception. Teachers have been
taking time for thoughtful reflection of the learning in their classrooms. We look forward to
sharing our observations and goals for each student through your child’s report card and in
Parent Teacher Interviews, December 6 and 7. Parents will once again be using Pick A
Time online program to schedule conferences, a link is found on the front page of our
website and available to schedule your preferred time from Nov. 30 through to Dec. 6.
(PLP and SKILL interviews are scheduled by contacting your child’s teacher by
phone).
In December we are looking forward to showing our citizenship through EMJ Cares by
participating with our Me to We student committee to collect non perishable food items for
the Interfaith Food Bank. Also our staff and students are sponsoring two families in need
through Adopt A Family. I encourage all who can to participate. Information is found in
teacher blogs and in our newsletter on how to support EMJ in helping bring joy to others
that need a hand up in our community.
Along with our school council EMJ will be hosting a Family Craft/ Choir evening Dec. 13,
please bring 1 or several food bank items with you that evening. Both our Senior Gr. 4-6
and Junior Choir Gr. 1-3 along with students who are playing hand bells have been working
hard in preparation for their performance this year. Come and enjoy, participate and hear
some wonderful holiday music and see neighbours and friends in our school community.
I would like to wish all students and community members a safe and joy filled holiday
season and all the very best in the New Year!
Healthy Choices;
Tracey
Newsletter
EMJ Cares
At EMJ we have been building a sense of community and developing global citizenship
through the children’s book Imagine a Place? During the holiday season our school
community will be supporting the following in making a difference in our community. We
are looking imagine a community where everyone can have joy during the season of giving.
This year we are supporting these organizations in hopes of helping others.
Interfaith Food Bank – Me to We students are challenging color groups to collect items for
the Food Bank this year. Dec. 5-18. We will be collecting items Dec. 13 Choir/Craft Night.
Look for items to be added daily to our food bank total.
Our school council will be hosting a family craft/ choir evening Dec. 13, please bring
1 or several food bank items with you that evening. Our goal is to build a mountain of
food helping others.
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Adopt a Family – Nov. 23-Dec. 10. EMJ is sponsoring 2 families through the holiday
season. Students can select a ornament from our gift tree and bring this home along with a
permission form for support. Letters have been sent home with students Nov. 23 outlining
how to be involved. Our goal is to support each family with their requests during the holiday
season.
Christmas Store – An EMJ Tradition
Donations are still being accepted for our Christmas Store this year. If you have gently
used items (no clothing) to donate that can be purchased by our students for gifts for
members of their family please send these into the school to Rm 9. Our store is organized,
staffed and managed by members of RM 9 and Rm 11 this year as part of their community
learning opportunity. Gift wrapping is also available as well! The store will be open
December 10-18 and will give all students at EMJ a chance to buy a special gift to give. All
items will be .25 cents.
Emma L. in Gr. 4 has taken upon herself to support Inn From The Cold – Supporting
families who have no place to stay.. Emma L. has set a goal of donating $1000.00. We
want to recognize and congratulate Emma in demonstrating outstanding citizenship within
our community! Emma’s work has been featured in Calgary media radio, television and
newspaper. Emma will be accepting donations at our Choir/Craft night Dec. 13.
Emma is a great example of the power of our students to change the world.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/Girl+fights+homelessness+painting+time/76
36480/story.html
Families in Motion!
Active Living is a very important part of a healthy lifestyle. We had a presentation at our
special parent evening on October 25, 2012.
Here are some ideas we shared that you can try over the Christmas holidays!!
� Take a walk in the sunset
� Take a walk in the moonlight
� Walk in the park and choose a tree to visit and observe with each changing season
� Play tag at the playground or on your front or back lawn
� Make pathways in the snow and play “line tag” staying on the pathways
� Play snow ball (baseball-type or soccer type)
� Go for a jog (with a dog if you have one!)
� Go for a city hike (Fish Creek Park, Glenmore Park, Douglas Fir Trail, Carburn
Park)
� Go for a hike in the Mountains
� Go skating (neighbourhood rink, Prince’s Island, Bowness Park, Olympic Park
downtown, U of C Olympic Oval)
� Go Tobogganing (remember your helmet!)
� Build a snow fort
� Have a family snow ball fight
� Swim – (eg. Trico Centre, Southland Leisure Centre)
� Have snow races (bear walk, crab walk, 3 legged, sack race, running)
� Try the fitness exercises we did in Phys. Ed. Class while watching t.v.!( burpees,
Jumping jacks, wacky jacks, push ups, crab push ups, plank, etc….)
Have a great holiday! Stay safe and be active!!!
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Scholastic Book Fair
Please come to our Scholastic Book Fair
EMJ Library
December 6: 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
December 7: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Grade 1/2 Assembly
The grade one/two classes created an assembly based on their learning of fairy tales. Here
are some of the thoughts from room 5 about the event.
For my assembly I was a cat. My dad was at the
assembly. We had fun.
Keaton, grade 1
Today we had an assembly at the gym and it was
awesome! My favourite part is singing The Little
Red Hen song.
Mariam, grade 2
Today at the assembly we did The Little Red Hen.
Room 4 did Fair Rosa. I was a narrarator. My
favourite part was when parents came. We sat on the risers for a long time. I liked when
room 17 did Jack and the Beanstalk. It was cool when room 18 did the Three Little Pigs.
Room 4 went on stage. My sister came and watched me too.
Emily, grade 2
We had a fairy tale assembly today. I was a narrarator. Room 4 performed Fair Rosa.
Room 5 did The Little Red Hen. I read from the black paper. I used a microphone. I was not
scared or nervous!
Jolene, grade 2
Loonie for a Lid
Life for future campers became a little brighter after the students at EMJ raised money for
the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign. YMCA Strong Kids is an annual fundraising campaign
focused on raising much needed resources to support YMCA programs that provide kids
opportunities that they might not otherwise be able to afford. Through donations from
students, money from the school’s recycling program and anonymous donors, we raised
over $400 dollars. Many thanks to all those who supported this valuable cause. For more
information please go to https://campaign.ymcastrongkids.ca/
January 2013 Important Dates
January 8 – (Tuesday) Classes resume
January 14-30 – Artist in Residency – Marty Chan
January 14 – Kindergarten Registration opens for 2013-2014 school year
January 15 – School Council meeting at 6:30
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From our Health Nurse
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