April 2015 - Aberdeen Elementary

ABERDEEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
2191 Van Horne Drive Kamloops, BC V1S 1L9
Phone: 250-372-5844
Fax: 250-377-2253
Safe Arrival: 250- 828-6959
http://aberdeen.sd73.bc.ca
Sally Zryd
Principal
Katrina Sewell
Vice Principal
Building community, Inspiring confidence, Opening minds
What a fantastic month we had at Aberdeen Elementary. We were very busy. This is not going to change over the next
two months. I know field trips are planned, grade 7 celebration is being planned, track meets are starting and there will
be so many exciting events to share. For me, the highlights were Battle of the Books, the grade 7 band concert and our
clan group activities. I truly enjoyed the Elementary Swim Meet held at TCC. Our young swimmers represented our
school very well. Next year, we would like to have even more Aberdeen swimmers join our team. Students from grades
4-7 just need to be able to swim 25 meters. We have amazing students and staff.
Are you on Facebook? Aberdeen Elementary has a new site. In addition to finding updates on the school website,
you can now see up-to-date information and events on our Facebook page.
Planning for Fall
As we are now full swing into the final three months of the school year, I would like to remind you of the process that is
involved in planning for the upcoming 2015 year. Now that Montessori and Regular Kindergarten registration is complete, I
have sent in our projected enrollment numbers to the school board office for September, based on my knowledge of new
registrations, and any students who I know will be leaving the school at the end of June. Please let us know ASAP if you are
planning to move before September, as every student counts when it comes to planning the classes. The number of classes
and staffing is based upon the numbers I sent to the board office. The teaching staff and I will begin to draft out class
configurations, and in June we undertake the exercise of class placements. The placement of students for the coming school
year is a thoughtful and complex process. The primary principle considered when placing students is to find the most suitable
classroom placement where the student's academic program and social emotional needs are met in the most appropriate
manner. Many factors are considered when making placement decisions: class size- instructional groupings- special needs grade balance - behavior/work habits-social growth and development -student learning style- student leadership -male/female
ratio.
Placement Requests for September
We value your input and although we may not be able to meet everyone’s request we will certainly take your
concerns and requests seriously when we assign children to their new classes. Requests are often made based
on rumour and not first hand knowledge. Each year the staff wrestles with placement decisions and, it is usually
the case that 99% of placements are fine. Worries that might seem enormous during the first few days of school
usually disappear once classroom programs and relationships have been established. I do not know which
teachers will be assigned to the specific classes. Our staff will meet and go through a process that considers the
following factors. This list is not in priority order:
 The learning style of the student
 The child’s physical and social maturity
 The child’s intellectual development
 The age of the student
 Behaviour issues and class dynamics
 The placement which will afford the child the greatest chance of success
 Parental input
 The best interest of the school
Although the school will not consider requests for a specific teacher, we invite parents to provide us with
information relating to your child. If you do feel the need to make us aware of anything pertinent that we need to
know when making these decisions, please describe for us what you feel would be the best learning situation for
your child. Please put it in writing and submit to me by the end of May.
Have a wonderful May and enjoy the warmer weather.
School Dress Code –
With warmer weather here to stay (hopefully!) I think it is an appropriate time to
remind everyone of our school dress code, as outlined in our school handbook:
Our school is considered a ‘place of work’ for students. It is expected that our
students will respectfully represent Aberdeen Elementary both in and outside of
school. At school, and at all school functions, students are expected to dress in a
manner and style appropriate for school. The student dress code for Aberdeen
Elementary includes the following:
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Clothing with logos and sayings that promote the use of products that are illegal, racially offensive, contain
sexual innuendoes or profanity, or promote any form of harassment or violence are not permitted.
Clothing can not be a distraction to others within the learning environment. Revealing or see-through clothing
is not appropriate.
For safety and health reasons, footwear must be worn at all times (with the exception of gymnastics).
Appropriate gym strip as outlined by your child’s teacher should be at school and available to students at all
times.
Please Note: In any of these violations, students will be asked to cover up or be given a school shirt to wear for the
day and told not to wear the offending clothing to school again
Track and Field
Congratulations to our Relay Fest teams who
competed at TCC on April 8th. Thanks to Mrs.
Doherty for sponsoring this event. Our
intermediate classes have been participating
track or field events preparing for our school
track meet, which has been set for Tuesday,
May 5th. Students should come prepared for
unpredictable weather, including layered and
flexible clothing, runners, a water bottle,
sunscreen, and lots of healthy snacks to keep
their energy throughout the day. This is
always an exciting day, and with the help of
our PAC, a concession will also be offered for
the day. A special thank you to the SKSS high
school students who will help our staff run our
track and field events!
Our spring band concert took place April 22nd in the
afternoon and evening, with our grade 7 band
performing. Our band has been working extremely hard
under the direction of Mr. Powrie and Ms. Clarke they did
an awesome job!
Flag Football
I am excited to say 35 students,
male and female, from Grade 7 are
participating on the Highlanders' two
flag football teams this season,
coached by Ms. Clarke and Mr.
Powrie. Games will be taking place
every Thursday through the month
of April and into mid May.
Rotary Speech Contest
Recently we had several students from Grade
7 competing in our annual speech contest. The
speeches were all compelling and inspiring,
and I am very proud of the effort that students
put into them, not to mention the passion for
topics that were inspirational and potentially life
changing! Congratulations to all of our finalists,
and particularly to Kelsey Crawley, who was
selected as the winner and went on to
represent Aberdeen at the regional Rotary
contest which she went on to place as well.
On Wednesday April 22nd, 13 students from Aberdeen attended the Elementary Schools Swim
Meet. It was a great day with swimmers of all abilities enjoying the opportunity to race and then
finish off with a free swim. Aberdeen performed very well all day and then dominated in the
relays. This was a magnificent effort.
The MS Read-a-thon is currently underway! The students who have chosen to take
part started reading on April 20th and will continue to read until May 10 th. Thank
you to those who are taking part. Please have all pledge envelopes returned to the
school the week of May 10th.
Congratulations to Marqus Crawford!
His name was drawn from returned
Satisfaction Survey forms
On behalf of the staff and
to win an Aberdeen T-shirt.
students at Aberdeen
Elementary we were pleased
to raise $1015 for the Terry
Fox Run. Students were
successful in beating their
goal of $1000. As a reward
On April 21, 42 students from grades 4-6 took part in
for their efforts, they enjoyed
the school Heritage Fair. These children researched
an extra afternoon recess
topics that allowed them to build an awareness and
break.
understanding of Canadian history and heritage.
Congratulations to the following students who are
moving on to represent our school at the District
Heritage Fair on May 7th and 8th.
Teachers' Professional Learning
Jack Cameron
Marshall Hoffman
Jorja Kopytko
Kyra Paulsen
Nic Gillespie
Amelia Donald
Ethan Schock
Dylan Hoffman
Samantha Jelfimow
Carter Streek
Ben Sinclair
Ainsley Dempsey
Adam Vukusic
Abigail Biffert
DO YOU KNOW...
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that teachers' professional learning also takes place outside of the six Pro D/Inservice Days
allotted each year? This year, Aberdeen teachers have participated in mentorship programs,
attended after school workshops and weekend conferences, and pursued specialist training and
Masters' degrees.
that teachers' professional inquiry improves learning for students? Research and inquiry by
teachers, often in their own classrooms, contributes to best practices in education.
that teachers address professional learning through local specialist associations? Aberdeen
teachers belong to library, music, kindergarten and Montessori groups that inquire, mentor, and
support one another in their specialist areas.
that teachers' professional learning includes contributions to curriculum and resource
development? This year, Aberdeen teachers have been involved in developing the district's new
Whole Class Reading Assessment and the Personal Responsibility competencies for the new BC
curriculum.
that there is a strong commitment to professional development at Aberdeen? We choose
professional learning that fits both our individual long-term goals, and our more immediate
professional needs (new teaching assignments, class composition, unique student needs, changing
curriculum and technology). We also give back to the profession. Aberdeen teachers are regularly
among those who provide workshops and share their knowledge and expertise in the district.
Many thanks to Ms. Carter,
Mrs. Doherty, and Mrs. Elliott,
who were the dedicated coaches of our three Battle
of the Books teams this year. The Grade 5 team
and the Grade 6/7 team both advanced to the
district finals. All three teams represented
Aberdeen with great gusto.
Congratulations to the following students
who were chosen to represent our school at
Young Artists Conference on May 15th at TRU.
Kelsey Crowley, Amber Fill, Kyla Graff,
Emalee Higgins, Caden Louw, Katie Ma, Adam Vukusic
The Young Author’s Conference will be held on May 1st
at TRU and the following students will be attending:
Claire Fortems, Nicholas Gillespie, Aaliyah Hansen,
Kaitlyn Humphrey, Felicie Langevin, Katie Ma,
Taya McIntosh, Ben Sinclair
May 1
May 4
May 5
May 7
May 11
May 14
May 15
May 18
May 20
May 22
May 25
May 26
May 30June 5
June 19
June 19
June 24
June 25
Young Authors’ Conference @ TRU
Welcome to Kindergarten
School Track Meet
Fun Fair 5-8 pm
Pro D Day
Zone 1500 m
Young Authors’ Conference @ TRU
Victoria Day – school closed
Zone Track Meet
Class photos – school panorama
District 1500 m
District Track Meet
Clarke/Powrie to Vancouver
Grade 7 Farewell Dinner/Dance
Primary Fun Day
Parent-Teacher Interviews dismissal at
12:30
Last day of classes dismissal a 12:00
Upcoming Events
Intermediate Track and Field Meet
this Tuesday, May 5 – PAC will have
a concession at this event.
Most items are $1 or $0.50.
Fun Fair is Thursday, May 7 from 5-8 pm. Lots of
volunteers are needed to make this event work,
please sign up for a shift at one of the stations.
Sign up sheets are on the PAC notice board near
the office. Also, donations of gently used stuffies
are still needed for the stuffy toss, and cakes and
other baked goods for the cake walk are greatly
appreciated and can be dropped off at the school
on the day of the Fun Fair.
Art Card orders are in the works and order forms
and samples will soon be coming home with your
child.
The last PAC meeting of the year will be held May
26 at 7 pm in the school library. Elections for next
year’s PAC executive will be held at this meeting.
JUMP ROPE FOR HEART
Pledge sheets went home
with students April 21 st.
On-line donations or cheques
made payable to the Heart and Stroke
Foundation can be made with receipts
being issued for donations 15 dollars and
over. Students participated in Clan group
stations led by grade 7 students this week
on Tuesday afternoon. All envelopes are
due to the office on May 1st.
BIKE, SCOOTERS AND OTHER FUN THINGS
Many of our students make their way to and from school
using wheeled forms of transportation. A reminder that
students are expected to use and store their bikes and
scooters appropriately. Students are reminded that these
items are not to be used on the school grounds between
8:00-4:00 for safety reasons.