***

SSCS IS HOME TO: PRIME MINISTER’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING NOMINEE

We are pleased to announce that our own Kate Richer, Owls’ teacher, has been nominated for the prestigious, national Prime Minister’s Excellence in Teaching award. Candidates must meet qualifications in 5 extensive areas of teaching, including innovative and exemplary teaching practices, student skill development and student achievement and participation. Award winners will be chosen in 2012, and recipients will enjoy an all expenses paid trip to Ottawa to share best practices and be honoured by the Prime Minister.
Kate is in her seventh year of teaching at Salt Spring Centre School. During that time she has taught various grade levels ranging from 3 thru 6. She has developed and implemented the project based, service oriented, Leadership Program for students in the intermediate class. This program empowers students to make a difference in the world in which they live.
Kate is a great teacher and a worthy nominee but don’t take our word for it. Listen to what her past students and parents have to say… “By setting high expectations of behaviour, academic achievement, and leadership, she made us the best we could be.” (Jacob Richardson) “Kate is one of those rare teachers who is able to establish a genuine connection with each individual student, ensuring that her students feel safe and cared for in her classroom; recognise the strengths and challenges in learning of each of her students; and tailor teaching plans to students’ individual needs.” (Leonie Muldoon)

CONSIDER YOUR OPTIONS
The Centre School offers Kindergarten to Grade 6, PLUS a pre-Kindergarten program — we have small class sizes so space is limited. If you are interested please contact us or download enrolment documents right from the web-site.

back to main menu »

Enrolment for 2012/13 begins February 1st

Enrolment packages will be available beginning February 1st for next school year. They can be dowloaded from the web-site or picked up in hard copy from the office.

New this year, we will be accepting applications from new families as well as current families at the same time  – current families will be given priority for classroom spaces up until Feb 17th, after which time we will accept new families. To ensure your child has a spot for next year, please enrol early.

PLEASE NOTE: if you re-enrol prior to Feb 17th, the $85. registration fee is waived so get your documents into the office ASAP.

***

FEBRUARY IS READING MONTH

& OFF-SCREEN CHALLENGE!

We have chosen this month to intensify and emphasize the skill, the beauty, and the love of reading.  Please take every opportunity to support, encourage, teach, guide, listen, and show your love for reading.

Highlights:

• Daily reading checks
• Off-Screen Challenge
• Read-out
• Battle of the Books

Suggestions to Parents:

1. Help your child to remember to bring their bag every day, including the book if they have chosen one from school.  (Home books can stay home)
2. If you develop a routine, it will be easier and more predictable for your child.
3. If they see you read, they will read too.

 ***

AIR BANDS – are you rehearsing? Feb 17^th – 6pm @ Mahon Hall.

If you are a performer please be at the hall by 4:45pm. We will serve pizza ( $2.50/slice) and Tomiko will be doing free face painting!  Please have CD’s of your music to Juliette as early as possible. There are sign up sheers outside on the bulletin board.

Cost to perform is $10./band/ song.

There is a sign up sheet for parents who want to help out – this is a fundraising event for the school so please consider volunteering!

 Remember to bring your music on CD’s! 

AirbandPoster2012_film4

***

Hot Lunch is BACK – Mondays and Thursdays

Check in to see if your child needs a new punch card – just $25 for 10 lunches.

Elsje cooking up hot lunch!

What does hot lunch mean to you? Healthy food, warm bellies, time-saved, less stress… Jen Ertel is always looking for more parent help so please contact her if you are interested — committing to make one meal per month would be great but any contribution is welcome.                                               

***

Weekly Walk to School Day – Tuesdays

Meet at the corner of Fulford Ganges and Blackburn Road, Tuesday mornings just before 8am.  We will set off at 8am. If you cannot make it by then, feel free to join in along the trail. At least one adult will be with the children. We walk along Aidan’s trail….RAIN OR SHINE, backpacks and all.

***

Earthquake Kits

Not sure if your child’s is complete? Please come ask at the office.

back to main menu »

Family Math Challenge  The Math Challenge is back – please check the white-board for this week’s challenge.

 ***

Don’t forget our Facebook page! For current and alumni families, all are welcome.

http://www.facebook.com/saltspringcentreschool
***

back to main menu »

Work with your family to find the answer to the challenge and submit your answer in the envelope in the downstairs hallway. All correct answers will be entered into a weekly draw for a very cool prize! New questions go up every Thursday.

back to main menu »

StoryTime at the Library Annex is a program of stories, rhymes, songs and creative activities for preschool children and early grades.

Watch for the colourful flags announcing StoryTime on Fridays at the Library Annex, 108 Jackson Ave. at 1:00 pm.

Check out www.saltspring.bclibrary.ca for weekly themes and Library news.

***
“Getting to know you”:
Random interviews with SSCS students
Name: Stella Heather Skye Grande
Born: February 1, in Toronto
Siblings: Sophia– she is 9
Flora- she is 3
Pets: Cats – Nebula and Perusha Dog – Lyla
Tell me something about your…
Mom, Tara: she likes singing and I like her because she gives me Halloween candy each day.
Dad, Ted: he is a yoga teacher and I like him because he watches movies with me.
Something you are really good at: singing
If you were an animal, what kind would you be: a cat

Hi, Stella!

***

Name: Owen Dale Norgard
Born: August 14, born in Calgary. 8 years old
Siblings: Davin – he is 10 (an Owl)
Pets: Cat – Memmit (Mamet, perhaps?)
Dog: Henry
Tell me something about your… Mom, LeeAnn: she owns a pottery store and she likes soccer
Dad, Sean: he likes soccer, too
Something you are really good at: Soccer
If you were a tree, what kind would you be: cedar. because I like them

Hi, Owen!

Thanks to our interviewer, Shauna Klem. ☺
***

This page is for parent/student/community announcements, submissions, requests, etc. Please submit to the office no later than Wednesday for posting in Thursday’s newsletter.
back to main menu »

Rosh Hashanah 2011

Sharada lighting the candle

Offerings from nature

The Challah!

Sharing the challah

All bad habits tossed away!

Thank you, Sharada! Shana tova.

Walk to School Day!

Erin's crazy hair

Davina's curly locks

The Waltons

Davin

back to main menu »

Get to know your school’s board! The Ganges Educational Society (or GES for short) is the legal name for the Salt Spring Centre School, and has a board of directors consisting of five people at the moment.
They are:

Shauna Klem (Sisaye and Selamu’s mum) – Chairperson
Sean Norgard (Owen and Davin’s dad) – Treasurer
Willow Lampard – Secretary. Parent of two alumni students, Kai and Shael.
Sharada Filkow – former teacher and long-time school supporter.
Peter Hannah (Rachel’s dad

Meetings are held once a month. If you have some thing to bring to the Board’s attention, please put it in writing and e-mail it to any one of us. We welcome questions and input from parents and staff alike.

back to main menu »