Dunsford District Elementary School Newsletter
DUNSFORD NEWS
APRIL
ISSUE #6 March 30, 1999 | Karen Cook, Principal | Jim Riehle, Vice-Principal
 
Principal’s Message... School Councils play an increasingly important role in our schools by fostering parent participation, by fund raising activities and by participating in school improvement planning processes. The support and input of the present School Council have been invaluable, and I really appreciate all the time and effort that the different members have given to various activities aimed at bettering the education of our young people.

Each year, at this time, parents have the opportunity to declare their interest in becoming a member of our School Council by completing a candidate’s form. (Forms are available from the office and the completed forms should be forwarded to the the co-chairpersons, via the office.) An election will be held if more than 10 people submit an "intent to participate" form.

I have enjoyed working with this School Council and I look forward to continuing this collaborative partnership with the new Council.


Office Hours

Just a reminder that the school office hours are 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Although there are staff members in the building from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the phones are usually on "night line" during off office hours.


EQAO News
Our school is on the cutting edge of provincial assessment trends, thanks to the adventuresome nature of our teachers. Ms. Smallwood’s Grade 3 class is field-testing prospective passages for possible use in future assessment. Ms. Barnes’ SK class will be piloting a component of the kindergarten assessment (either language or math). It is expected that the first province-wide assessment of kindergarten students will take place in May, 2001. This will be a challenging and rewarding process for both kindergarten children and teachers. Also, just a reminder to parents that our grade 3 and 6 students will be assessed during the last two weeks of May. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or Mrs. Cook.


Junior Kindergarten Registration

Anyone who missed the registration night should call the school office to make arrangements to bring in the necessary documentation needed, in order to compete the registration forms. To be eligible your child must reach 4 years of age on or before December 31, 1999.


Ottawa Trip Raffle for a Colour TV

On Tuesday April 6th, 1999 the grade 8 pupils will begin selling raffle tickets on a 19" stereo colour TV that has been provided at cost by Kennedy Electric. The tickets sell for $1.00 each. The winner will be drawn on May 21st.

3rd *Alex Lord & *Alan Yourkevich - Vermicompost Worms

4th *James Wright & *Scott Jennings - Get Cracked

Tied for 5th Cam Whiteway - Rocktricity

Lindsay Macey and Candice Hart - Air’s Weight and How Much Space it Takes Up

The students with an * indicate projects that will go to the Victoria County Science Fair on May 21st.


New WEB Site

Thanks to the skill and hard work of Mr. David Sornberger, Dunsford District Elementary School has a new WEB Site. Log onto the home page at:

https://members.tripod.com/dunsfordschool/

and you will be able to cruise many interesting and attractive pages. Students are presently composing stories for publication over the next several weeks.


Foster Child

Jose Santos Bajorto lives in Magueyal, Honduras. He is our school’s foster child. Since September, Ms. Robinson’s class has been raising money to help support Jose and his family. We are currently raising money for Jose by selling tickets for two stuffed toy rabbits and a bag of chocolate eggs. The money raised goes to Jose’s education, clothing, and food as well as some money benefiting his community. Tickets will be available during the morning recess (10:25 a.m.) until April 1st.

- Ms. Robinson


Science Fair Winners

D.D.E.S. held its school science fair on March 8 We congratulate all participants for making it to the school competition and wish good luck to those going on to the county fair.

Intermediate Division winners were:

1st *Jenilee Ruch - Butterflies

2nd *Cameron Atkinson - Smoking Kills

3rd *Caitlin Jeffries and Jenna Kennedy - Fat Facts

4th *Jaclyn Cunningham - Tuned In

5th Ashley O’Keefe - Which Brand Lasts Longer

Junior Division winners were:

1st *Jeremy Reeds - The Centre of Gravity

Tie for 2nd *Caila Paul - Eclipse Formations

*Justin Kendrick & *Zachary Stephenson

- The Greenhouse Effect

3rd *Alex Lord & *Alan Yourkevich - Vermicompost Worms

4th *James Wright & *Scott Jennings - Get Cracked

Tied for 5th Cam Whiteway - Rocktricity

Lindsay Macey and Candice Hart - Air’s Weight and How Much Space it Takes Up

The students with an * indicate projects that will go to the Victoria County Science Fair on April 10 at I.E. Weldon Secondary School.


Grade 8 Graduation Committee

We still need more Grade 8 parent volunteers to assist with the planning and preparation of the Grade 8 Graduation, slated for Monday evening, June 28. If you would like to be on the Graduation Committee, please contact us at the school.


Skate-a-thon

Our students are to be congratulated for the great citizenship qualities that they are developing. Over half of the students in our school obtained pledges and participated in a skate-a-thon on March 25, to raise money for new playground equipment for the primary yard. Giving of their time and energy to benefit others is an admirable trait. Thanks kids! Thanks also to Penny Moggach for organizing this event and to Colleen Schafranek and Melissa Junkin for being volunteer bus drivers to transport our students to Bobcaygeon, as well thanks to Laidlaw Transit for donating the buses.


Water Quality

A couple of parents have wondered about the quality of the school water. Several articles have appeared in local media concerning water quality. Our water is tested every two weeks. All of the test results have been 0. 0 - it doesn’t get any better than that! The test results are kept on file and are available for anyone to peruse, if interested. However, our water, like city water, is chlorinated which would make it taste different to anyone used to well or spring water.


Flower Beds

Our flower beds would really benefit from the care of a master gardener’s touch. Anyone who is interested in sprucing up our flower beds or running a student horticultural club should contact the school. Also any donations of perennials would be gratefully accepted.


Pediculosis

We very much appreciate the efforts of our volunteers who come at least once a month to check heads for pediculosis. No matter how clean or cautious one may be, head lice are easily passed from one person to another. Head lice have nothing to do with lack of cleanliness. Please help the school by checking your child regularly and treating if needed. Should you find nits or lice on your child, please telephone the school office at 793-2088.


MADD Presentation
 

The MADD presentation on Wednesday, March 24, 1999 was very heart-felt. They told us the consequences of drinking and driving, drinking under-age and abusing alcohol. It was very informative and interesting. There was a poem read by a lady whose husband got in an accident and now is paralyzed from the waist down, it made me think of NEVER drinking and driving. During the poem I even saw a few teaars. Altogether, the MADD presentation was very good and I can say that we've all learned a lot.

- written by Ashley O'Keefe

Thanks to Bette Magee, Diane Allen and Clarence McCabe, of MADD, Constable Nancy Onlock, OPP, Rob Wright of the Lindsay Ambulance Service and Elizabeth Simer-Ross, emergency nurse, Ross MacDonald.
 

Public Speaking

Public Speaking at the Zone level at Bobcayeon was exciting!!! I had a blast, I thought that I would be shakey and get scared but it was fun. The Regional Public Speaking took place in Coboconk, March 7th at the Coboconk Royal Canadian Legion. It was a hard competition and I didn’t manage to place but it’s the fun that counts!

- written by Shayna Coaker


House League Report

House league standings for this week are: in 4th place with 40250 pts. are the Panthers, in 3rd place with 40641 pts. are the Scorpions, in 2nd place with 41758 pts. are the Destroyers and in 1st place with 42654 are the Hawks.


School Sports

On Thursday April 1st, 1999 the school’s basketball teams will be facing off with our fellow competitive schools in the zone level. The Junior Mixed team will be traveling to Bobcaygeon. The Senior Girls team will be playing at Langton and the Senior Boys will be hosting a home tournament here at Dunsford. Good luck to them all. Parents are welcome to be spectators at these competitive events.

- Tanja Markovic


School Advisory Council News

We’d like to begin our news this month with a Thank You to all the students, teachers and parent volunteers who helped with the Skate-a-thon. It was a great success and although the final figures are not yet in, we are hopeful that our fund raising goal for new primary playground equipment has almost been achieved. The Playground Committee have received quotes from three companies and a purchase decision will be made in the near future.


The Ministry of Education has sent two documents which are available to any interested parents to review. The first is a complete summary of High School Diploma requirements which may be of interest to parents with children approaching secondary school. The second is the Grade 3 and Grade 6 sample assessments which are similar to the assessment all Grade 3 and 6 students will write in May. Both are available at the school.


Our School Council has been approached by a number of service groups and businesses who would like to offer child identification cards to interested families at our school. We are considering these proposals and will be making a decision about this at our next meeting. Also, we are once again offering bicycle helmets for adults and children from Headstart Technologies at very reasonable prices. Order forms will be sent home within the next two weeks.

Finally, we would like to encourage all parents to attend the math workshop, "From Cubes to Communities", presented by Kathy Ptolemy tonight March 30th at 6:30 p.m. This is an excellent opportunity to see firsthand some of the new curriculum now available to students.

The next meeting of the SAC will be Monday, April 26th at 6:30 p.m. in the library.


Community News

Special Education in 1999

The Trillium Lakelands District School Board is presenting "Special Education in 1999". Feature speaker is Lynn Ziraldo, Chairperson of the Minister’s Advisory Council on Special Education for Ontario. Topics include: the role and mandate of the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC); Ministry initiatives on Special Education; and how to be an effective advocate for students. Date is April 7, 1999 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Ops Community Centre. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP Mary LeFave (705-324-5300 ext. 235)


Dunsford Rink

The ice is gradually beginning to melt with the warm spring weather. We have had a great skating season for our reopening. Thank you to all the volunteers, families and D.D.E.S. school staff who supported the Rink. Activities for the summer and fall are in the works. Volunteers would be appreciated - phone Brian 793-1590, Karen 793-2022.

- the Dunsford Rink Committee


Police Visit

April 15th, 7:30 p.m. the Dunsford Rink will be hosting a meeting with Community Services Officer, Nancy Onlock. She will be speaking about dealing with difficult people during community functions - "What can/can’t volunteers do?" Everyone is welcome.


Watercolour Painting Lessons

Unfortunately we did not have enough response so lessons have been canceled at the Dunsford Rink. Phone Karen 793-2022 or Jayne 793-3243 if you are interested in fall lessons.


New Library Hours

The Dunsford Library has new hours. They are: Tuesdays, 2 - 8, Wednesdays, 10 - 2 and Saturdays, 10 - 3. They can be reached on the above days at 793-3037.


Local Al-a-teen meetings

Meetings take place on Tuesdays, 8:00 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Lindsay;

Wednesdays, 8:00 p.m. - same location - program called "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. in Omemee Coronation Hall.


Breath of Spring Fashion Show

Palliative Care Victoria is sponsoring a "Breath of Spring Fashion Show", April 21, 1999 at 8:00 p.m. at the Admiral Inn. Tickets are $10. For tickets or more information, please call 878-1122 or 324-5122. All proceeds to Palliative Care Victoria.


Academy on Ice

You are invited to attend the Lindsay Figure Skating Ice Show, featuring guest skater, Angela Derochie, Canada’s 1998 Women’s Figure Skating Champion. Performances are March 31, 1999 at 1:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Lindsay Recreation Complex. Afternoon performance tickets - adults $5., children $3.; evening performance adults $8., seniors and children under 14 yrs. $5.00.


April, 1999

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

 

1 - Day 4

Zone Basketball Tournaments

2

Good Friday - School Holiday

5

Easter Monday - School Holiday

6 - Day 5
 

7 - Day 6

Ice Cream Day

8 - Day 1

County Basketball Tournament

9 - Day 2

Pizza Day

V.I.P. Program for Grade 6 students

Science Fair at I.E. Weldon on Saturday, Apr. 10

12 - Day 3

13 - Day 4

Final Hepatitis B Immunization - Grade 7

Heart Saver Program - Grade 8

Taste of Victoria Trip - Grade 5

14 - Day 5

Ice Cream Day

15 - Day 6

16 - Day 1

Pizza Day

19 - Day 2

20 - Day 3

21 - Day 4

Ice Cream Day

22 - Day 5

23 - Day 6

Pizza Day

26 - Day 1

School Council Meeting - 6:30 p.m.

27 - Day 2

28 - Day 3
Ice Cream Day

29 - Day 4

30 - Day 5

Pizza Day


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This page is maintained by David Sornberger. I would like to thank Dunsford District Elementary School's students and staff for their contributions to this site.