ALLSTAR BULLETIN News and Information for Parents

http://aberdeen.sd34.bc.ca

PRINCIPAL: ALISON MOORE Secretary: Laura Gagnon School Phone: 604 856 5137

April 25, 2013

PAC President Tara McIntyre Principal’s Message Dear Parents,

As you know our current School Plan is dedicated to improving Reading for all students. Reading is a foundational skill and is necessary for all aspects of school life. Research indicates that a child’s reading ability at the end of Gr. 3 is a good predictor of their success in future school years.

For the past two years our staff has been working on implementing a framework called RTI, or Response to Intervention. RTI is a systematic, collaborative process that ensures that every child receives the additional time and support needed to learn at high levels. Last week three of our staff attended a national conference that was held in Vancouver. Each staff member has now received this training and we are excited to see how this is impacting our students’ achievement.

At Aberdeen, teachers work together in learning teams to discuss the progress of their students and to design ways to provide additional help when needed. Teachers, TAs, non-classroom teachers and myself all join forces to provide students with extra time and support when needed. In the jargon of teachers, these are called “interventions”. One of our most effective interventions is our ability to provide small group reading lessons to every child. Students read at their “just right level” and receive explicit instruction on strategies to decode (figure out unknown words) and to comprehend (understand) what they read. They say it takes a village to raise a child, well it can also be said that it takes all teachers to teach one child!

In other news… I mentioned in the last newsletter work will begin shortly on the seismic upgrading at Aberdeen. The bulk of the work is still expected to occur during the summer months, and I will update you with new information as I have it. Students have noticed a large steel bin next to the school. This is to house materials needed during the upgrade. We have asked students to stay away from the bin and have placed cones and some fencing to help remind them. Your help in reminding your child to stay away from the bin will be helpful. Kind Regards, Alison Moore

Important Dates

Apr 26 -Pro D day (no school) Apr 29, 30 May 2 -Swimming during PE May 1 -Bake Sale May 15 -Popcorn Sale May 16 -next newsletter May 20 -Victoria Day (no school) May 31 -Assembly 9:30 Virtue

“Cooperation” June 6 -next newsletter June 12 -Intermediate Track & Field

day June 14 -all Library books due June 17-19 -Gr. 7 Camp Stillwood June 20 -Sports Day June 26 -Report Cards home and Last

Student day Please note this is a tentative schedule. Some dates or activities may change.

Please return the tear off sheet telling us if you will be attending Aberdeen next year. All returned sheets will be entered into a draw for a Tim’s card on May 17.

Kindergarten Registration Please come and register at Aberdeen Elementary’s office. Please bring • proof of age (birth certificate) • proof of BC residency (address) • Canadian citizenship • CARE card

Children must be age 5 by December 31, 2013. All classes are now Full Day Kindergarten.

Transportation / Bus fee change for Sept.2013 Please be aware that as of the start of the 2013-2014 school year this September, all eligible riders of school district buses will be charged $200 a year. So, fees will need to be paid for all riders regardless of distance to their school, except students who have been screened into district programs through the district's Learning Support Services, for bussing. The new transportation fee schedule was approved by the Board of Education in May 2012, following public meetings and consultation in the Fall of 2011. The Board and district administration felt the new fee system addresses the issue of equity in fees that was raised in public consultations. Full details and downloadable transportation request forms are available on the school district website at: http://www.sd34.bc.ca/parents-students/bus-info

The Virtues Project For May our highlighted Virtue is

Cooperation. Thank you to Divisions 1 for kicking off the month on the PA and Bulletin Board. The assembly

for this virtue will be May 31 at 9:30.

Certificates were awarded to the following students on April 19 for the Virtue “Self Control”. Congratulations to

the winners! Div 1 Savnit Pannu Div 2 Ryan Street

Div 3 Sofia Lindberg Div 4 Ria Gill

Div 5 Armun Pannu Div 6 Brianna Rose Johnstone

Div 7 Genna Hayre Div 8 Ziah Rama

Athlete of the Month Isabel Braun

STUDENT LEADERSHIP

Games Room Supervisors On Rainy day lunches we keep busy by playing in the games room. Air Hockey, Pool and Ping Pong are all popular games to play. Our Games Supervisors keep the noise level down to a dull roar (!), find lost ping pong balls and generally help out each day. Thank you to Tryin, Anthony, Rohit and Arvin for their service!

WOW Look who’s

helping!

Popcorn Day Every Two weeks!! Bake Sale Wed, May 1

Wed, May 15

Wed, May 29

Fri, June 14 Enjoy the smell and taste of freshly made popcorn! One bag - $1.00

•Clothing Drive: Bags of clothes and household linens can be dropped off at the school. We donate these to the Diabetes Association and receive $2 a bag.

•Spring Flowers

Our annual Darvonda Nursery’s Spring Flowers fundraiser forms were due April 22. Delivery date has not been confirmed yet but a delivery notice will come home in your child’s planner the week of May 6 (for delivery some time that week).

QSP Magazines:

Now you can purchase magazines year-round while saving money and supporting Aberdeen Elementary! With over 500 ways to show your support, you can renew your favorite magazines, subscribe to new magazines that interest you or give gift subscriptions to friends, relatives and/or business associates. Logon to www.qsp.ca and enter group # 2485 (Aberdeen Elem) and a portion of the sale will go towards our school.

This fundraiser is an ongoing online opportunity. See our website for information on ordering these useful labels for clothes, school supplies and much much more. Award-winning Mabel’s Labels is the leading provider of personalized labels for kids and adults. Our custom labels include sticky labels for clothing, personalized stickers for tweens, school labels, name labels, iron-on clothing labels/name tags, book plates, label stickers/adhesive labels for the home, and children’s labels for look-alike items sent to school, daycare or camp.

PAC FUNDRAISING

Next PAC meeting April 29, 7:00pm Library

PAC LEADERSHIP •PAC Executive Elections: PAC Elections will be held on June 17 at the regularly scheduled evening meeting. If you, or someone you know, are interested in being nominated please fill in the attached tear away form before June 1. Nominees will be contacted to confirm they are willing to accept the nomination and will attend the June 17 election meeting. The following positions are available for a two year term.

√ President √ Secretary √ Vice President √ Treasurer

Read about the following items on our Community page of our website: Robert Bateman

Mural Paint Day Walk for

ABILITAS Fraser Valley

Ringette

Eugene Reimer Middle School is hosting a workday to install their Community/School Garden, and Community outdoor HUB area. Saturday, April 27, 2013. 8am until 1pm. Eugene Reimer Middle School, 3433 Firhill Drive Abbotsford, BC The dream is for Eugene Reimer Middle School's Hub to become a place for conversation, education, tea, youth programs, cultural clubs, ESL classes and other after-school programs, as well as agricultural and horticultural learning from hands-on practice in growing food! Eugene Reimer, as recipients of a community grant, will be offering a BBQ lunch to volunteers, and invite the community to participate in the school garden's ground-breaking! We're excited to gain hands-on experience in building a garden, and sharing it with the community! Together, we will be building and installing the raised beds, spreading mulch and gravel, and installing picnic tables and the water hub.

GRADE 7 FUNDRASING EVENTS

Be on the lookout for these upcoming events. All proceeds go towards our grade 7 year-end activities

Popcorn Sale • Every 2 weeks on Wed

Bake Sale

Enrolment for new School Year 2013/2014

It’s that time of year again. We are asking parents for confirmation of next year’s enrolment. If you know you will be moving and/or changing schools please inform the office. If you will be attending Aberdeen again next year, we ask that you confirm this with the school as well. Please detach the form below and return to the school office as soon as possible. We appreciate your cooperation. All returned forms will be entered into a draw for a Tim’s Card on May 17.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Tear off here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Return by May 17 to enter our draw

Yes, _______________________ will be attending Aberdeen in the fall. (Student Name)

No, _______________________ will not be attending Aberdeen in the fall. (Student Name)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Tear off here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Return by June 1

PAC Executive ELECTIONS

I would like to nominate: ________________________________________________ Phone Number: ______________________________________ For the following PAC Executive Position (circle all that apply):

President Vice President Secretary