Changes to the School Day for 2015/2016

Our   school   year  next   year   is   a   late   start,  with   school  beginning   on   Tuesday   September   8,   2015.   All  elementary  schools  will  need  to  have  298  minutes  of  instructional  (class)  time  per  day  to  meet  the  Ministry  minimum  requirements.    This  means  that  schools  will  need  to  add  6  minutes  of  instructional  time  per  day  in  order  to  meet  the  minimum  requirements.         Our Bell Schedule for 2015/2016 will be: Welcome  Bell:       8:27  a.m.    Classes  start:     8:32  a.m.  Recess:       10:12  –  10:27  a.m.  Lunch:       11:45  –  12:30  p.m.  Afternoon  session:     12:30  –  2:30      p.m.    

COAST MERIDIAN NEWSLETTER

Principal:    Mrs.  T.  Starr                                                                        www.surreyschools.ca/schools/coastmeridian

Newsletter  #  10                                        May  29,  2015  

  Track and Fie ld  

Congratulations   to   all   of   our   students   who   participated   in  the  William  Watson  Mini  Track  Meet  and   the  District  Track  Meet   held   this   week.     An   incredible   bunch   of   athletes!    Thank   you   to   the   many   parents   who   helped   out   driving  students  to  the  two  track  meets.  A  particularly  big  thank  you  to   the   staff   organizers   and   coaches:  Ms.   Nelson,  Ms.   King,  Ms.   Schiewe,  Mrs.   Gagel,  Ms.   Panagopoulos   and  Ms.   Chim  who  volunteered  their  time  before  and  after  school  to  coach  our  students.      

   

Principal’s Message May  has  been  a  really  busy  month  around  the  school.      Early  in  the  month,  we  enjoyed  the  Green  Thumb  Theatre  production,  Celestial Being,   followed  by  many  wonderful   fieldtrips,  two  track  meets,  a  week  of  Zumba dance  and  of  course,  the  Spring  Concert,  It’s Saturday! We  were  so  proud  of  the  students  and  gratefully  acknowledge  the  time  and  incredible  talent  that  Ms.  Chim  put  in  to  bringing  out  the  best  in  our  kids.    

 Just  less  than  one  month  left  in  the  school  year  as  we  scramble  around  to  finish  all  of  the  projects  and  curriculum  areas  for  the  year.    Many  students  have  the  idea  that  they  can  ‘wind  down’  in  June  because  they  are  almost  out  of  school  for  the  summer  when,  in  fact,  the  opposite  is  true.  Similar  to  when  we  go  on  holidays,  we  are  always  busier  in  the  weeks  preceding   the  holidays.       Please  do  not  allow  your   son  or  daughter   to   talk   you   into   letting   them  stay  home  or   leave  school  early  on  the  pretense  that  “we  don’t  do  anything  in  June  anyhow”  because  this  simply  is  not  true.      Students  are  being  encouraged  to  get  assignments  completed  and  units  finished  in  order  to  complete  Term  Three  so  that  they  have  an  accurate  assessment  before  proceeding  to  the  next  level.    Teachers’  reporting  is  not  completed  until  the  week  prior  to  school  getting  out  so  every  day,  every  experience  is  a  valuable  learning  experience  for  your  child.  

Thursday June 4, 2015 (11:30 a.m. – 1:00p.m.)

Please join the PAC and Staff at the Toast to Coast Celebration as we extend thanks to the many parent volunteers and staff that makes Coast Meridian such a wonderful

place to grow and learn. (Please RSVP to the School Office)

 

Jump Rope for Heart  It   is   spring   and   that  means  we   look   for  ways   to  have   fun   and   exercise   outside!     At   Coast  Meridian   we   will   once   again   have   our   annual  Jump   Rope   for   Heart   skipping   event.   We   are  campaigning  by  making  it  a  whole-­‐school  event  –  all  of  the  classes  will  be  outside  skipping  on      

 Friday,  June  5th  at  1:50  p.m.  

 We  have  enough  ropes  for  the  students  but  your  child   is  welcome   to  bring   in   a  personal   skipping  rope  if  they  would  like  to  do  so.      Beginning  June  1st,  each  student  is  encouraged  to  bring   in  a  Toonie   that  we  will   contribute   to   the  Heart   and   Stroke   Foundation   for   their   research  and   continued  work  on   educating   people   about  heart  disease.  As  an  appreciation  for  making  this  annual   contribution,   our   school   receives   a  selection  of   fitness   supplies   from   the  Heart   and  Stroke  Foundation.      Thank  you  for  supporting  this  endeavor  again  this  year.    

 Water Bottles  In   keeping   with   good   health,   and  our   effort   to   become   a   water   only  

school,  thank  you  to  the  many  families  who  have  sent  their  child  to  school  with  water  bottles.    This  is  especially  important  with  the  onset  of  warmer  weather  to  keep  kids  hydrated  and  comfortable.    We   have   a   bottle   refilling   station   in   the   front  area   by   the   office   so   students   can   replace   the  water   throughout   the   day   with   fresh   filtered  water.    Also  remember  that  many  of  the  bottles  are  the  same  style  or  similar,  so  please  be  sure  to  mark  your  child’s  name  on  the  bottle  so  it  can  be  returned  if  left  outside  of  the  classroom.      

                                                                               

 Non-Instructional Days (Pro-D) and Early Dismissal Days for 2015-2016  

The  Surrey  Board  of  Education  has   instructed  that  the  following   days   will   be   non-­‐instructional   (Pro-­‐D)   days  throughout   the   school   district   next   year.       The   Board  has  also  declared   that  there  will  be  an  additional  four  (4)   school   closure   days   attached   to   the   end  of   spring  break.    Dates  to  note  are  listed  below.   Non-Instructional Days Monday  September  28,  2015      Friday  October  23,  2015        Friday  November  13,  2015  Friday  February  19,  2016  Friday  May  6,  2016  Monday  May  30,  2016   Early Dismissal Days @ 1:30 p.m. 1.    Tuesday  October  27    2.    Wednesday  December  16    3.    Thursday  March  10          4.    Tuesday  May  17   Springbreak and School Closure Period (includes Good Friday and Easter Monday)  March  14,  2016      to  Monday  March  28,  2016    School  re-­‐opens  Tuesday  March  29,  2016    Last  Day  of  School  for  next  year:    June  23,  2016  

 

Please  let  the  office  know  if  you  are  planning  to  move  over   the  summer,   or   if   your   child   not  be   returning   to  Coast  Meridian  in  September.        

 Requests for Special Placements  

At  this  time  of  the  year  many  parents  approach  teachers  or  me,  with  requests  for  their  child’s  placement  for  next  year.    A  great  deal  of  discussion  and  consultation  between  the  teachers   occurs   prior   to   each   and   every   student   placement.     Teachers   discuss   the  strengths,  challenges  and  overall   learning  style  of  the  student  before  putting  them   into  certain  groupings.  In  September,  teachers  will  be  working  carefully  and  collaboratively  to  determine  the  most  suitable  placement  for  your  child  based  on  the  following  criteria:    

•Student  intellectual,  social  and  emotional  development    •Learning  styles  and  strengths  of  students    •Degree  of  independence  •  Integration  of  students  with  special  needs    •Social  compatibility    •Gender  balance    •Maintaining  appropriate  teacher-­‐student  ratios.    As   a   result,   I   do   not   encourage   specific   class   requests;   however,   I   also   realize   that   sometimes   there   are  special  considerations  and  concerns  about  their  child’s  learning  needs  that  parents  would  like  to  express.  In  such   a   case,   please  provide  me  with   an   educationally   sound   rationale   for   your   child’s   placement   request.    Examples  that  are  not  normally  considered  educationally  sound  include  a  request  for  a  specific  teacher  or  a  single  grade  class. Dressing for school  With  warmer  weather   approaching,   students   are   reminded   that   clothing  should   be   appropriate   for   school  and  learning:  

o Tops  should  have  straps  that  are  at  least  two  finger  widths  wide  (no  spaghetti  straps)    o Bra  straps  and  undergarments  should  not  be  visible.    o Tops  should  be  long  enough  to  cover  the  stomach  area  and  cover  the  waistband  of  pants  or  shorts  

while   the   student   is   sitting   on   the   floor   (if   the  midriff   is   showing  when  one   arm   is   raised   it   is   too  short)  

o ‘Muscle’  shirts  are  not  appropriate  o Messages/pictures  on  clothing  must  be  appropriate  for  all  ages  o Skirts  and  shorts  should  be  an  appropriate  length  so  that  students  can  sit,  bend  and  walk  comfortably  o Flip  Flop   sandals,  while   not   restricted,  have   resulted   in  numerous   toe   injuries   and   falls  both   inside  

and  out  on  the  playground  

Thank   you,   parents,   for   taking   time   to   ensure   that   your   child   comes   to   school   dressed   appropriately   for  learning.  

                                                                               

 

Coast Meridian School Fees 2015/2016

Each  school  year,  parents  support  their  child’s  formal  learning  experiences  in  a  wide  variety  of  ways.    We  so  appreciate  all  that  you  do  to  ensure  a  successful  year!    In  addition  to  providing  the  school  supplies  itemized  on  a  grade  list,  parents  are  periodically  asked  for  monies  to  cover  specific  items  and/or  special  events.    No  student  will  be  denied  the  opportunity  to  participate  in  any  school   activity   due   to   the   inability   to   pay.     Please   contact   the   Principal   should   you   require   any   financial  assistance.    As  we  plan  for  the  2015-­‐2016  school  year,  we  anticipate  the  following  costs:    Student  Planner:      We  encourage   all   students   in  Grades  1-­‐7   to   purchase   a   School   Planner   at   a  cost   of   $5.00     Included   in   the  planner  is  our  School  Code  of  Conduct,  School  Calendar  and  valuable  school  district  information.  We  find  this  to  be  an  excellent   tool  for   facilitating  home/school  communication,  as  well  as  for  developing  our  students’  organizational   skills.     However,   using  our   school   planner   is   optional   and   parents  may   choose   to   purchase  their  own  version.    Field  Studies  and  Field  Trips:      Classes  often  enjoy  educational  visits  to  community  facilities  that  extend  and  enhance  the  curriculum.    While  we  use  school  monies,  PAC  funds  or  fundraise  to  cover  the  costs  of  such  activities  wherever  possible,  there  are  times  when  parents  are  asked  to  contribute  towards  the  cost  of  the  trip.    If  you  choose  to  have  your  child  not  participate  in  a  field  study,  a  suitable  program  will  be  provided  at  the  school.    Musical  Instruments:      Grade  4  students  may   learn   to  play  the  recorder.  Students  will  have  the  option  of  purchasing  one  through  our  music   teacher   for  $10  or   receiving  one  on  loan  from  the  school.  Grade  7  students  who  choose  to  take  band  are  required  to  either  purchase  or  rent  an  instrument.    Costs  vary  depending  on  the  instrument.    School  Supplies:  Parents  have  the  option  of  purchasing  their  child’s  school  supplies  on  their  own  utilizing  the  grade  supply  list  which   is  posted  on   the  school  webpage  or,   for   your  convenience,  you  may  wish   to   purchase  supplies   as  a  package  through  Creative  Children.    Payment   is  made  directly   to  Creative  Children.    Costs   for   supplies  vary  based  on  grade.    Your  child’s  supplies  will  be  individually  boxed  and  delivered  to  the  school  the  first  week  of  September.  There  is  no  need  to  shop.  This  option  ensures  quality  product  and  accurate  purchases.      Kindergarten   teachers  will   do   a   bulk   order   of   supplies   for   their   classes.   Parents   are   asked   to   send  $30   to  school  in  September.  This  money  is  used  for  all  school  supplies  (pencils,  scissors,  erasers,  glue,  crayons,  pencil  crayons,  markers,  folders,  notebooks,  etc.).  Any  extra  supplies  will  be  sent  home  with  students  at  the  end  of  the  school  year.    Parents  also  have  the  option  of  purchasing  their  child’s  school  supplies  on  their  own  and  can  obtain  a  supply  list  provided  by  the  Kindergarten  teachers.    

 

1

2

3

4

Toast to Coast (lunch)

Gr 7 Band @

NSSS 6:00

5

Jump Rope for Heart

(Bring a toonie)

PAC Fun Lunch

6

7 8

9 10

11

12

Sports Day

Playground Opening 12:45

13

14 15

Cultus Lake Water Slides

(Gr. 4 – 7)

16

Crescent Beach Fieldtrip

(K – Gr. 3)

17

18

Gr 7 Band Assembly

(9:00 a.m.)

19

Grade 7 Celebration Lunch

20

21 22

23

Year End Assembly (a.m.)

K Assembly (p.m.)

24

Grade 7 Assembly

25

Last Day for

Students

26

Administration

Day

27

Our   Lost   and   Found   Bin   is   overflowing   with   children’s   clothing,   jackets,   gym   shoes,   water   bottles,  umbrellas,  boots  and  many  other   items   that  are  begging   to  be   returned.    Please   take  a  moment  to  put  your   child’s   name   on   labels   of   jackets   or   even   their   initials   would   help   as   many   of   these   items   are  expensive.    With   the  warm  weather,  we  see  many  more   lunch   containers,   sweaters   and   soccer   jackets  being  left  outside  on  the  playground  and  ending  up  in  the  lost  and  found.    Please  ask  your  child  to  check  the  bin  if  something  is  lost.          If  the  weather  is  good  on  sports  day  we  will  move  the  bin  outside  and  encourage  everyone  to  take  a  quick  look   for   items   that   may   belong   to   your   children.     After   that,   we  will   be   donating   unclaimed   items   to  Clothes  on  Wheels,  for  distribution  to  other  less  fortunate  children  through  the  Surrey  School  District.