February Newsletter
Dates To Remember
February 8-9, Grade 9 Grad Photos
February 11, Parent/Teacher Interviews (after school and evening)
February 12, Parent/Teacher Interview, NO SCHOOL
February 15, Islander Day, NO SCHOOL
February 18, School Dance 7:00 pm - 9:30pm
February 18, Home & School Meeting,
7:15 pm - 8:15 pm
February 19, Winter Carnival
February 25, Science Fair
March 4, Colonel Gray Science Fair
March 15-19, MARCH BREAK
March 22, Grade 9 Visit to Colonel Gray
March 24, Grade 10 Parent Meeting at Colonel Gray, 7:00 pm
March 26, Grade 10 Registration at Colonel Gray
March 30, Grade 9 Boys & Girls Vaccine
Guidance Corner
The school development team at Birchwood is excited about some upcoming
initiatives we are planning for the coming months. We are kicking February off
with a professional development day with our staff. On February 1st, the
Newcomers Association of PEI will be offering our staff more effective ways to
communicate and work with diverse cultures at our school.
In the coming months, the School Development Team will be announcing a number of
events that will be intended to build working relationships with our community
members, local businesses, and Birchwood parents. Please stay tuned for more!
On a personal note, I am making a professional change in my life. It is with
mixed-feelings that I leave Birchwood Intermediate and take a temporary position
with the Eastern School District as a counseling consultant. I greatly enjoyed
my years with the staff, students, and parents of our Birchwood population. I
have learned more than I could have imagined from my interactions with all of
you. I sincerely wish the staff and students of Birchwood all the best in the
future. I will continue to visit Birchwood whenever possible. Sincerly, Murray
MacInnis
New
Guidance Councillor
The Birchwood staff would like to wish Murray MacInnis all the best in his new
position with the Eastern School District. We are very excited to welcome Lynn
White to Birchwood School as our new Guidance Councillor. She has been teaching
at A+ for the past 5 years and is extremely excited to be coming to Birchwood.
Home & School
The next Home & School Meeting will be on Thursday, February 18, from 7:15 -
8:15 pm.
Birchwood School Dance
There is a dance at Birchwood on Thursday, February 18, in the Gym from 7:00 pm
to 9:30 pm.
Birchwood French Immersion Parent Information
Birchwood held its annual FI Parent Information night, Feb 03.
Our French Immersion teachers did a great job of
highlighting our French Immersion Program. A big thank you to grade 9 students Halen and
Alex who for a wonderful job of sharing their experiences. Thanks as well
to Ms. Ness, Mr. Arsenault from Dept of Ed., and Ms Lecky from CPF.
Any parent wishing to know more about our French Immersion program, please contact the school
at 368-6870.
Cake Auction Fundraiser
A big thank you to all the staff, students, parents, and members of the
community who contributed to the cake auction fundraiser to help raise money for
the people of Haiti, as well as for Brenton Organ (9-3) who had to travel to
Moncton for surgery a few weeks ago. It was a grand success and a lot of fun!!
Special thank you to the Honourable Minister of Education Doug Currie who came
to Birchwood to support this event. Of course, we also would like to say a
special thanks to auctioneer extraordinaire Mr. Gary Devine!
Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week
Just a reminder that Teacher Appreciation Week is between February 14 - 20 .
Please take a moment to say thank you to your child’s teacher. We hope all
teachers will have a wonderful week.
Postcard Across Canada Project
Congratulations are extended to 7-2 and 7-5 Language Arts students who are
participating in the Postcards Across Canada Project with 33 other classes from
across the country, from Newfoundland and Labrador, to British Columbia, and to
Rankin Inlet in Nunavut. The grade 7 students have created and written fantastic
postcards that feature Prince Edward Island life and culture through their eyes.
Through this project, our students will learn about the lives and culture of
youth living in other Canadian provinces. Thank you to Ms. Squire.
Digital Storytelling Workshop
A group of Birchwood students recently participated with the National Film Board
of Canada in a full day Digital Storytelling Workshop held downtown. Students
engaged in the writing process, digital photography, and a learning experience
that was cross-curricular in nature; an educational opportunity integrating
technology, writing, social studies, geography, art and other subjects while
further developing creativity and critical thinking skills. The goal of these
workshops is to provide the tools and training for Canadians of all walks of
life to be able to tell their stories and to highlight what Canada means to them
as individuals through this unique, collaborative project.
For the past 3 months, the National Film Board of Canada has been traveling
through various communities across Canada delivering Digital Storytelling
Workshops in conjunction with a project called Canada CODE which is a
partnership between the NFB and the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee.
Canada CODE is an interactive user generated website, digital book and
collaborative project where Canadians can post photographs and their stories to
create a portrait of Canada and Canadian identity to showcase to the world
during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. You can have a look at it here:
www.canadacode.vancouver2010.com
Workshop student participants included Alex Smith, Adam Paynter, Sana Rehan,
Homa Ghamashehi, Morgan Cawthorpe, Gbemi Oguntona, Amy Frost-Wicks, Gillian
Gallivan, Sebastian Andric, Josh Holmes, and Michael MacKenzie. Thank you to Ms.
Squire and Morgan from NFB and Ms. Rioux.
CanWest Spelling Bee
Birchwood's top spellers competed in a written spelling test and the top two
spellers Jack Baldwin and Gbemi Oguntona completed eleven intense rounds.
Congratulations to both participants. Gbemi Oguntona will represent Birchwood
Intermediate School at the 2010 CanWest Spelling Bee at UPEI on February 27th.
Thank you to Ms. Squire.
Science Fair
The 2010 Birchwood Science Fair will be held on Thursday, February 25th. All
Grade 8's are participating along with Immersion Grades 7 and 9 students.
Students are busy preparing for the fair both inside and outside of the class
Mrs. Lavoie would love anyone wishing to help out and volunteer as a judge to
call her at the school at 368-6870.
Library News
Getting a child to read for fun, may not always be an easy task. Try a magazine
subscription geared toward your child's age group. Try and find several books
related to a topic in which your child shows interest. Create an environment
rich in literature, this doesn’t mean you have to buy a lot of books. There are
lots of internet sites available for reading and printing online books: 2020ok,
Page By Page Books, Free Free-ebooks.net, Read Print (lots of classics),
Bibliomania, Magic Keys, By Gosh...and the list continues. Making construction
paper book covers for your new books and creating a library space could be a fun
family project. This would be a very inexpensive way to start a library at home.
The best way to encourage a child to read is to model reading and share your
enthusiasm for a good book!
Homework Club
Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday the Library is open from 3
until 3:30 for Homework Club. Students do not have to sign up for this, just
show up with the materials they need for their work.
EAL Committee Meeting
EAL Committee Meeting was held at the end of January. The following staff
members attended this meeting: Melanie Myers, Rachael FitzGerald, Kelly O’Brien,
Patsy McDonald and Mariska Tremere. The goal of this group is to create an
effective handbook for teaching EAL students in class.
Knitting Club
During lunch on Day 1 there will be a knitting club for all interested students
and staff. You do not need to bring any materials, yarn has been donated and
knitting needles are provided by the school, thanks to our administrative assistant
Deborah. Knitting club takes place in the activity center.
Yearbook Reminder
Just a reminder to let you know that the 2010 Yearbooks will be on sale in June.
These yearbooks are hardcover, 48 pages, full color. The price will be $30.00.
Spring Volleyball
Spring volleyball league will begin in March for grade 7 and 8 girls. Mrs.
MacAdam will be posting information in late February to let players know about
sign up.
Island Athlete of the Week
Congratulations to Amy Andrews for being selected as the Island Athlete of the
Week in the Guardian, Thursday, February 4. Amy is the Co-captain of the girls
basketball team, a strong offensive/defensive soccer player and a talented Track
athlete. Great job Amy!
Basketball Team News
The boys and girls basketball teams are getting ready for their playoff games as
both teams have four games left in the regular season. Good luck!
Badminton Tryouts
Badminton will start in about three weeks. Players will be invited from their
performance during game and rally play from gym classes.
Fitness Room
If anyone has fitness equipment or weights that they would like to donate for
the fitness room at Birchwood, it would be greatly appreciated. See Mr.
MacCallum
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