March Break

Birchwood students and staff wish all students and their families a healthy, safe, and rejuvenating March Break. School will resume Monday, March 22.  A reminder to grade 9 students only that they will be visiting Colonel Gray High School with their homeroom teachers for an orientation session in the afternoon on the day we return from break.  Also, March 22 will be Day 2. Have a great break everyone!

Birchwood's "RESPECT" Rocks Lip Sync!

Students in 9-5 place 1st at the Wendy's 23rd Annual Lip Sync!

Birchwood Heritage Fair

Please note that the date for the Birchwood Heritage Fair has been changed. The fair will be held on Friday, April 23, in the cafeteria. Participating students are encouraged to continue to work hard in completing their projects. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. James.

Birchwood Olympics

The results are in... update to follow!

Birchwood Science Fair 2010

Birchwood Science Fair was held on Thursday, February 24. Congratulations to all participants and thank you to the volunteers. Top of the Fair projects and seven additional projects will represent Birchwood at the Provincial Science Fair at UPEI. To see the list of "Top of the Fair" projects, visit the "Science Fair" page.

March News

The "March News" is now available online! The newsletters are distributed monthly and are also available online; please click HERE!  A lot of important information is communicated via the school newsletters such as upcoming events, successes, and program and policy information. Please note that parents and guardians of students are now able to check attendance online using Students Achieve.

Canwest Canspell Regional Bee

Postcards Across Canada Project

Congratulations are extended to Ms. Squire's 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. Below is the bulletin board in Mr. Reid's in Brampton Ontario. The postcard from Birchwood is the bottom right one!

Strong Basketball Season

Amy Andrews, grade 9, is the co-captain of the Birchwood Cobras basketball team. She is also a strong offensive soccer player and a powerful track and field athlete.  While balancing her busy athletic schedule, Andrews continues to keep a high academic standing in the French Immersion program with honors status.  She shows leadership skills and is a team player. Her hard work ethic and determination makes her an excellent role model for other students at Birchwood. Andrews plans to continue to play sports at the high school level and continue to work hard, academically and athletically.  (The Guardian, Feb. 4, B2)

Cobras 'AA' Basketball Schedule

Students and staff are encouraged to come out and cheer the Cobras on! GO GREEN!  Click the ball or visit the "SPORTS" page to see game times.

Report Card & Reporting Periods

Birchwood Intermediate will be using a new Intermediate Report Card during the 2009-2010 school year. To ensure the reporting periods are coordinated with all other junior high schools in the Eastern School District, the following dates outline the 3 reporting periods. Report cards go home the last date of each reporting period. If you have any questions, please call the school at 368-6870

• Reporting Period #1 September 6 - December 4
• Reporting Period #2 December 7 - March 12
• Reporting Period #3 March 15 - June 25

Support our Canadian Olympic Team!

Cobra Game Schedule

It is not always possible to inform you of all of the Birchwood Cobras home, away games, wins and losses, on the field and in the gym.  You can, however, visit the PEISAA site by clicking the logo on the left for  sport, schedules, teams, photos, game locations, and standings and statistics. If you would like to contribute photos or results, please contact us.

Video Surveillance

In conjunction with our Caring Places to Learn/Safe School Environment Policy, the Eastern School District has begun the installation of video surveillance equipment in intermediate and high schools. This program may be expanded to elementary schools in the future. This equipment is now in place at Birchwood Intermediate.

Schools must be safe and secure to protect individuals and property from harm. Staff and students also have privacy rights that must be respected. As a result, video equipment is located only in public areas such as hallways, cafeterias, gymnasiums, building entrance ways, and around the school perimeter. Signs indicating the use of video surveillance have been posted. Equipment is not located in locker rooms, washrooms, classrooms or staff rooms, where there is a greater expectation of privacy.

Access to the recordings will be limited to school and district administration in reviewing a suspected incident, or law enforcement if they are conducting an investigation. All records are automatically erased after 30 days unless an investigation is underway.

H1N1 Preparedness and Planning

The Eastern School District is working closely with the Chief Health Officer to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus in Island Schools. The H1N1 virus is a respiratory illness that causes symptoms similar to the seasonal influenza (fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, body aches, fatigue, and lack of appetite).  Birchwood is making a concerted effort to educate students and staff, identify and isolate individuals with symptoms, and monitor transmission of the virus.  A sick child will be kept home or sent home from school when symptoms are present. An information sheet has been distributed to all students.

Every school must now report attendance on a daily basis to the Eastern School District. It is very important that you inform the school when your child is absent. Please contact the school immediately to let the school know if your child has influenza-like symptoms. This information will be sent to the Chief Health Officer.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has guidelines for schools which include recommendations for handwashing and disinfecting surfaces, isolating the ill, and reporting outbreaks. The guidelines are also available at www.phac-aspc.gc.ca. An information sheet including handwashing, cough etiquette, cleaning, and surveillance procedures has been distributed to all students. Please review this information with your child. For more information on flu prevention, visit www.fightflu.ca or call 1-888-748-5454.