January Newsletter
Dates to Remember
January 25, 26, 27, Grade 9 Exams
February 1, School Development Day, No school
February 2, French Immersion Meeting for Incoming Grade 6 parents, 7:00pm
French Immersion Meeting
Birchwood School will be holding our annual French Immersion Information Meeting
for parents on Thursday, February 2, at 7:00pm in the Library. Parents of Grade
6 students who may be interested in the Grade 7 Late immersion Program are
invited to attend.
Grade 9 Exam Schedule
Wednesday, January 25
Periods 3 and 4, Language Arts
Periods 5 and 6, French
Thursday, January 26
Periods 3 and 4, Math
Periods 5 and 6, Social Studies
Friday, January 27
Periods 3 and 4, Science
Periods 5 and 6, Make Up Exams
There will be regular class during periods 1 and 2. Students are asked to come
to class prepared to write exams; that is, students are to bring sharpened
pencils and pens. A water bottle is fine.
Student Advisory Program
Last month a Student Advisory Program began at Birchwood. Students and
staff were very excited and eager to begin the Advisory Program. T he goal for
Birchwood is to try and have two advisory periods per month, discussing
different topics and events that will help develop a healthy school climate and
positive rapport with students and staff.
Christmas Miracle
Once again this year Birchwood Christmas Miracle helped over 40 families of our
own students have a better Christmas. Each family received a food hamper and
gifts. A huge thank you is extended to the many students and staff who
contributed items, fund-raised, set up displays, wrapped gifts, etc. We
especially appreciated the contribution of gifts and money from groups and
individuals in the community.
Public Health Nurse
We would like to welcome Ms. Christine Trainor, Public Health Nurse, who will be
replacing Ms. Mahood here at Birchwood.
Sports News
Athletes of the Month of December:
Sarah Peters and Alleyiah Villard (AA girls basketball)
Cameron Hoy and Gbemi Oguntona (AA boys basketball)
Score Keepers for the Month of December:
Katie Wight and Madelyn Campbell
Music Note
All Grade 9 honors band students are going to have a sectional day at Stonepark
Intermediate on January 12, 2012. Attendance at this rehearsal is mandatory for
all students involved. Students will be preparing for the Honors Band Weekend
(January 27, 28 and 29). Students are responsible for bringing food and drinks
for snacks and lunch. They will also be responsible for their own transportation
to and from Stonepark. A detailed itinerary for the Honors Band Weekend
will be sent home very shortly. If you have any questions or concerns,
please contact Mr. Langille at 368-6870 or
bslangille@edu.pe.ca.
Birchwood Guitar Club
The Birchwood Guitar Club will continue to meet at 12:30 each Friday. If
students are interested, please see Mr. Langille or just show up with your
guitar! We are still accepting instruments if you would like to donate a guitar
to the school for student use.
Library News
Are you having homework woes? Homework Club is available every Tuesday,
Wednesday, and Thursday from 3pm to 3:30pm. Students are asked to bring all
necessary materials (pencil, books, scribblers, etc). Students, who normally
take the bus, will need to have an alternate plan for getting home before they
arrive at Homework Club. Here are some great websites to help students do their
homework at home:
•
http://www.homeworkhelper.ca/canada.html
•
http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/kids/homework_help/default.asp
•
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/elearning/homework.html
Asper Foundation Human Rights and Holocaust Studies Program
A group of 17 grade 9 Birchwood students are participating in the Asper
Foundation Human Rights and Holocaust Studies Program. This program is a part of
a nation-wide educational initiative to involve grade nine students in the study
of Human Rights and the Holocaust.
Students will complete 18 hours of educational seminars outside regular
classroom hours, 16 hours of volunteer community service, and maintain a study
and personal journal documenting their acquired knowledge and reflection.
As a result of their participation in this program, the students will travel to
Washington D.C. in April 2012 with their teacher and two chaperones as well as
with other students from across Canada. They will visit the Holocaust Memorial
Museum and other venues and events related to the study of Human Rights and the
Holocaust. The program will conclude with a ceremony at which each student is
presented with a Memorandum of Personal Responsibility. Past participants
describe the experience as deeply meaningful and one that will stay with them
life-long.
Each participant's family is contributing $250, passport costs, and volunteer
time to assist with fundraising. Each student is required to fundraise
approximately $1250 each in order to take part in this program and in the
Washington D.C. trip.
Birchwood students Student participants are R.J. Arsenault, Jayden Bell, Tiffany
Boudreault, Sarah Fradsham, Amy Frost-Wicks, Gavin Gregory, Taylor Gill, Clara
Leary, Alex MacIsaac, Alexandra MacDonald, Carlye Monaghan, Emma Moore, Emily
Morrison, Jerrica Ramsay, Eric Truong, and Laura Williams. Students who
participate in this program are excellent ambassadors for Charlottetown, for
Prince Edward Island, and for Canada.
If you are able to support this meaningful program in any way, please contact
Frances Squire, program administrator, at 368-6870 or by email
fasquire@edu.pe.ca. Please know
that your support and contributions are appreciated and will help our students
to participate in this outstanding program, further preparing them to make a
positive contribute to our society.
Pennies for Peace Project
Thank you to all students and staff who participated in the Pennies for Peace
Project. Students were rolling pennies into the New Year! Congratulations to
Class 9-5 for collecting the most pennies by topping up a bucket!
Christmas Basket and Ticket Tree
Congratulations are extended to Eugene Sauve who won the Ticket Tree and to
Carol Woods who won the Christmas Basket. Thank you to those who donated items
for the basket to everyone who purchased tickets to support the Human Rights and
Holocaust Studies Program.
Spelling Bee
Grade 7 and grade 8 students who have an interest in participating in the
Spelling Bee are asked to pick up a student kit. The Birchwood Spelling Bee to
select a speller to represent our school at the provincial bee will be held
soon! Please contact Ms. Squire,
fasquire@edu.pe.ca
Drama Junkies
All students wishing to participate in the drama production this year are asked
to contact Ms. Squire in Room 221 or
fasquire@edu.pe.ca please.
Video Game Development Club
Students who are interested in participating in Game Force: Video Game
Development Program are asked to see Ms. Squire. We can only accommodate a
maximum of 12 students. There is no cost to students for this after school
program and all materials are provided. Also, donations of useable video game
equipment or funding to purchase new and updated equipment for the Video Game
Club would be very much appreciated. Please contact Ms. Squire,
fasquire@edu.pe.ca
Project-Based Learning - We Support Our Community PBL
Congratulations are extended to Class 9-2 who recently completed a number of
project-based learning initiatives that involved helping families. Students
donated a box of goods to the food bank, donated a box of items to Anderson
House, and they raised money for toys for Unit 5. Thank you to UPEI Pre-service
teacher Ashley MacIntyre for facilitating. Birchwood students will continue to
be involved with projects that support their community.
Support the Human Rights and Holocaust Studies Program
Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, Beans and Brown Bread Supper, Saturday January 14, to
be held at Saint Paul’s Anglican Church Parish Hall, corner of Prince and
Richmond St, Charlottetown, from 5:00-7:00 pm; hosted by Birchwood
Intermediate’s Human Rights and Holocaust Studies Program in support of their
April trip to Washington, DC. Tickets may be purchased at the door or from
Program members. $10.00 for adults and $6.00 for children under 12.
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