September Newsletter
Principal’s Message
I would like to extend a warm Welcome Back to all students returning to
Birchwood. A special welcome goes out to students new to the school and to all
Grade 7’s who are just beginning their first year at Birchwood. The new school
year is here and the entire Birchwood staff is looking forward to sharing their
passion for teaching and learning with you and your child. It takes a
partnership between home and school to see that your child has a successful
year. Birchwood continues to strive towards excellence in academic and social
development. Help us achieve our goal for your children. Together We Can Make A
Difference! Once again, Welcome Back and all the Best! Ron Carragher, Principal
Dates to Remember
September 21, Meet the Staff Night, 7:00pm, Cafeteria
September 23, Terry Fox Run
September 27, Student Photos, Re-takes October 25
October 10, Thanksgiving, No School
October 20 and 21, PEITF Annual Convention, No School
Welcome New Staff
We would like to welcome our new staff members to Birchwood Intermediate: Debbie
Miles, Lori MacPherson, Brian Langille, Ron Vaive and Pat Doherty.
Meet the Staff Night
Wednesday, September 21st at 7:00 pm., is Meet The Staff Night! All
parents/guardians are welcome to come and meet your child’s teacher in the
Cafeteria. See you there! . The following is a list of the Homeroom Teachers for
2011-2012 school year: Grade 7 Rod MacKillop, Wendy Poirier, Ryan Lowther; Grade
8 Kelly O’Brien, Joanne MacAdam, Todd James, Marc Duguay; and Grade 9 Mariska
terMeer, Frances Ann Squire, Gary Devine, Sue Betts, Tamara Gavard. Please visit
the "Birchwood Staff" page.
Thank You!
To our custodians Bill Gallant, Bernadette MacLean, Angela Monaghan , Jennifer
Cormier and Rita MacDonald for all their hard work during the summer.
Public Health Nurse
We would like to welcome Ms. Linda Mahood, Public Health Nurse, to Birchwood
Intermediate.
General Information
Your child will receive the following forms to be signed and returned to their
homeroom teacher by Wednesday, September 15th. These include the following: 1)
Student Information/Consent Form, 2) Low Risk Activity Form, 3) Lunch Form
(Grade 7), 4) Internet User Agreement (Grade 7 and new students to Birchwood),
5) Grade 9 Immunization Form, 6) Media Coverage Form. Again, if you have not
already signed and returned these forms or have misplaced them, please contact
the office as soon as possible so we may have current information in our system.
Student Absence
Parents are requested to call the school before 8:30 am if your child is ill.
Please make sure your child brings a note to his/her homeroom teacher to explain
his/her absence or call the office at 368-6870.
Late Policy
We are implementing a new “late” policy. Students who arrive late in the morning
or afternoon, on a regular basis, without parental consent will be required to
stay after school to recover class time.
Birchwood Daily Schedule
Please visit the "Daily Schedule" page to the schedule
for our 6-period day. Students will have received a copy of his or her specific
class schedule.
Student Fees
Each year students are required to pay a student fee. This fee covers student
locks, lockers, winter carnival, special events, motivational speakers and other
activities activities that occur during the school year. Student Fees rates are
as follows: $20.00 per student, $30.00 per family attending Birchwood.
Terry Fox Run/Fall Social
Birchwood School is organizing a “Welcome Back BBQ” for students, parents, and
staff on Thursday, September 23rd. This will take place in the courtyard at the
back of the school after our annual Terry Fox Walk/Run. It will be a great
afternoon for the Birchwood community….so come join us for some exercise, for
and fun! The walk/run will begin at 1:00pm and the BBQ at 2:00pm. Any parents
wishing to help out please contact the office at 368-6870. Hope to see you
there!!!
Parking/Bussing
Students must have a parent permission note to travel on any bus (if they are
not a bus student), or if they are traveling on a different bus (if they are a
bus student).
Kit Bags
Just a reminder for students that kit bags are not allowed to be carried around
from class to class. When you enter the school in the morning and after lunch,
your kitbag is to go directly into your locker.
Coaches Corner
- Girls Soccer Tryouts: Sept. 8th, 9th and 12th. 3pm - 430. All girls in
7,8 and 9 are welcome and encouraged to tryout.
- Boys Soccer Tryouts: Sept. 12th, 13th and 14th. 3pm - 430. All boys in
7,8 and 9 are welcome and encouraged to tryout.
- Cross Country Tryouts: will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 14th. @3pm. All
boys and girls in 7,8 and 9 are welcome and encouraged to tryout.
- Intramurals: There are intramurals at lunch time everyday. All boys and
girls in 7,8 and 9 are welcome and encouraged to participate during noon
hour.
- Score keepers: We are looking for students who may be interested in
working the score clocks and doing score sheets for after school sports
teams. Please see Mr. MacCallum if you are interested.
- Cobra Fit Pit: Birchwood is looking for any weights or fitness equipment
for the cobra fit pit that you would like to donate.
Birchwood Breakfast Program
A notice to Birchwood students and parents/guardians that our Breakfast
Program will be running one again this year. Students are welcome to come to the
cafeteria each morning at 8:00 am (no earlier please) for a bagel, some fruit,
and a juice or chocolate milk to start the school day ready to learn! We are
still accepting food and monetary donations from local businesses and community
members and we appreciate any and every support! For more information please
contact Michelle MacDonald at the school.
Notice/Reminders
- Birchwood is a peanut free and scent free school. Energy drinks and pop
are not allowed on school grounds. Please encourage your child to make
healthy food and drink choices!
- At the end of our school day we would like to remind parents that our
buses are on a time frame and must be departing the property at a particular
time to connect to other buses. We ask parents not to park in the back
parking lot which the buses use at the end of the day and not block the side
parking lot entrance. Thank you
Library News
All staff and students are invited to visit the library at lunch and after
school. There is something for everyone: books (of course), magazines, teachers
resources, games, computers, even just a quiet space. Staff and students can
sign-out 3 books at a time, for a 2 week period. Each book will have a due date
slip tucked into it as a reminder. Please, help students remember when they need
to return their books by marking their due dates on the calendar. The library is
available as a relaxation area during lunch break and will be open to students
after school on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3:30 until 4. This time is
primarily for students who have homework to do, so it is called Home Work Club.
Students can work in a quiet environment, stocked with the resources they need
to get their work don (including construction paper, scissors, printer,
computers, etc). The librarian, or another teacher, will always be in the
library to assist students. I hope to see lots of students making use of it.
Again, this year, I will be asking students to sign up for library monitor
position. These students help keep the library organized and also assist others
with finding what they need in the library. They are an indispensable group of
students and I always appreciate the effort they put forth. Announcements will
be made, early in September, for the experienced library monitors to meet with
me to make some changes to our current model. Looking forward to another great
year in the library!
Community Events
PEI Speed Skate is holding registration for the upcoming season on Saturday,
September 10th from 9:30 – 11:30 at the Charlottetown Civic Centre. Speed
Skating (Competitive, Developmental and Recreational) and Learn to Skate
Programs run from October to March. For more information or late registration
inquiries visit www.speedskatepei.com
or info@speedskatepei.ca.
Girl Guides of Canada would like to extend an invitation to your daughter to
register for Sparks, Brownies, Guides and pathfinders and experience everything
that Guiding has to offer. Registration evenings will be held on the following
dates at these locations: Stratford Town Hall Tuesday 13th Sept. 6:30pm – 8pm,
Cornwall United Church Thursday 15th Sept. 6:30 – 8pm, Sherwood Hall
Thursday 15th Sept. 6:30 – 8pm, Springpark Church Thursday 15th Sept. 6:30
– 8pm.
Montague Christmas Craft Fair! Get your table rental application for the
Montague Christmas Craft Fair being held on Dec 2nd and 3rd hosted by the
Montague Skating Club at the Wellness Centre in Montague. To get an application
or for further information contact Laurie Godfrey at 583-2811.
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