MAY 2008

    Upcoming Dates:

    May 22 - Gr. 2 & 6 -BEMA & Charlottetown trip

    May 26 - Gr. 4 - Noonan’s Marsh trip (am)

    May 28 - Track & Field Meet at Evangeline

    May 29 Rain Day 30th - Bike Rodeo Gr. 1-4 at 1 pm

    May 30 - Gr. 6, 7 & 8 "Footloose" - Jubilee Theatre

    June 1 - Gr. 4 - IWK Spell-a-thon (11:20 am)

    June 12 - Gr. 4 - Anne Green Gables - Confed. Centre

    June 13 - Spring Concert (1 pm)

    June 16 - Gr. 8's perform "Judge Moody" @ 7 pm

    June 17 - Volunteer Tea (11:15 am)

    June 18 - End of Year Field Trips

    June 20 - Fun Day

    June 24 - Gr. 8 Closing at 7 pm

    June 25 - Last day of Classes

    June 30 - Last day for teachers

    Warmer Weather is upon us and students are tempted to wear summer shoes etc. but it is a reminder from our Physical Education teacher that it is much safer to wear sneakers during physical activity. Also, this time of year the UV index can be high on some days so please wear a hat or cap and sun screen for your protection from the harmful rays.

    Ideas for Reading as a Family - Let your children see you curl up with a good book as an alternative to TV in the evenings. When they see your enthusiasm, they’ll catch their own. Designate a reading hour - You have set times for homework, baths and dinner; why not books? Set aside a reading hour, that is when the whole family settles down with their books. Let the children use that hour for school required reading if they want, or reading for pleasure. Family reading night – Pick one night of the week that the whole family reads something together. Let everyone take a turn reading aloud.

    Open House for next years Grade 1 students from Shamrock Kindergarden will be held on June 6th from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. This Open House will give the children an opportunity to meet the Grade 1 teacher etc.

    Credit Union Program - Last day for pickup at Somerset will be Tuesday, May 27th.

    Tips from the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance - New Exotic Vegetables and Fruit

    Vegetables and fruit contain many vitamins, minerals and fibre that are needed for the body to work properly. The consumption of vegetables and fruit also reduces the risk of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some types of cancer. The most colourful vegetables and fruit tend to be the richest in vitamins and minerals. Some people may find it boring to consume the same types of vegetables and fruit day in and day out. Many people do not try new vegetables and fruit because they do not know how to eat or prepare them. Here are some new vegetables and fruits to try: Pomegranate - The seed of this fruit is the part that is eaten. The taste of this fruit depends on the variety and state of ripeness. It can be very sweet or very sour. To eat simply cut the fruit into 4 sections. Place one section in a bowl of water and roll out the seeds with your fingers. The white structures will float to the top and can be discarded. Strain the seeds from the water and enjoy!

    Ugli Fruit (Tangelo) - An ugli fruit is a citrus fruit made by combining a grapefruit and a tangerine. It is called "Ugli" because it has a rough, wrinkled, greenish yellow skin. The fruit has a sweet taste of a tangerine rather than the bitter side of a grapefruit. The Ugli fruit is usually available in stores between November and April. Simply eat like an orange!

    Zucchini - Can either be yellow or green and resembles a cucumber. It is usually served cooked rather than raw. Zucchini is best when quickly cooked for about 4 minutes (steamed, boiled, grilled) so it is firm. There is no need to remove the skin of the Zucchini when cooking. Artichoke - Cut away about a quarter of each scale with scissors. This will remove the thorns that can interfere with eating the leaves. The artichoke can the be boiled or steamed until tender anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes. If boiling the artichoke do not cover the pot with a cover (the artichoke may turn brown). You can then eat the leaves and the "heart" or the "choke" (center of the vegetable)

    Bike Rodeo will be on May 29th for Grades 1-4 (rain date will be May 30th) from 1-2:30 p.m. Students must have helmets so parents may drop them off at the school before.

    Energy Drinks are meant to supply mental and physical stimulation for a short period of time. Excessive drinking of "energy drinks" can have serious health effects. They usually contain caffeine, taurine (an amino acid) and glucuronolactone (a carbohydrate). We encourage parents to speak with their children about the use of these drinks and to refrain purchasing them from the Esso during lunch time.

    Toast Program - We would like to thank the following for donating this past month:

    We would also like to thank everyone who has donated, given financial support and volunteered throughout this past year. This program is a success thanks to all of you.

    Last for toast will be June 20th.

    Pomegranate Yogurt Dip

    1 large pomegranate

    2 cups (500ml) chilled plain yogurt

    2 scallions finely chopped

    1/4 cup (50ml) pomegranate juice

    1/4 cup (50ml) cilantro finely chopped

    1/4 tsp (1ml) salt

    Separate seeds from pomegranate. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the yogurt, pomegranate juice, scallions, cilantro and salt. Gently fold in all but 2 tbsp of the pomegranate seeds. Place in serving bowl and garnish with seeds. Chill for 30 minutes. Makes 2 cups.

    Source: www.pomegranate.org

    Camp Seggie invites your child to experience a place like no other. A week at camp (overnight included) is full of games, activities, contests, skills and all kinds of fun. It is a place to meet wonderful friends and create lasting memories. Our staff is carefully chosen because of their care for children and their enthusiasm. Camp Seggie is a Christian camp open to youth from Grades 1-12. For more information or to register, please check out the website at campseggie.ca or call at 675-3799.

    Spring Concert - This will take place on Friday,

    June 13th at 1 pm. Our theme this year is "Somerset Rocks: Anne of Green Gables." Everyone welcome!

    Music News - The senior band participated in the Atlantic Band Festival in Halifax, NS, on May 1st. It was a great trip! The students' behaviour was spectacular and their performance was very strong. The senior band received a BRONZE STANDARD! ("A Bronze Standard signifies an above average quality of performance with latitude for improvement.")

    Miss MacLellan would like to thank the chaperones for their time, and Mrs. McKenna and Mr. Arsenault for attending as well. Way to go to go, Somerset Band!

    Grade 8 Players Present: JUDGE MOODY

    This year's grade 8 class will present this farce of TV's Judge Judy on Monday, June 16th at 7 pm. Tickets will go on sale the 1st week of June and will be available from grade 8 students or at the door that evening. This is a class project involving all students. It will serve as a fundraiser for their end of year trip. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy a few laughs! Thanks for your support!

    Family Place will be hosting their 2nd Annual Family Expo 2008 on June 22nd , 2008 at the Credit Union Place in Summerside, P.E.I. The 2008 Expo will showcase the various family services available provincially and this year we are pleased to partner with the P.E.I. program, "Take 30 for the Family". Admission to the expo is free, however, we welcome donations to support our Little Readers Literacy Program. There will be something for everyone including music and entertainment by Scotty and the Stars, crafts and play activities featuring Just Kiln Time ceramics, Owl's Hollow, Mother Goose reading corner as well as puppet shows, Dinky Town Junior and Supreme, Toddler World, Gigantic playtime inflatables: Princess Castle, Dragon Castle and Dalmatian Firehouse, face painting and tattoos, friendly princesses, pirate and clowns. There will be a selection of child and family focused retailers such as Discovery Toys and Owl’s Hollow etc. Come and join the fun.

    Playground Update - In February, Mark Smith and Sheree Gurnell offered their services to host a Valentine Dinner & Dance. Thanks to these very talented people as well to the very capable Grade 7 & 8 students who waited on tables and to the Somerset staff who also helped. A lovely evening was held by all. Our next playground fundraiser will be ticket sales for a Maurice Bernard original valued at $675. Thanks to Mr. Bernard for this donation. We will be asking students to sell tickets - $2 each or 3 for $5. We thank you for your support with this fundraiser. Draw date will be at the spring concert at Somerset. Over the summer we will be selling tickets for a beautiful hand stitched quilt made by the late Mrs. Ida Blue (Jean Keefe’s mother, donated in her memory). Value - Priceless. Playground installation is set for July. We hope that parents will visit with their children and enjoy the new playground over the summer months. We have entered our project in the Rural Beautification Contest as well. We really appreciate your support and help with the Somerset Community Playground.

    Take Part in the School Board Elections - School Board elections will be held Monday, May 26th. Parents are encouraged to participate in several ways. If you have ever thought about serving as a school trustee, now is the time to put your name forward. If you know someone who would be a good trustee, encourage him or her to run. School trustees provide a strong parent voice in our education system. Make it a point to get out and vote on May 26th. For info on the candidates or where to vote, call your school board office or visit www.electionspei.ca

    March 2008

    (Newsletters are edited to reflect webpage guidelines set by the Department of Education)

             

    Somerset School is a scent free and peanut free school

    Upcoming Dates:

    March 11 - Report Cards go home

    March 11 - Grade 1 Registration 9am - 3pm

    March 10-13 French Wk. March 12 - French Café

    March 13 - School Skate Gr. 1-4 (9:15-10:15am)

                                            Gr. 5-8 (10:30-11:30am)

    March 14 - 25 No Classes - March Break

    April 3 - Parent Teacher 3:30 - 6:40

    April 4 - No Classes - Parent Teacher 8:30 - 11:30

    April 29 - New Gr. 1 Parents Meeting - 7pm 

    Café Francophone will take place on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 in the grade 5 classroom.  Students have been working hard preparing for this occasion.  Drinks, sandwiches and desserts will be served.  Parents are invited to visit from 10:45 to 11:15 a.m. Grades 3, 4 and  6 will be participating in this café as well. They will have the opportunity to visit the café, learn to read a French menu and order in French.  This activity is part of the French Activity Week from March 10 - 13th at Somerset.  

    Thank You - A big thank you goes out to all the parents who donated some way or another to show their appreciation for us during Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week.  Also the Pancake Breakfast was again a huge success during Winter Carnival Days thanks to all the volunteers and donations.

                  

    Grade 3 class will be starting a new Health theme after March Break.  It will focus on the health and wellness of people.  Some topics include: personal hygiene, bad habits vs. healthy habits, importance of exercise, safety, food choices and portion sizes.  During this time, I encourage the students to pay close attention to what healthy choices they are making for themselves, and possible changes they could make in their daily routines.  I would ask that students participate in bringing healthy snacks and lunches to school, not only for their own personal health but also to help initiate discussions in class.  This being said, I understand that a treat is still special.....in moderation!

    Thank you for your cooperation, Kaye Irving  

    Tips from the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance - Milk......Nature at it’s Best! - Making sure children eat a healthful diet is no easy task! We know it’s important to eat a balanced diet consisting of choices from the new food guide, Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide, which includes the milk and alternatives group. No other single food provides as much nutrition as a glass of milk, which is our number one source of calcium. Milk and milk products offer many nutrients that build and maintain strong bones and teeth and keep muscles working well. The new Canada’s Food Guide recommends children age 4-8 years get 2 servings of milk and alternatives each day and children and teens age 9-18 years get 3-4 servings a day. So, what is a serving of milk and alternatives?

    * 1 cup (250 ml) of white or chocolate milk

    * 1 cup (250 ml) Fortified soy beverage

    * 3/4 cup (175 g) of yogurt   

    * 1 ˝ oz (50g) of hard cheese or 2 cheese slices

    And yes, chocolate milk has all the same nutrients as white milk and no more sugar than an equal amount of unsweetened apple or orange juice.  Here’s a tasty way to add milk to your diet! Luscious Lime Frost

      1˝ cups lime sherbet       2 cps milk  

    ˝ cup(125ml) frozen limeade concentrate, thawed

    Spoon sherbet into a blender. Add milk and limeade.

    Cover and blend well. Makes 4 child-sized servings.

    Source: Dairy Farmers of Canada (Ontario)

    Check out the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance website at www.healthyeatingpei.ca

    Grade 1 Registrations were interrupted by an early closure due to a storm so they have been rescheduled for March 11th (Storm Day - March 12th).  Also there is a new date for eligibility ie. any child who will be 6 years of age by October 31, 2008 may register for September 2008.  Please bring proof of age. 

    March is Nutrition Month® and across the country, Canadians will celebrate and promote healthy eating.   In support of Nutrition Month®, Breakfast for Learning is happy to share the new resources and the activities planned to help families and student nutrition programs raise awareness about proper nutrition and its link to learning. Here are a few things that you may find of interest: Nutrition Month® 2008 is a registered trademark of the Dietitians of Canada.  During the month of March, dietitians across Canada unite to organize events and communications to reinforce the importance of nutrition in achieving health and well-being.  This year’s theme invites you to take action to eat healthier, be more active and feel great – and make at least one positive change for yourself or make a change that helps the whole family. For more information about Nutrition Month®, visit www.dietitians.ca/eatwell Breakfast for Learning: New Resources In time for Nutrition Month®, Breakfast for Learning introduces the following resources, available free of charge.  Resources are available on Breakfast for Learning’s Online Club site at www.breakfastforlearning.ca 

    Cooking with Kids - Snickerdoodle French Toast

    (by the Canadian Living Test Kitchen) - Serves 12

    1 1/4 cps milk                     3 eggs

    2 tbsp sugar                         1 tsp cinnamon

    5 cps cornflakes crushed      1 tsp vanilla

    12 slices French bread (3/4 in. thick)

    In a shallow bowl beat together milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla.  Place crushed cornflakes in

    another shallow bowl.  Dip each slice of bread into milk mixture then into cornflake crumbs.  Place on greased rimmed baking sheet and freeze until firm.  Bake in 425 oven, turning once, until golden brown about 15 minutes.  For more great recipes, visit: www.breakfastforlearning.ca 

    Proposed Late French Immersion Program  - The next Parent Information evening has been scheduled for Tuesday April 1st  - 7:00 p.m. at Queen Elizabeth Elementary School in Kensington.  Any parents of Grade 6 students interested in attending this meeting are welcome. 

    Hot Dog Program - The grade 4 class will be selling hot dogs every Thursday after March break to raise funds for the class to see the play "Anne of Green Gables" in June. Order forms will be going home after March break and the first hot dog day will be Thursday, March 27th.

    MARCH 
     

    Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
               
     
    1
    2 3 4 5 

    Sub Day

    6 7

    Pizza

    Heritage

    Fair

    8
    9 10

    Storm Day for Heritage

    Fair

    11

    Report Cards

    go home 

    Gr. 1

    Registration

    12

    French Café

    Sub Day 

    Storm Day for Gr. 1

    Registration

    13

    School Skate

    Gr. 1-4

    9:15-10:15

    Gr. 5-8

    10:30-11:30

    Pizza

    14

    March Break

    No Classes

    15
    16 MARCH BREAK 22
    23

    Easter

    Sunday

    24

    Easter

    Monday

    25

    Classes

    Resume

    26 

    Sub Day

    27

    Hot Dog

    Sales begin

    28 

    Pizza

    29
    30 31          

     

                                                                   APRIL 

    Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
        1 2

    Sub Day

    3

    Pizza

    Parent/

    Teacher

    3:30 - 6:40

    4

    Parent/

    Teacher

    8:30 - 11:30

    No Classes

    5
    6 7 8 9

    Sub Day

    10

    Hot Dogs

    11

    Pizza

    12
    13 14 15 16

    Sub Day

    17

    Hot Dogs

    18

    Pizza

    19
    20 21 22 23

    Sub Day

    24

    Hot Dogs

    25

    Pizza

    26
    27 28 29

    New Gr. 1

    Parent’s

    Meeting

    7 p.m.

    30 

    Sub Day

         

     

     

     

     

    February 2008    

    (Newsletters are edited to reflect webpage guidelines set by the Department of Education)

    Upcoming Dates:

    February 20 - 22 - Winter Carnival Days

    February 22 - Pancake Breakfast

    March 7 - Heritage Fair (Storm Day - Mar. 10th )

    March 11 - Report Cards go home

    March 14 - 25 No Classes - March Break

    Bus Delays & School Closures - Please listen to PEI radio stations between 6:45 and 8:00 a.m. in the morning to determine if schools are operating or if there are any bus delays.  A 1 hour bus delay means our school day starts at  9:35 a.m.  Early dismissals will also be announced on the radio. W.S.B. Policy regarding such closures can be found on www.edu.pe.ca/wsb

    Activity Day - Due to the number of storm days this winter, the outdoor activity day on February 21st has been cancelled. 

    Report Cards - Report Cards will go home March 11th ; parent teacher interviews will still take place Thursday afternoon, April 3rd and Friday, April 4th.  If you have any concerns about your child’s progress before these dates, feel free to contact the school. 

    Heritage Fair - Somerset’s Heritage Fair will be held on Friday, March 7th. Storm date will be Monday, March 10th.  All students in Grades 4 - 8 are expected to participate in the fair; however, only students from grades 5 - 8 are allowed to attend the Provincial Fair in Charlottetown.  Projects must have a Canadian theme at the local, national or international level.  

    Playground Committee Update - There will be a Valentine’s Dinner & Dance on Saturday, February 16th at the Emerald Community Centre - Storm Date will be February 23rd.  Social @ 6:30 p.m.; Dinner @ 7:00 p.m. (Island Beef or Chicken).  The dance will follow.  Tickets $15 per person - Dance only $5.00.  Call Patricia McKenna @ 887-3181 or Kellie Mulligan @ 886-3120 for tickets or information.  All proceeds in aid of the purchase and installation of new playground equipment at Somerset School. 

    Toast Programme - We will be having our annual Pancake breakfast on Friday, February  22nd.  Everyone will be able to enjoy a couple of pancakes, fruit, juice or milk.  Also the fridge that we use for the Toast Programme is on its last legs.  If anyone has a second-hand fridge they wish to donate to us please contact the school and we will arrange to have it picked up. 

    Peanut Free School Reminder - There is a student in our school who has a severe life-threatening allergy to peanuts and peanut products so we would really appreciate your support in not sending any food to school containing peanuts, peanut butter or peanut products. 

    School Development Goals - We feel it is important to share with you the progress we have made, and to thank you for your support as we continue to work in making these a success for our school and students. Our SMART goals are:1) To improve communication between school & home regarding curriculum and extra curricular

    information.* We have improved, and are actively updating our school webpage on a regular basis* We have made our email addresses available to parents for easier communication* We have established a Home and School committee* We continue to supply families with a monthly school newsletter* We called parents in September to personally invite them to meet the teacher and again in October to share where their children were thus far in the year. 2) Each student will show progressive improvement in their writing skills based on their individual capability. * We were recently approved for $500 worth of funding to buy resources to help with this goal. We will be initiating the "6+1 Traits of Writing" in Grades 3-6 and will continue with offering the Spell Read program for Grades 1-2. This goal will become more of a focus in 2008.  As you can see, we feel we have certainly got the ball rolling with regards to kicking off our goals and are excited to have them implemented within the school.        

    Kaye Irving, Chair -  School Development Committee                 

     

    Tips from the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance -

    Healthy Eating Cheap and Easy - Eating well with your family is one of the best things you can do for your health, but it doesn’t need to cost more or take a lot of time.  Planning your meals ahead can help you get a variety of food from all four food groups of Canada’s Food Guide and save time by shopping less often. Here are a few tips to help you eat healthy and save time and money:

      • Make a list to help save money by purchasing only the foods you need.

      • Use food you already have on hand.

      • Cook larger amounts of foods such as soups and sauces, and freeze unused portions for a quick and easy meal at another time.

      • Buy frozen vegetables to save money and reduce spoilage.

      • Stock up on healthy, low-cost foods that keep well, like rice, potatoes, pasta and frozen orange juice.

      • Use store brands.  They are just as healthy as the brand names but cost less.

      • Look at grocery store flyers to find the best deals.

      • Save coupons for foods you plan to buy, but be sure to check other prices since coupons don’t always give you the best deal.

      • Be weary of packaged or prepared foods, as they are often more expensive.

      • Shopping with children  is influenced by children’s requests & you often end up buying more food and less healthy choices.  
       

    Proposed Late French Immersion Program  - The next Parent Information evening has been scheduled for Tuesday April 1st  - 7:00 p.m. at Queen Elizabeth Elementary School in Kensington.  Any parents of Grade 6 students interested in attending this meeting are welcome. 

    Nutrition in the News - Fruit Juice Consumption - Some studies say that fruit juice consumption is linked to obesity and some say that 100% fruit juice is not associated with excess weight.  To drink or not to drink?  This is not the question - it is, in fact, more important to keep in mind the amount of fruit juice consumed.  Eating well with Canada’s Food Guide recommends that we have vegetables and fruit more often than juice because they provide more dietary fibre.  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ages 1-6 years old have a maximum of 4-6 oz/day (˝ to 1/3 cp) and for ages 7-18 years, maximum of 8-12 oz/day (1-1 ˝ cps).  The bottom line is that it is important to watch the amount of 100% fruit juice provided per day.  A great tip: satisfy thirst with water. 

    Source: Breakfast for Learning Newsletter 

    Check out www.breakfastforlearning.ca  

    LABO is a non-profit Japanese organization which offers an integrated program of language learning and cultural exploration aimed at personal growth and discovery for youth.  Invite the world to your home - be a host family.  We are looking for a family who would like to host a Japanese high school aged student for the school year starting in September 2008.  Michelle Arsenault (887-3299) and Nola Shaw (859-3684) will provide lots of support for this volunteer opportunity.  Develop a friendship that reaches around the world, with memories that last a lifetime.  Call for more info or see the website www.http//labo-exchange.com 

    HPV Vaccine - This year all girls in grade 6 are to be vaccinated in school to prevent the virus HPV which causes cervical cancer.   Do you have a daughter that is supposed to get this new vaccine soon? Is your daughter older than grade six and you have questions about this vaccine and if your daughter should receive it?  These and other questions will be answered for you by Dr. Peter Bethune from the PEI Medical Society at a session held on February 18th at Three Oaks Senior High School Lecture Theatre at 7:00 p.m. 

    Drugs , Use and Abuse - Cpl. Reg Campbell will speak to parents and youth regarding drug use and abuse on PEI on February 25th at Three Oaks Sr. High at 7:00 p.m.  Topics to be covered will include prescription drug use among youth as well as the ever dreaded crystal meth and other drugs.   
                                        

    FEBRUARY                         

    Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
       
     
          1

    Pizza

    2
    3 4

    P.D. Day

    No Classes

    5 6

    Sub Day

    7 8

    Pizza

    9
    10 11 12 13

    Gr.  1

    Registrations

    for Sept. 08

    Sub Day

    14

    Valentines Day 

    Pink Day

    15

    Pizza

    Flag Day

    Assembly

    Red & White

    Day

    16
    17 18 
    19 20

    Sub Day

    Winter

    Carnival Days

    Twin Day &

    Hat Day

    21 
    22

    Pancake

    Breakfast

    P.J. Day

    Pizza

    23
    image
    24
    25 26 27 

    Sub Day

    28 29 

    Pizza

     
     

     

     

    MARCH 

    Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
               
     
    1
    2 3 4 5 

    Sub Day

    6 7

    Pizza

    Heritage

    Fair

    8
    9 10

    Storm Day for Heritage

    Fair

    11

    Report Cards

    go home

    12 

    Sub Day

    13 

    Pizza

    14

    March Break

    No Classes

    15
    16 MARCH BREAK 22
    23

    Easter

    Sunday

    24

    Easter

    Monday

    25

    Classes

    Resume

    26 

    Sub Day

    27 28 

    Pizza

    29
    30 31          

     

     

     

     

      JANUARY 2008

    (Newsletters are edited to reflect webpage guidelines set by the Department of Education)

    Somerset School is a scent free and peanut free school

    Upcoming Dates:

    February 4 - P. D. Day - No classes

    February 13 - Grade 1 Registrations

    February 14 - Valentines Day

    February 21 - Brookvale Skiing

    March 7 - Heritage Fair 

    March 10 - Heritage Fair Storm Date 
     
     

    HIGHLIGHTS:

    January 7 - Classes resume image

    Music News

    What a turnout for this year's Christmas Concert! Thanks to everyone for the support. Senior Band Christmas Basket Draw: 1st place winner was Nadine Culleton of Mount Pleasant, 2nd was Dave Smith of Indian River and 3rd went to Paul M. Schurman from Summerside. Thanks to everyone for supporting the band and to the students for selling! 

    Prizes for the sellers were donated by: Staples, Empire Theatres, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Delight.  Plans are well underway for this year's band trip to Halifax, May 1st & 2nd.  Any parents interested in chaperoning, please contact Miss MacLellan asap. 

    Honours Band - PEI Intermediate Honours Band will take place January 25-27. Students are chosen from every intermediate school band on the Island. They spend a weekend of music making and other fun. The weekend concludes with two concerts on the 27th; the Confederation Center at 2:30 pm and the Jubilee Theatre at 7:00 pm.  

    Inclement Weather, Bus Delays & School Closures - Just a reminder for parents to listen to PEI radio stations between 6:45 and 8:00 a.m. in the morning to determine if schools are operating or if there are any bus delays.  A one hour bus delay means our school day starts at  9:35 a.m.  Any early dismissals will also be announced on the radio. Western School Board Policy regarding such closures can be found on www.edu.pe.ca/wsb

    Heritage Fair - Somerset’s Heritage Fair will be held on Friday, March 7th. Storm date will be Monday, March 10th.  All students in Grades 4 - 8 are expected to participate in the fair; however, only students from grades 5 - 8 are allowed to attend the Provincial Fair in Charlottetown.  Projects must have a Canadian theme at the local, national or international level.  More information will follow, but it is a good idea for students to start thinking of a topic. 

    Heritage Fair Co-ordinators: Eleanor Lamont & Margie McKenna 

     

    Playground Update - Welcome 2008 - The Year Somerset Community Playground becomes a reality!  What the committee is presently working on:

      • January - continuation of fundraising

      • February - Valentine’s Dinner (details to follow later)

      • March - Dinner Theatre

      • April - planning and finalizing installation of equipment

     

    Telephone Numbers - Just a reminder to parents to keep us up-to-date when telephone numbers change.  It will help us when we need to reach you for emergency closures etc.

    Home and School - The next meeting will be held Wednesday, January 30th from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the staff room.  We are looking for a few more parents, if anyone is interested please join us that evening or contact Mrs. Palmer at the school for more information. 

    Congratulations to Elizabeth Baglole on her retirement February 4th.  We will miss her and appreciate her time at Somerset. 

    Somerset Gymnastics - Ramona Roberts is coaching the morning gymnastics club again this year.  It will run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7:30-8:30 a.m. for boys & girls in Grades 3 - 6.  

    Staff Appreciation Week - The parents of Somerset will be celebrating  this from February 18th to 22nd

    Healthy Eating Tips from the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance for January 2008 - Fabulous Fiber

    Healthy eating and physical activity are both important for maintaining healthy weights and lifestyles. One part of healthy eating is to include fiber-rich foods into the diet.  A high fiber diet can help reduce the risk of developing high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and colon cancer.  A diet high in fiber is also a great way to maintain a healthy weight, as it keeps us fuller longer.  It is important for both children and adults to get plenty of fiber in their diets.  By establishing healthy eating patterns as children, they are more likely to continue them on into adulthood.   

    What foods contain fiber?

      * Vegetables (broccoli, carrots, peas, celery, corn, potatoes)

      * Fruit (apples, pears, raisins, oranges, bananas, strawberries)

      * Grain products (especially "whole grains" brown rice, whole wheat, pastas/bread/crackers/ granola, bran, oatmeal, high fibre cereal)

      * Meat and Alternatives (beans, lentils, legumes)

    Simple Ideas to Increase Fiber Intake...

      * Eat the skins on vegetables and fruit: they are a good source of fiber.

      * Eat vegetables and fruit rather than 100% fruit or vegetable juice more often.

      * Make at least of half of your grain products whole grain each day.

      * Add granola or bran buds to yogurt or cereal.

      * Add wheat germ, bran, oatmeal or flax seed to recipes such as muffins.

    Hurry-Up Fill-Me-Up Burritos (makes 10) This burrito recipe is super quick and easy.  Try freezing them for your own version of fast food.

    1 cup (250 ml) cooked brown rice

    14 oz (398 ml) can kidney beans, drained & rinsed

    1 cup (250 ml) corn, canned or frozen

    3/4 cup (175 ml) salsa

    10 large (10 inch) whole wheat flour tortillas, warmed

    1 1/4 cups (300 ml) shredded cheddar cheese

    In a non-stick pan over medium heat, stir together rice, beans, corn and salsa. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until warmed through. Divide mixture evenly between tortillas.  Sprinkle with cheese. Roll up tortillas and enjoy! Source: Dietitians of Canada Great Food Fast cookbook. Check out  www.healthyeatingpei.ca 

    LABO is a non-profit Japanese organization which offers an integrated program of language learning and cultural exploration aimed at personal growth and discovery for youth.  Invite the world to your home - be a host family.  Enjoy learning and understanding other cultures?  Looking for an experience where the whole family can have fun and grow together?  We are looking for a family who would like to host a Japanese high school aged student for the school year starting in September 2008.  Michelle Arsenault (887-3299) and Nola Shw (859-3684) will provide lots of support for this volunteer opportunity.  Develop a friendship that reached around the world, with memories that last a lifetime.  Call for more info or see the website www.http//labo-exchange.com

     

                                             JANUARY  

    Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
    13 14 15 16

    Sub Day

    17 18

    Pizza

    19
    20 21 22 23

    Sub Day

    24

    Gr. 1 - 5 going

    to Jubilee for

    Aladdin Jr. (p.m.)

    25

    Pizza

    26

    Honours

    Band

    27

    Honours

    Band

    28 29 30

    Sub Day

    31    
     

                 

DECEMBER 2007

(Newsletters are edited to reflect guidelines set by the Department of Education)

Somerset School is a scent free and peanut free school

Upcoming Dates:

December 14 Storm Day Dec. 17 - Christmas Concert

December 21 - Last day of classes til January 7, 2008

December 21 - School Skate at Borden

January 7 - Classes Resume 

Inclement Weather, Bus Delays & School Closures - Just a reminder for parents to listen to PEI radio stations between 6:45 and 8:00 a.m. in the morning to determine if schools are operating or if there are any bus delays.  A one hour bus delay means our school day starts at  9:35 a.m.  Any early dismissals will also be announced on the radio. Western School Board Policy regarding such closures can be found on www.edu.pe.ca/wsb

Dental Clinic - Starting on January 7th, a dental public health team will be back at Somerset School to provide preventive dental services. The objective of this clinic will be to provide oral health education and preventive dental services to help to reduce or prevent dental decay. In the first couple of days of the clinic all children will be seen to determine their risk of dental decay. This is a 2 minute screening check.  If you do not wish your children to have this dental screening, please advise the school secretary or classroom teacher.

Preventive services including oral health education, cleaning and fluorides, and sealants will then be provided according to each child's individual needs. It will be necessary for parents to sign and return a consent form in order to obtain these services.  This form will be distributed to the students once the risk assessment screenings are done. There is no cost involved with this clinic.  Parents are encouraged to drop in to the school to discuss preventive dental care for their children.

Parents with pre-schoolers can make arrangements for the services at the Dental Public Health clinic in Summerside (888-8145).  Please note that preventive services only will be provided, and the screening is not a dental examination.  It is recommended that parents take their children to a dentist for regular examinations and treatment. If you wish further information about the services you could view the Dental Public Health website at www.peidental.ca , or phone 1-866-368-5460.

"Late French Immersion" Parent Surveys - We would like to thank the parents of Grades 4, 5 & 6 for completing and returning the surveys from the Western School Board.  A Parent Information session will be held next year to further explain details of the program. 

Potato Program - A small survey within the classrooms was taken recently and there does not seem to be enough interested students to begin the potato program this school year.  We will re-assess again next year. 

Healthy Eating Tips from the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance for December 2007 - Meat & Alternatives

One of the food groups included in Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide is the Meat and Alternatives group. This group offers us high quality protein which we need for healthy growth and repair of the body.  Many of us are familiar with the meat choices in this group - beef, chicken, pork, turkey, and fish. Many of us are not quite as familiar with the alternatives available from this group. Let’s explore some of these alternates.  Legumes include foods such as beans, dried peas, legumes, and chickpeas. Many of these foods can be enjoyed in casseroles, added to salads and soups. Favorites include baked beans, split pea soup, 3-bean salad, and hummus. Tofu is made from soybean. It tends to take on the flavor of the foods it is prepared with. It is available as a firm tofu which is used in stir frys, pasta sauces and casseroles; and as a soft tofu which is often used in smoothies.  Here’s a recipe for a meat alternate to experiment with:

Mexican Tofu Appetizers

12 oz extra firm tofu

1 pkg taco seasoning mix

Cut tofu into cubes. Toss cubes with taco seasoning mix to coat. Bake on a cookie sheet for 20-25 minutes at 350°F. Arrange on a platter and serve with salsa or plum sauce for dipping.

Check out the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance website at www.healthyeatingpei.ca 
 
Christmas Decorations - We would like to thank the Home and School Committee for the lovely decorating job that was done to help make the school so festive for our Christmas Concert. 

Warm Clothing - Just a reminder that as the temperatures drop, we ask the students to be dressed properly for outdoor recess.  If parents have any extra children’s mitts, gloves and hats, the school will gladly accept them for children who loose theirs or come to school without them. 

Skating - Somerset students will be going on December 21st and just a reminder for parents that students in Grades 1- 4 require a helmet while skating. 

Playground Committee Update - Playground equipment has been ordered and the deposit has been paid.  On December 14th at the Christmas Concert there will be a presentation for 3 donations - Diagnostic Chemical Ltd, Albert McCardle in memory of his father Johnny and Maritime Electric.  In January we will give you an update on when the Maurice Bernard painting tickets will go on sale.  Your continued support is greatly appreciated. 

Prescription Drug and Other Drug Misuse and Abuse Session will be held at Three Oaks Senior High School Lecture Theatre on February 25, 2008.  There has been a lot of information in the media lately about the abuse of prescription drugs and other drugs in our community.  Corporal Reg Campbell with the RCMP will provide insight into what is happening in our community, and the signs we as parents should be looking for. 

Message from Health Canada

Second-hand smoke affects your family differently depending on their age and their health. Second-hand smoke hurts everyone, but it is especially dangerous to little ones because their lungs are still growing and developing. Because they are smaller, babies and children breathe more quickly and take in more harmful chemicals for their size than adults do.  In addition, their immune systems, which protect them from getting sick, are less developed and can't protect them as much from tobacco smoke.

 

DECEMBER 

Monday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
9 10 11 12

Sub Day

13 14

Pizza

Christmas Concert

15
16 17

Storm Date

for

Christmas

Concert

18 19

Sub Day

20 21

Pizza

School Skate

Gr. 1 - 4

9:15 -10:15

Gr.  5 - 8

10:30 -11:30 

Last Day for

2007

22
 

        JANUARY                           

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
6 7

Classes Resume

Dental Clinic Begins

8 9

Sub Day

10 11

Pizza

12
13 14 15 16

Sub Day

17 18

Pizza

19
20 21 22 23

Sub Day

24 25

Pizza

26
27 28 29 30

Sub Day

31    

          

 

NOVEMBER 2007

(Newsletters are edited to reflect guidelines set by the Department of Education)

Somerset School is a scent free and peanut free school

Upcoming Dates:

November 13 - Report Cards & Appt. Times sent home

November 15 & 16 - Book Fair in Library

November 15 - Parent Teacher - 3:30 - 6:40

November 16 - Parent Teacher - 8:30 - 11:30

December 14 Storm Day Dec. 17 - Christmas Concert

December 21 - Last day of classes til January 7, 2008 

Fall Fund Raiser - The Annual Fall Fundraiser for Somerset Elementary was a huge success.  Thanks to all students who sold items.  Thanks to parents, family, and friends for supporting our fundraiser. Items ordered should be back at the school by late November.  The top seller was Michael M. (grade 7), second place went to Vanessa H. (grade 8), and third place went to Jeremy H. (grade 7).  Great Job!  To show the students appreciation for a job well done, Wednesday, November 7th was a PJ and movie day.  This was also the night Mr. Arsenault slept in a tent on the roof and the teachers stayed over night at the school.   

Dinner Theatre and Dance on Saturday, Nov. 17th , as  announced in the last newsletter  has been cancelled and will be rescheduled sometime in February.  

Leadership Conference - Somerset has been invited to a Leadership Conference at UPEI on November 21st.  A bus will be shared with other schools to take the leadership group to Charlottetown.  Each school is permitted to take only eight students.  I regret that all can not attend because this is a wonderful experience.  Mrs Tanton

Home & School group did a wonderful job of the fall decoration display in our school.  Many thanks for all your work.  We had many positive comments. 

Leadership & Spooktacular - Many thanks to the leadership group and parents for another amazing Spooktacular.  The stations were very creative and we want to thank everyone for the hours of work put into this. 

Inclement Weather, Bus Delays & School Closures - Just a reminder for parents to listen to PEI radio stations between 6:45 and 8:00 a.m. in the morning to determine if schools are operating or if there are any bus delays.  Any early dismissals will also be announced on the radio. Western School Board Policy regarding such closures can be found on www.edu.pe.ca/wsb

Parent Support Group - The Learning Disabilities Association of PEI has started a Parent Support Group for parents of children with Learning Disabilities or ADHD.  There will be a Summerside area meeting help on Tuesday, November 27th at 6:30 pm at Three Oaks Senior High School.  The topic will be "Building an Education Team That Works".  Call 902-894-5032 for more information and to register at no cost.  Visit www.ldapei.ca for more details on the group or to get information on Charlottetown area meetings. 

Toast Programme - During Parent -Teacher interviews there will be a basket available in the front lobby for donations of food items, such as jam, Cheese Whiz, butter, cinnamon spread, fruit, and cheese. These items are needed to keep the Toast Program running.  There will also be a jar available for donations of money to help support the program.  There will be no toast program next week during the Scholastic Book Fair.  

Many thanks to the 20 volunteers who come to serve toast, fruit & cheese to our students.  Thanks also to Colin Gallant and Margie McKenna for cleaning up after students return to class.  Colin also toasts the bread each morning. 

Scholastic Book Fair - Book Fair dates are as follows:

November 15 @ 3:30 pm - 6:30 pm and

November 16 @ 8:30 am - 11:30 am

Location: Somerset School Library.  A great time to pick up Christmas gifts. Students will be receiving flyers and be going with their classes to view the fair starting Tuesday, November 13. On their flyers, there is a space where they can make their own "Wish List" of books that they are interested in. Parents may choose to bring this with them when they stop by the Book Fair, during Parent-Teacher Interviews. Also, there is a ballot on each of the flyers, for the chance to win great door prizes at the fair for your child and their class!  Check out the link, for all the latest library news, on the school website www.edu.pe.ca/somerset . For those wishing to donate books to the school library or individual classrooms, teachers' wish lists will be posted at the Book Fair!  

HPV Vaccine (2nd stage) for Grade six females will be administered at Somerset School on December 12th.  There will be an information session at Three Oaks Senior High School Lecture Theatre on January 14, 2008. This year all girls in grade 6 are to be vaccinated in schools.  Is your daughter older than grade six and you have questions about this vaccine and if your daughter should receive it?  These and other questions will be answered for you by  members  the PEI Medical Society at this session held at Three Oaks. 

Prescription Drug and Other Drug Misuse and Abuse Session will be held at Three Oaks Senior High School Lecture Theatre on February 25, 2008.  There has been a lot of information in the media lately about the abuse of prescription drugs and other drugs in our community.  Corporal Reg Campbell with the RCMP will provide insight into what is happening in our community, and the signs we as parents should be looking for. 

Healthy Eating Tips from the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance for November 2007 - Let’s Look at the Label!

Have you noticed at the grocery store that more and more people are reading labels and comparing products?  Families want to know what they are eating and want to make the best food choices that will lead to better health. Health Canada now requires most packaged food to have nutrition information on food labels. The label will tell you a number of things. It will give you a list of every ingredient that is in that food. The company may make a special claim, if allowed by Health Canada, either about a specific nutrient or about how your diet can affect your health. The Nutrition Facts table on the product will tell you the amount of calories and nutrients for the serving size shown. Always compare the serving size on the package to the amount that you eat. The % Daily Value puts nutrients on a scale from 0% to 100%. This scale tells you if there is a little or a lot of a nutrient in one serving of the packaged food. You can then compare it to other similar products and decide which is a better choice for you and your family.  Many grocery stores have registered dietitians on staff who will give grocery store tours and help you understand food labels. Check at the store where you shop!  Here’s a great one-bowl, one-dish, no-brainer recipe you can throw together quickly at the end of the day! Serve with a crusty whole grain bread.

Luscious No-Crust Cheese and Spinach Pie

3 large eggs

6 tbsp (90 ml) flour

500 g container Cottage cheese

˝ cup (125 ml) diced ham (optional)

10 oz (264 g) bag of spinach (well washed)

1 cup (250 ml) grated Cheddar or Swiss cheese

In a large bowl, mix eggs, flour, Cottage cheese and ham together well.  Fold in spinach.  Spread into a 9 inch (23 cm) pie plate.  Sprinkle grated cheese over the top.

Bake in a preheated 350°F  (180°C) oven for 45 minutes.

Cut into 4 wedges and serve!

Source: Dairy Farmers of Canada website (www.nutrition2007.ca)

Check out the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance website at www.healthyeatingpei.ca 
 

Playground Committee Update - At the end of October, Maple Leaf Seniors held a Celidh at Somerset School and as a result, they have donated $618 to our playground fund.  Thanks so much.  The following is an updated list of donors.  Our sincere apologies if we have missed anyone.  Let us know and we will have it in our next update. 

Platinum - $5000 +

Community of Kinkora

McCain Foundation

Duffy Construction

Gold - $2500 - $4999

Linkletter Welding

Bernard Welding

Silver - $1000 - $2499

Malpeque Bay Credit Union

Bronze - $250 - $999

Kelly & Royce MacDonald

Webster Farms

Maple Leaf Seniors

Noonan Petroleum

Arsenault & McSweeney

South Freetown Sewing Club

John & Deanna Greenan

Under $250

Mark & Genese MacDougall

Hilltop Produce

Cavendish Farms

Norma Sherry

City Motors

D. Alex MacDonald Ltd.

Walter & Jean Clark

Bedeque Womens Institute

McCardle Bros.

New donors are welcome anytime.  Anyone who has not received a receipt, please check the table in the lobby at Somerset during Parent/Teacher interviews.  Also check out our playground equipment poster.  These are the pieces we have ordered this week.  We hope you like them as much as we do.  Tickets for a Maurice Bernard painting will be sold at our Christmas Concert.  Thanks so much for your continuing support. 

Somerset Community Playground Friends 
 

     NOVEMBER 

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
11

Remembrance Day

12

No Classes 

13

Report Cards & Appt. times go home 

14

Sub Day

15

Pizza

Book Fair

Parent Teacher

3:30 - 6:40

16

No Classes

Book Fair

Parent Teacher

8:30 - 11:30

17