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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
APRIL
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
MARCH
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 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
(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 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
JANUARY
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 + Gold - $2500 - $4999 Silver - $1000 - $2499 Bronze - $250 - $999 Under $250 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.
NOVEMBER
OCTOBER 2007 (Newsletters are edited to meet the recommendations for webpage guidelines set by the Department of Education) Somerset School is a scent free and peanut free school
Upcoming Dates: October 12 - Fall Fundraiser Begins October 16 - Public Health Clinic - Gr. 6 girls October 18&19 - No Classes -Teacher Conventions October 26 - Fundraising Money & Orders due back October 31 - Halloween November 7 - School Picture Day For Retakes November 9 - No Classes - P.D. Day November 12 - No Classes November 13 - Report Cards & Appt. Times go home November 15 - Parent Teacher - 3:30 - 6:40 November 16 - Parent Teacher - 8:30 - 11:30
Music Update This year, the music program is pleased to offer new lunch time activities. These are for student who are interested in learning more about music, new songs, and new styles. Mondays at 12:00 - beginner guitar and intermediate guitar groups will alternate week to week. Tuesday at 12:00 - junior choir (grades 1-4) and senior choir (grades 5-8) will rehearse when necessary for upcoming special events. Thursday at 12:00 - jazz band for interested senior band students. Students should pay great attention to the announcements for schedule information. There will also be a calendar posted outside the music room. Senior band rehearsals will be Wednesdays, from 3- 4, and will begin on the 10th. Thanks very much from Miss MacLellan (aka Miss Mac and /or Miss Music) Fall Fund Raiser - Somerset
Students are getting ready to participate in our Annual Fall Fund Raiser.
This year we are excited to be selling NorCard products (cards,
calenders, notepads, etc.). Students will be given a catalogue of
items and a order form on Friday, October 12th. All order
forms (you may keep the pink copy for your records, the other 3 copies
must be returned) and money must be returned to the school by Friday,
October 26th to ensure our order is in and delivered back to
the school in order to be sent home in early December. This will
ensure that items may be used as Christmas gifts. Parents are
reminded that Somerset School and the Western School Board do not promote
any fundraising activity that is not supervised by a parent or guardian.
Thank you for your support from the Staff and Students of Somerset School. Progress Reports will not be sent
home in October. As a school we have decided that a letter sent home
or a phone call would be more informative. Teachers will be in
contact with parents in October. Emergency and cell phone numbers
are very important to us if there should be an early school closure.
If your numbers have been changed, please inform the office so our records
will be up-to-date if there is a need to reach you urgently. Thanks to all parents who have
responded to our Volunteer Sheet and Home & School. We are
delighted at the response and look forward to working with each of you
during the school year. Warm Clothes - Just a reminder
that when the temperature begins to get colder, we ask parents to send
students dressed properly for outdoor recess. Warm jacket, hats and
mitts will make colder temperatures more bearable. Web Page for Somerset School has been updated to reflect each of the newsletters at http://www.edu.pe.ca/somerset.
We hope this will help keep parents informed of the events etc. at
the school should you misplace your hard copy of the newsletter. Terry Fox Run was a great success
again this year. We thank all those who participated or volunteered
in this fund raiser. Dylan M. in Grade 6 won a Terry Fox T-shirt for
getting the most pledges. The Toast Programme always requires funds to provide the extras (fruit, cheese, some toppings) for our children. Everyday, volunteers serve nutritious breakfast to approximately 60 - 70 students. Rocket players will serve toast on October 23rd again. Friday, November 9th there will be a Rocket hockey game night in support of Breakfast for Learning PEI. Healthy Eating Tips from the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance for October 2007 - Mom Was Right About Breakfast! What simple activity can help students learn better, focus better and retain more at school, have more energy and decrease the number of days lost because of illness? Eating breakfast! Breakfast provides children with the energy and nutrients necessary to perform their best at school and play. However, preparing a balanced breakfast can be a challenge when mornings are busy. Aim for three of the four food groups in Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide. Planning ahead can help breakfast preparation go quickly and smoothly. Here are a few ideas: • Keep the kitchen stocked with a variety of whole grain ready-to-eat cereals and bread products. • Put out dishes and non-perishable foods like cereals the night before. • Pre-mix pancake batter or scrambled egg mixtures and store in the fridge for the next morning. • Pre-mix dry ingredients for muffins the night before. Add liquids and bake in the morning. • Keep cut up fruit in the fridge for a breakfast fruit salad or for a smoothie. Smoothies can be fast, fun, and a healthy breakfast choice. Grab a muffin or cereal bar and you are set to go! Mixed Berry Smoothie • 1 cup (250 ml) mixed berries • ˝ cup (125 ml) low fat yogurt • Ľ cup (50 ml) orange juice • 1 tsp (5 ml) honey Blend together until smooth. Serves
2. Source: Food Network website (www.foodnetwork.com) Chocolate Bananarama • 1 ˝ cups (375 ml) cold chocolate milk • 1 sliced banana Blend until smooth. Serves 2. Source: Dairy Farmers of Canada brochure. Check out the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance website at www.healthyeatingpei.ca Guidance Services - Beginning
October 22nd our Guidance Counselor will be at our school only
on Tuesdays and possibly some Fridays. Please call the office if you
require verification of the days Ms. Baglole will be in our school. After-School Soccer Program for
students in grades 4, 5 and 6 has been a huge success! Approximately
25 students take part every Tuesday and Thursday, and on October 11th,
they will be travelling to Queen Elizabeth Elementary School for a game. Forty students from Somerset will be
traveling to Summerside to record a Christmas song for the Children’s
Wish Foundation CD on October 16th. CD’s will be
available for purchase before Christmas. Lifetouch has been at Somerset to
take student photos which will be sent home this month with your children.
We ask that you make your choices and return to the school as soon as
possible. Retakes will be taken October 30th. Positive Parenting from Two Homes is
a program for parents who are separated, divorced, or may never have lived
together. This two evening program helps parents help their children
through transitions from one home to another, emphasizes the importance of
reducing conflict for the sake of their children's emotional health, and
provides support and positive messages. To register for the program,
please call 902-368-4333 or toll-free 1-877-203-8828, leave a message and
your call will be returned. Indoor Soccer for the Central Queens
Area - After a trial program last year at Gulf Shore School, the
Central Queens Clippers Soccer Club is hoping to offer an indoor soccer
program for 8-12 year old boys and girls at both Central Queens Elementary
School and Gulf Shore Consolidated. The program would operate on Wednesday
evenings. For the program to proceed we need to have 2-3 parents per
school who would work together to operate the program on a rotating basis
(one night per month per person - activity schedules for each session
would be provided). We would try to arrange a game between the two groups
one night per month. Cost: $20 (for equipment and provincial fees) ($25 if
you don’t play summer soccer). Operation Mid October to March Break.
Space is limited due to gym size so please get your name in early. If
interested in participating (players and parent/volunteers) please
call Central Queens, Mary Kay Sonier at 964-2244 or Gulf Shore, Lori
Doucette at 963-3122. OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
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