St. Jean Elementary School

 Newsletter

Debi Mais-Murphy - Principal                                                                                                                                                                                                                      335 Queen Street    

Don Murnaghan- Vice Principal                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Charlottetown, PE C1A 4C5  

Josie Kelly-Kenny - School Counselor                                                                                                                                                                                                     Phone: 368-6985 Fax: 368-6991

Sharon Cronin - Administrative Assistant                                                                                                                                                                                                Website: www.edu.pe.ca/stjean

Dates to Remember:

Feb. 04 – Pizza Day                                                    Feb. 25 – Pizza Day

Feb. 08 – Home & School Meeting                            Mar. 10-11 – Report Cards Issued

Feb. 11 – Pizza Day                                                    Mar. 10 – Parent/Teacher Conferences

Feb. 18 – Pizza Day                                                    Mar. 11 – Parent/Teacher Conferences (No School)

Feb. 21 – Islander Day (No School)                           Mar. 21-25 – March Break (No School)

Literacy Bits for Parents - Choosing the Right Book:

To develop a love for reading, your child needs to learn to choose books that are ‘just right’ for him or her.

• Encourage your child to use the cover, back table of contents, pictures, or other text features to decide if he or she would be interested in the book.

• Encourage your child to read the first two pages and ask themselves if they understand the book so far.

• Suggest to your child that if there are more than three words on a page that they don’t know, then it would be better for them to read it to an adult.

• Talk to your child about how you choose a book to read.

PEANUT/NUT PRODUCT RESTRICTED SCHOOL

Some of our students are allergic to peanuts/nuts and peanut products. This news creates a situation for all of us to work together to make sure our school environment is peanut/nut free.

Please read the following carefully:

Students who are registered at our school have a severe life-threatening allergy (anaphylaxis) to peanuts and peanut products. Exposure to even a minute amount of the food substance could cause anaphylaxis and without immediate emergency medical assistance, loss of consciousness and death could occur. The school has established emergency plans for the students. A small amount of peanut product such as peanut butter on the hands of a student or teacher who then touches a door knob, computer, water faucet, water fountain or other article and then is touched by a student severely allergic to peanuts could be enough to cause a severe reaction or the death of the student. The school has an obligation to establish a safe environment for all students. Therefore, we are requesting that our school be PEANUT AND PEANUT CONTAINING PRODUCT FREE and that parents and teachers avoid including peanuts and peanut products in lunches or snacks brought to the school.

Our objectives are to establish and maintain, to the extent possible:

• a school, school environment, and buses which are free of peanuts and peanut products

• classrooms, attended by the students, which are free of the substance which could place the student at risk of anaphylaxis

• school practices which reduce the possibility of exposure to substances which cause anaphylaxis

Thank you for your assistance with this important matter. Please call the school if you have any questions or concerns.

 MUSIC NEWS

The St. Jean Choir is preparing for the Eastern School District Drama Festival.  The Choir meets on Day 2 and Day 4.  The choir will be performing the musical, “An Aesop Adventure” on the Mainstage of the Confederation Centre in April.

 Congratulations to Ms. Cole’s Grade 2 Class on receiving the St. Jean Music Class of the Month Award.  Well done!!

PHYSICAL EDUCATION NEWS

January was a very exciting month at St. Jean School.  We are very pleased to welcome students from Spring Park into our school and our intramural program.  We have added an additional day of practice to our after school program to accommodate the new students.

We’re continuing our gymnastics program in physical education class, intramurals, and after school.  The Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2 classes are working on balance, coordination, stretching and strengthening exercises specific to gymnastics.  The Grades 3 – 6 students are focusing on developing routines including more challenging exercises in preparation for our Friendship Gymnastics Meet in late February. 

Our Grade 6 Leadership Class has been setting up the gymnastic equipment in the morning and helping the younger students with their routines and exercises during intramurals.  Thank you very much to our Grade 6 Leadership Class for being such a great help and setting a wonderful example for the entire school!

ST. JEAN HOME & SCHOOL NEWS

This month, February 14^th – 20^th is National Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week.  On behalf of all parents, we would like to send out a big Thank You to the teachers and staff at St. Jean School for all of their hard work and dedication.  We appreciate it!!

Playground Fundraising – April 16^th is the day of our Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser.  Tickets and more information will be sent home shortly.  Also, we are looking for business connections and support to help raise money for our playground.  If you know of any companies that could help support our fundraising efforts, please contact us. 

The next Home & School meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 8^th at 6:30 pm at St. Jean School. Everyone is welcome! If you are unable to make a meeting but have a question or would like to know what we are up to, call or send us an email.  

Hope to see you there,

Cathy & Erin (co-chairs)

cathyhennessey@hotmail.com or 367-2728

elhennessey@hotmail.com or 368-8995

LATE FRENCH IMMERSION INFORMATION MEETING

Information Meetings have been organized by the Eastern School District for the month of February for parents of Grade 6 students who may be considering having their child enroll in Late French Immersion next year. The information presented at this meeting will be quite helpful in guiding you to make the best decision for your child. Scheduled Meetings:

Wednesday, February 2nd - East Wiltshire 7:00pm

Thursday, February 3rd - Birchwood 7:00pm

Tuesday, February 8th - Stonepark 7:00pm

Thursday, February 10th - Queen Charlotte 7:00pm

****Parents should attend the Jr. High Information Meeting that their child will attend next year.

COMMUNITY NEWS

 Celebrate Winter Fun at Ski, Skate and Snowshoe February 6^th in PEI National Park!

 Parks and People Association will hold its annual Ski, Skate & Snowshoe Event in the Dalvay area of PEI National Park on Sunday, February 6^th, 2011 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm.  The activity will consist of open-air skating on Dalvay Lake, cross-country skiing on the Woodlands Trail and snowshoeing on the Reeds & Rushes Trail behind the Dalvay Trailhouse – all great opportunities for family and friends to explore PEI National Park under a blanket of snow!  Please note that equipment is not provided.

 Parks Canada is celebrating 100 years since it was founded as the first formal national park service in the world.  We are inviting all Islanders to celebrate with us at Ski, Skate & Snowshoe.  The public is cordially invited to attend this free event.  Don’t miss the hot chocolate and light refreshments to be served by the skating are at Dalvay Lake!

 For more information, check the Parks and People website at www.parksandpeople.ca or call 894-4246.  Winter trail and ice conditions in PEI National Park are available 24-hours-a-day all winter long by calling