Welcome Back to School and into Grade 5 with Mrs.

Sinclair
Captain Michael VandenBos P.S.

Tuesday September 4th, 2012

Dear Parent/Guardian and Student, Welcome to the start of a fresh new year! Many fun and interesting adventures are planned and we are looking forward to a great year at VandenBos! My goals along with teaching the 5 curriculum are for the students to enjoy school, make new friendships, respect their school, themselves and others while reaching their maximum potential. Treat Fridays and Student of the Week are two activities which help develop self- esteem, allow for practise in verbal communication and foster a sense of classroom cohesiveness. Students will each take a turn at being the student of the week. He/she will be asked to decorate a bulletin board ( approx.. size 1 metre by 1 metre). Students may bring in photos, awards, banners etc. There is a shelf for trophies, books and other mementoes. On Friday of that week, the student will present his/her board, and bring in a treat to share with the class. Please remember we are a peanut free school. A schedule will be sent home later this week.

Classroom focus For September

The majority of the month will involve character education, focusing on team building and respect. The Literacy component will include independently reading and responding to a variety of stories, guided reading and conferencing with the teacher. Writing will include journal writing, recounts and students will begin to write an autobiography about themselves. Our Numeracy focus will be on Data collection. Students will survey and interview their peers and families. A variety of graphs will be created, interpreted and presented to the class. A newsletter will be on-line each month to inform parents of curriculum to be covered that month, special events etc. The web-site is http://vandenbos.ddsbschools.ca/. Hardcopies will be available upon written request only.

Agendas
Each student will be given a free agenda on the first day. Home-school communication is a key to student success and the agenda planner is an effective tool to not only instil responsibility and organization, but maintain on-going communication between home and school. It is expected that the students use the agenda to record important dates, tests, assignments and daily homework or a note from the teacher. Please read the front pages with your child and sign the Agenda Planner Contract. I am asking that you sign the agendas every night so that you are aware of what your child is doing in school. Please encourage your child to bring home their agendas each night for you to look at and initial, and to bring it back to class the next day.

Lunch
If you have requested that your child stay for lunch daily, it is required that your child have a note to leave school property during lunch time, no exceptions will be made. This year students will be eating lunch in their classroom. It is important that all students follow the classroom lunch rules. We would like these rooms where we eat and learn to remain tidy and sanitary. The Boomerang Lunch, is in full effect here at VandenBos. Students are encouraged to take home all waste to their homes to dispose of accordingly. Our school is also a Nut Free school and we appreciate caution when packing lunches for your child. Thank you for choosing not to bring nuts or nuts products to school.

Indoor shoes/Gym clothes

Each student will need to have a pair of indoor shoes available at school at all times. Physical Education clothes are required and are recommended to be washed on a regular basis.

CMV values our volunteers

All volunteers must have a current Criminal Reference Clearance filed in the office. Applications are processed at any Durham Police Station. We greatly appreciate all our volunteers and when criminal clearance is filed in the office, we welcome them to contribute their efforts and time to VandenBos P.S..

Forms to return
Registration form Agenda Planner Contract School/Board Policies and Safe Use of Technology Student Insurance (optional)

Monthly VandenBos Excellence Assemblies

Each month, VandenBos staff and student leaders will hold Excellence assemblies, acknowledging and celebrating school and student successes. VandenBos students will work towards specific Snowbird Targets which are developed to encourage positive citizenship and achievement. Each grade will be assigned a specific month in which the students will organize and present the assembly. The Character Trait for September is Respect. The appointed leadership role for the grade 5 students is being an ambassador. This means the students will take turns being greeters during all assemblies.

STUDENT SUCCESS Students who put forth outstanding effort in their school work SCHOOL LEADERSHIP Students who participate in co-curricular activities and/or demonstrate positive leadership skills in all that they do (e.g. making the right choice, helping a friend) SNOWBIRD CITIZENHIP Students who display valued character traits every day (teamwork, responsibility, respect, perseverance, optimism, kindness, integrity, honesty, empathy, courage)

SEPTEMBER 20 - BBQ 5:30 pm

Meet the Teacher 6-8 pm

Dates to remember
All Month September Character Trait is Respect!!!! Sept. 7: School Assembly @ 8:30/ Play Day pm. Sept. 13: Terry Fox Assembly 8:30 Sept. 19: SCC QSP Kickoff Assembly, 8:30 Sept. 20: CMV Open House 6-8pm/BBQ 5:30 Sept. 25: SCC Pizza Lunch Sept. 27: SCC Meeting, 6:30 pm Sept. 28 Excellence Assembly, 12:30 I am looking forward to a successful year! Yours in Education, Julie Sinclair