Prairie Rose School Division                                                                                                                                                  Carman, MB  ROGOJO

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 E-mail: carmanelm@cici.mb.ca

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Principal: Dan Saunders

May/05 Newsletter

Playground Update and Final Fundraiser

     We are very excited about the purchase and installation of our new playground structure this summer. After a couple of years of hard work planning and fundraising, the playground committee, consisting of Parent Council, school and divisional staff members, has announced the attainment of its goal. Mid July looks like the time that construction will take place. A grand opening will take place in September. Stay tuned!

        With this in mind, our Parent Council will undertake a final cheese fundraiser for the playground. Besides ensuring that the costs of the new structure are covered, we also have several other playground renovations and repairs which need to be done. For example, repairs to our existing playground "forts" and purchase of new permanent seating (benches) for a small picnic/rest area next to the new play structure are planned for next year. As well, marking templates for "4-square" and other popular playground games are needed. Your support of this year-end Bothwell cheese fundraiser, then, would be greatly appreciated. The starting date is Friday, May 20^th and the closing date is Monday, May 30^th.

      I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who worked so diligently to bring this dream to reality. I would also like to thank all those who so generously supported this school and community project. Reaching this lofty goal is the result of a stellar team effort and once again displays the tremendous kindness and concern for others which exist in our community.

Staffing, 2005/06

For the 2005/06 school year, Carman Elementary School will have an additional administrative position. A 0.2 position has been added for a vice-principal. This position will include a 0.8 teaching position, as well. Applications for this job ended on May 11/05. Interviews will follow. The successful candidate will be introduced to you in our June newsletter. If there are any further changes in staff we will also share them with you at this time.

Special School Events for May/June

     May 14, 8:40 a.m., Run at the Ridge for Cool Cat Runners

     May 18, 9:00 a.m. - Roof-top Photo (order forms sent home)

        May 26, 1-3 p.m. - Bike Safety Clinic, grades 3-5 (bring bikes and

         helmets)

        June 2, 10:45 a.m. - G.V.C. Senior 2 Band and Choir

        June 2, 2:00 p.m. - U. of M. Opera Co., "Brothers Grim"

        June 16, 7:00 p.m. - K-1 Concert, Carman Collegiate Theatre

        June 19, 7:00 a.m., Manitoba Marathon for Cool Cat Runners

        June 20, 7:00 p.m. - "Child Exploitation on the Internet" Presentation

         (Mick Makar, Crown Attorney, see below)

Child Exploitation on the Internet Presentation

On June 20 at 7:00 p.m., Carman Elementary's and Carman Collegiate's Parent Councils will host an evening with Senior Crown Attorney Mick Makar of the Manitoba Dep't. of Justice. Mr. Makar will present information on luring and child pornography on the internet. He works closely with the Project ICE Unit (Integrated Child Exploitation Unit) in Winnipeg and throughout the province and has been the prosecuting attorney in many of their cases. His presentation on April 6 to our school division's administrators was very informative and we feel that this topic is one that needs to be more fully addressed in our homes and schools. All are welcome.

Mr. Makar recommends that parents and students be exposed to the www.cybertip.ca and www.bewebaware.com websites.

School Plans, 2005/06

     Our school team, including staff and Parent Council and community members, are about to begin a review of our 2004/05 School Plans (Community Report) and development of plans for the 2005/06 school year. Every year at this time, we look back to evaluate the progress we have made toward the attainment of outcomes set forth the past spring and collaborate in the development of new or continued goals for the next school year. The outcomes and strategies/action plans from our School Plans provide direction and focus for us each year. The Community Report for the 2004/05 school year will be shared with parents and community in June.

Crisis Response Plan

     As part of our School Plans for 2004/05, our school team undertook to develop a Crisis Response Plan. This followed work by a divisional committee on a Prairie Rose School Division Crisis Response Plan. The primary purpose for these documents were to provide for both the physical and emotional safety of our students and staff in the event of a crisis eg. fire, bomb threat, tornado, intruders, etc. The intent is to have Crisis Response Plans in place in all school divisions and schools to enact quick and effective responses to crises in order to minimize the disastrous effects such powerful events can bring.

        We have completed our school Crisis Response Plan and are now in the process of teaching and practicing emergency procedures with the students and staff. This will continue to be a school goal for next year and will be included once again in our School Plans.

Listen to Your Child Read (Tip #6, "Helping Your Child Learn to Read")

      As your child learns to read, listen to him or her read aloud. Reading to you gives your child a chance to practice and improve his or her reading skills. As you listen, remember that your reactions are important. Above all, listen without interrupting. Be enthusiastic and praise your child as often as you can. If possible, be specific in your praise so that your child knows what he or she is doing well eg. "your expression in reading that sentence/paragraph/story was great!" or "I like the way you pause at periods. It gives me a chance to think about what you have read and helps me understand".

        * Indicate interest and enjoyment by asking questions. Also ask frequently, "Does that make sense?"

* Give your child time to figure out tricky words and help him or her solve word recognition problems eg. picture clues, context/meaning clues, word beginnings or endings, root words…

* Make sure that your child chooses books that are not too difficult. There should be no more than 5 or 6 words on a full page of print which he or she does not know. Try a sample page and you'll know how the book "fits"

* Encourage your child to listen to his or her own reading. Listening or even taping your child's reading will help him or her hear what he or she can do, and think about what he or she might try next

* Take turns reading with your child, especially in the beginning stages, or try reading together. It's important that your child hears and tries to model fluent reading

* Talk about the book after you and your child read it to ensure understanding and to reinforce the notion that we read to understand and learn

The Final Word: "No generation has ever had to wait so little to get so much information".