Learning More in Grade 3/4!
Ms. Barrington's Weekly Newsletter
Week of March 4th, 2024
The Week Ahead
Monday (Day 2):
- Classroom Science Fair Show & Share
- Library (Bring Book Bags & Library Books)
- Grs. 4-6 Dene Hand Games
- Phys. Ed.
- Grs. 4-6 Robotics
- Grs. 3-6 Guitar Club
Tuesday (Day 3):
- Hot Lunch: Boston Pizza
- Classroom Science Fair Show & Share
- WITS Guest Reader
- Alternative Music
- Phys. Ed.
Wednesday (Day 4):
- Popcorn Orders Due
- Christina Gordon School Science Fair
- Take Me Outside (Dress for the Weather)
- Leader in Me
- Music
Thursday (Day 5):
- Hot Lunch: Cora's
- Gr. 3 Tubing Field Trip (Dress for the Weather)
- French
- Gr. 3 Tech Time
- Gr. 4 Options
- ECDP Open House (5:00 pm)
Friday (Day 1):
- Popcorn Day
- Sensory Friendly Phys. Ed.
- ECDP Open House (9:00 am)
- Music
- Library Leaders
Upcoming Events
- February 26th-March 1st - No School (Teacher Convention Break)
- March 1st - April Hot Lunch Orders Open
- March 4th - Classroom Science Fair Show & Share
- March 5th - Classroom Science Fair Show & Share
- March 6th - Christina Gordon School Science Fair
- March 6th - Popcorn Orders Due
- March 7th - Grade 3 Vista Ridge Field Trip
- March 7-8th - ECDP Open Houses
- March 7-8th - IPP Meetings
- March 8th - Popcorn Day
- March 10th - Ramadan Begins
- March 15th - No School (Staff PLF #10)
- March 15-16th - Wood Buffalo Regional Science Fair
- March 19-20th - Alien Inline Family Nights
- March 20th - April Hot Lunch Orders Close
- March 21-22nd - Kindergarten Open Houses
- March 22nd - Term 2 Report Cards Available Online
- March 27th - Bee Canada Pollinator Presentation
- March 28th - Spirit Day: Backwards Day
- March 29th - No School (Good Friday)
- April 1st - No School (Easter Monday)
Notes From the Office
CGSF Popcorn Days: We are gearing up for another successful fundraising year with Popcorn Fri-yays. Popcorn is $2.00, and we aim to have popcorn delivered to classrooms before 10:30 am on Friday. Last year popcorn days provided approximately $7 000 to our Fundraising Association. As our student population continues to grow, we know the support is needed more now than ever. We are working with our Hot Lunch ordering platform to hopefully have popcorn orders streamlined through that, for families who wish to do so. If you have any questions: please email Barb (cgsfundraising@gmail.com).
Hot Lunches: Ordering will be open from the 1st to the 20th of each month to order for the following month. Please note that there is no hot lunch ordering for ECDP or Kindergarten students. To open your 2023/24 hot lunch account (the system does not retain information from the previous year), follow the detailed instructions provided in the attached graphic (Digital Take Home Folder). When you log in, you may notice a new button to volunteer for hot lunch. Please consider volunteering to help sort and organize hot lunches from 11:30 am-12:30 pm. If you have any questions you can contact our hot lunch team at: cgshotlunch@outlook.com.
CG Gear: Our online store is back up and running for the year. Check out: https://christinagordon.entripyshops.com/ to order school clothing. There is a wide variety of styles, logos, and colours to choose from!
Science Fair: Christina Gordon School's Science Fair is coming up on Wednesday, March 6th. While the Wood Buffalo Regional Fair and judges are only for Grades 4-6, Division 1 students are invited to participate in our School Fair! Students who want to participate will complete the Science Fair project at home. Science Fair projects can be done independently or with one other student. Attached (Digital Take Home Folder) is a booklet to complete while doing the experiment. Students can choose any topic for their project that interests them. If they don't know where to start, we recommend Science Buddies Website: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/. For younger students, there are some good experiments here from Chirp Science: https://www.owlkids.com/chirpscience/. Students who complete a Science Fair project will first present it to their own class as practice on either March 4th or 5th. During the School Fair on March 6th, students will set up their projects on tables in the gym. Classes in the school will come to walk through the fair and the students can explain their project to other students of all grade levels! Their science project display can be done on a tri-fold board (purchased at dollar stores, staples, etc.), but it is not mandatory. Students should bring along their project booklet and experiment or pictures that tell the story of their experiment so others at school can see what they have learned. We are looking forward to seeing some great science experiments!
Grade 3 Vista Ridge Tubing Field Trip: As an extension of our Physical Education program, students in Grade 3 will be participating in a tubing day at Vista Ridge Ski Hill on March 7th, 2024. Vista Ridge staff will be onsite and will conduct a safety talk for all participants prior to using the hill. Students will leave the school at approximately 9:30 am and will return by 2:00 pm. Students will need snow gear (eg. hat, mittens, jacket, snow pants, etc.) as well as a packed lunch. Students will not have access to the canteen in the main chalet. There are no student microwaves available at Vista Ridge. Please note that the school is not responsible for any lost or damaged items. If tubing is cancelled due to weather, all attempts will be made to reschedule. The total cost of tubing plus bus transportation is $27 per student. All payments are to be made using Parent Portal by February 22nd, 2024. Cash or cheques will not be accepted as payment. Should you have any issues using Parent Portal, please contact the main office of the school. Refunds will only be provided if a student is unable to participate due to medical reasons. All students are welcomed and encouraged to attend this field trip. Should the cost create any hardship for any family, please contact your student's teacher or the office and alternative arrangements will be made in confidence. No student would be left out due to financial hardship.
Alien In-Line Family Night: Alien Inline Skating is coming to a Family Night near you soon! March 19-20th. Please note the following:
- First come first served.
- All children must have at least one guardian with them.
- The guardian may skate if they want, but they do not have to.
- There are 4 50-minute slots spread out over 2 days. Families may sign up for one time only.
- When signing up, take one slot per skater. Observers do not need to book a slot.
- We do not have gear for ECDP aged children.
- Skaters may bring equipment from home PROVIDED that it is CLEAN and they have all safety equipment (helmet, elbow, knee and wrist pads).
- You still need to sign up for a slot even if you are using your own gear.
Here is the sign up link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040F4DABAF2DA2FB6-alien.
AP 145: Use of Personal Communication Devices (PCDs): A growing number of students at Christina Gordon are coming to school with and using personal communication devices (ie. cell phone, smart watches, etc.) through the school day. As such, we want to remind all families of FMPSD Administrative Procedure 145 and the policies and procedures in place for these devices:
"Openness to new and future technologies and their educated use create opportunities for many constructive and positive uses that can aid the instructional process. Further, regulated use of some personal communication devices in the school and community may contribute to the safety and security of students and staff. However, unregulated use of such devices may pose a risk to personal safety; may disrupt instruction; may invade personal privacy; and may compromise academic integrity.
Procedures
- Personal Communication Devices (PCDs) are not to be operated by students during regularly scheduled instructional time, or during any school sponsored activity, such as an assembly or talk by a guest speaker, unless such use is approved by the classroom teacher to facilitate learning activities. Normally, PCDs are to be stored in silent mode during instructional and school sponsored activities.
- PCDs are not to be taken into test or examination settings, unless students have been given permission to do so.
- PCDs are not to be used in settings such as change rooms, washrooms, private counseling rooms, that have the potential to violate a person’s reasonable expectation of privacy.
- Students who bring PCDs to the school are expected to comply with all parts of Administrative Procedure 350 - Student Conduct. Students who consistently refuse to comply with the Division’s procedures for use of PCDs in the school setting may be subject to disciplinary measures detailed in the school’s rules, as well as the steps outlined in Administrative Procedure 355 - Student Discipline.
- Staff who bring PCDs to school shall comply with Administrative Procedure 140 - Acceptable Use of Information and Communication Technology and Administrative Procedure 141 - Portable Technology Security.
- The Superintendent requires Principals, in consultation with appropriate stakeholders (including the School Councils), to formulate and implement procedures at the school site consistent with the Division Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and process-based instructional requirements.
- The Principal or designate may authorize a specific use of a PCD during the school day under the guidelines of the process-based instructional requirements.
- In the event of an emergency, such as a lockdown or an evacuation, the Principal will develop and inform the school community of the acceptable use of PCDs in that emergency situation.
- PCDs are valuable electronic devices. The security and storage of these items is the sole responsibility of the owner/user. The Division assumes no responsibility for the safety, security, loss, repair or replacement of PCDs. PCDs which are taken temporarily from students by teachers or administrators must be securely stored."