Jean Vanier Catholic School
May 12th, 2017
"Every child, every person needs to know they are a source of joy; every child, every person needs to be celebrated". Jean Vanier
Be Like Jean Vanier-from our School Spirit Team
I have courage.
I listen to my heart.
I face my fears and am willing to try new things.
I have the courage to do the right thing.
Leadership Message: Spreading the Word of God to Every Corner of the World
Every day at Jean Vanier, we are blessed with many “moments” and “encounters” with one another. The joy of that face-to-face interaction between humans is priceless and builds relationships, friendships, and a mutual understanding of God’s call to be in community with one another. In our world today we have amazing opportunities daily to use technology as tools for learning and connect our students as global citizens! This has enabled learning environments to expand beyond the walls of schools and enter lands inaccessible in the past such as a virtual tour of a Komodo dragon sanctuary. (Mrs. Rafuse’s class virtually “visited” this sanctuary this year). As we have experienced our 1-1 exploration with our grade fours this year, we have witnessed students using technology as a learning tool and developing even more digital fluency, allowing our students to respond to the ever growing digital world.
As we become more and more proficient with accessing and connecting digitally, it is just as important to take time to connect face-to-face with one another. Students today often have access to using technology as a means of communicating socially. Mrs. Nixon has introduced a very informative story that shares the tale of a chicken who finds many “friends” via a cellphone. It is a great resource to start conversations at home and school about the important skills needed to navigate digital connections and social interactions online. We have included a visual of the book should you wish to extend these important conversations at home. We are blessed to be in a world today where we can send off an instant message to a grandparent in Ukraine or make a new friend on the playground. It’s all about balancing the different types of interactions and connections available. As Pope Francis shared, “Find new ways to spread the word of God to every corner of the world”. Spread love, joy, hope, and peace in every interaction.
Transition Information
- Our school learning team consists of our Principal:Mr. Marshall, our Assistant Principal & Inclusive Learning Facilitator: Mrs. Boehm, and our school counselor: Mr. Fras. In collaboration with staff, EICS, and external consultants, the school learning team meets often to share students needs and celebrations and assess the current supports in place. As students grow and learn, our school learning team responds to interventions using our Collaborative Response Model and our students are monitored throughout the year. As needs arise and information is shared, transition notes are added to students on Instructional Support Plans (ISP).
- As students transition to new grades within Jean Vanier: ISP transition meetings occur in June, teachers, EAs, facilitator, and counselor meet for transition meetings at the end of June to share info. and learning strategies for each students, some students will visit new teacher and/or classroom ahead of time if learning team deems this necessary, and continued professional conversations occur as needed for any situations that require additional transitional support such as; family crisis, medical change, etc.
- For students leaving Jean Vanier to Saint Theresa School: facilitator and counselors from both schools arrange a meeting to share student supports and needs in the Spring, JV grade fours are invited for a tour at St. T's, parents and students are invited twice to St. T's (Open House & Information night-May 31st), Students have a "penpal/buddy" that they write to and from with arranged by St. T's counselor, any students on ISPs have a transition meeting in June that includes staff from St. T's, specific and tailored arrangements are made for any students that require additional transitional support.
As with any transitions, we anticipate some bumps, much excitement, some apprehension, many smiles, and a few tears. As we continue to help our students and their families on their journeys, we also know that these transitions are very important for growth, and creating confident, independent, and resilient children who can be all God calls them to be.
Volunteer Appreciation
Thank-you to our PSC
Thank-you so much for the tea and treats for breakfast. Our staff truly appreciates all our parents do to support our students, staff, and school community.
Welcome to our new school secretary!
Student Illness
In reporting your child absence, please indicate they are away ILL if its a common cold. allergies ect. If you believe your child has the flu, please report that they are absent with the flu.
Thank-you.
Sacraments
Grade 4 Parent Information Evening
Please mark the date on your calendars at home! If you have any questions, please call St. Theresa at 780-464-4001.
Widynowski Pickup
Data Verification Forms
2017-2018 data verification forms, as well as the yearly consents (technology, field trips, locker use) are all available on your powerschool parent portal. If you still have a red box on your home screen indicating there are still forms to fill out, please click on the link and follow the instructions. If you have already submitted the data verification for 2017/2018, it just may be that we require the yearly consents filled out.
We are required to have parents review demographic data yearly to ensure we have the most current contact information. Thank-you for your assistance in making sure all of your child's contact information is up to date.
PSC Minutes
https://jv.eics.ab.ca/download/102612
BUCPS Update
Executive Positions for Next Year
The Executive board will have a number of positions that will need to be filled for next year. Please consider volunteering for one of these positions:
-Vice Chair
-Secretary
-Fundraising Committee Lead
-Advertising/Communications Committee Lead
Each of these positions require only a small amount of time but make a huge impact on the success of your child’s Ukrainian program. Please contact Shelley shelley.borowski@shaw.ca or Clayton clayton@starko.ca to put your name forward.
Ukrainian Corner
Христос Воскрес!
Last week, the Ukrainian Bilingual students from grades 1 to 4 experienced an exciting educational and cultural opportunity of making Petrykivka painting. Petrykivka rospys/painting is a traditional Ukrainian decorative painting style originating in the village of Petrykivka in Dnipropetrovsk oblast of Ukraine. The distinctive features of this folk art style are its flower patterns, distinctive brush techniques, and its traditionally white background (contemporary painters, however, often work on black, green, red or blue backgrounds). Pamela Shapka worked with each class on Petrykivka painting during her Ukrainian Art residency at our school. She taught the students the basic techniques of this beautiful Ukrainian art. Pamela was teaching students how to use a round brush to create the brush stroke used in Petrykivka painting. Students had visuals and step-by-step instructions to create traditional designs. We would like to thank the BUCPS for making this wonderful learning opportunity possible.
On Thursday, May 4th, pani Lesoway, panna Dzivenko and pani Cokan participated in a PD session titled "Commemorating 150th Anniversary of Canada's Confederation and 125 years of Ukrainian settlement in Canada: teaching resources and activities". The session took place in the ACUA centre. This session dealt with learning activities, teaching strategies, and available resources that teachers can use during teaching about these important events in Canadian history. The PD enriched both informative and methodological awareness of our teachers.
Oksana Cokan
Ukrainian Liaison/Coordinator
Grade 1 classes at Arbour Day
Sportball
Reading Buddies!
Kindergarten Playtime!
Growing...brains and plants at JV!
Oilers Spirit!
A little "Horseplay" in 1M! Reading to Trifon-thanks Mrs. Myroniuk!
Grade 1 students celebrating mass
Spring is finally here!
Head Lice Information
At Jean Vanier, we follow the guidelines given to us by Alberta Health Services. As soon as we are notified by a parent or a teacher that there is a case of lice in a particular classroom, parents in that class are sent an informative pamphlet from Alberta Services.
The more you and your child know about head lice, the more likely this concern will be managed within our school. Although they most commonly affect children, lice are very common and anyone can get them. Lice do not spread disease, and having head lice is not a sign of uncleanliness or poor hygiene. If someone has head lice, their scalp will be very itchy. The most important aspect of head lice is reassuring our children that this is common, it can be treated, and just like common colds-anyone can get head lice. The calmer the adults are in their approach, the less anxious our children will be.
Facts:
· They are an annoying but harmless part of life.
· Head lice are most common among school-aged children.
· Head lice are spread by direct head to head contact- They CANNOT jump or fly.
Treatment:
· If you or your child has lice, he or she may spread it to someone else in the family, neighbourhood or school unless they are properly treated.
· To control and prevent reinfestation, you must contact the school if you find a louse or nits in your child’s hair.
· Treatment is needed to keep from spreading to other people and the most important aspect is the removal of the nits.
· Make sure you check everyone in your family for nits or head lice. This should be done daily for 14 days. Only treat those family members where lice and/or nits are found and treat all persons at the same time.
· You can buy treatment supplies from the drug store.
· No treatment will kill all the nits when used for the first time. Pull off each nit by grasping it with your fingernails and sliding it off the hair strand. Throw nits into a garbage bag and seal it.
· Wet combing and metal nit combs may help to remove the eggs and lice.
· Check for and remove nits daily for 2 weeks.
Prevention:
· We cannot get rid of head lice completely within our school but we can control it by doing regular head checks and effective treatment. Make a plan to check your child’s hair on a regular basis. Some parents have shared that they make this an, “Early Dismissal” check.
· Tie long hair back in a braid or pony tail. This makes it harder for lice to crawl from one person to another.
· Keep children in separate beds on sleepovers. Change the sheets when a different person will be using them.
· Talk to your child about not sharing hats, brushes, helmets, pillows, coats, etc.
For more information, please visit:
PSC Elections
Upcoming Events at JV
May 15th: Afternoon assembly 1:00 pm
May 15th: Pitch in Week. Students will be taking time to clean our playground this week
May 16th: Living Rosary Celebration at 12:45 in the gym. All are welcome.
May 16th: Kubassa Order pickup 1:30 - 6:30 pm in school gym
May 17th: Grade 4 classes to Mayor's Walk
May 18th: 2D, 3M, 4R to Millenium Place
May 18th: Outdoor Classroom Day
May 19th: No School - PD Day
May 22: No School - Victoria Day
May 23rd: PSC Meeting/Elections 6:30 pm
May 24th: ECS Classes to John Janzen Centre
May 29th: Volunteer Appreciation after morning assembly
May 31st: Hot Lunch: Tim Horton's
May 31st: Parent info night at St. Theresa
June 1st: Grade 1M to visit Millar Farms
June 3rd: Ukrainian 4/8/11 Celebration
June 7th: Early Dismissal
Mark you calendar with these dates for 2017!
2017-2018 Approved School Calendar
Community News
Jean Vanier Catholic School
Email: jv@eics.ab.ca
Website: www.jv.eics.ab.ca
Location: 109 Georgian Way, Sherwood Park, AB, Canada
Phone: 780-467-3633
Twitter: @jvcatholic