Principal’s Greeting

It does seem a little strange at the start of May to be looking ahead to graduation already but with our Graduation Ceremony on Saturday, June 1^st at 1pm this is the newsletter to invite you to this important event on the school’s calendar. Our Grad Class of 2013 is: Margaret Barker, Mercedes Casley, Danika Hammond, Cypress Hunder-Rookes and Marlowe Nicholson. These five students have contributed so much to the life of our school and community that despite the smallness of their Grad Class there is going to be so much to celebrate with them. Events start in May, on Friday 31^st at 2pm. Our grads will walk through the gym to be presented to the school and they will host their banquet with their invited family and friends at the Silverton Memorial Hall that evening.

PAC Meeting

May’s meeting will be on Wednesday, May 1^st at 6.30pm. At this meeting one of the agenda items will be to discuss the attributes that parents would like to see in the new principal and to nominate or ask for a volunteer to be on the interview panel.

ArtStarts Performance

The last ArtStarts performance for this school year is on Monday, May 13^th at 1.30pm.

School photo

The school photo, class and team photos will be on Monday, May 13^th. They usually take place in the morning. Perhaps we will be able to have our new playground equipment as the backdrop this year!

Writers and Arts Fest

Please come to our annual Writers’ Fest Coffee House scheduled for Friday, May 3^rd starting at 6.30pm at Silverton Memorial Hall. Students will have spent the week working with Stuart Ross, Matt Maitland, Lila Strand and Caroline Woodward and they will all be reading their writing at the coffee house. We have returned to the Memorial Hall in order to accommodate a crowd! One of the performances will also be the play that some of the secondary students will have written and rehearsed for their Spring into Learning elective.

Aboriginal Events

An ‘Enhancement Agreement Community Consultation’ meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 8^th from 6.30pm- 8pm led by Terry Taylor, our Aboriginal Education leader in SD10, to discuss and share progress what had been done over the last three years and to gather input and ideas for the next three years. All are welcome to attend.

During May our Aboriginal Education coordinator, Lauren Smith, has arranged for a number of guest educators to work in both elementary and secondary class rooms. There will be a mix of cultural and language opportunities.

Redfish School of Change

On Thursday, May 16^th in the morning, Mr Parkstrom’s Socials 9-10 and History 12 class will be working alongside undergraduate students from the Redfish School of Change on a bat habitat and inventory study along Slocan Lake. This will be the third year our students have had this opportunity to work with Redfish and one part of the work is to have information to present to visitors at New Denver’s May Day events about the bats that live in our area.

Ivan Coyote Workshop

Also on Thursday, May 16^th in the afternoon our secondary students will take part in ‘One in Every Crowd’ workshop led by writer Ivan Coyote. She is an award-winning author of nine books, three CD’s, four films and a renowned live performer, who performs an average of two hundred times a year in theatres and in festivals all over the world. Ivan has also been using personal narrative and storytelling to promote anti-bullying awareness and she addresses bullying that arises out of differences in young people’s sexuality. Please contact the secondary school counsellor, Ashley Barker, if you have any questions on this workshop.

News of a ‘Tween and Me Parenting Program’ from our counsellor

My Tween & Me Parenting Program

Discover the full potential of your relationship with your pre-teen.
You and your child have come through the demanding early years.  Now you realize there are new challenges ahead — potentially big challenges.

My Tween and Me parenting program will open your eyes to all the ways you can continue to influence your pre-teen’s choices, values and goals.  This interactive, customizable program will give you the keys to preventing risky behaviour — by helping you discover your own skills and strengths as a parent.

You are Their Hero!

Children between the ages of 7 to 12 need active, involved parents! Current research tells us that parents are the most powerful influencers in their tweens’ lives, and that enjoying a close relationship with their parents can keep kids from experimenting with drugs and alcohol, and from other risk-taking behaviours.

My Tween and Me is a parenting program that helps parents build a strong relationship with their children as pre-teens, and gives them the confidence and skills to guide their children into – and through – the risk-taking teen years.

Make a Difference for your Tween

Parents who take part in a My Tween and Me program meet with other parents each week over the course of six weeks. Trained group leaders guide you through discussions and learning activities exploring the key areas of every school-aged child’s life:

• Home and Family
• School and Friends
• Community Life

Discussions and activities are tailored to your needs and interests.  You’ll learn new ways to make the most of your time with your tween!

Facilitators – Michelle Pierce and Nancy Bone

Place – Stepping Stones Children’s Center

Dates and Time – Thursdays starting May 2^nd, 2012 from 5:30-7:30 (light dinner provided)

To register – Call Nancy @ 250-265-4666

And finally…

…the volunteer barbeque when we specifically thank all the volunteers in the community who help our school has been rescheduled from May and will now be on Thursday, June 13^th between 5-7pm.

Dates for 2012-2013

Mon, April 29th Writers Fest / Spring into Learning starts

Fri, May 17^th NI Day – no school for students

Mon, May 20^th Victoria Day

Sat, June 1^st Graduation Ceremony

Thu, June 13^th Spring Picnic

Mon, June 17^th School exams start

Thu, June 20^th Provincial exams start

Thu, June 27^th Last day of classes