Education Week

Education Week is May 2 to 6, 2011.  The Simcoe County District School Board invites everyone to celebrate public education during this time.  Schools throughout the SCDSB will be marking the week with a wonderful range of special events and programs.  At our school, we are pleased to participate in the SCDSB Robotics Fair next Monday.  As well, our students will participate in the 7^th Annual Music Monday, a special event promoted by the Coalition for Music Education.  Like other students across the country, we will lead our students in the song “Tomorrow” by Luke Doucet.  The song was co-commissioned by the CBC and the Coalition for Music Education. It was recorded and produced in the CBC Vancouver Production Centre.  Through iTUNES, the song was downloaded for our use.  Proceeds from each download are directed to the Coalition for Music Education.  On Tuesday, our Primary and Junior students will meet Sharon Jennings up close and in person.  Jennings, the author of “C’mere Boy”, a 2011 Blue Spruce selection, is also a teacher and parent.  As I understand it, her three children used to be the inspiration for her many picture books and novels for young readers but then they had the nerve to grow up.  Fortunately, one of them brought home a puppy!  Our Annual Area Music Fest will take place Wednesday at Connaught Pubic School.  We are pleased to have many of our Primary students and their teachers attending the event which will showcase student choirs from many local schools.  Each Thursday in May, the Ontario Early Years Centre will host “Getting Ready for Kindergarten”, a program for parents whose children are making the transition from home or child care centres to the public school system.  This program will feature special presentations and discussion related to aspects of academic, social and physical growth and child development.  We are pleased to offer this program at our school.

Happy Earth Day

Please see Mr. Comish's blog for more information about our eWASTE fundraiser.  The cheque has been cut and we now have $587.60.  This is incredible.  At our EARTH DAY assembly earlier this morning, Mrs. Hall has asked staff and students to discuss ways we can use this money at our school.  Thank you to Metro Ontario Inc. and in particular, Collingwood Store Manage John for coming today to extend special recognition to our school.  The School Council had applied to the Green Apple School Program, a Metro Initiative.  We have $1000.00 to put toward our Outdoor Classroom.  Happy Earth Day tomorrow and Happy Easter to those who celebrate this special occasion.

Planting the SEEDs for EARTH DAY

I take this opportunity to thank Mrs. Hall, Mrs. Hare, Miss Kitchener, members of the Environment Club and the Media Club for their dedication and commitment to our eWASTE initiative.  By the end of the school day last Friday, our trailer was completely filled with used and outdated electronic items.  Imagine a trailer filled with items that will be recycled and not end up in land fill.  We hope to soon have the results of our work – in terms of waste weight generated.  As you may have seen in last week’s Collingwood Connection, our school and our story was featured in the newspaper.  Mrs. Hall has contacted the SEEDS Foundation and because we have recorded 2000 green projects, we have now received EARTH SCHOOL 2 status.  This is the most perfect timing because we set this school goal and we have achieved it.  This year, EARTH DAY is Friday April 22 – Good Friday.  To celebrate,  members of our Environment Club and students from Mrs. Hall’s and Mrs. Hare’s classes will participate in a special presentation next Wednesday 12:45 p.m. at the Gayety Theatre.  On Thursday, we will honour our environment at our Cameron Cares Assembly scheduled to begin shortly after 9:00 a.m.  Because we care about our school yard, we welcome our Adopt the Yard program.  Check the School Council blog for additional information.  We all have a responsibility to ensure our yard is as neat, clean, tidy and garbage free as it can be!  Next Wednesday afternoon between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m., our friends at Mountain View School will host an Earth Day Celebration.  You are invited to use reclaimed materials to make your own Robot Sculpture with artist Kevin MacLean.  This make and take craft is FREE and materials are provided.  Happy EARTH DAY.

Mr. Giffen