WOLFVILLE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

Principal Steve Keddy Middle School Office 542-6050 Vice - Principal Ruth MacLeod Elementary Office 542-6055

WEBSITE: http://wolfville.ednet.ns.ca September 7, 2012 Dear Parents / Guardians: September is always an exciting time of year and 2012 is no exception. A sincere thank you to students and staff on an extremely successful start to what I know will be a successful school year! A warm welcome is extended from the staff at Wolfville School to all of our students and their families. A special welcome to our new primaries, students joining us from our feeder schools, students new to the Wolfville area and their families. Also, we have a number of new staff members added to our team of professionals who you will meet during our upcoming Parent Orientation evening. We look forward to working with you, the families, to motivate, encourage and challenge your children so that they may reach their fullest potential. One of the most important things your child can do to achieve academic success is also one of the most basic: going to school every day. In fact, research has shown that your child's attendance record may be the biggest factor influencing her academic success. As a parent or guardian, it is possible to plan ahead in order to limit your child's absences. By making your child's school attendance a priority, you will be taking an important step in supporting your child's school success, and setting a good example. Remember every day counts! Many families would realize I began my career as Principal Wolfville School 10 years ago. I am excited to return this year after a 2 year absence and look forward to working with your children. Our Parent Orientation is scheduled for September 20th, support your child by attending! Steve Keddy, Principal
SAC NEWS

EMAIL: WS@AVRSB.CA

can do its best work if there are representatives from each group participating and sharing in the discussions. Meetings are generally one evening a month and we encourage you to consider getting involved. An information sheet will be sent home with students later in September. In addition to the elected membership, all members of the school community are welcome to attend SAC meetings. The first SAC meeting for this year will be on Thursday, October 4, 2012, at 7:00pm. We look forward to having you join us.

HOME AND SCHOOL NEWS

Next Home & School Meeting The next H&S meeting will be Tuesday, September 25th at 7pm in the Family Studies Room. Come help us decide what fun events and activities we should plan for this year!

Ice Cream Social and Book Sale:

Please join Wolfville Home & School in an Ice Cream Social and Book Sale. When: Tuesday Sept 11th, 6pm to 8pm Where: Wolfville School Gym Who: You and your family Why: To welcome everyone back to school after the summer! About: Free ice cream sundaes (donated by Farmers Dairy) and a used book sale. If you have any gently used books (childrens or adults) to donate please bring them to the school office / foyer area on Friday or Monday. Ice cream toppings also greatly appreciated! BYOB!: Bring Your Own Bowl! (and spoon!) We are hoping to go green this year and not use so many disposable bowls and spoons. Please bring your own bowl and spoon from home and help save the environment! What to Bring: A little cash for a donation or to buy books at the sale. A reusable spoon and bowl for all ice cream eaters!
STUDENT ATTENDANCE Consistent student attendance is important. When a child is frequently absent from school he/she misses important learning experiences including specific skills and knowledge that may be necessary for further learning. The real danger of frequent absences from school is that students will develop gaps in their

The SAC includes elected members from all groups who make up our school community: parents, teachers, non-teaching staff, students (grades 5 and 8) and the community-at-large. The SAC

learning that will hinder future learning. It is understood that there are legitimate reasons why students must miss school. When this occurs, the school will work with you to ensure your child does not fall behind. Please communicate these situations with the childs teacher and the school principal. There are also many examples of students missing significant time when it is not necessary. Please take school attendance seriously. Be consistent in ensuring that your child values the importance of a good education. Make sure he/she goes to bed at a reasonable time and gets a good nights sleep. Plan your vacation at times that will have no impact, or at the least a minimal impact, on school attendance. Do not hesitate to phone the school if you are encountering difficulties getting your child to attend school. Allow us to work with you to find solutions. We are willing to sit with you to look at your childs programming and school experiences as well as any other factors that may impact on your child attending school. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Wolfville School Kitchen We are looking for someone interested in working part time in the Wolfville School kitchen. This position would be 12 hours per week (2 full days). Any interested person, please contact Jayn Kenny at wscaf@avrsb.ca or call 542-0002.

New Speed Limits In School Zones

What is the new law regarding speed limits in School areas? Effective September, 1 2012, to help make school zones safer for children, the vehicular speed limit is being reduced to: - 30 km/h in areas where the approaching speed limit is 50 km/h when children are present; and - where the approaching speed limit is higher than 50 km/h, drivers will continue to be required to reduce speed to a maximum of 50 km/h in school zones when children are present. Does the speed limit apply at all times? The reduced speed limit applies at all times when children are present in the school area. "Children present" is defined as being: 1. On the highway in the school area, or 2. Outdoors, within 30 metres of the highway, in the school area. Note: This reduced speed limit will be in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year when children are present in the school area. When is the new law effective? The new law becomes effective on September 1, 2012.
FAMILY ORIENTATION EVENING Primary - 8 A cordial invitation is extended to parents for our orientation evening on September 20th for parents. Parents are requested to meet in the gymnasium at 7:00 pm for an information session followed by meet the teacher in your childs classroom. PROPER USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA As technology becomes a bigger part of our childrens daily lifestyles, we are witnessing both the benefits and the challenges. Our children are just a click away from accessing tremendous volumes of information. Specific technologies, software, and online resources can provide wonderful educational supports. There are many benefits to communication as social networking software creates a much smaller world and people are able to communicate much more easily. Unfortunately, technology has also created challenges around communication. One of these challenges that schools are facing more often is around students posting inappropriate comments using electronic public communication, including Facebook, email, texting, web pages, etc. It can often be challenging for a school administrator to fully understand the circumstances surrounding an electronic posting. Quite often, these comments

SAFE ARRIVAL Primary to Grade 5 Elementary Parent/Guardians are reminded to inform the school if your child will be late or absent from school. The elementary phone number is 542-6055. ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL Grades 6 to 8 If a student is away from school due to illness or personal reasons, the student is to bring an excuse on his/her return to their homeroom teacher.

WOLFVILLE SCHOOL FEES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Grades Primary 2 will have school fees of $40.00 (this includes $35.00 for supplies and $5.00 for Arts Presentations). Grades 3 5 students will have school fees of $45.00 (this includes $35.00 for supplies, $5.00 for Arts Presentations and $5.00 for agendas). Please remit in cash or make cheques payable to Wolfville School. MIDDLE LEVEL STUDENT FEES Middle school students are asked to pay $20.00. This covers a school agenda, rental of lock and Theatres Arts Fee. A maximum family rate of $40.00 is available for student fees. Please remit in cash or make cheques payable to Wolfville School. STUDENT REGISTRATION FORMS Student registration forms have been sent home. Please make any corrections on the form, fill in the blank areas and sign the forms where indicated. Please return the form to your childs teacher. BAND REGISTRATION Come out on Monday, September 10th and learn about the band program, see the new uniform, register your youth for band and enjoy some coffee and treats!

equate to cyber-bullying. The basic direction for school administrators is that if a comment is posted electronically on any form of public electronic communication, and has a negative impact on the daily functioning of the school, then it is a school issue. Students will often counter that he/she didnt post at school and that the issue has nothing to do with school. While parents/guardians have an important role in educating their children around the responsible use of technology and social media, schools understand they also play an important part in that process So, in spite of where the posting happened, the school must take action if the posting impacts on the daily functioning of the school. Such action could be in the form of communication with the home, disciplinary measures, recommendation for counseling, referral to outside agencies, etc. This will continue to be a challenge for schools. We encourage all parents and guardians to work with us in the important job of educating our youth in the appropriate use of online technologies, in particular social networking such as Facebook and Twitter. Public Information Sessions on Current and Future Education Funding Schools matter to our communities and our future, and AVRSB appreciates that many in our school communities want to know how changes in education funding could impact programs and services for students in our region. To share information on how education dollars are being spent currently, and to have a discussion on how reduced education funding may impact the system in the years ahead, AVRSB is planning two public information sessions. All parents/guardians and school community members are invited to join AVRSB staff and Board members at one of two sessions in September:

no nuts or nut products be brought to school. In the interest of safety, please check ingredient labels carefully to ensure that items do not contain traces of nuts. All food served or sold at Wolfville School will abide by our nut smart policy. Thank you for your cooperation in this very important matter. SCENT SMART SCHOOL - Elementary & Middle School We ask that when entering the doors of Wolfville School that you refrain from using scented products. Many of our staff and students suffer from scent sensitivity, which causes us to react with migraines and breathing difficulties. SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS It is mandatory that all people wishing to volunteer at Wolfville School complete volunteer forms. These forms are available in both offices. Thank you to all the volunteers who have completed these forms.

IWK Our first IWK Fundraiser for this school year will be on Wednesday, September 19th. Purchase a fresh valley apple for .25 cents
SIGN IN BOOK It is mandatory that all persons visiting Wolfville School sign in at either office. All visitors are required to wear a visitor tag.

Wolfville School is a Scent Smart School Wolfville School is a Nut Smart School
No Student Should Go Hungry Fundraiser The Wolfville Home & School, teachers and staff are committed to providing Subsidized Lunches and Snacks for students who would otherwise go without, as well as supporting the Breakfast Club and the Junior High Homework Club. At this time we are asking local businesses or individuals to help us meet this very important need. Heres how: Provide us with your business card and for only $20 a month we will include it in two editions of our school newsletter. Its a low-cost form of advertising for you and the proceeds are going to a great cause! Call Mrs. Davison or Mrs. Fox in the elementary office at 542-6055 or drop in with a business card. Thank you in advance for your support! Wolfville Schools Home & School, Teachers and Staff believe that No Student Should Go Hungry. We thank the following individuals and businesses in our community who have provided financial support for this extremely worthwhile initiative.

Wednesday, September 19th at Middleton Regional High School, 18 Gates Avenue, Middleton
Thursday, September 20th at L.E. Shaw Elementary School, 486 Oak Island Road, Avonport Stay informed by visiting www.avrsb.ca for updates on information sessions and related news. UNPLANNED EARLY DISMISSALS Did you know you can sign up to receive an email or text message of AVRSB announcements? Please log on to www.avrsb.ca/content/notify-me to sign up. Once you sign up you will receive an email or text with information of any unplanned dismissals (storm closure, etc.). NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTION The school newsletter is available for viewing on the school website as well as emailed to you through the distribution list. To be added to the distribution list, email brendad@staff.ednet.ns.ca WOLFVILLE SCHOOL IS A NUT SMART SCHOOL Wolfville School is a NUT SMART SCHOOL. We request that

COMMUNITY ITEMS:

Tier 1 Soccer Winter 2012 Valley United Valley United is offering winter 2012 Tier 1 soccer programs for U13, U14, U16, U18 Boys and Girls. Tryouts begin September 18th at the Valley Indoor Facility in Kernville. If you are interested, and were born in the years from 1995 to 2000, please visit our website www.valleyunited.ca . Look for the link to the winter 2012 newsletter which contains all tryout and registration details.

Learn to Skate Registration: Registration for the Kentville Silver Gliders Learn to Skate Program will take place from 9am to 12 noon on Saturday, September 8th and Saturday, September 15th at Cleves in New Minas. Children age 3.5 years and up are welcome. Spaces are limited to ensure quality. For more information, contact Denise Huntley-Cameron at denisehc@eastlink.ca

Acadia Minor Basketball Grade 1 - 8 Boys and Girls Registration: Wolfville School Gym on Sat., Sept 22, 10am - 12pm Registration Forms will be available at www.acadiaminorbasketball.ca Information: dwayne.macleod@gmail.com
After School & In-Service Day Programs. Make sure to sign up for this years after school and in-service day programs. INFO: recreation@wolfville.ca, 542-3019 New! Youth Leaders Core Program: A new program in Wolfville for those aged 13+ who are interested in being engaged community members! Learn more on September 12, 2012, 6:00pm-7:00pm at the Wolfville Recreation Centre. INFO: recreation@wolfville.ca, 542-3019 Wolfville Tritons Swim Club The Tritons are accepting new swimmers to the club. A registration meeting is taking place at Acadias Gym complex in the Hall of Fame room at 6:30 to 8:00 on Thursday, September 13th. There will be a question and answer session with Head Coach Chris Stone. If you are interested in instilling a strong sense of responsibility, persistence and grit in your child, this is the sport for your family. Your child will be fit, competitive and taught how to successfully fail. All of this and fun! What are you waiting for come give it a try.