The Raft River

Reminder
October 2. 2015
school day and expect to be put right
through to her.

Administrators Message
Parent-teacher communication plays a big
role in helping your child to have a successful
academic career. Since parents and teachers know
dierent aspects of a child's personality, they must
work together to solve problems or celebrate gains.
Unfortunately, because teachers spend their time in
the classroom with students, it may not always be
easy to get in touch with your child's teacher.
Knowing some of the Dos and Don'ts of
parent-teacher communication can help you make
that connection.
Keeping Parent-Teacher Communication Lines
Open
Don't: Wait until there's a problem to get in
touch with your child's teacher.

Do: Make an eort to introduce yourself in

person, in writing, or over the phone, as a
way to begin a good parent-teacher
relationship.

Don't: Feel as though you're being a

nuisance. Whether you have concerns,
questions or just simply want to say "Great
job," it's perfectly all right to get in touch
with your child's teacher. That's what good
parent-teacher communication is all about.

Do: Advocate for your child. If there is

something that you feel you need more
information about, or that doesnt seem to
be going well, talk it over with the teacher.

Don't: Call your child's teacher during the

Do: Let your child's teacher know what is a

good way to get in touch with you and at
what times. Teachers are busy teaching
during the school day and often use breaks
to use the bathroom, grab a quick lunch
and/or prepare lesson plans. Thus, you may
have to wait until after school hours to speak
on the phone. However, if you let the
teacher know that you can be reached via
note or email or that early in the morning is
a 1ne time to call, you have a better chance
of speaking soon.

Don't: Assume that phone calls and notes

are the only way to speak with a teacher.

Do: Use email as a quick and easy way to

get in touch with a teacher. Email can
provide a great parent-teacher
communication platform in which issues or
questions can be addressed without playing
phone tag or setting up a meeting.

Don't: Call your child's teacher at home.

Do: Call shortly before school starts or after

it ends. If you cant call at these times
because youre working, initiate a contact
through email.

Don't: Hesitate to request a meeting.

Do: Let your child's teacher know if you

need a few face-to-face minutes with her.
Just be sure to let her know why, whether
you'd like other sta to be there and about
how long you expect the meeting to take.
That way she can set aside enough time for
you.

Meet the Teachers

On Wednesday, October 21st, we will be holding a
Meet the Teacher drop in evening from 5pm to
6pm. This will be a chance for parents to drop by
the school and see what has been going on in their
children's classrooms. Please bring your children
along as they will have many things to show you in
their classes. Teachers will be available for
introductory chats, but will not have time to spend
with each parent to discuss their children
speci1cally. If, after this initial meeting, you would

like to chat more speci1cally about your child's

progress, you will need to contact the teacher to
request a meeting. If you are unable to make it on
that evening, the teacher will be making contact by
phone or on paper on the 22nd or shortly thereafter.
The 22nd is an early dismissal day for the students,
and buses will be running 2 hours earlier than
usual. Students will be coming home for lunch on
that day, as teachers will continue to teach until the
12:40 dismissal time.
School Supplies
A reminder that school supplies may be
purchased through the school for the following
costs:
Primary Grades (Kindergarten to Grade 3: $33
(includes agendas)Grades 4-7: $ 48 (includes
agendas)
If your child is using the supplies provided by
the school, please send payment for those supplies
as soon as you are able. Anything not paid for is a
cost to the school and prevents us from buying
other items that are needed.
Important Dates for 2013/14
In case the last newsletter was confusing
(there were some errors), here are these dates
again- hopefully correct this time!
Monday, October 12th
Friday, October 23

rd

Thanksgiving
District
Non-Instructional Day

Wednesday,
November 11th

Remembrance Day

Monday, December
7th

District
Non-Instructional Day

Friday, December 18th

Last day of school for

2015

December 19th January 3rd

Winter Vacation

Monday, January 4th

Schools reopen for

2016

Monday, February 8th

BC Family Day

Friday, February 19sth

District
Non-Instructional Day

Friday, March 18th

Last day before Spring

Break

March 19th -April 3rd

Spring Break
(including Easter)

Monday, April 4th

Back to school after

Spring Break

Monday, April 18th

District
Non-Instructional Day

Monday, May 16th

District
Non-Instructional Day

Monday, May 23rd

Victoria Day

Thursday, June 29th

Last day of school for

students (half-day)

Electronic Devices at School

Many of our students are choosing to bring various
electronic devices to school. At times, generally
with older classes, they do have opportunities to
use internet enabled devices during class time.
However, unless the teacher has made it clear that
students may use these devices in class, there is no
other reason for them to be brought to school. We
recommend that parents direct their children to
leave these items at home. Here are our reasons:
1. These items can be a source of conKict
between students, either because they try to
share but it isnt terribly successful or
because there are students who do not have
these items and feel it is unfair that students
who do have them are not sharing.
2. There may be instances of misplaced, lost or
even stolen electronics. Students who are
allowed to bring them must look after them,
and because we recommend leaving them at
home, the school will not take responsibility
when/if they go missing.
3. We do not allow the students to use these
devices at recess or lunch time, as it
interferes with their activity time, which they
need in order to help them concentrate in
class.
Again, our recommendation to students and parents
is that electronic devices remain at home to be
used there. In the case of cell phones that allow
parents to keep track of their childrens
whereabouts, students should keep them in a safe
and secure location and use them only when
necessary. No student is allowed to use their
electronic device for taking pictures at school.
Thanks for helping out with this matter.

This year, while honouring Terry Fox and

raising money to donate to the Terry Fox
Foundation, we also decided to raise some money
to donate to Fast Eddy, who is also running across
Canada- and back!
Edward Dostaler is a former Clearwater
student, someone who Mrs. Bradstock taught a very
long time ago. He used to take part in Terry Fox
Runs when he went to school here and was inspired
by both Terry Fox as well as Rick Hansen.
Eddy is trying to raise funds and awareness
for Breast Cancer and Alzheimer's Disease research.
He left Victoria, BC on the 1st of March and
has run all the way to St. John's Newfoundland! It
won't be long until he starts his return trip. Can you

imagine how much running this will be by the time

he is 1nished? Wow!
Funds raised this year totalled approximately
$600. Thank you so much to everyone who
donated, volunteered to help out with the run, and
our amazing students, who ran with such heart!
Raft River Elementary PAC presents:
The Breakfast Club
When: Every Wednesday morning, starting
October 7th @ 8 until 8:30 am
Where: Raft River Gymnasium Kitchen
Hello everyone!
The Raft River PAC is excited to oer all
children of Raft River Elementary school a cold
breakfast snack once a week. The snack will be
comprised of a muOn, a cup of milk and a piece of
fruit.
Sherri from the high school cafeteria will be
creating these scrumptious muOns using
vegetables from the school garden (dont tell your
kids!). These items are not made in a nut free
environment, so please, if your child has any
allergies have them advise the parent distributing
the breakfast.
The kids will be given their treats at the
outside kitchen door by the gym kids will remain
outside with their snacks unless the school is
opened due to poor weather.
There is no charge for the breakfast;
however, if you would like to make a contribution to
support this program, please send the donation to
the main oOce attention: PAC
As well, if you have time in the morning to
help out serving, please email the
raftriverpac@gmail.com and we will get a hold of
you.
Thank you! We are excited to be oering this
at the school!
Sabine Cooperman,
Raft River PAC Chairperson
Battle of the Books
Battle of the Books
is a reading incentive
created by School District
#73. It is geared towards
students who LOVE
reading. Students are
given a list of 12 books to
read and should be able to
1nish all 12 books by
about February. That's about two, 200 page books
per month! Teams are created around November
and in February teams start weekly practices which
include answering questions that begin with... In
which book did a character say..... The Battle
takes place in April. A team of three students will
have the chance to travel into Kamloops to

compete against other schools. The dates are:

Zones: April 14, 2016; District: April 21, 2016
All books are available in our library.
Chapters and Indigo (Coles) also have these books
set aside for School District #73 Battle of the
Books. If you have any questions, please contact
Ms. McQuarrie.
Grade 3/4:
Because of Winn Dixie
Charlotte's Web
Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary
Lafcadio
Mr. Popper's Penguins
Nasty, Stinky Sneakers
Prince of the Pond
The Contest
The Miraculous Adventures of Edward Tulane
The Monster's Ring
The War with Grandpa
Tua and the Elephant
Grade 5:
Among the Hidden
Castle in the Attic
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
Firegirl
Flora and Ulysses
Shadow
Sisters Grimm
Stuart Little
The Last Dragon
Underground To Canada
White Jade Tiger
Chasing the Falconers
Grade 6/7:
Between Heaven and Earth
Gregor the Overlander
Invitation to the Game
Loot
Mango-shaped Space
Shattered
The Eye of Odin
The Hobbit (Graphic Novel)
The Hunchback Assignments
The Last Dog on Earth
Where the Red Fern Grows
Holes
Extra, Extra!
Mrs. Shook will be oering a Running Club
and an Art Club this year. Run Club will start on
October 1st, and take place every Tuesday and
Thursday at lunch, until it snows. Once there is
snow on the ground, an Art Club will begin and take
place every second Wednesday at lunch, primary
students one week and intermediate the next.
Harvest Soup Day
The PAC will be coming into the school on
October 8th, and, along with help from the
intermediate students, will be preparing and

serving a harvest soup at lunch time. Most of the

ingredients from the soup will be what has been
harvested from the school garden that everyone
helped to plant last Spring. It is amazing that the
students get to plant, care for, and harvest these
garden items and then eat something that is made
from them as well! Thank you to all the teachers,
students and parents who have worked so hard to
make our school garden a success!
Students need to bring either a bowl or mug,
and a spoon on October 8th, so that they can enjoy
some delicious harvest soup!

The PAC over the years has been fundraising

a lot for various projects around the school. This
year, we will be continuing with poinsettas at
Christmas, our super fun movie nights through the
winter, and Kicking Horse Coee.
We will also endeavour to help CSS with their
fundraising events and pass on any information
from them as well.
Our next meeting is on October 13th at 3 pm
in the school sta room (or library) please join us if
you can! If you have any comments, or questions
please email us at raftriverpac@gmail.com
Sabine Cooperman
Raft River PAC Chairperson
Sparks, Brownies and Guides
Sparks (for girls in K-grade 1), Brownies (for
girls in gr. 2-3), Guides (for girls in gr. 4-6) and
Path1nders (for girls in gr. 7-9) has now started.
Girls can be registered on-line at www.girlguides.ca
OR you can get paper registration papers from
Katrina Link at the Raft River library.

October 8
October 12
October 15
October 21
October 22
October 23

Upcoming Events
School Pictures
Harvest Soup Day
Thanksgiving Monday- no school
Cultural Performance Green Thumb
Theatre
Interim Report Cards home; Parent
Drop In/Meet the Teacher Evening
5pm-6pm
Early Dismissal 12:40
District Non Instructional Day

PAC News
Hello everyone and welcome back to
another great school year. This month seems to
have already Kown by and Thanksgiving is around
the corner.
Not sure if you have been to the school
lately, last week the school maintenance group put
in all the new playground equipment in the front
play area and the lines were painted in the back
courtyard. In October, the gardens will be created in
the courtyard area as well as the 1nal bench seats
and tables installed. It feels amazing to see this
project come to completion! What a fabulous school
we have inside and out. A huge thank you must go
out to Tim Dempster and his hard working crew
from the SD #73 maintenance group for making
this happen so quickly!!
Our 1rst PAC meeting has come and gone
and I welcome all the new executive and directors
that have joined us we have to say a sad farewell
to our lovely treasurer, Sam Braaten, she has
stepped down from the position, but remains a
director for the year Thank you so much Sam, for
all the work that you have done over the last few
years!
New and upcoming for this year. Fundraising
with a focus! And THE BREAKFAST CLUB!

We'd love for more girls to join us. (We also are
looking for leaders to help.) We meet Mondays,
right after school, from 3-4:30 at the Community
Baptist Church. For more info, please email:
link_katrina@yahoo.ca.
Family Support Group
WHEN? Tuesday, October 13th 6:30pm-7:30pm
WHERE? Yellowhead Community Services, 612 Park
Drive, Clearwater
For Parents & Caregivers of Children with
Special Needs
*Childcare available upon request. Please call
250-674-2600 to inquire further.

Does a child in your family have special

needs?

Are you interested in connecting with

other families encountering similar
challenges involved with parenting a
child with extra needs?

Do you want to learn more about

advocating for your child and discuss
speci1c topics that matter to you?
The Supported Child Development Program would
like to oer a friendly environment for you to share
your experiences with other parents who truly
understand what you are going through. Regardless
of your childs age or disability (physical disability,
developmental delay, learning/behavior challenges,
medical diagnosis, ASD, FASD, ADHD, etc.), we want
to oer peer support and information to conquer
some of the diOcult issues that arise and help you
to become your childs greatest advocate.
For more info please call Jenna Wilson, SCD
Consultant 250-674-2600, Ext. 262

Board Notes
From the Board Meeting of: SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

1. The Board enjoyed a presentation on Chase

Secondary Schools Alternate Program by
Principal Ian McGoldrick.

2. The Board received notice of the proposed

amendment to the School Calendar for
Distributed Learning from Superintendent
deBruijn.

3. Superintendent deBruijn provided the Board

with an update on the student enrollment.

4. The Board received an update on the

International Student enrollment from

Director Dean Coder.

5. The Board approved the Learning

Improvement Fund (LIF) Spending Plan for
the 2015-2016 school year.

6. The Board approved the amendments to the

Non-Instructional and Parent Teacher
Interview dates for the 2015-2016 school
year.

7. The Board received/approved the audited

School District No. 73 Business Company

1nancial statements for the 2014/2015 1scal
year ending March 31, 2015.

8. The Board approved Capital Project Bylaw

126881 for the Annual Facility Grant for
2015/2016.

The next regular Board Meeting will occur on

Monday, October 5, 2015 at Logan Lake Elementary
School at 7:00 pm.