Candygrams will be on sale at recess all this week for $0.50. Thank you to Overwaitea for donating the chocolate (regular and peanut free) for the candygrams. All proceeds will go the Haiti relief effort.

The next Roy Wilcox P.A.C. meeting will be held on February 17th, 2010 at 7:00pm in the staff room. Hope everyone can make and it would be fantastic to see some new faces!

Message from the Coast Mountain School District 82:

We surely live in difficult times. The recent closure of Eurocan has brought much uncertainty to our lives, and it is only human nature to speculate about what the future might bring. While the Coast Mountains Board of Education has  no control or influence over such large issues, we would like to assure you that we have no plans to alter the structure, or the schedules of any Kitimat schools for the coming year – 2010-2011.

To read more, view the pdf message below

A document was sent home with every grade 4 and 7 student on Monday, Feb.1, 2010, outlining the 2010 Ministry of Education Electronic Anonymous Satisfaction Survey Project. The survey can be completed electronically and can be accessed on the Internet at www.bced.gov.bc.ca/sat_survey. Any computer with an Internet connection can be used, and access to the e-survey is simple and secure.

Once you’ve completed the survey, cut off the entry portion of the sheet your child brought home. The class who participates the most will win a prize! (see form)

To complete the survey:

1. Go to any computer that has an up-to-date internet browser access at home, work, or school. Go to www.bced.gov.bc.ca/sat_survey/access.htm
2. Select your School District from the drop down list
3. Enter your anonymous PIN access code.
4. Complete the survey by clicking on the “radio buttons” for each question. Move to the next set of questions by clicking on NEXT in the bottom right corner of the screen.
5. When you are finished the survey you will get a message “Thank you for sharing your views”.
6. If you feel you made a mistake, repeat the procedure above.
7. Once complete, your school will have the results immediately.

Thank you for participating in this innovative project.

Starting kindergarten is an exciting time for children and their families and is a wonderful opportunity to build a strong foundation for life-long learning.

Research shows that a high quality, play-based kindergarten program has long-term benefits for children’s academic and social skills and helps them to succeed in school and in life. Full day kindergarten is another step towards building a strong foundation for lifelong learning, in a nurturing, play-based environment.

A longer instructional day will enable kindergarten teachers to provide more opportunities for learning and success. The expanded kindergarten program will be play-based and designed to address all areas of child development: physical, social, emotional, language and cognitive.
[Kinds of Play]

More info: BC Ministry of Education Parent Pamphlet

For your information, listed below are various articles that can provide more information on the subject.

• Can the Right Kinds of Play Teach Self-Control? (Inspiring!)
• Takes Time to Tend a Kinder Garten. Advocating for Kindergarten
• Chopsticks and Counting Chips. Do play and foundational skills need to compete for the teacher’s attention in an early childhood classroom?
• Play Early Years. Key to School Success
• Crisis in the Kindergarten. Why Children Need to Play in School

Teenagers who start smoking marijuana before the age of sixteen are four times more likely to become schizophrenic. That’s the startling conclusion of some of the world’s top schizophrenia experts, whose research is featured in the new documentary The Downside of High.

The scientists’ groundbreaking work on the connection between marijuana and mental illness also reveals that, for all young adults, smoking marijuana nearly doubles the risk of developing recurring psychosis, paranoia and hallucinations – the hallmarks of schizophrenia.

The Downside of High, directed and written by Bruce Mohun, tells the stories of three young people from British Columbia who believe – along with their doctors – that their mental illness was triggered by marijuana use. All three spent months in hospital psychiatric wards, and still wage a battle with their illness. Today’s super-potent pot may be a big part of the problem. Modern growing techniques have dramatically increased the amount of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana – ramping up the threat to the developing teenage brain.

view pdf article : Downside_of_High_PRESSKIT_WEB2

[The British Columbia Schizophrenia Society is a non-profit organization founded in 1982 by families and friends of people with schizophrenia.]

For more information contact The Terrace Branch at:

Phone/Fax 250.635.8206
Toll free 1.866.326.7877
Email bcssterr@telus.net

I have attached the letter we received from Husky today.  It appears people are using their husky rebate cards.  It’s working as we received a cheque for $98.75 from 129 purchases.  Maybe if more people know this, they may too start to use their card.  Thanks to those parents who are using the card.

Janet Meyer, Principal

husky rebate letter

The Husky Community Rebate Program is a great way for your organization to raise funds. Since the program started, we’ve given out nearly $700,000 to more than 2,000 community groups.

Here’s how it works: Husky sends your organization a rebate of 2% of the purchases* your organization makes at Husky or Mohawk gas stations or Husky House Restaurants.

The Olympic Torch leaves Riverlodge at 12:17pm on Monday, February 1st, 2010. That is during our school lunch hour.

If you wish to take your child out of school earlier than our 12:05pm lunch bell (which may be a wise choice if you wish to get there in time), please simply send your child to school on Monday with a note to the classroom teacher specifying what time you wish to pick him/her up.

Thank you,
Janet Meyer, Principal

Come show Kitimat’s Community Spirit!
Take your coffee or lunch break, and come line the route with us at 12:17pm.

The Olympic Torch is arriving Monday, February 1st, 2010
at the Riverlodge Recreation Centre, Kitimat, BC
Stage Presentation starts at 11am

view pdf for more details

The February Recreation Events Calendar is out! If you’re wondering what activities to spend your time on in the upcoming month then take a look ! C’mon Kitimat; get active!

• Events Calendar for February

Dear Parents,

***  IF YOU HAVE A PREVIOUS SUBWAY ORDER STAPLED TO THE TOP OF THIS HOT LUNCH FORM, PLEASE KEEP IT ATTACHED WHEN YOU RETURN IT TO THE SCHOOL AND USE IT AS A CREDIT NOTE.  THIS WAS THE HOT LUNCH THAT WAS MISSED DUE TO A PREVIOUS SCHOOL CLOSURE.

ADD UP YOUR TOTAL LUNCH ORDER AND DEDUCT THIS AMOUNT FROM YOUR TOTAL. ***

Hot lunches will be starting up again.  The first lunch will be on Friday, January 22.  The enclosed menu will run until Spring Break.

January 22     Pizza
January 29     Subway
February 5     Hamburger/Chicken Burger Meal
February 12   Subway
February 19   NO SCHOOL – NO HOT LUNCH THIS WEEK
February 26   Subway

March 5          NO SCHOOL – SCHOOLS CLOSED FOR BC WINTER GAMES

SPRING BREAK BEGINS AND SCHOOL BACK IN SESSION ON MONDAY, MARCH 16.

There are a total of 5 hot lunches.  Please enclose the complete payment along with your completed order forms.

**PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO WRITE YOUR CHILD’S NAME AND TEACHER FOR EACH WEEK.  IF THIS IS NOT DONE, YOUR CHILD MAY NOT FIND THEIR LUNCH BECAUSE IT WILL ARRIVE AT THE SCHOOL WITH NO NAME.   **

Please write cheques payable to “Roy Wilcox PAC”.
Please fill out one form per child….payment can be all together if you have more than one child ordering lunches.
If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions,  please contact:

Kathy Demelo  – ashlyn6@telus.net or 250-632-4279
Cheri Demelo – ademelo@telus.net or 250-632-7733
Robin Bjorn – rbjorn@telus.net or 250-639-2451

Date: Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Time: 5:00pm – 7:15pm

Location: Nechako Elementary School

FREE hot dog and juice supper!
FREE admission! FREE books!
PRIZES!! Everyone is Welcome!!

Doors will open at 4:45pm and events will include:

- Performance by The Spirit of the Kitlope Dancers
- Karaoke/Sing-A-Long rooms and a Community Sing-A-Long of “The Kitimat Song” by Bill Vollrath
- Mammals of BC with the Kitimat Centennial Museum
- “Fish for a Book” and “Book Walk” (FREE books for children 12yrs and under)
- Diary of a wimpy Kid Writing Centre and cartooning centre
- Face Painting
- Kindermusik
- Try out different instruments with Kitimat Arts for Youth
- Musical Shadow Puppet Show with Kitimat Public Library
- Parent Information
- And Much More!!

We encourage you to come out and participate in this fun community event. Invite your friends and family!

If you have any questions, or for more information, please call 250 632 6581 (Kitimat Community Services Society) and ask for Alyson, Brandi or Erika.

Hope to see you there!

*Family Literacy Week is an initiative of the Kitimat Community Literacy Network.

funded by Legacies 2010