Newsletter - Ranchero Elementary School

Ranchero Elementary School Phone: (250)832.7018 Fax: (250)833.1127 Email: [email protected] URL: www.ran.sd83.bc.ca

January 8th, 2014 Newsletter # 5 Respect, Responsibility, Compassion, Honesty & Fun

Principal’s Message Happy New Year to all of our students and their families!! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and that all of the students had a restful break and are excited to be back in the classrooms with their friends and teachers. As I make my way around to all of the classrooms, it is great to see all of the smiles and hear about the excitement of the holidays. The months of January, February and March are typically very busy as students and teachers work hard in the classrooms, focusing on new aspects of the curriculum and strive to reach new levels of success in a positive and productive learning environment. As parents we can help maximize our child’s learning by ensuring they have enough rest, nutritional meals and regular attendance, with the child arriving to school on time. Providing our children with a regular time and quiet place to complete homework, and reading with and to our children, are easy ways to reinforce learning. I would like to see all of the students have a fun and exciting month, as they all work towards showing the qualities and behaviours of an H.E.R.O. in RancHERO. Sincerely, Joel Menzies Principal

Intermediate Winter Rec. The Grade 4/5 cross country ski program is in the works. Thanks to everyone who has returned the appropriate forms and payment. In the next few weeks, the Grade 4/5 students will be practicing on the school grounds and have a two practice sessions at Larch Hills. These practices will lead up to the annual SD #83 Pirate Loppet. We’re very excited for our students to represent our school at the Pirate Loppet. Yesterday, all Grade 6/7 students received an information package for the Silver Star downhill/board program, which will take place on February 14th, 21st and 28th.

SAS Jazz Band Performance This Friday, January 10th, we will have the privilege of hosting the high school’s jazz band for a 45 minute performance beginning at 9:00 am. These performances are always a pleasure, and allow our students the opportunity to see and hear what they could do if they continue to participate in band throughout middle and high school. All of our students’ families are welcome to attend this mini-concert on Friday.

6285 East Ranchero Drive ● Salmon Arm, BC ● V1E 2P9 ● Phone 250.832.7018 ● Fax 250.833.1127

Foundation Skills Assessment Our grade 4 and 7 students will soon be writing provincial standardized assessments called the Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA). These provincial assessments are mandated by the Ministry of Education and are mandatory for all grade 4 and 7 students except those on IEPs (Individual Educational Programs), students with special needs, or those with extended illnesses. The FSA assesses students in Reading, Writing and Numeracy (Math). Some of the assessments are completed online and some are pencil and paper. The assessment results, once marked and returned to the school, are sent home to parents. These assessments are intended to give school districts, schools, and the Ministry of Education a snapshot on the success of students in reading, writing, and numeracy. This year, the FSA will be conducted between January 13th and February 21st. There are six individual components to the assessment, so a schedule will be developed to administer these over several weeks. The information gathered is used as one of many indicators of student achievement. Of course, the best indicator of student achievement comes from the ongoing evaluation of teachers who work with your children every day, in a variety of situations while using observations and feedback. There is also a parent survey that goes along with the test that will be sent home. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate in talking to your child’s teacher or Mr. Menzies.

Gymnastics Program The school has once again booked Momentum Gymnastics to facilitate a school-wide gymnastics program. Shawnee Venables and her team from Momentum Gymnastics do a wonderful job of engaging all students as they are introduced to the basic skills and techniques of gymnastics. All students are required to wear gym strip (t-shirt, shorts/track pants) for the gymnastics classes. Students with long hair should have their hair tied back in a ponytail. Gymnastics classes will be held on the following days: January 30th, 31st and February 6th, 13th.

A Goal for Term 2 – Improved Attendance We would like to request the support of all families as we work toward reducing the number of students who are consistently absent or late. Our goal is for all students to be in their desks and ready to learn at 8:05. Having your child arrive at school on time is extremely important. Children who regularly arrive late often miss morning fitness and the initial instruction of a lesson or a work period, which can have a negative impact on the students’ learning. When a child arrives late, the flow of the classroom routines and education of other students can be interrupted. The school will be monitoring unexcused late arrivals or absences, and parents will be contacted if their child is regularly arriving to school late or absent. Of course, we understand that students will be arriving late or be absent due to an appointment or illness. If your son or daughter is going to be late or absent, due to an appointment or illness, please contact the school, so we can pass that information on to the teacher. When your child is away and the school has not received a call advising us that your child will be late or absent, the Safe Arrival Program will call you to ensure your child is safe, at home. Please remember to have your child sign in if he/she arrives late to school. If you are picking your child up early, please stop by the office and sign out your child.

SD #83 Health News Please click on the following link: http://www.ran.sd83.bc.ca/Health%20News_January.pdf


PAC News All parents, with children in the public school system automatically become members of the school’s Parent Advisory Council. Please feel free to join our next PAC meeting on Monday, January 13th at 6:30 pm. If you are interested in becoming involved with the PAC this year, please attend this meeting to show your interest and learn more about this vital part of our school community. A highlight of this month’s meeting will be a visit from our school trustee, Ms. Debbie Evans. Ms. Evans will lead the PAC through a review of our school district’s mission, vision, and values. Parent feedback is critical to this process and we strongly encourage you to attend and share your thoughts. As a reminder, the PAC has created the Ranchero Elementary PAC Facebook page. You can connect with the events and activities supported by PAC by visiting and becoming “Friends” on the following link: https://www.facebook.com/pac.elementaryschool?fref=ts&ref=br_tf

Community Corner Please click on the links for more information about the following community programs/activities: Early Years Fair at the Downtown Activity Center January 30th http://www.ran.sd83.bc.ca/0153F77B011F5300.0/Salmon%20Arm%20Early%20Years%20Fair%202014.pdf Unplug & Play Family Literacy Week January 27th – February 2nd, 2014 http://www.ran.sd83.bc.ca/0153F77B011F5300.1/Unplug%20&%20Play%20FINAL%20Schedule%202014.pdf The Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap Society (LASS), in partnership with the school district and other community organizations, will be hosting Unplug & Play Family Literacy Week from January 27th – February 2nd, 2014 to encourage families to build literacy by reconnecting and playing. All events are free and some of the events include: Bring a Book to Work Week, Retro Family Game Night, Free Family Skate, Books with the Backs, Build a Book Project and a Family Pool Party. All elementary and middle school students will receive an Unplug & Play Passport and have the opportunity to participate in many of the free community events. Between February 3rd and 6th, students can bring their completed passports to the school office and enter for a chance to win a draw prize. For more information, go to www.shuswapliteracy.ca. Jam the GM Children’s Book Drive (month of January) http://www.ran.sd83.bc.ca/0153F77B-011F5300.2/JAMtheGM_poster_14_PRINT.pdf The “Jam the GM” Children’s Book Drive has been launched. The challenge is for the community to donate gently used children’s books and “jam” them in the back of the GM. Throughout the month of January, a GM truck will be in the Salmon Arm GM showroom, and during Family Literacy Week a truck will also be parked in the Piccadilly Mall by the library. Community members will be encouraged to make their children’s book donations at either the dealership or Piccadilly Mall. At the end of the month, all of the books will be collected, sorted and then later distributed to local children’s organizations to support family literacy in our community.


Shuswap Outlaws Lacrosse http://www.ran.sd83.bc.ca/0153F77B011F5300.3/Shuswap%20Outlaws%20Drop%20In%20Registration%20201 4.pdf

On the Horizon January 10th January 13th January 14th & 22nd January 24th January 27th January 30th & 31st

SAS Jazz Band Performance PAC Meeting at 6:30 pm Gr. 4/5 Students at Larch Hills Pirate Loppet Start of Family Literacy Week School-wide Gymnastics

The school calendar can be found at: http://www.ran.sd83.bc.ca/RANCalendar/?FormID=158
