School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
RECOGNITION OF STUDENT/SCHOOL SUCCESS
April 14, 2008
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha) extends congratulations to the following students/groups for
these outstanding examples of success for March:
CARMI ELEMENTARY
March came in with great spirit at Carmi Elementary:
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The Carmi CARES Carnival was amazing. A very special thank you to the staff, student
teachers, PAC and student leaders from Princess Margaret Secondary School, Penticton
Secondary School, KVR and McNicoll Park Middle Schools for all of their hard work in making the
fun event possible. It was wonderful to see how well attended the Carnival was and we wholeheartedly thank the Carmi students and families for taking part. Fundraising from the event will
go toward the students attending the Children’s Festival in May.
•
March was also action-packed with basketball, skating, action schools, grade 5 Powerpoint
presentations and a Multicultural evening, Centennial Artwork with Glenn Clarke, as well as
attending Arts & Science in Harmony.
•
The School Progress Report has been updated and will soon be on both the District and School’s
websites. The success they experience involves the hard work of the students, staff, families,
PAC, district and community.
Centennial Artwork with Glenn Clarke
Featuring Leir House and SS Sicamous
Carmi CARES Carnival
Carmi CARES Carnival
COLUMBIA ELEMENTARY
•
Columbia held their second Annual Family Fun Night on March 12th. Everyone had a wonderful
time with the fantastic music and light show. Lots of pizza and cakes on hand as well as a
number of fun and entertaining activities for everyone. The grade 4-5 students did such as terrific
job in making all the posters for the evening. It was a great way to get ready for Spring break.
HOME LEARNERS’ PROGRAM
•
The Home Learners’ Program recently held its Annual Science Fair in the Annex building. Over 25
students participated, from Kindergarten through to grade 8. Families were invited to come and
view the projects and learn from the participants. Congratulations to Julia Veidt, who represented
the HLP at the District Science Fair, and won gold for her project titled, ‘Full of Hot Air’.
Science teacher Claire Thompson
presenting Julia Veidt
with her certificate.
A kindergarten student
explaining the mysteries of a
spider’s web.
KALEDEN ELEMENTARY
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Kaleden Winter Games – The staff and students had their very own spin to wrap up winter.
Most events were completed in relay style and were a lot of good quality fun – especially speed
skating in their dad’s work socks!
•
Open Classrooms – Parents and community members showed up to sit in on classes. Over 20
parents attended as well as Trustee Manning. It was a great opportunity for the visitors, for the
students and for the staff.
•
Career Fair - This event was a great way to address some learning outcomes in Career and
Health Education (introduced in 2006). To plan this exciting event, they invited parents and
community members to present to and share their careers with the audience. Students carried
learning logs to all 9 sessions to help them capture highlights, details and information about each
career. The teachers then followed up in class to help the students’ link their hands-on
experiences with their in-class learning.
•
The Education Month activities really allowed everyone to appreciate and celebrate their learning
in its many forms.
KVR MIDDLE SCHOOL
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The KVR grade 8 girls’ basketball team won the South Zone Championship and then traveled to
Abbotsford for the Provincial Tournament. The team came in eighth place. It was an incredible
effort made by all the girls’.
•
KVR had 35 students attend the District Science Fair with their projects. Nine students and 6
projects were selected to attend the Regional Science Fair in Kelowna.
McNICOLL PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL
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McNicoll staff and students wanted to recognize Hector Greig, (a grade 6 student with significant
challenges), who practiced over a period of three months to perform in the school play "Charlottes
Web." The support of the drama teacher, Penny Philpotts, was outstanding as she took all who
showed up and involved them in the performance. It was heartwarming for the family and the
school to watch Hector give his all to the school play.
NARAMATA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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Through March 5th – 7th, the staff and students at Naramata enjoyed a visit from Jenny Long, an
artist in residence. Jenny spent three days working with students from all classes on abstract art
using acrylic paints on canvas. The students created wonderful paintings which have been
displayed throughout the school for everyone to appreciate.
•
On March 14th, Naramata School held their Indoor Winter Olympics which included a number of
fun events such as Bean Bag Curling, Wool Sock Speed Skating and the highlight of the afternoon
was the Ski Jump Balloon Pop. The staff and students had a great time with plenty of laughter.
PARKWAY ELEMENTARY
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A Parkway grade 5 student, Cassie Warnock, has been playing the piano for O’Canada at
assemblies for most of the school year. Cassie was recognized at the March 31st assembly.
•
Parkway students, Kindergarten to grade 5, took part in an interactive program on brain injury
and safety awareness. A big thank you to the South Okanagan Brain Injury Society for putting
this program on.
•
Grade 5 students learned and practiced cross country Nordic skiing at Nickel Plate. Reports
on student behavior on the trip was very good as well as students had a wonderful time.
PRINCESS MARGARET SECONDARY SCHOOL
•
The staff at Maggie have been invited back to present at the Grading Practice Conference in
Portland next December – which is wonderful news.
•
Congratulations to the Skills Canada 2008 Winners - Trevor Demerse and Ryan Kuzemski did very
well in the Regional Skills Canada Competition. Both students entered the AutoCAD Competition in
Architectural Drafting with Trevor placing Second and Ryan placing Third. Trevor and Ryan have
been in Mr. Whiteley's Drafting classes since grade 9 and plan to pursue careers in the field of
Engineering. This is a great accomplishment for both students’ considering they are in grade 11 as
they went up against many grade 12 students in the Valley.
Both students attend the competition in Abbotsford on April 16th when they enter the Skills Canada
Provincial Finals. If successful, they will be able to enter the National Skills Canada
Competition held in Calgary May 25th – 28th - Way to go Maggie!
PENTICTON SECONDARY SCHOOL
1. Mark Theilmann - Accepted to Harvard
2. James Kerr - Commits to Princeton
•
The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are pleased to announce that James Kerr has committed to Princeton
University for the 2009-2010 hockey season. James will play one more season for the Alberni
Valley Bulldogs and will look to improve on last year's 14 goals, 29 assists and 43 points in his
rookie season.
Prior to playing in Alberni Valley, James played three years in the Okanagan Hockey Academy at
the Midget AA, Midget AAA and Junior B levels. James has made significant gains during the
regular season with the Academy, and throughout the summer months training on and off the ice
with the Okanagan Hockey School.
James's strong academics are attributed to the commitment of the Okanagan Hockey Academy
and Alberni Valley Bulldogs educational staff. Academic advisors, Tom McEvay and Dave
Nackoney have put in countless hours in working with the players in all academic areas from high
school, college and SAT prep courses.
3. International Studies Students Return from Ecuador
•
Sandra Richardson, Chris Terris and a group of enthusiastic International Study students from Pen
High just returned from their second trip to Ecuador where they continued to work on a school
building project they started two years ago.
QUEEN’S PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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The second PALS program in the StrongStart program was a huge success with a great turnout of
parents and children.
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Queen’s Park held two Roots of Empathy classes and baby Luke visited our school once again.
The grade 5 students’ love those classes!
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The PAC has ordered the new Playground and it is scheduled to be constructed in May. Everyone
is quite excited about this new addition to the play area.
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School Spirit Day in March went over very well. They decided to make it a ‘Green Day’ with over
80% of students and staff participating.
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The classes have all completed their Social Responsibility self assessments and have successfully
scored them all.
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The grade 5 students had a wonderful day cross-country skiing at Nickel Plate.
SKAHA LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL
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Grade 6 students attended the Arts and Science in Harmony at the Trade and Convention Centre
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Connor McMillen a grade 6 student in Tony Biollo's class received gold at the District Science
Fair and will be attending the Regional District Science Fair in April.
Connor McMillen received
Gold at the
District Science Fair
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Students from Skaha Lake Middle School were awarded gold (6 students), silver (6 students) and
bronze (1 student) for their science experiments.
•
The grade 8 Concert Band took
first place at the Festival held in
Penticton
Concert Band
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The Canadian Burn Foundation made a presentation to Skaha students on March 7th. Skaha
Lake Middle School then made a donation to their organization.
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Steve Lapointe, District Numeracy Helping Teacher, made a presentation to the Skaha Lake
Middle School PAC on the changes in Numeracy.
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The Maxwell Dancers from Victoria visited Skaha Lake students’ on March 13th.
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Skaha Lake students challenged the teachers to a basketball rally.
SUMMERLAND SECONDARY SCHOOL
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Lindsey Richardson was the recipient of a Global Agents for Change Award. It is an award given
to people ages 11-18 who have worked on a local or global level to help reduce poverty and the
effects of poverty. She was recognized for her smiling back initiative that started last year when
she raised money throughout the summer to purchase backpacks and back to school supplies
for students whose families face financial hardship at that time of year. In her first year, she put
together 30 backpacks for elementary students and numerous gift packs for secondary students.
Lindsey was one of 8 students from around the province recognized for her work.
•
SSS Submariners strike gold again! Daniel Kushnerik, Logan Popoff, Stephen Boehm and
Austin Collins worked together to develop the submarine that won the recent Robotic Submarine
competition at BCIT. This is the second year in a row SSS has won the competition defeating 10
other schools in BC. The student’s earlier visit to BCIT for an orientation was crucial in their
information gathering process before they developed their final design.
The submarine included three bilge pumps, three metres of piping and an on-board camera.
The team developed the controls and the propellers themselves.
Nick Kast, the teacher sponsor of the team, mentioned the project is especially worthwhile as it
brings together so many disciplines (including design, electronics and buoyancy). The team has
been invited to the Marine Advanced Technology Education Competition in Seattle - a
competition that features teams from Alaska to Oregon. How exciting!
TROUT CREEK ELEMENTARY
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Environmental Programs are happening at Trout Creek Elementary - Grade 4/5 students’ travel to
Vaseux Lake to explore habitats (special thanks to Ducks Unlimited for financially sponsoring the
trip).
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Kindergarten to grade three participated in an “Eat Dirt” program which teaches the students’
about composting.
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Skipping Lessons began for all classes twice a week for four weeks featuring Trainer,
Mrs. Cunningham.
UPLANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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Lots going on at Uplands:
Basketball Game at Uplands
Uplands vs Naramata (blue)
Kindergarten attended
the Charlottes Web
production that McNicoll
Park School hosted
Students
enjoying the
sunshine!
WEST BENCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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In March the grade 4 and 5 students took part in the Arts and Science in Harmony. The students
produced some marvelous art work and thoroughly enjoyed the presentations.
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The Senior and Junior Guitar clubs have been working very hard at putting together their recital for
May. The students have been working on Southern Rock and will be doing numbers by the
Eagles, Alman Brothers Band, Creedance Clearwater Revival, and early rockabilly artists.
Everyone is looking forward to the event.
•
Mrs. Kay’s grade 4 and 5 class went to Silver Lake. They had a great time nature hiking,
snowshoeing, quinsy making, tobogganing on Suicide Hill and also experienced numerous scary
camp fire stories told by the young and old.
WILTSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Although there were only a small number of school days in the month of March, staff and students at
Wiltse were kept very busy! Here are a few of their highlights:
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Grade 5 students visited the Arts and Science in Harmony Fair and enjoyed Improvisational
Drama, a Band performance, visiting the Science Projects and viewing the Art displays. The
staff was extremely proud of how well the students represented the school on this field trip.
•
The sun shone brightly on the final Nickel Plate cross-country ski excursion for the grade 5
students. All skills learned were practiced and a bonfire and hotdog roast finished off this day
of exercise and friendship. Many students took advantage of the free pass offered by
Nickelplate to enjoy an additional day at the centre with their families.
•
Staff were involved in the second round of
Class Review discussions to take place
regarding student progress, successes and
challenges. Administrators, teachers and
support staff met to review and plan new ways
to address the needs of each and every child.
These positive, informative meetings also had
everyone thinking about transitions between
grades and schools for all students as they
begin their final term.
•
Parent/Student/Teacher conferences were held
following the distribution of Term 2 Report
Cards.
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The week ended with dynamic presentations by Clint Panton from the South Okanagan
Similkameen Brain Injury Society. Students from Kindergarten to grade 5 were entertained as
they learned the importance of wearing helmets while participating in many activities. It was
no coincidence that this was also “Crazy Hair Day” with an additional focus on a different kind
of helmet!