School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
RECOGNITION OF STUDENT/SCHOOL SUCCESS
February 12, 2007
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha) extends congratulations to the following students/groups for these
outstanding examples of success:
CARMI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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February has arrived and it is full speed ahead at Carmi with Stop, Drop and Read, Pajamas Day and
Read-In, skating, swimming, basketball, open gym, floor hockey (and Carmi vs Vees game), Action
Schools, Ready, Set, Learn, Carmi CARES Carnival, Random Acts of Kindness Week, Extended Care
visits, weekly assemblies/performances, Family Grouping (Cross-Graded) Activities, Block X and the
list goes on!!
Basketball and Open Gym
Chelsea Walker plays, “O Canada” and
Max Trainor receives “Student of the Week” during Carmi’s Weekly Assembly
Keeping fit with Action Schools and Skating
COLUMBIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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Each year, Mr. Guza's and Mr. Olsen's class make their gingerbread houses, and, every year, they turn
out delightfully. This is one project that students request every year just before Christmas and one of
their all-time favourites.
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Students from Mr. Olsen's and Mr.
Guza's grade 5 classes gave a
presentation on the Accelerated
Reading Program to the Columbia
PAC and a number of very interested
parents. Three years ago, the school
PAC provided the money for the
Accelerated Reading Program.
Essentially, it is a very sophisticated
Home Reading Program. The beauty of
Accelerated Reading is that it is
computer-monitored and very
interactive with the students. In the first
part of the program, called STAR
Reading, students are given a
standardized assessment to find their
reading level and comfort range in
reading. Then, they are allowed to
choose pre-selected books within their
comfort zone. This helps to make
reading a more enjoyable and less
stressful activity. At this time, Columbia has over a thousand titles from which to choose, and students
are always helping us to make new choices. A big thank you to the following students, Grayce Overhill,
Starr Shaw, Carli Anderson, Ulises Rodriguez, and Cameron Zakall, for sharing their thoughts about the
program. Not only was their enthusiasm for the program contagious, but on a daily basis, their reading
has improved dramatically.
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Students saw a special performance by Carousel Theatre called "The Big League." The presentation
used a hockey skit to talk about positive attitudes and determination in meeting with success.
This presentation was well-received by students and staff alike.
GIANT’S HEAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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The special Events Ambassadors have been very busy during January. Amanda Templeton, Rachel
Stewart, Kaiden Woods and Jordan Blake helped kick off the Bully Prevention Focus at two assemblies,
one for the K- grade 2s and one for the grade 3-5 students. They planned skits to depict ways you can
stop a bully. The feedback from staff and students about these assemblies was very positive.
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Thank you also to these students who planned a wonderful event to celebrate literacy called, “Literacy
Laugh Along”. Every day leading up to this event they told jokes or riddles over the announcements to
get the students in the mood for reading funny books and stories to their buddy class. Staff and
students were encouraged to wear their PJs and brought stuffies to make this event even funnier.
Thank you to Cynthia Cutt who secured a donation of 400 juice boxes from IGA as an incentive for
telling a joke to your buddy.
HOME LEARNERS’ PROGRAM
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Two students, Renia and Ethan Cooper, recently won an
RDOS contest in which students were asked to name the
‘Invasive Plant Program Mascot’. According to program
coordinator Lisa Scott the students’ name, “Warren the
Weed Warrior” was chosen from over 165 submissions from
students in kindergarten through grade 7.
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KALEDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
A sample of the many things that have been going on at Kaleden in January:
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Weekly assemblies featuring various talented student performances and invited guests (every Monday
morning)
Choir started in divisions 2, 3 and 4 (Jan 11 – March 15)
Basketball for Divisions 1, 2, 3 and 4 (Mondays and Thursdays)
Enjoying free play during Open Gym days
Grade 3 swimming program (6 sessions starting Jan 15)
Grades 4 and 5 cross country skiing (Jan 19, Jan 29 & Feb 5)
School-wide swim (January 26)
Celebrating Family Literacy Week (Jan 22 – 26)
Buddy Reading and Pajama Day (Jan 22)
Starting Term II of the One to One Reading Program (Jan 16 – Mar 15)
Offering Hot Lunch to the students at Kaleden every Friday
Fundraising for various classroom fieldtrips
McNICOLL PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL
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Congratulations to the members of the McNicoll Park grade 7 Girls’ Basketball team who ended their
season with a strong showing at the final round robin play-day hosted by KVR Middle School. Coaches
Ms. Tank and Mr. Kocsis, were very pleased with the teams’ enthusiasm, strong work ethic and
tremendous improvement as the season progressed.
NARAMATA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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Naramata celebrated National Literacy Day on Friday, January 26th, with two events:
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Gently Used Book Sale
There was a ‘gently used book sale’ sale’ at recess and lunch time on the
Friday. This was an opportunity for families to look through children books
at home that may be a little tired, but gently used, and perhaps could now
be recycled. These books were then donated to the school and sold in the
book sale at $.25 a book. Donations are to be put towards the purchasing
of new little books for the Home Reading Program. ‘Something old is new
again!’
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Book in a Nook
On the Friday, from 10:00 am – 10:20 am, all the students in the school went the gym to enjoy a
book in comfort – in tents, on mats, in groups, etc. Children were encouraged to choose a book
from home or school for this special reading time and read with their big or little buddy.
PARKWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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Fifty one grade four students wrote the Provincial Satisfaction Survey using the technology that they
learn with computers.
Students from grades 1 to 5 have been participating in the HATs OFF TO READING program set up by
the library.
Kindergarten students participated and learned from Fire Safety Programs presented by the local fire
department.
Primary students displayed their writing skills in a recent School-Wide Write used to assist students and
teachers to plan for future needs.
The grade one classes hosted open house readings, joke telling and poetry for the parents of their
classes. The parents then stayed and had lunch with the children.
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PRINCESS MARGARET SECONDARY SCHOOL
Letter to Principal Bidlake:
I am John Annicchiarico, teacher and coach of the South Kamloops Secondary School
junior girls basketball team. Over the weekend, our team was in the Penn Hi Lakeside
Classic, and so we played three games at Princess Margaret.
I would like to compliment your wonderful students who did a marvelous job scorekeeping.
They were friendly, courteous, and diligent. As well, during the pre-game talk on Friday, I
took the team to a far hallway for a meeting - this was during the lunch hour. The Princess
Margaret students respected our privacy and were most gracious and patient in affording us
a quiet space. All in all, the Princess Margaret school community really gave
us VIP treatment.
My congratulations to Ms. Fry, Ms. Searcy, the wonderful family that ran the concession on
Saturday, and all the great students of Princess Margaret Secondary. You have a first-class
facility at the school, but then again, first-class students, teachers, and parents deserve as
much.
Thank you for being such polite and welcoming hosts.
John Annicchiarico
SKSS Titans
QUEEN’S PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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The third movie night of the year was a big hit. There were over 90 parents and students in attendance
and they all had a wonderful evening at the movies.
The first Family Science night was held on January 25th in the evening in the Primary Pod. The room
was overflowing as there were over 35 families in attendance (well over 90 people). There were some
fun experiments with ice cream and then everyone went home with a package of fun science
experiments to try at home. Everyone will meet again in a few months to share their experiences.
At the month end assembly two grade 5 students MC'd the affair. Student achievement was
recognized in many areas for the months of December and January.
SKAHA LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL
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A National Fast Ball Team member addressed the grade 7 students in an assembly on January 15th.
Skaha had a “Spirit Day” in January 2007 organized
by the leadership students.
Skaha Lake hosted a district basketball tournament.
All classes addressed the topic of smoking during
anti-smoking week January 21st – 27th.
Skaha Lake hosted a play day for district volleyball
students
Grade 6 students visited the skating rink for fitness
and fun.
Grade 8 student Megan Ehlers won $50.00 for her
poster submission to For-Ed B.C. She received first
place in the province for her division out of 600
entries. Well done Megan!
Skaha Lake student Meghan Ehlers has entered the
"Royal Commonwealth Society Essay Competition"
for young writers.
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Mrs. Kascak’s grade 8 class submitted the first chapter of a mystery story for Zamoof Magazine.
Various schools throughout the province submit chapters for a joint end result.
Grade 6 students competed against each other in the annual Spelling Bee. The winner was Destiny
Plangg. Destiny will go on to the district Spelling Bee.
SUMMERLAND SECONDARY SCHOOL
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The Junior Boys’ Basketball team won their home tournament this past weekend and this was a
tournament that included teams from Pen Hi, Maggie, and SOSS... a very fulfilling weekend for us!
Summerland Secondary hosted the Grad Class of 2011as they had their first official tour of SSS and
saw some of the elective programs available to them.
UPLANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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Congratulations to Uplands’ families for their generous donations to the Salvation Army Food Bank.
The Salvation Army advised that the school collected the most food items this past Christmas. Santa’s
Workshop earned $555.00.
Pajama Day was a great success and displayed “Great School Spirit”. Congratulations to Miss Kantz’
class which had 100% participation.
A father of one of Uplands’ students suffered a cardiac arrest on Boxing Day at Apex Ski Mountain.
The Ski Patrol, with a recently purchased defibrillator, was able to save his life. A fundraiser was
initiated to help purchase a second defibrillator and more equipment for the Apex Ski Patrol. Through a
Popcorn Sale, students raised $167.20 for this cause.
WEST BENCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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A number of the grade 5 students have been learning to become playground monitors. Playground
monitors have “Wonderful Wildcat” cards that they will be giving out to students who they catch doing
something positive for the school and their fellow students. They also are helping by working with
students on keeping our playground clean.
The grade 4 & 5 basketball team has been meeting on Tuesday and Fridays to practice. They have
games scheduled against Parkway and Uplands School which should be challenging and most
importantly fun!
Jake Evans has been coming to the school on Wednesdays at noon to teach the kids about hip hop
dancing. Boy, the Wildcats have some great moves and so do the teachers!!
The Wildcats of all ages have really been working at, and enjoying the new word search bulletin board
in the gym entrance way. The first puzzle had staff names as the theme. With each new board there
will be a new theme and words for that theme that students have to find and solve. All those who solve
the word search get a little something for their effort. Their names are then placed into a draw and a
winner is picked for that particular word search. Thanks to Mrs. Silvius for the word search and Mrs.
Hammerquist and Mrs. Hill for their help in assembling it.
WILTSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
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Staff and students were treated to a lively and inspiring theatrical performance by the Carousel Theatre
called “The Big League”. “The Big League” is a story about a boy who dreams of becoming a big
league hockey player, but struggles to deal with the pressure from his father of always having to “do
better”. The story teaches some valuable lessons about friendship, sportsmanship, and solving conflict.
Students participated in a Spell-A-Thon and had tremendous support. It was a great learning activity
for the kids and a superb fundraiser for the school. $1,800 was raised which will be used to help
students attend the Children’s Festival in May. Well done, Wiltse!!
The Kindergarten classes and parents hosted a bake sale and then used the money to buy food to
donate to the food bank.
Ref: 06-07SUP/00300-01/Admin/Board of Trustees-General/Student Successes/ Success Stories 07Feb12
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