“Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs.” - Farrah Gray Success Stories Forr the he December 9, 2013 ~ Board Bo d off Educ ucatio ion n Mee eeti ting Recognition of Student/School Success School Districtt No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha) extends congratulations congratulatio ons to the following g students/groups students/group upss for for these o outstanding utst t anding example examples es of success for: Columbia Elementary y PEER READING TUTORS Recently a group of grade 5 students at Columbia Elementary have been involved in an exci ng project by becoming peer reading tutors. These students had to meet the following criteria in order to par cipate: they had to have received ELI (early literacy interven on) when they were in grade 1, and they needed to demonstrate empathy and understanding towards primary students who were struggling readers. Currently they are mee ng with grade 2 students who are just beginning to read, spending twenty minutes, three mes a week. Together they review reading strategies, read loud with just-right text, and encourage each other in their learning journey. A er a few weeks, it was inspiring to hear a grade 5 student share the following with his li le buddy, who was becoming frustrated when he couldn’t sound out a word: “Don’t worry, I know just how you feel. When I was your age, I couldn’t read more than a few words. But by the end of grade 2, I went up 10 levels! You can do it, I know you can.” McNicoll Park Middle SCHOOL GOALS McNicoll Park Middle have recently updated their school goals: o They read 50,000,000 words in term one and they only have 200 students! Mrs. Walliser’s whole class inished Fast ForWord. That’s a success! Success Stories Naramata Elementary NARAMATA’S GOT TALENT SHOW On Friday, November 15th, the PAC held its' second annual Naramata's Got Talent show. Over 200 people turned up from the community to enjoy the many talents their school and community had to offer. The evening was a great success in many ways and raised $4,321.00 for PAC fundraising and a further $365.75 towards Typhoon relief for the Philippines. Parkway Elementary Breakfast club is growing every week at Parkway. Shelene and her crew are doing an amazing job. Thank you! Pizza for hot lunch on Friday and everyone was thrilled! Thank you to Kelly and her group of volunteers, they do a super job at Parkway! Sing-a-long on Monday was a blast and the students had a great time singing and dancing! Thank you Mrs. Silvius! Parkway’s two recycling teams did another super job – thank you! The Multicultural Club continues to grow as well as complete some wonderful projects. Parkway staff and students are really enjoying them! Parkway Elementary Book Fair was a great success. The school will now be able to purchase many new books for the library. Thank you to everyone that contributed and supported the fair. Great job Mrs. Caruso! The first Family BINGO of the school year was a huge hit. Over 70 people came out to play for some great fun and treats! A huge thank you to Mrs. Silvius and Mrs. Dech for helping at the school! Success Stories Parkway Elementary Continued... The senior readers from the Concorde Senior’s Centre enjoyed a reading session with the students. Starbucks at Cherry Lane is once again doing a Holiday Book Drive for Parkway Elementary. Until the end of December, people can bring in a brand new book to Starbucks and get a free tall holiday drink! A big thank you to Shelene at Starbucks for coordinating this fantastic fundraiser! Giant’s Head Elementary REMEMBRANCE DAY On Friday November 8th, Giant’s Head Elementary took time to remember those who have given service for our country. In front of special guests from the Royal Canadian Legion, RCMP, Fire Department and School Board of Education trustees, the Grade 5 Ambassadors led an assembly that included poetry, video media and music. Giant’s Head staff and students gave a huge thanks to Mrs. Shanner, Mrs. Tracy and Mrs. Fleming’s for their rendition of “In Flanders Field”. It was a very moving ceremony. Success Stories Summerland Middle A highlight from November is the story of the Grade 7-8 Boys Rugby Team. It could be framed as a “David vs. Goliath” story, in that the team faced a Skaha Lake squad which was much bigger and stronger, but the story is not that simple. The Rugby team this year was comprised of 16 boys, some who had par cipated in organized sports before, but many who had not. The team was coached by Chris Hanon and Wayne Riddle, volunteers who devote their me in the belief they are developing both athle c skills and life skills in the boys. As the season began, Summerland Middle was very evenly matched with KVR and McNicoll Park, winning (and losing) matches in regular season play versus these schools. Skaha Lake was clearly in a different ability class than the other schools, bea ng each opponent all year long by upwards of 40 points. The Summerland Middle boys faced Skaha Lake twice in regular season play, losing by a combined score of 110-15. As playoffs began, Summerland Middle defeated KVR in a semi-final, earning the right to face Skaha Lake once again. On a frigid November day, as each player boarded the bus to the game, they knew they were once again on their way to take the field against an opponent that had over-run them twice before. Yet, they were on that bus and s ll commi ed to take the field that day and give their all. In a hard fought game which ended due to darkness, Summerland Middle ed Skaha Lake Middle and both schools were named District Co-Champions. It is not the score or trophy that is most special in this story, it is the character and resiliency these boys demonstrated. It was John Wooden, a famous college basketball coach, who said that sports do not build character. They reveal it. In each of our lives we are faced with situa ons that seem winless, where we may feel overwhelmed or overmatched. Thanks to coaches like Chris and Wayne, these boys learned to face a challenge head on and to give their absolute best; these lessons will serve them well throughout their lives. Summerland Middle Continued... Success Stories Summerland Regional Library Visits SMS On November 27th, Caroline from the Summerland-Okanagan Regional Library visited classes and gave a presenta on on all of the many things the local library offers. Many students received library cards. A big thank you to Caroline for the lively and informa ve visit!! Skaha Lake Middle Skaha Lake Girls’ Volleyball Team Congratula ons to the SLMS Grade 8 Girls’ Volleyball team for winning the South Zone Grade 8 Volleyball Championship. The girls won a three set thriller over Similkameen Secondary from Keremeos. Success Stories Skaha Lake Middle Continued... Skaha Lake Boys’ Rugby Team Congratula ons to the SLMS Grade 8 Boys’ Rugby Team who were crowned cochampions in the SD67 Grade 8 Rugby League Championship. The game versus Summerland Middle school was ed when called due to darkness. The boys finished league and playoffs undefeated this season. Swimming at the Community Pool All the grade 6 classes went swimming for the morning on November 6th at the Community Pool. Remembrance Day Assembly On Friday, November 8th, Skaha Lake held their student-led Remembrance Day assembly. This was presented by Mr. Bond’s leadership class as well as the grade 8 band. This year the school commemorated the 50th anniversary of Canada’s par cipa on in the Korean War. Success Stories Skaha Lake Middle Continued... Successful Lockdown Drill On November 20th, SLMS held their first lockdown drill. The lock down drill takes place twice a year and is designed to protect students and staff from a threat inside the building, such as an intruder, when it may be more dangerous to leave the building by directed evacua on than to stay in a secured room. Students and staff reviewed procedures prior to implemen ng the drill. The lockdown was completed very successfully according to the protocols set in place by School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha) Emergency Preparedness Plan. Students and staff were congratulated for their efforts and once again reminded that this was a drill. The second lockdown drill will take place in the new year. School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha) RECOGNITION OF STUDENT ARTWORK KVR Middle School January 13, 2014 Claire Taylor Grade 6 School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha) extends recognition and appreciation to the following students/groups of KVR Middle School for the artwork they submitted to be displayed in the boardroom for the month of January. A dramatic black tree with vibrant colours of lime green, sunny yellow, pumpkin orange and sky blue in pastel and ink. Each section and colour represents the four seasons of spring, summer, fall and winter. Small etched designs are placed within each season. A watercolour painting of a large eye with high textured designs and prints in the background. Yellow, blue and green tissue paper glued to watercolour paper to create a transparent softness and additional layers to the painting. Grade 8 Brett Szabo Madison Kulak Grade 6 A dramatic black tree with vibrant colours o of lime green , grass green, red-orange, sky blue in pastel and ink. Each section and colour b rrepresents the four seasons of spring, summer, ffall and winter. Small etched designs are within each season. w Grade G d 7 Lucas Goulden A watercolour painting of a hand shaped outlined in black ink designs leaving a white negative space. The background is watered down with yellow-green to blue-teal green paint. A watercolour painting/collage with many layers of pastel, tissue, string and newspaper. lay Colours shown are aqua blue, yellow, blue C o and a n mauve. Grade 8 Lauren Ball Tanisha Johnson Grade 7 A watercolour painting of a hand shaped outlined in black ink designs leaving a white negative space. The background is a medium blue with darker blue crisscross lines.