James Park Elementary School
Action from Caring and Thinking
Principal: Petra Kintzinger (email: pkintzinger@sd43.bc.ca)
1761 Westminster Avenue, Port Coquitlam, BC
October 14, 2009 Issue
Phone: (604) 942-6658 Fax (604) 942-9211
Notes from the Principal’s
Pondering Pool
Dear Parents/Guardians
Welcome back! Lately I’ve been thinking about early learning. Partially, this is
because of my observations of the little ones as they come into the school for
Kindergarten; as well as the even smaller ones in the Strong Start program, and
accompanying “big” brother or sister. In addition, the Ministry of Education plans
to bring formal education into the earlier years with full day kindergarten and more
Strong Start centres.
JPE students fly their
hand- made kites the
first week of school.
Our three K teachers are acclimatizing their new group of 5 year olds to school.
This is no simple task and requires persistence & patience as children learn to listen
to the teacher as well as to their peers; as they learn to travel through the hallways
in an orderly fashion and as they learn to play cooperatively indoors and out.
In class, they listen to and discuss stories, and engage in structured play activities.
Inside this newsletter, you will find an article about structured play prepared by Ms
Lawson, who is currently working on her Graduate Program in supporting early
learners.
Special Note:
The RCMP fan
out sent home
Friday was
retracted by the
RCMP
yesterday
One of the themes we often touch on here at the school is the importance of
strong oral language skills. Put simply, we need to be able to talk with one another.
When talking to another person, most of us have learned to look at that person, to
speak clearly, and to take our turn in a conversation back and forth. What we are
finding is that this skill is lacking in many of our early learners, which means they
are not used to engaging in conversation with another person.
You can help your child become a competent speaker, by taking some time each
day to have a conversation about something they know and are interested in. At
any time you are speaking with your child, make sure you are looking at each other
and, when the child tells something ask some questions to keep the conversation
going. If the child mispronounces words, help them to say the words correctly. Be
relaxed and friendly at all times, just as you would in conversation with a good
friend.
Petra Kintzinger
Grade 2 student MacKenzie McCurry was
made James Park’s honorary fire chief for the
day on October 6, 2009, after a very successful
emergency evacuation. MacKenzie is standing
with classmates from Ms Neilson’s class.
If you would like to see this newsletter in gorgeous,
Living colour, including clear photographs, please visit
Our website at
http://public.sd43.bc.ca/elementary/jamespark
Structured Play, by Ms Lawson
In kindergarten we have been working on "Smart Play", which could also be described as “productive” play.
As a group we brainstormed what Smart Play looks like and the kids explained it as-o
o
o
o
quiet
tidy
sharing with your friends
my brain working
Children are encouraged to play this way through a process called Learning Stories. While they are engaged
in the play process, I take photographs. After the pictures are developed, the children and I look at the photos
and talk about what type of Smart Play was happening when the picture was taken. This process helps
enhance future play, but also gives me a chance to assess how the children are developing certain skills and
processes learned in Kindergarten.
Below are a few photographs of the children engaged in Smart Play, and what they said about it.
"We are trying to make the marble go fast".
In terms of a teacher assessment of this play,
I would say these kids are working together
as a team and utilizing higher level thinking
skills – they are hypothesizing and planning
a proof.
"We were using the twirly thingy to make big
castles". My assessment of this type of play would
be that the students are demonstrating cooperation,
patience, and using the language of mathematical
comparison.
"We are making the letter c and a
cookie". I can look at this photo and see
that Joshua is able to independently
form the letter C, and he knows the
relationship to the sound in “cookie”.
"I am having a party and need a friend to
come". From this conversation I know that
Sergio is able to role play, plan and
communicate with a friend. I can also see
that Chazz is able to use abstract objects to
represent the real thing (in this case a glue
bottle for a phone). This type of thinking is a
precursor to higher level mathematical
thought.
October 2009 - What’s The Deal with Processed
Foods?
Processed foods have taken over our supermarkets! There’s no
doubt about it! Food scientists have won us over with their
ready-to- eat snacks and convenient pre-packaged meals. Many
processed foods are advertised and packaged in a way that
makes us think they are healthy. The reality is that processed
foods can be higher in calories, fat, sodium and lower in
vitamins, minerals and fibre. Don’t panic! There are a few tricks
to making healthier food choices because it’s hard to avoid
processed foods completely. Here are some helpful tips when
buying processed foods.
It’s all
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
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about reading food labels! Look for foods that are:
Low in salt or salt free
Low in fat (< 3 g per serving)
Trans fat free (0 g per serving)
High in fibre (> 4 g per serving)
100 % whole grain or made with whole grains (whole
grain is the first ingredient)
Unsweetened
Safety Man shares important tips
with students during Week 1.
Remember the best thing you can eat for your health and well
being is whole natural foods! Help your children develop to
their full potential by offering them all of the vitamins and
minerals they need from natural foods more often!
Eat Well…Be Active…Live Tobacco Free.
Week One
Ms Lloyd’s Boot Camp
Mad Science
Enrichment Program
Did you get the flyer for this afterschool program?
Fun & learning for students grades
1 to 5. Check it out here:
www.madsciencefraservalley.ca
Students took the flyer home 2
weeks ago … if you would like
another, please email
pkintzinger@sd43.bc.ca
One really happy camper!
Keep up to date on the school
calendar by bookmarking our website,
or setting it as the default when you
open Internet on your computer.
Dates sometimes change, and new
events are placed on the calendar.
Your best chance of being up to date,
is to be checking on the website,
especially when an event pertains
directly to your family.
Regular & Upcoming Events
Folk Dancing (Ms Neilson) – all regular Thursdays at 3:00
Scouts About – 3:00 all regular Mondays
Folk Dancing
Oct 13 – almost everyone goes to the Pumpkin Patch!
Mrs. Neilson welcomes students,
parents and teachers to come to the
gym after school to learn and do
folk dancing. We’ll do it every
regular Thursday
from 3:00 to 4:00
Oct 15
1:40 - early dismissal
1:45– Parent/Teacher Interviews begin
Oct 16 – 9:00 a.m. UNICEF assembly
Oct 19 – Mooing Monday
Oct 21 – 9:00 am Div 3, 4, 6 to Fish Hatchery
- 7:00 pm PAC meeting
We will also dance during our
lunch hour on Tuesdays
From 12:15 to 12:40
Oct 23 – Provincial Professional Day
Oct 26 – Drop Everything & Read Day
Oct 27 – 1:00 Dancers of Damelahamid
Drop in any time!
You do not have to attend all
sessions!
Oct 30 – School-wide Activity Day (Hallowe’en)
http://public.sd43.bc.ca/elementary/jamespark
School Calendar 2009-10
Non-Instructional Day
Fri, October 23
Remembrance Day
Wed, November 11
Schools Close for Winter Vacation
Fri, December 18
Winter Vacation
Dec 21 to Jan 1
Schools Open
Mon, January 4
School Based Non-Instructional Day
Fri, January 22
Non-Instructional Day
Fri, February 12
Schools Close for Spring Vacation
Thurs, March 25
Spring Vacation
Mar 26 to Apr 5
Good Friday
Fri, April 2
Easter Monday
Mon, April 5
Schools Open
Tues, April 6
Non-Instructional Day
Fri, April 16
School Based Non-Instructional Day
Fri, May 14
Victoria Day
Mon, May 24
Administrative Day
Fri, June 30
Schools Close
Fri, June 30