September 9, 2013
We’re back! We are happy to share that we have made it through the first week and that our spring planning has resulted in an increase of 160 students, an additional 7 teachers and 3 new members on our support staff. At last count on Friday, we have 660 students enrolled at Bishop Pinkham. With this significant increase, the energy of our school has once again become renewed and our community has grown, not only in numbers, but also with opportunities to learn.
Opportunities to Learn…
One of these opportunities to learn came on the first day that we welcomed our grade 5, 6 and 7 students. This year, we asked a group of our grade 8 and 9 students from our Leadership Committee to join the homeroom teachers and to help lead the first day of activities for our new students. Developing a mentorship program among our students is a great asset and also a nice way to ease the anxieties of our sometimes-nervous new learners.
Another opportunity to learn came from our own staff. By this point, all parents should have received a welcome phone call from their child’s homeroom teacher. This was something new that we tried this year as a staff. It came as a result of a conversation that we had about the importance of creating connections with our wider community. It took a lot of time for our staff to make those calls, but we are hoping that this contact will invite parents to contact the teachers if they have any questions or concerns in the future. As well, if your child is on an Individualized Program Plan (IPP), you will also be receiving a call from his/her key teacher in the next couple of weeks.
Meet the Principal Appreciation…
I would like to thank all of the parents who were able to join us for our Meet the Principal evening on Thursday, September 5. It was a great learning experience for Ms J. Shantz and I to understand all of the questions from our community and we hope that it was the beginning of many conversations in the future.
Focus for the future…
This year, for our school development plan, teachers will continue to build their capacity to create quality-learning tasks and to provide meaningful feedback to students. By focusing on this learning, we anticipate that we will see an increase in students’ intellectual engagement and student achievement will increase.
Student engagement means that students feel a sense of belonging at school and that they feel invested in their learning. Engagement and learning go hand-in-hand. As shared by our Learning Leaders at our opening staff meeting, our community will focus on creating authentic opportunities for learning through cultural connections, infusing the comprehensive health program throughout all of the school and by allowing students to learn through various forms of formative assessment.
All this to say that we care that our students are excited to be at Bishop Pinkham!
How to be Awesome….
If you decided to watch the Teen Choice Awards this year, you may have watched Ashton Kutcher deliver a speech that knocked everyone’s socks off. Rather than choose to thank the usual suspects, Kutcher took the time to talk to kids about how to be ‘awesome’…this speech inspired my opening welcome to our own students at BP and I thought that this would also be meaningful to share with our parent community. Enjoy!
We’re back! We are happy to share that we have made it through the first week and that our spring planning has resulted in an increase of 160 students, an additional 7 teachers and 3 new members on our support staff. At last count on Friday, we have 660 students enrolled at Bishop Pinkham. With this significant increase, the energy of our school has once again become renewed and our community has grown, not only in numbers, but also with opportunities to learn.
Opportunities to Learn…
One of these opportunities to learn came on the first day that we welcomed our grade 5, 6 and 7 students. This year, we asked a group of our grade 8 and 9 students from our Leadership Committee to join the homeroom teachers and to help lead the first day of activities for our new students. Developing a mentorship program among our students is a great asset and also a nice way to ease the anxieties of our sometimes-nervous new learners.
Another opportunity to learn came from our own staff. By this point, all parents should have received a welcome phone call from their child’s homeroom teacher. This was something new that we tried this year as a staff. It came as a result of a conversation that we had about the importance of creating connections with our wider community. It took a lot of time for our staff to make those calls, but we are hoping that this contact will invite parents to contact the teachers if they have any questions or concerns in the future. As well, if your child is on an Individualized Program Plan (IPP), you will also be receiving a call from his/her key teacher in the next couple of weeks.
Meet the Principal Appreciation…
I would like to thank all of the parents who were able to join us for our Meet the Principal evening on Thursday, September 5. It was a great learning experience for Ms J. Shantz and I to understand all of the questions from our community and we hope that it was the beginning of many conversations in the future.
Focus for the future…
This year, for our school development plan, teachers will continue to build their capacity to create quality-learning tasks and to provide meaningful feedback to students. By focusing on this learning, we anticipate that we will see an increase in students’ intellectual engagement and student achievement will increase.
Student engagement means that students feel a sense of belonging at school and that they feel invested in their learning. Engagement and learning go hand-in-hand. As shared by our Learning Leaders at our opening staff meeting, our community will focus on creating authentic opportunities for learning through cultural connections, infusing the comprehensive health program throughout all of the school and by allowing students to learn through various forms of formative assessment.
All this to say that we care that our students are excited to be at Bishop Pinkham!
How to be Awesome….
If you decided to watch the Teen Choice Awards this year, you may have watched Ashton Kutcher deliver a speech that knocked everyone’s socks off. Rather than choose to thank the usual suspects, Kutcher took the time to talk to kids about how to be ‘awesome’…this speech inspired my opening welcome to our own students at BP and I thought that this would also be meaningful to share with our parent community. Enjoy!
Meet the New Kids on the Block!
Please welcome our newest members to the BP community:
From left top row: Shawna Easthope, Alonso Menjivar, Marie-Claude Caron, Mitchell Way, Kari Ell, Nick Debrey, Erin Fulton
From left bottom row: Kate Woodworth, Jennifer Sutherland, Jaye Zoerb
As well, we would like to extend a special welcome back to Aleksandra Huffman from her Maternity Leave.
Please welcome our newest members to the BP community:
From left top row: Shawna Easthope, Alonso Menjivar, Marie-Claude Caron, Mitchell Way, Kari Ell, Nick Debrey, Erin Fulton
From left bottom row: Kate Woodworth, Jennifer Sutherland, Jaye Zoerb
As well, we would like to extend a special welcome back to Aleksandra Huffman from her Maternity Leave.
This week….
Get Involved
One of the key ways to get connected to school is to get involved in the many activities and clubs that will be available. Very soon, we will be publishing an extracurricular list of activities that teachers will be supporting. By sharing this list, students will know who to contact, where to go and when they can plan to join.
Most activities and clubs will be open to all students; however, some sports teams will only be open to particular grades. Please take note that this limitation is not meant to exclude students but to protect their safety. We are part of the Junior High Athletic Association which determines who may or may not participate on particular sports teams. At Bishop Pinkham, we will work with teachers to provide our younger students with opportunities to build their skills through intramurals and after-school sports leagues. We will provide more detailed information when we determine times and dates.
For now, students are encouraged to take advantage of our Intramurals program, which will begin on Monday, September 9. The following is the weekly intramural schedule:
Intramural Schedule
Monday – Grade 5 Thursday – Grade 8
Tuesday – Grade 6 Friday – Grade 9
Wednesday – Grade 7
Get Involved
One of the key ways to get connected to school is to get involved in the many activities and clubs that will be available. Very soon, we will be publishing an extracurricular list of activities that teachers will be supporting. By sharing this list, students will know who to contact, where to go and when they can plan to join.
Most activities and clubs will be open to all students; however, some sports teams will only be open to particular grades. Please take note that this limitation is not meant to exclude students but to protect their safety. We are part of the Junior High Athletic Association which determines who may or may not participate on particular sports teams. At Bishop Pinkham, we will work with teachers to provide our younger students with opportunities to build their skills through intramurals and after-school sports leagues. We will provide more detailed information when we determine times and dates.
For now, students are encouraged to take advantage of our Intramurals program, which will begin on Monday, September 9. The following is the weekly intramural schedule:
Intramural Schedule
Monday – Grade 5 Thursday – Grade 8
Tuesday – Grade 6 Friday – Grade 9
Wednesday – Grade 7
Soccer Try-Outs
Make sure to come and try-out for soccer this year, don't forget that try-outs begin this week!
Gr 7-9 Girls Soccer Tryouts (Mme MacPhee /Ms Tuttle): First round is Monday afterschool from 3:00-4:30.
Gr 6 Girls Soccer Tryouts (Mme MacPhee /Ms Tuttle): First round is Tuesday at lunch.
Gr 7-9 Boys Soccer Tryouts (Mr Palkovits): First round is Tuesday afterschool from 3:00-4:30.
Gr 6 Boys Soccer Tryouts (Mr Palkovits): First round is Monday at lunch.
Make sure to come and try-out for soccer this year, don't forget that try-outs begin this week!
Gr 7-9 Girls Soccer Tryouts (Mme MacPhee /Ms Tuttle): First round is Monday afterschool from 3:00-4:30.
Gr 6 Girls Soccer Tryouts (Mme MacPhee /Ms Tuttle): First round is Tuesday at lunch.
Gr 7-9 Boys Soccer Tryouts (Mr Palkovits): First round is Tuesday afterschool from 3:00-4:30.
Gr 6 Boys Soccer Tryouts (Mr Palkovits): First round is Monday at lunch.
Volleyball Meeting
Don't forget! There will be a volleyball meeting for grade 7-9s on Thursday, September 12 at lunch in the gym.
Don't forget! There will be a volleyball meeting for grade 7-9s on Thursday, September 12 at lunch in the gym.
Coming Up...
Meet the Teacher Evening
Our Meet the Teacher Evening is scheduled for Thursday, September 19 from 7:00 - 8:30. More details will be provided here next week, and will be sent for BP families by e-mail. We are looking forward to meeting many new parents and welcoming back many parents we have working with in past years.
Bishop Pinkham Music Parents Association
The BPMPA will have their Annual General Meeting on Thursday, September 19 during the Meet the Teacher Evening. Please plan to attend if your child is in Grade 8 or 9 Band, or if they are in Grades 6 or 7 and have an interest in Band.
Parents Council Meeting
The first meeting of the Bishop Pinkham Parents Council will be held Tuesday, September 24, beginning at 6:30pm in the Learning Commons. All parents are welcome to attend, whether just to learn more about the school and the role our parents play in supporting student growth, or to become actively involved in the council.
Meet the Teacher Evening
Our Meet the Teacher Evening is scheduled for Thursday, September 19 from 7:00 - 8:30. More details will be provided here next week, and will be sent for BP families by e-mail. We are looking forward to meeting many new parents and welcoming back many parents we have working with in past years.
Bishop Pinkham Music Parents Association
The BPMPA will have their Annual General Meeting on Thursday, September 19 during the Meet the Teacher Evening. Please plan to attend if your child is in Grade 8 or 9 Band, or if they are in Grades 6 or 7 and have an interest in Band.
Parents Council Meeting
The first meeting of the Bishop Pinkham Parents Council will be held Tuesday, September 24, beginning at 6:30pm in the Learning Commons. All parents are welcome to attend, whether just to learn more about the school and the role our parents play in supporting student growth, or to become actively involved in the council.
SALTS
The Grade 9 sailing group continues to meet weekly to go over some details for their upcoming sailing trip in the Georgia Strait with the Sail and Life Training Society [SALTS]. Mme J. Tuttle, Mr M. Kennedy and I will join 27 students on this adventure September 30 – October 5. The next parent meeting will be on in the Learning Commons Thursday, September 26 from 6:00-7:00pm. Anchors Aweigh!
The Grade 9 sailing group continues to meet weekly to go over some details for their upcoming sailing trip in the Georgia Strait with the Sail and Life Training Society [SALTS]. Mme J. Tuttle, Mr M. Kennedy and I will join 27 students on this adventure September 30 – October 5. The next parent meeting will be on in the Learning Commons Thursday, September 26 from 6:00-7:00pm. Anchors Aweigh!
Kettle Valley Railroad
The KVR Trip students also met last week. Fifteen Grade 9 students will join Mr. D. Jordan, Mme. A. McPhee, and Mr. C. Zipfel on a four-day cycling trip along the Carmi Subdivision of the abandoned Kettle Valley Railroad. They will begin in Beaverdell, British Columbia and end in Naramata. These students have been on their bikes this summer, improving their condition for this trip. They will be riding together many days after school - in all kinds of weather - for the next three weeks to ensure that the trip goes well for everyone. The next parent meeting will be on in the Learning Commons Thursday, September 19 from 5:45-6:45pm.
The KVR Trip students also met last week. Fifteen Grade 9 students will join Mr. D. Jordan, Mme. A. McPhee, and Mr. C. Zipfel on a four-day cycling trip along the Carmi Subdivision of the abandoned Kettle Valley Railroad. They will begin in Beaverdell, British Columbia and end in Naramata. These students have been on their bikes this summer, improving their condition for this trip. They will be riding together many days after school - in all kinds of weather - for the next three weeks to ensure that the trip goes well for everyone. The next parent meeting will be on in the Learning Commons Thursday, September 19 from 5:45-6:45pm.
Current BP information
Fees, fees, fees…
We can accept payment for any school fees [mandatory and optional fees, gym strip, field trips, etc.] by debit or credit card in our office. This service is available anytime the office is open [generally, from 7:30 - 4:00].
Additionally, all these fees can be paid online by registering at CBE online fees.
Transportation…
Bishop Pinkham bus maps [with routes and schedules] are now available in the school office and on our webpage at: Bus Maps. Forms for requesting a change in the location of bus stops and registering to ride [either as an eligible rider or conditional rider] are all available on the CBE Transportation Forms page.
Calendar
Our school calendar will be regularly updated. The most recent copy will always be found on our webpage at: http://cbe.ab.ca/b645.
Teacher contact
Teach contact information is always found on our webpage under 'contact us.' The current e-mail list will be uploaded to our website shortly.
Fees, fees, fees…
We can accept payment for any school fees [mandatory and optional fees, gym strip, field trips, etc.] by debit or credit card in our office. This service is available anytime the office is open [generally, from 7:30 - 4:00].
Additionally, all these fees can be paid online by registering at CBE online fees.
Transportation…
Bishop Pinkham bus maps [with routes and schedules] are now available in the school office and on our webpage at: Bus Maps. Forms for requesting a change in the location of bus stops and registering to ride [either as an eligible rider or conditional rider] are all available on the CBE Transportation Forms page.
Calendar
Our school calendar will be regularly updated. The most recent copy will always be found on our webpage at: http://cbe.ab.ca/b645.
Teacher contact
Teach contact information is always found on our webpage under 'contact us.' The current e-mail list will be uploaded to our website shortly.
Communication
e-mail
We are using e-mail more now to provide directly-relevant information to BP families. Most teachers use e-mail as their primary communication tool with parents. Staff e-mail addresses are found on our webpage at: staff contact list. Send a note to [email protected] with your child's name and we will make sure that your address is added to our records.
social media
We are continuing to increase our use of the school Facebook page and Twitter accounts. If you 'like' our Facebook page at bit.ly/bishoppinkhamfacebook, daily updates will find their way into your News Feed. Following @bpbulletin will provide you with daily updates, as well.
school webpage
The webpage at cbe.ab.ca/b645 will continue to contain much of the important information for parents, including calendars and bus information. We will try to keep it as updated as possible with the information it contains.
contact me
As always, I welcome your comments, questions, and concerns by e-mail at [email protected] or telephone at 403 777-7840 [2123]
Thank you - Michelle Howell, Principal
Bishop Pinkham School
We are using e-mail more now to provide directly-relevant information to BP families. Most teachers use e-mail as their primary communication tool with parents. Staff e-mail addresses are found on our webpage at: staff contact list. Send a note to [email protected] with your child's name and we will make sure that your address is added to our records.
social media
We are continuing to increase our use of the school Facebook page and Twitter accounts. If you 'like' our Facebook page at bit.ly/bishoppinkhamfacebook, daily updates will find their way into your News Feed. Following @bpbulletin will provide you with daily updates, as well.
school webpage
The webpage at cbe.ab.ca/b645 will continue to contain much of the important information for parents, including calendars and bus information. We will try to keep it as updated as possible with the information it contains.
contact me
As always, I welcome your comments, questions, and concerns by e-mail at [email protected] or telephone at 403 777-7840 [2123]
Thank you - Michelle Howell, Principal
Bishop Pinkham School