September 22, 2014
Welcome to the first day of the Fall Equinox! It’s hard to believe that on a 26-degree day we are starting to see the leaves change colours and starting to fall from the trees…but then again, it’s Calgary! Please see the following for this week’s updates, and also please continue to check our Bishop Pinkham Facebook Page and Twitter feed [@bpbulletin] for daily updates.
Welcome to the first day of the Fall Equinox! It’s hard to believe that on a 26-degree day we are starting to see the leaves change colours and starting to fall from the trees…but then again, it’s Calgary! Please see the following for this week’s updates, and also please continue to check our Bishop Pinkham Facebook Page and Twitter feed [@bpbulletin] for daily updates.
Have you ever wondered what your middle-school child is thinking? The following is an interesting article that may provide some insight...
Caring and Supporting our Students
On Friday, September 19, our non-instructional day was focused on how to support student learning, specifically for students with special learning needs. Our teachers focused on developing Individual Program Plans (IPPs), as well as met as grade groups to discuss learning strategies connected to specific students within each grade community.
For parents new to Bishop Pinkham, we develop our IPPs though Iris, a web-based learning application that allows students, parents and teachers to interactively be part of the development of learning plans. Each student is connected to a key teacher who will be the coordinator of conversations between parents, students and teachers. For parents with students on an IPP, if a key teacher has not already contacted you, both parents and students will be contacted shortly to discuss effective learning strategies for this school year. For more information on IPPs please review these resources from Alberta Education:
Staffing Update
On Friday, September 19, our non-instructional day was focused on how to support student learning, specifically for students with special learning needs. Our teachers focused on developing Individual Program Plans (IPPs), as well as met as grade groups to discuss learning strategies connected to specific students within each grade community.
For parents new to Bishop Pinkham, we develop our IPPs though Iris, a web-based learning application that allows students, parents and teachers to interactively be part of the development of learning plans. Each student is connected to a key teacher who will be the coordinator of conversations between parents, students and teachers. For parents with students on an IPP, if a key teacher has not already contacted you, both parents and students will be contacted shortly to discuss effective learning strategies for this school year. For more information on IPPs please review these resources from Alberta Education:
Staffing Update
We would like to welcome Ms. J. Holland as the newest member of the Bishop Pinkham Staff. Ms. Holland joins us with over 15 years of teaching experience with the Calgary Board of Education. In most recent years, she was a Physical Education Consultant for Skyline Athletics. She is a well-known face at Bishop Pinkham and will be taking over the gr. 6S1/S2 class, as well as the gr. 9F1/F2 ELA classes. Ms. Holland will send home an introduction letter to parents later this week. | We would also like to congratulate Ms. J. Tuttle, who has accepted the Learning Leader position of Teacher Collaboration and Professional Development with a focus on Assessment. Ms. Tuttle’s teaching assignment will not change as a Learning Leader. As a Learning Leader, Ms. Tuttle will work with teachers to develop their assessment and focus on the creation of engaging instructional tasks. Congratulations to Ms. Tuttle! |
From the School Council
Hello Parents!
Just a friendly reminder that our first School Council meeting will be on Tuesday, September 23 at 6:30 in the Learning Commons. We have several School Council positions to fill, as well as outline what we, as a council, would like to accomplish this year.
This is a chance to meet everyone and find out more about your school as well as an opportunity to have a voice in what happens on School Council! Even if you don't want to commit to a permanent position, your support and participation is invaluable.
Please come out and support your school community!
Please note that there will be a follow-up email with the upcoming agenda, as well as information about available positions.
Hello Parents!
Just a friendly reminder that our first School Council meeting will be on Tuesday, September 23 at 6:30 in the Learning Commons. We have several School Council positions to fill, as well as outline what we, as a council, would like to accomplish this year.
This is a chance to meet everyone and find out more about your school as well as an opportunity to have a voice in what happens on School Council! Even if you don't want to commit to a permanent position, your support and participation is invaluable.
Please come out and support your school community!
Please note that there will be a follow-up email with the upcoming agenda, as well as information about available positions.
From the BPMPA
Entertainment Books
Thanks for your support with our first fundraiser this year. There is one more day to get in the Entertainment Book Orders. To date, 200 out of 677 have responded by ordering or returning their book. As of last Thursday, we have sold approximately 260 books. This money will directly benefit our students; completing the furniture upgrade to our Learning Commons and supporting the BPMPA are 2 areas of need – thank you for your support.
Casino
Mark your calendars! We will be looking for 40 volunteers on Sunday January 25-Monday January 26 to support the Casino fundraiser for Bishop Pinkham. Please note, that the casino funds support all of the Complementary and Phys. Ed programs at our school.
Next BPMPA Meeting
All parents are invited to join us on October 22 at 7:00pm in the Music Room.
Entertainment Books
Thanks for your support with our first fundraiser this year. There is one more day to get in the Entertainment Book Orders. To date, 200 out of 677 have responded by ordering or returning their book. As of last Thursday, we have sold approximately 260 books. This money will directly benefit our students; completing the furniture upgrade to our Learning Commons and supporting the BPMPA are 2 areas of need – thank you for your support.
Casino
Mark your calendars! We will be looking for 40 volunteers on Sunday January 25-Monday January 26 to support the Casino fundraiser for Bishop Pinkham. Please note, that the casino funds support all of the Complementary and Phys. Ed programs at our school.
Next BPMPA Meeting
All parents are invited to join us on October 22 at 7:00pm in the Music Room.
The week that was…
Subway Young Idealist Awards
Congratulations to the following students who won a $25.00 gift card to Subway! In conjunction with Free the Children, an international charity that empowers youth to be agents of change, Ms. Tuttle nominated 4 of our students for being ‘awesome’ and for their contributions to leadership. These students are all members of the Bishop Pinkham Leadership Committee (BPLC) and contribute both locally and globally to many initiatives – great job!
Meet the Teacher Evening
Thank you so much to all of our families who were able to join us for our Meet the Teacher Evening on Wednesday, September 17. I heard many positive comments about the opportunity to meet with teachers and we hope that this gave parents an opportunity to clarify any questions, understand how to support students and start to develop a relationship with our community. As mentioned, we look forward to offering an opportunity to discuss specific student learning during the Parent-Teacher Interviews on October 16-17.
Yearbooks, Photo Proofs, Bus Passes
Subway Young Idealist Awards
Congratulations to the following students who won a $25.00 gift card to Subway! In conjunction with Free the Children, an international charity that empowers youth to be agents of change, Ms. Tuttle nominated 4 of our students for being ‘awesome’ and for their contributions to leadership. These students are all members of the Bishop Pinkham Leadership Committee (BPLC) and contribute both locally and globally to many initiatives – great job!
- Hayley M – 6C1
- Veronica L – 9F1
- Shannon S – 9ES1
- Rowan M – 9F2
Meet the Teacher Evening
Thank you so much to all of our families who were able to join us for our Meet the Teacher Evening on Wednesday, September 17. I heard many positive comments about the opportunity to meet with teachers and we hope that this gave parents an opportunity to clarify any questions, understand how to support students and start to develop a relationship with our community. As mentioned, we look forward to offering an opportunity to discuss specific student learning during the Parent-Teacher Interviews on October 16-17.
Yearbooks, Photo Proofs, Bus Passes
On Thursday September 18, we had a homeroom at the end of the day to distribute the following:
Athletics Updates- Soccer
Congrats to Boys and Girls Soccer on your first games! On Wednesday September 17, the girls had a final score of 0-0 against Vincent Massey and on Thursday September 18, the boys ended up in a last minute 2-1 loss against Vincent Massey. Keep up the effort and make us proud, Panthers!
- 2013-2014 Yearbooks
- Photo Proofs (deadline to order is September 26 and photo retake day is October 27)
- Bus Passes (please note that these will continue to arrive for the next month)
Athletics Updates- Soccer
Congrats to Boys and Girls Soccer on your first games! On Wednesday September 17, the girls had a final score of 0-0 against Vincent Massey and on Thursday September 18, the boys ended up in a last minute 2-1 loss against Vincent Massey. Keep up the effort and make us proud, Panthers!
Tree Clean-Up
The image above was a bird-eye view of Mrs. Crisp's 7E1 class learning outside this week. It was taken from one of our clean-up crew, removing branches from the trees around our school grounds.
This week…
Booster Juice Fun Lunch
Today is the last day to sign up for our Booster Juice fundraiser that will be held on Friday September 26. Please sign up at www.healthyhunger.ca
We are still looking for volunteers to help out on Friday with the distribution at lunch. Please contact Cheryl Burgess [[email protected]] if you are available to help
BPLC Leadership Launch
If you have not already heard of the BPLC, we have 105 students who support our leadership committee by coordinating local fundraisers, in-school activities and global initiatives. All grades are welcome to join, please see the student bulletin on our Bishop Pinkham Facebook Page or Twitter [@bpbulletin] for upcoming dates.
To kick off the year, on Friday September 26 there will be a BPLC Launch for all new and returning members. The launch will begin immediately after lunch at 12:40pm and will run until the end of the school day at 2:42pm. Students will therefore miss Periods 3 and 4 on this day. Students will rotate between a presentation from AARCS, the Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society, about animal rights and volunteerism and a brainstorming / goals session to set the focus for the year ahead.
SALTS
Next week, 27 of our Grade 9 students will be departing with Ms. Tuttle, Ms. Sutherland and M. Julien for our annual sailing trip in the Georgia Strait with the Sail and Life Training Society [SALTS]. They will have one more drop-in meeting on Friday September 26 at 9:30am for last minute questions. As well, there will be a parent meeting in the Learning Commons on Thursday, September 26 from 6:00-7:00pm. Remember to bring the photocopies of your IDs and your packed bags.
Athletics this week!
Cross Country Races: Due to the closure of city parks, we are unsure about the meet on Tuesday September 23 at Riverpark. We will be able to share the update with students on Monday afternoon, once we hear the details from the Middle School Athletic Sports Association.
The image above was a bird-eye view of Mrs. Crisp's 7E1 class learning outside this week. It was taken from one of our clean-up crew, removing branches from the trees around our school grounds.
This week…
Booster Juice Fun Lunch
Today is the last day to sign up for our Booster Juice fundraiser that will be held on Friday September 26. Please sign up at www.healthyhunger.ca
We are still looking for volunteers to help out on Friday with the distribution at lunch. Please contact Cheryl Burgess [[email protected]] if you are available to help
BPLC Leadership Launch
If you have not already heard of the BPLC, we have 105 students who support our leadership committee by coordinating local fundraisers, in-school activities and global initiatives. All grades are welcome to join, please see the student bulletin on our Bishop Pinkham Facebook Page or Twitter [@bpbulletin] for upcoming dates.
To kick off the year, on Friday September 26 there will be a BPLC Launch for all new and returning members. The launch will begin immediately after lunch at 12:40pm and will run until the end of the school day at 2:42pm. Students will therefore miss Periods 3 and 4 on this day. Students will rotate between a presentation from AARCS, the Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society, about animal rights and volunteerism and a brainstorming / goals session to set the focus for the year ahead.
SALTS
Next week, 27 of our Grade 9 students will be departing with Ms. Tuttle, Ms. Sutherland and M. Julien for our annual sailing trip in the Georgia Strait with the Sail and Life Training Society [SALTS]. They will have one more drop-in meeting on Friday September 26 at 9:30am for last minute questions. As well, there will be a parent meeting in the Learning Commons on Thursday, September 26 from 6:00-7:00pm. Remember to bring the photocopies of your IDs and your packed bags.
Athletics this week!
Cross Country Races: Due to the closure of city parks, we are unsure about the meet on Tuesday September 23 at Riverpark. We will be able to share the update with students on Monday afternoon, once we hear the details from the Middle School Athletic Sports Association.
The Week at a Glance
o Junior Boys Volleyball Game (4:15/5:40pm at BP)
o Girls Soccer Game (4:30 at Elboya)
o School Council Meeting (6:30pm in the Learning Commons)
o Girls Soccer Game (4:30pm at BP)
o Boys Soccer Game (4:30pm at A.E.Cross)
o SALTS – Parent/Student Meeting at 6:00pm in the Learning Commons
o Booster Juice Fundraiser
A little later….
o Junior Girls Volleyball Game (4:15 at BP)
o Boys Soccer Game (4:30pm at Elboya)
Communication
- Monday Sept. 22
o Junior Boys Volleyball Game (4:15/5:40pm at BP)
o Girls Soccer Game (4:30 at Elboya)
- Tuesday Sept 23
o School Council Meeting (6:30pm in the Learning Commons)
- Wednesday Sept 24
o Girls Soccer Game (4:30pm at BP)
- Thursday Sept 25
o Boys Soccer Game (4:30pm at A.E.Cross)
o SALTS – Parent/Student Meeting at 6:00pm in the Learning Commons
- Friday Sept 26
o Booster Juice Fundraiser
A little later….
- SALTS – Monday Sept 29-October 3
- Monday Sept 29
- Tuesday Sept 30
o Junior Girls Volleyball Game (4:15 at BP)
o Boys Soccer Game (4:30pm at Elboya)
- Wednesday Oct 1
- Thursday Oct 2
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