Tower of Book Challenge, Felt Art Collaborations, Donation request & Mooooooostaches

Nov.25-29

Tower of Book Challenge

This year our amazing Librarian Ms. James is running “Tower of Book Challenge” for all our #belfastyreaders! What is involved? Students can choose from 2 different options: Tower of Book Challenge doc..  The goal is still the same to read 20 BOOKS!  There is going to be a draw for our amazing #beflastyreaders on Wednesday, Feb 12 and the winner will receive 4 free passes to Laser Quest! How do students get started?? It’s easy visit Ms. James during library time fill out a Tower of Book Challenge and start your reading! 

Felting Art Collaborations

The BIGGEST THANKS goes to our amazing #belfastyvolunteers who came in and supported our students these past few weeks in creating unique, stunning & amazing pieces of Felt Art. We want to thank Parent Council who helped sponsor this school wide Artist in Residency.  

The Felt Art pieces will be displayed in various areas & are being hung after the winter break.  We welcome everyone to come in to see these amazing pieces in person.  We hope you truly enjoy these Collaboration Felt Art pieces we feel that they have truly captured what Belfast school stands for: EXPLORE! CREATE! ENGAGE! 

SNEAK PEAK:

 

Donation requests….. 

We are in midst of weather that is very unpredictable as it always is in Calgary.  And the BLUE DAYS where the students MUST stay inside are becoming more frequent.  What does this mean?? This year our goal is to be able to offer a variety activities to keep our students engaged while they are inside.  If you have any of the following items and they are needing a new home we would gladly accept them! All items can be dropped off at the office & once again we want to thank you as always for your support. 

• Gently used Game boards 
• Cards & Dice 
• Lego pieces 
• Kinect sets 
• Crafting supplies such as:
• Beading (beads, beading string, key chain rings ect) 
• Card making items (card stock, punches ect) 
• Stamps & stamp pads 
• Embossing tools
• Pipe cleaners
• White Glue, glitter, glue sticks ect
• Traceables 
• Coloring books 

Good Food Box

The Good Food Box (GFB) is a program whereby you can purchase fresh fruits and vegetables monthly at a very low cost.  The Cedar Court Hub is a depot location for delivery and pick-up. For more information, and future order dates please check out the website: GOOD FOOD BOX

3 sizes of boxes:

·         $25 for a 20-25 lbs box of produce

·         $30 for a 30-35 lbs box of produce

·         $35 for a 40-45 lbs box of produce

How to order: 

• Place in an envelope the money with a note indicating your name, phone number and number of family members and deliver to the mail slot of the Cedar Court Hub by the order deadline.
• Next month the deadline is December 3 at 8 am.  
• Delivery of the box will be December 13.
• The volunteer organizer will contact you to arrange pickup from the Hub.

Giving Tree & Production 411:   

Giving tree wishes:	Winter musical concert:
·         Posted in Resource Room	·         Afternoon performance: Dec 11 time: TBA
·         Gifts need to be wrapped with original tag	·         Thursday, Dec. 12 @ 6:30 PM-7:15 PM
·         Adding new wishes weekly	·         Doors open as of: 6:00 PM
·         Dec. 16th gifts to be at school	·         Tickets: Donation basis
	·         Mooooostach pics available
	·         Baked Goods sale

Message from WE CARE CLUB:

Moo-Staches in Moo-vember……. 

This year WE Care Club is excited to announce that their next fundraiser is for Food for the Hungry.  Every Monday and Thursday at lunch (November 28^th-December 19^th), students will have the opportunity to have their moo-stache picture taken with our lovely cow  Hope Bell! Last year our Goatees for Goats fundraiser raised $1200.00 to buy goats through Oxfam Canada for communities in need. This year they hope to raise $1600.00 to buy 10 cows through Food for the Hungry. The cows will be purchased for communities in need in Uganda, Cambodia and Ethiopia.

411 on moooooostaches:  

·         Nov 28 - Dec. 19 

o    Every Monday & Thursday @ lunchtime 

·         Individual pictures: $2.00

·         Group pictures (up to 4 people): $5.00

·         Moooooostach pictures posted by Hope Bell the cow

·         Families will also have an opportunity to participate during the K, 1 & 2 production evening of Flakes the Musical on Thursday, December 12^th.

Parent & Fundraising Councils information:

CALL out for Baked goods!!!

Are you a keen baker or just like to bake?? Need a place to try out a new recipe?? Well here is your chance…. Our Winter production for our Kinders, grade 1 & 2 performance of Flakes the musical concert is fast approaching…… Parent Council is hosting a Baked Goods fundraiser the same evening funds will go directly towards teacher’s wish lists.  Please email parent&fundraising council  include your name & what baked good you are supplying.   Thank you in advance to our amazing #belfasty families & friends who always support our students with events such as this!   

411 on donated baked goods:

·         Donations to be dropped off”: Thursday, Dec. 12th 

·         Baked items must be individually wrapped

·         Baked items need to include a ingredient list

·         EMAIL: parent&fundraising council 

o    Include: name & baked good 

·         All fundraising $$ will go towards teacher’s wish lists

Important Dates:

• Nov 28 - Dec 19: Mooooostaches Pictures (Mon & Thurs)
• Dec 11: Flakes the musical concert dress rehearsal Time TBA
• Dec 12: Evening Performance & Baked Good Fundraiser 
• Dec 19: Last Day before Winter Break

Lost & Found, Save the date & 1000 Cranes

Nov. 18-21  

SAVE THE DATE: Winter Production 

ALL Division 1 students will be participating in our upcoming winter production of Flakes the musical.  Our amazing director Mr. Symington along with our parent volunteers are already in full swing to bring the SNOWFLAKES to life! Props are being created, along with costumes for the actors & the script is being adapted so many of our performers will have speaking parts.  All actors are expected to perform in the evening production Thursday, Dec 12, clothing for under their costumes TBA, and drop off time for actors TBA.  Parents who are unable to make the evening performance are invited to attend the afternoon dress rehearsal on Wednesday Dec.11 time TBA.      

411 Performance dates, times & ticket info: 

·         Afternoon performance (dress rehearsal): Dec 11 @ TBA

·         Dec 12 @ 6:30 PM - 7:15 PM (time subject to changes) 

·         Tickets: are on a donation basis at the door for both performances 

o    Please note: All donations collected go directly to support future productions

LOST & FOUND 

Many items are LOOKING for their owners as our lost & found is exploding.  While you are here for Parent Teacher conferences we welcome parents & students to look through our numerous items that are being displayed out in the main hallway.  We also have a few items that were left at Camp Chief Hector as well! Please note: as always anything that is not claimed will be donated.

Giving Tree 

The Giving Tree wishes are now assembled and located in the Resource Room.  We are asking that all gifts be wrapped/bagged with original tag by Monday, Dec 16.  Again, we want to thank everyone who will be helping fulfill these wishes we love our #belfastcommunity!! 

Performance & Presentation update:  

1000 Cranes Performance Piece: 

Our Division 2 performances out did themselves with their rendition of 1000 Cranes in our Remembrance day assembly on Friday, Nov 8th.  It was standing room only as many of our amazing #belfastyfamilies came out to watch this amazing performance.  Unfortunately, if you were unable to attend please follow this link to our website to read the 1000 Cranes New Article and learn more about the meaning of the play.

Earth Rangers:

On Monday afternoon our school had the pleasure of meeting the Earth Rangers which came with some very lively little friends.  Many of our students are already Earth Rangers who made a pledge to protect animals & their environment you can learn more from their website: Earth Rangers.  Students were captivated by the live animals and hearing all about their complex environments and the issues that these animals have in ways the kids could understand.    

Important Dates:

• Nov: 21 Deadline today FOR: 
• FUN LUNCH & Budding Artist 
• Nov. 18 - 29: Artist in Residence 
• Nov 25: Healthy Hunger (Subway)
• Dec 11: Flakes the musical dress rehearsal 
• Dec 12: Evening Performance
• Dec 19: Last Day before Winter Break

Giving Tree, Never ending fruit bowl & Parent Conferences

Nov. 12-15:

Reminders:

• Thursday, Nov 21 @ 12:15: EARLY DISMISSAL 
• Friday, November 22:  NO school 

Supervision Before & After School

• Before school: 
• 8:15 AM on the playground with staff outside 
• PLEASE NOTE: Do not drop off your students prior to 8:15 AM we do not provide supervision

• After school: 
• Student must be promptly picked up 3:15 pm Mon - Thurs & 12:15 pm Fridays.
• PLEASE NOTE: No supervision provided on playground  
• ***Students on the playground without ADULT supervisor will be asked to go straight home***  

Parent Teacher Conferences: 

411 on PTC: 

·         Parent Conferences: Thursday, Nov 21 

·         Booking system open: Nov 14 @ 4:00 PM - Nov 21 @ 8:00 AM

o     POWERSCHOOL LINK

·         Please review the following helpful links:

o    How to book a conference - specific steps on how to book a Parent Teacher Conference 

o    Powerschool Helpful links & Tips:  this link contains helpful links, a how to video link & example of where to access the myschool conference icon.    

#belfastylunchclubs

We are excited to offer several lunchtime clubs for students until the Christmas break.  Interested students have signed up and will participate once a week.  New opportunities will open up in the new year.  Stay tuned!

Current clubs being offered: 

• Rooms 5, 6,7 - sketching and lego
• Room 1, 4  - basketball and garageband
• Room 8, 10,11- games  and spheros

Felting volunteers still needed!!

Are you free to volunteer the following mornings or afternoons? ?

• Mornings still available: Nov 18, Nov 19, Nov 28
• Afternoons still available:  Nov 19, Nov 26, Nov 28

Please Note: volunteers must hold a valid police clearance and can help out  please email Jana El-Guebaly jaelguebaly@cbe.ab.ca your availability.  You may not work specifically with your student’s classroom but of course a quick stop by can be arranged.   

The ‘never ending fruit bowl’....

This year at  Belfast we adopted fresh fruits for snacks to give out in the office.  Some of our students find at times they just need a little more throughout their day.  We would like to THANK our amazing #belfasty-families who have contributed to what we now like to refer to as our ‘never ending fruit bowl’.  We cannot describe to you how the students’ eyes light up when we now can offer fresh fruits for snacks to them!  Once again from all of us at Belfast School we thank you!! 

Name the BOOK MONSTER contest:

Our Library ‘Book Monster’ needs a NAME!!! From Monday Nov. 18 - Thursday Nov. 21 all students are welcome to drop into the OFFICE and fill out a Name Ballot.  The draw for our Monster’s name will take place once Ms. James is back on Monday, Nov. 25.  We can’t wait to see what our Book Monster’s name is going to be!!! The winning name will be posted in the Nov 25-29 weekly blog message.  

Belfast Giving Tree:

One of the most amazing traditions that Belfast has every year is back with the Belfast Giving Tree.  We know that the holidays are a time of giving & generosity.  We also know that this time can be particularly tough for some of our families, thus the Belfast Giving Tree! If you feel you need some help purchasing a needed/wanted gift for your child, please contact jaelguebaly@cbe.ab.ca with their name and details (sizes).  We will then put the requests anonymously on the tree to be fulfilled by another person from our amazing Belfast community.  

If you are a family that feels you can help out in the spirit of giving, our first requests will be posted in our Resource Room as of Thursday, Nov 21.  The final requests will be posted during the evening production of FLAKES the musical on Thursday, Dec 12. 

We ask that all gifts be returned to the office, wrapped and with the original tag, no later than Monday Dec 15th.  Again,  we want to thank everyone in advance for their amazing generosity in helping fulfill these #beflastytreewishes!!!! 

Parent & Fundraising Councils information:

BUDDING ARTIST: 

• ORDER DEADLINE: Thursday, NOVEMBER 21
• Please visit the Budding Artist website  numerous other items listed

FUN LUNCH: 

411 on FL:  

·         Monday, November 25 - - Subway

·         Order deadline: Thursday, November 21

·         Link to sign in: https://healthyhunger.ca/parent_home.php?success

·         From the DROP DOWN OPTIONS CHOOSE: The second Belfast School option 

·         Online pmts ONLY through Healthy Hunger 

Important Dates: 

• Nov 14: Parent Conference system open
• Nov. 18: Earth Rangers presentation (school wide) 
• Nov. 18 - 29: Artist in Residence 
• Nov 21: No kindergarten, Early Dismissal 12:15, Parent Teacher Conferences 
• Nov 21: Fundraising & Parent Council Deadlines for: Budding Artist & FUN lunch  
• Nov 25: Healthy Hunger (Subway)

Technology at school, Artist in Residence & Budding Artist info

Nov.  4-8  

Reminder: Monday, November 11:  NO school 

NO Patrols next week:

Please note: that due to Outdoor school there will be NO Patrols on duty all next week.  We encourage Parents to be walking their  student(s) across our busy street during drop off & pickup.  

Outdoor School 411:

• Outdoor school Nov 12-15 
• Students need to arrive on time and fully packed on Nov 12 bus will be leaving at 9:00 AM sharp 
• Fees are now posted for Outdoor School please login into your Powerschool account to submit payment;  note we are asking for a minimum payment of $25.00 be submitted prior to the field trip 
• Packing List  - link contains ALL the suggested clothing ect that students should be bringing 
• Student are expected to leave all technology at home
• Students will be back on Nov 15 - a text message of ETA will be sent out 

Technology at School

At Belfast we are fortunate to have ample technology available to students for learning in the classrooms.  It is expected that students who have cell phones/Ipods/tablets keep them in their backpacks from the time they arrive at school until dismissal.  Students that have their devices on them between 8:30 AM - 3:15 PM will have the device removed and kept in the office until a parent/guardian is able to come and pick it up.  Reminder: Grade 5 / 6 students attending Outdoor School are expected to leave all technology at home.

The following 2 links will direct you to Belfast School’s website & outline our policies more:

• Digital Citizenship 
• Personal Devices & Belongings

Thank you for reviewing these & outline the specific expectations with your student(s).

  

Parent Teacher Conferences: 

On Thursday, Nov 21 Teachers will be hosting Parent Conferences; the Booking System will be open as of Nov 14 @ 4:00 PM - Nov 21 @ 8:00 AM.   NEED HELP booking a conference time?? Please review the following helpful links:

• How to book a conference - specific steps on how to book a Parent Teacher Conference 
• Powerschool Helpful links & Tips:  this link contains helpful links, a how to video link & example of where to access the myschool conference icon.    

Artist in Residence: 

IF you missed your chance to come in to help out with our first felting project well here is your chance…… We need volunteers to support our next phase of the large collaboration piece.  

We require 3 volunteers for the following dates:  

• Nov: 18-20
• Nov: 25-28

Please Note: volunteers must hold a valid police clearance and can help out  please email Jana El-Guebaly jaelguebaly@cbe.ab.ca your availability.  You may not work specifically with your student’s classroom but of course a quick stop by can be arranged.   

Parent & Fundraising Councils information:

BUDDING ARTIST: 

Check backpacks today as the the Budding Artist order form has been sent home today.  Can’t find what your looking for from the order sheet?? Please visit the Budding Artist website  as there are numerous other items that you can order.  Note: the delivery date will be prior to Christmas and items make amazing gift(s).  

• The DEADLINE to submit orders is : Thursday, NOVEMBER 21.  

AdMazing Coupon books: 

Deadline date Extension till Nov. 15 books sell for $25 

Upcoming FUN LUNCH: 

Let Subway do the cooking, and place your orders for Belfast’s first fun lunch of the year! 

411 on FUN LUNCH:  

·         Subway being served on:  Monday, November 25 

·         The deadline to order:  Friday, November 21

·         Link to sign in: https://healthyhunger.ca/parent_home.php?success

·         From DROP DOWN OPTIONS CHOOSE: The second Belfast School option is the correct one

·         Online pmts ONLY through Healthy Hunger 

·         2 Volunteers are need from 11:15 -12:00   

Healthy Hungry ACCOUNT info: 

·         Have an existing account?? All you will need to do is login and re-add your students and place your order

·         New families: will need to set up a Healthy Hunger account

Alberta Health Services 

Click on the following link for information from ABHS: November 2019 Parent Newsletter 

What can you learn from this article??

·         5 Easy Tips to get RID of Lice

·         Technology & Physical Activity

·         Influenza immunization 

Important Dates: 

• Nov 11: NO school 
• Nov. 12 - 15: Outdoor School - Gr. 5 & 6 students 
• Nov 14: Parent Conference booking system opening 
• Nov. 18: Earth Rangers presentation (school wide) 
• Nov. 18 - 29: Artist in Residence (Large school wide collaboration felting piece)  
• Nov 21: No kindergarten, Early Dismissal, Parent Teacher Conferences 
• Nov 21: Fundraising & Parent Council Deadlines:  
• Budding Artist orders & FUN lunch 
• Nov 25: Healthy Hunger (Subway)