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2012-2013 Monthly Newsletters

Principal's Message - May

There are only 8 weeks left of school. Yet, experience has shown, that these can be the longest weeks of the year. When the weather is nice, students forget that they have final exams in June, and it’s sometimes difficult to get them to focus. Many field trips happen at this time of year, a consequence of living in a winter climate that limits the number of outdoor activities to the fall and late spring. Keep on top of your child’s homework. Grade 7 and 8 have final exams that count for 10% of their final mark. The grade 6 PATs will also be used as 10% of the final mark this year. That prepares the students for grades 7 and 8. Teachers do their best to prepare students for these tests. Regular review needs to begin early.

If your child is in grade 6, you may want to purchase an at-home study package that includes questions from past provincial exams that have been randomized. You can look at that information on exambank.com Choose the Alberta, grade 6 package. For some families, this is a helpful tool to prepare for PATs. It is not necessary, but some students have found it helped to relieve anxiety about the kinds of questions they would encounter on the exams. Teachers will also be providing sample tests for students to practice. The first exam is May 15th. It is the written portion of the LA exam.

May begins with Canada Day in May activities on the 3rd. This is a tradition in our school that helps until all our different cultural groups under the banner of “What it means to be Canadian.” Our focus this year will be on the history of Balmoral in Canada. As you know, the school takes its name from the summer castle of the royal family. The first principal, William Aberhart, later became the premier of Alberta. As a Social Credit premier for many years, he helped shaped the direction of the province. Each class is working on a special project for our June 21st 100th anniversary celebration. They will use Canada Day in May to continue that work.

On the 14th of May, we will have our final band concert at the Jubilee Auditorium. This is a wonderful showcase for the year. Mrs. Griffith and Mr. Cutler have developed an excellent program that received positive recognition at the festivals this spring. This evening is a celebration of the wonderful work students have done. Following the concert, teachers will continue to have activities that relate to music, however, they will begin inventory of band instruments. Please check carefully at home to see if your child has mistakenly brought home the wrong instrument. Each instrument has its own unique code. If, for some reason, your child has the wrong instrument, they will be financially responsible for the missing instrument. That’s why it’s important to check.

The week of the 20th will see the grade 6s going to the climbing wall for a morning field trip, and grade 7 and 8 students competing in a divisional track meet. On May 27th, volunteers will be honored with a supper at 6:00 pm, just before the final parent council meeting of the year. This year the load has been much heavier because of the demands of the Centennial celebration. We acknowledge the work of parent council for their support of this venture. We have also appreciated the funds that have come to the school as a result of the casino held two years ago. We have received uniforms, staging, field trips, sounds systems, etc. In the fall, there will be another casino. Parent council is looking for someone to take on this valuable position and recruit help for the fall. More information to follow.

May will be the final month that we have Ms. Chopin-Taub working with us at the school as she is expected to take a maternity leave in early May. We wish her and Mr. Taub the best as they wait for the arrival of their first child sometime in May. We have appreciated the role Ms. Chopin/Taub has taken in providing leadership activities and opportunities for our students throughout the year. This greatly enhances the school community and unites us all together through the House program.

Finally, a special thanks to Mr. Krogstad for hosting the 30 Hour Famine in early May. The goal is to raise $5,000 for World Vision. There are 70 students participating this year. It raises awareness of world poverty and hunger and helps students become actively engaged in making a difference, one person at a time. Students are supporting in each other in this venture, and it is deeply appreciated. We are raising world citizens at Balmoral.

May 20th is the unofficial start of the summer season. We’re all looking forward to this magical time of year. G. K. Chesterton summed it up best:

Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them.   ~ “Orthodoxy”, G. K. Chesterton

Trees blossom because they are “magic” trees.  May we always retain the attitude of the child as we approach summer.

Remembrance Day, by Elaine Knudtson, November 2010 (PDF)

Dare to Dream, by Elaine Knudtson