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Read the September Principal's report

March/April 2010

Grade nine students have begun the process of high school registration – the courses they register in will be based on their performances to date. Guidance counsellors from Western Canada and Central Memorial have or will be visiting all our grade nine students over the next couple of weeks to assist them in the decisionmaking process. If you have any questions please contact Ms. Allingham at the school (403) 777-7840.

Parent Teacher Conferences: I would like to thank all the parents and students who attended the parent/teacher/ student conferences in mid February. We appreciated the opportunity to discuss strategies for success with you and your child. One of the most frequently asked question of me during the interview time was about homework, and how parents can assist children in this area. Most parents ask their children daily “Do you have any homework?”. And nine times out of ten I bet the answer is an emphatic “NO”! Don’t accept this answer; because of course it is not true.

One of the most critical skills that students can learn to help them be more successful in school is the ‘habit’ of doing homework and home study. What can parents do to get their students to do their homework on their own? Here are some ideas:

• Discuss the reasons that homework is so important: Reviewing the material they learned that day; practicing skills that were taught, organizing their notes and materials, reading for enjoyment and enhancing literacy skills.
• Provide the stimulation intellectually and aesthetically by creating an inviting study environment.
• Be specific when inquiring about homework. Assume the student has work to do and discuss it subject by subject.
• Make it your business to know homework guidelines in each class and what students can do when they don’t understand something or how to obtain help.
• Pay attention to what the student is doing: show interest and support.
Encourage and affirm the students as they work; praise their
efforts.
• When students become frustrated, be there to support them but don’t fall into the trap of doing their homework for them.
• Be careful when checking to ensure the homework is done. This can prevent the situation of simply “getting it done” to satisfy mom and dad.
• Don’t back off completely and turn the job of completing homework over to them. Avoid extremes of being overly involved or uninvolved.

Limit television viewing time, telephone time, computer time and email/texting time. This forces the student to plan his or her time effectively. With your continued help and support at home, the success of your child at school will be greatly enhanced!

Should you have a comment, question or concern, I would appreciate hearing from you either by phone (777-7840) or email (jeshantz@cbe.ab.ca)

Jan Shantz

 


Biography

My name is Jan Shantz and I am the new Assistant Principal at Bishop Pinkham School. I am very honored to be joining such an amazing school!

I am currently in my 23rd year of employment with the Calgary Board of Education. During this time, I have worked in every quadrant of the city and have enjoyed three years at the elementary level, seventeen years in junior high and the last  two and a few months at the senior high level. I have a Bachelor of Physical Education and Education Degree from the University of Calgary and a Masters degree in Administration and Supervision from Gonzaga University in Spokane Washington. The majority of my career I have taught Science, Math and PE, have held Curriculum Leader positions and the last few years I was the Learning Leader for Resource/Student Services at Central Memorial High School.

On a more personal level: I enjoy running, golfing, curling, XC skiing and traveling.  I come from a large and close family of four siblings, one of them being my identical twin sister who lives here in Calgary.

 

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