April 2, 2008

MISSION STATEMENT

OUR SCHOOL

COMMUNITY WILL CREATE A SAFE AND

MOTIVATING LEARNING

ENVIRONMENT THAT EMPOWERS

STUDENTS TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL

LEARNERS AND TO ACQUIRE THE SKILLS NEEDED TO BECOME

RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS OF TOMORROW

3121 Country Lane Whitby, Ontario

L1P 1N3

Safe Arrival Line 4pm to 8am

905.665.2001

Monique de Villers Principal Susan Jasper Vice Principal Debra Hayes Carolyn Copithorne School Secretaries Joe Hircock Superintendent (905) 666-5500 Janet Edwards Administrative Officer (905) 666-5500 John Dolstra (905) 668-9595 Christine Winters (905) 668-1594 Trustees

Captain Michael VandenBos PS

April 2, 2008

It is hard to believe that the month of March is already behind us! March Break and the Easter long weekend have helped staff and students alike (and hopefully parents as well) to take a well deserved rest and come back ready to begin a new Term. Term 2 ended on a high note with the very successful primary production of Thumbelina, and what a production this was! We are extremely grateful to all the wonderful and talented parents who supported the play by giving so much of their time and effort to ensure its success. Our director, Julia Ratnayake and her assistant, Susan Carrington-Baker as well our entire primary staff, custodians and students also deserve our praise and recognition. These were two magical nights! As we begin Term 3, Captain Michael VandenBos P.S. is once again a hive of activity with rehearsals for the upcoming musical, Junior Basketball practices, authors’ visits, fire safety presentations, conferences and workshops for teachers, traffic blitzes, just to name a few activities! We are also happy to welcome Janice Witzel back from her maternity leave to replace Tamara Bourque. This was an easy transition for teacher and students as Janice has many familiar faces in her class! We also want to say a warm welcome to Tracy Boulerice who has taken over Sylvia Glover’s class. Tracy has quickly adapted to her new school and we are pleased to have her join our team! On April 15, our teachers will participate in the School Effectiveness Framework, a Ministry Initiative that will review the key components of school effectiveness: 1) Student Learning and Achievement; 2) Instructional Leadership; 3) Assessment & Evaluation and 4) Curriculum and Instructional Strategies. This workshop will encourage our school team to reflect on these key aspects of their classroom practice as they relate what they are doing to improve student learning. Using a collaborative approach, our school team will discuss strengths, areas requiring improvement and next steps. The goal of this new initiative is to ensure that all educators have the necessary knowledge and skills to improve instructional practices and results. Our VandenBos team is ready to take on the initial phase of this school effectiveness process.

Flying High for Excellence

April 2, 2008 Page 2

Morning Supervision begins at

8:05 a.m.

REMINDER!

Milk Orders for Spring #2 period (Mon. Apr. 28 to Fri. May 30)

can be made until Friday April 25

Order Forms are available in the office

Baby girl born to Sylvia Glover on

March 11 Lylah Brooke 6 lbs. 12 oz.

Baby girl born to Tamara Bourque on

March 16 Cezanne Esmee

6 lbs. 3 oz.

SKATES

Brand new skates left behind at Iroquois Park. Please call the office 905-665-2001

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Spring Cleaning: If your family has outgrown any “Little Tikes” cars, large tricycles or other outdoor equipment that is in good condition, the kindergarten students would love to use it. Donations can be left in the kindergarten yard during school hours.

REMINDER!

Milk Orders for Spring #2 period

(Mon. Apr. 28 to Fri. May 30) can be made until

Friday April 25 Order Forms are available in

the office

Supervision: This is a friendly reminder that supervision on the yard begins at 8:05 a.m. We ask that you not drop children off, or have them arrive at school, if walking, before 8:05 a.m. Thank you for your continued support.

It’s not too late to register!: Junior Kindergarten/Kindergarten registration is still on-going. We are currently taking names for our September 2008 program. Children born on or before December 31, 2004 are eligible to attend Junior Kindergarten. If you know of someone in your area who has a child who will be turning 4 years of age in 2008, have them call the school soon in order to avoid disappointment. Thanks. We are also taking registrations for our Grade 1 French Immersion

Moving: If you are moving before September 2008 or moving your child to another school, please remember to inform the school office as soon as possible. This helps with the planning stages for next year.

Grade One French Immersion Information Night:

Thursday, April 24 at 7:00 pm Education Centre, Durham District School Board

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Did you know that every species of sea turtle is severely endangered because humans

have overtaken the beaches where they lay their eggs? As a result, the turtles do not nest and future generations are extinguished. Sloths, species of monkeys, caimans, dolphins, neon col-oured frogs, tropical fish and more than 350 species of birds are also endangered just in Pa-nama.

E – Ensure D – Diversity E – Endanger N - Nothing

E.D.E.N. has become the focus of Mrs. Lyon’s grade 4 class for the month of April, and we are looking for your help! Wild Spaces 4 Wild Species is a Canadian non profit organiza-tion which is protecting endangered animals and their habitats. The ‘Ensure Diversity Endan-ger Nothing’ program has been put in place for students and their families to participate in global conservation to protect natural resources; experience how individuals and small groups of people can make a difference in saving the earth; protect endangered and threatened spe-cies from the impact of human development; among other important initiatives.

As part of Earth Month in April, in combination with our Who is Nobody? Respect initia-tive, the ‘Lyon Cubs’ are very excited to organize a fundraiser to fulfill our goal of saving at least one hectare of land to save endangered animals and their habitats, specifically in Pa-nama. Items that will be for sale are large and small stuffed animals, T-shirts, Avon Gift Bags, and decorative pillows. Items are all $15.00 each (the small stuffed animals are $8.00). Our goal is to sell at least 500 items, which will save almost one hectare of protected land.

PLEASE HELP US REACH OUR GOAL! Watch for the flyer and order form coming home soon. These items make wonderful gifts for birthdays, Mother’s Day or for any time! By mak-ing a small purchase, we can collectively make a difference in saving many animals and pro-tect their habitat.

SEE ATTACHED ORDER FORM—ORDERS DUE APRIL 11th

Craig Kielburger Founder, Free The Children

‘Me to We: Finding Meaning in a Material World’ Craig will speak about his life philosophy centred on feeding the positive into our com-munities and the world through acts of empathy, respect and gratitude. For parents, youth, educators and youth stakeholders. Oshawa @ Eastdale C.I., 265 Harmony Rd. N. Sunday, May 4th at 2:00 pm Tickets: $15.00 @ Oshawa Centre Chapters and Ajax Chapters or on-line at www.rainbows.ca Rainbows’ mission is to help families grieving a separation, divorce, death or other life-altering loss. Title Sponsor: Investors Group

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Our respect goal for the month of March was for students to demonstrate positive values. Students were recognized for having good manners, welcoming greetings and overall nice behaviour. We congratulate the following students for having positive values, and thank their families for instilling these values at home.

CHARACTER EDUCATION IS ALIVE AND WELL AT VANDENBOS

Chase Arseneau Alastair Auchincloss Nicole Barlow Jasmine Bassingthwaite Jordan Bassingthwaite Haifa Bebahani Jacklyn Becker Kyle Borges James Brandon Julia Burcar Sophia Cader Nicholas Calvin Christos Chronis Sabrina Collins Michael Cotterell Jada-Hope Croasdale Alex Dafoe Lauren Danes Liam Dau Rachel Dick Aidan Dier Bryce Donnelly Maegan Draper Sara Elmi Jared Evans Holly Finlayson Sheyanne Fritz Hunter Gallant Ashley Gairrusso Hanna Gianatselis Rachel Gibson

Matthew Gillespie Khaleel Grant Ethan Guevara Amelia Hayman Tyler Henry Amelia Hayman Victoria Hillier Andrew Howard Asha James Kairah James Mackenzie Jex Jacob Kameda Anna Kissoon Chris Koornneef Sarah Konecny Miranda Landry Matthew Lindblad Sarah Lord Jaron Marcotte Senna Marra Liam Wilcox Kaitlyn McNeil Ariel Morris Ostop Mostowy Sally-Sue Mostowy Nathalie Neill Breanna Ng Rebecca Noble David Park Laura Perreault Sheldon Peterson

Jennifer Ramsey Michaela Ridge Madison Sarris Trevor Schleihauf Grant Schwass Brianna Scott Sasha Scott Devin Salvemini Anona St. Juste Ariana Sohrabi Nadia Sohrabi Jack Sparacino Elliot Spicer Kristin Starling Madison Sutherland Chantelle Welbanks Rhianna Wells Kayla Wick Liam Wright Malea Yarde

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@ our library - March

2008

Authors! Authors! We invited Eric Walters and Brian Perks to our school this month. Brian Perks spoke of his life as a child in war-torn England. His childhood was affected by the massive evacuation of children (ages 5-14) to the country villages. He boarded a bus in London as a five year old and never saw his younger sister again for 64 years. He has written about his experience in a book “One Boy’s Story” which is on sale at our library for $10.00 until mid-April. He spoke to the Gr. 7 and 8 students. Eric Walters was a wonderful presenter and he spoke to Gr. 4 to Gr. 8 students. His message of ‘write what you know’ has led him to write approximately 25 books based on the Toronto and Durham areas as well as wild animals that inspired him including - tigers, eagles, and boa constrictors! Coming to our school - Mireille Messier May 14, 2008 Author of ‘Declic B Toronto’ and ‘Twinga B Ottawa’.

Cinquain Poem

Eagle Swift, aggressive, clawing, flying, eating, happiness, proudness, arrogance, mischief,

predator by Sarah Smith Mme. Gantley

Easter Cinquain

Easter Eggs Pretty, small, painting, decorating, hiding, hunting for Easter eggs, fragile by Amber Bragg

Mme. Gantley Gr. 5 class

Haiku

Amazing garden Plants growing all around Lovely aroma by Rachel Dick Mme. Gantley Gr. 5 claws

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PRIMARY (Grade 3)

May 27-28-29

JUNIOR (Grade 6)

June 3, 4, 5

Important Dates

April 8 Pickering Town Centre—VandenBos Vocalists Performance April 9 Hazard House—Grade 2 April 11 Spirit Day—Squadron Colours April 14 Safety Village April 15 PIZZA LUNCH April 17 Dance-a-thon (pledges due!) April 22 Durham Forest April 24 Grade 1 French Immersion Info Night—7:00 p.m. Education Centre April 24 Respect Assembly April 25 Jump Rope Kick off—gym Milk orders due Spirit day—Crazy Hat Day April 27 Hazard House Presentation Grade 2 April 29-30 Bus Safety Presentations

Captain Michael VandenBos PS is looking for lunchroom supervisors. This is a paid position for one hour a day. If you are interested in this role either on a part-time or full-time basis please call the school at 905-665-2001 or pick up an application form in the office.