April 27th messenger

April 27, 2015

Millarville Community School

130 Millarville Road 403-938-7832

http://millarville.fsd38.ab.ca

Principal’s Message Election season is upon us and the race is on to elect a representative who will meet the needs of our community. The budget tabled by the current government is designed to not cut teachers from classrooms; however, if you read the fine print, you will discover that those who are just as valuable to the education of our children will have their hours and numbers reduced under the tabled budget. Our school board has delivered a letter (attached) to the Minister of Education on behalf of Foothills School Division with how they feel the proposed budget might impact our students. I would encourage our families with any concerns or comment to contact your MLA to share your thoughts. Congratulations to our grade 7/8 badminton teams who competed in the divisional matches over the last two weeks at Edison School. Our teams displayed sportsmanship and skill while playing against the best players in the Foothills region. We are proud of your commitment and spirit! Thank-you to Mr. Bailey, Superintendent of FSD, for responding to one of our grade 3 student’s letter in person! Mr. Bailey brought lunch and answered questions from our grade 3 class last Monday, April 20th. Glenn Gibson ([email protected]) Be Awesome, Be Better, Be a Team Player

Upcoming Events: April 27th/28th - Grade 5 Mini-Mall April 28th – Grade 8 Parent Meeting 7:00 pm May 1st – Staff Learning Day May 5th – Fundraising & Parent Council Mtgs. May 5th – Provincial Election May 8th – Grade 8 Fundraiser May 12th – MCS Track Meet May 14th – Volunteer Tea May 15th – Staff Learning Day

We still need volunteers for the Casino June 18 and 19th. Please call or email Ms.

Davis ASAP! We need you! [email protected]

Support the Active Living Recreation Centre!

Make Your Opinion Count nwfoothillsrec.com

April/May 2015

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Sunday

27 28 29 30 May 1 2/3 Grade 5 Mini Mall 1 pm

- Grade 5 Mini Mall 1 pm - Grade 6 Fieldtrip to Telus Sparks Centre - Grade 8 Grad Parent Meeting at 7 pm in the Learning Commons

Staff Learning Day! No school for students

4 5 6 7 8 9/10 - Fundraising (3pm)

and Parent Council (7pm) meetings - Grade 3 Fieldtrip to Telus Sparks Centre

- Voting at MCS 9:00 am - 8:00 pm

“Hats on for Mental Health”

Wear your best hat! hatsonforawareness.com

Grade 8 Fundraiser Bake Sale/Pulled Pork Mother’s Day Plants Kinder Friday

Sheep River Valley Clean-up & Tree Planting! Ethel Tucker Park Okotoks 9am-1pm

11 12 13 14 15 16/17 Millarville Messenger MCS Track Meet at

Red Deer Lake Volunteer Tea

1:00 pm Staff Learning Day! No school for students

18 19 20 21 22 23/24 Victoria Day High Country Band

Concert at Oilfields High School 7:00 pm

Kinder Friday

School News Briefs

Parent Council Meeting Tuesday, May 5th

7:00-8:30 in the Learning Commons

Presentation and Discussion Topic: MONEY AND KIDS!

AGENDA:

• Money and Kids Presentation and Discussion. Contributors: Grade 4 students to present learning from Mini Business unit, Ingrid Rozema to present Dragon Bank, and open discussion to follow.

• Mr. Gibson on technology evergreening – wondering about buying an electronic learning device for home (tablet, laptop, etc)? Come and hear what’s happening on this front at MCS.

• Updates on activities as we approach the end of another school year

• Information from administration, teaching staff and school trustee

Good Idea! Come and vote in the Provincial Election,

then drop by our meeting just down the hall! All parents are welcome and invited to attend.

Parent Council Meeting Summary April 14, 2015

Did you know?

• New Learning Coach at MCS! Please welcome Karli Alm. She will be invaluable in helping to meet the needs of all students in their specific needs for learning. She is filling Pam Irving’s position.

• Pinterest can help you help your child?! - Check out Team Thrive on Pinterest - set up by Adele DePauw. This week, there is a new pin regarding the MIND UP program. This is all about emotional regulation and the ability to pay attention and focus on what you are doing. This is help for kids, teachers and parents!

• New High School to be built in Aldersyde? This high school, slated to open in approx. 3 years, will house ALL of the high school kids in Okotoks. There is also another two schools likely to be built in the Darcy Ranch - a shared school site with the Catholic school division.

• MD is pursuing a new RECREATIONAL COMPLEX very near the racetrack! Right where the new baseball diamonds are going up. Please visit the online survey: nwfoothillsrec.com - they need input! Survey only takes about 2 minutes.

• Next Meeting: May 5 - Come out to learn about Money Matters with your kids! A presentation by the Grade 4s, as well as some presentations from the Parent Council.

The Foothills Electoral Office is looking for a parent in the school community who would be available to work at the election as an “Information Officer”. This is a paid position!

If you are interested, please contact Mrs. Gregson at (403) 938-7832.

Don’t forget to order your

2014-15 Yearbook filled with lots of memories and fabulous pictures! Books are $25.00 and the order

deadline is June 15th!

Grade 6 Provincial Achievement Tests

The Government of Alberta has decided to continue with the grade 6 PATs this spring. All grade 6 students will be writing these benchmark tests this spring on the following schedule. May 13th – Language Arts (Writing) June 17 – LA (Comprehension) June 18 – Math June 19 – Science June 22 – Social Studies For more information: http://education.alberta.ca/parents/resources/exams.aspx For additional practice and examples: https://questaplus.alberta.ca/

Volunteers Needed!

The school is presently looking for volunteers to work a CASINO! The students directly benefit from this fundraiser with all funds going to the school for field trips, athletics, outdoor pursuits, band, etc. The CASINO will be at Century Casino on Thursday, June 18th and Friday, June 19th. Both day shifts start at 11:00 am and end at 7:00 pm. Both night shifts start at 6:30 pm and end at closing time. If you are available to work one of these shifts, please contact Ms. Karla Davis at [email protected] Your time and volunteering is appreciated!

Special Fundraiser for Grade 8 Celebration Friday, May 8th

The students and parents of the Grade 8 class are organizing a

special fundraiser for the Grade 8 Celebration.

Hot Lunch! Mother’s Day Flowers! Bake Sale!

Hot Lunch: Pulled Pork on a Bun See Hot Lunch website to order Flowers: Purchase a beautiful potted flower for mom, grandma or a friend as a Mothers’ Day gift. Mothers’ Day is Sunday, May 10. Cost: $4.00 each Bake Sale: Bring 50 cents or a few dollars to buy a tasty treat at lunchtime. Flowers and bake sale will be set up over the lunch break.

Parents of Grade 8 students will be meeting in the Learning Commons

Tuesday, April 28th at 7:00 pm to discuss grad night plans. All Grade 8 parents welcome!

Millarville Community School Horticultural Club

Last week the Millarville Horticultural Club successfully launched their After School Junior Horticultural Club. The purpose of the program is to encourage students and their families to learn about and enjoy gardening and its bounty of vegetables and flowers. MCS and the Millarville Horticultural Club have met and decided they would also run a similar lunch hour program. The evening program is good for involving parents, but doesn’t always work with family schedules. Our hope is a lunch hour session will allow more students to be involved. Along with Miss Olver, Hort Club Members will come to the school to lead the programs, act as mentors, and share their knowledge of the topics. This would be a school based activity only, unlike the home visits associated with the evening club. Here are a few details: Thursdays at Lunch Recess (11:55 – 12:30) Start May 7th and run for 6 weeks, until June 11th $15 for each participant Open to all Grades K - 8 We will plant small garden pots with veggies (ie: rectangular balcony boxes) that can be taken home in June. As well, we will talk about the care of plants, a dozen commonly grown veggies: sun vs shade, nutritional benefits, germination, and companion planting. Each student will select 3-4 plants to grow. Other topics may include: compost, vermiculture & garden decorations.

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MCS Lunch Hour Horticultural Club

Thursdays at Lunch Recess (11:55 – 12:15pm) starting May 7th until June 11th .

I ____________________________ would like to join the MCS Horticultural Club.

I am in Grade _______. Parent Signature: _______________________ Please return this form and money to Miss Olver by Wednesday, May 6th.

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The ‘School Yard Naturalization Project’ needs your help!

Millarville Community School has historically been associated with nature, outdoor education, and homesteading. We pride ourselves on our great Outdoor Pursuits Program, and value the learning experiences had outside. There is a large area on the west side of the school that goes mostly unused. Our goal is to transform this area into a no maintenance, natural outdoor classroom, suitable for all of our students, Kindergarden through Grade 8. Items of interest are: dry creek beds utilizing the rainwater from the school rooftop, food forest (edible plant species), insect and butterfly garden, plants native to Kananaskis, and areas for classes to sit. We are hoping to have the ground work done before school breaks for the summer, and even some of the larger plants installed so they can establish themselves before fall. If you have any of these in your garden and are willing to split or transplant them, please contact Miss Olver. A few of the plants to be incorporated in the design are: Understory Trees

• Sea Buckthorn • Cherry

Shrubs • Saskatoon • Currants • Gooseberry • Raspberry • Rosehip • Highbush Cranberry • Chokeberry

Herbaceous • Hostas • Mint • Ostrich Fern • Bee Balm • Day Lily • Orach • Borage • Echinacea • Yarrow • Wild Onions • Lupines

We would like to break ground in May and to do so will need help from the community. Of course we are very open to donations of all kinds: labor, knowledge, plants (split or new), and building materials. As the Permablitz day approaches we will be gathering items needed to make the day a success. We are hoping the community will be able to supply much of the smaller items we require, allowing any funding we secure to be used on items less easily donated. The following is a preliminary list of materials we will need:

FREE ITEMS Cardboard to use as a biodegradable ‘landscaping fabric’ - big sheets or large furniture boxes Compost - any compost you have been collecting and wish to donate Large logs - for seating, must be too heavy to be easily moved by kids Any Perennials listed above - plants that have been divided or are no longer needed, such as raspberry canes, day lilies, etc.

SMALL TICKET ITEMS Seeds (Non-GMO), organic, native species Any Perennials listed above – newly purchased plants we are unable to source for free

BIGGER TICKET ITEMS (see attached photos) 1 large water tank used to harvest water PVC piping used for plumbing the water harvesting containers Weeping Tile Top soil or loam Small gravel to be used in the swales

If you have any questions regarding the project, please contact Miss Olver at (403) 938-7832 or by email at [email protected].

Team Thrive

SCHOOL LUNCH FATIGUE?

Running out of ideas for healthy, fun school lunches the kids will actually eat? Check out Team Thrive's Pinterest page for some lunch box inspiration.

http://bit.ly/MCSThriveLunch

Team Thrive Tip: Pre-cut veggies and store them in clear containers in the refrigerator. The easier they are to access the more likely they are to disappear.

Put fresh veggies (and dip if you prefer) out on the counter while you prepare dinner

to head off the inevitable 'We're hungry, when are we eating?' Kids can snack while you cook and accidentally eat their veggies.

P.O. Box 5700 120 – 5th Avenue West

High River, AB T1V 1M7

Phone: (403) 652-3001 (403) 938-6436

Fax: (403) 652-4204

Web Page: www.fsd38.ab.ca

April 17, 2015

The Honourable Gordon Dirks

Minister of Education

320 Legislature Building

10800 - 97 Avenue

Edmonton, AB, T5K 2B6

Dear Minister Dirks:

Re: Budget Constraints, 2015/16

Foothills School Division appreciates the tremendous efforts that Alberta Education and

the Province puts forth on behalf of the students of Alberta. We also understand the

enormous constraints that are facing all Albertans as we grapple with the considerable gap

between projected revenues and departmental expenditures. While we believe that

Foothills and other boards are doing a great job in educating our future citizens and

leaders, as PISA scores and other measures attest, we accept the premise that fiscal

responsibility behooves us to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible. We have, and

continue to use, the following divisional Guiding Principles as set out in our Three-Year

Education Plan in setting our learning direction and making fiscal decisions:

Learner-centered - The needs of our students are first and foremost when making

decisions.

Innovation to promote and strive for excellence - FSD is a learning

organization committed to creative, innovative and entrepreneurial approaches,

which are promoted and supported to achieve high standards and excellence in

education.

Committed to the larger FSD team - Decisions are informed by high quality

evidence, aligned with the FSD Vision for Leading and Supporting Learning, and

are reflective of what is in the best interests of students throughout the Division as a

whole.

Flexible and responsive - Learning opportunities are meaningful and appropriate

for each learner’s needs and abilities. The education system must also be flexible in

responding to the changing needs of both local and global communities in order for

learning opportunities to remain current and relevant.

Fair and equitable - Each learner has fair and reasonable access to educational

opportunities. Some learners will need additional specialized support in order to

fully access these opportunities.

Sustainable and efficient uses of resources - Resources (both financial and

human) are optimized to support student learning.

Engaged communities - Stakeholders work together as collaborative partners to

advance common goals that promote and support learning.

Accountable and transparent -Outcomes of our students’ achievements and use

of funding are clearly communicated to stakeholders. Transparency of results and

decision-making processes are foundational in our work. Research, evidence and

analysis are used to ensure that resources are allocated for the maximum benefit of

students.

This budget will certainly have a considerable impact on the way boards will be able to offer

services; we need to be very clear, this will impact students. The most problematic changes

before us are:

no funding for new students; requirement to make changes to the smallest budget

areas,

operations and maintenance are significantly underfunded;

our most vulnerable students are, for the most part, serviced by support staff, which

is one of the few areas we are able to reduce.

Hence, in order for us to meet these challenges we would appreciate the Province’s

consideration in allowing us to make the appropriate decisions regarding budget challenges

at the local level, specifically accessing board reserves and removing limitations regarding

where we can make adjustments to our budgets. Our Board had embarked upon a three

year plan to utilize and draw down reserve dollars, to enable us to provide high quality

programming for the students we are legally and morally obligated to serve, while

exercising fiscal responsibility and prudence. While there are a number of reasons for our

current financial position, the greatest is that over the last few years our enrolment growth

has increased at a significantly higher rate than projected and schools have been reluctant

to add staff and change schedules once the school year has started.

In the current (2014-2015) school year we have planned on a deficit budget, largely

attributed to adding teaching staff. Some of the other expenditures that we have projected

to take out of reserves over the next few years include:

planning costs related to current capital projects (our new high school announced for

the Aldersyde area),

additional teachers in classrooms to address increased enrolments,

providing additional classroom supports to our most vulnerable students,

outfitting the new joint GOA/FSD building in High River,

enabling schools to purchase school based materials (school budget reserves),

covering board costs necessitated by modular classroom additions not funded by the

province, and

staff costs not covered by provincial funding (increased costs for support and

certified staff)

We acknowledge, and appreciate, that the Province made commitments to the Alberta

Teachers’ Association, which it helped fund in the budget. Unfortunately, constraints

regarding how we can deploy teachers, and limiting our ability to change factors such as

PTR and class size, can and will increase teacher workload and stress as we will be

required to reduce classroom supports. This will have an adverse impact on our students,

particularly those with the greatest need, and therefore most vulnerable. We also believe

this will have a deleterious effect on teachers and the classroom environment.

In conclusion, should the announced reductions and changes continue to stand, we implore

you to continue to work with your Department, caucus and Treasury Board to allow our

Board and all School Divisions some budgetary and decision-making flexibility as outlined

previously so that we may continue to adjudicate local solutions that work in the best

interests of the students we serve.

Thank you for your due consideration.

Respectfully,

Christine Pretty

Board Chair, Foothills School Division

Cc. Alberta School Boards Association

Alberta Public and Separate School Boards

Public School Board Association

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