SCA BOARD MEMBERS 2017-2018 President’s Message · SCA BOARD MEMBERS 2017-2018 President Alena Sherwood Michelle Martel-André ... our Annual General Meeting will be Wednesday,

Stonebridge Slate www.ourstonebridge.ca Spring 2018 77

SCA BOARD MEMBERS 2017-2018

President Alena Sherwood

Vice President of Operations Michelle Martel-André

Vice President of Community Engagement

Michelle Donald

Treasurer Rish Malhotra

Secretary Caitlin Gill

Special Events Coordinator Tarra Unterschute

Newsletter Communications Coordinators

Nadine Kanigan Heather Tones White

Online Communications Coordinator Vivian Balajonda

Volunteer and Memberships Tyler Strand

Soccer Coordinator Blair Pisio

Basketball Coordinator Paul Fraser

Indoor Programs Tracy Scarlett

Rink Coordinator open

Community Watch Coordinator open

Members at Large

Michelle Pharis William Kuchapski

Matt Strawson Alexis Dahl

Andrew Clarke Joel Anderson Neil Seaman

President’s Message

Good day, neighbours!

Updates from the Stonebridge community association: our Annual General Meeting will be Wednesday, April 11th, 8PM, in the Community Resource Room at the Chief Whitecap / St Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School building, where the community association executive will be voted in.

Spring programming is coming up, with registration beginning online on February 26th and programs starting up in April (for indoor programs) or May (for outdoor). More details are available in this newsletter, with updates on our website as they come available – ourstonebridge.ca. One of the added benefits of signing up for community association programming is getting to know people from our neighbourhood!

Looking ahead to May, we’ve got our community garage sale and BBQ scheduled for Saturday, May 12th. Look for more details on our website closer to the event date, and in our May newsletter.

We are always looking for further support and volunteers to help with community events and initiatives. With increased volunteer support your community can provide more services. The community association has been approached with the idea of organizing a community patrol, or fundraising for a skating rink, so if you would like to volunteer to head up either of these programs, please let me know at [email protected]. It takes volunteers like you to transform ideas into action.

Always look to our website for the latest community and civic news, City of Saskatoon updates, and programs offered by the community association. You can also follow our community association page on facebook for notifications on what we’ve got coming up.

You can contact me with feedback or suggestions at [email protected].

Alena Sherwood Stonebridge Community Association

City Councillor, Ward 7 Mairin Loewen

[email protected] 306.229.5298

Inside This Issue:

Spring Programming – Page 2

Stonebridge Schools Updates from the Principals – Page 4

Gardening for Privacy by Guest Author Lyndon Penner – Page 6 Ice Rinks and Skating – Page 8

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Spring Programming

PROGRAMS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE – VISIT OUR WEBSITE (ourstonebridge.ca) FOR LATEST INFORMATION.

Online sign up will begin Monday, February 26th and end Friday, March 9th at ourstonebridge.ca. In-person payment drop-

off will be held on Tuesday, March 13th, from 7:00PM-8:00PM at the Community Resource Centre at the Chief Whitecap/St

Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School Joint-use building. (Use Community Entrance). A non-refundable membership fee of $10

per family per year is required to participate in programs and must be purchased or presented at the time of program sign-up

(memberships expire each year on July 31st). A fee of $15 will apply to late registrations. Programs may change. Please

consult the website (ourstonebridge.ca) for the latest program information. SCA honours other community association

memberships. Cost-as-a-barrier assistance and/or KidSport applications are available for those facing financial hardships.

To inquire/apply, please contact Michelle at [email protected] or ask a volunteer at payment drop-off night. All

inquiries are kept confidential.

JAZZERCISE

High intensity mix of dance-based cardio and strength training for a calorie-crushing total body workout. Ages 16+. Monday

6:00pm-7:00pm. Dates: April 9th to June 11th (No session April 23rd or May 21st). Location: Multi-purpose room. Cost: $50

DROP-IN FAMILY BADMINTON

Courts and shuttles provided - no scheduled games - just come along, singly or in pairs/groups and arrange a game with

other participants. Aimed at adults, but children are welcome (when accompanied by an adult (18+). Monday 7:00pm-

10:00pm. Dates: April 9th to June 11th (No session April 23rd or May 21st). Location: Multi-purpose room. Cost: $15 per

participant

DROP-IN ADULT BADMINTON

Courts and shuttles provided - no scheduled games - just come along, singly or in pairs/groups and arrange a game with

other participants. Age: 16+. Tuesday 7:00pm-10:00pm. Dates: April 10th to June 12th. Location: Chief Whitecap Gym. Cost:

$15 per participant

DROP-IN PICKLEBALL

Courts and equipment are provided - no scheduled games - just come along, singly or in pairs/groups and arrange a game with other participants. Aimed at adults, but children are welcome when accompanied by an adult (18+) .Wednesday 7:00pm-10:00pm. Dates: April 11th to June 13th. Location: Chief Whitecap Gym. Cost: $15 per participant.

DROP-IN VOLLEYBALL

Courts and equipment are provided - no scheduled games - just come along, singly or in pairs/groups and arrange a game

with other participants. Aimed at adults, but children are welcome when accompanied by an adult (18+) .Thursday 7:00pm-

10:00pm. Dates: April 12th to June 14th.

ULTIMATE FRISBEE

Fast-paced non-contact team sport. Registration is individual, all players will be grouped together for weekly games. No

experience necessary; beginners & all levels welcome. Session will run mid-May to end of June. Day and time TBD. Cost:

$40 (with option to buy a disc to keep).

OUTDOOR KINDER SOCCER

Learning basic soccer skills while having fun! Coaches are needed - please consider signing up to coach when registering

(no experience necessary!) Kids born in 2014 & 2015. Choose either Tuesday 6pm-7pm, Wednesday 6pm-7pm or

Thursday 6pm-6:45pm. Dates: May 1st to June 28th (start date may be delayed - weather & field condition dependent).

Location: Alexander MacGillivray Young Park. Cost: $30

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Spring Programming Continued…

OUTDOOR SOCCER: U5 TO U9

Outdoor soccer season runs from May 1 to June 28, 2018.

Saskatoon Youth Soccer will schedule the games for U5, U7

and U9; the Stonebridge CA does not have control over the

schedule. Practices are at the discretion of the coaches and

will be scheduled by the coaches. Players will require shin

guards, socks and either cleats or running shoes; a team jersey

will be provided for the season. We do not have a limit for on-

time registrations, but we do need coaches to volunteer for the

number of teams/players registered. Please consider

volunteering to coach!! Certification for coaches is offered

through Saskatoon Youth Soccer – any certification fees will be

covered by either SYSI or the community association. We

cannot offer our soccer programs without a coach for each

team. Registrations will be canceled and refunded if the team

does not have a coach.

Under-5 COED (born 2013): 8 games on grass fields, 3v3

format. Mon/Tues, 6pm & 7pm (possible Fri) PLUS Mini-FOS

Tournament (June 8-10) and Tim Hortons Jamboree (Sun June

24). Cost: $85

Under-7 BOYS/GIRLS (born 2011 / 2012): 8 games on grass

fields, 4v4 format (includes keeper). Weds/Thurs (possible Fri)

PLUS Mini-FOS Tournament (June 8-10) and Tim Hortons

Jamboree (Sun June 24). Cost: $85

Under-9 BOYS/GIRLS (born 2009 / 2010): 8 games on grass

fields, 5v5 format (includes keeper). Mon/Tues (possible Fri)

PLUS Mini-FOS Tournament (June 8-10). Cost: $90

BASKETBALL

YAS - Young Athlete Saskatchewan will hold weekly basketball camps throughout July and August 2018 for 4 age levels: 8 to 10, 10 to 12, 12 to 14 and 14 to 16. There will be a camp level and sub-grouping for every ability level. More details: www.yas.ca

SOFTBALL

Sign-up for the Saskatoon Raiders is directly through the zone at www.saskatoonraiders.com

BASEBALL

Sign-up for the Saskatoon Cardinals is directly through the zone at www.saskatooncardinals.com

Save the Date!

AGM The Stonebridge Community Association Annual General Meeting will be Wednesday, April 11th, 8PM, in the Community Resource Room at the Chief Whitecap / St Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School building, where the executive will be voted in.

BBQ in the Park

Our annual Community Garage Sale and BBQ in the Park will be held on Saturday, May 12th! Proceeds will go towards building a rink. Stay tuned for details.

Volunteers are needed and appreciated so if you can lend a helping hand, please contact [email protected]

The big shred somewhere on this page?

Stonebridge Slate www.ourstonebridge.ca Spring 2018 77

Stonebridge Schools Updates

Chief Whitecap School

It is hard to believe that we are in the planning stages for our second year of the school with registering our Kindergarten students for 2018-2019 School Year.

Kindergarten 2018-2019

We encourage parents to register their children who are turning 5 by January 31, 2019 as early as possible. This will help us confirm our programs and staff. We offer Monday, Wednesday full days and alternate Fridays; Tuesday,Thursday full days and alternate Fridays as well as half days. Half-day kindergarten program does not have bussing at lunchtime. If you have any questions please call the office at 306-683-7640.

If you are planning on moving your children to Chief Whitecap for the 2018-2019 school year please let us know as soon as possible as this will help with staffing.

We look forward to the next five months of this school year with all the activities planned.

Harold Robertson

Principal

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Teen Drop-in

Ages 12 – 18

Drop in and unwind at the library. Join us for a different activity each week. Games, art projects, crafts and more.

Round Prairie Branch

Thursdays

Jan 4 – Apr 26

4 – 5 pm

Discovery Preschool is a play based, co-operative preschool located in

Hugh Cairns VC Elementary School; just a short 5 minute drive from

Stonebridge.

We have a welcoming classroom environment, and lots of outdoor play!

Best of all, we go on LOTS of great field trips! Gymnastics, The WDM, STARS

Air Ambulance! These are just a few that we have attended in the past!

Do you think your little one will be ready for all the fun of preschool this fall?

We are accepting registrations for the 2018/2019 school year.

If you are interested in joining us in the fall, please contact Carla Knoll at

(306) 931-4910 or [email protected].

For more information as well as registration documents, visit our website at

www.discovery-preschool.com

Children attending must be 3 by October 31, 2018 and be potty trained.

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St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School

We had a very busy (but positive) first half of the school year here at St. Kateri Tekakwitha. The involvement and enthusiasm of staff, students and families has been amazing. We are well along the way to building a positive, faith filled community with the common interest of developing our students: mind, body and soul.

Our winter has been quite busy with many extra-curricular activities, including Student Representative Council, Volleyball, Track, a Games Club, our Skipping Demonstration team, Basketball, Track and countless classroom outings and activities. Our Advent season, leading up to the celebration of the Birth of Christ, was fantastic. We had school liturgies and a Christmas concert, “Miracle on Bethlehem Street”. We are so grateful to the St. Kateri Tekakwitha Staff for all their hard work and creativity to engage our students to become lifelong learners and for teaching our students to treat each other with love and respect, honoring the Gospel Virtues.

Don’t forget: It’s time to register for Kindergarten! For the 2018-2019 school year, we will be offering full day/alternating day classes, (either Monday, Wednesday and alternating Fridays or Tuesday, Thursday and alternating Fridays) If your child will be five-years-old before January 31, 2019, he or she can begin kindergarten in September 2018. Early registration helps us in our preliminary planning of staffing allocations.

The “Friends of St. Kateri Tekakwitha School” parent council has also been very active volunteering, fundraising and supporting our educational goals; as well as planning family engagement evenings, such as a “Car-less Drive in Movie” night and an upcoming school bingo.

The St. Kateri Tekakwitha Playground Association has also been extremely busy with numerous fundraisers and did a fantastic job in the planning of our new playground which is now installed and being enjoyed by our students and the community. Fundraising continues so that we can install a second playground. Keep up to date on their fundraising activities on their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/1708102769503855/about/

Not all these amazing things happen without parent volunteers. If you are interested in helping out in any way, just contact us at the office and we will connect you with the appropriate contact, based on your interest.

God Bless,

K. Gauthier and J. Kish (Administration team) and the staff of St. Kateri Tekakwitha School

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Gardening for Privacy by Lyndon Penner

“I want to plant something that will give me some privacy from the neighbours…” is a request I hear frequently from clients and customers. Given that it is now normal to put up two houses in the same amount of space where we used to put just one, people have developed an almost pathological need for privacy. This is understandable, but in our “instant gratification” world, this has led to some really terrible landscaping choices.

Getting Started

When attempting to embark on any landscaping projects, the first question that should be asked is “what is the main purpose of this yard?” Is the purpose of this yard to grow food for your family? Is the purpose to have an outdoor area to entertain guests and have barbeques? Is it so that your children will have a place to play? These are all questions that inform your choices about what you put in the yard. For example, if you want to grow prize winning roses, trees that are going to create privacy will also likely create shade, which would not be in your best interest for the aforementioned roses. If you have small children and pets, you may want to avoid planting things with sharp thorns or spines or plants that are known to be very poisonous. Asking yourself “what is the yard for?” is actually a critical question. It helps you prioritize and make good choices when you go to the nursery to buy trees or shrubs.

Better Choices

If you drive through a new neighbourhood anywhere in Saskatchewan, the first tree you’ll notice is the columnar Swedish aspen. These are tall, skinny trees that are shaped like exclamation marks. They are by far the most commonly planted tree because they grow fast and can handle almost any soil. These are the only virtues they have. So, what are some good alternatives?

If you need a narrow, more column shaped tree you actually have lots of options available. These are better choices than columnar aspens because they provide more colour, better shape, and often feed local (small) wildlife such as pollinators and songbirds. They are also less maintenance because they do not sucker or attract aphids. Some of them also have good winter interest.

The word "fastigiate" means narrow and erect in Latin, and you will often see it on the tags and labels of such trees and shrubs. This includes the wonderfully blue columnar spruce (Picea pungens 'fastigiata'), columnar Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris 'fastigiata'), and columnar mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia 'fastigiata'). There are also good narrow birch trees such as 'Dakota Pinnacle' and 'Parkland Pillar', columnar crabapples (including 'Gladiator' and 'Emerald Spire'), and the columnar Saskatoon berry, 'Standing Ovation'. It produces little in the way of fruit but both the flowers and fall colour are delightful. The columnar caragana 'Sutherland' was actually developed in Saskatoon in the 1940's and has a terrific V shape, and doesn't become weedy like the old hedge caraganas.

St. Stephen’s Anglican Church

…just minutes away from Stonebridge

Family friendly service with church school 10:30 am

Sundays. Quieter service 8:30 am.

(Re)discover church. We seek to be a Christ centred,

Holy Spirit led, outward focussed, caring community.

10 Grosvenor Crescent 306 374 4066

www.ststephens.ca [email protected]

Parish priest: The Rev. Amy Bunce

Saskatoon Talks Trash

The City of Saskatoon is reviewing curbside collection for single family homes and is asking for input.

Engagement Webpage: For the most current information throughout the engagement visit www.saskatoon.ca/yxetalkstrash

Online Survey: www.saskatoon.ca/yxetalkstrash

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(Gardening for Privacy continued…)

What about using ‘Mammoth Russian’ sunflowers to create “instant privacy”? Why not put up some lattice and grow scarlet runner beans as a screen between you and the neighbours? You can eat the beans, the flowers feed hummingbirds, and a packet of seeds is $3.00. (Yes, you can just grow them from seed!)

Considering the Future

It is important to remember that the healthiest forests are the most diverse, and this is true of our “urban forests” as well. If we just plant exactly the same thing as our neighbours, if a pest or a disease comes along, we’ll lose all of them. It also means our neighbourhoods aren’t as interesting or beautiful as they could be. If your neighbour plants a larch, why don’t you plant a willow? If your neighbour plants a fir, maybe you want to try a pear tree or a Russian olive.

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Take your time with deciding because a tree is going to outlive you. It’s a permanent feature (more or less) in the landscape, and thoughtfulness will serve you well. Privacy long term is better than privacy instantly, and you’ll be happier in the long run and your neighbourhood will be better for it.

Lyndon Penner is a gardener and landscape designer who grew up in rural Saskatchewan. He is the author of several books about gardening in a challenging climate, including ‘The Prairie Short Season Yard’, ‘Garden Design for the Short Season Yard’, and ‘Native Plants for the Short Season Yard’.

The SCA is pleased to welcome Lyndon as a guest author for this issue.

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Ice Rinks & Skating

A Rink for Stonebridge! A committee is starting to plan and fundraise for an outdoor rink for Stonebridge. The location of the new rink will likely be behind the schools near the spray park. Contact [email protected] to get involved. Stay tuned for fundraising announcements!

Free Family Day Skate Bring your skates and safety gear to the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval on Monday Feb. 19th 2-4 p.m. (Dudley Street and Ave. R S.) or stay warm inside with free activities at the Cosmo Civic Centre.

Outdoor Rink Interactive Map To help promote all of the amazing outdoor rinks operated by Community Associations across the city, the City of Saskatoon has added an interactive map on their website to help residents find a community rink to visit. The map shows the rink address, supervision hours, and even a picture to show off the rink! Try it out at: http://bit.ly/2nKR7wd

Pond Safety As the weather warms up this spring, please use caution around the ponds. For more information about recreational use of city ponds see: http://bit.ly/2GR6KLs

Do you have a Snow Angel?

Has a neighbour been kind enough to clear your walkway or driveway of snow or ice for you? The City of Saskatoon recognizes snow angels with a thank-you card and entry into a prize draw.

Nominate them at…

https://www.saskatoon.ca/webform/form-snow-angel-submission

or mail in their name and phone# to:

Snow Angel, City of Saskatoon 330 Ontario Avenue Saskatoon SK S7K 1S3