Newsletter

June 2, 2010

Dear Parent/Guardian,

The school year has been busy, and the last few weeks are not an exception. They are loaded with activities.
Congratulations to those students who have achieved honour roll status. I would like to remind students that good attendance, completion of assignments and reviewing for tests will ensure success. It is not too late to improve your grades.

Course selection for the 2010/2011 school year has now been completed. It is still possible to change courses that have been selected for the next year. See the principal if you have changed your mind. We will allow students to make changes until the end of the school year, after that timetables will be set and there will be little opportunity for change. Please, review your requests carefully.

Thursday, June 17 is the last day of Term III.

The school uniforms are not mandatory after this day. However, students should come in their uniforms to the provincial exams and on the Achievement Day.

Examination session: June 21 – June 28. Grade 10-12 students have the adjusted schedules for this period. For the exam days Grade 10-12 students should come in their uniforms.

This year we plan a lot of outdoor activities for Grades 5-9 if the weather permits for the last two weeks. Students should be ready with lunches packed and comfortable footware for the last two weeks in case we spend the time outdoors.

June 21 – Physics/Math/IT Day
June 22 – Science Day
June 23 – Math Day /Fine Arts Day

Achievement Day, Thursday , June 24: at 11:00 a.m. Spring Concert. At 1 p.m. Graduation Ceremonies and Achievement Assembly.

The school continues to offer scholarships of $200 to the two best students on the Honour Roll. It will be announced through our website during the first two weeks in July.

Two best student in Grades 10 will receive a Passport to Education - $250 each, one Grade 11 - $250,
Garde 12 - $500 – Ministry of Education scholarship.

June 25 – Social Studies Day
June 28 – Sports Day

Buntzen Lake School Outing

On Tuesday, June 29 the students will go to Buntzen Lake. Students will leave at 8:45 a.m. and be back to school by 3:00 – 3:30 p.m. Sports activities together with barbeque are planned for that day.

June 29 is the last day of school.
June 30 – the report cards will be given at 2:30 p.m.

Congratulations on your outstanding performance in the 2010 Euclid Contest,
Warisa Boonyleephun!!!
Warisa’s result put her in the top 25% in Canada! She got the personal invitation from the UBC to take the Honours Calculus courses!

This year Grade 7 students participated in Eular Contest. 65 000 students from all over Canada have participated in this year’s contests. Among these students were our students. Two of our students have scored above the Canadian average. This year it is 15.00.
In Eular Contest (Grade 7) Phillip Voiler scored 16 and Ivan Viryachev scored 15. Phillip is getting a medal, and both Phillip and Ivan will get the Certificates of Distinction. Special congratulations to Danil Gladyshevsky: he came in the third, scoring 13. Amazing accomplishment, Danil! Tatiana Yuen, Anelya Fridland, and Yana Barschatov did also well. All of them will get the Certificates of Participation. Congratulations!!! Great achievements!!!

All the medals and certificates for the contests students participated in will be awarded at the Achievement Assembly.

Sincerely,

Mrs. G. Volyanska
Principal


April 9, 2010

Dear parents/guardians,

As we have completed the second term and are heading into the end of the school year, it is time to sum up this period. Majority of students have improved their performance over Term II. Congratulations on your achievements! Some students have to work harder, be attentive to the requirements, and I am sure they will succeed.

School Re-registration Packages
The School Registration Packages are handed out. Your child should bring it home this week.

Mark your calendars for the Teacher-Parent Meeting on Wednesday, April 28 or Thursday, April 29, 2010.

Friday, April 30, 2010 is scheduled as a Pro-D Day.

Our students participated in two more Math Contests offered by the University of Waterloo in Ontario:
On March 24, 2010 the students wrote Pascal Contest for Grade 9, Cayley Contest for Grade 10, and Fermat Contest for Grade 11.
Three students from Grade 9 participated in Pascal Contest. The average result for Pascal was 91/150. Congratulations to Sophia Chang who showed the result of 80/150, Edward Tseng – 63/150 and Victoria Raskin 59/150.
Five students from Grade 10 wrote Cayley Contest. The average for Cayley is 87/150.One student got the Certificate of Distinction and a medal: Waralee Boonyaleephun with 109/150. Well done!!! Congratulations to Mohammad Oliya with 91/150 (he scored above the average), Roman Cherepinskiy (75), Arshia Navabi (73) and Ioan Virgolici (69)!!!
Five students wrote Fermat Contest. The average was 89/150. Jacky Lin (105) earned the Certificate of Distinction and a medal and Phillip Dykman (102) earned the Certificate of Distinction. Congratulations to Susana Chang (98) and Nachapol Dudsdeemaytha (98) who scored way above the average, and Vadim Nechiporuk who scored 61. Good job!

Please, note that Certificates of Distinction are issued for students ranking in the top 25% of all contestants in Canada.
We wish our best math students to continue their endeavours in this field. Your achievements are amazing – keep up your hard work!!!

On April 7 Warisa Boonyaleephun wrote Euclid Contest for Grade 12. The results are expected by May 9, 2010. 

On April 14 students will write one more math contest at school: Euler Grade 7. Good luck!

On March 24, 2010 Grade 10 students participated in the UBC Science Contest. We have not received the results yet, but we are sure that the participation opens up new opportunities for them and helps to become confident in competitions. We wish you a success!!!

Attention parents!!! The Pacific Institute announces the eleventh Annual Elementary Grades Math Contest ELMACON to be held at the UBC campus on Saturday, in May 2010. This contest is for students in Grades 5 to 7. If you wish to register your son or daughter, please, visit the website at www.elmacon.org. The registration closes on April 15, 2009.

REMINDER

The Pro-D Day in May is changed.  
May 11 – no school for Grade 4 - 7 students  
May 21 – no school for Grade 8 - 12 students

May 4  - Physics Contest for a Westside Prep Team at PNE
May 11 – a field-trip for Grades 8 – 12 to PNE
May 21 – a field-trip for Grades 4 – 7 to PNE

With best wishes,

Mrs. Galyna Volyanska
Principal


March 10, 2010

Dear parents/guardians,

We are extremely excited that we got through the Olympic break with such wonderful results for all Canadians, our province and our community as well!

We wish our students and parents to have a great time during the Spring Break and return to school refreshed for the last phase of the school year.

We welcome Mr. Rajinder Grewal who is an excellent experienced Math teacher. He holds a Ph. D. in Mathematical Sciences. Mr. Grewal has many years of teaching experience abroad and in Canada. He taught at universities (Kwantleen University College is among them) as well as he worked at secondary schools (one of them is Queen Elizabeth Secondary School). We wish Mr. Grewal and his students fruitful and successful ending of the year!

Also, we would like to thank Mrs.Tatsiana Prakapava for her dedicated work with our students. She is not returning to school after the Spring Break. Her work is highly appreciated. Her students have achieved amazing results. Thank you, Mrs. Prakopava, and good luck in your future endeavors! Ms Jovana Kostoska will take this position. Also, Ms Kostoska will introduce playing the guitar. All the students are welcome to join her classes during lunch time.

Our students have already participated in two Math Contests.
One was 2009 Sun Life Financial Canadian Open Mathematics Challenge. Six of our students took part in it. It was a challenging contest!!! Two students Warisa Boonyaleephun and Phillip Dykman got more than 50 % on the contest. The average Canadian result was 39/80. Warisa Boonyaleephun is awarded with the Certificate of Distinction with the result of 49/80.

Congratulations to Phillip Dykman (42/80), Nachapol Dudsdeemaytha, Susana Chang, Waralee Boonyaleephun and Arshia Navabi who dared to challenge themselves with this high profile math contest!

The other math contest was offered by the University of Waterloo in Ontario: Pascal Contest for Grade 9, Cayley Contest for Grade 10, and Fermat Contest for Grade 11. The students wrote the test on February 25, 2010. The results for the contests are expected after March 18, 2010.

On March 24 our Grade 10 students will participate in the UBC Science Contest: Michael Smith Science Challenge.

On March 16 the report cards will be issued.

Attention! March 18 Grade 4 to 7 students will go to Arts Club Theatre - Granville Island Stage. The students will watch the play about Rick Hansen. “This premier takes audiences back to the beginning of this remarkable man's story: teenage friends on a camping trip in Williams Lake, BC and the moments, big and small, leading up to a life-altering event.”
The play starts at 10 a.m. The students have to come to school in their uniforms. The teachers will take them to Granville Island by bus. After the play everyone returns to school for lunch. After lunch the students will have their regular classes.   

On April 14 Grade 7 students will write Euler math contest at school. We wish you a success!!!

Attention! The Pro-D Day in May is changed.  
May 11 – no school for Grade 4-7 students  
May 21 – no school for Grade 8-12 students

Reminders
Absentee Notices
When your child is not feeling well or has an appointment with a doctor, please call the school office before 8:30 a.m. On the first day your child returns to school, please send a note explaining his/her reason for absence, also include the dates absent.

Many students did not have the necessary tools for their work in class, e.g. pens, pencils, rulers, a glue stick, small scissors, etc.). Please, check their pencil-boxes during the break and make sure they come prepared after the Spring break.

The amount of students who come late to school for some reason has increased recently. I understand that in our busy lives we all try to get our families ready and out the door on time because we know classes are disrupted when some people arrive late. As the community we have to take care of each other by all starting together. Let’s be more organized after the Spring Break.

Agendas are still the main tool of communication between the school and parents. Please, check them regularly and sign the agendas when you see teachers’ comments in them. 

Sincerely,

Mrs. Galyna Volyanska
Principal

P.S. School reopens on March 15, 2010.  


January 22, 2009

Attention!
The school will be open for the period of the Olympic Games. Please, check the schedule of the buses and the routes for the two weeks of February 12 till February 28. Actually, the Translink service will increase by 30% for this period of time.
All the after school clubs will be cancelled for the period of February 11 – 28 so that all the students leave school right after classes at 3:30 p.m. to get safely home before rush hour starts into the downtown.

FSA tests starts as of Monday, January 25 and runs till February 25. Make sure that your son/daughter is at school on the scheduled day. Please, check the schedules you have received.

Snowtubing
Cypress Mountain is closed due to weather conditions and then for the period of the Olympic Games. Therefore, the money that was collected for snowtubing will be returned next week.

Thursday, February 4 Teacher – Parent Conference
Teachers’ meeting with parents is scheduled for Thursday, February 4. Please, phone to book the time with the teacher you would like to meet on Friday, January 29 or Monday, February 1. Note down the time on the form that is attached to the newsletter.

Wednesday, February 10 Valentine Party
The students will have a regular schedule on Wednesday, February 10. Students from Grades 9 -12 are welcome to organize their Valentine Party after classes from 3:20 p.m. till 5: p.m.

Friday, February 12 Pro-D Day. The students are not in attendance this day.

Thursday, February 25
The math contests Pascal (9), Cayley (10), and Fermat (11) are scheduled for this day. They start at
9 a.m. Make sure that your son/daughter is on time. It is still the Olympic time period.

Reminder
Friday, March 5 is the last day of Term 2.

With best wishes,

Mrs. G. Volyanska
Principal


December 9, 2009

Dear parents/guardians,

We would like to wish you all a very Happy and Peaceful Winter holidays and a wonderful 2010!

For the last week before the Winter Break from December 14 till December 18 the students are allowed to wear the outfit suitable for the school.

Friday, December 11
The school Winter Holiday Special Lunch starts at 12:00 p.m. Every student brings a dish to share. We are thankful to the parents for their effort in helping to prepare this lunch. Students are also preparing the gift exchange: Secret Santa.

The Lunch will be followed by Fun Parties for Kindergarten and Grades 2 – 7 at 1:30 p.m. and for grades 9 – 12 at 3 p.m. The students of Grades 8 -12 are welcome to stay, socialize, and dance until 5 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. For the party the students are allowed to dress the way it suits their tastes.

Wednesday, December 16
Kindergarten and Grade 2 – 7 are preparing Winter Concert which will take place at 1:30 p.m. Parents are invited to come.

Friday, December 18
This day is the last day of school before the holidays.

December 21, 2007 – January 1, 2008
Winter vacation starts on December 21, 2009 and finishes on January 1, 2010. The school reopens Monday, January 4 2010.

December 14 – 18
The registration for the math contests Pascal (9), Cayley (10), and Fermat (11) finishes this week.
The contests will be on February 25, 2010.

After the Winter Break there will be changes in the schedule as we start skating lessons in January and swimming lessons in February until the Spring Break. The lessons are planned for Fridays, and the students are allowed to come to school dressed for these activities without their uniforms.

Attention!
The school will not be closed for the period of the Olympic Games. Please, check the schedule of the buses and the routes for the two weeks of February 12 till February 28. Actually, the Translink service will increase by 30% for this period of time.

Wishing you a great vacation,

Mrs. G. Volyanska
Principal


October 15, 2009

Dear Parent/Guardian,

A belated welcome back to the start of a new school year!  September is now behind us and the year ahead promises to be both challenging and full of new and exciting opportunities.

You will receive the Interim Report Cards on the 23rd of October.

Parent Conference The time to discuss your child’s progress with the teachers is scheduled for Thursday, October the 29th. Please, phone to book the time with the teacher you would like to meet on Monday , October 26th or Tuesday, October 27th. While phoning note down the time on the form that is attached to the newsletter. On the day of the Conference bring the form with you and follow your schedule.

Halloween Party. The school will arrange Halloween Party on Friday, October the 30th. It's that time of the year again to get our costumes out for a fun filled afternoon of entertainment!
Attention!!! The school day will end at 2 p.m. The day will start without homeroom minutes. The rest of the schedule will stay the same. Grades 4-7 will have the last hour of the day from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. filled with games and contests to celebrate the holiday. Grades 9-12 will have a Halloween Party from 5 p.m. till 7 p.m.

Remebrance Day Assembly will take place on Friday, November 6th.

Keep in mind that November 20th is the last day of Term I.

Our students can participate in Canadian Open Mathematic Challenge Competition on November 25th. The registration has already started. Those who would like to participate should contact Mr. Russ Ivanov.
Grades 4-7 and 9 can participate in annual Mathematica contest (Byron-Germain, Fibonacci, Pythagoras, Euler and Newton). The registration deadline is October 30th.  The contest will be on April 14, 2010. Those who would like to participate should contact Mr. Russ Ivanov and Mr. Val Ivanov.

Reminder

The first Sunday of November Daylight Saving Time ends. The clocks are turned backward by one hour on the first Sunday in November. This is a reminder that the time will be changed on the 1st of November.

H1N1
News reports can sometimes scare children because they often focus on worst-case situations. You can help ease your family’s fears by providing them with accurate information. Here are a few tips for talking to your kids about the H1N1 flu virus:

Initiate the conversation. Left to their own devices, children can come up with stories that are often more frightening than the reality.

Ask them what they have heard. You can help to reassure them with facts.

Keep explanations very simple for younger children.

Assure your children that, while they may be concerned, there is no need to be afraid. The public health service and doctors and nurses are working hard to limit the spread of the disease and help people who may become sick.

You can tell your kids that this new virus causes a sickness that is a lot like the flu that we see every year, but that more people may get sick because the virus is new.

Let them know that even the most serious pandemic happened almost 100 years ago and, even then, almost everyone who became sick recovered. That was before people had access to the medical knowledge, care and medications that we have today.

Although some people have become very sick and have needed to go into hospital, the majority of the people who got sick in North America got better at home.

Remind your kids of ways to avoid getting sick:

 

Sincerely,

Mrs. G. Volyanska
Principal