October 2016

Principal’s Message September certainly flew by quickly but it was a month with lots of fun and excitement. We began with our Annual Welcome Back Barbecue and Awards. The attendance and participation by students and parents was wonderful. We heard a lot of positive comments in regards to the day celebration so look forward to the same next year. We started our week with 3 days of Significant 72 events Welcome Back Panther Days. This was an incredibly well planned event and I want to thank our Significant 72 team for an amazing job in organizing all three days. We heard a lot of positives and some suggestions for next year. We will be looking at what went well and what we can change and tweak for next year to make it even better.

The Board of Trustees listened to input from Parents, Students and Staff and this is reflected in this year’s calendar. We heard, ‘Don’t start until after the September long weekend’ and a consistent schedule is important. The 2016 - 2017 calendar reflects these suggestions and so a big thank you to our Board. This year we will continue our work with Tom Hierck in building our Positive School Culture and moving forward with our Vision and Mantra, as well as continue our commitment to increasing student engagement through building relationships, critical thinking and inquiry based projects, lessons and assessments. Our Mission states: Provost Public School is committed to ensuring a respectful community of belonging that empowers responsible, lifelong learners. Our Mantra is: “What’s your paw prints?” Paws with Pride Pride is an acronym for: P - perseverance R - respect I - investment D - dedication E - enthusiasm Our work now is on the ‘EYE”. This is the process which schools envision and develop a clear, compelling picture of the school they want to become and what we want our school to become on its way to greatness.

The Swami Vivekanand once said: “Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life - think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea.” Our work begins with a collaborative discussion on three key ideas: “What do we stop?” “What do we start?” “What do we keep on doing?”

Calendar of Events Tuesday, Oct. 4 – School Council Meeting - 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 5 – Picture Day - 9:00 a.m.

Thursday, Oct. 6 – Celebration Day - No school for students

Friday, Oct. 7 – Day in Lieu - No school for staff or students

Monday, Oct. 10 – Thanksgiving Day - No school for staff or students

Thursday, Oct. 13 – Jr/Sr Student Success Meetings 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 21 – PL Day - No school for students

Tuesday, Nov. 1 – School Council Meeting – 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 9 – ATA Day for teachers –No school for students

Thursday, Nov. 10 – Day in Lieu – No school for staff or students

Friday, Nov. 11 – Remembrance Day – No school for staff or students

Tuesday, Nov. 15 – Picture Retake Day

Wednesday, Nov. 16 & Thursday, Nov. 17 – Elementary Parent/Teacher interviews 4:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 17 – Students Success Meetings 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 16 & Thursday Nov. 17 – Book Fair 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Nov 25 – TES Team Day – No school for students

All high school students are encouraged to create a “MyPass” account. In MyPass, high school students are able to access their Detailed Academic Record (DAR) and their Credential Progression (progress towards a high school diploma or whatever credential they are working toward). Visit myPass.alberta.ca to request access. If they have any questions, please contact the school at 780-753-6824.

Allergy Alert Information It is our goal at Provost Public School to provide a safe learning environment for all students. There are some students attending our school who suffer a life threatening or serious allergic reaction to peanuts, tree-nuts and/or scented products. As an allergy aware school, we ask that you please avoid sending peanut/tree nut foods and wearing scented products such as perfumes or colognes while at our school. Your support of our students’ safety is appreciated. No Child Without Program Does your child have a medical condition, allergy or special need that must be communicated in the event of a medical emergency? If so, you may want to consider accessing the No Child Without Program that is sponsored by Medic Alert Foundation Canada. This program provides students one FREE MedicAlert ID and FREE MedicAlert membership coverage between 4 years of age and up until their 14th birthday. For more information please visit nochildwithout.ca. If you are interested in this program please contact your child's homeroom teacher or Mrs. Cook. .

Operation Christmas Child.

Please help fill the operation Christmas Child boxes and provide a Christmas present for children in need. Please send a few items or your packed boxes to the school library by November 10th. Thanks.

Fill Shoeboxes: Fill average-sized cardboard or plastic shoeboxes with small gifts, and affix a completed Boy or Girl label to each box. (Boxes and labels are also provided – ask at the library.)

Toys and other gifts: Dolls, soccer balls ( deflated with needle and pump), stuffed animals, socks, hair clips, cars, musical instruments, puzzles, jump ropes.

School supplies: pencils, pens, hard crayons, pencil crayons, pencil sharpener, small notebooks and coloring books.

Non-liquid hygiene items: toothbrushes in a case, bar soap, washcloths, combs, brush, etc.

Personal note and photo is you desire.

DO NOT INCLUDE: Food or Candy, Toothpaste, Used items, breakable items, decks of cards, items that leak, freeze, melt, scare or harm a child.

Donate: $7.00 per box online at SamaritansPurse.ca or place cash or a cheque made out to Samaritans purse in the envelope and put it in the shoebox. Tax-deductible receipts will be issued for donations of $15.00 or more. Thank you.

Provost and District FCSS and ECD High Five Program

Hosting Guest Speaker Jennifer Wallin!!!

Oct 12, 2016

7-9pm

Provost Community Recreation Centre

Jennifer is a clinical psychologist from Red Deer whose whole career has been working with children and youth who struggle with Stress and anxiety in their everyday lives. She will be speaking on Stress and Anxiety in children. The information is aimed at any and all individuals who deal with children whether at work or at home; this includes teacher, daycare workers, coaches, parents and grandparents or anyone interested in the topic and how it effects youth today. She provides insight into the growing levels of stress in our everyday lives and the impact it is having on our youth. She gives helpful techniques and strategies to use to promote greatness and happiness is our youth today. The evening is free to attend but registration is required. Refreshments and snacks provided. To register please call FCSS at 780 753 2288. Deadline for registration is Oct 5/16.

PANTHER PRIDE

Perseverance: Panthers pride themselves on finishing what they start. As a Panther, you understand that you are committed to excellence. Panthers must make informed decisions to be a team member and will work very hard to maintain that level of commitment. Respect: Panthers pride themselves on how we treat athletes, coaches, officials, equipment, and the competitive environment. Panthers are positive ambassadors for the school and work to be in good standings with their teachers and their fellow school community.

Invested: Panthers pride themselves on sharing a vision for success. Together, Panthers represent Provost Publics’ history and future in athletics.

Dedication: Panthers pride themselves as positive citizens in the school and community. As a Panther we carry an expectation to be studious and diligent, both in athletics and academics.

Enthusiasm: Panthers pride themselves on their efforts and opportunities. Panthers are enthusiastic and excited to wear blue and gold!

Panther Athletes

As Panthers, student athletes assume responsibility for: · being in good standing with their classroom teachers. · being diligent with their classes, practices and games. · respecting the learning environment: gymnasium, classroom, and school. · respecting their opposition. · building positive relationships with coaches and teammates. · demonstrating selflessness and not selfishness. · treating officials with dignity and respect. · respecting, encouraging and supporting their teammates. · working hard in practice and games. · representing themselves as positive citizens within the community and school.

Athletics Discipline Record Keeping Recently Panthers Athletics has developed and is now implementing a

communication strategy that will help to keep school administration, the athletic department, coaches, parents and players informed of student athlete concerns and their extracurricular athletics eligibility status. There are expectations for student athletes that is required in order to be eligible to participate in panther athletics. The communication will come to coaches through a shared document that allows coaches to see their roster and students within the roster whom may be at risk of modified or loss of eligibility. Parents, students and teachers will receive an email from the athletic department disclosing their status and a date for re-evaluation. Details of the incidents leading to the communication are the responsibility of teachers to report when incidents occur. The athletic department’s responsibility is to communicate to coaches and parents and students, that student choices have resulted in monitoring student expectations, and modifying their participation or removal of eligibility

Cautionary: Student has demonstrated behaviors which are concerning in either

academic or athletic environments. Communication that the student has a cautionary status has taken place between the teacher, parent, and student to redirect behaviour towards positive expectations. If there continues to be concerns and expectations are not met by re-evaluation date, the student athlete will advance to the next level of status: Probationary.

Probationary: Student has demonstrated behaviours which are concerning in either

academic or athletic environments. Communication has taken place between the administration, athletic department, teacher, parent, and student. The student athlete is now subject to a probationary period of restricted/modified athletic participation and will be re-evaluated on a specific date. The student and parent have signed a contract. If there continues to be concerns and expectations are not met by re-evaluation date, the student athlete will advance to the next level of status: Ineligibility.

Ineligibility: Student has demonstrated behaviours which are concerning in either

academic or athletic environments. Communication has taken place between the administration, athletic department, teacher, parent, and student. Given the severity of the infraction or the non-compliance to meet expectations, the student athlete is currently ineligible to participate in any Panthers athletic program and will be re-evaluated on a specific date. The student and parent have signed a contract.