Principal S Message s5

consistent assessment and evaluation. There are many November/December 2014 teachers taking part in professional development with other schools and the Board to talk about student learning! PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE We have many wonderful volunteers at Baden. We appreciate your help in the office, in our Home Reading programs, in Since our last newsletter went home we have had many more Strong Start, on School Council and in our classrooms. We exciting events take place. I would like to thank the couldn’t do it without you! wonderful staff at Baden for their hard work both in the On behalf of all of us at Baden Public School, we wish you a classroom and with activities they provide to our students happy holiday season! outside of the classroom. We also thank the parents and students who go above and beyond to make our school a great Sincerely, place to be. This is the season for giving, and our students have done so generously, supporting many charities this year already: The Terry Fox Run, The Food Bank, Unicef Nancy Woodhall donations, “Movember” initiatives, and the Christmas Angel Tree, to name a few. Stay tuned for more information about Principal the ME to WE Angel tree. We also have a Seasonal school concert coming up on December 11th during the day, and an evening concert, also that night. This concert will feature our Primary, Junior and Intermediate choirs and our Bands. The students will be participating in a dress rehearsal on December 11th at 11:15 in Important Dates the gym, with the evening performance at 6:15 p.m. Kindergarten students will have a seasonal concert on Dec. 1 HPV #2 shots (gr. 8 girls). th December 10 at 8:45 a.m. We are so proud. Dec. 1 Gr. 8 trip parent info night-6:30 p.m. We thank our Intermediate student leaders in the school for Dec. 8 Mad Science ends always stepping up to help MC, setting up technology, or Dec. 10 Kindergarten setting up for assemblies. Our Remembrance assemblies were Seasonal concert so meaningful. These students have also planned successful Dec. 11 Seasonal Concert Spirit days; for example, our “Baden Colour Day”. We also 6:15 pm have a school focus of our Baden Belief about Caring. We Dec. 19 Mistletoe Dance- Gr. 6-8 continue with whole school assemblies focusing on the Board’s focus of our Character Attributes and our Baden Dec. 19 Christmas Assembly/sing along Belief. Dec. 20- Jan. 4 Winter holidays In addition, we also have an ECO Team working hard at Jan. 5 First day back to school recycling and composting. It’s so important that we actively model ways in which to help sustain our environment, and this is another way to do that. We also thank all of the junior students who are volunteering their nutrition break time as lunch helpers to support our Primary students and model what great Baden citizens look like! Teachers at Baden continue to work collaboratively to enhance and support student achievement. Same grade teachers administer common assessments, mark the assessments together, moderate student work and plan together to provide precise and powerful next steps, so that all students can move forward (plan, act, assess, reflect). This collaborative effort also ensures excellent programming and LIBRARY NEWS required by CSA Standard to prevent head injuries. Under these circumstances, it is foreseeable that falling Baden P.S. is registered with the Ontario onto hard frozen ground from the top of a slide or from Library Association to take part in the monkey bars could injure a child. Play structures will Silver Birch, Red Maple and Blue Spruce be off limits to students when the ground is frozen. reading programs for 2014-2015. The Silver Birch and Red Maple program will begin in December, giving participating students a chance to read quality Canadian literature. Red Maple is for the Intermediate students. Blue Spruce will start in January. SCHOOL COUNCIL Our primary students will take part in the Blue Spruce program by listening to ten recently published Canadian REPORT children’s picture books. These nominated stories are sure to become favourites among our students. Due to the generosity of our A “Big Thank You” to everyone who came to our Scholastic Baden Families during the Book Fair. We had a fantastic turn out this year. Many thanks Baden BBQ and this year's fall fundraising, we have been able to our volunteers! You are all great, and this could not happen to purchase the following items from monies raised: Planners, without you! Thanks also to our library clerk, Sherry Ulmer musical instrument repairs, language resources, technology who provided this wonderful opportunity for us. (chrome books, data projectors, and document cameras), Synrevoice communication, class trips, Kindergarten book bags, headphones and a chess program. Thanks again for supporting the school! Many thanks to our wonderful fundraising committee, headed SEVERE WEATHER PROCEDURES by Amber Porchak. We just finished a fundraiser of sales of Treasure books and QSP magazines. Our final fundraiser for This is a reminder that in the event of a severe 2014-2015 is our exciting annual event- the Baden BBQ storm it is possible that school would be which will take place in the spring. If you can help with the cancelled. Please listen to local radio stations BBQ in any way, please let the school know. Stay tuned. (Oldies 1090, Kool FM- 105.3, Dave FM- We also had a wonderful and informative Reading night 107.5, CHYM FM- 96.7, or the internet) for (thanks Amber Porchak and Angela Collins for taking the such news. If busses are cancelled for the day, lead) on November 12th. It was well attended and students had Baden school will remain open due to the fact that many of the opportunity to teach their parents about how we learn and our students can walk to school. If your child is a bussed read at Baden! student, we ask that you still call the attendance line to Meeting dates for School Council for the remainder of the confirm your child’s absence, as part of our Safe Schools year are: protocol. January 20, February 17, April 21, May 19 and June 16. SCHOOL CLOSURES: School dismissal will be at regular dismissal times unless the Everyone is welcome to attend any or all meetings. Board announces that there will be an early closure. School Closures during the day will be announced on the local radio Baden School Council stations. During severe weather conditions, parents have the option of picking up their children early. Be sure to review your instructions with your children so that they know what to do in the event of severe weather. We respectfully ask that you refrain from phoning the school as we have limited phone lines available. http://transportation.stswr.ca/ Always check the Board website for information and also our Baden Twitter for updates. KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION!!! Please be sure to tell your friends and family that Reminder: Please call the attendance line when your child Kindergarten Registration for 2015-2016 is away! The attendance line is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 will be taking place in WRDSB days a week. schools between February 3-6. 519-570-8056 ext: 3925# (Baden Registration will be Feb. 4th and 5th). Please stay tuned for more information. Kindergarten WINTER USE OF PLAY STRUCTURES classes are All Day Everyday. As the ground freezes around Ontario, the resilient Information will be available for ground cover that the Board installed to comply with the parents during Kindergarten registration in February CSA standards will no longer provide the protection and at our Kindergarten school information night in the spring. Please call the office in the New Year to Keeping students safe on the bus is a priority for make an appointment to come in for the February both Baden School and the bus companies that registration. provide transportation service. We have had an Calling All 3 year Olds (and their increase in bus safety issues over the last month and families): have taken the time to remind all bus riders of their responsibilities as passengers (bus/evacuation training). We encourage safety for our students thus Feu-Follets pour UNICEF! they need to stay seated and to use quiet, indoor voices on the bus. Parents are asked to review bus Twenty-six creative Jack-o-Lanterns lined the safety issues with students so that we can work front hall of Baden School during the last week together to ensure safe arrival for all children in our care! of October. Grade 1 and 1/2 students were invited to work with their families to design an SAFE DRIVING entry for our annual UNICEF pumpkin contest. Our 2014 entries included Olaf, who greeted you We thank those parents who are driving as you entered the office, two pirate mates, a slowly and safely in our school safety and robot, a black cat and many more cool entries. drop off zones. This is a reminder, the We love to see the imagination and creativity parking lot is a NO DROP OFF zone that our Baden Bulldogs demonstrate each year. (exception is daycare drop-off). By-Law All students were encouraged to vote for their officers will continue to monitor our favourite entries by dropping spare change into streets and parking areas to ensure a UNICEF container. Together, Baden Bulldogs safety for our students. Thanks to our raised $336.50 for UNICEF this year, which was wonderful Parking Lot attendant for up from last year! BRAVO, les amis! Kids helping us with SAFETY. helping kids can make a difference in our world! Thanks Mdlle Einwechter for organizing this service learning project. CURRICULUM CORNER For parents in the know! Submitted by Mdlle Einwechter Math- How can we improve motivation, interest and attention in the elementary Math PLEASE HELP - WAIT OUTSIDE class? Research indicates that we all need to build positive Due to Safety issues and the heavy volume in our “Mathitudes” to improve student achievement in Math. hallways in the mornings and after school, we are Research tells us: requesting that all parents drop off their children - Negative attitudes wield significant and adverse outside and/or wait outside with them until the bell influence on students’ motivation and ability to learn rings. It is important for all of our students to follow the and do math. established expectations and also build independence - It is never too early to nurture the growth of a by coming in with their classroom line. Please also have positive disposition towards math, and improve the your child go home after school. This is for their safety relationship that children have with math content and as we are not responsible for supervision on the processes playground after school hours. We are asking that - Teachers can improve student achievement by parents help us with this request. Thanks for your turning their attention to resources and strategies that understanding. pique students’ motivation, emotion, interest and attention. All visitors in our school are asked to sign-in at the office The Power of Math Play and are asked to wear visitor identification. Our staff - Learning often begins with play have been asked to approach all adults without - Experiential learning activities in informal contexts, identification and direct them to our school office. In the actual or virtual are designed so that when children interest of maintaining a safe environment for our play, engage, explore, or interact, they cannot help students, we ask for your cooperation with this policy. but learn science and math because they are doing it. - Initial curiosity in math has the potential to evolve Thank you to those that are already doing this. into genuine interest. This can be called the “wow” factor that captures a child’s attention and likely BUS/PARKING LOT SAFETY contributes to the development of understanding and preference until Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015. positive attitudes…… (Article from Student Achievement Division- What Registrants who live within the geographical works? Research into Practice) boundary of the school, and have been Check out: registered prior to Jan. 31st will be placed next. Mathemagic: Number Tricks www.kidscanpress.com/canada/Mathemagic- Any registrations received after Jan. 31, will be P5941.aspx placed in available classes or on a waiting list. Information flyers will be sent out also. The Prime Radicals Shows: www.tvokids.com/shows/primeradicals Any questions? Call the Learning Services The Prime Radicals Games: secretary at 519-570-0003 extension 4267. www.tvokids.com/games/primerdicals

The Prime Radicals Pentomino App: KIDS’ HELP PHONE LINE HAS http://www.tvokids.com/apps/primeradicalspentomin os ACTIVITIES, GAMES AND INFORMATION FOR KIDS IN NEED OF So now you know! ☺ HELP.

Seasonal Concert WEBSITE: WWW.KIDSHELPHONE.CA Our Primary, Junior and Intermediate Choirs, along with Intermediate Band, have been busy preparing for Baden`s Seasonal Concert! There REMEMBRANCE DAY are so many students involved - way to go

Bulldogs! We will be celebrating the season th through musical selections from a variety of On Tuesday November 11 , the Baden cultural backgrounds. Please come celebrate staff and students held Remembrance with us, as you will enjoy some familiar tunes as Day Assemblies, which allowed well as new ones! Our Seasonal Concert will be students to remember people and Thursday, December 11th in the Baden gym events by involving themselves in quiet starting at 6:15 pm. Looking forward to seeing thought and serious reflection. The you there! combination of readings, music, poems, Mrs. McKellar and Mrs. Sunga video footage, and “planting” 800 poppies on our front lawn, engaged students in understanding the high price WWW.WRDSB.CA that was paid for the freedom we enjoy today. We thank Mrs. King, Ms. Fritsch, Web based registration for Partial French Mrs. Sunga, Ms. Shantz and Mrs. Immersion! McKellar as the planning committee. Thanks also to those teachers that were All parents/guardians of Senior Kindergarten involved and for those who helped with children interested in Grade One of the set up and technology!! Partial French Immersion Program 2015 must complete a registration form. Registration for We Day Grade 1 French Immersion will begin on Thursday, January 8, 2015 through Saturday, January 31, 2015 on the WRDSB website at The Me to We team is a http://www.wrdsb.ca/french. Grade 1 FI group of students who classes will be generated using a lottery system have expressed interest in once registration closes. Registrants who have a making a change in the world. They have a passion sibling registered in the FI program will be given and understanding that change can start with just Cameron Heights International Baccalaureate one person. Programme - Tuesday, November 25th 2014 7:00 pm Baden Public School's Me to We Team of 16, went Eastwood Integrated Arts Program - Thursday, to this year’s We Day on November 20th. We had December 4th 2014 at 6:00 pm Waterloo Collegiate Institute Strings Program - the opportunity to listen to very inspirational Thursday, November 18, 2014 at 7:00 pm speakers like; Craig and Marc Kielburger - the co- Sir John A. MacDonald Fast Forward Program - founders of Free the Children and Me to We. Some Wednesday, December 10th 2014 at 6:45 pm of the great things our team has done for our Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate Institute French community include: We Scare Hunger Food Drive, Immersion Program - Tuesday, January 6th 2015 at we raised 1463 lbs of food for the Waterloo Region 7:00 pm Food Bank and the Wilmot Resource Center Locally, we will be having another Angel tree like If you have further questions prior to receiving more detailed information, please contact Mrs. King by we did last year. Classes will choose an angel from phone at (519) 634-9320 ext. 209 or by e-mail at the tree in our front foyer which will indicate the [email protected] gender and age of a child in our community. The class will purchase a gift for that child to be included with the Wilmot Family Resource Centre Strong Start at Baden Christmas hampers. Gifts need to be at school by December 12th. They are not to be wrapped but The letters, sounds and words program is now in full operation. Our school is fortunate to have this may be in a gift bag with tissue for the child’s program available to help children aged 5 to 7 learn parent to wrap with once they see the gift. Games, the names or sounds of letters, recognize commonly books and craft materials are preferred by WFRC. used words or how to blend sounds together to As we approach the Christmas season, we are form words. This program is available through the inspired by a past We Day speaker Liz Murray’s generous donation of time that a group of dedicated volunteers provide. The program is 10 weeks where words. She reminded us to “don’t focus on what volunteers work one on one with students for 30 you don’t have; focus on what you do have.” minutes each week. We currently have 4 volunteers We’d like to take that one step further and share working with 4 children. We appreciate the what we have with others. Please join us in continued support. The volunteers have also making a difference in Wilmot and in our world. participated in four hours of training prior to volunteering with a child. If you are interested in this meaningful volunteer opportunity more information is available at www.strongstart.ca. GRADE 8 to 9 TRANSITION DATES Please contact Connie Finn, who coordinates this program at our school if you would like to volunteer Excitingly, Mrs. King, grade 8 students and their in the spring! Thanks Connie!! parents are about to begin the transition to secondary school. More detailed information to follow. This is a heads up on the dates that have been set for this year's information evenings. Baden's High School Information Evening:

January 7 th , 2014 6:45 p.m .

Grade 8 High School Parent & Student Movember Information Evenings: With Mrs. McDowell’s leadership and the hard Baden Students' Home School: Waterloo- work of 7Awesome, Baden’s Movember Oxford District Secondary School - Wednesday, campaign has had a great month raising January 14th 2015 6:45 pm awareness and funds for prostate cancer research as well as the Leukemia Society of Students may wish to explore the Waterloo Region Canada. “MoMen”, the hand decorated District School Board's Magnet Programs: gingerbread men with an icing moustache, went on sale on November 19th to great fanfare! On November 28, students will be able to purchase fuzzy, stick-on moustaches time to coach the teams and for attending the for $1. Students will also have the chance to volleyball outing. vote on which teacher has grown the best “Mo” for the month. The race is between Mr. Roth, Students in kindergarten to grade 8 have been Mr. Shonk, Mr. Becker and the reigning getting active by participating in a variety of Moustache Cup winner, Mr. McBeth. If you intramurals at nutrition break. We appreciate the would like to make a small donation to this worthy cause, please search for “Hairy time and effort our Athletic Council members put Bulldogs” at the official Canadian Movember into organizing these fun activities. Website (ca.movember.com) and then click on the Donate button. The final cheque presentation and awarding of the 2014 Moustache Cup will take place during our January Assembly. Big thanks go out to the Baden community for supporting our team!

Ski and Snowboard Club

We are excited to once again offer a Ski and Snowboard Club at Baden. It’s a great opportunity for students in grade 5-8 to get some exercise, hang out with friends and get some much needed fresh winter air. Students of all abilities, beginner to advanced, are welcome to join. The program will take place on four consecutive Mondays starting on January 12th, from 4:00pm – 7:00pm. Parents are asked to drop students off at the Chicopee hill at 3:45 and pick them up at 7:00. The cost for the four week program and additional details, will be sent home to families the HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE! beginning of December. THE BADEN STAFF

Athletics

The gym is a busy place at Baden School. Our Intermediate boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams are in “full swing.” They have been showing exemplary team spirit and sportsmanship while playing other schools in our area. A special thank-you to the coaches for volunteering their