Tofield School
Newsletter October 2018 Creative Writing 11 Newletter Club Orange Shirt Day
Terry Fox Run This year Tofield High School has beat their fundraiser goal for the Terry Fox Run. Our goal was to raise $1000, however we reached $1224.25. Wha 's Ha n in Sc o Mis w ’s ad 6 c a s n e r e w ag , an w a s u n c e s n $470 Cak fo c ac ti . At a G 6B!
Tit e Ac ti
In Ti me d s e f e w t ha n o wo n l a r i l bu to si n s a h an r m ow . Titan Sports
Senior High Cross-Country running - We had 3 athletes take part in Cross-country running Zones in Camrose at the Stoney Creek Centre. The weather didn't cooperate as there was snow on the ground and it was very windy. Mercedes Tremblay, Breanna Codd and Dustin Huebert braved the cold and did very well.
We hosted a Junior High Volleyball tournament at Tofield School on: Saturday, October 13. Participating teams were: OLMP (Camrose), Viking, Round Hill and Tofield.
It was a Boys and Girls’ Tournament. Our girls finished first after the round robin and ended up making it to the finals, but lost to OLMP. It was unfortunate that one of the grade 9 girls from Tofield ended up spraining her ankle right before the finals.
Senior HIgh Volleyball Result Tofield Girls are 0-2 Tofield Boys are 1-1.
Girls have been to tournaments in Stettler and Provost. The senior High teams have played a home and home-exhibition match against Ryley School.
Time To Gear Up, Titans! Online Store Open November 1st to 15th! Items to be in before Christmas break. *(*subject to availability) Use the link below to shop for your Tofield Titans items. (note: store will not open until Nov 1st) https://tofieldspiritwear2018.itemorder.com/sa le?read_message=true
Funds raised by the Titan Wear sale will be in support of our Tofield School Breakfast Program. Happy shopping, Titans! Administrative Message
Thank you is not nearly enough of a sentiment to express for the remarkable September and October at Tofield School. We are very pleased with the effort of our students to succeed and to respectfully advocate for their learning needs. Our Awards Celebration was a huge highlight for the month of October. WOW, we sure do have amazing students! One thank you I forgot to mention at Awards Night was to the parents! As the first teachers and the lifelong teachers of our students, you share the accomplishments of your children. We look forward to having another amazing month and thank you for making us so proud. Sincerely; Janice Muench Candice McLeod Chad Kendall Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal ______
This month, staff was able to collaboratively plan and execute the building of a structure- concentrating on height, stability, and strength.
Reminder for Students Alone we can do so little, together we can Everyone in work ex is do so much'~ Helen reminded to hand their Keller sheets in to Ms Korpan.
● Attendance – Please remember to call or email ([email protected]) at the office if your child will be away. ● Sign out – Please remember that every student is expected to From the Office sign in & out of the school, if you arrive late, leave early, or are in and out during the day. The sign out sheet is a safety measure to ensure that all students are accounted for in the event of a problem. ● New Physical Address – please inform the office of your new address ASAP, either by email ([email protected]), note or phone call. Thanks ● New Email Address – please inform the office of your new email address AsAP, either by email ([email protected]), note, or Phone call. Thank you. High School Awards Night!!
Tofield School would like to congratulate and acknowledge the students that received awards for excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, and CTS courses.
The recipients were:
Hailey Anderson, Aidan Beatson, Laura Chute, Mark Cunnings, Sanuel Didusenko, Bethany Dupius, Bridgit Elliot, Carlos Enorme, Red Enorme, Kyra Fraser, Mitchell Gates, Aria Heaman, Tunde Hemperger, Rebecca Hill, Tim Hill, Courtney Hnetka, Dustin Huebert, Jayden Hymanyk, Madison Iverson, Austin Jennings, Harlie Kallichuck, Karl Kaplan, Yukino Kishimoto, William Kristensen, Abby Kropielnicki, Eve Koloski, Katie Lindskog, Joel Litwin, Sunnie Mack-Russell, Nikki Malica-Hare, Quinn Malin, Hailey McLaughin, Lincoln Miskew, Carter Schoff, Dustin Shambrook, Nicholas Sideroff, Olivia Sjursen, Mackenzie Sly, Sarah Spinks, Sydney Storvold, Lindsey Suchy, Whitney Teske, Joel Tiedemann, Mercedes Trembley, and Shaye Yoder School Fees Hot Lunch Invoices have been emailed or sent home with students. If you have not This year we will be offering students Hot received your student’s invoice, please Lunches by ordering online @ contact Ms. Carlson @ www.HealthyHunger.ca. Then click “Sign up for [email protected] or 780-662-3133. a free account.” After your account is created, you will register your student(s) and will be able We encourage you to pay with the to view upcoming lunches, place your orders, online system by visiting the Tofield and pay for your orders online with your Visa, School website and click on the Mastercard, or Interac Debit or have your “School Online Payments” icon and student bring in the money to their teacher. If follow the links. Online payments are you have any questions about the Healthy quick and easy and only have to be set Hunger program, please contact the Healthy up once. If you need help getting set Hunger Coordinator, Cathy Brown at up, please feel free to come to the [email protected]. office and Ms. Carlson will help you get The TOFIELD JAM CLUB set up. Fee payments are also accepted in the office by cheque or G 7 - 12 f / B . cash only. ●
● E S F M , O 29, T f S P Thanks to our generous sponsors, Wild Oats and Notes Music Festival As we move forward with inclusion, this can be a gentle reminder...
. Grade 11 Creative Writing
The Piano- Story Prompt
...The events of the last few years had seen to that. In the place of joy and music stood a somber silence no one dared fill. My mother was long dead, and along with her died my father’s soul. She had been the love of his life, and every breath he took was filled with heartache. Many afternoons had been spent in the ballroom, listening to her gently play the melodies of her childhood; evenings were spent sneaking out of our beds to hear the wonderful works of Mozart and Beethoven echo throughout the lavish lavish parties our parents threw. That all seemed so terribly long ago now. No one was allowed in the ballroom anymore, and there was no reason to hold parties. The beloved pianist no longer blessed the ears of those lucky enough to listen, no longer caressed the keys as if comforting a child, no longer transformed this house into a home. Her piano had since rotted, to the best of my knowledge. I had not seen it in years; my father would not permit it. In fact, my siblings and I could not speak of our mother at all. I suppose it pained him too much to hear of her. Instead, we dedicated our days to our studies. Various tutors educated us on the basic subjects- mathematics, language, sciences, and history. My two older sisters and I learned the responsibilities of a lady from our head maid, Anne, whilst my younger brother practiced fencing in the gardens. We were not especially close, for we had little in common other than music. Father was scarcely seen during the daytime, and remained quite distant when he was. However, I did not miss him. It was Mother I missed more than anything, and the love so evidently displayed when she played that piano. Her entire soul was was poured into every sonata, every melody. It was immensely moving to hear her play. I had begged her to teach me. Of course she agreed, but all too late. A few short months into my lessons, my esteemed instructor fell ill. She no longer had the strength to leave her bed. I knew it was only a matter of time before she passed, so I rehearsed to only song I knew- Canon in D Major- every spare moment. The day my mother died, our family lost all that kept us together. Laughter, music, joy, and most importantly, motherly love, were suddenly stripped from our lives. It was an oddly bright day for mid-November in England. I remember gazing out the window, absentmindedly, as I was supposed to be sipping tea. My mind wandered, as it often did, through memories of warmer times. Mother entered my daydream, her angelic silhouette seated at a glossy ebony grand piano. The memory of her made my fingers itch. They longed to feel the smooth keys under them once again. Playing just one note, just for one second, would allow me to feel her presence. Just one song would remind me of the wholesome love that used to fill every corner of this impossibly empty house. With each passing moment, the urge to slip away from my lesson and steal just one look at the instrument that still held the essence of my mother deep within it, grew. I was jerked from my thoughts by a firm smack on the back of my hand. Quickly, I took my teacup from the table and sipped it as delicately as I could. As soon as the cup had returned to its plate, I asked to be excused briefly. With a scornful glare from Anne, I started towards the lavatory. Once I had left the dining room, I turned the opposite direction of where I had promised. The abandoned ballroom was on the the first floor, and I was on the second. Sneaking around was hard on marble floors; every step resounded throughout the halls. After walking with extreme caution for much longer than I would have liked to admit, the idea to remove my shoes graced me. Shiny red flats in hand, I sprinted to the ballroom. I slid to a stop in front of white, wooden double-doors. The paint had maintained its integrity over the past years. For a while, all I could muster the strength to do was stare at the doors. I had no clue whether it was fear or excitement that paralyzed me. Finally, a clammy palm pressed against the cool wood. The door swung open slowly, revealing the true condition of the ballroom. The entire room looked as if not a moment had passed since the last party thrown in it. Every tile on the floor still shone; the drapes still looked velvetine and untouched. Everything had been kept pristine- except the piano. The keys were dirty, the legs worn thin, the once magnificent gloss scratched and rot-covered. I felt tears spring to my eyes as I looked over what was left of my mother’s memory. How could this happen? How could my mother be so blatantly forgotten and disregarded; left to decay? My hands ran over the rough instrument without instruction, as if separate from my body. There was still a song’s worth of sheet music left on the piano, albeit faded. Before I even picked up the papers, I knew the song. Canon in D Major. Temptation was too great a force to overcome. I sat at the bench, took a deep breath, and played the first note of the song. The keys required a firm touch, but still functioned. It was just one note, but a salty tear had begun to race down my cheek. I missed my mother so much. Wanting to feel her in the room again after so long without her, I slowly began to play. Once I started, I could not stop. Again and again I played the melody, and each time it became sweeter and softer. Although tears streamed down my face and blurred my vision, I played on. My hands remembered the movements of the song. Every time I reached the chorus, I could see my mother’s beautiful smile and hear her soft words of encouragement. I was so focused on playing I had not noticed the footsteps echoing behind me until they entered the ballroom. Fear washed over me; I was stuck. Finally, I turned around, an apology falling from my lips before I even knew who it was. I stopped dead in my tracks the moment I looked up and met the eyes before me. There stood my father, eyes red and cheeks shining with tears. There was a broken, bittersweet smile on his face; it was something I had not seen in years. The Weather As you know, it is P f O now Fall and the weather outside can be unpredictable. Because of The Tofield Students are once again this everyone must make sure to dress practicing for this years school musical that will be performed later this school appropriately. Please make sure you have year. The Practice schedule can be jackets ready so you are prepared for the found outside the school drama room. weather to get cold again. Good luck performers.
Don’t forget to order your school yearbook for next year! School yearbooks can be ordered online or at the office!
The Mental Health Capacity Building (MHCB) Team is visiting Tofield School Thursdays in September and October.
The MHCB program provides promotion, prevention, and early intervention mental health services to children, youth, and their families, within a school setting.
Students in Grade 7, 8, and 10 at Tofield School are participating in MHCB programs once a week to start off the school year. Students in grade 7 and 8 are learning about a variety of topics related to peer relationships and conflict resolution. The goal of this program is to allow students an opportunity to practice healthy strategies to resolve disagreements and help prevent bullying. Students in grade 10 will be learning about mental health and mental illnesses in an effort to reduce stigma and help students recognize where and when to get help!
“One of the wonderful things about the MHCB program is that it shows students that mental health matters. Students have a chance in class to ask questions and share ideas about topics they might not normally talk about. I look forward to continuing teach, get to know, and learn alongside the students at Tofield School in the coming weeks! ”
A F MHCB Wellness Coach For more information on the MHCB program visit our website: https://www.brsd.ab.ca/Schools/MHCB/Pages/default.aspx Or, Email your questions to the MHCB team at [email protected] MyBlueprint and MyPass (Parental Notice) With the beginning of a new school year you may be worried about how to check your high school child's grades before report cards come out. The best way to do this is to log into your child’s MyBlueprint or MyPass with them. Your child should know their login info and it's an easy way to check marks and high school credits. For more information you can check out Tofield School’s website and click on “NEW - High School career Counselling & Planning site” where there are links to learn all about MyPass and MyBlueprint so check that out! Tofield School Website https://www.brsd.ab.ca/school/tofield/Pages/default.aspx
BRSD Career Planning Site https://www.brsd.ab.ca/families/highschoolplus/Pages/default.as px
MyPass https://public.education.alberta.ca/PASI/myPass/Welcome/Inde x
MyBlueprint https://myblueprint.ca/
Family School Liaison Workers (FSLW’s) Your Family School Liaison Workers (FSLW's) at Tofield School are Donna Ashman and Rachael Upham. They can help find resources to other helping professionals and bridge gaps between those professionals and the school, connect you with community resources, help advocate with the school, or support with social/emotional challenges of students. To see one of the FSLW's, you can fill out a referral form (just ask at the office). *If a student is 15 years old or younger, parental consent must be provided for ongoing supports. If a student is 16 or older, those students can consent on their own for FSLW service. Breakfast Program Tofield School is now running a breakfast program for anyone and everyone. Students will be able to “grab and go” a nutritious snack before class. Good health and nutrition is required for students to focus and do their best. The program will be running until 8:35 every morning. Note: some of the granola bars and muffins do not specifically state nut free on them. However, anyone with nut allergies may choose from the other options available. (fruits, cheese strings/yogurt tubes, etc.) On occasion we will also be serving a hot breakfast, for example, pancakes. The breakfast program would not be possible without the student and parent volunteers. If you are able to volunteer your time, or provide some financial support, that would be greatly appreciated. Please feel free to let us know any questions, concerns or comments, please contact Mrs. Kropielnicki at 789 662 3133 or by email at [email protected] Thank You
Helping hands so far include Students: Jessica Hill, Rebecca Hill, Mercedes Tremblay, Tim Hill, Kody Kristensen, Rocio Gelbord Vera, Maddy Zemlak, Dawson MacPhee, Isaac Reeves, Rachel Murray, Avery Stevenson Parent, Educational Assistant, Community Members and Teachers: Tracy Herklotz, Betty Lou Roe, Jodi Leone, Greg Litwin, Mrs. Kropielnicki
Why do we make a Treaty Land acknowledgement at BRSD events? In Battle River School Division we make a Treaty Land acknowledgement at the beginning of events, like school assemblies, school board meetings and more. Do you ever wonder why that is happening? Canada is in a process that’s called Truth and Reconciliation, which is focused on learning the whole history of how our country was settled and acknowledging the ways in which those who settled here treated the original residents badly. Learning this history and reconciling the mistakes that were made will help bring healing to Canada’s First Nations, Metis and Inuit people, as well as helping all of us to move forward to a better future together. In the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation final report, there are 94 “Calls to Action”. Call to Action 63 specifically calls on school systems to “build student capacity for intercultural understanding, empathy and mutual respect.” The Treaty Land acknowledgement is just one small way for all of us to recognize that we are not the first people to make use of this land. It pays tribute to those who were here long before we came along. Here is what we say in Battle River: “We acknowledge that Battle River School Division is located on Treaty 6 territory, and we respect the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Metis and Inuit and all First Peoples whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.” Remember, all of Battle River School Division is a part of territory included in Treaty 6, an agreement that was signed to be in effect for “...as long as the sun shines, the rivers flow, and the grass grows…”
October
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 Parent Early Council Dismissal 7pm
7 8 No School 9 10 11 12 13 Thanksgiving Awards No Day Day School
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 No School for Students
28 29 30 31 Halloween
Oct 25, 2018 to Nov 8, 2018 November
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3
Don't Forget Parent teacher interviews November 8th 4:00-8:00 *If unable to attend please contact the school to make alternate arrangements. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Report Parent Teacher Remembrance Cards Interviews Day Service Family Grad Meeting
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 No School Remembrance Day
No School
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 No School