January 2016 eNewsletter
Greetings everyone and Happy New Year. This newsletter will be more about some of the details
and nuts-and-bolts of what is coming up. Later this week, I will be sending out a special newsletter
which will launch what I hope will be a fantastic community building endeavor. Please join us at
Wednesday’s PAC meeting to find out more.
This week, all of our classes will be touring the Find Your Fit fair being held in our gym. This is a
career expo where students will have an opportunity to explore a variety of careers and what is
involved with each of them. The fair is also open after school to the public from 3 – 7. Feel free to
come by and see what this is all about. More info can be found at https://www.findyourfittour.ca/
Personally, I am thinking of becoming a helicopter pilot. Or a pastry chef.
Other extra-curricular activities are also in full swing:
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Our basketball programs have all started up and the grade 7’s and 8’s begin games this
week. The grade 6’s practice at lunch and finish their season with a district-wide
tournament. If there are any students at any grade who are still interested in signing
up, please see Mr. Argotow who can direct you t the correct coach.
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The ski and snowboard group has had two amazing days at Cypress already and things
are looking good for the final two sessions.
Looking ahead:
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The Vancouver Theatre Sports League will be making a stop at Como on Friday,
January 29th at 9:00 am (thanks to our wonderful PAC – did I mention our next
meeting is this Wednesday evening?). Parents are more than welcome to join us. Just
send me an email that you would like to come so we can have chairs available for you.
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Student Led Conferences will be held on Wednesday, February 3 from 2 – 5 and again
on Thursday, February 4 from 2-6:30. Both days will have early dismissals for our
students.
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Our band and choir will perform their first public concert to close out our student led
conferences. Please join us on Thursday, February 4th at 6:30 for this performance.
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The district cross catchment process opens on February 5th. This process is for families
transitioning into schools outside of their catchment and is time sensitive. If you have
any questions, feel free to contact Leah or one of the admin.
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The first of two provincial Professional Days focusing on the new curriculum will take
place on Tuesday, February 9th. Students will not attend (please note: Monday,
February 8th is Family Day (four day weekend for our students))
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The PAC will be bringing in Jesse Miller on February 16th. He will meet with all of our
students and then do a parent session in the evening. Jesse is a world-renowned
internet safety consultant.
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On Monday, February 29th, we will be taking the entire school to the Richmond Oval.
More info on this day will be coming soon. Thank you to our PAC for covering the
costs of the buses.
These are just some of the highlights of what is going on above and beyond the classroom
teachings. Again, I would love to see you out for our PAC meeting this Wednesday night at 7:00
pm. I look forward to sharing an idea and launching a community building endeavor. Please
watch for a special edition newsletter later this week.
Cheers,
Darren Stewart
Also available on our website under the heading On the Calendar @
www.sd43.bc.ca/middle/comolake
Wednesday, January 20
Thursday, January 21
Tuesday, January 28
Wednesday, January 29
Wednesday, February 3
Thursday, February 4
Thursday, February 4
Monday, February 8
Tuesday, February 9
* PAC Meeting @ 7pm - Library
* Find your fit – Trades Expo in Gym – all day
Community Open House 3pm-7pm
* Grade 8 tours
* Theatre Sports Presentation
* Student Led Conferences (2-5) early dismissal
* Student Led Conferences (2-6:30) early dismissal
* Band concert
* BC Family Day – STUDENTS DO NOT ATTEND
* PRO D DAY – STUDENTS DO NOT ATTEND
REPORTING ABSENCES
DID YOU KNOW??? You are able to report absences, late arrivals and early dismissals on our
web site. www.sd43.bc.ca/middle/comolake. It is very important to let us know before start
of the school day if your child is not attending.
The absence reporting form is on the front page of our web site. This is a great option for
reporting in advance as well as day of. We will automatically receive a notification here in the
office so no need for phone calls or notes for dismissal.
If you are unable to report through the web site please call the office and report all absences
for your child before 8:40am. The office is open at 8am however we do have an answering
machine where absence information can be left at any time.
If your child needs to leave early and you are unable to access the eForms on line please send a
note with them that they can bring to the office when they sign out. Without the eForm or a
note the parent will be required to come to the office and sign out the child.
Helpful tips for parents who have a child who is: an intense worrier/ perfectionist/ general
anxiety.
1) Stick to a routine. If you know there is a change coming, give your child lots of warnings about the
change. Same thing for bedtime and coming off their device.
2) Ice cold water is calming. Send a stainless steel water bottle to school, with lots of ice and water. Sips
in the day can help your child calm down.
3) 5-5-5. Teach your child when they are starting to escalate they can do the 5-5-5 and help themselves.
Name 5 things in the room/ listen for 5 sounds/ smell 5 scents. This helps move them from their limbic
brain (emotional) to their neocortex (thinking and reasoning brain). They can do it twice if they need
to.
4) Body scans: Teach your child to notice all the sensations in their body. A body scan is great. They start
with their heads, and then neck, shoulders etc. Just noticing what each body part feels like? It helps
them to understand when they feel sick in the tummy or have a headache due to anxiety they are just
sensations, and our bodies have many different sensations.
5) Go for a short walk. Let your child know they can ask to walk to the water fountain or washroom as a
great way to calm down.
It’s about teaching our children how to self soothe themselves. This is very empowering for them and it is
a great way for them to learn how to regulate how their bodies feel. Like anything it takes practice. Have
them practice strategies each day.
COQUITLAM MINOR SOFTBALL
Coquitlam Minor Softball invites all Port Moody and Coquitlam girls to register for
Softball for the 2016 season (April – June).
Register online anytime www.coquitlamsoftball.com or in person at the Fun Fair,
January 31, 12 – 2pm at the Poirier Recreation Centre.
New this year U12 boys fast pitch….come on out!
Join us in all the fun.
Lunch Opportunities for Students
Games Room – Our games room is open at lunch time. Although on most days –
weather permitting, we ask students to go outside after eating their lunch.
Library – Our Library will be open Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays at lunch for students
Cafeteria - Just a reminder that we do not sell food from our cafeteria. Also, as of
recently, we no longer have vending machines at our school. Microwaves and hot
water are available in the cafeteria for students. Our Me2We group will do some food
fundraising sales throughout the year – we will inform the students when these will be
happening. Students must provide their own forks and spoons!
PAC NEWS
Please drop by at our next meeting on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at 7pm in the library.
Everyone welcome! Refreshments served! A great place to be in the know about happenings
here at Como! A great place to meet other parents!
Tamara Dean
PAC Chair
KATESLEM AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
Hi Parents
Are you looking for your children to have something structured to do afterschool? Check
out the Kateslem Free After School Program at Como Lake Middle School
http://www.kateslem.com. Runs Monday-Friday, afterschool to 5:30pm in one of our
portables.
This program offers children and parents all sorts of amazing opportunities. We look
forward to working with your children. Registration is available at the office.
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Darren Stewart, Principal
Elspeth Anjos, Vice-Principal
Leah Pells, Counsellor
Debbie Van Veen , Youth worker
Karen West, Head Secretary
Karen Heinrich, SIS Operator
[email protected]
[email protected]
lpells.sd43.bc.ca
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
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