Meet Our Leadership Team– Sophia Kabatoff
I have insight and desire for peace in any group that I am involved with. I have
worked hard to become part of this school over the past year and it’s my hope to
become an even bigger part of this school. I am looking forward to sharing ideas
with my fellow students and encouraging their concepts to make this school an
even better place. I have in the past made sure to make all new students feel
welcome and would continue this going forward. It is my hope that moving
forward with my contributions to this program and school that I will be another
WCOS success story.
Raven’s Nest
March 2016
Student of the Week
Reflections
“Never
believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever
have.”
Margaret Mead
Every Sunday afternoon, I send an email to the staff at WCOS called, “Sneak Peek at the
Week”. This email is a quick ‘peek’ at the week’s events - a day by day reminder of events,
activities, meetings, assembly information, visitors, student activities, hot lunches, schedule
changes, guest speakers, special events. It’s amazing to me how busy our small world can be,
and the flexibility of our staff to accommodate for all of the ‘extras’. As I sent the “Sneak Peek”
on Sunday, I was reminded of this commitment. This week our students will volunteer to “set
up and take down” for Volunteer Appreciation Week, view and learn from the Canadian War
Museum’s travelling WW2 relics, welcome 2 new full-time students, successfully complete 2
fundraising activities for Grad & Awards night, participate in literacy initiatives, immerse
themselves in Grad preparations, welcome several visitors from District Office, and yes, most
importantly, they will learn. The word “Outreach” takes on many meanings, whether we are
‘reaching out’ to others, or to each other. We often rely on each other in order to make school
experiences for our students inclusive of global citizenship and community respect. The students and staff in our school share the same commitment and flexibility, and we all function as
a team, sometimes “flying by the seat of our pants” (an idiom, by the way! Literacy lessons.)
Ultimately by reaching out to each other, we are better able to reach out to others.
Alva Holliday, Principal
Promoting & Encouraging a
Positive Journey in Education
Ski Trip Students
Liam
Amy
Katrina
Tamara Sawatzky—Registered Social Worker
The Central Alberta Refugee Effort (C.A.R.E) did a presentation at our school and focused on celebrating our
differences rather than judging them. The students were engaged and asked a lot of very good questions.
The girls group has completed the bullying video and I could not be more proud of the positive message they convey.
The video will be posted on the West Country Outreach home page this month.
We have new pets here at School. Yang, George, McDreamy, and McSteamy keep the students company in my
office. These students are enjoying the responsibility of caring for our newest additions.
Tolerance is giving every other human being every right that you claim for yourself
Robert Green Ingersoll
Upcoming Events
April 18—Grad tickets on sale to Graduates
April 19—School Council Meeting @ 6:00pm
April 20—Oil & Gas Safety Presentation
April 21—Twin Day
April 22—Professional Development Day—No School
April 28—Career Expo, Red Deer College
May 6—Professional Development Day—No School
Big City Lights 2016
At 7:25 on the morning of March 20, twelve members of the West Country Outreach School family flew to Boston to begin
the biggest adventure of our lives. While in Boston we spent a very snowy morning on a walking tour of the city, learning
about the history of the American Revolution and Paul Revere. We also drove to Salem to visit the Witch Museum and
experience the hysteria that gripped that area in 1692 – very creepy.
On day three, we drove south to New York City, where we spent two days seeing all of the big tourist attractions – Times
Square, Grand Central, Empire State Building, 9/11 Memorial, Chinatown. A big highlight was seeing “Jersey Boys” on
Broadway.
Day five saw us driving further south to Philadelphia where we took photos of the Liberty Bell and raced each other to the
top of the famous Rocky Steps. Arriving in Washington, DC late that evening we had a quick dinner then walked to the
White House for pictures.
On the morning of day six, we started at the Vietnam and Lincoln Memorials, before spending time hearing the story of the
assassination of Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre. For the afternoon we visited Mt Vernon – the famous home of George
Washington. In Alexandria, Virginia that evening, a ghost tour was on the agenda, and the cool temperature and wind
made it that much creepier.
Day 7 we toured the US Capitol building, Arlington National Cemetery, and The Museum of Natural History. One of the
real highlights of the trip was this evening when we dressed up and walked through the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin
while handing out Canadian and Alberta flags and pins to people we met. The nine students on the trip embraced their
roles as ambassadors for our country, and as the adults followed along behind them it was heartwarming and emotional to
see all the people waving the maple leaf and putting on their new pins. The kids did an excellent job.
Our last day in Washington started at the International Spy Museum, was interrupted by the President driving by in a
motorcade, and ended at the Holocaust Museum, an emotional conclusion to an exciting eight days.
Our students represented Canada in the best way possible, making new friends and spreading Canadian goodwill
everywhere we went. Their willingness to talk with people about our great country and home town while soaking up all of
the educational opportunities given to them made the adults on the trip proud. It was common to hear Americans share
that our kids are amazing. We couldn’t agree more.
Mr. Robertson
Coaches Corner– Marilyn Weatherald, Inclusion Coach
As we approach the end of the year, the staff wanted to support students in improving their study skills, test taking strategies and reducing exam anxiety. In April I will be presenting to the students on these topics at two different assemblies, and will be available to parents at the April 19th School Council meeting. Or if students or parents want more information you can also access the following folders of books and pamphlets through the student's Google Drive credentials.
Study Skills & Test Taking Strategies
How To Get Good Grades
Getting Organized
Memorization Strategies
Reading a Textbook
Succeeding in Class
Taking Notes
Staying Motivated
Preparing for Tests
Studying Smart
Taking Tests
Exam Anxiety Strategies
7 Easy Steps to a Positive Mind: How to Shrink Your Negative Monster
Alberta Health Services Active Living and your Positive Mental Health
Alberta Health Services Anxiety
Alberta Health Services Creativity and your Health
Alberta Health Services Food and your Mood
Alberta Health Services Knowledge is Power Bibliotherapy for Teens
Alberta Health Services Relaxation for Teens
Alberta Health Services Sleep Advice for Teens
Best Practices—Mrs. Dyrland
My Grandmother is 96 years old this year and has recently moved into a nursing home, thereby leaving her home in need of
being cleaned. She is an amazing woman with almost a century of life experience – and her home shows this. She has lived
through the ‘dirty thirties’ and learned the art of reducing her ecological footprint way before it was part of the Reduce, Reuse,
Recycle mantra. I say this to illustrate how our society has changed in general. We have lost the art of self-sustainability – in
the past, we spent time saving money: fixing things that were broken, sewing clothing, growing gardens, cooking meals. Now,
we are more likely to spend money to save time.
This shift in our culture has changed who we have become as a society in general. To counter this, our school, has introduced
Junior High Projects. The goal of this class is to allow the Junior High Students to experience some of these lost arts. Since
January, we have already resurrected the lost art of coloring books and Ukrainian Easter Egg decorating. Over the next
months, we will be learning to sew, cross stitch, crochet and bake, as well as how to use hand tools to build small wood and leather projects.
To the students, it might seem like it is just an “arts and craft” class – but as an educator, my goal goes way beyond the scope of
developing fine and gross motor skills. My goal is to helping them become lifelong learners; to encourage them to experience new
“old” things; to help them gain the courage to learn how to learn; and most of all – learn to how to have some fun in the process.
WCOS School Council
West Country Outreach School Council Members:
- Chairperson—Bridgette McKeen
- Vice Chairperson— Trish Matthews
- Secretary—- Deborah Laing
- Treasurer— Colleen Brassard
- WCOS Staff Representatives —- Ms. Alva Holliday, Mrs. Natalya Agafonov
- Student Representatives—Jackie Shippy, Ashley Brassard, Kaylynn Taylor, Samantha Kercher