Alexander Elementary Newsletter
February 21, 2013
Principal: Mrs. Donna Wright
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 604-859-3167 Fax: 604-850-5678
School Website: http://alexander.sd34.bc.ca
Parent Advocate Help Line 1 -888-351-9834
Principal’s News
Upcoming
Events
February!! Where has it
gone??
It was great to see all
the children wearing Red,
Pink or White for
Valentines Day!! I think
Division 6 had every
student and teacher
participate in wearing
our Valentine Colours!!
Way to Go! Great show of
school spirit!!
The children were very
excited to hand out their
Valentine’s…this brought
smiles to many faces –

Feb 27 – Pink Shirt
Day – ANTIBULLYING
Awareness
Assembly @ 11:00
am

Mar 11 – Report
Cards go home

Mar 13 & 14 –
EARLY DISMISSIAL
@ 1:30 pm

Mar 15 – Hot Lunch
Day
Happy Chinese New Year!!

Mar 15 - Last day
of school before
Spring Break
This is the year of the Snake. This
2013 year of Snake is meant for
steady progress and attention to
detail.

Mar 18 – Apr 1
SPRING BREAK

Apr 2 – First Day
Back to School
Grade 4/5 s have been learning
about the Digestive System –
Division 2 have made models of
the digestive system and can
explain how it all works together.
Here are a few samples of their
digestive systems – come and see
them!!
100 Day
The early Primary classes have
celebrated “100’s DAY!” One
hundred day – is a day, or few
days, in which 100 days of school is
celebrated. Teachers involve their
students in many engaging
activities to learn about the
number 100. We have a very long
caterpillar with 100 sections
crawling down the hallway. There is
a pizza in the school with 100
toppings, gumball machines with
100 gumballs in them and a flock of
ladybugs with 100 spots in
total…and many more. If you have a
child in grade K-2 ask them about
some of the activities they have
done in their classroom to learn
more about “100”.
Page 2 of 2
School Newsletter
The Playground
The children have been doing a great job finding games and activities to keep themselves busy. We
continue to work with the children to be kind to one another. However, some of our younger
students are still learning what appropriate play is on the playground. Some children are choosing
to play games (self created from movies and video games) that eventually turns into “play” fighting,
which often ends up with someone getting hurt. We are telling all the children that there is NO
Fighting of any kind allowed at school. This includes play fighting. There is no hitting or kicking of
any kind. If it looks like fighting it is fighting and it will be dealt with as such. Please talk to your
children on a regular basis about the importance of keeping their hands/feet to themselves.
Together we can help them find other fun activities to engage in.
Videos Games and Movies: Did you know that a video game age rating is not the same as a “movie”
age rating?
Please be aware of what your children are watching on TV and the Video Games they are playing.
Many games and shows are much more graphically violent than we would expect from the ratings
that are on them. Video games are rated very differently than a movie and are allowed to be much
more graphically violent and sexually explicit than a movie rated at the same level.
I found that the best way to figure out if it is appropriate for my children is to sit down and play
it– many of the games my own kids would like to play are now banned in our home. I used the
method of “Would I be comfortable sitting here playing this with my Grandmother?? If the
answer was even a little bit no – then it is not appropriate for my children to play. This did not
make me popular with my children but I am their mother not their friend. At times as the parent I
need to make these decisions for my children. The Wii cow racing game is my favourite and one of
Grandma’s!! Try it, it is great fun…
Anti Bullying Awareness Day, February 27, 2013
Assembly 11:00 – we are inviting all parents/guardians to attend this assembly as this is an important
issue in the world today and it is very valuable that our students see that we all take it seriously.
We are encouraging everyone to wear pink this day in support of increasing awareness around the
issue of bullying.
We will be involving students in activities that help the children to understand what Bullying is – how
it is different from conflict and feeling left out. Learning what we can all do about bullying.
Bullying is a pattern of persistent unwelcome or aggressive behaviour intended to make others
uncomfortable, scared or hurt. It is used as a means of control; bullies get a sense of power from
taking advantage of and disparaging those they may target based on appearance, culture, race,
religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. (definition from Safer School Together)
There is a difference between bad behaviour, mean behaviour and bullying. We will be working
together with staff and students to learn this difference and how to deal with them all in an appropriate
manner.
The importance of Play
Play is so important to optimal child development that it has been recognized by the United Nations High
Commission for Human Rights as a right of every child.
Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical,
cognitive, and emotional strength. Play is important to healthy brain development. It is through play that
children every age engage and interact in the world around them. Play allows children to create and explore a
world they can master, conquering their fears while practicing adult roles. As they master their world, play
helps children develop new competencies that lead to enhanced confidence and the resiliency they will need to
face future challenges. Undirected play (free time play) allows children to learn how to work in groups, to
share, to negotiate, to resolve conflicts, and to learn self-advocacy skills. When play is allowed to be child
driven, children practice decision-making skills, move at their own pace, discover their own areas of interest,
and ultimately engage fully in the passions they wish to pursue.
In contrast to passive entertainment (gaming, watching TV), outdoor play builds active, healthy bodies. In fact,
it has been suggested that encouraging unstructured play may be an exceptional way to increase physical
activity levels in children, which is one important strategy in the resolution of the obesity epidemic. Perhaps
above all, play is a simple joy that is a cherished part of childhood.