F.W. Gilbert Elementary School

April 2011

Spring Term Dates April 4th - Classes Resume April 6th - Gr. 6 Immunizations April 13th - Early Dismissal at 2:10 p.m. April 22nd - Good Friday – School Closed April 25th - PD Day – No Classes May 16th - PD Day – No Classes May 23rd - Victoria Day - No School

June 1st - Early Dismissal at 2:10 p.m. June 29th - Report Cards Sent Home June 29th - Last day of School

PAC Lunch Program – Following Spring Break Please ensure payment has been made if your child is

participating in the program. Cheques should be made payable to F.W. Gilbert Parent Advisory Council (PAC).

We will also continue to sell milk at lunch.

Family Life Education for Grade 5 Students – May 4th from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Family life will deal with the importance of families, human growth and

development, relationships, responsibilities and sexual abuse prevention. Instruction will be given by the Health Educator from the

North Eastern Health Association. A letter with more information will be sent home directly to parents of students involved.

Just a reminder that if your child is going to be away from school, please call

the SCHOOL OFFICE at 753-2559 Email or send a note with your child to give to their teacher.

Don’t forget to keep us updated on any changes in phone numbers, address, cell numbers, emergency contacts, etc.

Thank you for your co-operation. KidSport KidSport is a national charity administered by Sport Manitoba that helps to remove barriers and assist less fortunate children to participate in sport - so all kids can play. Deadline for spring and summer sports is April 30, 2011 For more information about KidSport™ and to download application forms, please visit the following website http://www.sportmanitoba.ca/programs/kidsport.php or come into the school for one.

Bicycles at School Responsibilities or conditions that students are expected to be guided by for their own safety as well as that of the other students regarding bicycles are as follows: - Bicycles are to be parked at school in the proper place. - Bicycles are not to be used at school and on the playground once the

students have arrived. - When leaving school students are NOT to zoom out onto the roads. They are

to leave by sidewalks or driveway exits and stop and check for traffic. - Students are expected to follow all traffic rules when riding their bikes on the

road, ride on the right side and stop at all intersections controlled by stop signs. If any student cannot follow these expectations then, after discussions with parents, the students will not have the privilege of riding their bike to school. It is also an expectation that parents will familiarize their child with the traffic rules and how to ride a bike in a safe and responsible manner. HELMETS ARE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. REMINDER: Just a reminder to parents about when their children should arrive at school. The students should not be at school before 8:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. There is no adult on supervision before these times.

Drop Off & Pick Up - Due to safety reasons we discourage dropping

off students in parking lot. Please drop off students on Massey - School Side Only, as per bylaw.

If you are visiting the school for an extended period of time, please park in lot. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

NEXT PAC MEETING: April 11th at 6:30 p.m.

Recognition Awards - March 2011 Payton - Kindergarten, John - Kindergarten, Emi - Grade 1, Riley - Grade 2, Rebecca - Grade 3, Aidan - Grade 4, Liz - Grade 4, Jacob - Grade 5, Irene - Grade 5, Megan - Grade 6, Bryson - Grade 6 Way To Go Awards - March 2011 Blake - Kindergarten, Dustin - Kindergarten, Nolan - Grade 1, Paul - Grade 1, Nathaniel - Grade 2, Adam - Grade 3, Kaylan - Grade 3, Rylan - Grade 3, Liz - Grade 4, Kolton - Grade 4, Scott - Grade 4, Ereeny - Grade 5, Irene - Grade 5, Denzel - Grade 5, Madeline - Grade 5, Anika - Grade 5, Anna - Grade 5, Megan - Grade 6, Martin - Grade 6, Bryson - Grade 6, Kevin - Grade 6, Maria - Grade 6, Tessa - Grade 6, Harry - Grade 6, Kennedy - Grade 6, Mrs. Rand

Principal’s Message: What a busy month we have just had - Report Cards, Student-Led Conferences, Super Squad Bowling, Prairie Theatre Exchange, Intramurals, Craft Club, NG Inc, Garden Club, Junior Achievement and Milk Mania. The students did an amazing job of their student-led conferences. The feedback was very positive and helpful. Thank you to all who participated. The Pancake Breakfast was a great success. The students enjoyed a healthy breakfast. There were different activities to promote Milk like “X marks the Spot”, “Gram -moo -or”, Milk Chug-a-lugging, acrostic poems, dress up days and we finished the week off with Moo-sterpiece Theatre. The students entertained everyone at the assembly with their wonderful skits. The staff was sure tired by the end of it all and looking forward to a well-deserved holiday. April will bring warm weather and students riding their bikes again Please talk to your child about bike safety. A big thank you to all our volunteers. You are so helpful and giving of your time!!!! Darcia Light

Ready, Set, Grow…

A day for 3 & 4 year olds

Wednesday, May 4, 2011 1:00 – 7:00pm

LDB Centennial School

Hope to see you there! If you need help finding a ride, we may be able to help,

please give us a call by April 21st at: Centennial School – 345-2462 F.W. Gilbert School – 753-2559

!

There will be activities focused on important developmental milestones like:

☺Hearing ☺Speaking ☺Fine Motor Skills ☺Gross Motor Skills ☺Vision ☺Dental, Nutrition, and many more

Snacks &

Prizes

Picky Eaters By Linda E. Chapman, Psychotherapist & Art Therapist Having a child deemed to be a "picky eater" can be the bane of a contemporary, nutrition-focused parent's existence. Having a child who rejects healthy foods or family meals can exacerbate concern about children having a sufficient and balanced diet. All of this can lead to anxiety, irritation and regular battles. If you are the parent of a picky eater, consider the following: 1. If your child is growing and developing properly, she is probably getting the essentials, whether or not you find this easy to believe as you watch her reject item after item. 2. Your job is to keep on offering a variety of healthy choices over time. Avoid letting her become overfull on highly fat, sugar and salted food because of your desperation or resignation that after all "she has to eat something." At some point (perhaps when your back is turned, or at someone else's home) she'll pleasantly surprise you by slowly but surely expanding her choices. 3. If you look at your child's food intake over a day, you will probably realize she is getting everything she needs over time, not necessarily in each sitting. Some days (especially active days) she will eat more, other days, correspondingly less. Of course, some children have smaller appetites, and your adult perception of what is a full meal may not jibe with what is true for her physiology. Check with your pediatrician if you feel you have distinct cause for concern. 4. Try making food choice and preparation fun: make faces out of the components of a meal; incorporate small amounts of newer foods with regular servings of foods that are "tried and true." 5. Include your child in food choice and preparation as much as possible. An increase in a real sense of empowerment could help decrease the need to battle over food. 6. Avoid using food for reward, withdrawal of it as punishment. Don't assign foods to "good" and "bad" categories. 7. Set a good example by eating a range of healthy foods yourself while with your child. 8. Think about how and why food became your battleground. It might represent other areas of control, power or struggles for dominance within your relationship with your child. There may also be residual messages and meanings from your own childhood that inform your reaction: food might have been a battleground or even an area of neglect in your household. Think about how it makes you feel when your child rejects the meal you've just made or bought. Then decide if this what you really want to tussle over. Issues about food have practically and emotionally significant facets. Identifying and separating the strands of significance and dealing with each on its own terms will help you ensure she gets the nutrition she needs while avoiding futile and frustrating power struggles. About the Author Linda E. Chapman, M.C.A.T., ATR-BC., R.C.A.T., is a psychotherapist and art therapist who works in private practice with adults and youth in Toronto. She has worked for over 25 years as a therapist in agency, hospital and private practice settings. She provides training and clinical consultation and supervision to psychotherapists and counselors. E-mail: lindachapman@rogers.com

w w w.psychotherapyintoronto.com

Food For Thought Would you like to get together with some of your caregiving peers over a delicious potluck lunch? Have you been yearning to learn about first aid or dental health or how to deal with sibling rivalry? If you fit into this group, why not join the Food For Thought crowd on the third Thursday of every month? We get together for a potluck lunch (a lot better than peanut butter and jelly!) and discussion. We are grateful to the Alliance Church for allowing us to use their space to eat and play. Speakers are organized by Renee Cucksey with the help of grassroots. There is also some childcare available (more of that playdough!) so you can listen without too much interruption. If you would like more information, give Renee Cucksey a call at 753-2391.

Lasagna Fundraiser

Dinner $10.00

Thursday, April 7th from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

At the Community Centre

Tickets available at the door or from

Ann Sisler at 753-2701.

For Habitat For Humanity/Cycle of Hope

1600 km in 12 days this summer.

Cycling from St. Louis, Missouri to Winnipeg

April 2011 Events for Families with children Kindergarten age & under

StoryTime-April 27th is the last storytime for the season Wedns. April 6, 13, 20, 27 Pinawa Public Library 2:00-3:00 Children’s Place Co-Op 9:30-10:15 Potluck & Play Thursday, April 14 F.W. Gilbert School Gym 5:00-6:30 La Leche League/Baby Cafe Monday, April 11 Alliance Church 10:00-11:30 Food for Thought Thursday, April 21 Alliance Church 11:30-1:30 grassroots meeting-All welcome Thursday, April 21 Nursery School Room 2:00 Just Play Time- last one for the season Thursday, April 28 F.W. Gilbert School Gym 5:30-6:30 Playgroup Fridays-except April 22(Heather 753-8369) Nursery School Room 9:00-11:45 Toy Lending Library Tuesdays (contact Jen 753-2195) Nursery School Room 6:00-7:00