THE A.L. HORTON WAYFINDER, OCTOBER 13

It’s been a busy four weeks since our last newsletter. Thank you to parents for joining us for the Terry Fox Walk, various field trips, Lunch with Your Child day, the welcome & indigenous flag raising assembly, and the first School Council meeting. Lots of gratitude to our hot dog Wednesday parent volunteers, too!

October means Bus Safety week, Mental Health week, preparations for the Remembrance assembly, and Halloween activities. Last week we celebrated World Teachers Day, Read-in Week, and pies in the face for $1400+ raised for Terry Fox.

SCHOOL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES - we need you!

Do you have skills with building things and a few hours to spare in the next few weeks? We have the following items in boxes ready to build for student use:

• Art drying racks (2)
• Whiteboard flip tables (3)

We also have new chair racks to hold our gym stacking chairs. We have some school tools. Please call the school at 780-632-3113 if you and a friend can come in to build these items for us!

OUR LIBRARY LEARNING COMMONS - An update & ask from Mrs. Shell

Our library is slowly transforming into a Learning Commons.  "What is a Learning Commons?"  Alberta Education writes: The concept of a learning commons is a shift in thinking from a library as a physical space that is a repository of books, to an inclusive, flexible, learner-centered, physical and or virtual space for collaboration, inquiry, imagination and play to expand and deepen learning….

• Some parents may know Mrs. Shell as an Educational Assistant for the past 20 years. This year, she is pleased to be getting to know all the students as they visit the Learning Commons on book exchange days and attend other activities.

After surveying students, a collection of noon club ideas has been gathered. The first activities will be for Grade 5 and 6 students. There will be opportunities to take on leadership roles and assist with clubs for younger students. To support noon activities we need school community support! Listed below are a few suggestions and needed items:

• Lego Club - Lego people, pieces, or platforms
• books about Lego would be a great addition 
• Cardmaking - stamps, ink, paper, dyes, embellishments
• Book Club
• Drawing - drawing cartoon books, instructional books, sketching pencils, pads and crayons 
• Age-appropriate games and cards

Please box or bag donated items and mark them "library" when dropping off at the school. Noon activities will begin in November after...

THE SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR 

The Book Fair will be running the week of October 24-28.  Students will be visiting with their classes during school hours. The Book Fair will also be open from 4-7 PM on Interview nights - October 25 and 26.  Hope to see you there.

SCHOOL COUNCIL & FUNDRAISING SOCIETY - MEETINGS & ELECTIONS

Monday, October 24 at 6:30 PM is the second School Council meeting followed by the Fundraising Society meeting at 7 PM. Please contact Chair Ken Allan with items for the agenda at alhortonschoolcouncil@gmail.com .

While meetings will be in person until the weather turns, parents/guardians can also choose to join us online all year. Families are busy, and some adults have a long commute home, so tune in via the Google Meet link emailed home if you cannot make the meeting in person.

--WE NEED YOU!

The Fundraising Society has the following positions open:

• Friends Society President - OPEN
• Friends Society Vice-President - OPEN
• Friends Society Treasurer - OPEN

Please ask a friend or two to join you in leading this year’s fundraising efforts. We will elect these positions at the October 24 meeting. Join us!

--LITTLE CAESAR’S PIZZA ORDERS - fundraiser update 

Volunteers required…

• When:  pickup date Thursday, October 27, 2022
• Needing People: 
• Help count and sort orders; about 7 volunteers needed from 10:30 AM – 12:45 PM
• Distribute orders to students and parents, making sure everyone is taking the correct order home
• about 2 volunteers needed from 12:45  – 3:15 PM
• about 2 volunteers needed from 2:45  – 5:30 p.m.

--UPCOMING FUNDRAISERS

November – Bear Tracks – will require a lead volunteer and task volunteers to help distribute orders; also need a flat deck trailer and truck to be used for distribution.

November – Silent Auction – well received and very successful in 2021, spearheaded by Jamie G and Dana A. Need a lead volunteer and task volunteers to organize, oversee and canvas for donations.

December – Legion Breakfast – Sunday, December 11th, 2022 

March – Legion Steak Fry – Friday, March 31st, 202

May – Legion Breakfast – Sunday, May 14th, 2023.

Contact friendsofalhortonschool@gmail.com to ask about fundraising opportunities.

SCHOOL INTERVIEWS/ PROGRESS CONFERENCES

We look forward to seeing parents and caregivers on October 25 and 26 for term one progress conferences. This autumn’s conferences are in person from 3:30 - 7:30 PM. Website information for booking interviews will be sent home next week. 

READ IN WEEK - last week

Read In Week returned on October 3. This year’s theme was: “Choose Your Own Adventure.” Students spent the week learning tips on choosing the right book; the art of storytelling; and how stories have the power to teach lessons, broaden perspectives and foster empathy. Thank you to Mrs. McCurdy, Councillor Bullock, Mrs. Menzak, Trustee Footz, and players from the Vipers and the Rangers for coming to read to us!

Read In Week is a division-wide initiative held annually to encourage a lifelong love of reading and to enhance literacy awareness among students, staff, families and community members. For more information visit www.readin.ca .

WE CELEBRATED WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY OCTOBER 5 

October 5 was World Teachers’ Day! Launched in 1994 by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), World Teachers’ Day is celebrated annually around the world as a way to recognize teachers and the integral role they play in providing quality education to students. 

EIPS extends its heartfelt thank you to all Division teachers for their dedication, hard work and commitment in guiding and educating students through their kindergarten to Grade 12 years.

IMPORTANT DATES

October 24 School Council meeting 6:30 PM in the learning commons

October 25 & 26 Progress Conferences (Parent-Teacher Interviews) 3:30 - 7 PM

October 24 - 28 Book Fair in library learning commons

October 27 Little Caesar’s orders pick up day in field behind school

October 28 Photo Retake day

October 31 Dress Up for Halloween; Halloween activities 

November 2  Early dismissal at 1:55 PM for staff meeting

November 4 Remembrance Assembly 10:30 AM

November 5 - 13 No School; Fall Break

November 13 - 18 Bullying Awareness & Prevention Week

November 23 Farm Safety presentations K-6

November 25 Report Cards online on Parent Portal by 4 PM

November 25 Jersey Day for school spirit

November 28 School Council meeting 6:30 PM

December 7  Early dismissal at 1:55 PM for staff meeting

December 14 Christmas Concerts - 5 PM for A-L & 6:15 PM for M-Z families

Keri Busenius      &        Rita Lal

Principal                         Assistant Principal

Connecting to foster the minds and hearts of leaders.