JUNE 2014

Principal’s Message

We celebrate and honour twenty-one years with Mrs. Munn!!!! Twenty-one years ago Mrs. Munn came through the doors of Port Weller school and took her "seat" as Administrative Assistant ... are we ever happy that she did!! Mrs. Munn will be celebrating

retirement at the end of this school year. The entire staff (both past and present), student bodies, and our extended parent community congratulate her on her dedication and commitment to our school. On behalf of all of us THANK YOU!! Thank you Alex and Katie ( graduating grade 8 students) for writing the following dedication to Mrs. Munn: After twenty-one years as Port Weller’s Secretary, Mrs.

Carol Munn will be saying her final farewells to Port Weller at the end of this year. In her retirement she “hopes to travel and relax,” and will miss all of the staff and students. In an interview with three graduates, she spoke of her fond memories over the years such as “watching everyone grow up, giving stickers out to JK/SKs’ when they bring the attendance down, going into the gym to watch assemblies” and “especially watching the older kids in the hallway practicing their singing and dancing." It’s just been wonderful” she adds, “I feel like all of them are mine.” When asked what had changed the most about Port Weller over the two decades, she replied “computers". "When I came here I had a typewriter. Other than that there have not been too many other changes", says Mrs. Munn. When asked what she would take away from this experience she said, “That is a difficult question". "I have learned how to be kind. How to try and understand the lives of kids. I’ve learned to give everyone a smile because you don’t know what kind of day they have had so far. I want to make everyone feel important.” The interview was concluded with Mrs. Munn’s heartfelt message to the graduates. “Enjoy your time in school. Have fun, join groups, don’t be shy, and get involved". I considered it to be a privilege and honour to be have been here for 21 years. There is no job like it!.” Mrs. Munn, you’ve played a vital role in our school lives, you’ve touched our hearts with kindness and positivity, and we wish you all the best in your retirement. -Katie McKenna and Alex Sanko When the Port Weller Staff were asked to describe Mrs. Munn in just ONE word, these are the words that they chose: empathetic, caring, dedicated, organized, kind, nurturing, welcoming, "fantabulous", genuine, loving, fabulous, patient, helpful and IRREPLACEABLE!! We will be celebrating Mrs. Munn's retirement on June 16th at Fresco's in St. Catharines. The event

will run from 4 - 6 p.m. with a presentation being delivered at 5 p.m. If you would like to join us,

please contact Ms. Abbey for RSVP information. Continued on page 2…………..

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Principal’s message continued… Please look for our Summer Newsletter which will be distributed with report cards. At this time additional information with regards to next year will be shared with you.

Class Assignments for 2014-15 At this time, we are unable to predict classroom assignments. This is a direct result of fluctuating enrolment. Student class assignments will be given to our students and families on the first day back to school in September. In our Summer Newsletter, procedures for class placements will be explained in more detail. Class placements are never finalized until the end of the second week of September when our enrolment numbers are confirmed. If you have any questions about this, or you are feeling concerned for any reason at all, PLEASE do not hesitate to contact Ms. Abbey. Remember please that your attitude toward future class placements will have a direct impact on your child. Come to me first if you are worried. As adults, we tend to worry more than our children do, I understand! If you have specific class requests please put these in writing to Ms. Abbey before the end of the first week in June.

Moving Away? If you are leaving the Port Weller School area this summer, we would appreciate knowing this information in order to plan our class organization and staffing needs for September. Please contact the school office and inform the secretary of your intention to move. We will prepare a transfer form for you to take to your new school.

Report Cards Students will receive their final report cards on Wed., June 25, 2014. Parents are required to return the response form by Thurs., June 26, 2014. Thank you for your help! Pirate Day Photos: Listen for announcements in the beginning of June. Proofs (4"x6") will be sold for $1.50 (with a second proof for just 50 cents) and are yours to keep but not duplicate. Order forms will then be available for larger sizes with school graphics. What a great way to raise funds for our school and capture a memory from elementary school!

P.A. Day Please note that there will be NO CLASSES on Friday, June 13th as this is a Professional Activity Day.

Learning Advantage Campaign There is still time to get your "Learning Advantage" book. This 192 page, fully coloured, activity book is designed to maintain children's academic learning over the summer months. There is one activity book per grade level from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 7. Each grade level book contains major units aligned with the Ontario curriculum expectations and 3 summer fun units. The books have parent information pages, evaluation forms; follow up activities and a family focus. In addition to the summer the books can be used all year long from September to the following June. A full line up of French Immersion books is also available. The cost of each book is $19.05 plus GST ($20.00 total). This is a savings of $1-$4 from the retail and online prices. You can visit www.learningadvantage.ca to download a free

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unit of the book you would like to order for further review. If you did not receive the order form we sent home in late May, or if you have misplaced it and require another one, the forms are available at the office. Please direct questions to Mary-Jo Montalban mmontalban@cogeco.ca Please note: The order form does not state the due date for orders - ORDERS ARE DUE JUNE 6th. All books ordered will be delivered to the school before the last week of school.

Gymnastics 2014 The girls’ gymnastics team spent a successful day competing with 14 other schools at a full day gymnastics competition at Beamsville High School on April 17th. Congratulations to all Port Weller competitors for representing our school with clean, skilled, poised routines. Special congratulations to those who placed in the top six in such large groups. This year's team members were: Marin M., Ella M., Avery S., Allie M., Ava W., Nicole W., Madison S., Sadie H., Cadence U-M., Nadia P., Emma H., Mackenzie Z., Sarah S. and Hunter V. The team was coached by Dessa S., Trinity L., Carter J., Jessica R., Taylor K., Michaela R. and Ms. Troup. Thank you to parents for driving and cheering us on at the competition.

Track & Field Fifty three students represented Port Weller at the Region 8 Track and Field competition on Friday, May 23th. Despite the very cold weather, we had many students perform their personal bests. We are very proud of their effort and the sportsmanship displayed at the meet. Students who placed first or second in the 800m and 1500m races, and students who placed in the top 3 in all other track and field events, have earned a spot to compete in the DSBN championship meet. We

have 20 students going to the next meet and 3 relay teams; Bantam Boys 4x100m , Peewee co-ed 4x400m and Midget co-ed 4x400m! The DSBN Championship Track and Field meet has been rescheduled for Monday, June 16th at the Niagara Olympic Club. Special congratulations to the following students who will be competing in the championship meet: Atom Girls: Ava W. 1st (800m), Nicole W. 2nd (1500m), Avery Smith 1st ( 4x400m) Peewee Girls: Emma H. 1st (high jump) Nadia P. 1st (4x400m relay) Bantam Girls: Jessica R. 1st (high jump), Carter J. 2nd (1500m, 800m), 1st in 4x400m relay, Victoria B. 3rd (shot put) Midget Girls: Kate L., 3rd (100m), Katie M., 3rd (200m), 1st (400m, 4x400m relay), Atom Boys: Jacob R. 2nd (800m), 1st (1500m), Nathan Evans 1st (4x400m relay), Peewee Boys: Spencer S. 1st (200m, 800m, 4x400m relay), 3rd (100m) Bantam Boys: Rami M. 1st (1500m, 400m, 4x100m, 4x400m), 2nd (800m), Dylan M., 1st (shot put, 4x100m relay), Isaiah H. 1st 4x100m relay, Mitchell E. 1st 4x100m relay Midget Boys: Gavin M. 1st (800m, 1500m, 4x400m relay), 2nd 100m, Alex P. 3rd (200m), Lucas V. 2nd (long jump). May the fastest, strongest, and highest pirate power be with all the athletes! Thanks to Mrs. Venneri, Mr. Reimer, Mr. Davidson, and Mrs. Rosts for their coaching!

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Intermediate Badminton This year Port Weller was represented in badminton by: Kate L.. – Girls’ Singles Brandon E. – Boys’ Singles Hailey K., Taylor K. – Girls’ Doubles Alex P., Gavin M. –Boys’ Doubles Sam B., Samantha W. – Mixed Doubles Alternates- Caleb M., Nicole W. The players showed tremendous effort in learning the rules and strategies of the game. They prepared for the DSBN Meet at Brock University on May 1. The team represented Port Weller admirably both on and off the court. Congratulations Pirates!

Rankin Run This year the Rankin run had more than 12 000 participants and raised over $750 000. Thank you to all the students and families in the Port Weller community who took part or donated in the Rankin Cancer Run. Port Weller had over 55 participants and raised almost $900 in donations this year to support others in our area. Great job Pirates!

Last Day and First Day The last day of school for students this year is Friday, June 27th. Dismissal time is 3:20 pm as usual. The first school day of 2014-2015 begins on Tue., September 2nd at 8:55 am.

2014/15 Important Dates – Elementary

Sept. 2, 2014 First Day of School Sept, 12, 2014 Early Release Day Oct. 10, 2014 Professional Activity Day Oct. 13, 2014 Thanksgiving Day Nov. 5, 2014 PIC Conference Nov. 14, 2014 Professional Activity Day Dec. 22, 2014- Winter Break Jan. 2, 2015 (inclusive) Winter Break Jan. 5, 2015 First Day of Class After Holiday Jan. 16, 2015 Professional Activity Day Feb. 5, 2014 Kindergarten Open Houses Feb. 13, 2015 Early Release Day Feb. 16, 2015 Family Day Mar.16, 2014 – Mar. 20, 2015 - March Break April 3, 2015 Good Friday April 6, 2015 Easter Monday May 15, 2015 Professional Activity Day May 18, 2015 Victoria Day June 12, 2015 Professional Activity Day June 25, 2015 Last Day of Classes

Medications If your child receives any type of medication at school, it is imperative that a parent or guardian sign this medication out of the office NO LATER THAN June 27th. Medication that is not picked up at this time must be disposed of. Thank you for your cooperation. Parents are required to complete Medication Administration Forms at the beginning of each new school year. These forms are obtained through the school office at any time and must be signed by a doctor. If you would like to take one for the summer so that you are ready for September, please ask for one.

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Dress Code Reminders As we have hit the warmer weather, students are reminded to adhere to Port Weller’s dress code. It is really as simple as this..... we do not want to see undergarments or your belly buttons at school! We understand, that especially for girls, shorts are shorter than they used to be. We recommend that our girls wear the longest shorts that they have for school time! Thank you for your support and guidance in this area. We are here to learn first and foremost.

Summer Transportation The transportation department is open during the summer months. If you have any address or daycare

changes, please feel free to directly contact the Niagara

Student Transportation Services (NSTS). This

information can be found at: www.dsbn.org. You will be notified by letter if your bus times or locations are significantly changed. If you wish to check your bussing information, you can always contact the transportation department anytime after August 1, 2014 to confirm details. Information on bussing schedules will also be available at the school during the last week of August.

E-mail Addresses! If you haven’t done so already, please share your e-mail address with us. There is much information that can be sent out to parent/guardians in this manner. Your e-mail address will NOT be shared with others for any reason at all. If you still need to provide us with your address, please call the school at 905-934-3322 OR send it in your child’s agenda OR send an e-mail at por@dsbn.org.

Grade 8 Graduation

The grade 8 graduation ceremony will take place on Tuesday, June 24th, at 7:00 pm (pictures at 6:30 pm). The graduation will take place at Covenant Christian Reformed

Church, 278 Parnell Road (directly across from the school). The graduates will return to the school after the ceremony for their graduation dance from 8:30-10:30 pm where they will enjoy pizza, chicken wings and pop.

Year End Assembly The final assembly for the school year will be at 9:00 am on Friday, June 27th. Parents, relatives and friends are invited to attend this ceremony that will bring another successful year to close. Congratulations to all of the students who have achieved so much this year!

Student M Drives As in past years, all students' M drives will be completely emptied — all files will be erased. Therefore, students need to e-mail themselves their files or bring in their own saving devices (e.g., USB drives, recordable DVDs/CDs, etc.) to save any school files they wish to keep beyond the school year.

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Library To ensure the integrity of our library

collection, there will be no new checkouts permitted for the month of June although the library

will still remain open for classes and in-library reading. This is to ensure that all titles make their way back into the school library for inventory purposes. Please return any Port Weller books as soon as possible. Thank you for your cooperation. Enjoy reading wonderful books this summer! Special thanks to the library team, Nicole W., Brooke W., Tessa D., Rachel D., and Victoria B. for all their efforts to make our library as inviting and functional as possible. Super job!!!

Fundraising Port Weller has added a fundraising link to our school's website right next to our newsletter link on our homepage! Make sure you visit throughout the year for information on fundraisers being run by Port Weller School, School Council and even classrooms who can advertise their own fundraisers. Thank you to everyone who supports Port Weller School.

Save Our Subscriptions This coming fall, our school will be providing an opportunity to renew and/or purchase new magazine subscriptions through the QSP Family Reading Fundraising Program. Please ignore any notices from the publishers asking you to renew now and instead support our school’s fundraising efforts in the fall. Please share this message with other family and friends who order through our program. As always, you will receive the best price while our school retains a substantial portion as profit (approx. 40%).

Thank you for your continued support!

Did you know that our current fundraiser is Mabel's Labels? These are personalized labels that you can use for just about anything. At this time of year Mabel's Labels could help label summer camp and sports gear, summer clothes, camping items, swimming towels, water bottles etc. Think of preordering for September and help keep our lost and found empty. Delivery is free right to your home so labels can be ordered even throughout the summer months before next school season. Mabel's Labels are perfect for back to school clothing, shoes, backpacks and all school items. This is a great way to make sure items are returned if misplaced. Please use Port Weller's personal website. We will receive 20% of the sales. Here is our direct link to their website: www.portwellerps.mabelslabels.com

June’s Healthy Tip GROW a PIZZA GARDEN

With just a little love, a little help and a little patch of ground or balcony, your children can grow a PIZZA GARDEN. Plant basil, parsley, oregano, thyme,

cherry tomatoes, carrots, peppers, green onions and cucumber [if you

have the room] and share the excitement when your garden starts to grow and produce!

NOW COMES the QUICK and EASY PZZA PART! Ingredients:

1 whole grain pizza shell 1 package lite cream cheese 1/2 C lite sour cream 1 tsp dried dill weed 1/8 tsp garlic powder 2 C assorted fresh veggies from your Pizza Garden

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Directions: In small bowl, mix lite cream cheese, lite sour cream, dill and garlic powder until smooth. Spread over crust. Top with cut vegetables and herbs

From Your Local LUNCH LADY

Message from The School Advisory Council: Silent Auction/Open House: It is that time once again, when parent council gets ready to launch our Silent Auction at Open House in September. The date for this event is Thursday, September 25th. If you have any new items, gift cards, products, etc. that you would like to donate please let us know asap. For anyone who runs a small business, this is a great way to advertise your products/services. We will also be asking for volunteers for the evening. Please contact Jenn at 905.933.6106. Track and Field: What a wonderful day we had with amazing weather. Thank you to all who volunteered and supported our concession stand on this day. The amount raised on this day was $585. Teacher/Staff Appreciation Lunch: This week we held our 2nd Annual Teacher/Staff Appreciation Lunch. Thank you to everyone who volunteered and donated items for this event. It is a time during the year we thank the hard working teachers and staff at Port Weller for providing such an amazing learning environment for our children. Freezie Fridays: We are selling jumbo freezies during the second nutrition break on Fridays in June – ½ for .50 each.

Parent Involvement Survey: Thank you to all who participated in the Parent Involvement Survey. We will be reporting the results of this survey at the next School Advisory Council meeting. Montana’s Restaurant: Are you planning to visit Montana’s in St. Catharines? Look for our Birdfeeder with the Port Weller logo on it. Simply put a copy of your receipt into our Birdfeeder and Port Weller receives 10% cash back. Thank you to all Port Weller families for all that you do to make our school so amazing! On behalf of The School Advisory Council we wish you a safe and happy summer! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Jennifer Ajandi Chair, School Advisory Council jajandi@brocku.ca 905.933.6106 Co-Chair: Jennifer Meadus Secretary: Amanda Hill Financial Reporter: Joscelene Perry