Our Bulletin Board showcases the many activities that take place in our schools. Take a moment to see why District School Board Ontario North East is the best that education has to offer.
A wonderful surprise for students at Flora MacDonald Public School in Timmins. The White Stone Cree Singers provided students with a wonderful interactive drumming/dancing presentation. Between every song the group taught the children about the song, the drums or the dancing. Some of the boys were given the opportunity to play the drums during the performances. It was an experience that the children will never forget!
With a lot of enthusiasm and spirit, students at Roland Michener Secondary School participated in the Timmins Santa Claus Parade. Over 10,000 spectators lined the downtown core to catch a glimpse of the brightly-decorated floats, however, the highlight of the evening was an appearance by the Jolly 'Ol Elf himself! Thanks to support from Mr. Dailey at Independent Grocers, Mrs. Mavrinac of Hershey Chocolate and Mr. Kelso of Giant Tiger, students helped spread a little cheer and had some fun in the process.
Miss Luxmore's grade 1/2 class won the opportunity for a bowling trip as part of the anti-bullying program at Diamond Jubilee Public School. Each month students had to collect "Gotcha Cards" for showing good behaviour and anti-bulying behavour. The class collected the most - averaging 5.7 cards per student in the class. The children got to pick their reward... and they chose bowling! It was a first time for many of the students. A special Thanks to Ms. Avery, Mrs. Coombs and Mrs. Clark for joining us on our field trip!
Students and staff at Flora MacDonald Public School in Timmins took time to remember on November 11th. Their Remembrance Day ceremony included a video, poems, and songs from the grade 3, grade 5 and grade 6 classes.
Lest we forget. Students at both Roland Michener Secondary School and Timmins High & Vocational School marked Remembrance Day with two very special events. TH&VS students attended an assembly in the auditorium, where they listened to poems and watched an emotional film. Meanwhile, students at RMSS participated in a parade and solemn ceremony with members of the South Porcupine Legion.
Examples of student created patterns:
Grade 7 and 8 students at New Liskeard Public School enjoyed working with one of the District Math Coaches on Tuesday, November 10th. Students participated in a 3-part lesson where they investigated multiple representations of growing linear patterns. Through the effective use of manipulatives, all students represented growing patterns and then challenged each other with patterns they created. Way to go NLPS!
New Liskeard Public School is one of 8 district elementary schools participating in an exciting campaign called Creating a Healthy School Nutrition Environment. A healthy school nutrition environment (HSNE) benefits the whole school community: students, families, staff and the community at large! A HSNE exists when a school promotes healthy eating though words and actions. Students get the same message about food, nutrition and healthy eating - in the classroom, in the school and at home.
Watch for more information about what is a HSNE, why it's important, and how you can help. Help make healthy eating the easy choice at school!
On Friday, October 30th, students, staff and volunteers from Cobalt-Coleman Public School braved the wet and windy weather to go out Trick or Treating for the Food Bank. A total of more than 500 items (and some monetary donations) were collected and will be presented to the local Cobalt-Coleman Food Bank. We are very proud of our students for demonstrating great community spirit and good citizenship. Students of Cobalt-Coleman Public School have great character!
Plenty of Halloween fun was had by Miss Luxmore's 1/2 and Miss Doucet's JK/SK classes at Diamond Jubilee Public School in Kapuskasing. Students had a Halloween Party where they dressed up, made crafts, shared treats, and played "pass the pumpkin" to Halloween music.
Students at Joseph H. Kennedy Public School in Matheson had a chance to set their imagination and creative spirits free by participating in the JHK Pumpkin Decorating Contest. Competition was stiff... but when all was said and done, Room 13's "Mr. Crow" was awarded with the top prize.
It was "standing-room-only" at Coronation Public School in Timmins. The "all-JK" school held a Halloween Parade and Concert for family and friends on Friday, October 30th. Board Trustees Bert Schaffer and Peter Osterberg even dropped by to enjoy the wonderful show!
Amber Peterson, one of the top athletes for the Canadian Freestyle Ski Team, spoke to students at Timmins High & Vocational School on October 28th. With the Vancouver 2010 Olympics just around the corner, Peterson continues to overcome obstacles, and enjoys the process of consistently improving in order to peak at the Games. The Thunder Bay native was a member of the 2006 Canadian Olympics Aerials team, and has been Canadian National Champion for three consecutive years. Freestyle skiing made its Olympic debut as a demonstration sport in Calgary in 1988. With the acceptance of Moguls as an official medal sport in 1992, and with the subsequent acceptance of Aerials in 1994, Freestyle has gained even more widespread attention and undergone phenomenal growth in Canada and around the world.
"Strive to be your best in whatever you choose to do... and do what makes you happy", were the messages Peterson brought to students. Good luck with your Olympic dream Amber... we'll be rooting for you!
Photos are courtesy of the Canadian Press (left-top) and Mike Ridewood (left-bottom)
Students from Iroquois Falls Public School enjoyed a musical presentation about fire safety and they also had a chance to meet Oscar the Raptor!
On Friday, October 9th, Marie Lambert performed a musical presentation about fire safety to students. The presentation was courtesy of the Iroquois Falls Fire Department.
On Tuesday, October 20th, Kyle Holloway from the Canadian Peregrine Falcon Foundation introduced students to Oscar the Raptor. The presentation was courtesy of Ontario Power Generation.
Students from Iroquois Falls Secondary School delighted young pupils on September 28th and 29th with Magic Cloak Theatre, a children's theatre performance of interactive stories and songs. The show was performed at Iroquois Falls Public School for IFPS and St. Anne's students, and again at Joseph H. Kennedy Public School for students in Matheson.
A special Thanksgiving celebration for students at Diamond Jubilee Public School in Kapuskasing was held on October 9th. Each student in Miss Luxmore's Grade 1/2 class and in Miss Doucet's JK/SK class brought in one vegetable to add to their Thanksgiving Day soup. The students dressed-up in their Thanksgiving Day hats and shared their tasty soup.
School Board Administration, as well as Trustees were on hand to wish Donna Smith all the best with her retirement. Donna spent many years as a custodian at Queen Elizabeth Public School, as well as the Board office in Schumacher. Enjoy your retirement, Donna! We'll miss you!
New Liskeard Public School students and staff raised almost two thousand dollars for the Canadian Cancer Society in this year's Terry Fox Run. Mr. Norris headed up the sprit committee of staff and students who arranged the run this year. We are very proud of our student body who enthusiastically participated in the run. Students dressed in their school spirit team colours and all students from JK to Grade Eight ran or walked laps around the school yard. Balloons went up to celebrate each time that a team completed a hundred laps. Great work, New Liskeard Public School!
Many countries and different cultures have a Harvest Festival of some kind in order to give thanks for a successful growing season and harvest. Parents and family members gathered at Bertha Shaw Public School for Friendship Soup Day in order to show our gratitude for some of the things that we often take for granted - such as warm food, clean clothes and a loving family. Everyone was able to contribute vegetables to their soup in order to share with friends, family and school personnel. The Bertha Shaw PS Family hopes everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving Weekend.
Students in Junior and Senior Kindergarten and Grade One from Iroquois Falls Public School recently took part in a Family Expo hosted by the Iroquois Falls Pre-School Centre.
Students and staff members of Bertha Shaw Public School were treated to a presentation by the South Porcupine Fire Department, as part of Fire Safety Week. After Fire Chief McDonald made a presentation in the gym, students were guided through a smoke filled room by local volunteer firefighters. Pictured in the photo is Mr. Bentley, a local fire fighter, with Mlle Laurin's JK/SK class. We would like to thank our local fire fighters for taking time to visit our school.
On September 18th, staff and students of Elk Lake Public School held a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil their new playground equipment. The School Council undertook this initiative and acknowledges that the playground was made possible through school fundraisers and donations from Hydro One Power Play, Northland Shrine Club, Elk Lake Masonic Lodge and numerous other community members and organizations along with District School Board Ontario North East.
It's been a busy Fall so far for students at Iroquois Falls Public School. Students had the opportunity to attend the International Plowing Match, the annual Terry Fox Walk, and the Bulletin Board Math Challenge.
Students and their families gathered at W. Earle Miller Public School on September 30th for an annual tradition - the school's "Welcome Back BBQ". Hot dogs, hamburgers and scrumptious desserts were on the menu. Due to the cooler temperatures, the BBQ was moved indoors this year, but that didn't stop the fun. A big thank-you to all the staff who so graciously helped-out!
The cast and crew of the OLN TV show 'Mantracker' made a special visit to Temagami Public School on September 18th. On the Mantracker TV show, two people (the "prey") take off into the bush with a map, a compass and a head start. Terry Grant, the 'Mantracker', is on horseback, armed with a local guide and an arsenal of forensic skills. The prey have 36 hours to reach a finish line some 40 kilometers away without getting caught.
Principal Celine Godreau says the school was happy to host Mantracker as he "...told students all kinds of interesting facts about tracking, himself, being a cowboy, lassoing and what it is like to hunt real people. He also shared his [rope] tricks with us." Mantracker was in the Temagami area shooting an episode and organized the visit to Temagami Public with his entire crew and horses. "Not only that," says Godreau, but, "they had lunch with us and the town, and all of the wonderful groups that organized the event provided the BBQ. It was an exciting day for everyone in Temagami, and we at TPS are so thankful for all the help, the volunteers and the organizers. Thank you everyone!"
Aboriginal students from across District School Board Ontario North East gathered for the first-ever Aboriginal Student Leadership Retreat at Camp Bickell September 29th and 30th. The purpose of the retreat was to affirm the role of Aboriginal culture in schools, develop leadership capacity in students of Aboriginal descent, and initiate planning of Aboriginal School/Community Councils. Students heard presentations from numerous community workers, including those from the Timmins Native Friendship Centre, Native Drug and Alcohol Program, and educators from District School Board Ontario North East.
A pat on the back for a job well done! Timmins High & Vocational School honoured 184 of its best and brightest students. Those on the Honour Roll (80% or higher) and Principal's Honour Roll (90% or higher) were awarded with plaques and certificates from Principal John Sullivan, and Vice-Principals Paul Langis and Alan McLean.
Congratulations to all those deserving students!
Students from Cobalt-Coleman Public School had a great time enjoying the 2009 International Plowing Match in Earlton. September 21st marked the kick-off of the event, held this year in Temiskaming. Hosted annually by the Ontario Plowmen's Association, the plowing match is one of the premier events in the agricultural world. The event has been taking place for nearly 100 years, and this year's match was the largest event of its' kind in Northern Ontario. Students had a chance to learn both the heritage and important role agriculture plays in Ontario.
The Olympic Torch made a stop at the 2009 International Plowing Match in Earlton, Ontario on its way to Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics. École Secondaire Cochrane High School student Kyle Nelson had the opportunity to hold the torch and pose for a photo with Canadian Olympian Jeff Bean.
Students in schools across District School Board Ontario North East had the opportunity of attending the 2009 International Plowing Match in Earlton from September 22nd to 26th. The event was the largest outdoor agricultural event of its' kind, attracting tens of thousands of visitors. The IPM featured over 600 exhibitors throughout 100 acres of displays and exhibits. Students had a chance to learn about agriculture, forestry and mining in a fun 'interactive' way. A big thank-you to Central Public School in Kirkland Lake for the wonderful photos!
Humanitarians Stephen Lewis and Avis Glaze were in Timmins on Friday, September 25th to address educational issues with teachers, educational assistants, and classroom support workers. Stephen Lewis, who spoke at Timmins High & Vocational School, is chair of the board of the Stephen Lewis Foundation and he is co-director of AIDS-Free World in the United States. Avis Glaze, who spoke at R. Ross Beattie Senior Public School, has had a distinguished career at the senior levels of education in Ontario serving as Ontario's Education Commissioner and Senior Advisor to the Minister of Education.
It was a trip to remember for ten students at Smooth Rock Falls Secondary School, their teacher J.P. Desilets, local outfitter and owner of Howling Wolf Expeditions, Rick Isaacson and his wife, Jocelyn Isaacson. The group took the school van to Fraserdale where they flagged down the Little Bear train, loaded their canoes and travelled for two hours to Moose River Crossing where the Ontario Northland Railway crosses the Moose River. The group portaged their canoes one kilometre down to the Moose River where they spent five hours paddling and exploring along a 5 km stretch of the Moose River. Highlights of the trip included the gypsum caves, traditional native burial grounds, and many soakers!
The students also learned about traditional lifestyles from some of the year round residents of the area. The native approach to burials was of particular interest to the kids. Mr. Isaacson explained the importance and significance of various rituals and traditions evident in the site including Sleeping Children's Creek where women would go, sometimes for a week or more, to mourn the loss of their children. The babbling creek facilitated the grieving process and helped wash the grief from their hearts.
After the tour, the kids portaged the canoes another kilometre back up the hill and flagged down the train for the return trip. Supper was provided on board the train and the kids returned home at 10pm. Mr. Isaacson and the students hope to plan a extended 3-day trip in the spring to Moose Factory and Moosoneee.
Celebration time in Haileybury as Haileybury Public School celebrated its Centennial on September 4th, 5th and 6th, 2009. Local dignitaries kicked-off the weekend of activities which included the unveiling of Eleanor Huff's artwork of the original building in 1910. Huff's grandfather was J.H. McFarlane, the original Principal that year. Last year's Grade 3 class worked with accomplished artist Bruce Cull to create a mural of paintings depicting the last 100 years. These 18 paintings were unveiled and displayed in the front foyer of the school. All the events, including a parade, inflatables, golf tournament, fun run, dinner and dance, were well attended and showed the "Haileybury spirit" that has lasted throughout the last 100 years. Congratulations to the committee and to all the past and present students of Haileybury Public School!
