Issue 4 December, 2015 Remembrance Day Poster/Poem Contest Contents: Remembrance Day Contest Winners Monthly Events December Birthday List AFES Fundraising Society News Public Library News FSLW Services Christmas Concert Thursday, December 17th 7:00 p.m. AFES Gym Christmas Bake Sale to Follow the Concert Everyone is Welcome! Thank you to everyone who participated in this year s contest & thank you to Al Clemmer & the Alder Flats Legion Branch #267. The results of the Remembrance Day Poster/Poem Contest 2015 are as follows: Grade 1 - Color Poster: 1st - Josie N. 2nd - Payton M. Grade 2 - Color Poster: 1st - Taylor F. 2nd - Daisy R. Grade 3 - Color Poster: 1st - Savannah R. 2nd - Ashlin P. Black & White Poster: 1st - Tyler K. 2nd - Natalia C. Grade 4 - Color Poster: 1st - Austin A. 2nd - Zack S. Black & White Poster: 1st - Declan B. 2nd - Arthur M. Grade 5 - Color Poster: 1st - Chelsea K. 2nd - Devyn M. Black & White: 1st - Mirrabella P. 2nd - Rylan M. Poem: 1st - Kaylee R. 2nd - Jayden M. Grade 6 - Color Poster: 1st - MacKenzie C. 2nd - Eliana W. Black & White: 1st - Eliana W. 2nd - Taylor D. Poem: 1st - Ethan A. 2nd - Neil G. Congratulations to the winners! They received their awards at the Community Remembrance Day Service at the Alder Flats Legion Hall on Remembrance Day. Santa s Anonymous Christmas is quickly approaching! With Christmas comes joy, gatherings, presents & cheer for most families. Some families on a fixed budget or who have struggled with employment this year may be tight with their Christmas cheer. So, in the spirit of giving, is collecting for Santa s Anonymous at the school again this year. The donations could be in the form of food items, unwrapped new toys or financial contributions. If you, or someone you know would benefit from a Christmas hamper this year, please call Kandice Wynia at Alder Flats School (780-388-3881) or Teri Boyce at BMC (780-388-3900) to ensure that your name is submitted. Christmas Book Fair The Christmas Book Fair will be held Monday & Tuesday, December 7 & 8 during regular school hours in the Library. Everyone is welcome! The Book Fair provides a great opportunity to do some Christmas shopping. We will have books for all ages. Our goal is to encourage reading among children & adults by providing a selection of quality books & products at affordable prices, while using the proceeds to purchase books for the school library. During book fair days, students will visit the Book Fair with their class & can make purchases at that time. Parents/Guardians, community members, etc. are invited to visit any time during regular school hours. While visiting the Book Fair, be sure to enter your child s name in the Family Draw. You could win $25 in books for your child/family & $25 in books for your child s classroom! Entry forms will be available at the Book Fair. Hope to see you at the Christmas Book Fair!
Page 2 Events - Month of December Upcoming Events - January December - 1 - Lifetouch Photo Retakes 4 - PD Day for Staff - No School for Students 7 - Christmas Book Fair 8 - Christmas Book Fair 9 - Tacky Christmas Clothes Day Poinsettia Fundraiser Item Pick Up 14 - Milk Block #3 Forms Distributed 17 - Christmas Concert - 7:00 p.m. Christmas Bake Sale to Follow Concert Milk Block #3 Forms Due 18 - Last Day of School Before Christmas Break Milk Block #2 Ends January - 4 - Classes Commence Milk Block #3 Begins 6 - One Book - One School (January 6-27) 8 - Kindergarten Friday 11 - Farm Safety Presentation 13 - AFES Fundraising Society & Parent Advisory Council Meeting - 9:00 a.m. 22 - Kindergarten Friday 27 - One Book - One School Reading Ends 28 - One Book - One School Final Activity 29 - PD Day for Staff - No School for Students Check out our website at: www.alderflatsschool.ca Happy Birthday To the following students & staff who have a birthday during the Month of December Kindergarten - Jesse L. Grade 1 - Jorja W. & Kingston M. Grade 2 - Clayton A., Nash L. & Ashton M. Grade 3 - Jill D. & Eli B. Grade 4 - Daniel D., Riley G. & Twan J. Grade 5 - Tanner M., Brannagh P., Jesse F. & Jaden R. Grade 6 - none THANK YOU to the AFES Fundraising Society & Parent Advisory Committee for providing supper for the Teachers during Parent/Teacher Interviews. It was delicious & greatly appreciated! Staff - Mrs. Loewen, Mr. Geiger, Mrs. Leeder & Mrs. J. Bohning There are no Kindergarten Fridays in December Kindergarten Fridays in January: January 8 January 22 NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS Friday, December 4 - PD Day for Staff CHRISTMAS BREAK December 19 - January 3 Classes Commence Monday, January 4, 2016 Wishing You a Peaceful & Joyous Holiday Season!
Issue 4 Page 3 AFES Fundraising Society & Parent Advisory Council AFES Fundraising Society & Parent Advisory Council Meeting - The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 13th at 9:00 a.m. in the school library. Thank you to all the parents who are helping to prepare & serve the lunches. If you have any questions about the Hot Lunch Program, please call/text Chalea @ 780-898-4180. December/January Hot Lunch Program (Pre-Ordered) - Dec. 2 - Pizza Dec. 7 - Subs Dec. 9 - Turkey Dinner for all students (no charge) Dec. 14 - Mac & Cheese Dec. 16 - Chicken Noodle Soup Jan. 4 - Subs Jan. 6 - Pizza Jan. 11 - Ravioli Jan 13 - Taco Salad Jan. 18 - Chicken Noodle Soup Day Jan. 20 - Mac & Cheese Jan. 25 - Chicken Fingers & Tater Tots Jan. 27 - Hot Dogs Donations Needed - AFES Fundraising Society is asking for turkey donations for the annual Christmas Dinner for all students & staff, to be held December 9th. The dinner is provided, prepared & served by volunteers. We will need 3 turkeys (18-20 lbs. each). If you are able to donate a turkey, please contact Susan @ 780-202-3000. AFES Toques For Sale $11 each - One Size Fits All If You Would Like to Purchase a Toque Please Contact Susan @ 780-202-3000 For anyone who is interested in learning why changes have been made to our Parent Advisory, Alberta School Councils Association will be doing a workshop at our school Jan.13/16 at 12:30 p.m. Topics will include the purpose of School Council & the purpose of the fundraising partnership. You do not have to be a council member to participate in this workshop. Everyone is welcome. For more information, please call/text Susan @ 780-202-3000. Facebook: Fundraising Society, Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools, www.alderflatsschool.ca Get Involved..Have Your Say..Make a Difference Please Remember to Pick Up Your Poinsettia Fundraiser Items at the School from 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 9th Christmas Bake Sale Thursday, December 17 - After the Christmas Concert Please Have Your Baked Goods to School December 16 or by 9:00 am. December 17 If You Are Able to Help Prepare Trays or For More Information, Please Call Shawna @ 780-898-5689 Fundraising: Little Caesar s Fundraiser - raised $1233.00 Christmas Market/Trade Show - raised $595.00 Poinsettia Fundraiser - last day to purchase is Nov. 25 THANK YOU to everyone who supported the fundraisers. Thank you to Emma Kellgren for her donation! Funds Used: Safely on Board Bus Safety Presentations - $674.22 Upcoming Events - Volunteers Needed: Christmas Dinner - Volunteers needed for Dec. 8 & 9 Bake Sale - Dec. 17 - Baked goods needed (bring to school Dec. 16), volunteers needed to make trays Yearbook - If you are interested in helping compile the yearbook, please contact Mrs. Leeder @ 780-388-3881 or Alanna @ 780-234-9153 Bussing News From WRPS Transportation Department: As you may be aware the WRPS School Board has been facing deficits for the last few years due to declining enrollment. The Transportation Department had been given direction to operate within the funding received by AB Education. As this funding has also been reduced it has been necessary over the last few years to reduce the number of bus routes to our schools. For the 2015/2016 school year we eliminated 3 routes, through attrition, thus not having to release anyone from their contract. The attendance areas impacted were Gwynne, Millet & Alder Flats. The impact to families is longer bus rides. We are still in line with other School Divisions who are facing the same declining enrollment issues. As our declining enrollment levels out so should the need to reduce bus routes. We were also caught off guard by a number of unexpected student registrations. Those registrations impacted the ride times & load factors of the school busses at your school. We have reviewed the routes, driven with operators, spoken with the contractors & school administration. After having done this we have made some minor adjustments & moved a larger bus with camera capabilities on to a route with the largest student load. Also, on October 20, 2015 we held a meeting to discuss the impact of the route changes to your students, however this meeting was poorly attended, therefore we were unable to determine where any specific improvements could be realized. Debra Howeihe CDPT Director of Transportation Phone: 780-352-6018
Page 4 Alder Flats Buck Lake Public Library PUBLIC LIBRARY HOURS: TUESDAYS - 1:00-4:OO P.M. THURSDAY EVENINGS - 7:00-9:00 P.M. Contact Linda Volk at 780-514-5965 or email alderflatslibrary@yrl.ab.ca for more Information. Check out our website: www.alderflatslibrary.ab.ca Like us on Facebook! Alder Flats/Buck Lake Public Library Create your own beautiful Christmas evergreen and birch planter guided by Anika Heath from the Flower Patch! The class is on December 3 rd at 7 pm and costs $35.00 which includes all materials. Pre-registration is required by November 30th. Email the library for more details. Christmas hours: The last day to visit the library before we close for Christmas break will be December 22 nd. We will reopen on January 5 th. Place your online TRAC orders soon! Snow is falling and books are calling! See what is new in the library: Wishes for Christmas by Fern Michaels The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins Common Ground by Justin Trudeau Mrs. Brown s Boys: Christmas Crackers DVD Kandice s Corner If you have any questions or would like more information about my services, please contact me at the school on Mondays or Thursdays, or through email - wyniak@wrps.ab.ca. Kandice Wynia Family School Liaison Monday & Thursday 780-388-3881 Falun School Tuesday & Friday 780-352-2898 Winfield Elementary School Wednesday 780-682-3856 Winter is coming & with it comes the cold & snowy weather. Outfitting a child in appropriate winter items can be quite expensive & difficult, especially in today s economy. If you are in need of assistance with winter clothing for your child, please contact me at the school. If you have old winter jackets/snow pants/mittens/toques/ boots that your child has outgrown, please consider donating them to our school. We will find good homes for them. Cree Corner piponasâkay ᐱᐳᓇᓵᑲᕀ winter jacket, winter coat piponastotin ᐱᐳᓇᐢᑐᑎᐣ winter hat piponaskisin ᐱᐳᓇᐢᑭᓯᐣ winter boot Please remember to dress appropriately for the colder weather. Recess is an outdoor activity, except in extreme conditions. Winter coats, winter boots, mitts,toques & snow pants are a necessity for outdoor recess.