The Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research

The Terry Fox Run takes place on September 24th, 2014. Make sure you get your consent form in to your BLAST teacher A.S.A.P. and try to do some fundraising.Prizes will be awarded for the top fundraisers.A minimum donation of $2.00 is required in order to receive a hot dog and a drink on the day of the run.

Band News

Welcome new Bruce musicians and returning members!  I hope you have enjoyed your summer and are ready to get back into the swing of things.  It promises to be another exciting year.

Thank you to all parents and students who have come to the Band room during Triad Conferences (September 3rd and 4th).  Although it is a busy couple of days, it works best to take care of Band fees before school starts.  Many of you have already paid your method book ($10 for Concert Band/$10 for Jazz Band) and school rental ($120/year) fees.  If you have not yet taken care of this, please send a cheque made out to Bruce Middle School for the appropriate amount. (Grade 8 Concert Band and Jazz books are the same as last year, so if you still have your book(s) there’s no need to purchase them again.)  All students and parents renting instruments from the school will need to sign a Rental Agreement form as well.  Thank you for your prompt attention in this matter.

All Grade 7 & 8 Band students will need to bring their instrument for their second Band class.  The first class will deal mostly with organizational issues, but we will be playing on our instruments as soon as we can.  Make sure you have all supplies you need (pencil, reeds, cork grease, oil, cleaning supplies, mouthpiece, etc.) so you can participate right away.

Grade 6 Band students should bring a pencil and eraser to Band the first week.  They will not need their instruments until FIRST LESSON NIGHT Wednesday, September 17^th at 6:45 pm.  That evening, they will be divided into groups according to their instrument (flutes, clarinets, trumpets, trombones, euphoniums/tubas) and introduced to their instrument by a professional musician.  It is important that students do not try to play their instrument before this date to protect against learning bad habits right from the start.  Students will bring their instruments to class the next day (the 18th) and we will continue from there.

***Any Grade 6 students who have not been assigned an instrument yet need to contact Mrs. Johnson immediately***

Congratulations to Tyler B., Luke N., Brooke R., and Caitlynn L. who participated in the Manitoba Band Association's Summer Band Camp held at Golden Gate from August 18^th- 22^nd.  It was an amazing time for all participants and we are proud of these students for representing Bruce so well.  We hope to have even more Band students from Bruce attend next year, so think about sending your child to this camp next summer.  Applications will be available in Spring 2015.

Please check out the Band website at http://www.sjsd.net/~tjohnson for updated information on the Band program.

Looking forward to a great year!

Mrs. Johnson, Band Director

tjohnson@sjsd.net

Important Dates to Remember:

September 17, 2014 - First Lesson Night (Grade 6 Band)

November 7, 2014 - Remembrance Day Ceremony performance (Grade 8 Band)

December 10, 2014 - Winter Concert (All Bands)

February 24-27, 2015 - Optimist Band Festival (Grade 7 & 8 Band)

March 19, 2015 - Brandon Jazz Festival (Jazz Bands)

April 14-17, 2015 - Level One Band Festival (Grade 6 Band)

May 20, 2015 - Spring Concert (All Bands)

May 27-29, 2015 - IMC Band Camp (Grade 7 & 8 Band)

PARENTING TODAY 2014-15

Workshops will  be held from 6 – 8 p.m. at Educational Support Services – Jameswood School,
1 Braintree Crescent (off Olive & Ness). Free pizza supper will be offered from 6:00 - 6:30
p.m. and session will take place from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.  To register please contact Arlie
Williams-Taylor at 885-9555 or email ptregistrations@sjsd.net.

Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) will offer 4 group sessions on October 7, 14, 21 & 28, 2014.  

Limited spaces available and pre-registration required with a commitment that all four sessions be attended Facilitated by:  Kristy Wake, Behaviour Intervention Resource Teacher & Matthew Janzen B.S.W., Educational Support Services, St. James-Assiniboia School Division.  It will address concepts from the Triple P program (Positive Parenting Program) such as;

• Positive discipline
• Building positive relationships with your child
• Descriptive praise
• Quiet time
• Time out
• Logical consequences

Saturday, October 25, 2014

‘Positive Parenting: Families Working Together’

An all day special event, 9:30 am – 3:00 p.m., registration from 9:30-10:00 a.m.  Presented by Kristy Wake, Behaviour Intervention Teacher, Matthew Janzen, Social Worker  and
Jeffrey Kerr, Social Worker, Supported by the Behaviour Intervention Team, Educational
Support Services, St. James-Assiniboia School Division.

The event will be held at Educational Support Services located on #1 Braintree Cres. All  family
members are invited to participate in this free event which will include free childcare  for those
three years of age and under, exciting hands on activities for children ages four through twelve
years, and an interactive Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) workshop for parents. Beginning
at 10:00am and ending at 2:30pm, the Positive Parenting event will include a free lunch for
everyone as well as a free gift for all participants. Pre-registration is required.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Supporting Speech and Language Development  at Home

Presented by: Speech-Language Pathologists, Educational Support Services, St. James
Assiniboia School Division.   Students who receive speech and language support at school benefit from practice at home.
The purpose of this presentation is to provide parents with simple, quick and easy activities that
can be done as a part of the daily routine. We will provide suggestions for helping your child
practice speech sounds and language skills at home.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

K-­‐8 Fun with Math

Presented by: Rachel McAnallen, known simply as "Ms. Math" to children across the country.  Rachel McAnallen has devoted her life to sharing the joy and beauty of mathematics with learners of all ages.  A professional educator for over half a century, Rachel travels the world teaching her subject at every grade level.

Rachel has a passion for teaching, golf, and mathematical modular origami, though not always in that order.  As a life-long learner, Rachel has completed her PhD at the University of Connecticut at age 75.  Rachel approaches the world around her with a boundless curiosity and a playful sense of humor that is reflected in her teaching style.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Teens

Presented by:  Jeff Kerr B.S.W. and Hayley Plesh B.S.W., St. James Assiniboia School Division Social Workers.  Parents of teens have to strike a delicate balance between encouraging growth and independence on the one hand, and protecting teens from the hazards of risky situations and establishing boundaries for acceptable behaviour on the other.  In this evening session, presenters Hayley and Jeff will discuss some of the challenges for parents of teens, including promoting emotional self-regulation, managing inappropriate behaviour, and planning around risky behaviour and situations.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Keeping Your Kids Safe Online

Presented by Richard Guerry Founder of Institute for Responsible Online and Cell=Phone Communication (IROC2).  Richard will discuss the internet and how one can be manipulated and schemed, and their content being stolen and exploited.  You will have the opportunity to hear his message regarding the importance of practicing a digital consciousness in every aspect of life to avoid any current or future digital disaster.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

ADHD / ADD

Presented by Marilyn MacKinnon (B.S.W.), Executive Director of Learning Disabilities Association of Manitoba.  Adolescents with ADHD/ADD often feel isolated and have difficulty being hopeful about the future.  Parents will increase their understanding of ADHD and how it affects interactions with their child's environments.  They will learn how the ADHD brain works and be given strategies and exercises for their kids to make it work better.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Teens, is it a mood or a mood disorder

Presented by Tina Holland - Director of Education, Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba.  Teens can be moody.  This workshop is developed to spot the difference between a mood and a mood disorder.  Tina has spoken to large groups about Depression, Bipolar Illness, Suicide Prevention, Borderline Personality and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder always from a self-help and lived experience point of view.  Tina's aim is not only to educate the public about these treatable illnesses but also to help eliminate the stigma of mental illness in our society.  Tina encourages teens to attend.

Tuesday, April 14, 2014

Assistive Tools for Students with Autism that Foster Engagement

Presented by Linda Stuart, Educational Assistant, Mia Safiniuk, Student Services Educator and Parent and Kim Campbell, Manager of Community Initiatives.  This session will provide useful tools and strategies to engage children/youth on the autism spectrum.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Anxiety - Coaching for Confidence

Presented by Dr. Maria Phelps, Educational Support Services, St. James-Assiniboia School Division. Shyness and anxiety are normal human emotions.  Some children, however, are much more shy or fearful than the average child.  For these children, anxiety may interfere with their enjoyment of school, activities with other children, new experiences (swimming lessons, birthday parties, etc.), and their development of independence and confidence.  In this session, parents will learn about anxiety in children aged four to seven and gain useful tools to help their children overcome this problem.

CURLING

Bruce Middle School is thrilled to announce that CURLING will be offered again this year.
Where?  Charleswood Curling Club (corner of Grant and Bill  Clement Way)
When?  October - March  Wednesdays from 4:00 - 5:30
Who? Students in Gr. 6, 7, 8. (Preference is given to returning curlers.)
How many?  24 students
Cost?  $50 per curler (we have to pay rent for the ice)
Equipment needed?  Brush, curling shoes, loose fitting pants, mitts or gloves.  We do have extra brooms if needed.
Coaching? Curlers will receive coaching with a 1 to 4 ratio to start.  The ratio decreases to 1 - 8 as the students progress.
Wind-Up?  At the end of the season curlers are invited to a wind-up supper which is included in the price.

*** If you curled last year, time to check your shoes.  If they are too small bring them to Mrs. Smitke and perhaps they can be sold to another student.
Curling registration forms can be picked up in Mrs. Smitke's room 25.

FROM THE ART DEPARTMENT

Students still needing to purchase an art kit should fill out a form and give payment to the office.  Cost is $45.00.

Returning students should have their existing kits ready to use in the first week of classes.  Grade 8 students will be storing their kits in their lockers this year.

CHORAL NEWS

Greetings from the Choral Department! I am looking forward to another exciting year of singing at Bruce.  The choirs at Bruce give students the opportunity to meet new people, develop their voices, learn new songs and have fun.

If you love to sing, and meet new people, there are three great options to get involved.

CONCERT CHOIR is a choir for girls and guys in Grades 6 through 8.  We will perform at several festivals throughout the year including Choralfest, Music Celebration, the Winnipeg Music Festival, as well as the Winter and Spring concerts at Bruce. We will rehearse every Monday and Wednesday during the lunch hour.  Our first meeting will be Wednesday, September 10th in the theatre.  Bring your lunch and come ready to meet new friends, sing and have fun!

VOCAL VIBE is a smaller, auditioned group for girls and guys in Grades 7 & 8.  We will be learning fun songs in the jazz style and will rehearse every Tuesday and Thursday during the lunch hour. Auditions for this group were held in June. Once again, bring your lunch and come ready to learn some exciting new music.

BEARCAT BOYS is a boys only group for guys in Grades 6 through 8.  We will perform at both the Winter and Spring Concerts. Auditions and start time are TBA. Please let Mrs. Neufeld know if you are interested in auditioning for this group.

I am looking forward to an exciting year of singing!

Musically yours,
Mrs. H. Neufeld, Choral Director
hneufeld@sjsd.net

Snack a Torium

"Snack-a-Torium" The canteen offers students a variety of nut-free healthy lunch and snack items, and will do its best to keep costs for students as low as possible. The canteen is open during the morning nutrition break, the first 10 minutes of the lunch hour and for dances and other special events. We continue to offer a “debit system” for students who want to keep an account in case of a forgotten lunch or for the occasional treat. Please contact the school for more information. No credit will be allowed from the canteen. Fresh sandwiches are delivered weekly from “Norm n’ Nates" deli. Bruce “Snack-a-torium”

• Prices Chocolate Milk $2.00 
• White Milk $1.75 
•  Cheese-String $1.00
•  Snack Crackers (Crispers, etc.)  $1.50
• Wagon Wheel $1.00 
•  Baked Lays $1.50 
•  Rice Crispy Square $1.00 
•  Drink Box $1.00 
•  Thin-sations $0.50
•  Granola Bar $0.50 
•  Popcorn (events only)$1.00 
•  Sandwiches Etc. Variety of Sandwiches and
•  Subs $4.00 
•  Meal Deal Sandwich, Drink Box & Snack $6.00

HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM (HPV)

HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM (HPV) GRADE 6 FEMALE STUDENTS The Minister of Healthy Living announced that Manitoba will continue to have a voluntary, publicly funded HPV immunization program for grade 6 female students in the 2014-2015school year. Bruce Middle School will be supporting HPV immunization program beginning on October 6th. Permission forms and a letters were distributed at the triad appointments.

SCHOOL PICTURES

SCHOOL PICTURES School pictures will be taken on Friday, October 3rd at 9:00 a.m. You will receive a flyer one week before picture day listing the packages and prices available. Please make your package selection and enclose payment in the envelope. Simply return envelopes to the photographer on picture day.

WMBA Registrations

WMBA registration is now open for fall/winter basketball. Fees are $245.00 for the season. One practice a week, games on the weekends. Please visit our site, [ http://kirkfieldwestwood-wmba.leaguetoolbox.com/site# ]http://kirkfieldwestwood-wmba.leaguetoolbox.com/site#, for more information and to register. Any questions, please contact Michelle Delios, convenor at [ mailto:deliosmichelle@gmail.com ]deliosmichelle@gmail.com

Show & Save Discount Card & Coupon Book

Our Parent Council will be raising money this September by selling the Show & Save Card & Coupon Book. We are very excited to announce that Superstore will once again be participating in the upcoming Fall Show & Save Book! The Coupon Book has over $10,000 in money saving offers including coupons for purchases at numerous grocery stores, restaurants and businesses throughout the city. For only $20 you can experience endless savings with the Re-usable Card and Coupon Book. By purchasing your Show & Save from us, you will be supporting our School while at the same time saving your family a lot of money.

Message to Parents of Grade 8 Students

Dear Parents/Guardians of our Grade 8 graduating students,

It’s hard to believe that the end of June is upon us, and middle school will soon be over for our children!  Our ‘Celebr8’ farewell is fast approaching, and with that we would like to take a few moments to inform you about the details for our graduation celebration, to ensure everyone has the correct information.

Our ‘Celebr8’ grade 8 farewell evening will take place on Thursday, June 26, 2014 from 7pm-11pm at Bourkevale Community Centre (100 Ferry Road).  In order to maximize safety and security for our children, we will require that ALL grade 8 students be signed in by a parent or guardian, and signed out by a parent or guardian.  If your child is going to be signed in or out with someone other than their legal guardian, we will ask that a phone call be made to either Cheryl Cronshaw (204-897-7351) or Tiina Winton (204-885-2320) PRIOR to 4pm on Thursday, June 26, 2014.  Without this information, we regret that your child will not be permitted entrance into the event, or released from the event, except with their parent/guardian.  We will also ask that a phone number of where to reach the parent/guardian throughout the duration of the event be provided at the time of drop off.  Because no grade 8 student signed up to bring a guest with them, we are asking that no guests come to the farewell, as we have based our numbers for food solely on the number of students who said that they would be attending.  

Although this is not a school-sanctioned event, we will still be expecting everyone to conduct themselves in the same manner as would be expected in a school setting.  Respect for others, appropriate behavior and safety for everyone are of the utmost importance.  If your child is acting in a manner that is deemed inappropriate, disrespectful, or unsafe, we will be calling the number provided, and asking that your child be picked up immediately.  While this is a necessary explanation of the protocol we will follow for the evening, we are fully expecting everyone to have a wonderful time at the farewell and have no need to enact the above guidelines. 

Now for the fun… we will have a parent DJ mixing music all night, a photo booth (complete with fun props!) set up to capture memories of the evening, with light food and drink provided- all FREE of charge!  The photographer who has generously donated his time and services will be putting together a CD of photos for us, so if you would like photos of your child sent to you, please provide an email address in addition to your phone number when you sign your child in to the event.   

 

Please feel free to contact Cheryl or Tiina with any questions or concerns you may have- we would be happy to help. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Bruce Middle School Parent Council

Beach Volleyball Day!

On Friday June 20th, over 80 students were treated to a day of beach volleyball on the sand courts at Maple Grove Rugby Park. Despite a day of questionable weather, all staff and students had a great time!

Mile 5 Summit With Clara Hughes

Today Bruce Middle School students participated in the Mile 5 Summit, an event that featured 6 time Olympian & 10 time medalist Clara Hughes at Elmwood High School where she went to school.  Students learned about her experiences with Mental Illness and her work to reduce the stigma that surrounds it. 

Students listened intently to her message and some even got to wear her Olympic Medals!

Opening Day Triad Conferences

Opening Day Triad Conferences

Student – Parent – Teacher

September 3^rd & 4^th

Bruce Middle School is once again offering parents and students an opportunity to meet with teachers on September 3^rd & 4th before fall classes begin.  The purpose of these meetings is to promote open and ongoing communication between home and school.

Beginning Monday, June 16^th at 8:30 AM to Tuesday, September 2^nd 4:00 PM, an interview can be booked on line using the Bruce Middle School Conference Manager. This application allows you, as a parent, to use the Internet to check our teachers’ conference schedules and book appointments quickly and easily.  Please book an appointment with your child’s B.L.A.S.T. teacher only.

The first time you use the Bruce Middle School Conference Manager you will be required to register and create a parent account, which only takes a minute or two. You can continue to use this same account for the duration of the time you have children in this school, so please record your password where you can reference it later.  Please note that although parents can register at any time, the booking of conferences can only begin at or after 8:30 a.m. on Monday, June 16^th 2014

Letters have been sent home indicating student’s B.L.A.S.T. group.  

Interview Schedule and Procedures for September 3^rd and September 4^th 2014

The interviews will take place on the following dates and times:

September 3^rd 2014                              September 4^th 2014

• 12:00 to 6:00 p.m.                          • 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.      

Steps to registering and booking conferences:

1.Click on this link to Triad Conference registration.   

2.Register for a parent account.  To register, click the REGISTER NOW button and complete the registration page.  Once registered you will be able to log in to the Conference Manager right away.  An email will also be sent to the address you specified.  This email restates your user name and password and is a good email to retain, as you will use the same email and password when booking future rounds of Parent-Teacher Conferences.  If you forget your password you can reset it using the FORGOT PASSWORD link under the login button. Once registered you can log in to the Conference Manager any time

3.Click the BOOK NOW button.  Select conference date in the date drop-down that appears and then select the teacher(s) you wish to meet with and click the NEXT button. To coordinate bookings involving multiple teachers, select all the teachers applicable to your child(ren) with whom you wish to meet.  

4.Click on an available time slot for each teacher you selected and complete the booking form that appears. You should see the booking appear in the summary list on the right hand side of the screen.  A confirmation email is sent for each booking you make or subsequently cancel. You will also receive a reminder and conference itinerary by email.

5.Confirm your appointments have been booked by looking at the “CURRENTLY BOOKED CONFERENCES” box on the right of the screen or click on the MY CONFERENCES tab.  Only appointments that appear in the CURRENTLY BOOKED CONFERENCES box or on the MY CONFERENCES page are confirmed bookings.

6.When finished booking, click the log off button located at the top right of the browser window.  You will have the opportunity to provide feedback regarding the use of the Conference Manager to the school administration through a user survey before completely exiting. We appreciate you completing the survey as this helps guide our decision-making regarding how conferences are booked in the future.

We greatly appreciate parents booking their own appointments, but know this is not always possible.  If you are unable to book your own appointment due to limited computer access or for any other reason, please phone the school at 888-1990 during regular office hours.  Mrs. Lelieveld would be happy to assist you either by phone or by email at llelieveld@sjsd.net.

                                

Important Information for Parents of Grade 8 Students

 

This year has been a very exciting year for our middle years students with the implementation of the iPad initiative in Grades 6-8. This project is one part of the St. James-Assiniboia School Division's commitment to enhancing learning environments by promoting digital workspaces for students K-12. As your son/daughter transitions to Grade 9 in 2014-2015 students will continue to be given the opportunity to utilize technology during their school day. Although the division will not be providing one iPad for every Grade 9 student, students are welcome to bring their own device to school. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is a Division initiative in SJASD designed to embrace the mobile devices that students have available and bring to school daily. Allowing students to use their own devices in class will enable them to be more productive at school by allowing them to take notes, access digital resources and information whenever and wherever they need it. Participation in this initiative is completely voluntary and is a choice made by families. Please be advised that teachers will allow the use of these devices in their classrooms and at school as long as they are used to support learning. For students entering Grade 9, BYOD is the continuation of the digital learning environment in which they were immersed in Grade 8.

The following is general information about the Grade 9-12 BYOD Learning Environment. If you have any other questions please contact your school principal.

What devices will be supported?

Students are welcome to use iOS or Android tablets or Smartphones as well as Mac or Windows based laptops. Given the form factor, a tablet or laptop will better meet the needs of the students learning experiences.

When can students bring their devices?

 

 

Students will be invited to bring their device after they have signed exhibit IJNDC-E-2 Student Acceptable Use Agreement and completed any required forms that the IT Department may require to allow their device to access the Division’s wireless network.

 

 

Where can students use their devices?

Students will be allowed to use their devices in the classroom and throughout the school to support their learning. There will be guidelines governing acceptable, appropriate and safe use of these devices. Although students are using their personal devices, they are expected at all times to adhere to the Acceptable Student Use of Digital Technologies and Electronic Communication policy (IJNDC, IJNDC-R). Infractions of the policy will result in suspension of all wireless access to the Division network.

 

What happens if my child loses or damages their device at school?

 

Students are responsible for their device at all times. The Division cannot accept responsibility for lost, damaged or stolen devices.

 

Will they be able to charge their Device at school during the day?

 

Due to the number of students we expect will want to participate in the BYOD initiative, we cannot reasonably expect to provide charging facilities in school for student owned devices. Students will need to ensure that their devices are fully charged when they arrive at school.

 

Tell me more about the Acceptable Use Agreement.

 

 

The Acceptable Student Use of Digital Technologies and Electronic Communication policy (IJNDC, IJNDC-R) clearly stipulates acceptable and prohibited uses of the Division network infrastructure. The intent of the BYOD initiative is to support learning, not to allow students to text their friends during class. Providing students the opportunity to use their devices in school also comes with the expectation that students will do so in a responsible manner. Although the device belongs to the student, by choosing to use the device on the Division network, students also agree to abide by Division policy. While we will not confiscate personal devices belonging to students in cases of infractions, we will disable all network access to student devices in these situations.

 

My child doesn’t have a device to bring to school. Are there plans in place for these students?

 

Yes. Each High School will be provided with a limited pool of devices that will be available to teachers to use in their classes with students who may not have a personal device.

 

What if my child needs support using their device or getting it connected?

 

If necessary, IT Department staff will assist students in getting connected to the school WiFi network. Beyond establishing a connection to the network, all other technical issues related to the device will be the student’s responsibility to troubleshoot.

If you have any further questions please contact your child’s school principal.

 

Track & Field Is On!

The weather is beautiful for today so the Track & Field Meet will proceed as planned.  Good luck to all participants!

Kids Bowl For Free all Summer

Kids bowl for free all Summer.  Click here to find the bowling lanes closest to your home.

ART KITS

ART KITS ARE NOW FOR SALE UNTIL FRIDAY, JUNE 7th. The kit includes everything your child will need for 3 years in the Art program. If your child is taking Visual Art in 2014-2015, a letter has been sent home. Cost of the kit is $45. Cash or cheque (made out to Bruce Middle School) accepted. Payment and forms are due June 7th, to the office or to Mrs. Nowosad.

Grade 8 Farewell

Grade 8 Farewell

The grade 8 farewell will be taking place on Tuesday, June 24 with a trip to Thunder Rapids Fun Park.   Stay tuned for a more detailed information letter that will be sent out at the beginning of this month including cost and available activities!  If you would like to check Thunder Rapids out in more detail, you can visit their website at http://www.thunderrapids.ca/