There's More to Christmas...
There's more, much more to Christmas
Than candle-light and cheer;
It's the spirit of sweet friendship
That brightens all the year;
It's thoughtfulness and kindness,
It's hope reborn again,
For peace, for understanding
And for goodwill to men!
Author unknown
December brings many special activities to help celebrate the holiday season.
Important events include the two Christmas concert performances. As a family
if you are able to attend the afternoon performance we would encourage you to
do so to help alleviate going over the gym capacity in the evening. The last
couple of years our community has truly assisted us with many grandparents
etc. attending in the afternoon. As a result Namao has not had to move towards tickets per family for the evening concert. Once again thank-you to all
families who work with us in this respect.
On our Namao website there is now a parent portal guide to assist parents navigate the parent portal with its many facets. Please utilize this guide and feel
free to call our school office for any type of assistance you may require on the
parent portal. As parents you should be accessing your child’s grades, be able
to see any teacher comments, the course outlines and specific assignments that
are upcoming, or perhaps need to be handed in and are past overdue. An important fact to know is that any item that is blue in color, whether it is a number, word or dash means that there is information underneath to be shared.
Please click on anything blue to locate more information. The parent portal has
many layers to help share as complete information regarding assessment as
possible.
May all of your families have a joyous holiday season with those who are near to
you. From all the Namao staff we wish you a Merry Christmas.
1C
1K
2B
2W
Dacie Mc
Rourke N
Alysse M
Carmella S
Trinty C
Braeden P Amrit D
Tehya D
Ainsela W
3B
Matthew C
Kirsten P
3T
Caleb S
Alexis R
Jayza C
Winner of the Neon Bowling Party:
Alysse M !!!!!
PARKING REMINDER
The Committee of the Whole
(CoW) meetings are always on
the 2nd Wednesday of the month
@ 6:00 pm and the Public Board
(PB) meetings are always on the
4th Wednesday of every month @
4:30 pm. Below are the dates for
the upcoming two months:
December 11/13 CoW and the for
new year: January 8/14 CoW and
January 22 PB
VISTOR PARKING IS LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF
THE SCHOOL. If you are dropping off or picking up your child, pleasure remember to sign
them in/out. Safety of our students is our top
priority.
Please join our School Trustee, Mrs. Nowak and the
Principal, Mrs. Pollmann for an early morning coffee
and conversation the second Tuesday of the Month
at 9:00 am in the school staffroom. It is a chance to
have dialogue about school activities in an informal
setting. Our first coffee get-together will be
December 10, 2013.
REMINDER; NO HOT LUNCH FOR THE MONTH OF
DECEMBER. YOU CAN ORDER HOT LUNCH BETWEEN
DEC. 10-20 FOR JANUARY 2014.
Our Senior Boys & Girls Volleyball team just wrapped up our
season, and finished 6th overall in
our division. They played very
well as a team, and had some incredibly close matches with the
top teams. Mitchell T and Cole R
and Kenedi B and Harleen B were
selected to play in the All Star
game hosted by Sturgeon Composite High School on Nov 20
FOR THE EVENING PERFORMANCE NAMAO SCHOOL
DOORS TO THE SCHOOL WILL ONLY BE OPEN AT 5:30 PM
“ME TO WE CLUB” WILL BE OPERATING A CHRISTMAS TREAT STAND IN THE
FOYER OFFERING TREATS FOR SALE TO ENJOY DURING THE CONCERT. ALL
PROCEEDS WILL GO TO THE K-3 PLAYGROUND. THE STAND WILL OPERATE
DURING THE AFTERNOON PERFORMANCE FROM 12:00 TO 12:45 PM.
FOR THE EVENING PERFORMANCE, THE STAND WILL OPERATE FROM 5:30 PM
TILL 6:15 PM
On Friday, November 15/13 the Grade 3’s hosted a Rock Show. They have
been busy since September studying Rocks & Minerals and were inspired to
create a display of their own projects which were shared with Grade 1’s & 2’s.
D.A.R.E. Grad Ceremony
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
9:15 AM-10:15 AM
Grade 6 students and their families will be participating in a sky science
evening, on December 18, 2013 @ 6:00 pm at Namao School. With
telescopes in hand and a wonder about the skies, they will explore the
night sky with teachers Mrs. Eisenkrein and Mr. Pudwill, as well as Shaun
McGregor, an avid astronomer. Thank you to Edmonton Science Outreach
Network and Mr. McGregor for this opportunity.
For many of us, December is a time for gathering with friends and family. Whether you celebrate
Christmas, Hanukkah, or maybe Kwanza, the tradition of giving is often part of the spirit of the
holiday; it is also important, though, to give thanks for the things we already have.
In light of the aftermath brought on by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines last month, the sobering
reminder of how fortunate we are is impossible to ignore. As such, the Namao Me to We team
has decided to raise funds for the victims of Haiyan and bring awareness to the school community of the situation in South East Asia.
On December 2, 3, and 4 (with the potential of extending to the 5 & 6), we will be hosting a bake
sale with 100% of the proceeds going to the Canadian Red Cross and the people of the Philippines. Until December 8, the Canadian government will match, dollar for dollar, any donations
made to the cause.
If you are interested in helping contribute in some way, please feel free to contact Mr. Pudwill via
email at [email protected].
The Me to We team is also planning to run a concession at the Christmas Concerts on Thursday,
December 12. All proceeds raised will go towards building the final stage of the Namao Playground Project- the primary playground. With all our help, hopefully our primary and Lifeskills
students will have the play area they need and deserve very soon.
For Remembrance Day:
Namao School is privileged to have as many talented young writers as we
do. Every student in Gr. 7 & Gr. 8 wrote an original poem for Remembrance
Day, and two of our skilled writers read their poems aloud at our
Remembrance Day ceremony.
Taking a moment
By: Emily Spiker
We Will Remember
By: Kestra Martel
We will remember those who fought
In the grass we say our final goodbyes
Silently mourning under the baby blue skies
In love and affliction this combat is fought
Or so that’s how my social teacher taught
By wearing these poppies that we bought
For those who risked their lives
For anyone who always strives
So help me not scream out in vain
May we remember those who are dead
But leave me with nothing but a light tear stain
That is why the poppy is red
Please never think you are gone for good
For anyone who asks “What is remembrance day?”
You struggled harder than I ever could
It is a day to remember those who passed away
The war isn’t over yet so many lives are
For those soldiers who keep saying never say never
Our hearts go out to those who travel so far
Those are the ones that are really clever
To fight for the red and white’s freedom
For which we owe you our kingdom
The trumpets blare the bravery song
And this country is standing tall and strong
I know thank you won’t suffice
Remembrance Day means so much
For some people it is the last time that their hands touch
It is a day to remember what they have done for us
It is a day that a lot of people discuss
The chances you took, rolling fates dice
We love them because they give us freedom and rights
Your fearlessness and power shan’t be ignored
To help us sleep in the long dark nights
Now you are sitting with the lord of all lords
They like to keep us safe and sound
So as a proud Canadian I will
Their loyalty knows no bounds
Pin this poppy and stand tall and still
They help us live peacefully
Sacrifice is part of this battle fought
And we should thank them easily
I feel for the families in distraught
Now let’s take a moment and show some respect
I beg you, please, don’t show neglect
Where is your heart and compassion?
For those whose face is now turned ashen
For someone who lost a friend
Your friendship will never end
When soldiers take their last breath
To look at something called death
We won’t forget those still in the war
We will always remember and cherish this
Facing all that trauma and unimaginable gore
We will never forget the memories that are sometimes lost in the
abyss
The things they have seen they will take to their grave
Either an honored veteran or a vulnerable soldier, young and brave
In the grass we say our final goodbyes
Silently mourning under the baby blue skies
When people see their level of sacredness decrease
That’s how the soldiers have brought peace
Lest we forget those brave soldiers
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
Students will not be required to go outside during school days where the temperature
is -20 Celsius and/or high wind chill conditions. Students are expected to dress
appropriately and to go outside for recess breaks unless it is announced as an inside
day. Students may remain inside for scheduled activities, at the request of staff or
have a note from their parent because of health reasons.
School board policy states that schools shall remain open even if bus service has
been suspended due to weather conditions. Parents who bring their children to school
on days when school bus services are suspended will be responsible for picking up
their children at dismissal time. As well if weather conditions dictate, a bus contractor
may bring students home early without prior notification. Parents should arrange a
safe alternative for your child if this happens and there is not normally someone at
home.
Announcements regarding suspension of transportation services are on the banner of
the parent portal, and made over the following radio stations: CHED ( AM-630), CJCA
(930 AM), CFCW (AM-790), and CISN (FM-103.9). The Sturgeon School Division
website under Transportation, provides real-time information.
www.sturgeontranport.ca
Absences by students on days when school buses do not operate whether as the
result of bus failure, a decision of a contractor not to operate, or suspension of
transportation services by the Superintendent, shall be deemed to be excusable. On
these days teachers shall not conduct examinations, or introduce new material in their
courses.
BUSING
Sturgeon School Division provides students at Namao School with transportation.
Some general guidelines for riding buses are noted below:
-only students registered as passengers may ride on their assigned bus
-students may be denied permission to ride a bus if not properly clothed or not in
possession of adequate clothing during cold weather
-disruptive and/or destructive behavior is prohibited
-students wishing to ride other than their assigned bus must receive permission
from the driver at least 1 day prior to boarding and have written permission from
their parent/guardian
-most luggage and equipment should be stored, if possible, under the bus seat and
stored in a durable case/bag, at the discretion of the driver
Namao School Student Services
I hope this newsletter finds you and your family well in anticipation of
the holiday season.
During the last week of November, a presenter from the SAFFRON Centre
spoke to our grade 6-9’s. Students were challenged to think about how
and when they use the internet. The presentations were carried out in
their classrooms and primarily revolved around how to use the internet
effectively and safely.
Also, our Junior High peer mentoring students have been paired with a
mentee from grades 1-3. Through Namao’s peer mentoring program, we
hope to enhance the cooperative and collaborative foundations already
modeled by our exceptional staff and students.
As always, if there is anything I can do to ensure your child succeeds and
gets the most out of their time at Namao School, please do not hesitate
to contact me.
Enjoy this festive time of year.
Darren Dunsmore
Namao School Counselor
780 973 9191
[email protected]
Namao School Fundraising Association would like to extend their gratitude to all for our
most recent and biggest fundraiser for the 2013/2014 school year; the Autumn Gala. So
many amazing individuals and companies in our community contributed to the success
of the event. A thank you is extended to all who graciously donated item’s for our silent
and live auction,
All weather windows
A&W( Morinville)
Inland Cement
Best kept Secrets
Brian Laboucane
Johnny’s Store
Bettylou Kindleman
Alliance Pipeline
JM Turner Goldsmith
Dr. Ross Horricks
BJM Painting
John & Peggy Martin
Earls St. Albert
Blue Diamond Jewelers'
Jody Zapisocki
Frontier Honda
Bella Maas
Lia Sophia/Wendy Henderson
Country Hair Locker
Logics
H&R Block (Morinville)
Heaven Essence Spa
Compass Sales
Miller Crossing Dental
JAL Electric
Crozier Dairies
MC College
Kenworth
Maiko Trucking
Namao Automotive
Precise Instrumentation
Scentsy Scott&Lisa Fuhr
Spiker Equipment
Silpada Layla Pretzlaff
Van WYK Transport
Home Hardware( Morinville)
Independent Jewelers'
Sturgeon Valley Fertilizers
Shopper’s Drug Mart (Oxford)
D&E Covering
Morinville Business Center
Darren &Trudy Duiker
MD Trucking
Desa School of Karate
Prairie Gardens
Escape Travel( Morinville)
Patricia Aumais
External Affairs
Party Light/Corrie Hemmingler
Epicure/Jasmine Montpetit
Stahl Peterbuilt
First Truck Center
Ross Mclay
Fort Saskatchewan Orthotics
RV City
Grand & Toy
Southpark GMC
Highstreet Interiors
SAL’s Famous Pizza
Steeped Dawn&Kira Nowicki
Tom Flynn
Wal-Mart( Albany Center)
Wadson Hot Rod Parts
Thank you is also extended to all who donated many hours to the event; our canvassers who
collected donations Layla Pretzlaff, Trudy Duiker, Leane McBlain, Shauna Hudec, Duane
Winder, Janette Freidenburger. Our band the Tarbabies, The Namao fire department, Brenda
& John McNeally at Johnny’s Store. Namao Ag Society. Tracy Mulligan at Celebrations Flare
Catering. To the many who contributed on the day of the event, Val Hampton, Shauna & Todd
Hudec, Brian Reed, Bob Taylor, Duane Winder, Jeanette Freidenburger.
A huge Thank you to all who attended the Gala that evening and everyone who supported in
everyway that they could. If anyone was missed we apologize, it was not intentional and know
that our gratitude is extended to you as well.
The proceeds from the event will contribute to the final phase of our playgrounds and we look
forward to see you all again for this wonderful event next year.
Thank you
Namao School Fundraising Association
September’ s
October’s Fundraiser
Fundraiser
Thank you to all
who supported our
second Little
Caesar's fundraiser. This was a
HUGE success
please know that
we doubled our
sales and money
earned towards
our playground!!!
Great Job everyone!!
Thank you Northgate
GMC for supply all
the vehicles for our
September drive your
Ride Fundraising
Event; Thanks is also
extended to all staff
and parents who were
able to support and
test drive the vehicles
for a donation from
Northgate Pontiac
GMC.
November’s Fundraiser
Thank you to all in our
amazing community who
supported in the many
various ways needed to
make the Autumn Gala a
success.
To date funds raised from
all three fundraisers has
net us $ 13609.58; please
note this can be matched
with a grant for the final
playground.
We look forward to seeing
you at the Christmas
concert in which we will
have our
December 50/50
fundraiser.
Sun
Mon
1
Tue
3
4
Thu
5
Gr 5 & Gr 9
Immunization
Gr 9S PARTY
NO HOT
Program
LUNCHES
2
Term 2
Begins
Wed
@ 9:00 am
FOR
DECEMBER
8
9
10
11
STAFF
MEETING
EARLY
DISMISSAL
2:10 PM
15
16
17
Gr. 6
DARE
GRAD
22
23
24
29
30
31
18
12
Christmas
Concert
1:00 & 6:30PM
19
Gr.6 Evening
Sky Science
Fri
Sat
6
7
Field Trips
ECS Gymnastics
PEP Swimming
13
14
NO KINDERGARTEN
CLASSES
20
21
Last Day of
classes
(FULL DAY)
25
26
27
28
Sun
Mon
5
Tue
6
Wed
Thu
7
13
2
3
4
8
9
10
11
17
18
PEP Gymnastics
14
NSFA
6:00 PM
NAMPA
7:00 PM
19
20
21
15
BAND
CONCERT
6:30 PM
27
28
16
B-Ball Namao
@ Legal
PD/Staff
Meeting No
School for
Students
22
23
24
B-Ball Guthrie
@ Namao
LAC –5:15 PM
NSC-6:00 PM
26
Sat
1
Classes
Resume,
First Full
Day
12
Fri
29
30
B-Ball Namao
@ Camilla
31
25