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McGirr Elementary
Phone: 250-758-8946
Website: http://schools.sd68.bc.ca/mcge
Principal: Ms. J. Wilkie
Vice-Principal: Mrs. S. Sneddon
March, 2015
Newsletter # 9
Secretaries: Mrs. V. Hiltz and Mrs. Petley-Jones
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
Dear Parents,
McGirr has grown There are a lot of new faces and families joining our school community  We have had
close to thirty new students register since January which brings our school enrollment to 403. We welcome
all of our new students and their families to our school.
We have another new face in our office too and we would like to welcome our new secretary Mrs. Vicki
Hiltz to McGirr. She comes to us from Bayview and we are delighted to have her join our staff. We are also
happy to welcome a new teacher, Mrs. Dallas Knight to our staff. She will be teaching in grades 3,4 and 5
with Mrs. Olsen and Mrs. Barber.
It has been a busy month, Basketball has started and our intermediate students are busy every day after
school. Mrs. Radigan and Mrs. Thompson had a very successful Muffin and Popcorn sale to support the
Wildlife Fund. Our Primary classes have been busy celebrating 100s day and performing Random Acts of
Kindness, Jump Rope for Heart is in full swing and we had a peaceful anti – Bully day too.
Report Cards will be going home on March 18 and this always creates a little anxiety for students and for
parents too.
Please, Relax at Report Card time ….. 
It is important to remember to be calm, positive and proactive when looking at a report on progress with
your child and to review their academic goals and action plan with them. Set some reasonable learning goals
and be sure to celebrate their successes too.
Less anxiety = More learning progress = Happy, healthy Learner
Looking forward to April, we will be having our annual Justin Smith coin drive from April 7 – 10. This is an
annual fundraiser for a scholarship fund as a memorial for our former student. We encourage our students
to take on an extra chore to raise the money in the form of coins for this drive. So be prepared for your
children to do a little something extra around the house for a few extra coins in April  It is for another
good cause!
In closing, we wish all of our school community a well-deserved Spring Break and a Happy Easter 
Ms. Wilkie and Mrs. Sneddon
REPORT CARDS come home on MARCH 18 
VIRTUE OF THE MONTH
The virtue for the month of March is Determination. Teachers will be discussing this virtue in class with
their students.
What is Determination ?
Determination is focusing your energy and efforts on a task and sticking to it until it is finished.
Determination is using your willpower to do something when it isn’t easy. You are determined to meet your
goals. Even when it is really hard or you are being tested, you still keep going.
Signs of Success
Congratulations ! You are practicing Determination when you…..
 Believe that what you are doing is important
 Set goals for yourself
 Focus your attention on what you are doing
 Resist being distracted
 Keep going if it gets difficult
 Ask for help when you need it
 Finish what you start
JUMP ROPE FOR HEART! – Jump Rope Day, Friday, March 13
McGirr is once again participating in Jump Rope For Heart.
We had a great Assembly on February 27 to kick off our school fundraising.
March 13 is our actual Jump Rope Day.
We will all be skipping to music to raise money to support this important cause.
Donations can be made directly to the school or online to our McGirr School
Account.
Our Thanks to Mrs. Kraft for organizing this and getting our students enthused 
The Heart and Stroke Foundation is committed to ensuring that children and youth will grow up healthy
with access to physical activity and healthy eating where they live, learn and play. Every child deserves a
healthy future yet only 7% of children and youth in Canada are meeting Canada’s guidelines of 60 minutes
of physical activity a day. That means that the vast majority of young people in Canada (93%) are not
physically active enough to stay healthy.
The Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card has been published recently. This is the most comprehensive
report on child and youth physical activity on Canada. Here are a few of their findings:

46% of Canadian kids get 3 hours or less of active play per week, including weekends.

63% of Canadian kids’ free time after school and on weekends is spent being sedentary.
A child’s physical activity level affects outcomes such as mental health and body weight. These statistics
put children at higher risk of developing heart disease, high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes. Please
support us as we help ensure children and all Canadians live longer, fuller, healthier lives.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GRADE ONES 
A big congratulations goes to Mrs. Radigan’s and Mrs. Thompson’s Grade one classes. They worked so hard
with their Healthy Muffin and Popcorn Sale and raised $863.65 which will go to help support the World
Wildlife Fund and the Nanaimo Foodshare.
Well Done to our kind and generous Grade Ones  We are very proud of you !
THE GOAL OF ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION IS TO SUPPORT AND ENHANCE LEARNING
The way you, as a parent, respond to the report card can have a significant impact on your child as a
learner. It is important to consider that the letter grades or numbers on your children’s report card show
their achievement relative to standards established for their age group, however, they do not necessarily
correspond to the amount of learning or growth they have accomplished. When your child brings home
his/her report card this term, rather than focusing on the letter grade, try discussing it using some of the
following questions;
What kinds of activities do you like the best?
What is it about them that interest you?
What did you feel really proud about in ___?
What was the most interesting or surprising idea that you learned about in ___this term?
What are some things you find hard about ___?
Are there some things you can do to make it easier?
What is one thing that you know so well that you could teach someone else?
What are some improvements you have made?
What did you learn about yourself from working on _____?
What challenges or problems did you encounter in ______? How did you solve them?
When do you do your best thinking at school? What seems to help?
What do you need to become better at doing in school? What can you do to improve?
If you were doing _______again, what would you do differently?
Responding in this way will put emphasis and value on the learning which is our goal in education. It is also a
positive and constructive way for parents to help their children focus on their personal learning.
DATES TO REMEMBER
March 13
March 16
March 16
March 17
March 18
March 19
Jump Rope for Heart Day
PLC – 1:45 dismissal
PAC – 6:30
St. Patrick’s Spirit Day
Class Photos
Report Cards Home
PAC Bunny Hop
March 20
March 30
April 3
April 6
April 7 – 11
April 13
April 20
Last Day of Classes – Spring Break
School Back in
Good Friday
Easter Monday
Justin Smith Coin Drive
PAC - 6:30
PLC – 1:45 dismissal
April 28
May 4
May 11
May 14
May 18
School Track Meet
Pro D Day
PLC – 1:45 dismissal
Welcome to Kindergarten
Victoria Day
May 25
June 4
June 5
June 24
June 26
PLC – 1:45 dismissal
District Track Meet
Fun Fair
Last day of classes – Summer Holidays
Last Day of School
“YOUR VOICE SURVEY” – SCHOOL DISTRICT 68
SD 68 has embarked on a review and community input process within the school district. YOUR VOICE
2015 is a public engagement process focused on receiving feedback on the Enhanced Facilities for Learning
Plan and the 2015-16 Budget.
We invite you to visit our website www.sd68.bc.ca where you will find details about how you can join the
conversation and help shape the future of the Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools. We invite all students,
district staff, parents, grandparents and guardians to take part. Every voice is important!
We understand how busy life can be and that is why a variety of ways have been created for you to get
involved. On our website you will find a link to an online survey and an information booklet and questionnaire
for you to print or fill online. Once completed, email or drop it off at any of our schools or the District
Administration Centre (395 Wakesiah Avenue) by 12 noon on Friday, March 20.
Roll up your sleeves and give us your honest feedback. Your voice is very important! Your participation in our
review and community input process will help ensure Success for All!
SCHOOL CLOSURES DUE TO WEATHER
Occasionally, schools are temporarily closed on short notice for emergency reasons. A heavy
snowfall is the most frequent reason for an emergency school closure; however, individual
schools can also be closed because of power or heating failures, or emergency situations. We have had great
weather this year, BUT this time last year we actually had a snowfall. So we are not out of the woods yet !
Morning school closures are announced on local radio stations: Wolf 106.9 FM and Wave 102.3FM by 7:00
a.m. Also, the school district website - http://www.sd68.bc.ca/ also instantly displays closure information.
The Superintendent of Schools, in consultation with the Transportation Supervisor, makes the decision to
close schools or keep them open. The decision does not rest with the school. The decision is typically made
and broadcast by 7am. When and if it does snow, it is a good idea to check the website and/ or listen to one
of the above radio stations to be sure that you are informed.
If it is cold or wet outside, please be sure to dress warmly – Coat, hat, boots, gloves, snow pants !!!!
REMEMBER! For safety’s sake, no throwing snowballs and no sliding !!! 
MCGIRR SPORTS REPORT
Basketball season has begun. We have 4 teams, boys and girls, Pewee and Bantam teams. All of our teams
are full of enthusiasum and are starting to play well together. We have had some exciting
games
so far this year.
BUILDING RESPONSIBILITY NOW LEADS TO SUCCESS LATER
Don’t Do For Children What They Can Do For Themselves!
Valerie Allen, a school psychologist who works with many families, knows how parents can help their children
to become more responsible.
Foremost, says Allen, “Parents need to start early.” You need to encourage your child to accept
responsibility as part of growing up. Children must learn to do their share.”
It’s also good to start early in life. The more children are responsible at home, the more they will be
responsible at school. Allen’s five simple tips to boost responsible behavior are:
Never do for children what they can do for them-selves.
Take time to teach them how to do things independently. Assist with homework, but don’t take over.
Give children household responsibilities.
Assign simple tasks like taking out the garbage or clearing the dishes. Work up to more complex jobs like
washing dishes. Make sure they, not you, pick up after themselves.
Post a weekly list of chores.
Use pictures for young children, and have a place for each child to check off completed tasks. After you
check your child’s work, place a star or sticker on the chart.
Don’t remind, nag, scold or complain when children don’t do their chores.
Explain what’s expected and the consequences of not doing what’s expected. Allow consequences to happen.
List activities that are allowed after work is done. A snack, outside play, television, computer time. This
will motivate your child to complete tasks quickly. It also keeps a balance between work and play
PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE MOVING 
We have had a lot of registrations since January. Our present enrollment is 403 students. Our student
numbers for next year are very important and help our Board Office determine the number of divisions and
teachers for the 2015 - 16 school year. Please let us know at the office if you will be moving to another
school next year. If you know of any new people in the neighborhood who may have children attending
McGirr next year, please encourage them to register their children soon. It really helps us to determine our
plans for next year.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION and STUDENT REGISTRATION - 2015
Kindergarten Students
Children who will be five years of age before January 1, 2016, may enter school in September 2015. You
may defer your child’s enrolment until September 2016. You are encouraged to register your child at your
neighborhood (catchment) school as soon as you can. Please bring your child’s birth certificate and proof of
address. To obtain an assured space in your catchment-area school, you must register by June 12, 2015.
Grades 1 to 12 Students New to District 68 Schools
Students who move into School District 68, or who have not attended their neighbourhood school, must
register at their neighborhood (catchment) school as soon as possible. For a student to obtain an assured
space in their catchment-area school, they must be registered by June 12, 2015.
Out of Catchment Attendance
Pupils currently enrolled as out-of-catchment students do not need to re-apply for subsequent years.
Current Grade Seven students who wish to attend a secondary school other than their designated school
(Dover Bay) are required to complete a “Request for Out-of-Boundary Attendance” form before March
31,2015. These forms are available from the school office.
TRAFFIC REMINDERS
Once again we are reminding parents of our parking lot traffic patterns designed to help keep our students
safe as they come to and leave our school grounds. The area in front of the school is
clearly marked no parking and no stopping. It is a drop off area only. Please do
not leave your car unattended in this area. This means that you must stay in the
driver’s seat of your car. If you choose to leave your car or go into the school, for
any reason, you must park your car in the parking lot.
The parking lot is not a pick up and drop off zone. Please do not block other cars that are properly
parked while you wait for your child. Pease do not hold up traffic having conversations with people !
One solution is to park on the street and have your child walk to your car rather than pick up at the
door.
We are also reminding everyone to please slow down and drive carefully as you enter and exit the
school zone! We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
MEND SCHOOL NEWSLETTER BLURB
Raising healthy kids is tough! MEND is here to help!
Are you interested in learning more about nutrition and activity in a family friendly FUN environment? Join
us for our next session of MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do It!) start Saturday January 24th. This
amazing program is FREE for families to attend!
MEND is a fun, 9 week program for families with 7-13 year olds. The program supports families to live a
healthy lifestyle. Groups of up to 15 children, accompanied by at least one parent or caregiver meet with
program leaders twice a week for nine weeks. The first hour is an interactive family session on nutrition
topics, followed by one hour of fun games based activities for the children, while parents and caregivers
meet for support and discussion on topics such as goals and rewards, label reading and problem solving.
Weekly sessions will take place Saturdays from 10:30am-12:30pm and Mondays from 5-7pm. The next
offering of this program runs from Saturday January 24th – Monday March 30th. All sessions take place at
Oliver Woods Community Centre. Pre-registration is required.
Participating families who attend at least 80% of all sessions will receive a FREE 3 month City of Nanaimo
Rec Pass for the entire family to be active together!
For more information or to register, please contact Gillian Goerzen, the MEND Nanaimo Programmer at
[email protected] or call 250-714-9265. If you leave a message, be sure to include your name, phone
number and a convenient time to receive a call back. Thanks!
PROVINCIAL SATISFACTION SURVEY IIII
The Ministry of Education has prepared the 2015 version of the annual Provincial Satisfaction Survey for
administration by schools. We will be surveying students in Grades 4, 7, 10 and 12, their parents, and all
staff.
The annual Provincial Satisfaction Survey provides information to support discussions about improving
student achievement at each school. The survey gathers perceptions from students, parents, and staff on
areas including achievement, human and social development, and safety. This year, the surveys will be
scheduled between January and mid April, 2015.
The Provincial Satisfaction Survey is unique in its scope, size and usefulness to schools. It gathers information from parents, teachers and students on topics related to school environment, safety, and
achievement. The information is used for planning in individual schools and provides a district and provincial
perspective.
Early in 2015 the Satisfaction Survey will be administered to students in grades 4 and 7, their parents, and
all school staff. We encourage parents to participate in this survey, as the results are important in
identifying and celebrating current strengths, as well as determining where the school needs to focus
improvement. The surveys contain standard questions for the Province – in addition, questions from the
school and/or district that focus on local conditions or issues may be included.
This year, the survey can be completed electronically and can be accessed on the Internet at
www.bced.gov.bc.ca/sat_survey/access.htm. Any computer with an Internet connection can be used, and
access to the e-survey is simple and secure. All that is required is a logon number that the school will
provide to participants. Provincial, District and School Reports for previous years can be viewed at the same
site, without a logon number.
The school will provide access for parents who would like to participate but do not have a computer. Please
phone the school at 758-8946 to arrange a day and time. Parents who do not wish to use school computers
may want to use local public library computers as another option.
Parents of students in grades 4 and 7 will receive an information sheet with a login number.
The e-survey site will be open until April 30, 2015.
PAC NEWS
The next PAC meeting will be held on Monday March 16th at 6:30 pm in the Library, everyone is welcome!
The movie night was a hit! Thank you to all who came to enjoy the showing of Rio 2 !
Thank you to Amanda at the Woodgrove Starbucks for supplying coffee for the grown ups.
And another big thank you to McKays Electronics for suppling the equipment, the surround sound was
amazing!
We hope you are enjoying all the books and fun stuff you picked up at the Book Fair.
A huge thank you to Leanne, PAC Chair, for organizing and to all the volunteers who help throughout the
week.
We were able to meet our goal and give back to the school $2100 in Scholastic orders!
Thanks to students, parents and teachers for supporting this fantastic event.
We are getting Funfair ready! It is time to start planning for the super fun event and largest fundraiser for
McGirr.
If you are able to help out in planning or the night of the event please email the Funfair committee:
[email protected]
Thank you for the continuing support of the Funlunch program.
Ordering is done online: schoolsweb.sd68.bc.ca/mcgirr select “Parents” on the McGirr page under “our
hot lunch program” , there is Munch a Lunch sign in and registration.
We are looking forward to hosting Gary Anaka on May 14. He will be giving an interactive presentation to
Grades 4, 5, 6 and 7 on “The Magical Teenage Brain”.
There will also be an evening presentation for parents, please watch for details to follow.
Upcoming spring fundraiser will be flower baskets made by the VIU horticultural students.
Details to follow.
Parents’ Advisory Council meetings have been moved to the 3rd Monday of each month.
Child Minding is provided by Grade 6/7 student leaders.
The meetings are run by a committee but all parents are part our PAC and are welcome to attend.
The next PAC meeting is Monday March 16 6:30 pm at the school library. Hope to see you there!
A Note from the Funfair Committee:
McGirr PAC's most anticipated and most fun fundraiser is happening on Friday June 5.
The Funfair does take some effort to pull together and in order to pull it off. We need volunteers to help
organize the following events:
The Raffle – the event that gets everyone excited for Funfair. This involves making the tickets,
distribution of tickets and collection of sold tickets. The draw for prizes happens the night of the funfair.
Theme Basket Raffle – this is a hit the night of the funfair. Organizing baskets includes collection of
goodies to fill the baskets, packaging the baskets for display and help run the basket raffle tables the night
of Funfair. This is a fun event to do with some friends. The baskets are drawn that evening.
Bake Sale – Delicious goodies and treats will need to be tagged, priced and organized the morning of Funfair
Silent Auction – This is a really exciting event especially for the grown ups. Organizing will include gathering
and organizing donations, set up auction area and volunteer time during the evening at the auction tables.
BBQ – A main part of the funfair and a great way to have a break from making dinner. A volunteer or two
are needed to help put the BBQ plans together.
Games Rooms – Let the fun begin! The games rooms are always a smash hit. A few volunteers are needed to
review games, organize prizes, signage and instruct game room volunteers the night of Funfair.
Please let us know if you are willing to join the fun Funfair team, make sure to let
us know best way to reach you and which event you are interested in.
Please email [email protected]
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
Next Funfair meeting Tuesday March 31 7pm school library