IMPORTANT INFORMATION (2015 - 16 SCHOOL YEAR)

Hello, and welcome to the first official post of the school year!  This will be a very long post, but please read through it to find out information that will be pertinent for this year. This is not an inclusive information posting, and I may post more or send information via paper or agendas. Each category is noted by a highlighted title.  Grab a coffee (or tea or pop or...), relax, and get ready to read...

DRUMHELLER - This information was also sent home on paper. I have posted it here so you can refer back to it if you misplace the paper copy.

The grade 4 students will be going to Drumheller again this year!  

This information package will introduce parents and guardians to some of the details of the trip. The last page is a commitment agreement which must be signed and returned to the school by October 16, 2015 (this was done by paper, do not look for another form) along with a $25.00 commitment deposit indicating that your child is to participate in this opportunity.  If your child is not going to participate, please indicate this on the agreement and return it to your child’s homeroom teacher as well. If you have any questions about this trip, after having read the entire package, please feel free to contact either Mrs. Kloschinsky or any of the grade 4 teachers at 780-987-3705.

There may be a second deposit of $75.00 required near the end of January. The final payment will be required  before we embark on the trip.  The deposit amounts may be lower depending upon the amount of money raised through the fundraisers.

Any deposits paid will be fully refundable prior to May 1, 2016.  After May 1, partial refunds may be considered.

ESTIMATED COSTS:

Edu-tour:  $3600   {plus $60 for every adult over the 8:1 ratio} (includes GST)

Atlas Coal Mine tour: $350

Transportation costs: $3000 (1 bus plus driver expenses)

Snacks for on the bus: $150

Second day meal costs: $250

FUND RAISING:

We will be participating in 3 fundraisers to support this fieldtrip. We are undertaking one more fundraiser this year to help offset costs because we do not have the benefit of corporate sponsorship as we did for last year’s trip.

The first fundraiser will be a fruit and cookie dough sale, the second will be a cake raffle held in conjunction with Parent Meetings in November and the last will be a cakewalk held in conjunction with the family dance held later this school year.  More details about each fundraiser will be shared as the event approaches.

PARENT CHAPERONES

Any adult who is a parent or guardian of a grade 4 student participating in this adventure is welcome to come along provided that he/she has submitted the required documentation and has met any conditions set by Black Gold Regional Schools.  Each adult must have submitted a current Canadian Criminal Record Check as well as a Vulnerable Sector Background Check to the school prior to May 15, 2016 to secure eligibility to participate.

Criminal Record checks can take several months to complete, so it is recommended that these be applied for early.  

Each adult must also be prepared to pay his or her own expenses. Adults may be asked to either drive personal vehicles or carpool as there may not be enough seats on the bus for chaperones.

  

TRIP OVERVIEW:

June 9, 2016:

Leave Robina Baker School by 7:45 am. Enjoy snacks and water along the way.

The Edu-tour program begins at 12:45 p.m. Students participate in five curriculum-set programs, enjoy healthy activities at the Drumheller Recreation Centre and bunk down in the world-renowned Dinosaur Hall.

Students and adults will need a lunch from home on this day.  Thursday’s snacks, supper and Friday’s breakfast will be provided.

June 10, 2016:

Enjoy remainder of Edu-tour, depart from facility at 9:30 travel to the Atlas Coal Mine in East Coulee for a tour; departing from the coal mine by 1:00.

Stop for lunch (Drumheller Boston Pizza) and be back on the busses by 1:45

Arrive back at Robina Baker by 4:30 pm. Parents/Guardians will be there to pick up the students.

FACILITIES OVERVIEW:

ROYAL TYRRELL MUSEUM

The Royal Tyrrell Museum is Canada’s only museum dedicated exclusively to the science of palaeontology. In addition to housing one of the world’s largest displays of dinosaurs, the Museum offers a wide variety of creative, fun, and educational programs that bring the prehistoric past to life.

DRUMHELLER RECREATION CENTRE

The Badlands Community Facility, comprised of a library, cultural centre, meeting rooms, field house, arena, and curling rink, is a new, multi-use centre for all of the citizens of Drumheller and the surrounding area.

ATLAS COAL MINE

Surrounded by stunning Canadian Badlands landscape, the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site is famous for its fascinating and story-rich tours.

FAQS:

How is an Edutour staffed? Host – is with us for the duration of our experience until we leave for the Atlas Coal Mine the next morning (they sleep overnight in the Museum as well, but in a separate location from participants).

Support Host – assists the Host and is responsible for our safety until midnight.

Security – relieves our Support Host at midnight and is responsible for our safety throughout the night. He/she will conduct rounds until we leave for Atlas Coal Mine and will assist the Host in the morning.

Science Educators - deliver our assigned programs during the program rotation and will leave when we visit the Cafeteria for our evening snack.

Cafeteria staff - serve our afternoon snack, supper, and breakfast.

Gift Shop staff - make the shop available in the morning for gift shop time.

All of our Edutour specific staff (Host, Support Host, Security and Science Educators) are thoroughly screened and have completed an RCMP vulnerable sector background check (i.e., clearance for working with children). As well, many of the staff currently work (or have previously worked) at the Museum in different capacities. There is a  cross sections of lab, gallery, collections, education, and resource management staff, so don’t be afraid to ask them questions about palaeontology as they love to talk about their work!

2. Is there overnight security? Will Security Staff walk through the sleeping areas?

Yes. They patrol throughout the evening, but the majority of Dinosaur Hall (where participants sleep) can be seen from above. Security staff may walk around the perimeter of some areas, but unless there are problems, they shouldn’t need to walk through the sleeping area.

3. A family member would like to meet up with my child during a part of the program but won’t be staying overnight; is this allowed?

Anyone attending any portion of the Edutour program will be considered a participant and must be included in the registration material and payment submitted. If you would like a family member to attend, arrangements must be made with the teacher organizing the Edutour and they must be included in the registration material submitted to the Edutour Coordinator. Family members are not permitted to “stop in” unexpectedly during the Edutour.

4. STAYING OVERNIGHT: Where will we sleep?

Participants will be assigned sleeping areas in the Museum’s galleries (primarily in Dinosaur Hall) by their Host. You will be sleeping on the floor in the pathways around the exhibits. Please note that personal items are not to be placed in the exhibits.

5. Will my class be sleeping in the same area?

Each group bunks down in Dinosaur Hall. Students will be separated into male and female sections in the gallery.

6. Can we sleep somewhere other than the Dinosaur Hall gallery?

No, participants will be assigned to sleep in Dinosaur Hall due to its proximity to washrooms, emergency exits, and the staff’s ability to patrol the surrounding space without interrupting the participants during the night.

7. Can we request a certain spot of the gallery to sleep in (e.g. under T. rex)?

Unfortunately requested sleeping space cannot be accommodated, as sleeping areas are assigned based on the number and size of participating class on each Edutour night.

8. The suggested packing list indicates that a twin or double mattress/foamie should be brought to sleep on, why are queen/king sized not included? Can I bring a cot or build a bed?

We ask that only twin or double-sized mattresses or foamies be used due to the capacity and structure of the sleeping area. A walking pathway around sleeping areas is required for participants to walk through to washrooms, or to use as an exit route in the event of an evacuation. Larger mattresses/foamies do not allow for this room in some of the sleeping areas.

We do not restrict setting up cots or build-a-beds (inflatable mattresses with frames) however; we do discourage it for the same reasons above. As well, in the event of an evacuation or emergency, cots and framed mattress can become a tripping hazard.

9. The packing list says to pack water, earplugs and layer-able clothing – is this necessary?

For the preservation of the specimens, the galleries tend to be dry and warm. Because of this we recommend that each person have a bottle of water and wear light clothing that can be layered. The ceiling fans are left on during the night to provide some air circulation; they do make some noise and because you are sleeping in a large space with many unfamiliar people, you may wish to wear earplugs to block the ambient noise.

10. Are there electrical outlets in the sleeping area that I can plug in my pump for my inflatable mattress/cell phone/camera etc.?

Yes, there are a few electrical outlets in the gallery that you can use to inflate an air mattress, charge a phone, etc. but most are not close to the designated sleeping areas so should not be used to charge items overnight. If you require the use of an electrical outlet for medical reasons (i.e. a CPAP machine) please inform the Edutour Coordinator in advance so arrangements can be made.

11. My child is uneasy in the dark; will the Museum be completely black while we are sleeping?

Yes, the sleeping area will be dark, however, the washroom and pathways will be lit. We recommend that you pack a flashlight to use if you need to get up during the night.

12. Are there shower facilities?

No, there are no shower facilities at the Museum available to participants of overnight programs.

13. Are the Edutour Staff first aid certified? Is there a hospital nearby?

Yes, our Host, Support Host, Security and many of programming staff are all first aid certified. They are able to provide basic first aid, but are not permitted to administer medication, injections or to make any medical decisions regarding a participant or group.

The hospital is located approximately 5 km east of the Museum, on the way into Drumheller.


CURRENT EVENTS:

CURRENT EVENTS FOR GRADE 4

Current Events is part of the Alberta curriculum for grade 4 Social Studies.  We are beginning to developing global citizens, and in order to do so, we need to be aware of what is happening in the news currently.  Awareness does not have to be a gory, negative story; it may also be cool, interesting or amazing.

Current Events, in our class, will take place every Friday that we have school – unless otherwise specified.  On holiday Fridays or special event Fridays, we will not be having CE, but this will be clarified in the agenda during the affected week.

Each child will be responsible for selecting a news article to bring to class.  The article can come from a newspaper (ex.: Devon Dispatch, Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun or a newspaper from exotic locations if you are away on a holiday and find a cool article), a news magazine (ex.: Newsweek, Time), or an online site (ex.: DOGONEWS.COM and GOGONEWS.COM have child friendly interesting articles).  If you choose to use an online site, many of them have an email feature which you can use to send the article to me for printing.  If you are using a print article, please have it neatly cut out before sending it to school.

Each child is responsible for having read the article at home.  He/she can highlight any portion of the article which will help to answer the summary questions.  If the child is unable to do the highlighting at home prior to Friday, this portion can be finished at school, but it must have been read at home so the summarizing time is minimal.

Once the article comes to school, we will glue it into our scrapbooks, and write the summary of the article.  This summary has prescribed questions requiring answers.  The questions are:

1. WHO (or what) is the article about? 1 sentence
2. WHEN did the event in the article happen or will it happen? 1 sentence
3.  WHERE did the event happen? 1 sentence
4.  WHAT is the main event that the article is about? This question is usually a 4-5 sentence answer.
5. WHY is this story/event important to me? This question is to be answered with a thoughtful answer, not ‘because it is cool’ or ‘because I like it’ type of answers.  It can be as long of a response as is required to thoughtfully answer the question.

Once all students have completed the summary, 5 -6 students will be chosen to share the summary.  The presenter will stand at the front of the class and read the summary out loud and then be asked a few questions about the event in the article.  A well prepared presenter is one who can answer questions about the article easily without having to re-read the article for clues.   

Current Events are an expectation for each child in 4C for this school year.  Should this expectation present any difficulties for any student, please talk to Mrs. Spreen as soon as possible to come to a resolution.

Scholastic Book Club Order Forms will be sent home approximately every second month - depending on when the book fairs will be held.

Ordering is completely optional.

If you choose to order from the flyers, please use a cheque or the new credit card option to pay for your purchases.

FIELD TRIPS

In addition to school wide field trips this year, the grade four classes will be embarking on 4 field trips to enhance curricular objectives.  Below is a schedule for these field trips as well as a projection of all costs (transportation and entry fees or program fees) for each fieldtrip.  Any souvenirs, meals or extra costs are not included.

WHERE	WHEN	COST
Edmonton Waste Management Centre	TBA - aiming for mid January	$12/ student
Rabbit Hill (Skiing and Snow Boarding)	Late February 2016 AND early March 2016	$18 to $50 (each trip and depending on equipment needs)
Drumheller - Royal Tyrrell Museum and Atlas Coal Mine	June 9 &10, 2016	TBA - depending on fundraising results
Fort Edmonton Park	June 26, 2016	$12/student

The experiences provided allow students to enhance their learning; however, all field trips are voluntary. If your family does not wish to participate in the fieldtrip experience, it is the right of your family.

Should your family be in a financial position that prohibits your child(ren) from participating in any or all field trips, please contact your student’s classroom teacher or the school to discuss alternate arrangements.

40 BOOK CHALLENGE

This year, in order to help promote literacy, the students have been issued a "40 book challenge". The purpose is to get students reading books of different genres and to gain insight to what the students' preferences are when it comes to choosing a book to read.

WHAT IT IS: We have spent the last few days discussing different genres of literature. Each child has a 'bingo card' of genres of books which he/she is to read over the next 9 months. Once a students has read the specific type of book, he/she will bring it to me, give a brief review of it and I will sign his/her bingo card. The aim is to have read all 40 books (11 prescribed genres = 30 books, 10 free choice books) by June 24, 2016. There is no prize or reward other than the knowledge and experience the student will receive.

RULES:
1.The books the students will be reading must be new to them - not books the student has previously read nor similar to a movie they have watched (the movie was based on the book).
2. The books can be from our classroom, a library, a friend or purchased from a book store.
3. The book must be read at school; it can be taken home and continued, but it must be read primarily at school.
4. The book must be at or slightly above the student's reading level.
5. Daily, specific, reserved time will be given to students to read during the school day.

TERRY FOX WALK/RUN

Once again it is time to participate in our Annual School Terry Fox Walk/Run hosted by Robina Baker Elementary School and the Lions Club of Devon.

Who: K-4 students from RBES along with RMS and Holy Spirit (910 students)

What: Terry Fox Marathon of Hope, 35th Anniversary

Where: Start and Finish for RBES students will be at RBES. (Map to Follow)

When: Friday, September 25th, 2015 at 1pm (There will be an Assembly at 12:45pm)

Dress for the weather!

Donations: Instead of pledges we are asking students to bring a Toonie for Terry. Any other contributions will be appreciated.

Participants will receive an apple and a granola bar after the event. Students are asked to bring their own water bottle.

Volunteers: We will require 5 parents to act as Crossing Guards. Please let us know if you are a volunteer who is able to do this very important job!

Thank you for the excellent support we receive for this worthwhile event!

From your Terry Fox Walk/Run Committee

This is the conclusion of today's information. Thanks for reading to the end. If you have any questions about what you have read here, please contact me via email or call the school to speak with me. Happy Wednesday!