Parents can avoid holiday hassles with kids spending their own money for gifts

(From the CBC website)

There was a look of utter shock on 11-year-old Mia's face when she was told she would have to open her piggy bank for Christmas shopping.

"Really? Do I have to?" she asked wide-eyed and unbelieving.

Her eight-year-old brother Ben was given the news that he would have to do chores to earn his gift money after having his allowance taken away due to his potty mouth.

He said, "OK," figuring he would run roughshod with the Swiffer a few times over the hardwood floors.

Giving kids the money to go out gift shopping is an easier solution than negotiating or battling over money, but experts say it doesn't have any lasting value.

Read the full story here.

Proper nutrition aids learning

(Found on the Calgary Herald website)

Every day, nearly half of the 44 students at Our Lady of Lourdes School get a free, healthy lunch.

Otherwise, they'd go hungry.

Our Lady of Lourdes is a school for students from Grades 1 to 12 with special education needs: one group has autism spectrum disorder; the other has severe emotional and behavioural disorders.

Compounding their problems, many come from families unable to provide proper nutrition.

Read the full story here.

Christmas Concert Toy Donations

There has been a little confusion over the Toy Mountain project at the school for this year. Haultain has decided to give families the opportunity to contribute to the toy collection only if they wish.

We understand that at this time of year coming up with the extra money and time for this sort of thing can be tough and that the classrooms are already asking for donations for the basket raffle. Because of this, we aren't asking for the toys as an 'entrance fee' to the Christmas concert and we aren't trying to compel donations in any way. We just want to provide a convenient way to donate if you so choose.

Next year we will do something different. All suggestions are welcome.

Council Meeting

This month's Council meeting will be dedicated to our annual Performance Review (December 8 at 6:30 in the library). Each year (since 2007), we have analyzed our work and compared it to what is mandated by the government and what is expected by the parents. There will be no formal agenda/motions except the discussion of performance.

Please go here to read the 13 indicators we use to gauge our performance as a Council.

Thank you - hope to see you there.

Canada slips in education rankings

I think this is good cause for concern - does anyone else share my sentiments?

"...there is something going on in Asia concerning education, and it's because the value they attach to education is much greater in those countries"...

Read more here.

Two Interesting Articles

... that have been submitted by Roxane. This one centres around a gin-soaked Daddy blogger - and this one asks some pretty interesting questions about schools' use of social media.

Thanks Roxane! If anyone ever finds an article they think might be of interest to Haultain Parents, please email the council - and we'll get it set up on the blog for everyone to read.

Also, here's a reminder that the Parent Council/Association meets up this Thursday at 6:30 in the library. Hope to see you there!

Sign Changing?

Hello everyone, we are looking for a volunteer, or two, to help take over our front sign changing needs. The sign needs to be changed approximately every 2 weeks depending on what is going on and training will be provided by one Mrs. Tammy Campsall. So if you are interested in volunteering for this job for the remainder of the year, please email me and let me know so we can set it up!! Thanks so much in advance!!

Comment Moderation

I wanted to remind everyone about the blog rules for comment moderation. If you have a comment that you would like published that could be construed in any way as negative, it has to have your name attached to it.

As I have mentioned previously, all the blog authors, the entire Council and PA exec, the teachers and admin all share their names and you know how to reach them if they say something you don't like. The same rule should apply for comments.

On a similar note, if you have any issue with the school or your child's classroom/teacher, I know for a fact that Mr. Barkley, Mr. Fero, and all the staff would really appreciate and welcome any input you have about your experiences at Haultain (good or bad). If you want help or advice on presenting that input; I would be more than happy to help you out. Let me know.

Former education minister calls for single school system

Former Alberta Education Minister Dave King is calling for end to public funding for separate schools.

"We want little Catholic kids to be educated beside little Protestant kids, beside rich kids, poor kids, Indian kids, refugee kids," said Dave King, education minister during the Peter Lougheed era.

"I believe in our kids being educated together."

King has created a website and an online petition to put an end to religious schooling in Alberta.

Read the full story here.

Calendar Problem

Google is having a technical issue with their calendar app (which our blog uses) so we've had to change the default view to weekly. Please double check the time and date of anything that shows up there for the next few days.

CBE Communication Survey

The CBE would like parental input into the level of communication they are providing for parents. Click here to fill out the survey.