I just read this on the CBC website, and thought it might be of interest to some Haultain parents:
When Pamela Davis was pregnant with her daughter Meaghan, she started to worry about contamination from the lead paint in her Hoboken, N.J., row house. Then she started reading about chemicals in plastic toys and baby clothes treated with flame retardant.
Soon her entire nursery seemed to pose some mysterious threat to her impending bundle of joy. She was surrounded.
Click here to read the full article.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Fluoride to stay in Calgary drinking water
I caught this, pursuant to the earlier discussion on the blog:
Fluoride will remain in Calgary's drinking water after city council voted down a motion to remove it.
A proposal to refer the motion for more study, including an assessment of whether a plebiscite could decide the contentious issue, was also rejected Tuesday.
Five aldermen supported the motion to remove the substance from Calgary's water supply in part to save money, but it was voted down 7-6.
Click here to read the full story.
Fluoride will remain in Calgary's drinking water after city council voted down a motion to remove it.
A proposal to refer the motion for more study, including an assessment of whether a plebiscite could decide the contentious issue, was also rejected Tuesday.
Five aldermen supported the motion to remove the substance from Calgary's water supply in part to save money, but it was voted down 7-6.
Click here to read the full story.
MTSPA
Last night a dedicated group of parents from McKenzie Towne got together to discuss an action plan toward the creation of their own parent association. This will be a group of parents dedicated to fund raising and organizing volunteers to help fund programming at their new school.
A very good framework and path forward was created and they are looking for as much help and input as possible. They are welcoming all parents of children who will be part of the McKenzie Towne K-4 program next year. A lot of work is required to get this organization off the ground - please send me your contact information to forward on if you can help out in any way.
They will be: applying to the Alberta Corporate Registry for official status, applying to the AGLC for a Casino license, looking for any and all suggestions for other fund-raising ideas, building a web site/blog similar to ours as an informational gathering point and discussion forum, deciding on an AGM date to get the democratic ball rolling and choose an executive.
They will be having another meeting in about 3 weeks time and then monthly meetings after that. Stay tuned for details...
A very good framework and path forward was created and they are looking for as much help and input as possible. They are welcoming all parents of children who will be part of the McKenzie Towne K-4 program next year. A lot of work is required to get this organization off the ground - please send me your contact information to forward on if you can help out in any way.
They will be: applying to the Alberta Corporate Registry for official status, applying to the AGLC for a Casino license, looking for any and all suggestions for other fund-raising ideas, building a web site/blog similar to ours as an informational gathering point and discussion forum, deciding on an AGM date to get the democratic ball rolling and choose an executive.
They will be having another meeting in about 3 weeks time and then monthly meetings after that. Stay tuned for details...
Don't forget!
Today is the Choir and Grade 1 Math Club at noon, and in the evening - starting at 5:30, it's the Haultain Parent Association sponsored "Family Inline Skate Night". Come out for a skate with the kids! At 6pm, for those of you who are interested, it's the CBE's System meeting at John G Diefenbaker High School (6620 - 4 Street N.W.) Here's the agenda:
5:45 p.m. Registration/ coffee and cake
6:30 p.m. Welcome/Housekeeping items
6:35 p.m. Greetings from CBE – Chief Superintendent Bev Hubert
6:40 p.m. The CBE Parent Portal – Cindy Seibel, Director of Information Technology Services
7:00 p.m. Safety and Security in Schools – Janice R Richardson, System Assistant Principal, System Suspensions & Sue Stretton, Specialist, Student Response Team/Calgary Community Conferencing.
The meeting will conclude at approximately 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Pitfalls in Rumour; Stick to the facts
This is a post to discuss the pitfalls inherent in rumour. As an engaged community of parents involved in a fabulous school - it is only natural to be passionate about our issues. I know that a lot of conversation is inevitable and everyone is wondering what will happen next year. There are many things that are unknown at this point and speculation is bound to happen. This is the where we all have to be careful. It is important that when speculation about the future occurs that it isn't passed off as fact. That's how rumours start and rumours at this point are detrimental in all cases.
The CBE understands that the communities served by Haultain, Queensland, Deer Run, and Diamond Cove have many families, all those families have a keen interest in doing what it best for their children. At this time we have to trust that the CBE has the same interests. Your Council and Mr. Barkley are staying on top of the issues as they arise and all that we learn goes out to our community through the school, the email list and this blog.
With that being said, we want to be involved in the engagement and planning process that the CBE goes through when they plan for future accommodation. Mr. Barkley has assured me that we will have a voice when the time comes for community input. Until that time speculation is only that - we simply don't know for sure what will happen beyond next years school term. Here is what we have been told so far:
1: there will be a full school year at Haultain next year.
2: the McKenzie Towne kids, their principal, their teachers will all ship out as one unit in January of 2010 to move in to their new school.
3: Haultain will carry on with the school year and our remaining students.
4: Haultain will not be adding to the school's population from any community in January of 2010
5: the principal's position for MT has been posted and will be filled soon.
6: there has NOT been a decision to close any school in the area as of yet.
7: the CBE will make a decision (with eventual community input) for future planning and accomodation for our students and the students of Queensland/Deer Run/Diamond Cove ... sometime.
If you are confused or have heard rumours about closures or just want clarification on anything that is going on - send me an email and I will get you all the answers that are available.
The CBE understands that the communities served by Haultain, Queensland, Deer Run, and Diamond Cove have many families, all those families have a keen interest in doing what it best for their children. At this time we have to trust that the CBE has the same interests. Your Council and Mr. Barkley are staying on top of the issues as they arise and all that we learn goes out to our community through the school, the email list and this blog.
With that being said, we want to be involved in the engagement and planning process that the CBE goes through when they plan for future accommodation. Mr. Barkley has assured me that we will have a voice when the time comes for community input. Until that time speculation is only that - we simply don't know for sure what will happen beyond next years school term. Here is what we have been told so far:
1: there will be a full school year at Haultain next year.
2: the McKenzie Towne kids, their principal, their teachers will all ship out as one unit in January of 2010 to move in to their new school.
3: Haultain will carry on with the school year and our remaining students.
4: Haultain will not be adding to the school's population from any community in January of 2010
5: the principal's position for MT has been posted and will be filled soon.
6: there has NOT been a decision to close any school in the area as of yet.
7: the CBE will make a decision (with eventual community input) for future planning and accomodation for our students and the students of Queensland/Deer Run/Diamond Cove ... sometime.
If you are confused or have heard rumours about closures or just want clarification on anything that is going on - send me an email and I will get you all the answers that are available.
Board of Trustees
The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees takes place tonight. Click here for full details. Also, don't forget that it's an inline skate night, and the CBE system meeting tomorrow night. Please see the calendar below for details.
Small But Mighty!
Our little school did tremendously well this past weekend at the City Wide Youth Science Fair held at the Big Four Building, Stampede Park.
Participating elementary schools are allowed to submit 1 project for every 15 students enrolled in grades 5 and 6. HMS was allowed to send three projects.
Representing HMS were:
Jake T. (grade 5) with his project entitled: "In Search of Vitamin C"
Samantha N and Nicole N (grade 5) with their project entitled "Freezing Point Depression"
and
Rita D. (grade 6) with her project entitled "I've Been Growin' - Where Have You Been?"
Our students were entered in different categories depending on their topic.
Jake won a silver medal, placing second in his consumer goods/physical sciences category.
Samantha and Nicole won gold medals, placing first in their physical sciences/earth sciences category.
And Rita won a gold medal, placing first in her life science/biology category.
We can be extremely proud of the efforts of all our Science Fair Club participants and particularly proud of the successes these students experienced at this level of competition.
Susan Summers
Science Fair Coordinator
Participating elementary schools are allowed to submit 1 project for every 15 students enrolled in grades 5 and 6. HMS was allowed to send three projects.
Representing HMS were:
Jake T. (grade 5) with his project entitled: "In Search of Vitamin C"
Samantha N and Nicole N (grade 5) with their project entitled "Freezing Point Depression"
and
Rita D. (grade 6) with her project entitled "I've Been Growin' - Where Have You Been?"
Our students were entered in different categories depending on their topic.
Jake won a silver medal, placing second in his consumer goods/physical sciences category.
Samantha and Nicole won gold medals, placing first in their physical sciences/earth sciences category.
And Rita won a gold medal, placing first in her life science/biology category.
We can be extremely proud of the efforts of all our Science Fair Club participants and particularly proud of the successes these students experienced at this level of competition.
Susan Summers
Science Fair Coordinator
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