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February 2011 • Issue 6 • VOL . 8
The Calgary Science School
Principal’s Message Internet safety has been an ongoing theme in schools since the early days of providing Internet access to students. While there has been continued recognition of the importance of educating young people about the risks associated with using the Internet, it has arguably been an impossible task to keep ahead of all of the ways in which this incredible resource might be misused. There are a couple of articles in this month’s Spectrum about Internet safety, as we felt it important to connect with parents once again about this topic. At CSS we have taken an approach with technology that is based on student responsibility rather than on limiting access and trying to control content. It is impossible to block all of the sites we don’t want students going to and when schools have tried to do this, they end up blocking sites that have
worthwhile content. The controls we have on our laptops are the controls that are inherent in the web browsers on each machine. We do not have a list of websites that we block. Our belief is that students need to be given true responsibility in order to learn how to take responsibility. Our philosophy has resulted in very few incidents of students accessing inappropriate websites with our laptops. We constantly monitor how students are using their laptops, we teach them about Internet safety, and we address every incident of suspected misuse of the technology. For example, as I am writing this, I randomly sampled 100 students’ laptops and used a piece of software that allows me to see what they are working on in real time. All 100 students were on task, without a single one using the laptops for anything other than their school work. That is not to say that we do not have incidents of misuse, but they are few and far between and
are approached as an opportunity to work with students on learning about responsibility. On a completely unrelated note, but on a topic which I definitely want to address here, is the Alberta Education survey on the future of charter schools. Included in this Spectrum is an article that contains background information that I strongly encourage everyone to read prior to filling out the survey. It is vital that Alberta Education hear the perspective of charter school parents and so I urge all of our parents and all other interested people (friends, other family, older siblings, etc) to become acquainted with the information in the background document, then to take some time to fill out the survey. If you would like more information, the future of charter schools survey will be a topic of discussion that our Superintendent, Dr. Garry McKinnon, will speak about at our February 3 school council meeting. Darrell Lonsberry
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In this issue:
February 2011 Principal’s
Message...........1
Facebook..............................2 Tips for Parents: Your Child’s Internet Safety.........3 Alberta Education Survey...4 Parent Volunteer Committee Update..............7 Board of Directors 2011 Retreat........................8 A Day in the life.................11 School Council News.........12
Social networking has become an extremely popular form of expression for adults and children over the years. As access to Internet technology has increased, so has our ability to communicate with others in ‘near time’. Sites like MySpace and Twitter have allowed users to interact and keep in touch with friends, family and even strangers. One of the most popular social networking sites on the Internet today is Facebook. We are seeing more and more of our CSS students utilizing this site at home and because of this, I want to talk a little about the Facebook phenomenon.
Science School Builders....17
Facebook has been a popular way for people to showcase who they are or who they wish to become. Users can display pictures, share stories, join groups and link content that they feel best represents themselves. Other members of this community can then search out people by their name, friends or group affiliations. This has been a popular way for individuals to share ideas and personal content, but we are finding that some students have had challenges properly interacting with peers and adults. The following are some social networking examples from Facebook that we have seen.
Anne Tingle Library Report...................18
False representation
Barry MacDonald Seminar...13 Girls Leadership Potluck...14 Transportation Update......15
Weasel at Weaselhead.......18 Gr 8/9 Leadership Gingerbread House Building Contest................19 Phys Ed & Winter Update...20 6.1/6.2 Winter Camp..........22 Stand up to Bullying : Wear Pink at CSS................24 Music Notes........................26 Understanding Issues Teens Face today...............26 Teddy Bear Toss..................17 February 2011 Calendar....28
Facebook has a policy where students need to be 13 or older in order to access and create a profile. We have found younger students who have created a profile by lying about their age. Other students are legally able to create an account, but want to create a different persona for themselves. We have seen instances where grade 5-9 students have said that they were 16+. In both cases, students are telling falsehoods about themselves.
Cyber Bullying
We see many cases where students say things online that they would not be comfortable saying to someone in person. It is easy for someone to use inappropriate language, slander or bully someone with the words they type into a Facebook page.
Inappropriate Content
Pictures, graphics and videos is an integral part of Facebook. Student access to still and video cameras are now commonplace. Many individuals post content that seems funny at the time, but can be detrimental to that individual (or others) a day, week or even 10 years later. People fail to consider that once content is posted, they have lost control over its use. It can be saved or shared by anyone who can see the posting.
March 2011 Calendar........29 The
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Time Management
Some individuals allow sites like Facebook to consume a large portion of the time they spend at home. Computer time is spent posting content, dialoging with Facebook members or reading information about others instead of completing homework assignments or finding other activities during down time. The question becomes, What can parents do to protect and assist their child’s usage of social networking sites such as Facebook? Monitoring their usage of these sites is key. The following recommendations can help make this easier:
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Have your child share their username and password for Facebook so that you have access to their account. This will allow you to see the friends they are interacting with, the individuals who access their account and the content being posted. Create your own account and have your child add you as a friend. This will allow you to see when their page has been updated. Restrict the laptop to specific areas of the house. Areas of high traffic such as a kitchen or living room allow for periodic observations of what is on the screen. Read Facebook’s policies (http://www.facebook. com/policy.php). It is important to know everything your child is agreeing to when an account is created.
Although monitoring works in most instances, we have seen cases where students need extra assistance to protect themselves from some of the dangers of social networking. In these situations, we are able to work with the family and student involved to come up with other solutions. This can involve configuring curfews or time restrictions on laptop usage. The following sites can also be of assistance: http://www.netsmartz.org/index.aspx http://www.kidshelpphone.ca/en/home.asp http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/index.cfm http://www.wiredsafety.org/parent.html http://www.getwebwise.ca/index.cfm http://www.protectchildren.ca/app/en/kik If you have any questions about this topic, or if I can provide assistance with your child’s usage of technology at the Calgary Science School, please do not hesitate to contact me. Regards, Scott Petronech Educational Technologist Calgary Science School scott.p@calgaryscienceschool.com (403) 282-2890 ext. 234
Tips for parents:your child’s internet safety
Written by an anonymous student
Do you know what your child has been doing or saying on the Internet or on chat sites? If not, here are some tips on how to keep track of your child’s Internet usage and how to keep them safe.
Tip #1:
Before allowing your child on a social networking website, (such as Facebook) check it out. Make an account and make sure there is no content that you do not want your child looking at or using.
Tip #2:
If you child already has an account for a certain website, check it out and make sure you are able to access it at all time. If you do not want you child on the site, make sure to set up a parental block on it. For a mac, go to System Preferences -> Parental Controls, and it will show you how to continue.
Tip#3:
When you have an account on a website that you do not want your child on, make sure that there is no access to that account. This can also be done in you parental controls options.
Tip#4:
If your child resists you accessing their account directly, let them know that this is just to make sure that they are safe. At the same time make an account and add your child as a friend. (This will allow you to view their profile). If your child does not want you to have the ability to enter their profile, that is normal and you will just have to explain to them why you need to have access to their account. This is a thing that is necessary and important. Believe it or not, we know you are doing it to keep us safe. Remember, there are just tips. I hope you enjoyed.
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ALBERT A EDUcA TION SURVEY ON THE FUTURE Of CHARTER ScHOOLs IN ALBERTA A lberta E ducation is seeking feedback on the future of T he C algary S cience S chool board and administration
charter schools . strongly encour age you to participate in the process by completing a survey . T he following document has been prepared to provide you with background information to assist you in completing the survey .
Charter schools were established by the Government of Alberta in 1994 as part of a larger initiative to provide choice and foster innovation in the education system. The Hon. Dave Hancock, Minister of Education observes that, “One of the original purposes of creating charter schools was not only to support and encourage educational innovation, but also to disseminate the results of research conducted in charter schools more broadly across the Alberta education system. Fifteen years after the first charter schools opened we are asking Albertans to help us develop a vision for the future of charter schools. In particular, we are interested in finding out what interested members of the public think about a number of ideas that have been proposed for the future role and purpose of charter schools”. In presenting the online survey, reference is made to the Charter School Concept paper, released in October 2009 which outlines a next generation of charter schools that would serve as provincial innovative, research centres. As noted in the e-mail from the Minister of Education, “it is envisioned that next generation charter schools would engage in significant educational research with enhanced data collection for longitudinal study and dissemination of research through peer-reviewed journals. Charter schools would augment and enhance the diversity of educational research and innovation taking place in and between classrooms, schools, school jurisdictions, post-secondary institutions, stakeholder organizations and the Government of Alberta”. The complete Charter School Concept Paper and the online survey are posted on the http://education.alberta.ca/department/ipr/charterschools.aspx website for reference and will be available until February 4, 2011.
In addition to responses to this online survey, there will be opportunities to provide input on any regulatory changes affecting charter schools following revisions to the School Act which are expected to be dealt with in the Spring session of the legislature through the adoption of a new Education Act. If you have any questions or concerns relating to the survey you are asked to contact David Woloshyn, Acting Director, Zone 5 Services Branch, at 780-4275382 (toll-free by first dialing 310-0000) or by email at david.woloshyn@gov.ab.ca The Calgary Science School Board of Directors believes that it is very important to engage students and parents (present and past), staff members and community members in a process of sharing views in regard to the future of charter schools in Alberta through completion of the online survey. To assist respondents in providing an informed response to the survey questions, background information with specific reference to the Calgary Science School is provided in this document. As well, if you require further information or have questions or suggestions we strongly encourage you to contact us. Ms. Lori Wilhelm Einsporn - Board Chair lawilhelm@shaw.ca (403) 860-6832 Dr. Garry McKinnon: Superintendent, Calgary Science School garry.m@calgaryscienceschool.com (403) 282-2890 -extension 232
Mr. Darrell Lonsberry: Principal, Calgary Science School darrell.l@calgaryscienceschool.com (403) 282-2890 -extension The
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CALGARY ScIENcE ScHOOL BAcKGROUND INfORMATION • The Calgary Science School was opened in Sep-
tember 1999 and currently has 600 students in grades 4 to 9 who are transported to the school from all quadrants of the city.
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Although there is a significant waiting list of approximately 1,800 students, the school cannot exceed the cap of 600 students which was established by Alberta Education when the charter was approved.
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The pillars of the Calgary Science School charter highlight the emphasis in the school on learning through a disposition of inquiry; enhancing learning and teaching through the intentional and meaningful use of technology and enriching learning experiences by taking learning beyond the classroom through outdoor education programs and a variety of authentic learning experiences.
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Although the mandate of the school includes science education and the science of learning, students are provided with a well-rounded educational experience through the humanities (language arts and social studies), fine arts (art, dance, drama, music and band) physical education (fitness and the development of a healthy, active lifestyle) and a variety of programs designed to help each student experience success as a learner, leader and ethical citizen.
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Our focus is on student learning, engaging students as learners and making it possible for every student to succeed. The outstanding academic achievement of the Calgary Science School students is just one indicator of their success.
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The essence of the learning experience in the Calgary Science School has been described as, “we bring learning to life and life to learning through authentic, engaging learning experiences where it is never just an ordinary day”.
The following comments relate specifically to questions in the online survey: Questions one and two
As a school community we embrace the mandate of serving as a centre of innovation and educational research while maintaining our focus on the success of our students as learners. Through the years we have been and continue to be involved in a number of research initiatives (including university-based, peer-reviewed studies) in partnership with the University of Calgary, Mount Royal University, the University of Alberta and other organizations including the Galileo Educational Network Association (which was involved in a major three-year study of our one-on-one laptop program, lesson study and engaged learning) and Apple Computing. We are continuing to work closely with Galileo in undertaking research and professional development activities and are exploring opportunities to build on our partnerships with the universities, Alberta Education and other organizations in conducting research which is designed to promote exemplary teaching practices in the Calgary Science School, which can be shared with other schools. As well, our teachers have been involved in a number of action research projects funded through the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement. Our current focus on student assessment has led to the enhancement of assessment strategies and the development of unique approaches for involving students in their assessment including the use of electronic portfolios.
Question three
We have been involved in numerous initiatives and are actively seeking opportunities to build on our research partnerships with post-secondary institutions, Alberta Education and other organizations. As well, we believe there is tremendous potential in working collaboratively with other schools in sharing best practices and conducting research.
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Question four
There is a very strong focus on professional development in the Calgary Science School. There is a modified school year to provide for 14 staff professional development days, the timetable is organized for common planning time for teachers to work collaboratively as teams and to learn from each other and there is a strong culture of sharing best practices reflected in the ongoing visits to the Calgary Science School of teachers from other schools. Every effort is made to benefit from opportunities to learn from and with teachers from other schools. For the past two years, the Board of Directors has allocated budgetary funds for the position of Professional Collaboration Coordinator. Our Professional Collaboration Coordinator has had a very positive impact on teacher professional development through: working with teachers individually and as teams in the school; facilitating professional development sessions and promoting collaboration with teachers from other schools within Calgary, provincially, nationally and internationally. In addition to demonstrating strong support for professional development collaboration through this unique position, the board has established an External Collaboration Committee to promote professional development, collaboration and partnerships with other organizations and corporations who share this common interest.
Questions five, six and seven
The Board of Directors would welcome additional funding from Alberta Education to support professional development, collaboration and research initiatives. A request was made to Alberta Education to fund the Professional Collaboration Coordinator position. In response it was noted that there was tremendous merit in the initiative, however no funding was available for this position at this time. The board elected to continue to allocate funds in its budget for this position in recognition of its importance in fulfilling the charter mandate and the benefits for teachers and students in the school and beyond. The school administration has been involved in discussions of a joint research project with Alberta Education involving the development of electronic teach-
ing resources. As well, the board has established a Fund Development committee to pursue private sector and corporate support for major projects and initiatives in the school.
Question eight, nine and ten
At the present time, the Calgary Science School Society Board of Directors is made up of five parents of students in the school who are nominated through the School Council and eleven members who volunteer their time because they believe in the Calgary Science School charter, mandate and programs. The background of these individuals includes various professions, corporations and post-secondary institutions and the school benefits significantly from the experiences and expertise of the board members. The current governance model which could be described as a partnership/coalition is working very well.
Question eleven
As has been noted, there is strong support in the Calgary Science School for serving as a centre of innovation and research. The focus should be on establishing exemplary teaching practices which could be replicated in other schools. We embrace the vision which has been articulated by the Minister of Education for transforming education in Alberta through: facilitating engaged learning, developing ethical citizens and promoting an entrepreneurial spirit and we believe that the pursuit of these goals through research and the development of innovative teaching practices could be a requirement for granting a charter.
Question twelve, fourteen and fifteen
There are a number of capital and program initiatives which have been identified by the Board of Directors including the development of an outdoor education facility and a state-of-the-art science and mathematics laboratory which could serve the Calgary Science School and other schools over the long term. The current system of renewing charters every five years is problematic in terms of making long-term commitments related to facilities and capital projects.
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Parent Volunteer Question thirteen
The fact that the list of approximately 1800 students who cannot be accommodated in the Calgary Science School because of the cap of 600 is certainly a concern to the parents in particular, who have students on the waiting list. The removal of the cap would make it possible to explore a variety of options for enhancing and expanding the current program.
Question sixteen, seventeen and eighteen
At the present time, in keeping with the school act requirements, all of the teachers in the Calgary Science School are certificated. As well, all of the teachers are associate members of the Alberta Teachers Association and they are actively involved in professional development initiatives provided by the ATA. We believe that there is merit in providing flexibility and the opportunity to pursue various options relating to teaching staff contractual obligations.
Questions nineteen, twenty, twenty-one and twenty-two
Charter schools should be responsible for demonstrating success in addressing the charter goals, fulfilling the mandate of developing exemplary teaching practices which can be replicated in other schools and providing leadership through research and innovation in promoting the transformation of education in Alberta in keeping with the vision that has been identified by the Minister of Education. It is recognized that research takes many forms in the Calgary Science School and as was the case in the Galileo Educational Network Association longitudinal research of the Calgary Science School oneon-one laptop program and learner engagement, whenever appropriate research should be subject to peer review and it should be submitted for academic publication. In addition to measuring the success of the school program through improved student achievement, measures of student engagement and the development of ethical citizenship and an entrepreneurial spirit should also be utilized.
Committee Update Please remember all volunteers at the Calgary Science School are required to sign in at the office before starting their volunteer shift (board members, council members, committee members, field trip and classroom volunteers). This helps us keep our school secure, and properly recognize the enormous contributions of our parent population. As well, it also helps us to record the hours of our volunteers and apply for grants with these hours being considered as one of the criteria for grant applications. To encourage volunteers to sign-in we are having monthly “Sign-In” draws. Every time your name is in the volunteer binder it will be entered into our draw. Congratulations to our first winner, Karen Morrison
Volunteer Sign-In Procedures: • •
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Please log your name, start time and where you will be volunteering in the volunteer binder. Find your name badge in the box and wear it while you are volunteering. If you do not find your name please use a “guest” badge. Please send us a quick email if you do not have a badge and we will have one made up for the next time you volunteer. volunteers.css@gmail.com Name badges are not required for field trips but please sign in so we can track the volunteer hours. Outdoor Education trips: please log your hours in the binder so we can track them along with the other volunteer hours. You can email your hours to us if you are not coming to the school before you volunteer. Sign out when your shift is finished, record your hours and return your name badge to the box.
To contact us please send an email to volunteers.css@gmail.com. We welcome all questions and comments.
Denise, Rebecca, Heather Parent Volunteer Committee
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Board of Directors
2011 Retreat
O
n the afternoon of Friday, January 7, the members of the Calgary Science School Board of Directors went back to school. The assignment was to develop a deeper understanding of the nature of learning and teaching in the Calgary Science School from the perspective of a student. Grade eight and nine student volunteers assumed responsibility for the Board members as their mentors and tour guides. In preparation for this task, the Board members were introduced to the initiatives at the School to promote: a caring culture; student and staff wellness; a spirit of collaboration among students and staff; success for students through the Learning Strategies program and other support programs; innovativeness and risk-taking and the use of technology to enhance learning and teaching. For the remainder of the afternoon the Board members and their mentors spent time in classrooms. The Board members were able to learn more about: inquiry and personal development through the fine arts; programs promoting student fitness and an active lifestyle; environmental and outdoor education programs; inquiry-based learning activities in math, science and humanities; robotics; and teacher collaborative planning. Throughout the afternoon there were plenty of opportunities for the board members and students to ask questions of each other and to discuss what they were observing about learning and teaching in the Calgary Science School.
This unique introduction to the Board of Directors two day retreat was enthusiastically described by the Board members as an incredibly worthwhile learning experience and a highlight for them personally. They all made a commitment to find opportunities to come back and spend some more time with the students and teachers. The board members in all cases were very impressed with what they had observed and expressed appreciation for the outstanding manner in which their student hosts and mentors took care of them. In the debriefing session at the end of the day, Board member commendations of the students and teachers included:
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The students were articulate and competent and were very capable at responding to the questions posed to them by the Board members. They also asked the board members some insightful questions about their role in overseeing the operation of the school and providing visionary leadership. They have a clear sense of pride. They appear to be part of a highly functional and collaborative environment. The students were talking about their work in a different way. They were talking about how they better understood themselves as learners (metacognition). There is something in it for them and they value their learning experiences. The students are good “salespeople”. Learning through inquiry is something that the students The
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understand and appreciate. The students are great ambassadors for the school. The students have a sense of the whole school and they share a common language and understanding with their teachers related to learning and teaching in the Calgary Science School. One board member who has served on the board for many years observed that, “the atmosphere continues to be positive from the inception of the school and we continue to build on what is ‘best’ about the school.” Every class had some type of inquiry taking place. There were some real-world applications. The learning seemed to be very authentic. The students seemed to understand the rubrics. They were very clear about the rubrics because they helped to build them. They really liked this assessment process. The students indicated that they value the student collaboration, school community and the freedom to explore their own learning. They like having the ability to think for themselves. The students and teachers have a common educational language and they speak passionately about learning and teaching in the Calgary Science School. The students made a special point of describing their enthusiasm for the outdoor education programs and the tremendous value of these learning experiences. Technology has become the ubiquitous tool that Alberta Education had hoped it would be. There were many examples observed of how technology is being used to enhance learning and teaching.
The retreat continued into Friday evening with two presentations. Assistant Principal Dr. Shelley Robinson outlined the AISI project and the development of a variety of strategies for assessing student learning such as the use of rubrics and electronic portfolios. The second presentation was an update on the activities of the External Collaboration Coordinating
Committee from Mr. Neil Stephenson, Professional Collaboration Coordinator and Dr. Torben Bech Hansen, the External Collaboration Committee Vice Chair. For the past two years in keeping with the mandate as a charter school to serve as a centre of innovation and excellence and to develop and share exemplary teaching practices within the school and beyond, the Board has supported the Professional Collaboration Coordinator position and formed a separate External Collaboration Coordinating Committee to promote partnerships with other schools, universities, community organizations, corporations and Alberta Education. Mr. Stevenson provided an exciting overview of all that has been accomplished at the school in support of the mandate and a draft five-year plan for the future which will be presented for approval to the Board of Directors at a future meeting. The Board continued the retreat on Saturday with a presentation by Board members Ms. Catherine Cook and Ms. Lorraine Chan in regard to developing a frame of reference for the newly formed Fund Development Committee. This Committee was established by the Board of Directors to oversee fund development activities to provide financial support for some of the major capital projects identified in the Board’s longrange strategic plan. The Board members had an indepth discussion of ideas for generating funds and building partnerships to support the work of the school and its future requirements to meet the demands of the 21st century learner while developing exemplary teaching practices and student learning programs which could be shared with other schools. The Board of Directors retreat 2011 provided an excellent opportunity for the Board members to develop a better understanding of learning and teaching in the Calgary Science School and to articulate a vision for continuing growth and development. Dr. Garry Mckinnon
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A
Day in the life
of an Administrator at the Calgary Science School
We will be focussing on various educational roles in the school each edition of the Spectrum.
According to the Principal Quality Practice Guideline: Promoting Successful School leadership in Alberta document (2009), the over-riding statement that guides us in our leadership profession is that administrators need to be “accomplished teacher[s] who practice quality leadership in the provision of opportunities for optimum learning and development of all students in the school”. As a result, “It is never just an ordinary day” for our administrative team at our school. Our days can be blindingly busy with all “hands on deck” as we respond to student and teacher needs as they arise, especially on hectic days where classes are participating in multiple events. As well, we are interestingly immersed as instructional leaders in the classrooms. We can also be found to be writing reports and responding to some of the paperwork required of us by the various levels of our organization, and our province. Meetings are also an important time for us to connect with our educational community, and there are numerous meetings with school curriculum teams and grade teams; school council and school board committees and many others. So, as a result, our day could potentially look something like the following when i runs from 8:00 AM to 5:30PM: I have excerpted an actual day from my calendar so that it is authentic to my experience at this school:
8:00 AM:
A Learning Strategies Meeting with all of the CSS Learning Strategies Leaders representing each of the days allows us to connect about our new Learning Strategy program.
8:40:
Early morning is a good time to touch base with some teachers where there is some information to pass along, and calendar updates to be made.
8:50:
Students are still coming into the school. A bus is late, but we want to direct them into their classrooms for attendance purposes. I need to track down one student with a message.
9:00:
60 or so emails await my attention. I have 20 minutes to respond. Two phone messages also blink at me.
9:30:
Student guests are here for an orientation from MRU. They will be working with our partner teachers as student volunteers and require a walk-about to become familiar with the school.
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10:30:
A Forging Connections (Fine Arts Conference, October, 2011) Committee Meeting (with both parents and teachers) is congregating in my office with all sorts of exciting ideas to be shared.
10:35:
A student comes to visit for a couple of minutes to show me her audition piece for Central Memorial (I sneak out of my meeting for a few minutes to chat with her).
12:00 PM:
Lunch? I can eat later. It is a better time to connect up with a staff member who has a burning question that cannot wait.
12:30:
Lunch? I think I’ll heat it up and multi-task by responding to some desk work that requires attention.
1:00:
We meet as a leadership team and review the Exemplary Teaching and Learning Documents that we are preparing to highlight at our upcoming professional development day before unveiling them to our educational community and the Board.
2:30:
I have to edit the CSS Spectrum Newsletter and then pass it along to Rheana Fehr so that she can finish it by our deadline, but I pass it along to our office manager instead to consider it first so that I can visit a classroom as promised. It is valuable for me to be in classrooms as much as possible.
3:00:
A student matter that occurred during lunch recess comes to light and requires that I follow-up with three other students, and then connect with the parents to keep them abreast of the situation. I then write this matter up so that the teachers are aware of the situation and can help support these circumstances.
3:45:
We have a curriculum leaders meeting, and I have to gather some things to share on behalf of AISI (Alberta Initiative for School Improvement) and make sure that people are aware of our budget updates and other meeting agenda items.
5:30:
The meeting went a little later than anticipated. I am half-way through my “to-do” list, so I tackle a couple of items, and revise my plans for the upcoming day. No day looks exactly alike, especially when there are also evening meeting, and when augmented by our outdoor education activities, our fine arts presentations, and other exciting enrichment opportunities happening in our school, it can be a very busy place indeed. The life of an administrator is fast-paced and complex, but very rewarding. It demands that we forge positive relationships with people and communicate as transparently as possible about how our work adds value to the school. If you have any other questions about what administrators do at our school, attend a “Dialogue with Darrell” session that he hosts periodically on Fridays (see Spectrum Calendar).
Dr. Shelley Robinson
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School CouncilNews
Cold weather, poor road conditions and the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships gold medal game conspired to reduce attendance below normal for our Januar y School Council meeting. But those who did make it out really enjoyed Shashi Shergill’s presentation on social action at the Calgar y Science School. The variety and scope of projects our student body has under taken over the past few years is truly impressive and the ideas for these initiatives come from throughout the school: the “Me to We” elective, grade 8/9 leadership program, ser vice learning classes at all grade levels, and individual students and teachers. On behalf of School Council, I’d like to extend a great big thank you to the entire school community. Your creativity, energy and hard work contribute to a better school, better city and better world.
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Looking ahead:
Our second Balzac Meats fundraiser is current- • ly underway, with order pick-up scheduled for March 17. If you’re down to your last few brownpaper wrapped packages of quality organic meats, you’ll want to get order forms in by the February 11 due date. Thanks to Karen Morrison • and Carolyn Vodden for leading this fundraiser. Our Barry Macdonald “Boy Smarts” presentation sold out in less than two weeks! More information on Barry’s talk can be found on the next page. Thanks to all of you who purchased tickets in support this special School Council event. I would also like to recognize the hard work of • the organizing committee: Joann Pawliw, Tracy Cairns, Leann Meronek, Carrie Grant, Sandra McMullin, Kelly Luchyshyn, Linda Lauweryssen, Jackie Stewart and Dr. Shelley Robinson. Thanks also to those CSS students who provided babysitting services. •
If you haven’t already done so, please take a few minutes to complete and mail in your Accountability Pillar Surveys (these come by mail to your home address, one per student). Also, remember that February 4th is the last day for the Alberta Education Survey on the Future of Charter Schools in Alberta. On January 19th, CSS sent an email about this survey to all parents of students enrolled at CSS. School Council strongly encourages you to take 15 or 20 minutes to read the background information prepared by CSS administration and to go online to complete the survey. The Traffic Safety Committee has prepared a survey for parents of CSS students. Responses will be considered when finalizing plans to improve safety around the school during morning pick-up and afternoon drop-off times. Once it’s available, please take a few minutes to share your thoughts and experiences. Finally, Dr. Garry McKinnon will be the special guest speaker at our next School Council meeting. He’ll talk about pending changes in the Alberta education system, including the provincial government’s “Inspiring Action on Education” white paper, the future of charter schools in Alberta and the pending new School Act for Alberta. Please join us in the Anne Tingle Library at 7 pm on Thursday, February 3. The regular monthly meeting will take place immediately following Dr. McKinnon’s presentation. As always, if there’s a topic you would like to see addressed at an upcoming school council meeting, please send an email to council.css@gmail.com.
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The process for establishing the Calgary Science School Parent Fundraising Society is well underway. On January 25, the Alberta School Councils’ Association delivered an informative seminar on the differing roles and responsibilities of School Councils and Fundraising Societies.
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Students who ordered CSS t-shirts in December should have received their orders in midJanuary. Thanks very much to our CSS Clothing Committee; Marg Barclay, Michele Madaire and Denise Kitagawa Bettina Jacob for organizing this last round of on behalf of your Calgary Science School Council clothing with the “old” CSS logo. The
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BARRY MACDONALD
Visits CSS
On Thursday, January 27th, Barry MacDonald shared amusing stories and serious insights with a sell-out crowd of 400 interested parents. He had us laughing out loud while encouraging us to re-think our parenting perspectives. And while Barry is best known as the founder of MentoringBoys.com and best-selling author of “Boy Smarts”, he offered great tips on how better to parent both girls and boys:
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Recognize that all girls are not alike and all boys are not alike. Appreciate those differences and adjust your parenting accordingly Play video games with your kids. Not only will you have something new in common to talk about, but it will help you better assess which gaming titles you feel are age-appropriate Accept that sibling bickering is normal – about 4 times an hour Take advantage of time in the car and walks around the neighbourhood to raise awkward or challenging topics of conversation with your kids
For more of Barry’s parenting ideas, contact the CSS library to arrange to borrow a copy of “Boy Smarts”. The school library’s collection includes a range of parenting titles. For a complete overview of how to borrow books from the CSS library or to read brief reviews of a few of the parenting titles available, check out pages 19 and 20 of the September 2010 Spectrum. Past issues of the Spectrum are available at: www.issuu.com/calgaryscienceschool One of the ways School Council strives to enhance learning at CSS is by providing opportunities for parent involvement – through volunteering and parent education. Fortunately, we had some monies available as the result of a private fundraising event held last fall, so when the opportunity arose, we were able to engage Barry for one evening. Thanks to the generous support of Jackie Stewart and girlfriends, we were able to offer CSS parents bargainpriced tickets. And thanks to volunteer students from
CSS we could provide free babysitting services, making the evening very affordable for CSS families. CSS parents (and others) responded enthusiastically, selling-out the event in less than two weeks! Members of the organizing committee did a great job pulling together support for the event:
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Deb Miles arranged for Loblaws / Superstore to sponsor the refreshments for the evening Julie Freedman Smith and Gail Bell from Parenting Power provided free advertising for the event and donated three door prizes Barry MacDonald also donated two door prizes: “Boy Smarts” and “Boys on Target”
On behalf of School Council, I’d like to thank all of the supporters and sponsors for the evening; the members of the organizing committee (listed on page 12); the volunteer babysitters; and our on-the-spot parent volunteers, who helped stack chairs, put away equipment and clean up the gym at the end of the evening. Finally thanks to all of you who took a couple of hours out of your busy schedules to share some laughs and acquire some new ideas for parenting your children. All-in-all, it was an enjoyable and educational evening. Denise Kitagawa on behalf of School Council
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Girls’ Leadership Potluck: December 11, 2010
O
n December 11, 120 girls from CSS got together in the library and shared some food and some informal time together. We were fortunate enough to have some time to talk about the Chris Dittman Africa Project. Girls are being invited to send letters to some of the girls in the village where Chris Dittman is working this year. Some of the activities and projects that the Girls’ Leadership Planning Committee have developed were presented to the full group, and there seemed to be a lot of enthusiasm. The Girls’ Student Planning Committee (smaller planning group), The Girls’ Teacher Planning Committee (6 teachers) and the Girls’ Initiative Group (larger group) have been doing some very interesting things to promote a sense of community among the girls at the school with a focus on the Go Girls’ and Girls’ Circle Curriculum. The theme is about building a sense of efficacy and voice, and to be exposed to as many academic and career opportunities as possible. Dr. S. Robinson
There is some tupperware that has been left over from the Girls’ Potluck event, and if there is anyone needing to claim it to please see Dr. Robinson. The
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S S TranspoC rta
tion Update
CAN YOU HELP?
We could really use you. If you are interested, pleasse phone the school office of email us at: transportationcss@gmail.com
WHAT’s been going on?
The cold weather is once again upon us so just a friendly reminder to please send your child to school prepared! Hats, toques, gloves and boots should be the “every day dress code”. If your child’s bus is delayed we want to ensure kids are dressed appropriately for the weather conditions. Additionally, if your child waits in a vehicle for the bus, please ensure your child is standing outside at the loading zone BEFORE the bus arrives. When the bus has to wait for your child to gather his/her belongings and then exit the vehicle this causes delays. Please be considerate and be ready to go.
WHO are we?
The Transportation Committee is a group of parents Just Like You! We volunteer our time to help with the bussing needs of our students to try to ensure the most efficient and safe service for them. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at: transportationatcss@gmail.com
HOW can you help?
We currently have some vacancies that need to be filled. We are looking for volunteers for these positions:
Bus Chairperson:
You oversee the bussing committee and are organized, good at delegating/ communicating, and reading maps.
Route 1 Coordinator:
You are a parent willing to volunteer your time to oversee the bussing needs of Route 1 (covers part of the NE area of the city). Basically you are willing to check emails and meet with other parent volunteers 2-3 times a year.
Route 4 Coordinator:
Same description as Route 1 Coordinator except this route covers the SE/SW part of the city.
WHERE’s your child’s bus?
When your child’s bus is delayed, for example due to bad road or traffic conditions, you can receive updates via email or cell text messages. Just sign up for the Bus Delay System online by accessing the CSS website and go to the Family Login. Remember, you must sign up at the start of each new school year. If you aren’t interested in signing up to receive notifications, you may call Southland Transportation direct at 403-287-1335 to check the status of your child’s bus. If you have any problems signing up please feel free to contact your Route Coordinator through the previously mentioned transportation gmail account.
WHY should you have a back-up plan?
From time to time there may be a delay in bus service due to traffic, mechanical problems, winter conditions, etc. These delays may be substantial, and of course, are inconvenient for all parents. In preparation for delayed or cancelled service, parents are encouraged to have a back-up plan such as:
Car pooling :
get to know other parents on your child’s route and exchange phone numbers so you can make arrangements to car pool. Thanks for your cooperation. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us!
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SCIENCE SCHOOL BUILDERS This group of grade 4 and 5 students entered the First Lego League challenge at NAIT in Edmonton in January. This was their first experience. The boys have been getting together every Monday afterschool and whenever they had a Friday off to work with the robot and attempt to solve the challenge. They learned a lot about teamwork and programming with lego mindstorms. In Edmonton, they competed with 45 teams from Alberta, Saskatchewan and the NWT. Much to their amazement, they came in 4th place for the Robotics Performance Award and they won 3rd place for the Team presentation Award. Congratulations boys! Jon B, Eamonn and Colin T, Ben C and Evan A.
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Anne Tingle
Library Report
In last November’s Spectrum while touting the strengths of the online information sources, available in the Online Reference Centre section of Learn Alberta.ca ( h t t p : / / w w w. l e a r n a l b e r t a . ca / O n l i n e R e f e r e n ce C e n t r e. a s px ? l a n g = e n ) , I recommended that bookmarking the ORC at school would eliminate the need to fill in the username and password while accessing it at home. A slight correction may be in order. The resources located within that website are truly excellent. However, I have since found that sometimes bookmarking the ORC here at school, may mean it is still secured at home. If you find this the case, here is the website’s required security information: Username: LA362 Password: 4284
Parent Resources:
Those of you new to CSS this year may not know that we have books available for parents to borrow. Located within the professional shelves of the school library, the books are categorized into 4 key topics: 1) positive parenting; 2) gender issues and implications; 3) teenage brain development; and 4) parenting the adolescent; and social and emotional issues. Parents borrow books from our library by setting up an account with either myself, or our library assistant, Mrs. Lamminen. A listing of parent resources, as well as additional information about this section, is in a blog entry called Parent Resources blog entry on the library webpage: http://web.mac.com/css_library/Site/Welcome.html However, at this time, “technical gremlins” have made it necessary for me to reenter some of the data. If you cannot find it this week, check the website later. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about any of the library services or student research activities here at CSS. I welcome questions and feedback all the time. Donna Johnson Alden Teacher-Librarian
Weasel at Weasel head On January 21, 2011, 5.1 and 5.2 hiked to Weaselhead for winter solstice observations. We each wrote about what we could feel, smell, hear and other general observations. After Scott L., Joey H., Michaela G., Matthew L. and Andrew L. then decided to explore animals. They found lots of squirrels and chickadees. Scott L. yelled, “SNOW’S MOVING! No no it’s a MOUSE! No no it’s a very big mouse! No no it’s a rat! No….. IT’S A WEASEL!” What a huge thrill it was for us to see the white weasel poke his head out of his hole a few different times to see if we were gone. That had to be the coolest part of our hike into the Weaselhead. Scott L. Joey H. Michaela G. Matthew L. Andrew L. Stephanie B. Alua K.
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Grade 8/9 Leadership
GI N GERBREAD house building contest
Written by Khoi N., Edward K., Cam B. (Gr. 8) Last month the Grade 8 and 9 Leadership class held a gingerbread house building contest for charity. After the contest was finished, we donated the houses to various organizations including the Mustard Seed, Avenue 15 - a homeless shelter for youth, the YWCA Sheriff King Home, and Woods Homes. Teachers were asked to work with their classes to choose 5 participants to represent each class. The houses were judged based upon their aesthetic appearance and overall build quality. The design and appearance varied, some were simple and minimalistic while others were very ornate with many decorations brought in from the participants. In the end, there were many good entries, so we decided to choose a winner from each grade. Each of the participants was awarded 5 House/Colour points while the winning teams from each grade were awarded an additional 5 points. The contest turned out very well in the end and the gingerbread houses were very much appreciated by all of the recipients. The Grade 8/9 Leadership students who organized this event would like to give a big THANK YOU to Ken Wlad of Sobeys who donated all of the Gingerbread kits. Without him, all of this would not be possible.
Winners by grade (10 House/Colour Points each) 4.3: Colin T., Sofia D., Erica R., Ethan G., Anna V. 5.4: Kate L., Amanda C., Stephanie C., Jon B., Justin B. 6.3: Jada B., Kristin M. Maggie C., Will S., Cole D. 7.3: Harley D., Sarah P., Colby L., Connor S., Noah V. 8.3: Jada A., Shaina F., Tyler W., Nick B., Jaime C. 9.3: Jags B., Kelly H., Kayla R., Sabrina V., Calder K.
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Phys Ed & Athletics Winter Update
Cross Country Skiing
Students in grade 6 to 9 had an opportunity to try cross-country skiing for two classes in January.
Inuit Games
As part of Peace Festival, the Physical Education Department introduced an Inuit Games unit.
Grade 4 Leisure Centre Field Trip In December, Grade 4 students participated in the “Swim for Life� program at the Trico Leisure Centre. As in past years, the trip included a broomball session, hip hop dancing and some time in the fitness studio.
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Wrestling Congratulations to the CSS Jr. High Wrestling team on their CAAA League Championship! The Lakeview Wrestling Club is still continuing until March 19th. See the Athletics Website for more info.
Run Club
A few dedicated individuals are still meeting Friday mornings at 7:45 am. The goal is to register in the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day Road Race March 12, 2011. Anyone is still welcome to join.
ATTN: CSS Parents: Admissions for Grade 4, 2011
If your child has a sibling entering Grade 4 in August 2011, and you have not received an invitation to sign them up for an Entrance Test, please call Kathy in the office: 403-282-2890 or email: kathy.b@calgaryscienceschool.com ASAP to add their name to the waitlist. The
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6.1 & 6.2 WINTER CAMP CROss-COUNTRY
CRAZINEss By Maxwell L (6.2)
The class of 6.2 had the great experience of visiting the Ribbon Creek Hostel for 3 days between January 19th to the 21st for fun and adventure. Of the many activities, and one of the best by far was the crosscountry skiing. Cross-country skiing is when people use skis and poles to push themselves through the snowy terrain. The trails near Ribbon Creek were fabulous. They run right near Mt. Nakiska, on highway 40. Many people improved at skiing, but their memories will never fade because of one word: WIPEOUT! The crashes, the people falling – it was craziness. While laughing, students would use the techniques taught by their guides/instructors. Even the best skiers fell, but that didn’t stop them. They just kept motoring on. Multiple students said things like, “It was so fun, and I had some great experiences.” and another student said, “Even though I fell down so much, I still kept going enthusiastically, and even spotted some wildlife.” Another student stated,“It was a really fun experience and I will never forget it.” It seems as though everyone had a good time. Even the guide, some parents, and a teacher took a spill. Many have said that the best part was going down a ditch beside the highway. A student said, “It was the best part. I didn’t want to do it at first but I tried it, and it was a blast. I wiped out a few times, but that was the fun part!” The ditch takes you down beside the highway and back to the camp. Cross-country skiing can be a great experience for everyone, even if you’ve already done it before. It was an activity to spend time with your friends. Everyone enjoyed it, and hopefully the class of 6.2 will continue to do it as a fun activity. The
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QUINZE BUILDING By Ivan K. (6.1)
The students of 6.1 from the Calgary Science School were lucky to go first to Ribbon Creek, Kananaskis to use the fresh snow for quinze building. While the students of 6.1 participated in many activities like cross-country skiing and outdoor games, they spend a large majority of their time making quinzes. While the groups were digging into their hardened pile of snow on the second day of building, some of the group members began to add more to their locations than just the quinzes. One of the groups made a bathroom area, while another group made a couch. The 3rd group made a bunch of paths to lead them away from their quinze. While all three groups took shifts to dig into their quinze, the rest would play games and have fun in the snow. When the quinze building period was over, everybody went back to the hostel for free time. At night, everyone went back to the quinze area to hang out in the three different quinzes that had been built. Later, the students went back to the hostel to rest for the third day. Students worked very hard on their quinzes. One student helped lead the group and stated, “Get more snow to build the gate.� All of the groups had fun making the quinzes and really enjoyed their time at winter camp.
SEE 6.3 & 6.4 IN NEXT MONTH's IssUE
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Bullying Hurts No Matter How You Put it. Stand Up to Bullying! To stop bullying, you need to know about the various types of bullying. Here they are:
Physical Bullying: Hitting, kicking, pinching, punching, scratching, spitting or any other form of physical attack. Damage to or taking someone else’s belongings may also constitute as physical bullying.Â
Verbal Bullying: Aggression and hostility through name calling, racist, sexist or homophobic jokes, threats and verbal harassment. The most common form of bullying.
Cyber Bullying: This is any type of bullying in the form of an electronic medium. Text messages, e-mails, pictures, chat room bullying and Instant Message bullying all classify as Cyber bullying.
Emotional Bullying: Spreading rumors and stories about someone, intimidation, as well as isolation and exclusion from a group. Created by: Nick L. (9)
Source: http://www.bullyfreekealing.synthasite.com/types.php
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ALL IT
TAKES IS ONE WORD...
STOP THE CHAIN, SUPPORT THE CAUSE Wear Pink At CSS Wednesday, February 23rd
Bullying Stops Here!! For more info: www.pinkshirtday.ca The
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MUSIC NOTES Parent Band Committee
The Parent Band Committee would like to invite you to attend our monthly meeting. Meetings are held on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 8:30AM in the boardroom. Everyone welcome. Next meeting will be February 22, 2011. The Parent Band Committee has a position available for an individual who can communicate to the parents of students in the band program. Communication will entail notices regarding upcoming performances festivals, camps and requirements of the band program. Please contact Karen (403) 246-4328 or Carolynn: (403) 285-2023.
Upcoming Band Events
Beginning Band Gr. 6/7 has the great honor of being accepted to perform at the Kiwanis Festival Friday, March 11, 2011 at the Jubilee Auditorium. Expectations of competing in this festival include diligent
practice routines at home and being prepared for every band class. To represent the Calgary Science School Band in an appropriate manner students are expected to be dressed in a white collared shirt (with no logos or print), black pants (no jeans or yoga pants), black socks and shoes. As the students are representing CSS they are expected to exhibittheir best behavior at all times on and off stage to showcase our school pride. Please see more details in the permission slip coming home soon. Intermediate Band Gr. 7-9 will be participating in the Alberta Band Association Provincial Festival of Bands Tuesday May 17. This will be an all day band tour, returning to CSS the same evening. A band uniform is being issued to your child to perform with on stage Funding generously provided by Encana Corporation for the festival. Please see more detail in the permisand the Alberta Children’’s Hospital Foundation sion slip coming home next month.
Community Education Service
Understanding Issues Teens Face Today Free Education Sessions for Parents/Caregivers and those who work with teens
Drugs and Teens: What Should We Know? Janelle Sagert Youth Addiction Services, AHS
Wednesday March 2nd, 2011 6:30-8:00pm East Calgary Health Centre, Room 2285 4715 8 Ave SE
Beyond the Hurt: Bullying and Peer Harassment with Teens Marjorie Cole
How to Talk to Teens about Sexual DecisionMaking Heather Cobb
Canadian Red Cross RespectED Program
Sexual and Reproductive Health, AHS
Monday March 7th, 2011 6:30-8:00pm
Wednesday March 16th, 2011 6:30-8:00pm
Forest Lawn Library 4807 8 Ave SE
East Calgary Health Centre, Room 2285 4715 8 Ave SE
Adolescent Stress: How to Recognize It, Understand It, & Help Them Cope Lindsay Hope-Ross
Healthy Minds/Healthy Children Outreach, AHS
Monday March 21st, 2011 6:30-8:00pm Forest Lawn Library 4807 8 Ave SE
For more details and to register please go to www.fcrc.sacyhn.ca/calendar.php or call 403-955-7420
You may attend any or all of the sessions above.
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Teddy Bear Toss On Sunday December 12th, students from 5.3 accompanied by Mr. Neil, attended the 16th Annual Petro Canada Teddy Bear Toss at the Scotiabank Saddledome. This event organized by the Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club encourages fans to bring new stuffed animals to the hockey game and to throw them onto the ice after the Hitmen score their first goal. Our students were invited to attend the event in order to help sort and organize the stuffed animals at the conclusion of the game. We were also provided with enough seats for the whole class to enjoy the hockey game. A special Thank You to the parent volunteers who did a great job of escorting the students to and from the concessions during the intermissions and who helped supervise during the event.
It didn’t take long for the Hitmen to score their first goal, and as if it were raining stuffed animals, 23,000 stuffies of all shapes and sizes came flying from the stands onto the ice. After a lengthy break to clean up and load the animals into six pick-up trucks that drove out onto the ice, the game resumed with the Hitmen eventually beating the first place Red Deer Rebels 2 - 0! Mid way through the third period, our students were escorted behind the scenes where a massive pile
of stuffed animals awaited us. The 23,000 stuffies had to be sorted by size, counted and then stuffed into plastic bags before being loaded into a number of large trucks. Our students, along with students from the Calgary Waldorf School and another local organization, worked hard sorting the animals before being treated to a pizza dinner by the Hitmen. The 23,000 stuffed animals were eventually donated to over 50 local charities including INN From The Cold and the Alberta Children’s Hospital. The event also raised over $5000 for the CBC Suncor Energy Food Bank Drive. This initiative, which originated directly from students during a Service Learning class, was a wonderful opportunity for these Grade 5 students to participate in a very memorable event and to become actively involved in a successful charitable event in their community. Many thanks go out to the Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club for providing my students with this fabulous experience, for the parent volunteers who helped make it possible and for the students in 5.3 who were excellent ambassadors for our school throughout the event. Mr. Neil
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February 2011 1
Day 3A
New Parent Information Session 7:00 - 8:30 PM
Day 4a
2
Winter Camp - 6.4
Day 5a
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Winter Camp - 6.4 School Council Meeting 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Day 1b
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5
Winter Camp - 6.4 Non-Sibling Testing Dialogue 10:00 -12:00 with Darrell 9:00 - 10:00 am Grade 5 Science Fair Open House 1:15 - 3:00 PM
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day 3b
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Day 4b
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Day 5b
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Day 1a
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12 Non-Sibling Testing 10:00 -12:00
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Day 2a
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Day 3a
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Day 4a
16 Staff Retreat No Classes
Board Meeting
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DAY 5A
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DAY 1B
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DAY 2B
Day 4b
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DAY 3B
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Spring Photo Day
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Staff Retreat No Classes
Family Day No Classes
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March 2011 1
Day 5b
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Day 1a
Day 2a
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School Council Meeting 7:00 - 9:00 PM
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Day 3a
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Day 4a
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Org Day No Classes
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Day 5a
Day 1b
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Day 2b
Gr. 6/7 Beginning Band Kiwanis Festival
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Day 3b
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Day 4b
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Day 5b
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Day 1a
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No Classes Student Led Conferences 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM Student Led Conferences 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
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Day 3a
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DAY 4a
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DAY 5a
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DAY 1b
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Last Day of Classes before Spring Break
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Me to We Trip to Toy Mountain In 2009, almost 25 000 toys and gift cards were collected and distributed to Calgary families through Toy Mountain. This year, the goal was to reach 120 000 toys. We are happy to announce that LITE 96, the Salvation Army, and Encana distributed a grand total of 143 512 toys. On Thursday December 9, our Me to We Elective at CSS went to the Toy Mountain warehouse. We were given a shopping cart and a sheet of paper. On the sheet of paper there was family information and ideas for the kids’ gifts. The family size ranged from one child to five children, and there was information, such as clothing size and interests, on each child. In groups of two we went up and down the isles, which were set up like a store, with a shopping cart and chose gifts for children in Calgary who may not get any gifts otherwise. We really enjoyed picking out the gifts for the children, and we were really happy to know we were making a difference in many lives. The Me to We elective thoroughly enjoyed the trip, and we hope to take this project on in future years! To find out more about Toy Mountain, go to: h t t p : / / w w w. l i t e 9 5 9 . c o m / e v e n t s / m o r e . j s p ? c o n t e nt=20081030_112412_22860 Julia C. and Rochelle V.
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