It has been a wild ride into spring. Snowstorms, windstorms, and rain showers have all led to icy, dangerous conditions. I certainly hope that we will return to better conditions after spring break!

We are looking forward to sharing our accomplishments with you during our Student-Led Conferences on the evening of Thursday, March 23rd and the afternoon of Friday, March 24th. Every family has been given a time to meet with your child’s teacher. If you did not receive the notice from your child, please contact their teacher.

Our students participated in many activities during second term. The Frontier Literacy Club, Mad Science, student leadership, Builder’s Club, AAA mentorship club, basketball, and the Divisional Tumbling Rally are just a few. Thank you to our many staff members who volunteer their time at lunch and after school to enhance our students’ school experience. We could not do it without your support.

I am once again reaching out to parents to support us in lowering the amount of traffic in front of and behind the school during drop off and pick up. Whenever possible, please encourage your kids to walk to school. It saves you gas, time, and money and it promotes a healthy lifestyle. If you must pick up or drop off your child, then I ask for your patience. All too often, I see adults trying to get around the school bus. Not only is this illegal, it is dangerous. I urge you to pick up and drop off on Besant or a nearby street. Please, help me keep your children safe and choose safety over convenience.

The final term of the school year will be busy with activities designed to support our school curriculums and activities meant to give your children new and varied experiences. Please make every effort to get your child to school every day and on time. We will also be busy planning for next year. I encourage you to join our Community School Association meetings to learn more about our school plans. Warm regards, M. Millman

SALISBURY MORSE PLACE SCHOOL 795 Prince Rupert Avenue

Winnipeg, MB R2K 1W6

204-668-9304

MARCH NEWSLETTER 2017

Congratulations...

to the grade 8 Basketball team for winning the B side finals at the Valley Gardens Middle School Basketball Tournament!

The players include (L-R) Kaidyn, Quoc, Khalel, Rhenzo, Thaï, Cole, Aaron, Hayden, Caleb, Kirubel, Kody, Dane and Roman.

On February 14th the patrols were treated to a Boston Pizza lunch to thank them for their continued hard work!

The Patrols of the Month for January were: Mathew K. Elizabeth N. Angelica C. Haileigh K. Serenity Z.

The Patrols of the Month for February were:

Kami C. Jayden S. Aliah A. Bryan A. Aiden S. Olivia N.

Great work all of you! Keep this up!

The patrols would like to send a huge thank you to Mrs. Gagnon, Mrs. Krawchenko-Chaput, Mrs. Neufeld, Mrs. Lumb, Ms. Warkentin, Ms. Blanchette and Ms. Gross who brought treats for the patrols to enjoy! Please note that recruiting for the new team will occur in April with training starting in May. This is for all students in Grade 3 - 5! However, students in Grade 6 - 8 are welcome to be a patrol too! Students who are considering need to remember that this is a HUGE, full year commitment and are outside every day in all weather conditions! They also enjoy many incentives for their hard work throughout the year! In Safety, Ms. Gross

Patrol Corner

Early Years MUSIC NOTES

The Spring Musical club will be presenting the musical “Go Fish” on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2017. Please note that this date has changed from the last newsletter.

COMING EVENTS….. All Grade 4 & 5 students will be attending a special concert entitled “Adventures in Music” at the Centennial Concert Hall on Tuesday, April 4th.

The Grade 2 - 4 Spring Musical Club will be performing “Go Fish” at Salisbury Morse Place School on Tuesday, May 2nd at 6:30 pm. Grades 3 & 4 Music Club will be performing at a divisional event called “Sing into Spring” on June 1st.

Get to Know: Mrs. Dunn, Educational Assistant

This month I sat down with Mrs. Dunn to find out a little more about her and her career at SMP.

Mme Verrill: You have worked at this school for 19 years. What did you do before

working here?

Mrs. Dunn: I worked as an executive secretary and payroll officer at two different

companies. I had a little girl, Kelsey, who is now 27 and in 1992 my son, Ian, was born with Cerebral Palsy. I knew that I was going to need to be at home with my kids.

MV: You have supported the inclusion of all learners at SMP for 19 years. How did you

come to this job in the first place?

MD: When my children were a little older I heard about a job as a custodial aide in a

nearby school and I thought “who can’t clean?”

MV: (awkward silence while Mme Verrill pictures the inside of her car…and her

fridge…)

MD: I enjoyed being in the school. The kids would sometimes write a joke on the

whiteboard for me before they left school for the day and then when I cleaned the room at night I would write one for them to read in the morning. We even made a class joke book! I really connected with a little girl at the school who lives with Down Syndrome and that was when I started to think about a career as an Educational Assistant. I had experience with special needs and so I enrolled in classes to learn American Sign Language and non-violent crisis intervention and I applied for a position here at Salisbury Morse Place and got it. MV: How has Ian’s disability shaped your family?

MD: We became advocates for inclusion. We wanted Ian included at school and when

we ran into obstacles, like taking his walker on the bus, we advocated for him. This

included my daughter writing a letter to the school division on behalf of her brother,

asking to allow his walker on the bus so he could have the tools he needed at school.

She was in grade three at the time. I’ve learned to be a letter writer, a spokesperson, a

more compassionate person and a good listener. …. cont’d

MV: What does it mean to be a good listener?

MD: A good listener really hears what a person is saying and tries to understand

them.

MV: Tell us about playing in a band.

MD: A couple of bands. I have been involved in choral singing for most of my life and I

still sing and perform with a couple of groups. One group is called The Marmalades. We are a 5-piece band and we perform at personal care homes and the Funky Monkey Café at St. Amant Centre.

MV: Do you play an instrument besides singing?

MD: I play guitar and I took organ lessons growing up but I also play something called

a guitalele, which is essentially a six-stringed ukulele.

MV: What is something that you do for yourself that makes you feel good?

MD: I ride my motorcycle. As soon as the weather gets warmer my husband and I

enjoy going on road trips on our motorcycles to see the country up close. We rode from Winnipeg to Newfoundland last summer and we’re riding to Nanaimo, B.C. this summer. We participated in a ‘Ride for Inclusion’ two years ago, to celebrate people with special needs and those who work to include special needs learners. When you ride a motorcycle, it is always about the ride. If you go for ice cream, you find a way to turn it into a 200-km ride. Canada is beautiful and the bike lets you feel every bug and bump of it.

MV: What is something that you are proud of?

MD: I am most proud that I have been open to the directions that my life has taken. I

always thought that I would work in an office because I liked that work, but upon reflection I can see why my life has taken the turns that it did. You don’t always immediately see the reason for everything but eventually it becomes clearer.

MV: Thank-you for your dedication to your job and for taking the time to share a little

bit about yourself with us.

MD: I am happy to do both.

Early Years

Phys. Ed News

The warm weather is finally approaching, but we sure enjoyed the snow while we could. The grade 4 and 5 students got to cross-country ski a few times, while the younger students enjoyed our the new toboggans during class time. It’s always nice to play outside and I look forward to playing different games with the kids when the snow melts and the grass begins to grow.

Here in the gym, the grade 1 students got to enjoy the Gym Blitz club, the grade 2 students came for Wall Climbing, some grade 4 and 5 students participated in the Basketball tournament, and several grade 3 - 5 students took part in the Gymnastics Club.

The Gymnastics Club is a long one. It begins in January and ends only in the last week of March. It takes a lot of dedication and commitment. The following students did a great job preparing for the Tumbling Rally, which took place at Bernie Wolfe School on Tuesday, March 21. Congratulations to Haileigh K, Aaliyah G-G, Maria C , Payton R, Aliah A, Arvalee K, Arianna McP, Mashiyat, Maya G, Brylee, Paige M, Serenity Z, Emily P, Olivia N, Mari C, Danica C, Kassidy J-W, Asher P, Amber B, Karalaina E, Toria S, Sabina R, Shayla M, Alexandra J, Percy D, Alyssa F and Rachele M. A great big thank you to Ms Warkentin, Mrs. Lumb and Mrs. Tryon who came out to coach the kids. The extra eyes were very much appreciated!

Coming up in the April will be new clubs. The grade 3 and 4 students will enjoy soccer at recess times and the grade 5 students will get the chance to use their leadership skills by reffing the soccer games. The grade 1 and 2 students will prepare their dances for the upcoming Folk Dance Festival, all students will participate in the annual Milk Spirit Week, and time will be given to present an unbelievably cute spring musical, called Go Fish.

It will be busy not only for the kids but the staff. We look forward to creating many memorable moments in the weeks to come. Mme Gagnon

Mad Science is offering two different week long day camps

“Crazy Chemistry and Secret Agent Lab camps”

at various locations throughout the city this summer.

We will be at Tuxedo CC, Lindenwoods CC, East St. Paul CC and

North Kildonan CC, East End CC, Whyteridge CC and new locations of

Glenwood CC and Woodhaven CC.

Please go to our web site www.manitoba.madscience.org

Pick which camp you want, the location and date you prefer and register right

there, on-line. Then get ready for some science fun this summer!

Each camp will be Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Registrations are restricted to 25 per week and are on a first come basis.

Free Early Drop off as early as 8AM,

If same camper attends both Camps, there is a discount of 10% on the second

camp!

Mad Science Day Camps

Locations & Dates 2017

The grade 3 students will be hosting a Fundraiser Bake Sale to raise money for the Mukanzo Orphanage Foundation.

Baking will be available Thursday March 23rd in the afternoon and Friday March 24th in the morning.

All items will be priced at .50 cents or 1.00$

Middle Years Music Band Plant Sale

The SMP Band Parents Association would like to invite you to participate

in our Glenlea Greenhouse Plant Sale. This is a sale of bedding plants,

hanging baskets, vegetables, herbs, container gardens and Plant Cards

(gift certificates). Check out the catalogue for products whose prices are

competitive with garden centres and are known to be of excellent quality.

Plant catalogues have been distributed to all families in the school. If you

did not receive one, you may pick one up from Mrs. Giese in the band

room, or you may also view and order on-line at

www.glenleagreenhouses.com.

All pricing includes taxes. Please make cheques payable to: Salisbury

Morse Place School.

All order forms/payment are due by Friday, March 24th (last day before

spring break). The plants will be delivered to Salisbury Morse Place

School on Tuesday, May 16th and available for pick up between

11:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., just in time for planting on the May long week-

end. Thank you for helping to make this fundraiser a success for our

band program.

Perogies and Garlic Sausage Sale

Thank you to the band families who ordered perogies and garlic sausage.

Our sale was a great success with quite an increase in orders. Please mark

your calendar to pick up your order at school on Wednesday, April 5th

between 2:30 – 5:00 pm. Pick up will be at the back lane loading doors.

Band Parents Help Wanted

We are looking for band parents to help us on Wed. April 5th anytime

between 2:15 – 5:30 pm. We will need parents to help fill perogy/sausage

orders and wait for families to pick up their orders. We also need

parents to help with counting and tallying the plant orders in the band

room. Please let Mrs. Giese know if you are able to spend an hour or two

helping us out. Your child’s band account will be credited for your

volunteer time.

SAFETY FIRST...

PLEASE DO NOT use the school parking lots, back alley or front street for pick up and drop off. Instead, drop off and pick up on Besant or further away from the school and encourage your child to walk. Fresh air and exercise are good for everyone!

PLEASE DO NOT drive up onto the walks in front of the school to turn your car around or do three point turns in front of the school. It only takes a minute or two more to go around the block.

PLEASE DO make the right choice and take the time to keep all of our children safe!

Thank you in advance for your support!

SMP Community School Association (i.e Parent Council) Update

Thank you to those families who made our Hoffman’s fundraiser a success! All of the money goes to support our school. We truly appreciate your help.

Upcoming Events:

Thursday, March 16th Monthly CSA meeting – free babysitting is provided.

Thursday, March 23rd

Hoffman’s order pick up.

Wednesday, April 5th CRAFT SALE! There are still tables available for those looking to sell their wares. Bring family and friends because all the funds raised goes back into the school. Children under 12 are free!

Thursday, April 20th Family Movie Night! Admission is FREE!

Adult supervision is MANDATORY! Pre-ordered/prepaid pizza along with snacks and drinks will be available for purchase.

Thursday, May 18th Monthly CSA meeting - free babysitting is provided

Clunis, The Little Boy from Jamaica February 21, 2017 By The Projector

Former Police Chief Devon Clunis releases

children’s book

illustrated by RRC student Shondell Babb, CONTRIBUTOR

Former Police Chief Devon Clunis and his wife Pearlene Clunis are inspiring youth to achieve their goals. The pair has been doing readings throughout the city from their new book: The Little Boy from Jamaica. Clunis visited many of the Winnipeg School Division schools as police chief, but he is now returning to a warm and exciting welcome from the kids as an author.

“We want to inspire and we want to help people reach their potential,” said Clunis.

The children’s book is about Clunis’s story of immigrating to Canada from Jamaica, and struggling in school until his teacher, Ms. Hanna, played an integral role in his success. He made history as the first black police chief in Canada.

At the Salisbury Morse Place School reading on Feb. 7, the children were fascinated by Clunis’s ex-perience in Jamaica and at the concept of not having the things they’re used to in life.

“All the questions surrounded, ‘What was Jamaica like?,’” said teacher Nadia Kraw-chenko-Chaput, 43.

One of the kids asked Clunis to clarify that he had never smelled, tasted, or seen pop as a kid in Jamai-ca. Clunis said he had not and shock-filled murmurs and giggles broke out in the room.

Red River College Graphic Design student Emily Campbell, 22, was the book’s illustrator. The book gave her the opportunity to embark on fulfilling her passion for illustrating.

“In high school I never thought I could make drawing into a career,” said Campbell. “I’ve always liked drawing people and faces. I especially liked creating his character and drawing him in different ways. Keeping him consistent throughout the book, for example: the side view, front view, and differ-ent expressions was a bit of a challenge, but a fun challenge,” said Campbell.

Over 300 Winnipeggers attended the launch for The Little Boy from Jamaica at McNally Robinson Booksellers store on Jan. 28. All 260 copies of the book were sold out before the launch began, with another 170 copies on back order. Fans filed their way between bookshelves to capture a mo-ment of Pearlene and Clunis’s readings.

Devon and Pearlene Clunis answer questions at Salisbury Morse Place School after reading The Little Boy from Jamaica. THE PROJECTOR/ Shondell Babb

All student absences are required to be reported to the school office.

Messages regarding absences can be left at 204-668-9304 at any time. Please

state clearly your child’s first and last name, grade, teacher and reason for

absence.

PARENTS PLEASE REMEMBER

The Office should be your first stop…

when you enter the school during the day. This minimizes disruptions to

teachers during their teaching and keeps us accountable as to who is in our

building. All outside doors are locked during the school day except for the

front entrance, please use that entrance. If you are volunteering or visiting,

there is a sign in/out book. If you are dropping off something for a student,

please bring the item to the office and your child will be called to the office to

get it.

when your child is coming to school late. The office will provide a late slip and

then they can go to class.

The Office should be your first phone call, 204-668-9304…

when your child will be away from school. There is a 24 hour answering

machine so you can call anytime to report an absence. If you child is absent

from school and you have not informed us of his/her absence, the office

will contact you to ensure your child is safe. If you notify the teacher by

email, please also send the email to smp@retsd.mb.ca. The teacher may be

away from school and not be able to pass the information to the office.

If you know your child will be absent for an extended period of time due to

vacation, illness or has a scheduled appointment, please write a note directed to

the school office.

We have begun our snack cart at SMP with the support of the Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba (cram).

The program runs daily at 8:50 a.m. The purpose of the program is to ensure that our students

are getting a healthy start to their day. Students who may not have food at home are offered a snack in the morning.

If families would like to donate to the program, we welcome donations of cereals and granola bars that are peanut-free.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Salisbury Morse Place School along with 151 other schools and 184 companies are saving pop tabs in order to donate a wheelchair!

You can drop off your pop tabs in Ms. May’s room (Room 46) or the office.

Thanks for all your support!

Emailing our newsletter…

If you would like to automatically

receive a copy of the newsletter,

please go to our link and sign up on

the home page. You can also get the

latest school event information on

the Salisbury Morse Place home web

page.

http://www.retsd.mb.ca/school/smp/

Pages/default.aspx

OCTOBER 7 NO SCHOOL 10 NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving 11 BPA Meeting 6:30 p.m. 14 Band Parent Garage Sale 15 Band Parent Garage Sale 20 CSA Meeting 6:30 p.m.

21 NO SCHOOL 27 School Pictures 31 Halloween Activities p.m.

NOVEMBER 10 Remembrance Day Assembly 11:00 a.m.

11 NO SCHOOL - Remembrance Day 14 NO SCHOOL 17 CSA Meeting 6:30 p.m. 21 BPA Meeting 6:30 p.m.

23 EARLY DISMISSAL - 2:35 p.m. 28 Report cards go home 29 Grade 6 Band Concert 5:30 p.m.

DECEMBER

1 Parent conferences 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

2 School in a.m.

NO SCHOOL in p.m. - Parent Conferences 20 Winter Concert 10:00 a.m., 1:15 & 6:30 p.m.

22 EARLY DISMISSAL - 2:20 p.m. Last day of classes School resumes January 9

JANUARY

9 School resumes - Day 5 16 BPA Meeting 6:30 p.m.

18 EARLY DISMISSAL - 2:35 p.m. 18 Kindergarten Information Evening at John de Graff School 19 CSA Meeting 6:30 p.m. 25 Winter Band Concert 7:00 p.m.

FEBRUARY

1 Grade 6 Open House 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

3 NO SCHOOL 13 BPA Meeting 6:30 p.m. 14 Valentine Events 15 Kindergarten Open House 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. 16 CSA Meeting 6:30 p.m.

20 NO SCHOOL - Louis Riel Day 22 EARLY DISMISSAL - 2:35 p.m. 27 - Mar. 1 Band Camp

MARCH

3 School in a.m.

NO SCHOOL in p.m. 13 BPA Meeting 6:30 p.m. 16 CSA Meeting 6:30 p.m.

17 NO SCHOOL 20 Reports go home 23 Student-Led conferences 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. 24 School in a.m.

NO SCHOOL in p.m. Student-Led conferences 24 Last day of classes before Spring Break

APRIL 3 School resumes - Day 5

5 EARLY DISMISSAL - 2:35 p.m. 10 BPA Meeting 6:30 p.m.

14 NO SCHOOL - Good Friday 20 CSA Meeting 6:30 p.m.

21 NO SCHOOL

MAY

8 BPA Meeting 6:30 p.m.

10 EARLY DISMISSAL - 2:35 p.m. 17 Day in the Life of Kindergarten 6:30 p.m. 18 CSA Meeting 6:30 p.m.

22 NO SCHOOL - Victoria Day

JUNE

7 Band Concert 7:00 15 CSA Meeting 6:30 27 Grade 5 French Immersion Farewell 28 Grade 8 Farewell

29 School a.m.

NO SCHOOL in p.m. 30 EARLY DISMISSAL - 2:20 p.m. Last day of school Reports go home

2016 - 2017 CALENDAR

MAY 8 BPA Meeting 6:30 p.m. 10 EARLY DISMISSAL - 2:35 p.m. 17 Day in the Life of Kindergarten 6:30 p.m.

18 CSA Meeting 6:30 p.m. 22 NO SCHOOL - Victoria Day

JUNE 7 Band Concert 7:00 p.m. 15 CSA Meeting 6:30 p.m. 27 Grade 5 French Immersion Farewell 28 Grade 8 Farewell 29 School a.m. NO SCHOOL in p.m. 30 EARLY DISMISSAL - 2:20 p.m. Last day of school Reports go home

March 3 School in a.m. NO SCHOOL in p.m. 13 BPA Meeting 6:30 p.m. 16 CSA Meeting 6:30 p.m. 17 NO SCHOOL 20 Report cards go home 22 Kindergarten Student-Led Conferences 23 Student-Led conferences 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

24 School in a.m. NO SCHOOL in p.m. Student-Led conferences in afternoon 24 Last day of classes before Spring Break 27 - 31 SPRING BREAK

April 3 School resumes - Day 5 5 EARLY DISMISSAL - 2:35 p.m. 10 BPA Meeting 6:30 p.m. 14 NO SCHOOL - Good Friday 20 CSA Meeting 6:30 p.m. 21 NO SCHOOL