November is here, and we are well into the first term of school. The time has certainly flown, and our children are enjoying both academic and extra-curricular opportunities, as this newsletter will evidence.

Beginning this month, we’re “going green” with newsletter distribution by sending home only a one page flyer with our youngest students that includes a Newsletter “Table of Contents” (see left column) and the monthly calendar (see reverse). This will ensure that you still get the important ‘fridge calendar’ and also a taste of the great information you can find on our website or facebook page! (Of course, a paper copy will still be an option.)

If you haven’t already let us know your preference, please ensure that you use the tear off area below or give us a call at 905-468-7793. Wishing you all a wonderful month!

Marian Reimer Friesen, Principal

A Note from the Principal …

W H A T ’ S I N T H E

NOV EM B E R N E W S?

* Waste Free Fridays

* Crossroads Me 2 We Supports Red Roof Retreat

* Crossing Guard Reminders

* School Council Update

* Home Show Information

* Junior Soccer

* Parking Lot Safety

* Mabel’s Labels

* Cross Country

* Did you know?

* Inclement Weather Information

* Shining Stars

* November Calendar

Point to Ponder

“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”

Albert Einstein

November 2012

Crossroads Publ ic School Mar ian Re imer Fr iesen, 1350 N iagara Stone Road Pr inc ipal Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, L0S 1J0 Mike Herfst, 905-468-7793 Vice-Pr incipal crossroads.dsbn.org

The Crossroads

Connection School Newsletter

How do I want to receive my newsletter? Family Name: _____________________________________________ Children at Crossroads: _____________________________________ ___________________________________________________________

[ ] EMAIL (our email addess: ________________________________)

If you choose this approach, we won’t clutter your inbox with a huge document. Instead, we’ll send you a link directly to our Crossroads website newsletter page so that you simply click and read.

[ ] FACEBOOK Please visit www.facebook.com/CrossroadsPublicSchool and

become a friend of our school. We post the newsletter here on the first school day of each month.

[ ] PAPER COPY (sent home with ___________________________ name of child)

Page 2 Crossroads School Newsletter - November 2012

Waste-Free Fridays

As an Eco-school, Crossroads staff and

students are encouraged to participate

in our waste-free lunch campaign that

will start up again beginning Friday

November 2nd, 2012.

Students who bring in 'waste-less

lunches' every Friday will receive a

ballot for a chance to win our monthly

Eco-draw!

While we encourage students to bring

waste-free snacks and lunches every

day, we hope that focusing our

attention on Fridays will act as a

friendly little reminder to reflect on

what we are packing in our lunches each

day.

We thank you in advance

for your support and

participation.

Crossing Guard We are very fortunate to have a crossing guard at our Line 2 entrance to help children safely cross the street. Mrs. Donna Finnie is on duty 30 minutes before the school day begins, and 30 minutes after it ends, as well as the entire second break (lunch).

If your children walk to school, please take the time to walk their route with them. Show them the safest path, that (if applicable) includes walking/biking to our crossing guard. Older children tend to want to cross the street alone, but this compromises their safety and also sets a bad example for younger children. We ask your support in ensuring that you build a safe plan for walking/biking to school, and insist

your children stick to it.

Crossroads Me 2 We Club Partners with Red Roof Retreat!

On Monday, October 22nd, Crossroads Public School had a very special visit from Steffanie Bjorgan and friends from the RED ROOF RETREAT. Not only did Steffanie (founder of Red Roof) and several clients come, but she brought along her son, Garrett, who is the inspiration for the adult program. This was the first time that Garrett has ever participated in his mother’s presentations about Red Roof. This year, the ME2WE CLUB at Crossroads, has decided to adopt Red Roof Retreat as its charity of choice with the hope of making a real difference in the lives of the young adults with special needs who attend Red Roof Retreat.

Last spring, the ME2WE Club had the opportunity to spend an afternoon at Red Roof. While there, the students were so moved by what they saw and experienced that they asked to focus their efforts this year on this wonderful local facility. ME2WE will be raising funds, volunteering their time, and making a change in the lives of the clients and the community by helping to bring awareness to the needs of these young people. Red Roof Retreat is not funded by the government and must rely on the generosity of corporate and personal donations.

The first ME2WE fundraiser will be Halloween Candy-Grams. Students will have the opportunity to purchase peanut-free treat bags for $1.00 that they can buy for themselves, give to a friend, a teacher, support staff, parents or family members. Have a Spook-tacular Halloween! If you wish to read more about the visit:

• Check out the ME2WE Bulletin Board at the school

• visit: http://www.niagaraadvance.ca/2012/10/23/crossroads-students-learn-about-helping-special-needs-kids-in-their-community

For more information about ME2WE, visit: http://www.metowe.com/

Crossroads School Newsletter – November 2012 Page 3

The 5th Annual

NOTL Home Show will be on Saturday, March 2nd, 2013!

This is our School Council’s biggest fundraiser of the year! Proceeds will go to the second phase of our Playground. Mark your calendar and save the day. We’ll need lots of help before, during and after the event. Please let potential vendors know that they can visit the Crossroads Website (crossroads.dsbn.org) to download a Vendor Information Package.

November Character Trait

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

The grade 1 classes (in crazy hats and hair) shared how to

show respect.

School Council Update The Crossroads School Council met in October to discuss regular business and make decisions about budget and fundraising. Our council has made the decision to support a variety of programs including athletics, trips, classroom resources, and playground equipment. What a benefit to our kids!

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, November 20th at 7:00 p.m. in the Crossroads Learning Commons/Library to review the EQAO 2011/2012 scores and share our School Improvement Plan. You are always welcome!

November Newsletter Draw

Ballot Print/email this ballot and send it in to the

office for a chance to win a fabulous family

prize. We value your input!

Family Name: ____________________

Student Names: __________________

________________________________

Comments:

________________________________

________________________________

________________________________

________________________________

________________________________

Eco Conference Participants

Junior Soccer Congratulations to the Crossroads Junior Co-Ed Soccer team for being named “Consolation Finalists” after a great day of soccer action. Logan Brown Brooklyn Clark Alexis Hahn Julia Heikoop Trinity Jenkinson Lauren Neufeld Maggie Ondrasch Lauren Pearson Sheridan Peters Kayleigh VanEgmond Coach Thorpe

Kai Bartel Travis Chorney Evan Clark Griffin DenBesten Reuben Eshuis Josh Frena Matthew Gay Connor King Michael Labonte Ben Macdonald Colin Pederson Sam Pynn Ethan Siemens

Page 4 Crossroads School Newsletter - November 2012

On October 10th, 29 of our awesome Coyote Cross Country Runners, made their way to the prestigious DSBN meet. At this high level of competition, Coaches O’Connor and Reschke were excited to have so many students place in the top twenty. A special congratulations to:

Megan DeBoer (17th) Connor Watson (2nd!)

Leah Klassen (7th) Matthew Puglisi (2nd!)

Lexi Hale (12th) Isaac Hendriks (3rd!)

Bailey Grigg (6th)

Bianca Lupia (20th)

Lukas Klassen (5th)

Robbie Falk (5th)

Shuta Ando (17th)

Way to go Coyotes!

Cross Country Success

Did you know that…

* the Neumann (Ava & Gavin) Family won our October Newsletter Draw.

* our Character Trait for November is Respect.

* after a ‘taste off’ during the month of October, our new pizza supplier is Roberto’s Pizzeria – the landslide kid favourite!

* Progress Reports went home on October 30th and Parent Interview night is on Thurday, November 8th.

* Crossroads hosted a Smart Board educator’s conference on Saturday, October 20th. We had over 150 teachers from across the DSBN here to learn more about technology.

* Shop n’ Support orders are due on Thursday, November 8th. Get your gift cards ordered for holiday giving!

Parking Lot Safety

Our parking lot is a busy place at entry and dismissal time. Over 440 students, 10 buses, cars, bikes, parents, skateboards, walkers … it can be quite a congested place! To ensure student safety we are asking:

• Please drive slowly and cautiously when dropping off and picking up students

• Please park in the angled spots beside the black iron fence if you plan to leave your vehicle

• If you prefer to ‘drop off’ without leaving your car, use the gate beside the dumpster

Let’s all do our part to keep our Crossroads kids safe!

ELP Class “Seed Tasting” Yummy!

Crossroads School Newsletter – November 2012 Page 5

Crossroads Shining Stars for September & October! ELP Willms/Foley Gavin Tomczuk Taylor Cherney Hailey Epp Dylan Price Lucas Andres Max Braun ELP Lisi/Thiessen Finnegan Campbell Eli Bice Nancy Krahn Brylee Mayer Ellarie Unruh Hudson Dyck ElP Bartel/Wotherspoon Abigail Duc Isabella Beccario Brooke Harlond Evan VanSpronsen Kristina Fehr Margaretha Fehr 1 Kent Nicholas Draayer Aaralyn Unruh Mackenzie Overweg Ellery Sawatzky Connor Saxton 1 DeBrouwer Nacura Barker Elijah Bayne Jefferson Fandino Cruz Staten Elliott Sarah Laughton 1/ 2 McIlroy Isabelle Hendriks Jacob Janzen Isaac Andres Kaitlyn Lambert 2 Feletar RuthAndres Mitchell Wiens Elise Botbyl Samuel Walker 2/3 Tompsett Griffin Dyck David Klassen Maddy Hiebert Johnny Marsala 3 Willms Logan Friesen Lukas Klassen Owen Konkle Emma Bartel Michael Dritsakos Caitlin Makins 3 Smith Michaela Overweg Owen Saxton Larson Roethling Cameron Moss Arts Willms Ava Rogers Ashleen Hale Alice van’t Riet Aaralyn Unruh Olivia Breakspeare Ty Klassen

4 Thorpe Meghan deBoer Hannah Handley-Mole Abram Schmitt Bogdan Bucalov

Clare Christie Johnathan Rolph

4/5 O’Connor Elissa Redekopp Tyler Jenkinson Olivia Krieger Joshua Koop Samantha Poulsen Benny Wall 5 Reschke Colby Capra Andrea Neufeld Maite Pobes Ethan Dau Tiana Holowchuk Nicholas Lepp 6 Edmands Julia Heikoop Lauren Neufeld Kayleigh VanEgmond Samantha DeBon Madison Berg George Klassen 6 McKay Rebecca Hope Mary Krahn Ben Macdonald Reuben Eshuis Christian Roethling Michael Weier 7 MacEwen Olivia Botbyl Mitchell Brown Raymond Stearns Evan Agnew-Stewart Troy Holowchuk Brittany Klassen 7/8 Ho Katie VanEgmond Megan VanVliet Jack Pentesco Justin Reimer Mackenzie Berg Ty Reschke 8 Krake Julia Gonta Bailey Grigg Jake Vanderveen Frank Boese Scott Falk Britney Goertz Jessica Keller FSL Zoccoli Megan Vanvliet Coner Newman Jacob Unger Hannah Handley-Mole Lucas Sawatzky Madison Berg Lexi Hale FSL Peters Riley Lepp Spencer Abt Justin Wormald Savana Schnierle Brooklyn Clark Andres Sophia Hildebrandt Kyle Gagnon Sam Pynn Colby Capra Abram Schmitt

Page 6 Crossroads School Newsletter - November 2012

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT INCLEMENT WEATHER PROCEDURES

There may be times during the school year where inclement weather or other situations could cause transportation cancellations or school closures. At times when student transportation has been cancelled and schools remain open, the decision of whether or not to have children in school on that day rests with the parent or guardian. Should you decide not to send your child to school in the event that transportation is cancelled but schools remain open , or if your child is ill or late, please ensure that you call your child’s school to inform them of your child’s absence. A key resource in any emergency is the DSBN Emergency Information form that you filled out at the beginning of the school year. Please let the school know of any changes in contact information or procedures you wish to be followed throughout the school year. For secondary schools it may become necessary to cancel late buses. Notice will be provided via school announcements and on the websites and subscription features by 11:30 a.m. Information about transportation cancellations and school closures will be available as soon as it is available through the following: Websites: www.dsbn.org www.nsts.ca Subscription Features: DSBN Facebook or Twitter NSTS Transportation Delay or Cancellation Alerts Phone: Niagara Student Transportation Services 905-346-0290 Voice Auto Attendant Radio Stations: CKTB (610 AM) St. Catharines CHRE (105.7 FM) St. Catharines WAVE (94.7 FM) Hamilton CHTZ-FM (97.7 FM) St. Catharines CKOC (1150 AM) Hamilton CKEY (105.1 FM) Niagara Falls/Fort Erie CHML (900 AM) Hamilton K-LITE-FM (102.9 FM) Hamilton CHAM (820 AM) Hamilton GIANT FM (91.7 FM) Welland Y-108(107.9) Hamilton Television Stations: CH – Hamilton, CTV Toronto, CityTV Breakfast Television, Cogeco Channel 10

Crossroads School Newsletter – November 2012 Page 7