The week of December 16th – 20th, 2019
Hello R7A Families –
Greetings on this the beginning of the last school week of 2019. It will be an event-packed week with concerts throughout the school, special outfit days, teachers v. students volleyball, an Intermediate assembly and class holiday parties.
About a week ago, representatives from the Royal Ottawa Hospital came to speak to the students about the Early Intervention program, a weekly discussion group for grade 7s that will start in the new year. The group is facilitated by a professional and enables students to talk about issues, social skills strategies, and to develop a supportive network. ABout 5 of our R7A students indicated an interest and a form was sent home. Please take a look and get it signed. If you have any questions about the group, please contact me.
Pizza orders for the new pizza season were announced on the VM Friday update a couple of weeks ago. If you did not get your orders in, students can purchase pizza every Thursday for $2.00.
On Thursday, December 19th, this week, the leadership group will be holding THE GREAT VM CUPCAKE WALK FUNDRAISER in our classroom, then called the Chateau Gateau. All junior and intermediate classes are invited to come and view about 20 tantalizing, sugary platters of cupcakes. All classes are invited and encouraged to donate to the class collection fund, say a toonie per student, The highest bidder wins first choice at selecting their class platter of confections. Any class that raises a minimum of $15.00 will get a class set of cupcakes. Special cupcakes – egg, dairy and gluten-free, will be available as well. All proceeds go to the WE Foundation, specifically to education initiatives in the global south, countries like Ecuador and India. PLEASE, PLEASE help our R7A students to remember to bring in some change – to bring about change for other children. Here is the link to the WE organization site: https://www.we.org/our-work/we-villages/. Please take some time to read the WE Villages information – it is quite inspiring.
A Black Excellence club just started meeting and all intermediate students are invited.
Lastly, this year, like many years before, we teachers and educational assistants are asking that families choose a donation to Harmony House, a shelter for families, over giving us a material gift. (A note saying hello is always welcome!) Thank you to Callum’s family for the very generous donation.
HARMONY HOUSE
Please consider sending in a gift card for Harmony House INSTEAD of a staff gift.
The following gift cards are always in need of at Harmony House. They use them to support their women and families throughout their stay.
Gift cards for local grocery stores: Independent/Loblaws/Metro/
Gift cards for pharmacy/drug stores: Pharma Plus/Rexall/Shoppers Drug Mart
Gift cards for Walmart
Please note – if you choose to give to Harmony House, please send it as a gift to your child’s teacher, clearly labeled for Harmony House. We will thank your child as if it was a gift intended for us. We will then pass it on to Harmony House to help someone in need.
I wish you all a Happy Holiday and a fun two weeks with your families! Keep warm!
If you have a chance the Imagine Van Gogh exhibit in Montreal, running now until early February, is quite incredible. I include a few photos from my visit.
. 
Ms Swail
