NOVEMBER 2024
ÉCOLE VICKERS PUBLIC SCHOOL
EVENTS IN NOVEMBER
November 5th- SCC AGM Meeting
November 6th-Remembrance Day Ceremonies:
Period 1: Even Grades/Kindergarten/4-5 Split /5 Cournoyer
Period 2: Odd Grades/1-2 Split/EAL/Dev. Ed./8 Atkinson
November 8th - No Classes
November 11th - Remembrance Day Observed (No Classes)
November 21st - Early Progress conferences (PTI) -(3:30pm-8:30pm)
November 28th- Boston Pizza Hot Lunch
UPCOMING EVENTS IN DECEMBER
December 4th - K-4 Christmas Concert & Choir @ Carlton School
Carlton Commons (Cafetorium)
(1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Dress Rehearsal)
(6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Evening Concert)
December 5th - Grades 5-8 Band Concert @ Carlton School (6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m)
Carlton Commons (Cafetorium)
December 23rd - January 3rd - Christmas Break (No Classes)
EARLY PROGRESS CONFERENCES (PTI)
To schedule your preferred time slot, please go to Edsby (open to parents on November 12-19) or contact the school office or teacher.
Thank you!
VICKERS VOICES
Taking care of your mental health is super important, and there are many fun ways to do it!
Sleep- make sure you’re getting enough sleep—aim for 7 to 9 hours each night to help your brain recharge.
Eat a healthy diet- Eating healthy foods, like fruits, veggies, and whole grains, helps fuel your body and mind, making you feel your best.
Physical Activity- Getting active is also a great way to boost your mood! Whether you’re running around outside, playing sports, or dancing in your room, moving your body can help you feel happier and less stressed.
Relaxation techniques- Deep breathing, Meditation and being mindful can help calm your mind.
Below I have some apps you can download on your device to help with relaxation.
Managing stress- try to figure out what’s causing it and take short breaks to clear your head.
Ask for help- Remember, it’s totally okay to ask for help if you’re feeling down—talk to a trusted adult, like a parent, teacher, our school social worker Holly or me Mrs. April your school Mentor. We are all here to help you!
App Links for your mental health:
Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame on the App Store
Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame - Apps on Google Play
Chill Panda – Reducing anxiety and improving well being in Children through a fun gaming
Smiling Mind App — Smiling Mind
Talking Stick | You talk, We listen.
Embracing Life App – Embracing Life
Guided Meditation and Mindfulness - The Headspace App
Remember, taking care of our minds is just as important as taking care of our bodies!
Your Jordan’s Principle Mentor,
Mrs. April
Vickers Athletic Department
Greetings, Vickers Families!
November is here, and it’s been an action-packed season in the Vickers Athletic Department! From thrilling volleyball tournaments to upcoming basketball opportunities, here’s what we’ve been up to and what’s on the horizon.
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Volleyball Season & Playoffs
Our volleyball teams are in full swing, with playoffs starting the first week of November. We’re excited to see how our players perform after a season of growth and team building. This year, we were thrilled to have eight Vickers volleyball teams competing—a fantastic turnout showcasing the enthusiasm and dedication of our students!
In mid-October, we co-hosted “THE ROCK” volleyball tournament, a highlight of our season. The 12-team tournament brought together schools from across the division to compete for the prestigious trophy. Although we couldn’t hold onto our championship titles from last year, it was a fierce and fun competition, with Vincent Massey winning the girls’ division and Red Wing taking the boys’ division. We’re proud of our Vickers athletes, who showed great sportsmanship, teamwork, and skill, gaining valuable experience they’ll carry forward.
A special thank you to Carlton Comprehensive High School for hosting the finals in their beautiful CPAC gym. It was an inspiring environment for our athletes, and we appreciate the support and collaboration!
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Upcoming Basketball Season
With volleyball wrapping up, basketball season is just around the corner! Sign-ups will be announced soon, so please listen to the school announcements and check in with your phys. ed. teachers if you’re interested. We’re looking forward to a great season and encourage all students to get involved, whether they’re seasoned players or trying out basketball for the first time.
We’re also actively looking for community coaches who would like to contribute to our basketball program. Partnering with our teachers, community coaches help enrich our coaching team and provide students with a supportive and dynamic learning experience. If you’re passionate about basketball and interested in joining us, please reach out to the school office or contact Mr. Whitrow directly. We’d love to have you on board!
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Equipment Donations Needed
As always, we are grateful for any donations of gently used skates and running shoes. These items are incredibly helpful for students who may not have access to proper footwear or skating equipment, allowing everyone to fully participate in our physical education program. If you have any items to donate, please feel free to drop them off with our phys. ed. department.
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Thank you for your continued support of Vickers athletics. Let’s keep this season’s momentum going as we move into a new month of sports, skill-building, and school spirit!
Go Vikings!
Reed Whitrow
VICKERS BAND & CHOIR
News from the Music Department!
The choir will be singing at the Remembrance Day services on the morning of Wednesday, November 6th. Please ensure that you dress nice and wear a poppy on that day.
Our first two Music Department Road trips will be happening in November, with choir students going to Saskatoon to see the U of S Greystone Singers and University Chorus choir concert on Sunday, November 24th and band students travelling to Saskatoon to see the U of S Wind Ensemble concert on Friday, November 29th. Please note that these trips are only for the students who have paid and returned their forms (there is still a bit of a waiting list for the band trip). Both trips will include supper at Boston Pizza and lots of fun and memories! Just a reminder that impeccable concert etiquette is expected of all students during the performances, including no talking or getting up or moving around during a song. We are representing our school and music program when we travel, and I know we will leave everyone with a great impression of Vickers and our students.
If you have not yet responded to the spring band and choir trips surveys that were sent on Edsby, please do so at your earliest convenience so that trip planning can continue (please note that no band survey has been sent for Grade 5 at this point, only Grade 6-8; choir surveys have been sent for all choir members in Grades 4-8). Many of the bookings that we make for May and June fill up surprisingly early in the year, so having a good idea of our numbers several months in advance is necessary.
Music Festival registration opens December 1st, and several students are already selecting and rehearsing their solos and small ensembles. If your child is interested in performing at the Music Festival on their band instrument this year, have them see me. I will help them select songs if they need guidance, and I will help them prepare through the months leading up to the festival so that they feel confident performing in March. The Vickers Band Parents Association will pay entry fees for all interested students. Last year we had an unprecedented number of entries, and several of our students won scholarship awards! Wow - way to go Vickers!
Thank you for your support of your developing musicians. Remember, everything is hard before it is easy. Keep practicing and you will see progress. I am here to help every step of the way!
Lauren Lohneis
Band/Music Educator
Vickers Forest School Update
You may not know but we are a Forest School and also dedicated to provided rich land-based learning opportunities for our students. We have several staff trained and recently our Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Friesen, completed the weeklong training. This initiative is really exciting and aligns with the SRPSD Strategic Plan priorities of Inclusion and Cultural Responsiveness but also Learning and Innovation. If you want to read more about the division’s plan for 2024-2030, click the link below.
www.srsd119.ca/wp-content/uploads/BED_RL_SRPSD_StrategicPlan_2024_2030v3.pdf
Here are some visuals of our recent outdoor learning opportunities at École Vickers:
Volunteering for Operation Red Nose
Eleven Prince Albert elementary schools received $8,800 from the 2023 Operation Red Nose campaign to assist with their programming. The Prince Albert Lions Club will be sponsoring Operation Red Nose in Prince Albert again in 2024 and is looking for volunteers to make it a successful campaign to keep the city streets safer.
Community volunteers are the key to the success of the program. In 2023 we provided 170 rides to 377 clients who were impaired or who did not feel fit to drive their own vehicle. They all got home safely.
Although the service is free, clients usually provide donations, which under the provisions of the Operation Red Nose Program must be allocated to youth groups or groups that support youth in Prince Albert and area. The Prince Albert Lions Club has selected area elementary schools as the recipients of these donations to assist with programing for students.
The program operates on Friday and Saturday evenings. This year will be starting on Friday, November 29th and run each Friday and Saturday to December 21st plus New Year’s Eve. We start around 9 pm in the evening and usually run until around 2 am the next morning. New Year’s tends to run a bit later due to house parties.
Volunteers must be at least 19 years of age. They are organized into teams of 3 people, an escort driver, a designated driver and a navigator. -All volunteers require a police background check (provided at no cost) and are insured for liability by our provincial sponsor the SGI. Volunteers do not have to use their vehicles since escort vehicles are provided by vehicle dealerships in the city.
Volunteers can choose to work one night, a weekend or the whole season. Come as an individual or put together a team of 3 people. We find News Year Eve is one of our busiest nights. Volunteers are provided with food, coffee and camaraderie during the evenings they work.
If you are interested in helping out with Operation Red Nose, please contact me at (306)763-7434, (306)425-7804(cell) or by email at rbraaten@sasktel.net.
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
Our staff parking lots are a “NO DROP OFF ZONE” as they are out of bounds for students.
We urge parents to support us in this safety endeavor by dropping off your children on the west side of the school on Olive Diefenbaker Drive; on Bradbury Drive, east of the Special Needs bus zone and between Gisi Road and Olive Diefenbaker Drive.
We encourage the children to cross all streets in a safe manner by crossing at the corner or at cross walks. Teacher supervision is also provided at our major crosswalks.
The Community Club rink parking lot is the bus pick up zone after school for our parents to meet their children for pick up. Please refrain from turning around in the driveways, as this is disruptive to the homeowners.
LUNCHBOX!
Tuesday - (Edo)
Thursday- (OPA! of Greece)
Friday- (Taco Time)
ÉCOLE VICKERS CANTEEN
- Flavored water................................$1.50
- Chocolate milk...............................$1.50
- Large apple/orange/fruit juice......$2.00
- Juice box........................................$1.00
SMALL SNACKS: (all pre-packaged)..........$1.00
- variety of small items such as Rice Krispie squares, goldfish crackers, cookies, baked chips,
- hot rods, fruit snacks, wagon wheels, and/or seasonal snacks.
LARGE SNACKS: (all pre-packaged)...........$2.00
- Sun chips, crispers, cookies
Pizza .............................................................$3.00
INCLEMENT WEATHER
In the winter, we use -30 degrees Celsius as our cut off to remain indoors. If the temperature and/or wind-chill in combination with the temperature exceed -30, then all students are permitted in the school in the morning and during break times. We do expect that all students be dressed appropriately for the weather, as there are many cold days that students are expected to be outdoors.