Lady Evelyn Alternative School Council

Newsletter #4 – January 2003

http://www.ladyevelyn.ca

Co-chairs

Finances

Nadia reports that we currently have $4.915.68 in the bank, with $1,563.21 in outstanding cheques, leaving us with a balance of $3,352.47. In addition, we set aside at the last council meeting $1000 for a return of the “Blues in the School” programme this spring.

Health Committee

Physical activity helps children build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints. Physically active children enjoy other health benefits, too:

• healthier body weights

• good posture and balance

• higher self esteem

• improved psychological well-being

• healthy hearts

• a tendency to do better in school

These benefits also apply to us adults. So, even though winter is finally here, get out and enjoy the snow and sunshine with the kids. Build a snowman, go sledding or toboganning, go for a walk and see how different your neighbourhood looks in winter, go for a skate or ski. If it's too cold out, try getting the kids to help you with household activities such as vacuuming and dusting, or turn on the music and get everybody to dance, skip or hop. Aim for 5-10 minutes of activity several times over the day. The goal is to build up to 30 minutes per day. Remember: dress properly and warmly if going outside.

For more information, visit the City of Ottawa web site at http://www.ottawa.ca/health.

Social

A big thank-you to everyone who helped out at the December Pot-Luck Breakfast. It was a great success. Upcoming activities will be planned at the next council meeting.

Fundraising

Pizza Lunches have started again. A skate-a-thon is being planned for February, probably in Brantwood Park. More detailed fundraising plans will be discussed at the council meeting, or give Sue a call at 234-2904.

Schlockey Boards

As this Newsletter is going to press, the Schlockey boards should finally be returning to the yard for their winter stay. If you don't know what Schlocky is... well, ask your kids.

Board Long Term Accommodation Plan

The board recently released a Long Term Accommodation plan prepared by a firm in Mississauga. While the plan calls for the closing of four nearby schools and the rebuilding of Elgin St. Public School at a cost of over $117 M, board staff have emphasized that this is but one input.

Please note that Lady Evelyn is not targeted for closure by the report. If anyone would like to see the report, the council has a copy. Please Arlene call 234-0377.

Winter Party

The Ottawa East Community Association will be holding its annual “Winter Party” in Brantwood Park on Sunday, January 26^th from 1:30 to 4:30. Activities will include sleigh rides, skating, snowshoeing and other games for the whole family.

Alternative Schools Awareness Campaign

The umbrella group for the Alternative Schools in Ottawa is currently running an awareness campaign to educate parents about the existence and goals of the Alternative Programme here in Ottawa. As part of this campaign, an article and ad have been placed in the current edition of the Capital Parent newspaper.

The text of the article is available on the School Council web site at http://www.ladyevelyn.ca/ads.shtml. If you would like to participate in this campaign, drop Richard a line at rdeadman@deadman.ca.

Rozanski Report

The Education Equity Task Force (aka Rozanski Report) is available on-line at http://www.edfundingreview.on.ca.

Japanese Teacher Exchange

Diane Watson, one of our Kindergarten teachers, is looking at bringing a Japanese Student Teacher into the school next September as part of an exchange programme funded by the Japanese government. This would be a wonderful learning experience for the children of the school.

If you are interested in hosting the intern while they are at Lady Evelyn, please leave a message for Diane through the office. A small subsidy is provided. More information can be found at http://www.ladyevelyn.ca/weblog/archives/00000014.html

Volunteerism

Volunteerism is one of the corner-stones of the Alternative Education Programme. Whether it is helping in the classroom, walking with kids to skating, preparing coffee for the pot-luck breakfasts or putting book orders together, many many parents and guardians make our kids education better every day by the time they put into the school.

The jobs that are done and the people who do them are too many to list. You know who you are. Thanks.

Rainbow Kidschool

A final note that registration for the preschool, afternoon and after-school programmes at Rainbow Kidschool will be starting on February 10^th. For more information, drop by the preschool or call 235-2255.

Communication

The council would like to welcome all the new families that have joined Lady Evelyn recently. Communication is important to the school council, as is your involvement. To this end, the council maintains a web site (http://www.ladyevelyn.ca) with an event calendar, background information, meeting dates and minutes and school news. There is also a mailing list for keeping you informed of school news and activities.

Information on subscribing to the list can be found on the web site, as can links for translating the site into eight other languages.