At Geary Elementary Community School: “We C.A.R.E.”	May 09th, 2017	http://twitter.com/gearygators	GEARY GAZETTE
Home and School

The Spring Bazaar was a resounding success again this year. We raised ten grand! This is a milestone! Many residents in the Greater Geary area turned up to show support for our community school. What wonderful energy in our building that day! Face painting, cake walk, mock jail, several ticket draws, ball toss, plinko and auctions were held to raise money. We are so proud of the way the Home and School Association, in partnership with local businesses and school staff, worked tirelessly to make this a fantastic fundraiser and outing. Thank you all so much!

Big winners at the Spring Bazaar were:

Marsha Storey for the BBQ and meat vouchers

Bonnie Worrall won the quilt made by Edna Drummond in memory of her husband, Ross. He always made a birdhouse for the bazaar.

Jodi Estabrooks won the 100 dollar ticket match

Elizabeth Michaud won the birdhouse – made by Gary Campbell.

The Children’s Bingo was a well-organized event and the prizes were amazing!

Hot Lunch will end on Thursday, June 8th. At this time, we would like to thank the Home and School and Hot Lunch Coordinators, Jessica Richardson and Sharon Eldridge for the tremendous amount of effort you both put into this valuable school program. Although Jessica had to step back from hot lunch after Haley was born, both ladies found the volunteer hours necessary to keep the Hot Lunch program going. Thank you Jessica and Sharon!

The next meeting of the Home and School will held on Wednesday, May 17th in the school library at 7:15 p.m. This

Home and School Dance

Who: Headstart to Grade 5 students

What: Spring Fling Dance – wear your favourite PJ’s

Where: GECS gym

When: May 12th at 6:15 – 7:30 p.m.

Why: For fun and fitness with friends!

Grade 5 Dinner and Dance (DAD)

Every year our grade 5 students have a sendoff from Geary Elementary Community School that is hosted by their parents. Parents of students in Grade 5 plan this event. The DAD itself will be held on Thursday, June 22nd from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Parents will determine the venue and events for the evening. It should be a wonderful end to their elementary experience! Parents will meet on April 11th at 6:00 p.m. to start the planning process.

The advancement ceremony for grade 5 will be held on Friday, June 23rd at 9:00 a.m. Parents please put this date in your calendar as you may need to arrange for a late arrival at work on this date!

Transition Meetings and Orientation Sessions for students are happening this month to support your children with the transition to Middle School. There is excitement in the air.

Entrepreneurial Adventures

We have a group of grade 3/4 and 4 students who are enterprising and have planned an event to raise money for the Oromocto SPCA. They are learning how a business operates with the help of their business partner Robin Hanson and Eric Estabrooks from TheLearning Partnership! This is the students’ project. Please support them!

Heritage Fair

The boys and girls in grade 5 who participated in Heritage Fair did a great job. We all learned so much from the children who researched facts about their Canadian Heritage. Two projects will go on to the Regional Heritage Fair in Woodstock. Holly Drummond will present “The Battle of French Lake” while Alyssa Montreuil and Grace Lowe will present their research on a Diamond Mine. Good luck at the Regionals.

Project Webfoot

Each year, students in grade 4 are sponsored by Ducks Unlimited to attend Project Webfoot. The children will be treated to a trip to Corbett Brook with all expenses paid on Thursday, June 8th. The children will participate in Project Webfoot this year thanks to the Geary Chapter of Ducks Unlimited which will make the trip even more meaningful. We are very grateful to have an environmentally friendly group sponsor our students. Critter dipping and learning about eco-systems are very important. Our students need to understand this!

PSSC / DEC

The final PSSC meeting of the school year was held on May 23rd at 6:30 p.m. Thank you to all of the PSSC members who have supported our staff during the current school year! It has certainly been a productive year. A special thank you to our Chairperson, Rebecca Piercy and to our District Education Council representative Wallace Carr.

Provincial Literacy Assessments

Many of your children will participate in Provincial Assessments this month. Provincial Assessments take place between May 23rd and May 30th inclusive. Children need to come to school well rested during this week.

Children in grade 2 will be writing the Provincial Literacy Assessment. Reading passages and comprehension questions will be the only component of the assessment this year. Reading levels will be documented on the front of the Assessment booklet which means a current Reading Record may be completed on your child during this week. The children will need all 5 days to complete this assessment so please try not to plan appointments, etc. this week so that your child will have every opportunity to complete the assessment to the best of his/her ability.

We have been working hard during the school year to prepare students for the Provincial Assessments. We are very proud of the hard work and commitment these children have made to their learning.

The children in grade 4 will not be assessed this year. The provincial assessment tool is not ready at this time.

Kindergarten Orientation

There will be a Kindergarten Orientation for next year’s Kindergarten students on Friday, May 26th at GECS. The orientation will start at 1:30 p.m. Students will have an opportunity to ride a school bus on this date. We look forward to seeing the Kindergarten class of 2017-2018! It will be especially important for your child to attend this event as it is our way of transitioning these little ones to their new school. The children need this visit to make a positive adjustment and there is a take home bag of school readiness activities.

New River Beach

Once again, our staff and students in grades K-5 will travel to New River Beach on the Bay of Fundy, for our year end field trip. We would like parents to feel free to join us for the day. The park is booked for us on Wednesday, June 13th with a rain date of Thursday, June 14th. Thankfully New Brunswick Parks have waived the fees for us once again this year. Cost to parents will be bussing only. More information about this amazing outing will be sent home in June. This is an experience you don’t want to miss! It is so relaxing to go to the sea side!

Fun Day at GECS

Once again our students will have a play date at GECS. The Home and School will provide a barbeque at 11:30 a.m. for our eating pleasure! The date for this event is Friday, June 16th. Our students and staff love this whole school event! Parents are welcome to attend. Children will be bussed home at our regular Friday time, 12:15 p.m.

WITS Programs

The WITS Programs bring together schools, families and communities to create responsive environments that help elementary school children deal with bullying and peer victimization.

WITS Primary Program

Stands for Walk away, Ignore, Talk it out and Seek help

Teaches Kindergarten to Grade 3 children to make safe and positive choices about peer conflict

Provides a common language children and the adults in their environment can use to talk about and respond to peer victimization

WITS LEADS Program

Stands for Look and listen, Explore points of view, Act, Did it work? and Seek help

Teaches problem-solving strategies to help Grade 4-6 children deal with conflict and stay safe

Provides developmentally appropriate strategies and resources to older elementary students so they can become

WITS Leaders in their school

The Role of Parents

Talking about WITS at home teaches children to apply these strategies beyond the school walls. When parents help children process strategies to deal with conflicts, they:

Empower their children to stand up for themselves

Show they are available to help solve problems

Teach their children the skills they need to solve problems before they escalate

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION BREAKFAST

Please join us Thursday, June 1st, 2017 in our cafeteria, from 7:00-9:00 a.m. at GECS to honour you, our valuable Volunteers. We will have a scrumptious selection of Breakfast items, tea/coffee and juices for your pleasure. Please come and mingle and sit awhile! We want to show you we care!

Headstart Graduation

The Pre-school Headstart Graduation will be held on Wednesday, June 14th at 10:00 a.m. The final day of classes for Headstart students is Thursday, June 15th.

Sincerely,

Bonnie Worrall for the staff of G.E.C.S.

357-4071

Important Dates to Remember
Wednesday, May 10th	Regional Heritage Fair in Woodstock Community Food Smart bags for pick up
Thursday, May 11th	Student Led Conferences for grade 4 (Crowhurst), 4-6 p.m. CARE Assembly (Respect)11:30 a.m. Grade 5 Dinner & Dance Meeting – 6:00 p.m.
Friday, May 12th	Paint and SIP (10-12) Spring Fling Dance – 6:15
Monday, May 15th	NBTA Branch Meeting NO SCHOOL
Wednesday, May 17th	Entreprenurial Adventures Geary’s Got Talent Show GECS gym – 6:00 p.m. Home and School Meeting – 7:15 p.m.
Friday, May 19th	Paint and SIP (10-12)
Monday, May 22nd	Victoria Day NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, May 23rd	PSSC Meeting 6:30 p.m.
May 23rd – May 30th	Grade 2 Provincial Literacy Assessment
Wednesday, May 24th	Into the Woods – 3-5 team visit OHS – 9:00 a.m.
Friday, May 26th	Paint and SIP (10-12) Kindergarten Orientation 1:30 – 3:30
Tuesday, May 30th	GOLF NB Lesson with Bari Gourley
Wednesday, May 31st	Headstart Meeting 5:15 p.m.
Thursday, June 8th	Project Webfoot – Ducks Unlimited Trip (grade 4)
June 2nd	Disability Awareness Day Walk and Roll
Sunday, June 4th	IWK Telethon @ 10:30 GECS donates
Tuesday, June 5th	Grade 5 Orientation to Middle School
Wednesday, June 6th	Fish Friends Release Day 12:20 – 2:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 8th	Last day for Hot Lunch
Monday, June 12th	Playground Pal Luncheon with THANKS!!
Tuesday, June 13th	New River Beach field trip
Wednesday, June 14th	Headstart Graduation 10 a.m. New River Beach rain date
Thursday, June 15th	UNB’s World’s Unbound Headstart Last Day
Friday, June 16th	GECS’s BBQ/Fun Day
Thursday, June 22nd	Grade 5 Dinner and Dance
Friday, June 23rd	Advancement Ceremony for grade 5 students Last day for students Report Cards
Tuesday, September 5th	First day of school: 2017-2018

Please plan to attend

Geary’s Got Talent

6-7 p.m.

At GECS

Wednesday, May 17th, 2017