Inter-A News

Its September again and we’re happy to welcome both our new and returning students this year. Please take a look at the August newsletter for a few announcements and important dates (such as the Parent Information Night and our Annual Fall Retreat).

Due to a small technical glitch the main Inter-A website is down, but we hope to have this problem fixed very soon.

Kwantlen Park contact info:

10441 – 132nd Street
Surrey, BC V3T 3V3
(604) 588-6934

You can also call the Inter-A message line at (604) 587-7373.

We welcome all our returning and new students to the Inter-A Program for the 2008-2009 school year! We, the teaching team, hope you and your family have enjoyed the summer and are looking forward to an exciting year.

Important Dates:

• September 2 School Starts at 10:00 am for all Inter-A Students: Please come to the B-wing at 10:00 am on Tuesday, September 2. Homeroom lists will be posted at each Inter-A classroom, B110-112, B116-118 and B117-119. Please find your name on the list and go to that homeroom. Introductions and important information will be given out. Students should expect to stay at school until 12:00 noon.
• September 9 Inter-A Parent Information Night 6:30 pm: Topics include philosophy of the program, student expectations, retreat, provincial graduation requirements. Everyone is welcome to attend!
• September 16-18 Inter-A Program Retreat: Every year, the whole program moves location to the Sunshine Coast for three days of cooperative, team building activities. We stay at Camp Sunrise, in Langdale, where students work together to build their skills and get to know each other in a fun, collaborative environment. Detailed forms will be sent home in the first week of school. The cost will be approximately $90 and includes all meals, cabin rental and transportation. We thank the Inter-A Society for their generous support of the retreat.

Inter-A Program School Year Calendar

The Inter-A Program year is divided into six units of approximately six weeks length each.

Students will receive a schedule at the beginning of each unit which will show their classes and teachers for that unit. At the end of every unit, students will receive a report card for each class they had in that unit. For students in grades 7-10, Humanities and Science emphasis will alternate each unit. Mathematics, PE, Art and French classes run all year long.

The table below lists Inter-A unit end and Report Card dates. Please keep it for future reference. Six reports are sent home during the year. Any changes will be posted on the Inter-A website.

* semester one end ** semester two end

Fees

• As a program of choice in the Surrey School District, the Inter-A program has fees to support our students’ activities of $40 per year. Cheques for this fee are payable to Kwantlen Park Secondary.
• Inter-A Student Society Membership Fees: $10 (per family). The Inter-A Program is strongly supported by the parents of our students through the Inter-A Student Society, a registered, non-profit society. Parent volunteers work throughout the year to support all student activities. Cheques for membership are payable to the Inter-A Student Society.

School Supplies

Recommended supplies will help students stay organized:

• 3-ring Binders (three or four) Pencils and erasers Glue sticks
• Lined paper, three hole punched Pencil crayons Scissors
• Pens – blue or black preferable Scientific calculator Pencil case
• Back pack 
• Ruler (15 or 30 cm)

Textbooks

Students will be assigned textbooks throughout the school year. Please ensure your child has written his or her name neatly on the inside cover of the text as soon as it is assigned. This will greatly help students in keeping track of their texts so that they can return their assigned books at year end.

PE Strip

All students in Inter-A are enrolled in Physical Education. All students must bring appropriate PE strip to school and store it in their locker. PE strip is worn only during PE class. Please wash PE strip weekly. Strip should include: shorts, t-shirt, runners, socks, deodorant (NOT strongly scented body sprays) and sweatshirt and/or sweatpants for colder days. Students must be prepared for the occasional rainy day and bring appropriate clothing (rain jacket, hat, etc.) if their PE class is outside.

Lockers

Students will be assigned lockers with locks based on availability. Students in selected grades will have to share lockers with another student. Only locks provided by the school are allowed. Students need to take ALL their supplies and books for their morning or afternoon classes with them. There are no locker visits between Inter-A classes, except for obtaining PE strip.

Work Experience

All grade 10 and 11 students will be participating in a 2 or 3 week work experience at the beginning of unit 3, December 1-12 or 1-19. Inter-A values the education that students receive through first hand experience working in an area of their own personal or career related interest.

We look forward to seeing everyone on September 2!

Inter-A Teaching Team: Alyssa Poynter, Roger Blenman, Chris Wakelin, Kathy Richardson, Anthony Jay, Melanie Skelin, Pauline Veto

The Inter-A Students Society is the non profit Society comprised of the students, teachers and families of Inter-A whose purpose is to support the Inter-A program.

Each year a parent Board of Directors is elected to work with our students and teaching team on decision making for the program and collaborate on fundraising and program events.

Traditionally, the Society has provided financial support to Inter-A events such as the Annual Fall Retreat, Holiday Craft Day, Seasonal Activity Days, Grad Banquet, and Year-End Barbeque as well as providing assistance to the Inter-A play, and Destination Imagination and Ultimate teams. The Society has also purchased supplies for the program including a refrigerator, meals for special events, event supplies, camera and video equipment, and a canopy to be used for outdoor activities.

Inter-A parents can often be found helping out with and enjoying many of the program’s great activities with the students and teaching team. By participating as a Director of the Inter-A Students Society you will get first-hand and up-to-date information on what is happening at school, not just what your child remembers to bring home. You will get to know the program and its teaching team, other parents, and students personally while we work together on our common goal of sustaining Inter-A as an excellent educational program for all our children.

Please join us on June 25^th and consider becoming a part of  the Students Society team or nominating another person. We are actively recruiting for these Board of Directors positions: 

• President: Chairs all Director’s meetings; represents the Society at various meetings and events; oversees the work of the Society and its Directors.
• Vice President: Carries out the duties of the President in his/her absence.
• Secretary: Conducts correspondence of the Society; issues notice of meetings; keeps minutes of all meetings; has custody of the records of the Society except those kept by the Treasurer.
• Treasurer: Keeps the financial records of the Society; provides financial statements when required; completes necessary reporting according to the Society Act.
• Directors: Attend monthly meetings; assist in decision making and special events; assist Board members in carrying out duties as required.

For more information about Board positions or to make a nomination, please call Joan Fuijiwara of the Nominating Committee at 604-882-1029. Additional information about the Inter-A Students Society is available on Inter-A’s website at  www.inter-a.org.

See you on June 25^th!

Attending: JM, DH, RG, LZ, PV, AC, EK, UD, KF, LL

Regrets: CR, BB, JF

Welcome

Agenda Additions & Approval

• Addition 9.1: RG and Face of the World project. Motion to approve agenda: EK. Second: LZ. Carried.

Approval of Minutes

• Motion to approve minutes of March 11, 2008:UD.  Second: LL. Carried.

Treasurer’s Report

• Financial statement presented by LL. No vote required. 

Student Executive Report

• Asian festival is all day April 16^th with seminars in the morning and Karaoke in the afternoon,
• A number of students will be participating in the Walk for MS on April 27^th at Bear Creek Park.
• Bangladesh festival may be on April 24 or 25.

Teacher’s Report

• District Planning Allocation: Despite the fact that we have 150 students confirmed for September plus 7 applicants waiting for acceptance and more anticipated in the next month, the District has allocated 5.5 teaching staff for Inter-A this September based on their projection of 130 students. This is frustrating because the additional positions will not be posted until September.
• Europe Trip: one student still hasn’t received her Visa due to government red tape, but it should be here any day. Students are learning and doing projects on the areas they will be visiting.
• Report cards hopefully tomorrow.
• Inter-A Grad dinner is June 6.
• KR likely beginning maternity leave now. VV and PE are hopefully to cover as TOC’s but not until May.

Kwantlen Park PAC

• Provincial exam results: KP is below district and provincial averages because all students are being required to take the exams whether or not they need to. (Grade 12 provincials are optional).
• Administration is looking for people interested in the school planning committee.
• Dry Grad fundraising not so great but more to come.

Fundraising

• Flower baskets forms distributed with report cards this week; flower pickup on April 29^th, will need help after school.
• Big Brothers pickup this Friday April 11^th

New Business

• 9.1 Face of the World Project: RG from KP Physics department related his intention to use the project to fund raise for KP scholarships. It seems that the Inter-A Students Society is the only body at KP with a charitable tax number and able to issue tax receipts for donations. RG requested that the Society consider the possibility of holding and administering the funds raised and issuing tax receipts on behalf of the project. The Society agreed to explore its capabilities within the Society Act and requested a written proposal from RG before making a decision.

Adjourned at 8:50 pm Next meeting: May 13th at 7:00 PM

Unit 4 Report Card

Inter-A reports for each subject your son or daughter had during unit 4.   Please sign and return the report card envelope so we know you have received the report.

If a student is currently not meeting the learning outcomes of a course, they are considered Incomplete for the course, letter grade I.  If your son or daughter is at risk of failing a course you will find an attached “Notice to Parents: Support Plan for an Incomplete Letter Grade”.   This notice gives information on the tasks your son or daughter needs to achieve to be successful in the course.  Please sign, date, and return the bottom section to Inter-A so we know you have received it.

If you have questions about your son or daughter’s progress, please call the Inter-A message line at 604 587 7373.  We can respond by telephone or we can meet to discuss a student’s progress.  Meetings include the student, parents and teachers.  We are available after school on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Morning meetings, before school begins, can also be arranged.

Important Dates:

• Friday, April 11 Big Brothers Clothing Drive: Please bring in your collected clothing and linen items first thing on Friday morning.  The truck will be at the school to pick up items before 9:30 am.  We have helpful students who are more than happy to assist you in unloading your vehicle.
• Wednesday, April 16 Asian Festival
• Friday, April 25 Bengali Festival: Two groups of motivated and enthusiastic students are involved in planning, organizing and leading seminars on these two days.  Everyone in the program will spend the days learning about various cultural aspects of these areas of the world. 
• Friday, April 18 Hanging Basket Sale: Enclosed with this report is an order form for beautiful hanging baskets – just in time for Mother’s Day.  This fundraiser supports the Inter-A Student’s Society.  Please return order forms and payment by April 18.  Baskets will be available for pick up on April 29.
• April 16, 30; May 14 Collaboration Days: Just a reminder that every second Wednesday is a collaboration day at Kwantlen Park.  Classes on these days start at 9:30am.  
• May 1 – 12 Europe Trip: Our students are busy learning about the European countries they will be visiting in early May.  The students will visit the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria.

Inter-A Teaching Team:  Anthony Jay, Kathy Richardson, Pauline Veto, Chris Wakelin, Melanie Skelin, Sheila Dhaliwal, Roger Blenman

Attending:            UD, JF, KF, PV, AC, CR, LL, CW, EK

Welcome 

Agenda Additions & Approval

No additions. Motion to approve: JF. Second: UD. All in favour; carried.

Approval of Minutes

Motion to approve minutes of February 12, 2008: EK. Second: LL. All in favour; carried.

Treasurer’s Report

Motion to approve financial statement dated March 10, 2008: CR. Second: JF. All in favour; carried.

Student Executive Report

• Doug C. is heading up Inter-A section of physics balloon being constructed in the den. He needs lots of help and black & white photos or drawings.
• Balding for Dollars event started by Inter-A students raised over $11,000 for the oncology ward at Children’s Hospital
• Anti-Bullying day at KP – Most Inter-A students wore pink.
• Snow Day was wet but very successful.
• Mardi Gras had to be cancelled as everyone is too busy to coordinate.
• Asian Festival still on track. Taiko Drummers not available.
• Bangladesh festival committee needs to choose a date.
• Classroom tidiness has improved somewhat.

Teacher’s Report

• A possible wrist injury on snow day (student being x-rayed).
• The play was a great success with sales of about $1600. RB thanked everyone who helped.
• RB is planning a Quebec exchange again for next year. He will need a cheque for $50 made out to SEVEC to register.
• Destination Imagination teams did well at regional tournament on the weekend, with two 1^st place and one 2^nd place finishes. Provincials are April 12^th in West Vancouver. CW would like to host the regional tournament at KP next year.
• Ultimate league play starts March 29^th. Possible 1-day tournament in Burlington April 19^th.
• Grade 7’s and 8’s did well at District Science Fair with one silver and two gold awards. One of our teams will represent the district at the Regional Science Fair.
• Request for permission install Inter-A storage container or portable was denied at District Advisory Committee meeting due to graffiti and overcrowded property concerns.
• KP was built for 1200 students and anticipates 1500 in September 2008. There is some discussion of moving Inter-A to another location TBA.
• Inter-A registration needs to be at 169 in order to have staffing at 7 FTE.
• District funding and program funds will be used for program equipment and supplies before year end as they cannot be carried over.
• Motion to cover RB honorarium to lead student field trip to Europe in May 2008: LL. Second: JF. All in favour, carried.

Kwantlen Park PAC

• AC gave an update on Inter-A activities at the PAC meeting.
• Definite concern about overcrowding. In-catchment students are being placed on wait lists and having to go to other schools.
• Dry Grad fundraisers ongoing.

Fundraising

• Bowling night Feb 23rd had 60 people attending.
• Big Brothers pickup April 11th
• Plant Sale – Forms out April 7^th; hand back by 14^th and pickup on 28^th?

New Business

Food Safety Guidelines: AC has done some research and apparently we can do food prep for a “closed group,” i.e. Inter-A and would not require a permit. We are only required to have a person with foodsafe certificate if we are cooking or heating up food on site. We would need a permit if we were to do a concession for DI tournament ( apply 2 weeks in advance). Anna submitted Fraser Health contact information, regulations, and steps to follow as well as a nutrition resource for schools.

Adjourned 9:15 pm

Next meeting: April 8^th 7:00 PM

Notice for parents and students interested in attending Inter-A: There is an upcoming information meeting. Come at 7:00 PM on April 8th, 2008. We’ll be in the Kwantlen Park library (through the front door and to the left). Address on the contact page.

Agenda Additions & Approval

No additions. Motion to approve: CR. Second: JM. All in favour; carried.

Approval of Minutes

Motion to approve January 8, 2008 minutes: EK. Second: UD All in favour; carried.

Treasurer’s Report

General discussion to continue fund raising to replace monies spent. Motion to approve Treasurer’s Report dated February 12, 2008: LL. Second: BB. All in favour; carried.

Student Executive Report:

KF reported from the leader’s meeting:

• Students are organizing an Asian Festival for April 16th. (AC will check into including Taiko drummers as part of event).
• Students may do a Bangladesh new year’s celebration, possibly during the first two weeks of May while some students are in Europe
• Mardi Gras event moved to February 26^th and 27^th.
• School custodians have not been happy with Inter-A as the rooms are so messy. Students and teaching team are working on ways to resolve issue, i.e. close B112 at lunchtime, etc.
• KP physics department has asked Inter-A to contribute to making a 50 foot solar balloon by constructing one of the balloon panels (at no cost).

Teacher’s Report

• AM visited Monday. He is impressed with Inter-A and brought Future Shop reps who wish to donate equipment to schools. Inter-A is one of the programs they are considering for the donation. AM will meet with Inter-A alumni soon re: program review.
• Due to KP report card software not recognizing linear courses, upcoming official KP report cards will display ‘F’ instead of ‘Incomplete’ for year-long courses.

Teaching Team wish list:

• Storage container (will check for permission to park on school property);
• Replace filing cabinets;
• Sept 2009 trip to Ashland, OR: Shakespeare Festival for senior students
• CD and DVD players;
• Video cameras and equipment;
• Video editing software;
• $300 for DI supplies

Kwantlen Park PAC

No meeting in February. Hope to be on agenda for March. Three Ministry audits underway for KP.

Fundraising

• Bowling night Feb 23rd – forms due Feb 14th.
• Big Brothers pickup April 11th
• AC will organize play concession for Mar 6 & 7. UD, CR, JM, AO, EK to help.

New Business: None

Adjourned 9:00 pm                        

Next meeting: March 11^th 7:00 PM

Inter-A Student Society Bowling Night!

Date: Saturday, February 23, 2008

Time: 6:30 pm

Where: Xcalibur Bowling Center

Come support the student society and have a great time bowling with family and friends. The Inter-A Student Society has organized an evening of dinner, two games and rental shoes for only $20.00. Please return the attached reservation form, and money by February 14^th, in order to secure your tickets at this fun event.

Dates:

• Report Cards: Reports cards for unit three will be issued on February 13. This reporting period coincides with the end of the first semester, so students will receive a school generated report as well as the regular Inter-A reports for each class. 
• Unit 4: February 4 – March 14: Please check your child’s Inter-A timetable and schedule to see their classes for the new unit. 
• Inter-A Play: Inter-A students are hard at work rehearsing this year’s Inter-A theater production. Set aside an evening to enjoy the play which runs from Wednesday, March 5 to Friday, March 7, 2008.
• Collaboration Days: Just a reminder that every second Wednesday is a collaboration day at Kwantlen Park. Classes on these days start at 9:30am. Collaboration days in unit 4: February 6, 20; March 5.
• Spring Break: Monday, March 17 – Tuesday, March 25. Return to school on Wednesday, March 26.
• Big Brothers Clothing Drive: Start saving those clothes you and members of your family no longer wear. Inter-A Student Society is organizing a Big Brothers pick up of good, wearable clothes and coats for early April.

PE Classes

All students in Inter-A are enrolled in Physical Education. All students must bring appropriate PE strip to school and store it in their locker. PE strip should include: shorts, t-shirt, runners, socks, and deodorant (no strongly scented body sprays). As there is limited indoor gym space in this building, students will be going outside in February and March for PE. Please make sure to bring warmer outdoor clothing for cool days – sweatshirts, sweatpants, gloves, and/or rain jacket may be needed. Students attending school are expected to be able to participate in a moderate level of physical activity. If a student has an injury that prevents him or her from participating in a moderate level of physical activity, then please bring a note from a physician, indicating what activities are restricted.

Reporting Absences

If your son or daughter is going to be absent from school, please phone the main office receptionist at 604 588 6934 and give them the name and student number of you son or daughter. The office personnel are able to record excused absences more easily than the classroom teacher.

Looking Ahead – September 2008

Surprising as it may seem – it is that time of year when we ask students to consider their educational environment for next September. During February, we will be asking students who wish to return to Inter-A in the fall, to write a letter to the teaching team, telling us why they would like to return. Now is a good time to consider those reasons. If you have decided to try another educational option for the fall, please let us know. We need to report our projected enrollment by spring break.

Inter-A Teaching Team: Anthony Jay, Kathy Richardson, Pauline Veto, Chris Wakelin, Melanie Skelin, Sheila Dhaliwal, Roger Blenman

Attending:            AC, CR, UD, EK, JF, JM, CW, LL, AO 

Agenda Additions & Approval

No additions, agenda approved.

Approval of Minutes

• EK moved to approve November 13, 2007 minutes. Seconded by UD. All in favour. Carried
• EK moved to approve minutes of December 11, 2007. Seconded by UD. Approved with following correction: 3. Teacher’s report, second & third bullets amended to: “Touring of elementary schools will take place between January 17 and February 7.” Carried.

Treasurer’s Report

LL presented the financial statement dated January 7 and moved to accept. Seconded by EK. All in favour. Carried.

Student Executive Report: None

Teacher’s Report

• Inter-a Play: Will be two one-act plays, taking place March 4-7. RB submitted a request to advance funds for props. LL motioned to advance $750 of Society funds for props for the play. Seconded by UD. All in favour. Carried.
• Europe Trip: May 1^st to 12^th. A TOC will need to be hired as three teachers will be away. Is the Society able to cover some of the cost, i.e. $500? Discussion: Directors agreed in principle but are not sure how it would be handled – pay to the school or to teacher directly? CW will ask PV to find out how we should proceed.
• Destination Imagination: Request to society to cover cost of three teams’ registration. JM motioned that Society cover the cost of three DI teams’ registration at $100 per team. Seconded by JF. All In favour. Carried.
• Directors asked CW to discuss any larger equipment needs with teaching team as there are Society funds available.
• News: Work experience went well. Semester end coming up, finals and provincial exams January 28 – Feb 4. I-Day January 29.
• Students are organizing an Asian Festival for February 13^th and Mardi Gras for March 26^th.
• Alisdair MacKinnon visited the program in December to observe and will visit twice more next week.
• The new Inter-A brochure has been completed and distributed to schools. Directors requested copies when possible to have.

Kwantlen Park PAC

We will not be doing an Inter-A update until February as the PAC agenda is very full this month.

Fundraising

• UD will check into booking a bowling night at Xcalibur for either Feb. 16, 23, or Mar. 29^th
• UD will call Big Brothers to see if it would be worthwhile to do a pickup just before Spring Break, and will also check into a plant sale.
• CW will check with RB about doing a concession on play days – will students be doing one or would they like the Society to do it.

New Business

Discussed setting up a separate fund to assist Inter-A families. Decision: Prefer to address situations as they come up without creating a separate fund.

Adjourned 8:45 pm                        

Next meeting: February 12^th 7:00 PM