Newsletter: April 2008

Published by Brendan on April 18, 2008 in Newsletters. 0 Comments

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

Society Minutes: March 2008

Published by Brendan on April 10, 2008 in Society Minutes. 0 Comments

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 1st place and one 2nd place finishes. Provincials are April 12th in West Vancouver. CW would like to host the regional tournament at KP next year.
  • Ultimate league play starts March 29th. Possible 1-day tournament in Burlington April 19th.
  • 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 7th; hand back by 14th and pickup on 28th?

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 8th 7:00 PM

Information Night

Published by Brendan on March 29, 2008 in Events. 0 Comments

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.

Society Minutes: February 2008

Published by Brendan on February 12, 2008 in Society Minutes. 0 Comments

Attending:            UD, JF, KF, PV, AC, AO, CR, JM, LL, BB, EK

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 26th and 27th.
  • 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 11th 7:00 PM

Newsletter: February 2008

Published by Brendan on February 8, 2008 in Newsletters. 0 Comments

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 14th, 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

Society Minutes: January 2008

Published by Brendan on January 8, 2008 in Society Minutes. 0 Comments

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 1st to 12th. 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 13th and Mardi Gras for March 26th.
  • 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. 29th
  • 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 12th 7:00 PM

Annual Holiday Celebration

Published by Wing-Yi on December 17, 2007 in Events. 0 Comments

Julia and one of her creations.Wednesday (12/19), is our annual holiday craft day! The teachers and fellow students have put together various fun craft seminars for students to attend. Remember the 19th is a collaboration day, so school does not start until 9:30am. Friday (12/21), is our annual Christmas celebration/Activity Day in our program. The teachers and the grade 12s have put together an awesome day for the students. There will be a gingerbread house making contest. Students are required to supply their own icing, and additional candies for decorating, but a gingerbread house kit will be provided. The grade 12s will be doing a fun activity, followed by our famous caroling, and Christmas card exchange. This school day will end at 1:30, and students have a choice to be in the gym for dancing or head home early.

Society Minutes: December 2008

Published by Brendan on December 11, 2007 in Society Minutes. 0 Comments

Attending:            AC, JF, EK, CR, DH, LZ, LL, AS, AM, PV

Interview with Parent Focus Group

Special meeting with AM to conduct interview with Inter-A parent focus group as part of choice program review. Items discussed:

  • History of Inter-A;
  • Structure of Inter-A, i.e. the Society and connections between students, parents, teachers;
  • Inter-A component;
  • Non-traditional methods/philosophies: are these present in other secondary schools and could Inter-a methods work in larger school system;
  • Can Inter-A be sustained as a separate program;
  • How can we bring newer technologies into program to bring the program into the future; how are students prepared for the future;
  • How does it feel to have a student in Inter-A: what are the unique differences appreciated by parents, i.e. the good things about the program;
  • What kind of program issues come up at Society meetings;
  • Is Inter-A an academic program;
  • Why is there so much parent involvement that is not seen in ‘mainstream’;
  • Promotion of Inter-A.

Overall feeling was that Inter-A is a successful program and AM seemed pleased with the answers provided by parent group. Next steps in review were to meet with students and alumni and observe the program in action. AM and AS left after this portion of the meeting.

PAC Report

CR reported that the last PAC meeting included a presentation for funds to improve theatre lighting and sound system. Approved; KP administration would put funds into the improvements. There was also a discussion concerning absenteeism and the new system for reporting late arrivals that would be in place early in the new year.

Teacher’s Report

Here are some upcoming dates.

  • Craft Day December 19th, still looking for parents to help with options
  • January 14th – touring of elementary schools
  • January 17th & Feb 7th – Inter-A information nights
  • March 6th – Interviews for potential students

Treasurer’s Report

LL presented the financial statement for December and moved it be accepted. Seconded by LZ. Carried.

Adjourned 9:30 pm.

Next meeting: January 8th 7:00 PM

School at Night

Published by Brendan on November 30, 2007 in Events. 0 Comments

Our awesome hosts.This year marks another successful School at Night. The evening began with a few normal classes and then moved on to some special activities. The first was the presentation of the Famous Photograph projects, which were very well received.

Afterwards some parents tried their hands at the “Are you smarter than an Inter-A student?” game show. Contestants had to answer a number of challenging questions corresponding to classes from each grade. It went on without a hitch and was a lot of fun for everyone. Congratulations to our five participants and everyone else for a great night!

Newsletter: Late November 2007

Published by Brendan on November 23, 2007 in Newsletters. 0 Comments

Inter-A School at Night!

Date: Thursday, November 29, 2007

Time: 3:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Students will attend school starting at 3:30 pm and ending at 8:30 pm. School at Night provides parents with the opportunity to come to school and observe their child in class. The altered schedule allows parents to attend school with their child without having to take time off work. We are coordinating pizza orders for dinner. An order form will be sent home on Monday for interested families.

  • Are You Smarter Than an Inter-A Student?: An exciting idea for this year’s school at night is an “Are You Smarter than an Inter-A Student?” type event. We are in urgent need of parent volunteers willing to participate in the game! The students have been working very hard to set up this game show type event. You need only participate for a few minutes – and your participation will ensure a successful event. Please call 604 587-7373 and let us know you will be a participant.
  • Fundraising: The Inter-A Student’s Society will have the Purdy’s orders and the Gift Card orders available for pick up during School at Night. Both fundraisers were very successful and helped support activities for the students.

Professional Development Day November 30, 2007

Students will not be in session at school as teachers will be attending professional development workshops.

Seasonal Craft Day December 19, 2007

Inter-A is preparing for a day of Crafts to start off the winter break. We are looking for any crafty people to help out by teaching a craft to our students. If you, or someone you know, are interested in helping, please let us know your craft, the number of students you are willing to teach, and the approximate cost of your supplies. Call and leave a message for Ms. Richardson at 604 587-7373.

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