The unit 2 report card for the courses your son or daughter had from October 19th to November 27thshows a separate page for each class. Students in grades 7, 8, 9, and 10 will have a total of six report pages: Math, Science or Humanities, PE, Visual Arts, French and Health & Career Ed or Planning 10. Students in grade 11 and 12 will have five to seven pages depending on their course load.

Please sign and date the envelope to indicate you have seen your son’s or daughter’s report card, and ask your son or daughter to return the envelope to his or her homeroom teacher.

Inter-A Student Society

The Inter-A Student Society thanks everyone who participated in our fall fundraisers. We had over 70 bags of clothes brought in for Big Brothers, we continue to receive dividends from the Mohawk swipe cards, and Inter A students raised thousands of dollars in gift card and Purdy’s sales. Many thanks for supporting our program.

The next Society meeting is Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 7pm. Please feel free to come to the meeting. It is a great chance to hear what is happening in Inter-A.

Student Activity Updates

While the grade 10 and 11 students were in the midst of their work experience the rest of Inter-A participated in a day of theatre. Some students had the chance to attend a Vancouver Theatre production of Dirty, Rotten Scoundrels while others attended the Disney 3-D A Christmas Carol at Metrotown. All students were fantastic representatives of Inter-A and we all enjoyed our afternoon.

The next theatre date is January 20th for students who have season tickets.

Holiday Events

We are busy preparing for our annual craft day on Wednesday, December 16th. Although we have most of our afternoon planned we still welcome family and friends to lead a craft or help out in any way. Many thanks!

Students and teachers have randomly drawn names and are in the process of creating a personalized holiday greeting card for that individual. In the past the cards have been created with great care, effort and thought. We look forward to collecting these on Thursday, December 10th, assessing them (as part of the Visual Arts curriculum) and distributing them on Friday, December 18th.

We are also collecting coins (and paper money!) for two charitable causes. The money raised will help Inter-A in its ongoing sponsorship of Aissiata from Senegal through The Plan, and local families through the Surrey Christmas Bureau. Please encourage your sons and daughters to check for spare change and help us to make a difference in others’ lives.

Inter-A 2010/2011

We are already planning for the upcoming 2010/2011 school year! In January, we take a team of students to local elementary schools to speak about our program. The prospective students and their families are invited to our Parent Information Night on Thursday, January 28th at 7pm. If you know of anyone who may be interested in attending Inter-A next year please let them know about our Information Night.

All students who are interested in attending Inter-A must first spend a day in Inter-A. On Friday, January 29th we invite people to call Ms. Skelin, 604-588-6934 ext. 2210, to book a day to visit. Again, if you know someone who is interested for next year please let them know of this date.

Student Work

Inter-A teachers have noticed a trend where more and more students are not completing their assigned work on time. It is difficult for us to assess student’s progress if they are not handing in their work. It also leads to stressed students when they have overdue assignments and projects piling up. Please talk with your son and daughter and help them set up a regular homework time and location. This will help them to develop valuable study skills and work habits.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel to call the school and ask for one of your child’s teachers.

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

school phone: 604-588-6934 www.inter-a.org

Report Card

The unit 1 report card for the courses your son or daughter had from September 8^th to October 16^th is enclosed.  The report shows a separate page for each class.  Students in grades 7, 8, 9, and 10 will have a total of six report pages:  Math, Science or Humanities, PE, Visual Arts, French, Health & Career Ed or Planning 10.  Students in grade 11 and 12 will have five to seven pages depending on their course load.

Please sign and date the envelope to indicate you have seen your son’s or daughter’s report card, and ask your son or daughter to return the envelope to his or her homeroom teacher.

Fundraising

The  Inter-A Student’s Society, run by our parent volunteers, has organized two fundraisers to support the program.  Please look in your child’s report card envelope for the order forms.

The first is a Gift Card purchase fundraiser.  The gift cards are available from a wide variety of merchants and services.  The orders and payment, cheques made payable to the Inter-A Student’s Society, need to be returned to school by November 16^th.

The second is a Purdy’s Chocolates fundraiser.  These are always popular treats.  Please return one order form and one cheque (if possible) for all orders, made payable to the Inter-A Student’s Society by November 17^th.

The gift cards and chocolates will be available for pick up on November 26^th at 2:30pm.

Inter-A also has an ongoing Mohawk fundraiser, please let Mr. Jay know if you would like one or more Mohawk cards.  These cards can be swiped with any purchase at any Mohawk or Husky gas station in Canada and a portion of sales are donated directly to the Inter- A program.  There is no additional expense for the purchaser.

Stay tuned for an upcoming Big Brothers fundraiser.  This is a great chance to clean out spare closets and donate any linens, clothes, etc.  More information will follow.

Multicultural Day October 22 – South Asian Festival

A very hard working group of students organized an excellent set of seminars about various South Asian festivals.  Their peers were treated to great seminars and presentations.  The day ended with a fantastic fashion show and Nepalese and Punjabi dance lessons.

Inter A Play

This year the Inter-A play is “Really, Marvin!” It is a comedy about a boy who liked to tell stories.  Students, parents, friends and family are invited to evening performances on November 5, 6, and 7^th at 7:00pm at Kwantlen Park Theatre.  The story is great fun for the whole family.

Parent Meetings

If you have any questions or concerns about your son or daughter’s progress, at any time during the school year, please phone the school at 604 588 6934 and leave a message for any of the Inter-A teachers.  We will be happy to schedule a meeting time with you and your son or daughter to discuss his or her progress.

If you are trying to reach your son or daughter during the school day please call the office at 604 588 6934 and leave a message.  The office staff pages students to pick up messages at lunch and at the end of the day.   Please remember that cell phones are not permitted to be used during class time.

Important Dates:

October 21, 2009 Vancouver Playhouse

Senior students, who purchased season tickets, attended the first play of the season entitled The Miracle Worker. The next play date is December 2, 2009.

November 4, 2009 Grade 9 Take Your Kids to Work Day

Grade 9 students, who have returned their permission forms, will be participating in this national event where students spend a day job shadowing a family member to see what a day at work is all about.

November 5, 6, and 7^th.  Inter-A Play

Bring your friends and family to the evening performance.  Tickets are available at the door for $5.

November 12 and 13, 2009 Non instructional days

Students will not be in session at school.

November 16, 2009 Early Dismissal

Students will be dismissed at 1:26 pm.

November 26, 2009 Fundraisers arrive

Please make sure to pick up any gift cards or Purdy’s that you ordered.

November 27, 2009 End of Unit 2

Unit 2 report cards will be sent home with students approximately 2 weeks after the end of the unit.

November 30 – December 18  Work Experience

Grade 10 and 11 students start their work experience placements on November 30^th.  Grade 10 students have a 2 week placement and Grades 11’s have a 3 week placement.  This is a great opportunity for students to experience a full time placement in an area they are interested exploring.

December 16, 2009 Winter Craft Day

This year our annual winter craft day will take place on December 16^th.  If you are available to help lead a craft or supervise a student lead craft please contact Ms. Skelin at the school phone number.

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

school phone: 604-588-6934                                                                www.inter-a.org