Happy Canada Day

Dh's cousin had an early Canada Day party.  There was not a moment that wasn't entertaining.  We had tons of games, fooling around, lots of food (fruit kabobs and brownies on a stick).  The finale was the Mentho/Coke rockets. Ronald had built an amazing display.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Fun on the Run

Make a Smilebox slideshow

This is what we keep in the van so that we're always ready and don't have to hunt everything down.  We also have a potty for Lydia's  convenience.   Just need to add some sweaters for everyone and we're all set.

How many students does it take to win a literacy challenge? 3!!!

Students Take International Reading Challenge Title

My mother's side of the family is from Tancook Island.

I was out last night and missed the news.  Dh told me about this story.  Apparently the group presenting the award was bigger then the student body.  There are three students in the Tancook Island elementary school.  I'll post more about Tancook later.

June 16, 2008 1:54 PM

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The students of Big Tancook Island Elementary School in Lunenburg County are world champion readers.The students read 632 books per child to beat out students from more than 80 schools in four countries in the the Adopt–A-Library WOW! Reading Challenge. The second-place finisher read 467 books per child.

Education Minister Karen Casey presented the students with the world championship trophy at a ceremony today, June 16. Community Services Minister Judy Streatch also presented the students with the Canadian championship at the ceremony.

The students also received a world champion banner and a cheque for $3,000 for books for their school.

The WOW! Reading Challenge encourages a love of reading in school-age children. The challenge was created and delivered in partnership with Nova Scotia's public libraries, the RCMP, communities, businesses and local police agencies.

"Public libraries help support and encourage the love of reading, which is essential for developing literacy skills throughout life," said Education Minister Karen Casey. "I congratulate all students for taking part in this competition and for continuing to develop their love of reading."

The 15,000 participants, including students from 51 Nova Scotia schools, read 1.1 million books between November and April during the challenge.

Students at Lahinch National School in County Clare, Ireland, took second place in the competition and will receive a banner and $2,000. Students at Furghlan National School in County Clare, Ireland, came in third and will receive a banner and $1,000.

The reading challenge was an initiative of the Adopt-a-Library Literacy Program to promote literacy as a long-term crime prevention strategy.

Studies show getting children and youth to read regularly improves their literacy skills and helps them develop self esteem and make better decisions. As a result, they will be less likely to engage in activities such as bullying and crime.

The Adopt-a-Library Literacy Program was started by Pictou County RCMP Const. John Kennedy almost a decade ago.

Slap in the face

I got a slap in the face a couple of weeks ago.  Hannah is growing up.  Her clothes are all too small.  She's behaving more responsibly, didn't have a single fight with her brother for an entire month.  Last night and tonight she was in the "extravaganza" performance at her school.  As well as being in the choir and dancing, she performed a soong that she wrote herself.  It was pretty amazing and we didn't know until yesterday that she was going to do it.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=49447200260&ref=nf

WooooHoooooo

N.B. early French immersion cuts 'unfair and unreasonable': judge

Last Updated: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 | 2:24 PM AT

CBC News

A provincial court judge quashed the New Brunswick government's decision to scrap early French immersion programs on Wednesday.

Justice Hugh McLellan, of the Court of the Queen's Bench in Saint John, ruled there should be a judicial review into the cancellation of the early French immersion program, which was offered to students entering Grade 1.

In his seven-page decision, McLellan wrote that the decision to cut the French education program was "unfair and unreasonable."

"The application for judicial review is allowed. The minister's decision to phase out early French immersion is removed into the court and quashed."

Education Minister Kelly Lamrock announced in March that the province was cutting the program in favour of a five-month intensive French program for all Grade 5 students, effective this coming September. In Grade 6, the students would then have the choice of moving into a late immersion program or continuing to take French as a single-class mandatory subject until they graduate from high school.

"The government just got handed a speeding ticket," Michael Wilcott of Citizens for Educational Choice said after the judge's decision.

Breach of contract alleged

The group had called on the court to delay the program's cancellation. The court challenge dealt with two specific children who are currently enrolled in kindergarten and registered to start early French immersion in the fall, but the case will affect the entire province.

Lawyers for parents Paula Small and Patrick Ryan, whose children were registered for the program in February, also argued that allowing parents to enrol their children in the program and then later cancelling it amounted to a breach of contract.

McLellan said that parents who had enrolled their children in the program for the fall "had a reasonable and legitimate expectation that program would not be cut without them having a real opportunity to be heard by the minister."

The parents' lawyer also argued the cuts violated the right to minority language education that is enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. McLellan rejected this argument.

The province's lawyers argued there was no breach of the charter and there was plenty of time for parents to have their say.

McLellan said any future decisions on the program "should be made in accordance with the principles of fairness after an appropriate opportunity for interested citizens and organized groups to be heard."

Why you should always buy Crayola!

Before:



After:



Lydia decided she missed getting her facepainted on Saturday so she should do it herself.

We're done, It's over

For the past month, our Home and School and a couple of members of the Community Connections team have been working day and night to organize the First Annual Community day for our school.  Seven of us worked tirelessly on this venture and the person heading it up even took a weeks vacation.  We're all exhausted but had a great time.  We had roughly 50 tables of community groups and businesses, the fire station brought the smoke house, a couple of churches and a convenience store took care of the BBQ, the Y did children's activities.  We had dance and yoga demonstrations and a silent auction.  Best of all, we had 400-500 people in our school having a great day.  My only regret is not taking more pictures.  I know there were lots of positive comments buzzing around.  I think our Home and School has redeemed itself and hopefully we'll be able to draw new members in September.  The last 4 years, it's been a membership of 4-5 parents in a school of 850.

I'll add a smilebox when I get it finished.

A day in court

So Cara and I were in court today for the Judicial Review on the FSL decision.

It was very interesting to see how a court case works although i missed a lot of it.  I had the little one I look after with me so we were out in the hall quite a bit.

Here's the latest news on the topic. 

IN THE NEWS
http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/search/article/315222  Lamrock, Dube clash over content of e-mail exchange
 
http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/search/article/315094  Proof is in the e-mails: education critic
 
http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/search/article/315207  Liberal love-in loses lustre
 
http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/search/article/315100  Leader of the pack
http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/search/article/315115  2 Letters | Government can't hide behind consultants & Speaking out on behalf of teachers who can't
 
http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/search/article/315113   2 Letters | Liberal MLAs: Take a stand and Ministers part of silent 'majority'
http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/article/315247 Family reconsiders moving to New Brunswick & Speaking out on behalf of teachers who can't
 
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2008/06/04/nb-french-challenge.html

Oh and Cara was interviewed on CTV and there's a shot of me and my butt (yikes) going in to the court room.  I forgot the press would be there.

Parents Welcome EFI Judicial Review.

PARENTS WELCOME EFI JUDICIAL REVIEW HEARING
 
Saint John (New Brunswick) – June 4, 2008 – Parents across the province today are welcoming the judicial review hearing against the elimination of Early French Immersion (EFI) being held at the Court of Queens Bench in Saint John.
 
A group of parents retained lawyer Thomas Christie to argue on their behalf that the Minister of Education rushed through the changes to the French Second Language (FSL) education program without engaging in a reasonable period of public consultation. They believe that the Minister also showed no consideration for the impact on families who had already registered their children for Grade 1 EFI starting September 2008.
 
Lawyers representing both the Department of Education and parents seeking a delay to the FSL program changes will present their legal briefs to the Court. Both sides have submitted affidavits to support their cases, including three from parents whose kindergarteners were due to start EFI this fall.
 
One of those included the Woodstock-based Marcoux family. They are a francophone family who, with the elimination of EFI, will no longer able to access French language education for their children.
 
The group of parents believe that even if the judge rules against them, the case has represented an important opportunity for keeping debate on the FSL program changes alive.
 
"Going to court has been a last resort for parents who are dismayed at the elimination of Early French Immersion and the other changes made by the government to the French Second Language programming in our province," said Tim Jackson, one of the parent-organizers behind the Judicial Review. "Even if the judge does not find that the government has broken the law, we still believe it has a moral obligation to consult broadly with stakeholders for a change of this magnitude to the education system. Such a disregard for consultation and due process is a consequence of both the current government's attitude to consultation and flaws in the New Brunswick Education Act."
 
The parents also believe the issue goes beyond simply reinstating EFI this fall.
 
"We hope that the judicial review process will uphold the rights of New Brunswick children and parents to have choice in education not only for September 2008 but beyond 2008 as well," said Paula Small, one of the parents who submitted an affidavit to the hearing. "Many parents have come forward to voice their support to us in this process. We must continue to work with the government to ensure choice is returned permanently in New Brunswick's education policy."
 
The group has established a Fund for donations to offset legal costs of the case. Information on how to donate and on the broader issues can be found at www.educationnb.org.
 
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For more information, please contact:
 
Tim Jackson
tjackson@nb.sympatico.ca
(506) 674-1597 or (506) 476-0951

Has anyone seen this boy?

Apparently our son has been swapped with someone else's. The kid currently living in our house now does these things:

Starts his homework without being told.

Eats meat- bacon, beef jerkey, pork chops and steak- medium

Tries new foods

Takes risks. The other day he walked the perimeter of the deck on the outside ledge and then jumped off.

He's in a rush to get to school in the morning.

His coordination has improved greatly enough that he does really well at badminton.

If this truly is my son, I am thrilled. He's made leaps and bounds this year and what do I owe it too? A positive school environment. What a difference it makes.

Gearing up for the week

Looks like a busy week ahead.

Monday morning, I have to be at the hospital by 7:45 for Parker's hearing test.  there's absolutely no need for him to have this test done.  It was booked a year ago and it must have been by dh because no way would I book an appt for 8am.   Tidy up some emails and phone calls I need to make.  Yoga at suppertime and then if it's a nice evening, I think I'll go for a walk on the boardwalk before heading home.

Tuesday- I have three extra kiddies for the day.  Should be challenging.  Hopefully we'll make it to playgroup.  Hopefully the meal plan calls for an easy supper.  I have a Home and School planning meeting.  On Saturday we are having our first community fair and we are hoping it's a huge success. 

Wednesday- I have A for the day (I think).  It's also a big day for the Judicial Review hearing.  We'll get a good idea of where we stand.  I'm hoping I'll get to go to the court house but it's not looking good.  Need to get a walk in.

Thursday- Dentist appt for Hannah at 8:30.  She finds out when she's getting her braces off.  Swimming at 9:30 for Lydia and then we'll head to playgroup.

Friday- I have A again (good day for a walk) and need to gather stuff for the community day.  There's a dance in the evening but when it's over we'll be setting up.  I need to make bread for the silent auction and flubber for the Beavers.

Saturday- At the school all day.

Guess I better get lunches made and laundry done.