Adam Scott C.V.I./I.S. has a focus on student achievement with clearly stated expectations and equitable assessment guidelines. This mandate will be met within a purposeful learning atmosphere that is free from the threat of physical or emotional harm, delivered within a climate which is supportive of curriculum and instruction, and addresses the learning needs of both staff and students.

CHARACTER EDUCATION ATTRIBUTE OF THE MONTH: PERSERVERANCE

VICE PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

- MS. RUSSELL

It is with deep sadness that I must say goodbye to the wonderful community of Adam Scott. As many of you know, I will be working at Cobourg East as of September 2007. I thank you for helping to create such a positive place of change and for supporting all of the wonderful young people in this community. Although I will miss you all, I can confidently say that you are in good hands with Annie Johnston who will be your new vice principal.

HAVE A HAPPY, SAFE AND RESTFUL SUMMER!

SIT COMMITTEE REPORT

- MS. RUSSELL

Last month I reported that our last SMART Goal of the year would be to help students with Point of View when reading and writing. Teachers implemented many strategies including Think Pair Share, Somebody Wanted But So? and Placemat Activities in order to help students to achieve set goals. As a team, we decided that we would like to continue with this focus until we analyze our first CASI results in September.

The French Immersion classes have focused on improved oral language in French. Teachers implemented strategies such as Read Aloud, Guided Practice, and the creation of a level 4 performance standards in order to improve students’ oral language levels.

The 3 major areas of school wide focus that will form the framework for our school improvement plan in 2007/08 will be assessment, backward design, and balanced literacy.

On Summer Reading

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Ah summer.... Hat, sunscreen, tall cold glass of lemonade, comfy chair in the shade and a good book. This is my dream and with the hot weather, the vision is getting clearer and clearer. Inevitably, near the end of the school year parents ask for advice in helping students “keep up their skills” over the summer. Naturally, as an educator, I want to make huge recommendations for summer education such as practice math facts regularly, write something everyday (such as a letter or journal entry) and read the entire set of western classic novels written between 1850 and 1920. As well, we should expand students’ repertoire by requiring them to take an on-line course and hand in a short (60 pages) summary of their research findings. Yes, that would keep up their skills.... dream on Ms. Scott.

My own youth was not spent in this manner. I look back on summer time with great fondness. Most of it was spent near a pool which was great, but the most enjoyable times for me were rainy days . We’d go to the library in the morning and get tons of new books and then spend the rest of the day lazing around reading them. Series books were fabulous. These books allowed you bragging rights when you could tell your friends that “Ya well I read all 52 in six days.” (That was actually the Nancy Drew series and we were travelling by car. I didn’t get out at any of the rest stops.)

My favorite summer memory is the summer I discovered MAD magazine. It was the summer that my best friend, Mary Martha, laughed so hard at something she’d read that her sip of Coca-Cola came back up and out her nose. Giddy and silly from that incident, I read a one frame comic with a picture of a man in a car at a gas station. The attendant asks him, “Need gas?” and the man replies “No! I’ve got gas, now all I need is an Alka Seltzer!”. I laughed until I cried and I can evoke that memory any time and enjoy it again and again.

That, to me, is the essence of how to keep up your child’s “skills”. Help them find reading material that is a pleasure to read. The educational purpose is secondary to the actual enjoyment factor, which I liken closely to how chocolate milk is both good for you AND good at the same time.  MAD magazine, Archie comics, puzzles and game magazines were all easy, fun reads. They included many jokes, puns and plays-on-words that entertained us for hours and led to my current love of words and wordplay.

Before heading out to buy a stack of magazines you might start at the library, since the librarians usually put together lists of great books for kids to read in anticipation of summer. The Peterborough Public Library has a Teen Summer Reading Club and you can find out more on their incredible website or phone 745-5382. Travelling by car? Try books on CD. For this age group I would recommend Holes by Louis Sachar or Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. These transcend other age groups as well for enjoyable family entertainment on a long drive.

So, get out the lemonade, pull up a comfy chair and get reading! Enjoy your summer and I look forward to talking books with everyone in the fall.

Alison Scott

Literacy Coach

VOLUNTEERS

Thank you to the following people who volunteered with our final pancake breakfast in May:

Donna Paddison

Mariann Marlow

Sue Finlay

Kim and Tim Millard

R.J. Finley

Matthew Marlow-Berger

Matt Finlay

and the LLS classes for allowing us to use their kitchens.

RESTORATIVE PRACTICE

In May, all teachers and students received training in Restorative Practice. Several parents and grandparents attended the evening session and I would like to thank you for supporting this plan to help students with a different way of dealing with and resolving issues.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION LAUNCHES NEW PARENT RESOURCE WEBSITE

The Ministry of Education has launched a new website called abc123.

abc123 features simple and valuable ideas on fun, everyday ways to engage children in reading, writing, and mathematics. Parents are more time-stressed than ever, and need new ideas to support school lessons within the time they have available. abc123 provides information as tip lists that are easy to read and print off.

The site also has information that will help parents partner with their child’s teacher, deal with homework, identify the need for extra help, and understand school readiness.

Parents can also find out what the government is doing to reach every student in a section called “How We’re Helping”.

This is just the beginning. abc123 will be refreshed regularly with new and relevant information, including useful links to other government programs and external sites.

The site can be accessed through the Ministry of Education homepage at www.edu.gov.on.ca or directly at www.ontario.ca/abc123.

“GREASE” REVIEW

On Friday, May 25, 2007, grade seven and eight students attended “Grease”, a theatrical presentation, at P.C.V.S. People had mixed feelings about the performance. Some thought that the messages projected were somewhat inappropriate, others thought it had a lot of humor. There were many enjoyable vocal scenes, as well as acting. The lead actress in the play, Sandy, was very talented. My favorite part of the play was the dance choreography. Overall, I thought that the play was very well planned and executed. If I could make one suggestion, consider the age of the audience and whether this material is appropriate for school age children.

Megan Clark

INTERMEDIATE THREE PITCH

For the past two weeks, the grade 7 and 8 boys have been practicing baseball during lunch hour gearing up for their year end tournament at Morrow Park. Adam Scott sent two teams to the tournament. Mr. Colling coached the green team and Mr. Ross coached the white team.

Both teams competed very hard in the three pitch tournament with all games being decided by two runs or less. Overall, there were 20 teams in the tournament comprising of four divisions. Both teams played a three game round robin

ADAM SCOTT CO-OP PROGRAM “EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME”

On Wednesday May 23, Mrs. Knox and Mr. Colling accompanied Adam Scott co-op teacher Mr. Courtney for the day to explore some of the co-op opportunities available for students in high school. It became evident that the co-op program Mr. Courtney built over the years is one of the best around and a viable option for any high school student. Students are given an opportunity to work hands-on in career fields that they are interested in. Students are able to explore a certain career, learn the work skills, and discover if the career is really what they want.

 A few of the work places visited included General Motors, the Quarry, various welding shops, local restaurants, a world renown woodworker, electronics factory, and a local golf course. All of the students interviewed described their placement as a positive experience and an opportunity to learn skills that extended beyond what they would learn in a classroom. Some of these skills include: work ethic, time management, respect, patience, initiative, and responsibility. Clearly, the co-op experience is an option that parents should begin discussing with their children as early as possible. If you would like to learn more about the co-op program at Adam Scott contact Mr. Courtney at the school.

NIAGARA FALLS TRIP!!!!

The English Grade 7, 8 and LLS classes are headed to the Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls from June 19-21. Your child should have brought home an Itinerary and packing list. If not, contact the homeroom teacher please.

We are in for a fun-filled three days with activities including: the IMAX theatre, Maid of the Mist, Power Plant tour, Aero Car Ride, White Water Walk and dinner at Planet Hollywood. Needless to say, the most fun will be had at the hotel in one of North America’s largest water parks!!

The phone number for the Great Wolf Lodge is: 905.354.5588. Thank you to all our parent chaperones (19 of them!) and for all of our volunteers who have helped with fundraising and supporting your child in a ‘trip they will always remember’! An ‘extra special thank you’ goes to our volunteers who spent countless hours: Mariann Marlow, Donna Paddison and Joanne Livingstone. Thank you ladies!!

ADAM SCOTT GIRLS 3-PITCH TEAMS

Once again, about 50 girls tried out for a sports team, and the following Lady Lions headed to Morrow Park on a sunny, June 14^th for a fun day of 3-pitch.

Congratulations to:

Team White

Anna Bolton

Ainsley Black

Alyssa Brown

Jacy Henry

Rebekkah Houpt

Kristen Henderson

Christen MacMillan

Sarah Millage

Alex Mitchell

Sarah Lang

Meagan Rees

Jen Snell 

Amanda Townsend

Kate Stringham

COACH: Ms. LeGros

AND…

SCHOOL COUNCIL

The Adam Scott Secondary and Intermediate School Council met Monday, May 28. After approval of April’s minutes, sharing of recent correspondence from such groups as “People for Education,” and reports from the elementary and secondary student councils on their current and planned events, Monte Smith reported on the Regional Council meeting he attended. The issue of playgrounds and their maintenance was a hot topic!

The Council approved the Intermediate School request for $500 for graduation awards and plaques, and our Academics, Arts, Athletics, and Community Service medals, given out to both grade 7 and grade 8 students who have earned points through active participation in a variety of school clubs and activities, and through their academic achievement . (The AAACS awards assembly will be held the morning of Mon., June 25, and the grade 8 graduation ceremony will be held at 7:00 pm, June 26.)

We heard reports about activities and events from both the Intermediate and the Secondary Teacher representatives. Readers of this newsletter will be quite familiar with the Intermediate events, but may find Mary Ann Gauthier’s “tips for parents” interesting:

1. If your student has missed classes, he or she will have work to catch up on - at the very least, this will involve copying missed notes. When you ask , “Is there anything you need to catch up on?” the answer should be “Yes!” Don’t accept a negative response on this one. [This should be the same for missed intermediate classes!]

2. Students often ask teachers to write letters of reference - for jobs, scholarships, etc. [This also happens at the intermediate level.] It is very helpful if the student provides a list of criteria where applicable, and of accomplishments and current activities to help the teacher understand what is needed and what information may be useful.

3. Secondary students should attend the assessment day that follows secondary exams - they can learn a great deal from this.

Our principal, Craig Allan, reported that secondary teachers also make home contact to inform parents of very low marks and/or major tasks still owing in the month leading up to exams. The Secondary school was to hold its “Letters” assembly to award Arts and Athletic Letters on June 12 - quite similar to the Intermediate AAACS medals. The school sets aside about $1000 for a variety of awards each year.

This was our last meeting for the academic year 2006-2007! Next year’s first meeting will be held Monday, September 17, at 6:45 p.m. in the Adam Scott library. Meetings are generally held on the third Monday of each month. New members are always welcome!

P. Harding

Intermediate School Council Representative

                        BAND IN THE NEWS

The band trip to Wonderland was a success! Both the grade seven and grade eight bands performed two songs each. The grade sevens played Star Wars and their favourite Louie, Louie. Their performance was very impressive and gave a great lead-in for the grade eight band. Following this the grade eight band played Grease and Woodland Overture. The band sounded amazing! There were many positive comments about both bands performances and the students should be very proud of how they represented Adam Scott Intermediate. The rest of the day was spent on the rides of course and all students had a blast!!!!! I can’t wait until next year...

Ms. LeGros

COMING UP ...............

September 4                Classes Begin

September 27              Open House