It is always so difficult to say "goodbye" - I have enjoyed my time at Glendale so much and have learned immensely from parents, students and staff. It is also hard to believe that my career of teaching for 33 years is drawing to a close - I am leaving with a heavy heart, but also a quickening to my step. As I have indicated before, teaching is my passion, and I hope that I will be back at Glendale as a substitute teacher (not that I wish "ill" upon any teachers). Thank you for the opportunity to work with you and your children! I also hope to take courses, continue with volunteer work at the Hospital, improve my golf and tennis skills and just do "whatever".
I am very excited to introduce Mrs. Lesley Tait to you as the Resource Teacher at Glendale. She is very enthusiastic and I know you will establish a bond with her very easily. She has so much to offer the Glendale Community.
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My name is Brenda von Vegesack and I am the Resource Teacher in the school. My job requires wearing many different hats, and I have been changing these hats for over 20 years as a Resource Teacher for the Calgary Board of Education.
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I invite you to visit me at any time – I am available in the school on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. |
There are many students within the Glendale Community who have been identified as students with Special Needs. We, at Glendale, do the utmost to support our Special Needs Students by: providing modified programs to their learning, support within the classroom setting as well as inclusion of parents for a complete learning experience.
Please check out the new regulation Standards for Special
Education in .Administrative
Regulation 3003 - Special Education Programming (PDF file).
The individual program plan is a document developed by the teacher, resource teacher and parents. The document identifies the areas of difficulty that the student is encountering in the regular academic curriculum. The IPP is also developed to provide enrichment to programs for Special needs students in the Gifted range. The diagnosis has been made by a psychologist who identifies the student requiring the extra support in academics and/or behaviors. The IPP is reviewed at each reporting period when goals may be modified or new goals established.
Did you know that at Glendale School we have a multicultural community of 13 different languages? Students who attend Glendale from other countries have the advantage to ESL support. The report card is modified to support their English learning needs. We also have an ESL assistant on staff to support our ESL students. Check out the following link - it is a great tool to translate from one language to another: http://world.altavista.com/.
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In through the front door,
Around the back Out through the Window and Out jumps Jack. |
This is common “buzz” in the staff room on Tuesday afternoons.. The Grade 6 girls are involved in “Knit and Chat”. Not only are they developing some knitting skills (eye hand coordination), but are also working on social skills and getting along with others. This year, we have also been learning how to crochet and also learning some beading work.
"Knitting is stress release and community building. It develops patience, awareness, and much more." (JoJo St. Purl)
In the Fall, the Book Boys began their sessions as the Cook Boys. I am including the recipe that we made as it turned out to be a great applesauce recipe.
Of course, before any cooking is done, hands needed to be washed thoroughly with soap and water. Dry thoroughly. You will need to wash 2 apples each. One for eating now, and one for the recipe. You should wash both of the apples. I want you to cut your apple into quarters and then core it. After all the core is out, you may peel the apple. Add your apple to the pot for the applesauce. You can choose how you wish to prepare your second apple for eating. Please read the following ingredients and directions.
Ingredients:
6 apples – peeled, cored and chopped
1 cup and 2 tablespoons water
¼ cup and 2 tablespoons white sugar
¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions:
In a saucepan, combine apples, water and cinnamon. Cover and cook over medium
heat for 15 – 2- minutes, or until apples are soft. Allow to cool,
then mash with a fork or potato masher.
Add sugar to taste.
½ cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
1 ½ cups flour
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. hot water
1 tsp. vanilla 1 cup chocolate chips
Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and bananas. Mix well. Stir in flour and nutmeg. Dissolve soda in hot water, add to banana mixture. Stir in vanilla. Fill greased muffin tins ½ full (or use muffin cups). Bake at 350 F for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
Our final cooking activity was having the boys make individual pizzas. They had a great time and ate every crumb!
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From mystery stories and adventures to far away lands, the Book Boys have been enjoying a variety of reading materials. We are very pleased to be able to work in the mini conference room in the Learning Commons as a "special space" for learning.
This is a group of Grade 3 students who are working on making the invitations for the Grand Opening of the new Library Learning Commons area. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn about working together on a special project.
Read
"Our
mission is to improve the confidence and ability of struggling young readers
and promote literacy as a benefit to the community."We are very fortunate to be a Calgary Reads School. We have trained "tutors" who come and read with selected students in Grade 1 and 2. These students have the advantage of one to one reading time with their tutor twice per week for 32 sessions. Tutors and their students can be found in almost any nook and cranny in the school. Are you interested in becoming a Calgary Reads Tutor? Click on the Calgary Reads link and learn how you can become involved in this program.
Calgary Reads is now on facebook at www.facebook.com. This is primarily to promote the Calgary Reads book sale but will be used in future with other information regarding literacy. You need to be on facebook to access this. If you are not on facebook you can go to our blog at http://calgaryreads.wordpress.com/
Every year the Grade 3 and Grade 6 students write the Alberta Provincial Achievement Tests. The teachers will be reviewing practice tests with the students during the next few weeks. This hopefully accomplishes a few things. First, the students will be familiar with the testing format and how to fill out the answer forms. Second, it reinforces to the student that the test is testing knowledge of material that has been taught in school. Third, it reduces anxiety and stress as the students know what to expect.
May 12 - Grade 3 - English Language Arts Part A
May 13 - Language Arts - Part A - Grade 6 (Narrative/Essay/Functional Writing)
May 14 - Math - Grade 3 - Timed Number Facts, Math - Grade 6 - Part A
June 16 - Language Arts - Part B - Grade 3 (Reading), Grade 6 - Social Studies
June 17 - Language Arts - Part B - Grade 6 (Reading),
June 18 - Math - Grade 3, Math - Part B - Grade 6 (Multiple Choice)
June 22 - Science - Grade 6
All tests begin first thing in the morning. If your child is ill, the test will be made up when the student returns to school.
View a complete copy of the Curriculum Handbook for Parents at: http://education.alberta.ca/parents/resources/handbook.aspx
Students who are on IPP's are provided with testing accommodations. Your teacher will let you know what accommodations are in place for your child. If a child has been excused from an exam, Alberta Learning has made the decision and approved the request. All students are allowed an extra 30 minutes to complete the tests, if this is needed.
Make sure that your child is getting a good sleep and eating well. Aim to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety by talking with your child about the tests. Just knowing that you know that they are "trying their best" is often a great stress releaser.
The School has just received a DVD entitled PAT - Answers for Parents. It is a 9 minute overview of the Achievement Testing Program. If you wish to borrow the DVD, please contact me at the school (403-777-8330 ext. 0).The results of the Provincial tests are not released until November. They have no influence on your child’s transition to the next grade. The results are not used to rate your child, but more as a measure of what patterns and trends are evident and to determine how the school’s programs might be improved.
Celebrate the return of the Olympics to Canada in 2010 with JUMP for Gold.
This year, 600,000 kids and families will celebrate and Jump for Gold, getting
physically active and demonstrating their hearts of gold in support of vital
research for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Jump Rope for Heart is a unique and fun event from the Heart and Stroke Foundation
that gets our kids physically active and raises vital funds to reduce the devastating
effects of heart disease and stroke.
Students can fundraise online at JumpRopeForHeart.ca! Sponsors donating online
will receive an automatic tax receipt.
For more information on Heart&Stroke Jump Rope for Heart, please visit http://www.JumpRopeForHeart.ca
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Skipping has become an integral part of Glendale School. We see skipping happening at recess as well as in physical education classes. What a great way to get that heart pumping!
Activity
Day May 22 proved to be a very lovely Calgary Day - the sun was shining and we were able to enjoy the Jump Rope for Heart Activities outside. The kids had a blast - and they certainly have learned some great skipping skills.
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Ogopogo is a beautiful blue Betta fish that lives at the Office. Some of the students have adopted Ogopogo and make sure that he is well fed and has a clean and safe home. I really appreciate the love and care that they have shown to Ogopogo throughout the year.
OgoPogo is looking forward to summer vacation, and will return in the fall. He thanks all the students who have come to visit him throughout the year and sends a special "fish hug" to those who fed him and cleaned his home.
This
is a very common question from parent's that are just entering the world
of "school." What is a resource teacher, and, also, who is
the resource teacher? I hope that this web site will provide you with
answers and also with new information about the role of the resource
teacher at Glendale School. 
Here
is a very brief idea of some of the things that I am involved in with
the Glendale Community of Learners:
Teaching
has always been a passion for me. Even when I was a little girl, I would
often play “school” with my friends – and I always
wanted to be the teacher. So here I am – with many, many years
of teaching experience behind me – and I can honestly say teaching
is still my passion. What can be a better gift than a child who suddenly
bursts into a huge smile and says, “now I get it!” So parents,
I thank you for providing me with your children, so that they can provide
me with the world’s best gift - a beautiful smile and the desire
to learn.