A WORD FROM MRS. KLINE ... On April 23, 2008, our playground got a makeover !! Thanks to the School Council who paid for the new games to be professionally painted on the pavement area. The students were delighted when they arrived on Thursday morning with all the new activities to do at recess.  Games include 2 hockey pads, 2 four square games, 2 basketball courts (junior/intermediate), 1 basketball key (primary), 1 Fox and Goose game, an alphabet, a checkerboard, 3 hopscotch games (snail, pencil and traditional shape), and circles for creative games.  More utility balls will soon be purchased for outdoor recess use.  New basketball netting has been purchased from donated Canadian Tire money to make the basketball courts even better.  A book of traditional and alternative games was left with the school for the teachers .  This is a great source of ideas for DPA now that the weather is getting warmer. Thank you to all parents for supporting our fundraising efforts.  These new playground games are one of the great things the School Council uses that money for.

School Council - The next meeting is May 7, at 6:30 in Room 7. Everyone is welcome.

Nutrition Program – The next meeting is Wed. May 7 at 9:15. Special thanks to the parents on this committee. Huge thanks also to our partners at Community Living in Cayuga who prepare many of our snacks in individual packages and deliver them to Oneida Central.

Bully Prevention and Intervention - Kids in the Know is an interactive safety education program for children from Kindergarten to High School. Get involved and learn what your child is doing online. See  “Safety and the Internet” brochure (that will be sent home early next week) for all students in Grade 2 - Grade 8. 

Grade 3 and Grade 6 EQAO - Grade 6 EQAO will take place on Monday May 26 - Friday May 30, and Grade 3 EQAO will take place on Monday June 2 - Friday June 6.  It is important that all students attend every day of the testing, so we ask that doctor’s/dentist’s appointments be rescheduled to accommodate these testing dates.  Students who are absent will have to be caught up on the days after the scheduled testing and this can be very stressful and difficult for students.  We want the students to perform to the best of their ability - “ Be the Best You Can Be!” - and therefore ask that students come to school well rested and well nourished .  Research indicates that student performance is positively influenced by nutrition.  In the past our School Council has generously provided nutritious snacks on the test dates.  Our students will be looking forward to this part of their EQAO testing experience again this year.

Fair Start will take place on May 29 and is a day for children who are new to kindergarten for September and their parents. Parents are invited to bring their children to Oneida at 9:00, so the children can spend some time in the kindergarten classroom. Parents will go to the gymnasium for some information on the balanced day, busing, kindergarten backpack tags, police checks for volunteers and other first day information. Then at 9:45 parents can proceed with their children to River Heights for the Fair Start program.  Children and their parents will have an opportunity to ride a school bus at River Heights. More information about this exciting day will be sent home in the near future.

Girls Basketball - Congratulations to Mr. Davies and the girls basketball team on their excellence both on and off the court.  Our Oneida girls won the first place medallion. Oneida staff and students can be very proud of this outstanding group of girls.  Playing with enthusiasm and skill, each player demonstrated a commitment to sportsmanship and the concept of the team first, individuals second.  Our girls basketball team consisted of : Alex Walewski, Koreen Foster, Amanda Lomax, Taylor Lusk, Maraili Nordberg, Shelagh Gould, Andrea Radzick, Mackenzie Regnerus, Briley Henning, Kate Hoskin, and Katie Hixon.

Boys Basketball - Congratulations to Mr. Turner and the boys basketball team on their  teamwork and skill development this season. Our Oneida boys played well all season. Our boys basketball team consisted of: Jonah Lillis, Owen Robb, Arnie Henning, Logan Savage, Dylan Milmine, Jassin Kelly, Emerson Brahimir, Alex Rennick, Ryan Myles, Michael Richards (equipment manager), and Wesley Mason (assistant coach).Nice teamwork boys!

Parking Lot - Thank you very much to all parents. Safety has improved greatly since there is less congestion in the parking lot now. This is really good news.

Did you know??? One of our Oneida students will be competing at an International Competition in Poland??? Kate Hoskin is a member of the Hamilton Children’s Choir. This choir is the only choir from North America to earn a spot in the world renowned Festival. Congratulations and Good Luck Kate!!

Parent Conference - Our Children, Our Future - May 10 - Free of charge.  8:30 a.m. - 12:30p.m. North Park Collegiate School, 280 North Park Street, Brantford.  Call to register (519) 442 3722 or email to register roderick.bowers@granderie.ca   Free athletic themed program for children so parents can attend.

            8:30 Complementary Continental Breakfast - networking time

            9:30 Dr. Tracy Vaillancourt, leading expert on bullying from McMaster University

            10:25 and 11:00 workshops:           Girls and bullying,

                                                                        Keeping kids safe on the internet,

                                                                        Cyberbullying,

                                                                        Playground problems and how to solve them for young  children,

                                                                        Strategies to deal with different types of bullying,

                                                                        How schools deal with problem students

11:35 Power of One will entertain and delight parents and children while focusing on building confidence.

Looking Ahead at Oneida Dates

May1                                                 Timothy’s Lunch (Mac&Cheese) 12:45 p.m.

May 2                                                Taquanyah Room 11 in a.m., Room 7 in p.m.

May 5                                                K-3/4 Trip Jigga Jump (Mohawk College)

May 6                                                Mr. Davies 5/6 and Mrs. Mattice’s 5s trip (Toronto)

May 6                                                Taquanyah  Room 9 in a.m., Room 6 in p.m.

May 7                                                Nutrition Mtg. 9:15 a.m.

May 7                                                School Council Mtg. 6:30 -Rm. 7

May 8                                                Flower Fundraiser - Hanging Baskets Delivery

May 9                                                Pizza Day

May 10                                              Parent Conference 8:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.  - free-

                                                           “Putting Students’ Safety First” held at North Park Collegiate

                                                            Secondary School, Brantford, register www.granderie.ca or

                                                            (519) 442-3722

May 12                                               Grade 8 HPV vaccination - a.m.

May 15                                               Flower Fundraiser - Bedding Plants Delivery

May 21                                               Track and Field Day, Primary Play Day

May 23                                               Rain date Track and Field, Primary Play Day

May 26                                               EQAO grade 6 testing this week

May 27                                               K2 class Head Lice check - p.m.

May 28                                               Head Lice check for all grades

May 29                                               Fair Start  - next year’s kindergarten 9:00 a.m.

May 30                                               K1, K2, K3, African Lion Safari trip

June 2                                               EQAO grade 3 testing this week