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MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

Feb. 24

Hot Lunch

-website closes at

midnight to

pre-order for March

Feb. 25

Leadership Profile

Development

4:00 – 5:30

Farm Safety

Feb. 26

Taco & Booster

Juice Lunch

Pink Day -for anti-bullying

Feb. 27

Pizza Day

International Polar Bear Day Gr 6 Funament @ PPE GBB Home Game 3:45

Feb. 28

Kinder Day

Kinders to Epcor

March 3

March 4

School Council Mtg.

- 7 pm in the LC

March 5

Hot Dog Lunch

March 6

Pizza Day

March 7

Staff Learning Day

(no school for students)

March 10

Next Blue

Newsletter

March 11

Millarville Community

Foundation AGM

- 7pm in the LC

March 12

Subway & Booster

Juice Lunch

Preschool

Registration

-7 to 9pm at Ranchers’

Hall

March 13

Pizza Day

Fundraising Meeting

- 5:30 pm in the LC

March 14

*Don’t forget to

support the school by

purchasing Sobeys

Gift Cards at the

office

March 17

March 18 March 19

Bistro Lunch

March 20

Pizza Day

March 21

Staff Learning Day

(no school for students)

The Blue Newsletter is produced every two weeks. If you have information you would like to include in the newsletter, please e-mail

the school at gregsonw@fsd38.ab.ca The next newsletter will be available on-line Monday, March 10th, 2014 Cut-off for submissions is 10:00 a.m.

Home of the Wildcats!

The New “Paperless” Blue Newsletter!

Millarville Community School Blue Newsletter Tel: (403) 938-7832/ http://millarville.fsd38.ab.ca

February 24, 2014

Mr. Gibson’s Desk: Principal Notes

Great Conversations

Last week at parent teacher interviews, I fielded a few questions and concerns about our continuance of our junior high

program at MCS. Even though I have only been at MCS for a few short months, I have heard these concerns before.

Specifically, there are worries about the number of programs offered at our junior high and the fact that our school ends

at grade 8; why not grade 9?

Through these conversations and discussing some of the history with staff and parents, it is my understanding that there

was a huge push from our parent body a few years back to bring a grade 9 program to MCS. This initiative, although

strong, was unable to bring a grade 9 program into our community. Why? One of the many reasons was that there was

not enough numbers in our junior high to support this. Parents and students decided that our small school was not able to

offer the programming they wanted and therefore chose other programs.

Listening and Growing

Since then, our school has added new programming to our junior high based on the options requested by students and

parents. Our junior high program offers Design Option that allows students to develop their interests and learn new skills

through a design based, self-directed learning environment. As our design option continues to grow and develop, we will

add more programs and provide opportunities for our students as good or better than other junior high programs. In

addition, our grade 8s have the opportunity to complete a self-guided, inquiry based Exit Project, allowing them to

deepen their understanding in an area of their own choosing.

More Good News for our Junior High!

Recent, budget approval has allowed our school to seek out additional teaching staff for our junior high, due to the

increase in students and schedule shifts due to fall staffing changes. Excellent news for our students right here, right now!

(Watch for more announcements soon.)

Parents, we need your help!

Our success at the junior high depends on your support. Those of you who are considering moving schools at the junior

high for reasons of programming, I encourage you to come in and chat about what we can do for your child and have done

for others. We also welcome suggestions from our parents in terms of what programming you believe we need more of

here at our Junior High to stay vibrant. We are a small school, with a huge heart, willing to go the extra mile to ensure our

students leave our school with a competitive edge and global mindset.

At this time, our numbers look strong for next year in both grade 7 and 8, and we are already looking at plans to further

develop our program offerings for next year. Our small-school with individualized learning continues to draw students

from outside our district for the MCS advantage; we look forward to learning with your junior high children.

Thank you to James Beck for setting up our Cross Country Ski

Trail for Outdoor Pursuits!

Millarville Community Foundation AGM

Tuesday March 11, 2014 7:00pm LC room

More info contact Shanna Dunne sbdunne@xplornet.com

MILLARVILLE AND DISTRICT RECREATION BOARD The Millarville and District Recreation Board is accepting applications for funding for non-profit organizations for the coming year. Each year the board receives a grant from the Municipal District of Foothills No. 31 and disperses the funds to deserving groups. If you would like to apply for a grant, please send a letter stating your request along with a budget for 2014 and a financial statement for 2013, to Box 59, Millarville, AB T0L 1K0. In previous years funding has been provided to the Millarville Sports Association, Millarville Community Library, Millarville Community School, Oilfields High School, West End Band Program, various 4-H groups and individuals in sports and dance who have competed at a national or international level. The deadline for applications is March 15th and for further information please contact Norma Dawson at 403-931-3580. We are always looking for new community members to sit on our board, so if you are interested please give Norma a call.

Millarville Community Library

There is a wonderful art display and sale in the library until the end of March. Sandy Orsten is a Calgary

artist who does batik on assorted papers, cotton and pure silks. It is not the traditional batik process but

rather batik painting using wax resist and batik dyes. As an avid gardener, flowers were the motivation for

earlier paintings, especially orchids, but now he is interested in both landscape and human figures. Drop in

and see this beautiful exhibition anytime during our regular hours – Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from

9am to 3 pm, Wednesday from 9 am to 7:30 pm and Friday 9 to noon.

If you want to get out in the evening and get some exercise, there is Badminton on Tuesdays and

Pickleball on Wednesdays from 7-9 pm. Both of these sports have people of all ages and abilities and they

are a lot of fun. There is a $2 drop-in fee and if you have never heard of Pickleball, come and see what it is

all about. It is the fastest growing sport in North America and is played by many senior snowbirds down

south. In March we are offering courses in beginner quilting, willow furniture, basic CPR, cake fondant fun,

and super foods. Call the library for more information and to register for these classes.

Online pre-ordering for March closes tonight Monday, February 24 at midnight.

We Need Help!!!

For the hot lunch program to work we require volunteers. If you are able to help for 1

hour on Wednesdays from 11:15 – 12:15 please check off the box on the online order

form for that day.

We also need more volunteers to help coordinate the program. Duties would include

organizing volunteers, placing orders with suppliers, managing the web site, picking up

food orders and shopping. The more help we receive from parents, the less work it

will be to make this program a success. Not only do the students love hot lunch day

but it is a great service to parents and a very successful fundraiser for the school.

If you can help please contact Gitte White at 403-931-1500 or Tracy Foley at 403-

931-1600.

Haven’t registered yet? Sign up is easy and our menu items include many great options

from Booster Juice to Quesadillas! Don’t forget, all pizza ordering is now online too.

Full payment is due Tuesday, February 25 at 3:00pm.

https://millarville.hotlunches.net

…or just Google “Millarville hot lunches”!

Millarville Preschool Registration Night

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm at Rancher’s Hall

Come out and register for the 2014/2015 4-year old Millarville Preschool Program!!! Children must be 4 years old by December 31, 2014

Program currently runs Tuesdays & Thursdays from 8:30 – 11:00 am, September through May at Rancher’s Hall, Millarville.

Possibility of a 3 year old program.

Program would run Monday and Wednesday mornings from 8:30 - 11:00 am. Children must be 3 years old by December 31, 2014.

Please email me at ericacrowe12@gmail.com if you are interested and we will see if there is enough kids to make it work!

Millarville Early Learning Society (MELS) is a parent-run organization; the programs purpose is to strengthen our children’s self-esteem, foster the importance of family and community and develop a positive attitude towards learning and school.

For more info or any questions, please contact Erica Crowe, 403-836-9950 or Linda Bunn (teacher), 403-931-1091

$100 non-refundable deposit is due upon registration