January to August of 2009



January 17, 2008

Important Dates to Note
Jan 16 - Pro-D Day (NO SCHOOL)
Jan 27 - Family Literacy Day
Jan 28 - Late French Information Meeting

Professional Development Day January 16th
Friday, January 16th will be a District wide professional development day.  Our staff will be focussing on two topics on that day. The first will be with regards to the new EBSCO databases that are now available to staff, students and parents through a School District #34 initiative. This was mentioned in the previous newsletter.  A parent or student merely needs to go to www.sd34research.com, select the search tool that best suits your purpose and type in user ID:  CDG34 and password: pass34 to access a powerful set of databases.  The second topic for our staff on January 16th will be around gender differences in learning, with a focus on how boys learn best.  No classes will be held on this day.

News from the PAC Chair of WJ Mouat Secondary
On January 20th, WJ Mouat will have Constible Kevin Murray of the Abbotsford Police presenting a workshop on Drug Awareness. The presentation will be in the WJ Mouat Library and will start at 7:30 pm. Kevin is very  knowledgeable of the drug scene in and around Abbotsford. He is the police liason for WJM and has been for a number of years. There will be time for a question and answer session after his presentation.  Please RSVP to Paula Kast (paula_kast@sd34.bc.ca) with  the number of people who would be attending.

PAC Update
The school's PAC continues to provide support in a number of ways.   Members of the School Planning Council met before Christmas to review progress towards this year's school goals.  Funds have been provided to teachers to support various initiatives at the school.  Most recently the PAC provided $1500 for the rental of the Pentecostal Church to allow for a fabulous Christmas concert.  In addition, $2000 has been allocated to the school's library to enhance the collection.  At the January PAC meeting held last Monday, January 12th, a decision was made to set aside $5000 to support future upgrading of the school's computer hardware.  To date this year, the PAC has also allocated thousands of dollars toward the school's spring musical, $2700 to classrooms for classroom libraries, funds for new basketball uniforms, cross country running team expenses and swim team expenses.  In addition, members of the Executive as well as the parent community at large have donated volunteer time to supervise field trips, assist in our sewing program and provide support for many other initiatives at the school.  We are truly fortunate to have so much assistance from our PAC and parent community.

Wolves Sports
With basketball well underway, our grade 8’s and 7’s  have seen both accomplishments and challenges.  Firstly, the grade 8 boys team has progressed substantially since their opening game.  The boys find themselves with a 5 and 2 record thanks to the many hard working players who regularly show up with their game faces on.  The latest win comes from a ten point spread over Reimer last Thursday night. The boys played one game at home on Tuesday, January 13th and the next home game will be Thursday, January 15th.
Unfortunately, the girls team has not had as much success. Although both the players and the coach agree they continue to demonstrate growth on a regular basis, they are still in search of that elusive first win.  The grade 8 girls have worked hard to develop their skills this season.  They are well known for their hustle and hard work on the court.  On Tuesday, January 13, 2009 they had their closest game yet in a 23-22 loss against Mission Secondary.  It was an exciting game to watch and showcased the girls ever improving skills, their desire to win, and their "never quit" attitude on the court.  Both the players and the coach agree, they continue to demonstrate growth on a regular basis and need to focus on their own strengths and continue to work on their challenges.After speaking with coach Marshall, he emphasized the importance of trying to keep the girls from getting down on themselves.  Each player needs to focus on their own strengths and continue to work on their challenges. As for the grade 7 boys team, they played their first game last Wednesday, January 7th  at Abby Middle. Coach Mr. Dudzik was very impressed with how the boys played and sees much potential in his players.  League games will take place every Wednesday through to the end of February.  Lastly, the grade 7 girls posted their first win at home against Abby Middle.  They played very well with a come from behind win in the last quarter.  The girls were visibly nervous however, were able to overcome this with the coaching of Ms. Jurcic and Mr. Hildebrand.  The grade 7 girls have an impressive team this year and are promising to deliver entertaining games throughout the season. Well done to all teams!
A reminder to grade 6’s that their season will begin after spring break.

Family Literacy Day January 23
The School District is working with the community to promote Family Literacy Day in Canada. For ten years families have been asked to support this annual January 27th celebration of parents/guardians reading with their children.  Given the ten year anniversary the organizers of Family Literacy Day (FLD) are looking to do something unique.  They would like Canadians to attempt to break a Guinness World Record.  That’s right - in celebration of FLD 2009, Canada is going for a world record and we need your help! We are encouraging all Canadians to participate on January 23 and/or 24, 2009 in the attempt to break the Guinness World Record for "Most Children Reading With an Adult, Multiple Locations". All Canadians will have to read Munschworks 2, by Robert Munsch. All five stories from the compilation will be online, at www.FamilyLiteracyDay.ca, in both English and French, from January 21st until January 24, 2009. The current record is 78, 791, set by the US in 2006. Please consider registering your family at www.abc-canada.org/en/fld/families and assisting with setting a new world record.  Let's go Team Canada!

Late French Immersion Information Evening on January 28th
Chief Dan George Middle School offers three powerful programs for children, Early French Immersion, English track and Late French Immersion.  This is the eighth year that the school has provided these options for the community.  Early French and Late French are District programs where students come to us from all over the Abbotsford School District. Our English track catchment encompasses Dr. Roberta Bondar Elementary and Terry Fox Elementary.  However, due to the strong reputation that the school has in the community every year we get numerous out of catchment requests to join our English track program.  On Wednesday evening, January 28th we are inviting children in Grade 5, and their parents, to a Late French Immersion information meeting.  This program doubled in size when it was brought into the school in September of 2001 and has maintained its enrolment ever since.  Our Late French staff and some of our Late French students will host that evening starting at 6:30 pm.  We will also begin accepting applications of registration for September from families at that event.


Beauty and the Beast
The students of Chief Dan George are putting on the Disney Musical “Beauty and the Beast JR”  from April 6th - 9th at Abbey Arts Centre.  As you can imagine, this is a huge undertaking, requiring much support, resources and time.  Our production committee was asked to present the PAC and parents with a list of things that we hoped they could help us with.  The areas we need help in are as follows:

1. Set up (April  6th) and tear down (April 9th):  Mr. Cervo is  in charge of getting all of the sets and props from the school to Abby Arts Centre on Monday morning and bringing them all back on the evening of Thursday, April 9th.   This will require a number of parents with pick up trucks or trailers.  If you are interested, please contact Mr. Cervo at 604-852-9616.  
2. Set painting: Beauty and the Beast has thirteen scene changes in a short ninety minute play.  Two of our scenes require huge (24 feet X 50 feet) backdrops.   Connie Stach has graciously offered to design, draw and paint these two massive pictures.  The first backdrop, a small French Provincial Town, is about half done and is hanging in our MPR.  Take a look at it the next time you are in the school.  It is very impressive!  Thanks Connie.
3. Costume design/sewing:  We needed to create and sew over 75 costumes for our huge cast and the enormous task is almost completed thanks to the amazing talents of Marianne Stewart, Margie Peters, Daniella Petty, Gail Vulcano, Joan Kirk and Angie Cudmore.  These ladies have gone over and above to not only costume our cast but to ensure that our kids will look fantastic.  Thanks ladies!
4. Props:  We are going to try to recreate three of Disney’s sets - a French Provincial Town, a Dark Ominous Castle and a Foreboding Forest.  To accomplish this we need your help.   Below are the three scenes and what we need for each scene.
5. Town:  Gaston’s antler chair (we have the antlers, thanks to Mr. Biggerstaff - just need a big chair we can attach them to), Book cart on wheels with books (could be a wheel barrow), basket for Belle, candles for sale, bread for baker, hats for sale, fish for sale, plastic mugs with cotton balls for foam for the tavern patrons, trays for servers, blacksmith  anvil/irons/hammer, pitchforks,  flashlights on poles, axes, invention for Maurice (kids pedal cart), tool for Maurice, driving goggles for
Maurice, blanket, flowerpot with fake flowers, very long and colorful scarf and a wooden wheelbarrow.
6. Castle: Pipe organ, dresser, chair for Belle’s bedroom, Beast’s big chair, chandelier, soup bowls and spoons,
fake food (fruit, cakes, bread), candle stick for table, serving towels, electric fireplace,  plastic or ceramic
Gargoyles, knife, hat and cane for Lumiere, bowl for washing, bear paw slippers, fur gloves and a wooden tea
trolley (non-returnable).
The following items will be created and produced at the school under the direction of Jim Cudmore and
Mr. Lariviere.  Town centre watering well, jail, Chip’s trolley cart, brick wall with door, bookshelf, table and
chairs for outdoor bar. If you would be interested in helping, please call Mr. Lilly at 604-852-9616.
7. Forest:  Artificial trees, narrators stools, a single rose.
If anyone has any of these items and would not mind lending them to the school for a few weeks after Spring
Break, please contact Mr. Lilly at 604-852-9616.   Thanks for considering our needs.

Canadian Parents For French
January  22 at 7:00 pm is the next monthly meeting for CPF and Chief Dan (as one of the French Immersion schools in Abbotsford) is playing host. The meeting will be in the Library and all parents of children in French Immersion or of children taking French in school are invited to come and meet with the volunteer parent members of CPF. Our local CPF branch works toward helping students taking French in our school district with different initiatives and obtaining grant monies to support our children. Come out and learn more about CPF across Canada and some of our local activities. From Greg Nutchey (CPF Rep. and Chief Dan PAC President)

French for Parents Workshops
Learn French at a school near you!  French classes especially prepared for parents with children in Francophone or French Immersion Programs

WINTER SEMESTER SCHEDULE -  ABBOTSFORD
Centennial Park Elementary 2527 Galdwin Road (7:00 to 9:30 pm)
Beginner 1:  Monday, February 2nd to March 30th
Objectives: to accumulate some basic notions such as introducing yourself, asking questions, using common verbs and fundamental vocabulary. For the students without previous training.

Please register by January 2009.   Cost: $130 (material included)
For registration and payment, please call 1-800-747-4825 OR 604-708-5100 or email:  frenchforparents@educacentre.com or visit our website: www.educacentre.com        

Free Parent Workshop
YOUR CHILD MAY BE MORE LITERATE THAN YOU REALIZE!
Are you struggling with the lack of interest your child has in reading a book? Are her/his grades slipping? This workshop is designed to help you better understand the middle school student, the changing meaning of literacy in today’s world, as well as,
provide some suggestions to support your child as s/he journeys through the educational system and prepares for the “real world.”
DATE:   Thursday, January 29, 2009
TIME:    6:30 to 8:00 pm
PLACE:  Clearbrook Library
Please register by January 26th.  If you require more information please contact Lucy Bell at 604-851-4580 or lucy_bell@sd34.bc.ca

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January 29, 2009

Important Dates to Note
Jan 28 - Late French Information Meeting
Feb 9 -  PAC Meeting 7:00 pm in Library
Feb 20 - Pro-D (No School)

Talent Show February 6th
One of the many great traditions at Chief Dan George Middle School is our annual Talent Show. On Friday afternoon, February 6th over 40 students, making up 25 presentations will have an opportunity to demonstrate their significant talents to the school population.  The event is coordinated by teacher Mlle Perron each year and with the cooperation of the staff she and M. Cervo were able to give over one hundred students an opportunity to audition.  In order to ensure enough time for this special event we will break for lunch early on February 6th so that we are able to begin the program at 12:20 pm Sharp.

Grade 7 F.S.A.'s
We are proceeding with plans to have our Grade 7 students participate in the annual Foundation Skills Assessment. The administration of these assessments changed from May to February in the previous school year.  In recent years the assessment has become more computer based.  The writing component of the F.S.A.'s  still involves paper and pencil but reading comprehension and numeracy will be assessed through an online delivery process.  Students in Grade 7 have received some training in preparation for the F.S.A.'s, which are scheduled to be administered province wide through the first few weeks of February.  Individual and collective results of the assessment will be provided later in the spring.  The information is used to provide students and their families with "snap shot" performance of capability of three major skill areas.  The information is also used to assist teachers in guiding their practice and assisting in identifying students that may require additional supports at this stage in their development.   

Cultural Presentations February 13th and 16th
You may recall that this year the Abbotsford School District is celebrating 30 years of French Immersion. Our school was heavily involved in supporting the celebrations earlier in the year when we hosted the community for an evening event.  As part of the celebrations District Modern Languages coordinator, Mme Louise Jenkins, has arranged for a cultural presentation in our school in the middle of February.  All students, regardless of whether they are in French Immersion or not, will be able to participate in a one hour presentation from “The Maple Man”.  Students will learn of the history around the maple syrup industry and will have an opportunity to produce and ingest maple taffy.                   

The Rice Raiser is Back!!
Did you know that almost half of the people in the world live on less than $2 per day? Did you know that someone dies from a hunger related disease every 3 seconds? Do you often wonder what we can do to help?  At Chief Dan George, the Student Leadership Team is heading up a project called the Rice Raiser in an effort to raise awareness about global hunger. During the month of February, students will be invited to bring in donations of rice and money. The rice will be donated to the Abbotsford Food Bank to help alleviate hunger locally, and the money raised will be sent to Mozambique to develop food security for needy families. Every dollar we bring in will be matched by $4!!  Last year we raised over 1,000 kilograms of rice and over $1,000 with the Gr. 8’s alone. Think of what we could raise with our whole school!  Our goal for this year is to bring in at least 2,000 kilograms of rice and $2,000, so bring in your rice and donations. Choose to be a generation that changes hunger. Donations over $10 are tax deductible.  If you wish to receive a tax receipt  the donation MUST be in the form of a cheque or money order made payable to Hunger Response International. Please note that rice must be brought in the original, unopened bag (i.e. we cannot accept baggies of rice)

Drag Racing News
Some of you in Grade 6 may not know this, but our school has a drag racing team. We are probably one of only two middle schools in the province that is part of the BCSSMA (BC Secondary School Motorsports Association). We have been champions in our junior dragster division for four of the six years that we have had a team. On February 3, 2009 there will be a short, informational meeting at lunch for those interested in joining the drag racing team. It will be held in the ICT Lab. We are looking for approximately two Gr. 7 students and about 4 to 6 Gr. 6 students. Unfortunately for Gr. 8 students, there are currently no openings in our senior section. All students interested in joining will be asked to fill out an application form.

January's Kiwanis Grade 8 Student of the Month
Congratulations to Danielle D. for being named as January's Student of the Month. Danielle was nominated by her teachers for a variety of reasons.  She is an exceptional student who achieves at a very high level in all her subject areas.  She has developed into one of our top band students and represented the school this year on our Grade 8 girls volleyball team. Danielle took on the challenge of competing for a seat in Math 9/9H and excelled.  She is always polite and supportive of her teachers and classmates. 

Chief Dan George Spelling Bee
On Tuesday, January 27, 2009 the Chief Dan George Spelling Bee took place during the lunch hour.  Thirteen students registered for the spelling bee: Serah M., Gurselyen S., Suneet D., Lori S., Brad D., Kevin W., Callum P., Jenica D., Mirela G., Jory S., Devon B., Rachel K. and Kristy F.  The competition was fierce and lasted nine rounds.  The Chief Dan George Spelling Bee Champion for 2009 is Brad D., a grade 8 student from Division 21.  Finishing second was Jory S. and tied for third place were Serah M., Selyen S., and Kristy F.  Congratulations to all participants and thank you to Mrs. Hollanti, Mrs. McIntyre, Mlle Longpré, and Ms. Jurcic for conducting the spelling bee.  Good luck to Brad D. as he represents Chief Dan George in the Canwest Canspell National Spelling Bee 2009.

PAC Meeting Monday, February 9th
PAC president, Mr. Greg Nutchey wishes to remind parents of the PAC meeting for February that will take place at 7:00 pm on Monday, February 9th in our school library.

Needed for Beauty and the Beast Production
Mr. Lilly is looking for a minimum of 18 artificial Christmas trees (no lights please) to make up the forest in our Beauty and the Beast Production in April. If you have one you can loan us (any size) please call Mr. Lilly or Donna at the school at 604-852-9616.

Chess News
Over 30 students attended our “Cookies and Chess” afternoon on Thursday, January 22nd.  Chief Dan George Middle School has hosted a province-wide chess tournament for the past 5 years. This year's tournament will be held on May 23rd. As part of our fundraising efforts, the chess club is offering chess sets for sale to individuals. The chess set has a retail value of $29.95. We managed to get a good price on the sets and are able to offer them at an amazing price of $15.00 each, including taxes. The set consists of a roll up vinyl chess mat, tournament size pieces with extra queens, and a zippered travel bag that holds the pieces and mat. We have a limited number of chess sets, so sales will be on a first come, first served basis. For a picture of the set, please visit, http://cdgms.com/chess_sets.htm. Cheques should be made payable to Chief Dan George Middle School. Please do not make cheques payable to Chief Dan George. He passed away quite some time ago.

Scholastic Chess Tournament Results
Zavier Z., Logan W., and Vincint W.  from CDG participated in the scholastic Chess tournament on Sunday, January 25th.   Over 100 students attended the event. There was tough competition as all the players were closely matched. Logan Wilsenack finished in a 4-way third-place (bronze medal) tie.  Well Done!!

Champion Wrestlers!
Two of our students competed in the Western Canada Age Class Wrestling Tournament in Kamloops on the weekend of January 17th-18th. We extend our sincere congratulations to Gagan S. and Tanvir B. - Gagan won gold and was nominated as outstanding wrestler of tournament and Tanvir won 5th place. Well done boys!  If your child is interested in learning more or joining the wrestling club please call Mr. Sangha 604-825-1501.

Abbotsford Spirit of BC Week
Chief Dan George students from our school's Peer Mentor and Student Leadership Programs will be playing an integral part in the upcoming Abbotsford Spirit of BC Day to be held on Saturday, February 7, 2009 at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.  Under the guidance of Ms. Jurcic, students will be responsible for running a number of Olympic Sports theme stations in the gymnasium.  This is a fabulous opportunity for our students to contribute to the Abbotsford community and showcase their leadership skills.  One of our teachers, Mlle Klassen will also be involved by singing O'Canada during the opening ceremony of the Abbotsford Spirit of BC Day.  Families are invited to come and enjoy the celebrations and see our students in action.  For more information please refer to the attached Spirit of BC Week poster.

Baseball
Baseball Registration for boys and girls is happening on Saturday, February 7th  from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at Yale Secondary School.  For complete details, please visit the website at www.abbotsfordbaseball.ca

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February 12, 2009

Important Dates to Note
Feb 20 - Pro-D (No School)
Mar 3 - Gr. 8’s at Mouat (pm)
Mar 6 - Report cards issued
Mar 9 - 20 - Spring Break

REMINDER:  If your child is going to be late or absent from school, please call the office by 9:00 am to advise.  You may also email the late/absence to Joanne_McMillan@sd34.bc.ca or Donna_Hollanti@sd34.bc.ca.

Non Instructional Day on February 20th
Friday February 20th is a designated District wide non-instructional day.  The District is once again hosting its annual Shared Learning Conference and many of our staff will be participating on that day. No classes will be held.

Happy Valentines Day
Best wishes to all members of the Chief Dan George community for a Happy Valentines Day.  We hope that everyone will take time to acknowledge the loved ones in their life.

User Pay Bussing for 2009-2010
If you are interested in having your child take the user pay school bus for the next school year, pre-registration forms are available at our office (if you are a current rider a form will be mailed to your home). Completion of the form does not guarantee a seat on the bus, however in order to arrange the bus routes for September they require the advance registration. Cost for this service is approximately $50 per month/per child.  Deadline for pre-registration is May 15, 2009.

Den Closure
Please note that Friday, March 6th is the last day our Den lunch program (in the Home Ec Room) will be in operation for this school year. Due to scheduling conflicts, Mr. Lilly will have a class in the room during Block 4 when the lunches are normally prepared, we have no choice but to close until next year.  Our Canteen (in the MPR) will remain open.  If your child has a credit or credits still left on his/her Den Card  after closing day a refund cheque will be mailed to you.  Thank you for your participation in this program.

Notice of report card issue
Second term reports will be available to students on Friday, March 6th, the last day in session before the two week Spring Break.  Spring Break will run through the weeks of March 9 to 13 and March 16th to 20th. Classes will resume on Monday, March 23rd.

F.S.A. testing
Grade seven students continue to work toward the completion of  Foundation Skills Assessments.  Testing will continue through next week.  Results will be made available to teachers and parents later in the spring.

Grade 8 Transition activities with  Mouat Secondary
The majority of our Grade 8 students transition to Mouat Secondary every year.  On Tuesday, March 3rd our Grade 8 students will spend the afternoon at Mouat Secondary and will participate in a series of transition activities.  On Friday, March 6th, Mouat counsellors will meet with our students to collect course planning forms and to answer further questions related to this transition. 

Beauty and the Beast
• We still need artificial Christmas trees (no lights). If you have one we can borrow please call Donna at the office.  We will be collecting the trees after Spring Break
• Tickets are now on sale in the office for the evening performances (April 8th and 9th) - $2.00 each (all proceeds from the tickets sales will be given to Abbey Arts Center). Please note that there are no matinee tickets available as our school as well  as several elementary schools will be filling the theatre each afternoon.

Grade 8 Boys Basketball
The Grade 8 boys basketball  season came to an end this week with a tough loss to Abby Middle in the second round of the playoffs  The boys played their hearts out and worked hard as a team, but were edged out by 1 point at the end of the game.  Mr. Klim is very pleased and proud with the efforts this team put forward, and feels the boys had a  great season.  They ended up placing 3rd in the league standings with an outstanding record of 11 wins and 2 losses.  Great job boys!! Key elements of their success were partly due to the fierce driving of Chris B. and the skilled ball handling of Corey H. However, the boys would not have been as successful if it were not for the collective effort of the team and their desire to compete at such a high level.
Grade 7 league play is almost over with both the boys and girls teams making huge gains. Firstly, the girls find themselves in a 3-3 situation with some of their more difficult games ahead of them. However, Coaches Jurcic and Hildebrand are optimistic that their team will prevail with key playmakers Alexandra J., Gurselyen S., Brenda N., and Shalika K.
Finally, the Grade 7 boys are proving themselves a force to be reckoned with. They currently have a 4-2 record with one game remaining in regular season play. Perhaps the most exciting game of the season for the boys (to date) took place at home on Wednesday January 28th against W.A. Fraser.  After four quarters the score was 48-48. With less than 5 seconds to go in overtime Fraser took the eventual game-winning basket to end the game with a 52-50 victory. Key players on this year’s roster include Manveer D., Sahil C., Austin P. and Gurvir G.   Well done to all teams.  Stay tuned for further game highlights of playoff results for the Gr. 7 boys and girls teams.

French 8 Voyage to Québec
This year's trip is drawing closer and will shortly be upon us. We have had a second meeting with the students to begin discussing some of the rules and protocol of the trip, and all seem excited and eager to go. We, as a group of teachers, are also very excited about this year's trip and want to pass on the information as we currently have it. There are 76 students that will be going on this year's trip along with 8 adult chaperones: the 4 French 8 teachers at CDG, Mme Louise Jenkins - School District Modern Languages Director, Mme Carine - our French monitor, and parent volunteers Mrs. Pigeau and Mrs. Lizotte. In addition to these chaperones, there will also be 2 tour guides provided by the tour company upon arrival in Québec City. To date, all of the activities, hotels, busses, and flights have been booked and the itinerary is almost complete. There are a few minor details to add, and an updated copy will be discussed with the parent group shortly, but this year's trip is expected to be the best one yet. To give families a heads up regarding the flight itinerary, here are the plans as we have them:

May 9th
Abbotsford 6:30 am WS456 Calgary 8:37 am
Calgary 10:10 am WS398 Toronto 3:48 pm
Toronto 4:30 pm WS654 Québec 5:54 pm

May 16th
Montréal 9:00 am WS667 Calgary 11:34 am
Calgary 12:35 pm WS449 Abbotsford 12:57 pm


Students will be receiving a T-shirt prior to departure and we ask that these be worn on the first and last days of the trip, as per tradition. Just a reminder that the final payment of $950.00 is due between March 2-6, prior to the Spring Break. Also, if your child has any allergies that we need to be aware of, please contact Mme Bonneau at the school before March 6th. We will be sending the final payment to reserve the flights and the tour after March 6th, therefore, no refunds will be made available after that date. Lastly, if you wish to purchase cancellation insurance for the tour, the cost of it is $64 and Mme Bonneau needs to be aware of this request by March 2nd. Thank you for your attention to these matters and we look forward to meeting with our parent group shortly to discuss the protocol, the expectations, and itinerary of this year's trip. Merci Beaucoup!

Abbotsford Spirit of BC Day
On Saturday, February 7, 2009 from 1:00 pm to 4:00pm the Abbotsford Spirit of BC organized a family day at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre to celebrate the one year countdown to the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.  At number of staff members and students from Chief Dan George were volunteers at this event.  Participating in the opening ceremony were Mlle Klassen (singing the National Anthem) and Sebastian Muermann, Jora Majore, John Gabor and Tasha Ellis (carrying the flags).  The four flag bearers were later joined by Navpreet Ganda, Arshdeep Ganda and Prabjot Ganda who along with Ms. Jurcic ran Olympic Sports relays in the gymnasium.  Surprise guests to this event were the official 2010 Olympic Mascots: Quatchi, Sumi, and Mig.

Interested in Hosting a Teenager from France this Summer?
Dates:  July 5- 27, 2009, age range 13-18 years old.
Students have a fair level of English.  You must have a teenager at home. For more information call Kelly Francis c/o GW Graham Middle, Chilliwack or email her at:  kelly_francis@sd33.bc.ca

BC and Yukon Youth Conference Celebrates 20 Years of Fun in French
For the 20th year in a row, Canadian Parents For French - BC & Yukon is offering a fun-filled educational youth conference for grade 6, 7 and 8 French Immersion and Francophone students called Rencontre Française at the Burnaby campus of Simon Fraser University from May 22-24, 2009.  Registration  fee is $160 for CPF members ($185 for non-members) and covers all accommodation, meals and workshops.  CFP offers on-line registration only for Recontre Francaise commencing January 28, 2009 and closes April 9, 2009.  Visit www.cpf.bc.ca for detail and registration.  First come, first served.

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February 26, 2009

Important Dates to Note
Mar 3 - Gr. 8’s at Mouat (pm)
Mar 6 - Report cards issued
Mar 9 - 20 - Spring Break

Spring Break and Days in Lieu
March 9 - 13 and March 16 - 20 are the dates for this year's Spring Break.  Classes will resume on Monday, March 23rd.  We wish all members of the school community a safe and enjoyable break and look forward to returning on March 23rd to continue to provide a high level of service for the final months of this school year. 

Staffing Announcement
We are pleased to announce that Mrs. Susan Jones will join our staff at the end of March as our new school counselor.  Very early in the school year Mr. Bruce Dugdale, who had been this school's     counselor for over seven years, moved into a newly created position at the Abbotsford Regional Hospital.  Although we were initially unable to find a fully qualified counselor to replace him we have been very fortunate to have had Mr. Warren Manual provide that service to our school community for the last five months. Mr. Manuel has had extensive experience as a teacher and administrator and came out of retirement to assist us. We wish to thank him for all of his hard work.  Mrs. Jones is presently providing counseling services at two schools in Langley and is very excited to be joining our school community after Spring Break. 

Grade 8 Transition to Mouat Secondary
Next week, Tuesday, March 3rd our Grade 8 students will spend the afternoon at Mouat Secondary touring the school and receiving information regarding course planning for next year. Please note that students will be bussed to Mouat and then will walk back to our school after the presentation.  Course planning forms will need to completed and available for Mouat counselors on Friday, March 6th. Those Grade 8 students not attending Mouat next year will need to contact their prospective high school and make their own arrangements for course planning.

Locker Clean Out and Lost and Found Display
On Friday, March 6th we will have a school wide locker clean out in the morning.  Students should return overdue library books and take home their gym strip for cleaning over the break.  Lost and Found items will be displayed on Thursday afternoon, March 5th and Friday afternoon, March 6th. Unclaimed items will be donated to a local charity.

Wolves Sports
The Grade 7 boys basketball team finished their regular season with 5 victories and only 2 defeats, placing them third in the District seven team league. The season wrapped up this week with playoffs. In first round action our boys faced Eugene Reimer, winning handily by a score of 63 to 12. Leading scorers for Chief Dan George were Hunter S. and Sahil C. with 12 points each and Austin P. with 9 points.  This placed our team into the semi finals against W.A. Fraser, a team that defeated our boys in overtime during league play.  The result of this game was unavailable at press time and will appear in the newsletter after Spring Break. 
The Grade 7 Girls basketball team had an exciting opening playoff game Tuesday afterschool at home against Eugene Reimer.  All season long our girls have had to battle against teams that have been a lot taller.  Tuesday was no exception as Reimer had a number of very talented tall players that were able to pull down many rebounds.  Our Chief Dan George girls were able to pull out a 28 - 23 win over Reimer through hard work and determination.  Superior speed was the determining factor that enabled the Chief Dan girls to prevail in the end.  Top scorers for the game were Hailey G. with 10 points and Selyen S. with 6 points.  The Grade 7 Girls will be facing Fraser Middle next in a semi final game on Wednesday, February 25th at Fraser.  Stay tuned for final results of the CDG Grade 7 Girls basketball  program in the next newsletter.

Drag Racing News
The 2009 race season is coming up fast. Our first date at Mission will be on April 10th. We are hoping to have all three dragsters up and running by then. By the middle of next week, our new members will be selected and announced. We will be choosing 6 grade six students and 2 grade seven students from the all the applicants who attended our last meeting. At this time, Wolves Racing would like to thank the PAC for their generous support. It will go a long way in helping us get much needed equipment to start the season off. We are hoping for yet another successful season as we go for our 5th consecutive Provincial championship.

Kiwanis Student of the Month for February
Congratulations to Tasha E. for being named February's Student of the Month.  Tasha is an Honor Roll student and her teachers indicate that she is one of the hardest working students they they have ever had the privilege to teach. Tasha has endeared herself to her peers and the adults that work in the school because she embraces everything she does with determination and enthusiasm.  She is also extremely polite and helpful, always looking for ways to assist those around her. Tasha is an outstanding athlete and has represented the school in cross country running , basketball and track and field each year she has been at the school.  She is also an accomplished musician and plays in our school band.  Tasha,  congratulations and thanks for making Chief Dan George a great place to work and play!

District Nights of Music at Abbotsford Arts Center March 2nd
The choir and jazz band will be performing at the annual District Nights of music that will be held on Monday evening, March 2nd at the Abby Arts center.  Tickets are only $2 and can be purchased at the door.  Our music program is one of the best in Abbotsford.  If you are looking for a pleasant evening of music this is a wonderful event to attend. Please mark the date on your home calendar.

Den Reminder
Reminder that Friday, March 6th is the last day the Den lunch program will be in operation for this school year. Any credits left on your child's card will be refunded to you by school cheque. The Pit Stop Canteen will be open as usual for remainder of the school year.

Breakfast Program
There will be no  breakfast program during the month of March on Mondays only.  However, Thursday breakfasts will continue as usual.

Rice Raiser
We have raised $260 and 400 kg of rice so far. Great job! This is our last week to bring in rice and money.  Our goal is to get 2,000 kg and $2,000.  As you can see we haven’t quite reached our goal yet, so bring in your rice and money.  All of the rice we raise goes to the Abbotsford Food Bank and the money goes to Mozambique.  We would also like to thank everyone who participated in the valentine candy grams.  We raised $205 with candy grams.  Great job! Bring in your rice and keep up the great work! 
Your PR team:  Mia Angus

Science Fair at CDGMS
Students from Division 2 and Division 8 will be proudly displaying their Science Fair projects on the morning of March 6th in the MPR Room. The top projects from both divisions will go on to compete and represent our school in this year's Fraser Valley Regional Science Fair that will be held on April 1st, 2nd and 3rd at the University of the Fraser Valley. All parents and students are invited to come see the displays on March 6th. If any CDGMS student outside divisions 2 and 8, is interested in putting together a Science Fair project and can get one completed by the 6th of March, please see Mr. Sakai for more information. Also, for those interested in putting together a science fair project, visit, http://sd34.homeip.net/web/fvrsf/index.html. We would like to see students in the French Immersion track participate in this year's Science Fair. As we are the only French Immersion middle school in Abbotsford, chances of winning an award at the Regional Science Fair is very good.

Chess News
On Saturday, February 14th, a team of four Chief Dan George students participated in the St. John’s Junior Team Chess Championship.  Vincent Wood, Suneet D’Silva, Kevin Wang and Jacob Wilson worked well as a team.  At the end of three rounds, they were in third place of a field of 23 teams.  They then finally played in the St. John’s team and fell back finally finishing 7th place.  Well done boys!
These boys represented Chief Dan George at the Fraser Valley Regional Chess Tournament.  Playing against very stiff competition Suneet D'Silva qualified to go on to the provincial championship. Congratulations Suneet!
WANTED:  An adult who is competent in chess to mentor students who want to take a step toward excellence in the game. Contact Mr. Glum.


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April 2, 2009

Upcoming Dates to Note
Apr 6-PAC meeting-7:00 pm in Library
Apr 6-Quebec Meeting-6:45 pm in MPR
Apr 8-9-Beauty and the Beast-7:00 pm
Apr 10-Good Friday (NO SCHOOL)
Apr 13-Easter Monday (NO SCHOOL)
Apr 15-Class picture day
Apr 22-24-Gr. 8 Band Trip
Apr 24-Pro-D (NO SCHOOL)
       
Easter long weekend
Classes will not be held on Friday, April 10th and Monday, April 13th as part of the Easter long weekend. Best wishes to all members of the school community for a Happy Easter. 
                                                                 
Class Photos on Wednesday, April 15th
Lifetouch Photography (formally Josten's) will be at our school on the morning of April 15th to take class pictures. Each student will receive a complementary copy of their class picture a few weeks later.

Beauty and the Beast
Next week over 100 students and a number of staff will see their many months of hard work become a reality as Chief Dan George Middle will present "Beauty and the Beast",  our fourth musical in eight years.  Through the extremely generous financial support of the school's PAC and many community businesses, the many hours of volunteer time provided by members of the parent community to create costumes and build sets, and the commitment of a large number of our students and staff this experience will be one we will all remember fondly for years to come.  Our entire cast and crew will spend Tuesday, April 7th in dress rehearsal at the Abbey Arts Center.  The following two days, Wednesday, April 8th and Thursday, April 9th the production will be shown four times, a matinee on Wednesday to elementary school students, a matinee on Thursday for our school's students and two evening performances for the public.  The evening performances will start at 7:00 pm with the tickets priced at a very affordable $2.00. There are still plenty of tickets available for both evenings and these can be purchased at the school office.  The PAC has generously provided the funds to transport our students to and from Abbey Arts to the matinee performance on Thursday, April 9th. There is also no charge to our students to view the show. All we would ask of parents and guardians is to send a signed permission back to the school so that we are able to take your child off campus to view the production on that day. 

The production team of Beauty and the Beast would like to keep our students and parents informed regarding our fast approaching play.  We have three things of note to share at present:

• Tickets for Evening Performances
Tickets are now on sale at the office and they are going fast.  You may purchase tickets for our evening productions from Donna Hollanti (school secretary) for a cost of $2.00 each.  The proceeds from this production go to Abbey Arts Centre, providing theatre up keep and the purchase of new equipment.  Performances are on April 8th & 9th at 7:00 pm.   The performance is approximately 90 minutes in length with a short intermission (refreshments will be provided free of charge).

• Props for the Production
We would like to thank our parents for the wonderful response we received after our last newsletter requesting needed props.  We now have all the Christmas trees we need.  All donated props should be brought to the school as soon as possible to give our crew time to rehearse with them.  Please ensure your name is clearly marked on any donated item.  We are still in need of a few important props and they are as follows:  Vender items (candles, plastic fruit, plastic eggs, plastic bread, plastic fish), small flashlights, pitch-forks, axes, one large leather chair for the beast and one large wooden chair.   

• Help Needed on Thursday Night after the Show
Mr. Lilly needs parent volunteers to take down the set and return all set pieces and props to the school immediately after Thursday nights production.  Our contract with Abbey Arts Centre requires that we be out of the building one hour after  the production ends.  We need as many pick-up trucks or trailers as possible to accomplish this.  If you could help in this manner please call the school at 604-852-9616.

Our production team, cast and crew would like to thank everyone for their support over the last few months and we look forward to performing for you soon.

March Grade 8 Student of the Month for March
Congratulations to Elizabeth J. for being named our Grade 8 Student of the Month for March. Elizabeth is an outstanding student in our French Immersion program, receiving straight A's on her reports this year. She is a strong contributor to our Student Leadership program. Elizabeth is a very talented music student and is a top performer in both our Band and Choir program.  She is highly respected by her peers and the school staff as a great role model and wonderful citizen of the school. Well done Elizabeth!

Chief Dan PAC meeting, April 6th at 7:00 pm - Win Two Large Pizzas
Win Two Large Pizzas!!!
Clip this coupon and bring to our PAC meeting in the Chief Dan Library.
You will be entered in a draw to win 2 large 3 topping pizzas from Ricardo’s Pizza. Open to first time parents to our CDG PAC meetings only.

Band Fundraiser
The Band students have done another Neufeld Farms Fundraiser.  The pick up date is Wednesday, April 15th outside.  All students who sold products must be there for pickup.

Quebec Meeting
Quebec trip May 9-16, 2009
Meeting rescheduled for April 6th at 6:45 pm in MPR (for parents only)

Wolves Sports - Rugby
Rugby season has officially kicked off with our boys playing their first scrum of the season against a veteran Fraser team last Tuesday at Rotary stadium. Although our boys team lacks experience they bring grit and determination to the mixed team of Howe/Chief Dan.  This year, Chief Dan lacked the experience of a head coach which almost resulted in the forfeit of both the boys and the girls rugby teams. However, through effort and good fortune, a situation arose that enabled both teams to carry on. The end result was a joint venture between Howe Middle and us. Head coach Mr. Richard Wimmer  (a teacher at Howe as well as an experienced rugby coach) agreed to run both teams with the help of  many others. Although this is not the best situation, it was necessary for our rugby program to carry on. Currently both teams are registered to play in the city sevens tournament that takes place all day on April 17th. Good luck to all who are playing this season.

Grade 6 boys and girls basketball team
The grade 6 girls and boys basketball teams have also begun practicing for their season. The girls team is being coached by Mr. Jasbir Singh (teacher from Clayburn), while the boys are coached by Mr. Marshall, a teacher of Late French at this school.  Regular season of play begins next Wednesday April 8th and runs until the end of April. According to both coaches there is no shortage of talent this year. They as well as the students anticipate a fun and challenging season.

Grade 7 boys basketball team City champions
For the first time in the eight years that CDGMS has been in operation one of its basketball teams achieved City champion status. Just before Spring Break the Gr. 7 boys were involved in three sudden death playoff games over the space of three days.  They went into the final tournament as the #3 seed. They defeated Reimer Middle handily in the first round and then faced number #2 seed W.A. Fraser in round two.  Fraser had defeated Chief Dan George in overtime during league play.  Lead by top scorers Manveer D. and Sahil C. the boys defeated Fraser 43 - 35 to advance to the City final against undefeated Abbotsford Middle.  Against Abby Middle,  the Chief Dan George boys took an early lead and never relinquished it.  Top scorers were Manveer D. with 17 points and Ben K. and Arshdeep G. with 11 each.  Sahil C. and Hunter S. held the Abbotsford forwards in check most of the game and point guards Austin P. and Herman G. did an outstanding job of distributing the ball and controlling the play.

Bowling for Bursaries-Sponsored by CPF
Canadian Parents for French-April 25th
9:15 pm - 12:30 pm
$15.00 per person
Galaxy Bowl
32490 Simon Avenue, Abbotsford
For tickets/sponsor a lane, contact CIndy Harris at 604-855-4310 or cindyharris@shaw.ca

Found
Small black box containing Key chain with crystal cube on end (Arizona). If you've lost this item please call 604-607-0888.

Lost
Orthotics missing.  If you have found a navy blue garage brand gym bag, please return to the office.  Inside was a pair of Nike’s with orthotics.

Youth Basketball
The YMCA Youth Basketball League promotes the values of participation, fair play, skill development and family involvement.  Our teams are coached by YMCA volunteers.  The fee is $90 and includes 1 practice and 1 Friday night game per week (except on statutory holidays and pro-D days), insurance through Basketball BC, a reversible jersey and a season wrap-up tournament.  Registration can be completed by phone through the Tong Louie YMCA 1-604-575-9622 or by picking up a registration form from the office.  Volunteer coaches are also needed.  For more information on this or anything concerning the league please contact Jen Dudley at Jennifer.dudley@vanymca.org.  For basketball fun, the YMCA is in a league of its own!

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April 16, 2009

Upcoming Dates to Note
Apr 22-24-Gr. 8 Band Trip
Apr 24-Pro-D (NO SCHOOL)
May 11-Night of Music 7:00 pm @ Abbey Arts
May 18-Victoria Day (NO-SCHOOL)

April 24th Pro D
Next Friday, April 24th is the last designated non-instructional day in the Abbotsford School District. No classes will be held that day.

Beauty and the Beast Wraps Up a Great Run
Last week our school's musical, Beauty and the Beast was presented at the Abbey Arts Center to four full capacity houses. Close to 3000 students and members of our community viewed outstanding live theatre put forth by over one hundred of our students. The entire cast and crew deserve kudos for the many hours of preparation that was needed to present such a high quality experience for our audiences.  This experience was truly a community team effort and created fabulous life long memories for all concerned.  Special thanks to directors Ms. Miriam Norton and Mr. Paul Lilly for their huge investment of time, energy and passion. 
We are now in the process of cleaning up, storing and returning everything that was built, created or lent to us for the play.  Could you please pick up anything you lent to our school as soon as possible.  Everything is being stored at present in the library lab.  Please ask at the office to have the room unlocked when picking up your belongings. 
Our cast and crew will enjoy a production party in late May.  We will give every student a video of the play and a CD of pictures at that time.   We have been sent a teaser of the pictures all ready and they look amazing.  "the camera really loves our kids".   

French Immersion Public Speaking Results
The French public speaking competition was held at the Centennial Auditorium on April 2nd.  The top performer in each category will represent our school/district in the provincial championships to be held on Saturday, May 2nd at the Surrey campus of SFU.  The top three finishers in each division were:
French 8: Jory S., Sebastian M. and Evie S.; French 8 Francophone: Michelle A. and Natalie C.; Late French 7: Annelien T., Logan W. and Emiley F.; Early French Immersion:  Nureen B.,  Benjamin K. and Beth N.; Early French Immersion 7 Francophone:. Thomas F.; Early French Immersion 6: Gurselyen S., Mikaela G. and Jesse B.; Early French Immersion 6 Francophone: Devon B.,  Elianah S. and Gabriel G.
Thanks to District Modern Languages Coordinator, Mme  Jenkins who did a great job of organizing the event  and CDGMS teacher, Mr. Cervo for his excellent work as master of ceremonies.  Thanks to all the student participants who demonstrated a high level of confidence and proficiency in French.
English Public Speaking representatives
Congratulations to three grade seven students who represented our school in the District's English Public Speaking competition last week.  Many thanks to Brianna K., Rebecca V. and Vishalini C. for a job well done!

Grade 8 student to attend National Science Fair
For the second consecutive year Jory S. has been chosen to attend the Canada Wide Science Fair. This year the event will take place in Winnipeg in the middle of May.   Further to the honour of moving on to Nationals, Jory also received $100 and a perpetual trophy from the Canadian Women for Science and Technology.  This is truly an outstanding accomplishment and we wish Jory the best of luck next month in Winnipeg.

Fine Arts performance for French Immersion students --- Les Bucherons
The District's Modern Languages Department is sponsoring a fine arts performance for all Intermediate grade French Immersion students in Abbotsford on Monday, April 20th. Les Bucherons will perform to over 500 french immersion students in our gym at 10:30 am on that day.

Choir/Band Concerts
Students in the CDG choir and bands are busy participating in many concerts in the next few weeks.  Please take time to look over these dates and mark your calendars.
1. April 22 - 24 ~ Grade 8 band trip to Nanaimo and Victoria, performing at two schools and participating in various activities
2. May 4 at 11:00 am ~ Choir students participating in Music Monday with the students at Terry Fox Elementary
3. May 9 at 7:00 pm ~ Choir students participating in Festival of the Voice at Clarke Theatre in Mission (excluding grade 8 Quebec    students)
4. May 11 at 7:00 pm ~ Grade 7 band students (excluding div. 12 & 14) participating at Middle School Band Night at Abbey Arts Theatre
5. May 26 at 9:00 am ~ Grade 7 band students participating in the Kiwanis Music Festival at Kwantlen University in Langley
More information for these events will be available in the near future.

Wolves Sports
Now that both rugby teams have been well practiced and have been seeing adequate play time, there has been drastic improvement all around. Although the boys are still in search of that elusive first win, they seem to be getting ever so close each time they compete. Though the teams faced adversity right from the start (late start) of the season, the players spirits do not seem to be dampened. As for the girls, they chalked up their first win last Tuesday against Reimer. This was a hard fought battle where the girls needed to remain focused and come back to win after trailing the entire game. Hailey Gibson scored three tries for our team.  What made this win most impressive is that several of the girls were away with commitments to the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ production. Well done to them!
In basketball news, the teams Grade 6 have been hard at work refining (or at least developing) their skills. The boys have a make up game on Monday, April 20th and the girls have a make up game on Tuesday,  April 21st. After that, game days will remain Wednesdays until May. The final two games of the season are on Tuesday, May 5th and Thursday, May 7th.   Look to the skies, well at least the track! Track and Field season will begin shortly. Stay tuned for a complete schedule of events.

Chess Season Comes to CDGM
Chess and Cookies after school on Thursday, April 30th
Giant chess in the multipurpose room on Thursdays
In-school chess tournament on Tuesdays
The season comes to a culmination with the famous Chief Dan George Middle Chess Tournament on Saturday, May 23rd

BC Lions presentation on Monday, April 27th
Representatives of the BC Lions football club will present an interactive experience to all of our students and staff on the afternoon of Monday, April 27th.  Their focus will support our goal areas of Health and Fitness and Social Responsibility.

Run for Water
Come join our school team and RUN FOR WATER. 
5K Fun Run/10K Run/Half Marathon
Sunday, May 31st at Mill Lake at 9:00 am
By competing in the Run For Water you are helping villages in Ethopia acquire the clean drinking water they need.    Envision Financial is sponsoring two $1000 awards for the top fundraising classroom and the school with the most participants. For more information or to register go to:  www.runforwater.ca or see Mrs. Bunbury.

Dogwood District Scholarship Competitions - Displays      
Displays and presentations by local Secondary school students.
April 20 & 21 from 9:30 am - 5:30 pm  at Sevenoaks Mall 
April 20: displays in: visual arts, photography, hair design, business, community service, textiles, and physical activity
April 21: displays in: digital media, TV/film, design communications, drafting, animation and event planning

CPF Bowling for Bursaries
The Canadian Parents for French are holding their annual Bowling for Bursaries fundraiser at Galaxy Bowl on Saturday evening, April 25th. Tickets for only $15.00 to enjoy a fun filled evening.  PAC president Mr. Greg Nutchey, is our contact for CPF. You can leave a message for Mr. Nutchey at our school office to obtain more information or tickets to the event.

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April 30, 2009

Upcoming Dates to Note
May 5-PAC Meeting-7:00 pm
May 9-16-Quebec trip
May 11-Night of Music 7:00 pm @ Abbey Arts
May 18-Victoria Day (NO-SCHOOL)
May 21-District Track Meet @ Rotary Stadium
May 28-Gr. 5 Parents Open House-6:30-7:30 pm
Please note that attached to this email is a school calendar for 2009-2010.

May PAC meeting is Tuesday, May 5th
Please note that the PAC meeting next month has been changed and will take place on Tuesday evening, May 5th at 7:00 p.m.   The PAC will need assistance in the next few months around events such as the Grade 5 parent and student Open House on Thursday evening,  May 28th and the staff appreciation luncheon in the middle of June.  In addition the PAC is seeking support for various executive positions for the upcoming school year. Please consider attending the meeting on May 5th to offer your assistance.
                           
ART STARTS Fine Arts Presentation on Tuesday, May 5th
Each year our school provides our students with opportunities to see high quality fine arts presentations. The last of these this year will take place on Tuesday morning, May 5th and will involve a group called SAM 2 a very creative group of musicians that have taken scrap material to produce extremely unique musical instruments.  The School District has supported ARTSTARTS for many years as schools receive partial subsidies to allow on site fine arts presentations.

Kiwanis Student of the Month for April
Congratulations to Carol K. for being April’s student of the month.  Carol has been heavily involved in the school culture this year.  She devoted many hours as a Yearbook editor, has been a member of the extracurricular school choir, and in the cast of our school musical Beauty in the Beast.  She is a wonderful musician and a top performer in our band program. She is also a straight "A" student in French Immersion. In addition, Carol is seen by her teachers and peers as very supportive and hard working.

Seven Oaks Mall Art Show
From May 5 - 11, 2009, the Sevenoaks Mall will be displaying fine works of art from Abbotsford's Middle and Secondary students.  Chief Dan George will be submitting 10 pieces of art from its student population to be put on display by Zeeba Hair and Body Image.  Be sure to take the time to view the amazing work put on by Abbotsford students.

Abbotsford Run for Water - May 31st!
The 5k Run/Walk is perfect for kids and families, and proceeds go to providing children overseas with clean drinking water. The school with the most entries will win $1000, and it's a great cause!
Register at  http://www.runforwater.ca/ and be sure to include that you're on the Chief Dan George Middle School team.

Grade 7 Peer Mentors
Chief Dan George Grade 7 Peer Mentors were put into action visiting our feeder schools on April 21 - 23, 2009.  All peer mentors had an opportunity to visit with one of our feeder elementary schools (Bondar, Centennial, Clearbrook, Sandy Hill, Margaret Stenersen and Terry Fox) as the first step in welcoming our future grade 6 students to CDGMS.  The peer mentors did a fabulous job connecting with the grade 5 students and sharing their positive experiences since becoming a CDGMS student.  The grade 7 peer mentors will be called upon on two more occasions as we continue the process preparing grade 5 students for the transition to middle school.  On Monday, May 25, 2009 CDGMS will be hosting students from our feeder schools from 9:30 am to 11:30 am.  Then on Thursday, May 28, 2009 CDGMS will hold an Open House for incoming parents and students.

Asset Survey - Attitudes and Behaviors
On May 6, 2009, the Abbotsford School District will conduct an important study on the needs, attitudes, and behaviors of our students in grades 8-12.  The survey is titled Search Institute Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors.  It will provide our schools and community with a wide range of information such as how students spend their time, their perceptions of school and community life, and their participation in a wide range of risky behaviors.  The survey will help us address the developmental needs of our youth based on the 40 Developmental Assets for Adolescents.  Parents/Guardians of grade 8 -12 students will be receiving a letter with further explanations and a copy of the 40 Developmental Assets for Adolescents.

Wolves Racing News
Recap of April 24th race day at Mission Raceway Park
Weather was unbelievable on Friday and all three of our dragsters were running well - even after being mothballed for well over six months. The hero (heroine) of the day was Brittney H. During the first elimination round, she drove to within 0.001 seconds of her dial-in time to eliminate Mouat's Screamin' Eagle. The best driver honours went to Jaymin S. This was his first time behind the wheel even though he has been on the team for nearly two years. Good things come to those who wait. Jaymin posted the best reaction time of all the drivers today with a time of 0.068 seconds. At the end of the day, Jaymin took home the trophy.  All of our drivers and pit crew did very well. It was good to see a few staff members out there, too. The students love it when adults from the school come out to watch. Principal, vice principal, counselor in her bike outfit (looked like she was about to race her bike!), and Mr. Lockington (who helped out by starting the cars for us at the staging area a few times). By the sounds of it, Robert Bateman Secondary is close to putting a junior dragster together for this year. Good news, as more competition is always a good thing. There were a total of nine junior dragsters at the track as a few of the privately owned vehicles came out to play.

Our next drag race date is May 8th. Hopefully, we will receive our latest secret weapon (Mouat Eagle killer), an uber fast motor for "Chilli", our slowest vehicle. Chilli has been the brunt of jokes ever since we bought it from Chilliwack Secondary. It was so slow, most grade 6's could outrun it. We use Chilli as our training vehicle. The sad part is that having the largest cockpit, it is the only dragster that can accommodate the larger grade 8 students. After the extreme makeover, however, Chilli will be our fastest and most meanest car by far. A stage 6 motor coupled with a Shockwave reverse driven clutch system will propel the car into the mid to low 8's in the 1/8 mile with speeds of up to 75 miles per hour - definitely not a car to be used for training purposes.

At this point we would like to thank the PAC and all our sponsors for their generous support. Without them we would not be able to be part of the BCSSMA (BC Secondary School Motorsports Association). We will be going for our 5th provincial title in our eight years of operation. The sponsor teachers are looking forward to working with what looks like an awesome bunch of kids.
For more detailed info on what our team does, complete with pictures and video clips, visit our web page at:

http://cdgms.com/wolf_racing.htm. 

2009 Drag Race Team Sponsors are: New World Technologies; CDGMS PAC; Lordco Auto Parts and Abbotsford Fire Fighters.
If you or your company would like to be a sponsor of Wolves Racing, please contact Mr. Lilly at the school (604.852.9616). Our dragsters and support vehicles can be used to display your company logo or name. Part of our wish list for the longest of time has been to have full team uniforms. Perfect place for a company's logo.

Lost and Found
The Lost and Found container is once again overflowing with misplaced items.  On Friday, May 1, 2009 all items will be displayed in the multi-purpose room after lunch.  All classes will have an opportunity to view the lost and found.  Parents are also welcome to come in and take a look.


Grade 8 FI trip to Québec
The departure date of Saturday, May 9th is quickly approaching.  The team of FI teachers and students are eager and excited to leave and are looking forward to another memorable trip. Just a reminder to parents that we leave early Saturday morning May 9th and return the following Saturday afternoon, on May 16th. The flight itinerary is as follows:
Departure
Abbotsford        6:30 am    WS456        Calgary        8:37 am
Calgary        10:10 am    WS398        Toronto        3:48 pm
Toronto        4:30 pm    WS654        Québec City    5:54 pm
Return
Montréal        9:00 am    WS667        Calgary        11:34 am
Calgary        12:35 pm    WS449        Abbotsford        12:57 pm

The final trip itinerary will be sent home with students for Friday and we will be meeting with them that day to discuss the final plans and some protocol at the airports. Each student will be able to bring 2 pieces plus a carry-on, with each checked piece not exceeding 50 pounds. We also anticipate that the hoodies will be arriving in the coming week and remind students that they are to wear the hoodies on the day of departure. Again, we look forward to a rewarding and memorable trip and appreciate the support of  the parents involved.


Hanging Basket Fundraiser
For all the band students who sold hanging baskets, the pick up date is Friday May 8th afterschool in the MPR.  Please don't forget!

BC Lions a Roaring Success
Three members of the BC Lions visited the school on Monday afternoon, April 25th with an interactive presentation that focused on anti-bullying, having a positive attitude, and the importance of education.  Barron Miles, Jerome Dennis and Rolly Lumbala interspersed their important messages with enjoyable activities involving our students and staff.  Many thanks to Athletic Director,  Mr. Baruta for making the arrangements.
       
Provincial Election Day May 12th
Tuesday, May 12th our province will go to the polls to elect the government that will lead us in British Columbia over the next four years.  Poor voter turnout for such elections has been a concern for many years.  As parents of a child of middle school age you play an extremely important role through modeling.  Please exercise your democratic right and provide a positive model for your child around this important process. Mock elections will take place in a number of our classrooms a day or two prior to the actual election.  Also please be aware that our school gymnasium will be used as a polling station on that day. 

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June 4, 2009

Upcoming Dates to Note
Jun 16-Year End Band Concert
Jun 17-18-One hour early dismissal @ 1:20 pm
Jun 19-Pit Stop Closes
Jun 23-Grade 8 Dinner/Dance
Jun 24-Grade 8 Waterslide Celebration
Jun 25-Last Day of School
Jun 25-Report Cards Home

Early Dismissal Days
Our last two Early Dismissal Days will take place on Wednesday, June 17th and Thursday, June 18th.  Our regular class periods will be reduced in time and we will dismiss students one hour earlier than normal (i.e. 1:20 pm).  Staff will be available to meet with parents during the afternoon on these days.

Last Day in Session and Report Card issue
Our last day in session will be Thursday, June 25th.  We will issue report cards to students in the afternoon provided that they do not have outstanding debts brought about through lost library books or textbooks.  We would ask that you communicate with your child to ensure that all outstanding debts have been addressed prior Thursday, June 25th.

Athletic Awards June 18th
In the afternoon of the second Early Dismissal Day we will hold our annual Athletic Award Assembly.  Students will be honored for their contributions to this significant extracurricular program at our school. The assembly will begin at 12:20 pm and end at 1:20 pm, in time for early dismissal.

Grade 8 girls transition day at Mouat on June 19th
Mouat Secondary staff and administration have once again organized a program for the girls in Grade 8 who are transitioning to high school in September.  Girls in Grade 8 will be asked to return a permission form to the school to allow them to be transported by bus to and from Mouat on that day. The program will run from 8:45 am until 1:15 pm. 

Year End Awards Ceremony/Parent Appreciation Luncheon
There are many year end events and celebrations planned for the last week of the school year.  A number of classes will be taking a field trip that week, many will either go swimming or to the waterslides.  Please ensure that you return completed field trip request forms back to teacher in a timely manner.  Our annual traditional Grade 8 dinner and dance will be held on the evening of Tuesday, June 23rd in our school gym.  More information on that event will follow.  Our Year End awards till take place on the morning of the last day in session (i.e. Thursday, June 25th). The assembly will run from 10:15 am  until noon.  Following that our staff will host a Parent Appreciation luncheon for all those parents that have contributed to supporting the school on field trips, special events like our school musical, coached teams or donated time to assist in our classrooms.  The parent appreciation luncheon will run from noon until 1:30 pm.

Jory S. --National Science Fair
Grade 8 French Immersion student Jory S. represented our school and community at the National Science Fair in Winnipeg during the week of May 11 to 15. Jory won bronze (3rd place) in her division, Health Sciences (Junior Level) at the Canada Wide Science Fair. She received a beautiful  pendant, $300 in cash and a $1000 scholarship for the University Of Ontario.  Well done Jory!

Library Books
All books must be returned to the library no later than June 5th. 

Beauty and the Beast Wrap-up Party
On June 22nd the cast and crew from Beauty and the Beast Jr. will spend the afternoon at MRC swimming and enjoying some refreshments to celebrate their success as a production group.  We will be leaving the school at 11:30 am, eating our lunch as we walk over, and ending our fun at 3:00 pm.   We are asking all parents to please pick their children up at the pool at 3:00 pm.   CONGRATULATIONS all on an creating an amazing piece of musical theatre.   Our video is now available for viewing on our school web site.  It is a large file and may take 10-15 minutes to load on your computer.  Please be patient, it will work.  Photographs of your children in the play can be purchased from Lori Houlden.  They can be viewed and ordered at Lori@lorihouldenphotography.com.

Grade Eight Year End Dinner/Dance Celebration
Our Grade Eight year end dinner/dance celebration will be held on June 23rd from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm.  Refreshments and pictures are 5:00 - 6:00, dinner will be served from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm and the dance will run from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm.  If you are interested in helping with the set up or decorations, please call Mlle. Klassen or Mr. Cervo. 

Students of the Month for May and June
Our final two Kiwanis Grade 8 Students of the month are very worthy recipients of this honor.  Brandon K. was named the May Student of the Month, while Frankie B. was honored as the Student of the Month for June. Brandon is an outstanding academic student who has developed a wonderful reputation for being kind and helpful. He has represented the school as a member of our cross country team and our Grade 8 volleyball team.  He is a valued member of our school band and has shown positive leadership within the classroom and the school.  Frankie is also an outstanding academic student, posting straight “A” marks all year long. In the New Year she was selected to challenge the Math 9 program through a virtual delivery system and has performed exceedingly well.  She has represented the school as a member of our volleyball and track and field teams. She is  an outstanding musician and a member of both our Grade 8 band and Jazz Band.  She has also developed a reputation for being polite, helpful and supportive to her peers and the staff at the school.  Congratulations Brandon and Frankie!

Grade 8 Fitness Challenge
Mlle Perron would like to congratulate the 114 students who participated in the Grade 8 Fitness Challenge. The students worked out at home 5 days a week for one month following a fitness program. They have increased their awareness of wellness and participation in healthy living through increased physical activity. Congratulations to all!

Chess
Over 150 students from across the Lower Mainland attended the 7th Annual CDGMS Chess tournament on Saturday, May 23rd. The CDGMS School team came in second place in the middle school division. The team included the following students Logan W., Vincint W., Suneet D., Jagbir G., Kevin W. and Jacob W.. Congratulations to coach Mr. Glum and our team.  Many thanks to Mr. Sakai for organizing the event and the many staff that volunteered their time to assist.

Cookies and Chess
The final event of the year will be a cookies and chess afternoon Tuesday, June 9th from 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm. Come and enjoy!

Pit Stop Closure
The last day of the Pit Stop serving food will be June 19th.  Please have your child/ren bring their lunch for the following week.

Run for Water
On Sunday, May 31st, approximately 1,300 walkers and runners gathered at Mill Lake with one goal in common.  It was to help raise money to bring clean drinking water to the village of Choro in Southern Ethiopia.  Mr. Richards, Mlle Klassen and Mrs. Bunbury and 15 dedicated runners from our school ran or walked distances of either 5 or 10 km.  We have an outstanding group of young athletes who placed in the top 10 of their age categories.  They are Spencer Spenst, Will Jogia, Kassandra Padilla, Selyen Singh, Sarya Ross, Emily Enns, Tasha Ellis, Jory Smallenberg and Mia Angus.  Congratulations to all runners!

Band News
Congratulations to the Grade 7 band who won a trophy for the most promising Elementary School Concert Band who participated in the Kiwanis Music Festival.   Great job!  The Year End Band/Choir concert is going to be held at Seven Oaks Alliance Church on Tuesday, June 16th at 7:00 pm.  Everyone is invited to attend.
Any band or choir student who rented their uniform shirt must return it to Ms. Norton labeled (with tape or a pin) with the student's name on it.  Please return WASHED by Friday, June 19th.

Canadian Parents for French-Abbotsford Chapter Meeting
Year end family picnic Friday, June 19th from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm at Centennial Park.
Performances by Will Stroet and Sand Northrup, games for kids and a year end celebration.
A food concession will be provided by the Elks.  This event is open to all students and their parents from our French Immersion programs.

Haiti Project Requests Assistance
Recently retired administrators of the Abbotsford School District, Mr. Stan Petersen and Mr. Bruce Nicholson are now heavily involved in supporting an orphanage and school in Haiti.  Last year they made a request of all of the public schools in Abbotsford to have children donate new or near new school supplies to this school.  The response from the community was very good and after much effort those supplies arrived at the school recently in a large container.  Mr. Petersen and Mr. Nicholson have once again requested our support of this initiative. In the last few weeks of our school year donations will gratefully be accepted for the Haiti Project.  Collection will take place in homerooms or directly at the school office. Thank you for your consideration.


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June 18, 2009

Upcoming Dates to Note
Jun 19-Pit Stop Closes
Jun 23-Grade 8 Dinner/Dance
Jun 24-Grade 8 Waterslide Celebration
Jun 25-Last Day of School
Jun 25-Report Cards Home

Best wishes for a safe and enjoyable summer
The staff of Chief Dan George Middle School would like to thank the school community for its great support this year.  There have been many wonderful experiences and accomplishments that could not have happened without the assistance of parents and guardians.  We want to wish your family a safe and enjoyable summer!

Events for Grade 8 students
On Friday, June 19th our Grade 8 girls will attend a series of workshops at W.J. Mouat Secondary focused on making a successful transition to high school.  Our Grade 8 boys will remain at our school and will also participate in a workshop presentation around high school transitioning from our school's Police Liaison Officer Constable John Davidson.  Our fifth annual Grade 8 dinner/dance is set for Tuesday evening, June 23rd in our school gym.  On Wednesday, June 24th our Grade 8 students will celebrate their middle school experience with a trip to the Trans Canada waterslides.  Our last day in session, final award ceremony and report card issue will take place on Thursday, June 25th.

Report Card Issue on June 25th
Homeroom teachers will issue report cards to students on the afternoon of Thursday, June 25th.  Any student who has fees owing due to lost textbooks or library books will need to pay their bill and pick up their report from the school office.

Wolves Sports
Well that concludes another successful year in sports at CDGMS. Thanks to all those dedicated students who played on a school sports team. Although there is much work that goes on behind the scenes, ultimately the success comes from the enthusiasm and commitment of these students. From Volleyball to Track and Field, there were many personal bests and district records set. There is much promise coming up into grade 7 for September throughout the boys and girls teams.  As well, the upcoming grade 8’s demonstrate promise to break many school and district records in Volleyball, Basketball and Track and Field. Finally, I wish to congratulate and bid farewell to the grade eight's who participated in many sports over the three or so years they attended Chief Dan. You will be missed, however, there is much promise in many of your athletic careers. We look forward to reading about your accomplishments in the local newspapers. Have a great and safe summer!

School Yearbooks
Under the tutelage of Mr. Cervo, our student Yearbook Club has produced a fabulous permanent record of this year's experience at Chief Dan George Middle School.  It is a full color production of extremely high quality and can be had for a mere $25.  There are still a number of books available and they can be purchased from Mrs. Hollanti in our school office. Yearbooks will be issued to students on Friday afternoon, June 19th.

Chief Dan George Middle breaks records and are the champions of the SD#34 Abbotsford District Middle School Track Meet
On Friday, June 12, 2009, Abbotsford middle school students broke 22 District Track & Field records, with eleven of those records being broken by Chief Dan George Middle School students.  This year Chief Dan George Middle won 3 of the 6 categories: Grade 6 Girls Champion, Grade 7 Girls Champion and Grade 7 Boys Champion.  The contributions from all of the CDGMS students led to our school taking home the trophy for the Overall Middle School Champion.  The Abbotsford District Middle School Track Meet began in 2004.  Since 2004, CDGMS has won the Overall School Champion trophy 4 out of 6 years!
Record breaking performances for CGDMS athletes are as follows:  Grade 6 Girls: Callum P. - 800m;  Grade 7 Girls: Hailey G. - 100m and 200m; Sarya R. - 800m and 1500m; Hailey G., Alexandra J., Alexandra S., Jenni G - 4 X 100 m Relay; Grade 7 Boys: Manveer D. - 100m and 200m; Herman G. - 800m, Manveer D., Herman G., Hunter S., Calvin Y. - 4 X 100 m Relay; Grade 8 Girls: Jory S., Hannah P., Mia A., Emily E. - 4 X 100 m Relay

Locker Clean Out and Haiti Project
A school wide locker clean out will take place on the morning of Tuesday, June 23rd.  At that time donations of new or near new school supplies will be gratefully accepted in support of the Haiti Project.  A group of recently retired Abbotsford Administrators are collecting school supplies to support a school of 300 students in Haiti.

30 Years of French Immersion Picnic Celebration on June 19th
The last celebration to mark 30 years of French Immersion in Abbotsford will take place at Centennial Park on Friday evening, June 19th from 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm.  There will be food, entertainment and fellowship available for all families with children in the French Immersion program.  We hope to see you there.

Band Uniforms
Reminder to all band/choir students to please return your rented uniform shirts to Ms. Norton by Friday June 19th.  They must be washed and labelled with your name.  (pin or tape)  Thank you!

Tech Ed News
On June 17th, during blocks 1, 2, and 3, the students from divisions 21 and 17 ran their CO2 race cars in the grade 8 hallway to see who had the fastest and best designed car. For the last couple of weeks, Mr. Lariviere and the students in the two grade 8 classes were busy carving out their wooden dragsters. The dragsters are miniature race cars that run off CO2 cartridges. (the same type of CO2 cartridges used in pellet guns). The cars run along a fish line that is run through small eyelets screwed into the bottom of the dragster's body. The cars are then hooked up to an electronic starter that punctures a hole in the CO2 cartridges. The starter also keeps track of reaction times and elapsed time. Of all the entrants, Simone G. won the title with a car that zoomed past all others at a whopping 1.70 seconds. It even went faster than Mr. Sakai's son's car, which ran at 1.72 seconds. We had a few cars that lost a wheel or two, crash, or run off the track altogether. Those students learned the hard way about the effects of aerodynamics, making sure parts are put on tight, and everything lines up.

Composting
A composting bin is coming to a classroom near you. Next year, several of the teachers at CDGM will be involved in composting either in their classrooms or in a central composting area. Over the summer, make it a project to research composting and consider all of the hundreds and thousands of pound of waste which we can turn into beautiful rich soil. http://www.compost.bc.ca/

Beauty and the Beast Props
Reminder to parents that we still have many of the props you donated for our play ready for pickup. We have several garden tools, 2 Christmas trees, a basket, a crystal vase and 3 clumps of decorative sticks. All items are currently being stored in our medical room and we would appreciate them being picked up by school year end. Thank you.



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