Remembrance Day Resources

There are so many good sites for Remembrance Day materials and information.  This is one I haven't shared before but thought it sounded unique and interesting.  You can 'attend' a memorial service at the Canadian War Museum.  Check it out at:

War Museum

Portfolios are coming!

Dates for portfolios this term:  please send me your child's portfolio between Nov. 6-18. After going through all the work samples that you have all sent in for the sample upload into Encom, I'm excited to see more of what everyone is doing!

Next term portfolios are due Feb. 19.

Last term portfolios are due May 31.  I hope to visit Fort Nelson and Revelstoke around this date and may review portfolios before the term is completely finished (so you would continue sending weekly reports for any courses that were not complete at the time of my visit).

Work Samples

Finally, I'm uploading some work samples so that you can all see some ideas of what could be sent in for the October 1-17th (or 19th) work samples, to show that your child is engaging in learning activities.  :)  You will note that if the sample (photo, scan, whatever format) does not have a date, then I will add the date that you sent it to me, or the date indicated in your email.  Also, if I can, I will add a comment to the sample, like the ones I would send to you through email, except worded directly to the child.

If you have questions, please feel free to email them to me.  If you are ready to send some samples, I'd love to see them!  :)

Books Clubs for 2015-16

Here are our HCOS book clubs.  What a great way to engage your child with a virtual meeting, with other students in our school.  these book clubs are all led by HCOS teachers and are intended to build community, encourage reading enjoyment, build connections with other people and develop some tech skills!  Check out the links to learn more about the ones that suit your child.  Hopefully you find something that interests your child!

Our ever popular Reading/Literature Circles and Book Clubs are back and there is one for every Grade!  J

Reading Buddies

K- 3 with Pippa Davies – starts Oct 21 and runs twice a month until the end of January.  More info and registration found at  https://fluidsurveys.com/s/2015-2016-k-3-reading-buddies/

Book Clubs

Grade 4-5 with April McLeod – starts Oct 16 and runs once a month until May.  More info and registration found at https://fluidsurveys.com/s/2015-2016-gr-4-5-bookclub/

Grade 6-7 with Kari Bell – starts Oct 14 and runs once a month until May .  More info and registration found at  https://fluidsurveys.com/s/2015-2016-gr-6-7-bookclub/

Literature Circles

Grades 7-9 with Kathy Kanda – starts Oct 9 and runs until Nov 27.  More information and registration found at  https://fluidsurveys.com/s/2015-fall-lit-circles/

Grades 9-12 with Kathy Kanda – starts Oct 9 and runs until Nov 27.  More information and registration found at https://fluidsurveys.com/s/2015-fall-lit-circles/

Citizenship Week October 12-18

Are you interested in doing some citizenship activities? Check out the activities at the Citizenship Challenge

 The Canadian Citizenship Challenge

Purchasing Curriculum

I just had a great question about curriculum...What can I buy?  Here is some information that I think may be helpful for new and returning families, as things may have changed over the years you have been a part of HCOS.  :)

The DO’s:

1. Books, programs, specific curriculums that provide lessons for your kids to work through (like the Saxon math you purchased)

2. Workbooks and learning kits/manipulatives that supplement the books/programs/curriculums, including subject-specific games

3. Subscriptions that support your kids’ learning

4. Community lessons that your kids take (sports, Fine Arts, workshops… from community businesses that can provide criminal record checks/policies to our school offices) - ONLY available after core subject curriculum has been purchased and after September

*if shipping is required, then the shipping cost can also be covered for these orders

The DON”Ts:

1. Equipment (computers, instruments, exercise items, cameras, etc – large ticket items like these need to be approved by our school office and , if approved, are leased over a three year period then either returned to the school or bought out at the end of 3 years)

2. Toys (items that cannot be described as educational for your child's learning in a specific subject)

3. Lessons or fees for any lessons provided informally through friends or family – not community businesses – cannot be invoiced, unless a Criminal record check is provided to the school beforehand and the person is willing to invoice the school using the Vendor Invoice paperwork (which I can provide you, if you need it)

There are some items that may seem like toys that we can actually claim for educational reasons in the learning plans.  Often, things like lego and K’Nex, art kits, paper plane making kits, etc can be supported as educational items in the SLPs and thus are allowed.  If you are unsure, let me know what those items are and I’ll let you know if we are able to show educational ‘value’ to the items.

For students who enrol before October 1, the school makes up to $1000 available to use on educational purchases, including a max of $600 to go towards things like community lessons (Do #4) and ‘consumables’(DO #2) (workbooks that get written in, items that get used up – like art kits).  After October 1, the total available is $500.

The school is NOT ALLOWED to reimburse purchases made by parents, therefore, if you find a resource that you really want but cannot find a business that the PO# your boys were each assigned, then please contact me to purchase it.  If you purchase it directly, you will not be reimbursed for it.

If you are interested, the school is allowed to use some of your family’s curriculum funds to reimburse your internet costs.  If you save these paid invoices/bills over the school year, then in April/May you can apply for an internet reimbursement of up to $350, which gets paid out in July/August.  This is often an attractive option for families and  is easy to apply for near the end of the school year.