MULGRAVE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
	1325 EAST KEITH ROAD NORTH VANCOUVER BRITISH COLUMBIA V7J 1J3 PHONE 604/984-9030 FAX 604/984-9034

November 15, 1996

Dear Parents

Next Tuesday November 19, our Grade 5 girls volleyball team will play in an Independent School Association Volleyball Playday to be held at Crofton House School. Our team, which comprises Charlsey Anthony, Alexandra Chan, Emily Gould, Alyssa Houghton, Farah Kassam, Charlotte Nobles, Bernice & Denise Pao, Elyssia Patterson, Nabila Pirani, Fiona Rayher and Kailey Spooner, will actually be playing against Grade 6 teams from Crofton House, York House, Collingwood, Meadowridge and Glenlyon Norfolk (Vancouver) as well as St. Margaret's School (Vancouver Island). Their coaches Ms. Straub and Ms. Rees are confident that our girls will aquit themselves admirably. We look forward to being able to participate more in the competitive, sporting arena as the school grows. Traditionally, until Grade 6, events such as these are very few and far between; we are trying to enter Mulgrave teams whenever it is possible.

BRIDGE

Mr. Louis Landau has taught our Grade 4 and Grade 5 students as much as they can absorb, which has been a very great deal. Bridge is, therefore, NO LONGER, and students who were enrolled in Bridge should note that Tuesdays are henceforth, Bridgeless! The students, in fact, made a very handsome thank-you card for their patient Bridge master. We very much hope that the next year's Grade 4's will be able to partake of this (for elementary school students) unusual activity with Mr. Landau.

LENGTH OF SCHOOL DAY

I received eight written responses to my question in the newsletter dated October 25, and as well, have elicited feed-back at our recently held Kindergarten evening. Since I realize that one often intends to put pen to paper but sometimes one does not (I too am a busy parent) I personally asked many parents to respond verbally. On balance, using this very ad hoc and unscientific method, the discomfort level created by elongating the school day appears to be felt by rather fewer parents than the reverse. I will, however, re-visit this topic when planning our timetable for the academic year 1996/97, and parents, as well as faculty and staff members will be asked for in-put once more.

Concerns that were raised included a need for collaborative teacher planning time, which might be obviated by the staff teaching longer hours. Since we are fortunate enough to have specialist teachers from Kindergarten level and up at Mulgrave, class-room teachers are congruently blessed with a significantly larger number of preparation periods than in other schools. Some of these blocks are spent team-teaching. This creates a win-win situation for all stake-holders; the children benefit from having two (or sometimes three) teachers in the class-room, whilst the teachers gain in professional expertise and skill - a mutual satisfaction. Teaching is an extra-ordinarily solitary profession. It is rather like being in an egg-box separated by physical barriers. In my view, sharing one's talents provides a rich, highly personalized learning experience - collaboration and team work of the highest order.

With the exception of Bridge, which has now ended for this year, all our clubs begin at 3:45 p.m., so that both we, and the children, have time to change mind-sets, as well as munch on snacks. Sometimes children are impatient to begin co-curricular activities (Drama is a perfect example) and congregate anxiously until their sponsor teachers arrive at the appointed hour, so to speak!

Homework for each grade should be approximately as follows:

K -1 - 10 minutes, G.2 - 20 minutes, G.3 - 30 minutes

G.4 - 40 minutes, G.5 - 50 minutes on four days of the week.(Mon., Tues., Wed. & Thurs.) If home-work is taking significantly longer, please do let the class-teacher know initially simply by writing a comment in the homework books.

I appreciate you having taken the time to pen your responses which have been considered and ear-marked for inclusion in future planning discussions.

MULGRAVE SQUASH CLUB

The registrations are now full for our squash club. We have 18 students registered; I have tentatively grouped them as follows, with 6 per group. Lesson dates for each group appear below. Please see me if you have any questions or concerns. The club fee of $15 will go toward the purchase of 6 sets of equipment (racquets and eye-guards) and balls; I will as well place orders next week for any equipment you have ordered for your child and let you have them when they arrive. Thank-you for your interest and support!

Our exhibition match between Mr. Penn (Nicholas, G. 1) and Mr. Pirani (Nabila, G. 5; Safeeya, K) will kick off our season Thursday, December 5 at 12:30. All members of the club are encouraged to attend to see how the game is played. Thanks to Ms. Gowan (Elliott Marsh, G. 3) who has kindly offered to help coach this season.

FUNDRAISING

Mulgrave parents seem to have a wealth of fundraising ideas! Unfortunately for many reasons, the School is often unable to endorse or provide for these ideas. So this week, the parents' Fundraising Committee came up with a concept that may offer a winning solution for everybody. The plan is to produce from time to time a "Parents" newsletter that keeps parents informed about various fundraising opportunities. The newsletter will be produced solely by parents and will not involve any time, commitment or endorsement from the School or its staff. There will be absolutely no obligation to participate but if you do make a purchase, Mulgrave will be a beneficiary. If you would like further information, call Jim Robertson (Andrew, Christopher, G.3) at 926 7979, fax 922-0045.

SUMMER CONCERT AND AWARDS VIDEO

I thought you might enjoy reading some of the written work produced at home by some of our students.

Autumn is

Autumn is the golden leaves of orange and brown and red,
Lots of people with bad colds have to stay in bed.
Autumn is a growing time when farmers pick their crops
Autumn is a time when you can buy pumpkins at some shops.
Please enjoy these things while our Autumn is here
Because the Autumn's end is so very near.

Alexander Todd, G.2

ARTWORK BY
MRS. BOTWRIGHT
(James, G.3)

Have a good weekend.

Linda Hamer

Headmistress