Welcome to Baltimore School Home of the Broncos

 

OFF TO A GOOD START

All students and staff have been back to school for a month now, and everyone seems to have gotten off to a good start.  The school morale is upbeat and I am sure everyone is looking forward to a great year.  For the kindergarten class and their parents, it is a whole new beginning, for the grade 7's it is the big move to the high school end of the building and for the grade 12's it is the culmination of 13 years of hard work.  For the staff, it is a new beginning with new students and different classes.  Last week’s weather provided a minor disruption to classes, however, except for a vent cover blowing off the roof, no measureable damage was done to the school.  The front of the school has been enhanced over the summer with much work done to our Peace Garden.  Overall, there was no damage inflicted through vandalism over the summer and we are very thankful.  As we move forward this year, we wish our entire school community a very positive and rewarding year.

 

THE BREAKFAST PROGRAM

The Breakfast Program will officially begin on Monday, Oct. 4.  Breakfast will be available free of charge from 8:15 to 8:45 each morning in the cafeteria.  All students are welcome!  Because the program starts at 8:15am, the buses will begin their run approximately 10 minutes early in order to ensure all students have ample time to get their breakfast.  Thank you to the parents and grandparents who have volunteered to help out with our program again this year.  Your support is both valued and depended upon.  Thank you also, to those of you who have made contributions of money, food, and non-consumable items.  An enormous thank you goes out to June Anne Carey and Yvonne Dunne who have agreed to take over the scheduling of parent volunteers, and assist with the menu planning and shopping.  We are looking forward to a very nutritional year! 

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

There are a tremendous amount of activities and events that take place at this school each year and many of them would not happen without the hard work and dedication of our teaching staff.  Each month we want to acknowledge their commitment and to also let all students and parents know that if not for their hard work and dedication, Baltimore School would not be the place that it is today. A Tremendous Thanks to:

* Ms. Chidley and the staff for getting the Breakfast Program running again this year.

* Ms. Maloney and the other staff members for all their work with the Recycling Program.

* Ms. Budgell and Ms. Moore for organizing the field trip to the Colony of Avalon.

* Ms. Mayo, Mr. Foley and Mr. Walsh for helping out with our x-country running team.

* Ms. Gosse for helping with the Girls softball team.

* Ms. Mayo for organizing the Grade 7 and 8 field trip to the Fluvarium.

* Mr. Matchem for looking after the Boys softball in St. Mary’s this past weekend.

* Ms. Budgell for organizing the outing to Mistaken Point for the grade 6 students.

* Mr. Walsh for all his help with the Varsity Sports Committee.

* Ms. Clarke for organizing and overseeing the School Milk Foundation.

* Ms. Gosse for organizing the trip to the Marine Institute and C-Core.

* Mr. Mayo for starting the boys floor hockey program.

* Mr. Walsh, Ms. Maloney, Ms. Lawlor, Ms. Chidley, Ms. Reddy, and Ms. Aylward for chaperoning the dance.

* Ms. Pike and her Art class for the great artwork in the Cafeteria.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sept. 30: Gr. 6 Field Trip to Mistaken Point

Oct. 1 & 2: Girls Softball Regionals in Trepassey.

Oct. 4: Grade 7 & 8 students are travelling to the Fluvarium.

Oct. 8: Professional Development Day (No School for all students)

Oct 11:  Thanksgiving Day Holiday (No School)

Oct. 20: Gr. 7 - 12 Professional Development Day (No school for Jr./Sr. High students only)

Oct. 28: Picture Day

Oct. 29: Halloween activities

Nov. 10: Remembrance Day Assembly

Nov. 10: Jr./Sr. High Parent-Teacher Interviews

Nov. 11: Remembrance Day Holiday

Nov. 12: Professional Development Day (No School for all students)

Nov. 18: Graduation Awards Night

Dec. 2:  K - 6 Parent-Teacher Interviews       

Dec. 13: Primary/Elem Christmas Concert

Dec. 14: High School Christmas Concert

Dec. 15: Turkey Dinner and Santa Visit.

Dec. 22: Last Day prior to Christmas Break

Jan. 4: School reopens after Christmas Break

 

SCHOOL WEBSITE

Please note that our school website is updated daily.  On the website you will find all upcoming tests and assignments for grade 7 - 12, and the most recent information on our students and school.  Check us out at www.k12.nf.ca/baltimore.  Also, the homework page can be accessed through this website, and all assigned homework can be viewed daily.

 

RECYCLING PROGRAM

Our recycling program is in full swing again this year. Drop off day is Wednesday. We accept the following beverage containers B pop bottles and cans, juice packs, juice bottles, and liquor bottles. We cannot recycle milk containers. Please remove caps and straws from beverage containers and place glass bottles in a box. Recyclables may be dropped off at the front entrance on Wednesday.

SCHOOL PICTURES

The school pictures for all grades will take place on Thursday, Oct. 28th.  This year the pictures will not be pre-ordered, parents will be given proof’s and it will then be the parent’s decision to place an order.

 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS

Each year teachers are entitled to attend five Professional Development days.  Mon, Oct. 4th was suppose to be the first PD day of the year, however, due to the school closures last week, the PD day has been postponed.  The next scheduled PD day will be Friday, Oct. 8.  There will no school for all students.  On Wednesday, Oct. 20th there will be a District-wide PD day for the Jr. and Sr. High teachers, therefore no classes for these students on this day, however, there will be school for K – 6 students.  The K – 6 District Close-out day has not been rescheduled as of now.

 

TUTORING FOR TUITION

The Tutoring for Tuition program provides Level I, II and III students with the opportunity to obtain a post-secondary tuition voucher by providing tutoring services to students from K-12 in all areas.

Parents/guardians, who feel this service would be beneficial, are asked to submit their child’s name for tutoring assistance to their homeroom teacher or Ms. Gosse (Guidance Counsellor).  Tutoring services are available at the school from 2:45–3:45 Mon thru Thur.

 

VARSITY SPORTS COMMITTEE

The sports program is off to a very good start this year.  Last year a Varsity Committee was organized to oversee varsity sports and help the school better organize all events and to ensure as many students as possible have the opportunity to participate in afterschool sports.  If you are interested in helping and want to be a part of this committee, please contact Mr. Budgell at the school.  This year Sean Walsh will oversee the committee on behalf of the school.  Members of the committee: Paula Battcock, Terri Lynn Kavanagh, Theresa Chidley, David Chidley, Paula Johnson, Rick Hayden, Jerry Boland, Nancy Challinor, Leanne Dalton, Rick Fennelly, Sean Walsh.

 

FUNDRAISING

Fund-raising will be a very high priority for the School again this year.  The number one priority for this year is to attempt to purchase Smartboards for classrooms.  The Smartboard is proving to be a very interactive and innovative tool in the classroom.  To meet this need, the School will be organizing several fundraisers, including a Print Sale in early October and a 50/50 Draw (co-sponsored by the Sports Committee) in early November.  We will also be having another Wake-a-thon for the Jr./Sr. High students this Fall.  Mr. Brennan is leading the school fundraising committee once again this year.

 

STUDENT COUNCIL

The Student Leadership is in place for this year with the following students on the executive: 

Co-Presidents: Stephanie Croft, Tiffany Swain

Executive members: Keisha Conway, Shauna Ryan, Keshia Ryan, Samantha Thorne

The following are the class representatives:

Grade 7: REP: Karrie Ryan                                  Alternate: Josh Power

Grade 8: REP: Victoria Battcock                          Alternate: Dominique Croft, Olivia Carew

Grade 9: REP: Katie Guiney                                Alternate: Tiffany Gale

Grade 10: REP: Erica O’Brien                              Alternate: Jacob Carey

Grade 11: REP: Christina Birmingham               Alternate: Maggie O’Toole

Grade 12: REP: Brett Walsh                                 Alternate: Stefan Hayden

 

SCHOOL COUNCIL

The Baltimore School Council is set for the upcoming year.  No elections will be needed as there were just enough people who put forward their names to fill the Council positions.  Members of the Council are: Tracey Goodridge, Kerry O’Keefe, Mona Brophy, Gladys Hayden, Donnie Graham, Lorna Lawlor, Vivian Ryan, Wendy O’Brien, Cheryl O’Brien, Cynthia Aylward, Stacey Reddy and Rosemary Brophy.  I want to thank all of these people for volunteering their time this year.

 

FIELD TRIP TO MISTAKEN POINT

The Grade 5 & 6 students would like to thank Ms. Judy Walsh, Ms. Donna Keough and the staff at the Colony of Avalon for a wonderful tour on Friday, September 24.  Students and staff were amazed at the things they learned and saw during the tour.  Here are some of the comments made by students:

  • “When I went to the Colony I really enjoyed the tour, it was amazing how they find something new every day.” Bernard Ryan
  • “When I went to the Colony I learned about Lord Baltimore and when he came to Ferryland.  I enjoyed the dig a lot.  I hope we do it again.”

Kaitlyn Lawlor

  • “When I went to the Colony I enjoyed the kitchen with the smelly flowers.  Another thing I enjoyed was the well because we got to look down it.” Felicity Crane
  • “When I went to the Colony I really enjoyed going to the kitchen and seeing what they used to do back then and seeing the roads that Lord Baltimore actually walked on.” Patrick Battcock
  • “When I went to the colony I really enjoyed the old time kitchen.  I loved seeing the old games and it’s amazing to see the old artifacts people used years ago.  In the kitchen, the herbs were really cool.”    Kaitlyn Brophy
  • “When I went to the colony I learned how people lived in the past and it was really cool.  I really enjoyed it.” Nicholas Crane
  • “My favorite part of the field trip was when we were in the kitchen and we got to smell the mint.” Chelsea Walsh
  • “My favorite part of the trip was the tour, when we got to go on the cobblestone road.”    Rhyne Croft
  • “My favorite part of the field trip was when we sat on the well and they told us the story about the child that fell in it and drowned.”     Danielle Dalton
  • “My favorite part was when we saw where Lord Baltimore lived.”

Nathan Ryan

  • “One thing I liked was the artifacts and the scavenger hunt.  My favorite artifact was all of them because they were so cool.”      Vanessa Maloney
  • “When we were on the field trip to the Colony of the Avalon I liked the kitchen because of the toys and the fireplace.”            Emma  Jordon

 

FOOD DRIVE

To assist the Food Sharing Association in their collection of food to help those impacted by Hurricane Igor, the Student Leadership is asking that the youngest student in each household bring ONE non-perishable food item to school.  If possible, please have all food items in by Friday, as the food items collected will be delivered to the Food Sharing Association on this day.

 

BRUNO’S LITERACY KICK-OFF

On Sept.16, Bruno will be hosted the official kick-off to our Literacy Program for this year. All K – 6 parents were invited to the school for an assembly and were then invited to join the students in their classroom for shared reading.  Milk and cookies were provided for all parents and students.  It is very important for all students to be reading at home every night.  If you are in need of age appropriate books for your child, please contact the school and we will happily share our collection.

 

SYNREVOICE

Synrevoice is now the number one method we use to contact parents in regards to school closures, delays or other noteworthy events.  Last week Synrevice was used to inform parents of the closing of the school.  We attempt to keep all information up to date, therefore if you did not receive a call from the school last week through Synrevoice, please contact the school and we will ensure that you get the important calls from the school.

 

VOCM CARES - Help For Home Campaign

On Thursday, September 23, a day after power was restored for most of us, the people on the Bonavista and Burin Penisula faced the devastation left by Hurricane Igor.  It was decided by the Student Leadership Committee that the proceeds of the school dance held that evening, $565.00, would be forwarded to VOCM Cares-Help for Home Campaign to assist our fellow Newfoundlanders rebuild their lives.