Geocaching Field trip-Thursday, October 22nd, 2015

October 1, 2015

Dear Parents/Guardians,

This fall we are going to be participating in an outdoor education field trip revolving

around Geocaching.  Geocaching is a world-wide activity that involves finding hidden “caches”

around the world; all you need is a handheld Global Positioning Service (GPS) device.  The

students will start downtown and learn how to use the GPS and take a tour of some rich and unique

history our beautiful downtown has to offer.  In the afternoon we will be heading out to White

Butte to find caches in the wilderness.

This field trip is an outdoor experience, so please be mindful of the weather for the entire

day.  Make sure you are prepared for any situation.  We will also be eating once we get out to

White Butte, so the students need to bring a bagged lunch.  Whatever the student brings to White

Butte they must bring home as well.  NO GARBAGE.  The field trip will only be cancelled due to

severe inclement weather (heavy rain, sleet, snow, or below -25 C).  Remember to pack the

essentials:

3838 Buckingham Drive East, Regina, Saskatchewan  S4V 3A1

Phone: (306) 791-8585     Fax: (306) 791-2110     Web: www.jackmackenzie.rbe.sk.ca

Water Bottle Jacket

Hat Gloves

Sunglasses Hiking Shoes/Old Shoes

Long Pants Lunch

Sweater

The cost of the field trip is $4.50 per student.  Please pay online and then write the receipt

number on the permission slip below.  The permission slip and payment must be submitted before

October 9th, 2015.  If you as a parent are interested/willing to come out and be a group leader we

would love to have you (at no cost!) Please fill out that you are interested below the permission.

Thank You,

Sr. Pod Teachers

Mrs. Scott Mrs. Reoch

Mr. DuMont Mr. Yeske

I give my permission to go on the Geocaching Field Trip with Jack

MacKenzie School on October 20th, 2015.



Parent Signature Date Online Receipt #

Parent Interest

Name Contact

Meet the Teacher Information 2015-2016

We hope the attached handout will be helpful.

Please feel free to drop by, telephone or write us a note.

We welcome your questions, comments and/or suggestions.

Kyle DuMont- kyle.dumont@rbe.sk.ca

Kelley Reoch- kelley.reoch@rbe.sk.ca

Kevin Yeske- kevin.yeske@rbe.sk.ca

Angela Scott-angela.scott@rbe.sk.ca

Jack Mackenzie School #: 306-791-8585             

                                                                                                Where Effort and Kindness Count

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Teacher Bios

Kyle DuMont

Hello, my name is Kyle DuMont and I continue to teach Gr. 8 Mathematics and Gr. 7/8 Science.  Looking back at last year, I am excited about the new group of amazing senior students we have this year at Jack MacKenzie.  I am looking forward to a fun, exciting and successful year.  I have been teaching in the Regina Public School system since 2009.  I spent five years at Thomson Community School and last year at Jack MacKenzie, all the while teaching grade 7 and 8.  I am very excited to be working with you and your children this year on their education journey.  Please feel free to actively participate in the journey with your child.  I look forward to meeting you all and working closely with you this year.  

Angela Scott        

My name is Angela Scott and this is my third year on the Jack MacKenzie team. I have the opportunity to teach Grade 7 Math and Grade 7/8 Health/Careers.  I absolutely love teaching and have been at it for eight years now.  My family and I have been living in Regina since 2007.  I have a daughter in high school and our little guy is in Grade One this year.  I look forward getting to know each of my students as well as their families.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.  I appreciate your input and value open and regular communication.  I am looking forward to another great year.

Kelley Reoch

Hello, my name is Kelley Reoch and I continue to teach Gr.7 Math and Gr. 7/8 Social Studies. I know from my seven previous years at Jack MacKenzie that this is a wonderful group of senior students, and I look forward to a fun and successful year.

A bit about myself: I have been teaching in the Regina Public School System since 1991. My primary focus as a teacher has been on Gr. 7 and 8, although I have experience with primary as well.  My husband, Shane, and I have four children.  Haley is at the U of R and on the Rider Cheer team.  Ethan is in his first year of Engineering at the university this fall, Levi is working at Tiki Room full time, and Zoe, our dancer, is in grade eight at Ecole Massey.   I am eager to work with your children and welcome your participation in their education at Jack MacKenzie. Please contact me for any reason during office hours. Again, I look forward to a terrific year!

Kevin Yeske

Welcome to another exciting school year!   My name is Kevin Yeske and I am very pleased to be working with your son/daughter during their grade 7/8 year.  This will be my sixth year at Jack MacKenzie School and I have thoroughly enjoyed every year.  What a great group of teachers, students, and parents!  I have had numerous experiences, during my teaching career, as a result of teaching in a number of different communities from rural to urban, teaching a number of different subjects from Kindergarten to High School. 

My wife Trudy and I celebrated our 10^th wedding anniversary this past summer. She is also employed by the Regina Public School Division, teaching part time at Thompson School and substitute teaching wherever she is needed on that particular day.

We have two sons that both attend Campbell Collegiate.  Our oldest boy, Jason is in Grade 11 and my younger son just started grade 9.  Wow, two high schoolers in the family! I can’t believe how quickly each year passes into the next. It seems like only yesterday that I was sending them to their first day of school. Our boys keep us very busy with all the different sporting activities they are involved with, especially hockey, and we enjoy every minute of it.   I continue to play hockey as well so between my hockey, and driving the boys off to their hockey, our winter schedule can get pretty busy.

I am anticipating this school year to be an exciting time filled with many opportunities to learn and grow, both for the students and for myself.  I look forward to meeting and working with you throughout the school year!

If you have any questions feel free to phone or e-mail us.  A positive working relationship requires a clear line of communication.

Overview of the Grade 7 and 8 Program:

1. Language Arts - Language Arts consists of reading, viewing, representing, writing, listening and speaking.  The programs will consist of writer’s workshop, short stories, reader’s workshop, novel study, and reading strategies.  Reading and writing will be the focal point again this year.  The RAD assessment in reading and a writing assessment, the VAAW will be given to every student in the fall and spring to help guide the teachers to effectively administer appropriate reading/writing programs for their students.  Not only will we be working on enriching our vocabulary, but also we will be working on our comprehension skills.  The following reading/writing strategies will be emphasized ( RAD/VAAW assessment driven): 

·         Tapping into prior knowledge

·         Setting a purpose

·         Predicting

·         Making connections

·         Recognizing important ideas/details

·         Creating visual images

·         Inferences and conclusions

2. Mathematics- In Mathematics, we will be using the text called Math Makes Sense, which correlates with the new math curriculum.  Mr. DuMont and Mr. Yeske will be teaching the grade 8 program and Mrs. Reoch and Mrs. Scott will be teaching the grade 7 math this year.  This is an outcome based math program.

3. Social Studies - The units studied this year will be Our Land, Cultural Diversity, Power and Authority through Democracy and Resources and Sustainability.  We will also be working on current events and What In the World to examine global events. In addition to this, each month every student will provide a one to three minute oral and written overview of a news event.  Mrs. Reoch is the educator of this course.

4. Science- The science course this year consists of the Grade Eight course.  We will be learning about Cells, Tissues, Organs and Systems; Optics and Vision; Forces Fluids and Density; and Water Systems of Earth.  Mr. DuMont will be the educator of this course.

5. Health- We will be covering the concepts of decision-making and personal values, healthy relationships, violence, and sex education.  This course also includes a unit focusing on career preparation.  Mrs. Scott is the educator.

6. Arts Education –Mrs. Reoch, Mrs. Scott, Mr. DuMont, and Mr. Yeske will be instructing Visual Arts throughout the year.  Mrs. Hinz will be teaching Music, Dance, and Drama. 

7. Physical Education- Skills and rules of team sports, and games will be emphasized.  Participation, attitude, effort, and changing into appropriate attire in physical fitness are heavily stressed.   Mr. Yeske will be the educator.  There will also be a Fitness class taught by each teacher.

8. French – Madame Cross teaches the core French program in the grade seven and eight classes.  The students receive three periods in a five-day cycle.

Key Dates:

• September 24^th  – Track and Field at Douglas Park all day (pack a healthy lunch and dress appropriately for the weather);
• September 24^th – Back to School barbecue and Meet the Teacher night;
• September 25^th- Terry Fox Walk at school at 2:45 pm;
• October 2^nd – Pancake birthday breakfast for Mr. Jack MacKenzie at 7:30 am;
• October 2^nd – Gym Blast for grades 6 – 8;
• October 9^th – Professional Day (no school for students);
• October 12^th – Thanksgiving Holiday;
• October 30^th – Halloween Dance;
• Every Friday is Green Day until Grey Cup!!!

We would like to stress the importance of completing work during school hours, as daily work will drive assessment.  ALL ASSESSMENTS WILL BE OUTCOME BASED.  Students will occasionally have homework, if they do not finish daily work in class.  Sufficient class time is usually given for those students who use their time appropriately.  Students will be asked to take home tests to be signed and returned to school.  The STUDENTS AND/OR PARENTS are to use our CLASSROOM BLOGS to check homework and important dates.

We would like to request you to encourage reading in the home.  Good readers are usually better students.  Fifteen minutes a day is not a lot to ask.

In order to encourage organizational skills with our students, we are implementing a regular clean up period.  This will occur at the end of every week and is referred to as Tidy Friday.

Throughout the year, we have many opportunities to take our students on various field trips.  These of course cost money and thus the teachers become bankers.  In order to free up this money maintenance time it is much preferred that the online payment method is used whenever possible.

We appreciate the opportunity of teaching your child for one short year.  We cannot do it all.  It takes both the home and school working for the common good of the student to gain success.

In addition to our course work, we will develop:

Computer skills	Decision making
Critical thinking	Problem solving
Social, leadership, and interpersonal skills	Good work habits
Self- confidence	Physical and emotional well being

We are looking forward to working with your children, and we know that this will be a great year for all of us.  If your son or daughter is in grade eight, please pay $10.00 online to cover the cost of their grade eight group photograph.  Thank you!

Your partners in education,

Kyle DuMont, Kelley Reoch, Angela Scott, Kevin Yeske.

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We are working to improve our communication between home and school.  Please provide your child’s homeroom teacher with an email address that you access regularly, by Monday, September 28^th.

Thanks you for your participation.

                                                                                               

Parent’s email addressWe would like to stress the importance of completing work during school hours, as daily work is marked and given heavy emphasis.  Students will occasionally have homework, if they do not finish daily work in class.  Sufficient class time is usually given for those students who use their time appropriately.  Students will be asked to take home tests to be signed and returned to school.  The students are to use their agendas daily and to get their parents to sign them if possible.

We would also like to request you to encourage reading in the home.  Good readers are usually better students.  Fifteen minutes a day is not a lot to ask.

We appreciate the opportunity of teaching your child for one short year.  We cannot do it all.  It takes both the home and school working for the common good of the student to gain success.

In addition to our course work, we will develop:  

·Computer skills

Decision making

Critical thinking

Problem solving

Social, leadership and interpersonal skills

Good work habits

Self- confidence

Physical and emotional well being

Your partners in education,

Doug Sthamann, Laura Rhead, Kelley Reoch

Choir Letter

September 25^th , 2015

WELCOME:

We are very pleased that you have decided to participate in our school choir this year.  This exciting group combines students from Grade 5-8 from Jack MacKenzie school. 

We look forward to making some wonderful music under the guidance of Ms Little,

Mme Cross, and Mrs.Hinz.

• Repertoire and Concerts

This group will be singing music from both the secular and sacred genres.  We work towards several performances including the Rotary Carol Festival and participation in our school Christmas concert.  We may do caroling as well and plan on doing so at several Senior residences as well as a mall.  We usually wrap up the season with a pizza and movie party. 

• Concert Dress

Students who participate in this group are asked to wear black pants or skirt with a long sleeved white shirt or blouse and black shoes for performances.

• Rehearsals and Attendance

We have included a rehearsal schedule on the reverse side of this note.  We have very few rehearsals and a lot to accomplish.  We would appreciate your support in encouraging your child to attend each and every rehearsal time.  Absences MUST be discussed with one of the staff members involved in the choir.  If your child misses three rehearsals without letting one of the coordinators know, they will be removed from the group. The choir will not be meeting after the New Year.

Singing together builds community.  Participation in this group will give your child the opportunity to develop their talents and make new friends while having a great time.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact either school and speak to one of the teachers involved.   Thank you.

Yours in music,

Ms Little                       Mme Cross                                    Mrs. Hinz                           

Choir Dates

Jack MacKenzie SCHOOL CHOIR REHEARSAL

(As of September 25^th , 2015 – First Draft)    (Most rehearsals are on Day 3 at noon!)

1.       Sept. 25                         Friday                            noon

2.       October 2                       Friday                            noon

3.       October 8                       Thursday                       noon

4.       October 13                     Tuesday                         noon

5.       October 20                     Tuesday                         noon

6.       October 27                     Tuesday                         noon

7.       November 3                            Tuesday                         noon

8.       November 10                 Tuesday                         noon

9.       November 19                 Thursday                       noon

10.     November 26                 Thursday                       noon

11.      December 3                            Thursday                       noon

13.     December 10                 Thursday                       noon

14.     December 14                 Monday                         noon

16.     December 15th               Tuesday

                                                PERFORMANCE

                                                Jack MacKenzie Christmas Concert

                                                Morning – performance for school

                                                1:15 p.m. afternoon performance

                                                7:00 p.m. evening performance

EXTRA PERFORMANCES:

·        Rotary Carol Festival  - Date T.B.A.

·        Caroling and Pizza Party – Date T.B.A

·        Caroling at a Senior Home  - ???- Date T.B.A.                                          

Week #1-What a wonderful week I had meeting all of my new grade sevens and of course the returning grade eights.

What a great looking group of students.   We are going to have a fantastic year together.  I'm really looking forward to getting know all of you better!!!  Thank you to the SCC for our new play structure!!  Nice work!!

                               

Welcome Back!!!!

Hello, my name is Kelley Reoch and I continue to teach Gr.7 Math and Gr. 7/8 Social Studies. I know from my seven previous years at Jack MacKenzie that this is a wonderful group of senior students, and I look forward to a fun and successful year.

A bit about myself: I have been teaching in the Regina Public School System since 1991. My primary focus as a teacher has been on Gr. 7 and 8, although I have experience with primary as well.  My husband, Shane, and I have four children.  Haley is at the U of R and on the Rider Cheer team.  Ethan is joining his sister at the university this fall, Levi is working at Tiki Room full time, and Zoe, our dancer, is in grade eight at Ecole Massey.   I am eager to work with your children and welcome your participation in their education at Jack MacKenzie. Please contact me for any reason during office hours. Again, I look forward to a terrific year!

Gr. 7/8 Timetable 2015-2016

Time	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
8:53 – 9:37	Math	ELA/Reading Buddies	Math	ELA	Science (Mr. DuMont)
9:37 – 10:15	Math	Library	Math	ELA	Fitness (Mr. Yeske)

Recess

10:30 – 11:07	Phys. Ed. (Mr. Yeske)	PREP Arts Education From Mrs.Hinz	DEAR	Phys. Ed. (Mr. Yeske)	PREP Core French From  Mme Cross
11:07- 11:45	Health/ Career Guidance (Mrs. Scott)	PREP Core French From Mme Cross	ELA	Health/ Career Guidance (Mrs. Scott)	PREP Arts Education From Mrs.Hinz

Noon

12:45 – 1:22	PREP Arts Education From Mrs. Hinz	Fitness	Visual Arts	Science (Mr. DuMont)	Health/ Career Guidance (Mrs. Scott)
1:22 – 2:00	PREP Core French From Mme Cross	Visual Arts	Fitness	Social	Social

Recess

2:15 – 2:52	Science (Mr. DuMont)	Math	ELA	Math	Math
2:52 – 3:37	Social	Math	ELA	Math	Math
					3:20-3:37 *Tidy Friday-Organizational Period.