ECS May - June Newsletter - June 19th, 2009

The Principal’s Pen - Mr. Kelly Christopherson
     The end of school is just around the corner and plans for summer and the upcoming year are on the minds of students, parents and teachers. It has been a very positive year with all sorts of great things happening. The year started off right with our ECS Mustang football team garnering a few wins. Although not enough to move them on to provincials, the future looks promising. We then ended with Taran Robinson bringing home a gold medal in long jump from the Provincial Track and Field in Prince Albert. Between that, the year was filled will all kinds of fantastic accomplishments for our students.
     This year will see a number of staff moving on to different things. Sandra Robertson and Terry Gasior are moving on to lives of leisure, kicking back and enjoying their free time. (We all know that’s what happens during retirement!) I’d like to thank them both for all of their hard work, dedication and support. Both have been an integral part of the ECS staff for a number of years and will be dearly missed by staff, students and parents alike. Also moving on will be Chad Venn, who will be doing double-duty teaching both in Dinsmore and at Dinsmore Hutterite Colony, Lee Ann Lambie, who is getting married over the summer and isn’t thinking beyond that, Mrs. Leslee Whalley, who will be moving back to Spiritwood, and Mrs. Tawna Hansen, who we thank for stepping in and helping us this year. We wish them all the best on their new endeavours. We’ll also be welcoming some new additions to the staff in the fall: Ms. Donna Bendig will be taking over the Resource area and Mrs. Alice Smith will be doing work with middle years and senior students. We will also have a number of people filling new roles next year. Mr. John McPhee will be moving his belongings into my office (I did tell him to wait until the end of June but boxes keep showing up!) as the Principal for 2009 – 2010. I know that he will enjoy the same support and encouragement that I received from parents and students during my time here at ECS. As for me, I’ve been asked to take the Vice-Principal position at KCS so next year will be a change for me as well.
     With all that’s going on, it’s important to remember that exams will be beginning on Friday, June 19^th. A schedule has been handed out to all students in grades 7 – 12 and is posted on our website as well. As in past years, students are to come to their exams and will need to stay for at least an hour. Students are then asked to go home after the exam unless they are to be staying at school, in which case, they are to proceed to the library where they are to be studying. The computer lab will still be used by the elementary students so students in the senior grades need to be sure they have their notes and the necessary information to study.
     Since this is my last post, I’d like to thank all those parents who have supported the work we’ve done at the school and who worked to enhance Eston Composite School by helping us out through giving of their time and talent and promoting positive interaction with the staff at the school. So much of what happens here is set before the students even walk through the doors and creating a positive environment happens as much by what is said outside the building as by what happens within the walls. As we all know, parents are their child’s first teacher and what happens here is a much a product of the parents’ attitude and conversations as it is the interactions that take place within. By being positive and demonstrating a positive attitude, the relationships within are allowed to develop without having to overcome a learned negativity which hurts the relationships within the building. To build a better school community, everyone must realize that their actions and words contribute to that community. A school community is the reflection of the larger community around so I ask that we continue to build one that positive and developmental in nature.
     To all staff and students, past and present, thanks for a great five years. Even though there have been ups and downs, I have enjoyed the learning that I’ve been able to do here at ECS.
Yours in Education, Kelly Christopherson, Principal
 

Track and Field - Mr. Darryl Elaschuk, Coach
     Congratulations to everyone who placed in their events at our local track and field on Tuesday, May 12^th. Special congratulations to Quaid and Taran Robinson and Travis Tatomir, who between them, broke a total of 8 local track and field records (including Rob Owens’ record from 1977!) Way to go guys.

Bantam Boys: Quaid Robinson
- Long Jump - 4.50 m (broke Taran’s 2007 record of 4.34 m)
- Shot Put - 11.65 m (breaking Chad Hartnell’s 1988 record of 11.29 m)
- 100 M Hurdles - time of 13.41 (breaking Taran’s 2007 record of 13.59)
Midget Boys: Taran Robinson
- Long Jump - 5.6 m (breaking Rob Owens’ 1977 record of 5.42 m)
- Triple Jump - 11.10 m (breaking Dallas Massey’s 2001 record of 10.62 m)
- 100 M - 12.0 (breaking Brian Wallace’s 2000 record of 13.2)
Junior Boys: Travis Tatomir
- Shot Put - 12.62 m (breaking Cory Rye’s 1988 record of 11.67 m) (Point of interest - Travis’s mom Heidi still holds her 1987 record of 22.4 m in Bantam Girls shotput!)
|- Discus - 34.54 m (breaking Jim Swan’s 1981 record of 33.0 m)

     The Inter-sectional Track and Field Meet was held in Eston this year on Tuesday, May 19^th. In spite of very cold, windy weather, students taking part stayed in good spirits and gave their very best. Eston’s Travis Tatomir, who set a new local record in discus this year, broke his own record with a throw of 34.82 m in the junior boys discus event. Congratulations Travis!
     All in all, it was a successful track meet, with students from Kindersley, Eatonia, Marengo, Plenty, Elrose and Eston competing. The first and second place winners from this meet moved on to the District Track Meet at Giffiths Stadium in Saskatoon on Friday and Saturday, May 29^th and 30^th.
     We had great results at Districts in Saskatoon where Taran broke records in the Long Jump Triple Jump and the 200m. Taran and Quaid were also the high point winner overall in their age catergories. Lisette Christopherson was 1^st in shot put and Taravis Tatimor placed 1^st in shot and 2^nd in discus. Monty Massey was 2^nd in the 400 & 800. Andrew Schmidt placed 3^rd in shot put and Javelin. Ryan Holban placed 3^rd in high jump.
     Four of our athletes moved onto Provincials in Prince Albert: Travis for Discus and Shot; Lisette for Shot Put; Monty for the 400 and 800m; and Taran for the Long Jump, Triple Jump, 100m, 200m, as well as the relay. Travis placed 5^th in the discus and Taran brought back a gold medal in the Long Jump and placed 4^th in Triple Jump, 7^th in the 100m and 5^th in the 200m.
     Congratulations to all those who took part and made this year a successful & exciting track and field year.


Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.    Anthony J. D'Angelo

Science Quiz Contest - submitted by Mr. Terry Gasior
This will be the last science quiz for the 2008/2009 school year. We are making it a simple contest open to everyone who wishes to enter, except staff members of Eston Composite School.

1. Look at each of the following quiz questions carefully.
2. Answer all the quiz questions right on the quiz sheet you are reading and either drop off or mail your answers to Eston Composite School (Box 639). Make sure that your fill in your name, address, and telephone number on your answer sheet.
3. Deadline for receipt of entries is 12:00 Noon, Monday, June 22^nd, 2009.
All correctly submitted entries will be entered into a draw for an ECS Hoodie, courtesy of the Eston School SRC.

1. On Earth how many continents are recognized by geographers?
2. Why does the Moon have no weather?
3. Name the scientist who is noted for the development of the theory of relativity.
4. What is the name of the bright star in our Solar System?
5. An object placed into ocean water will "float" more readily in the ocean water than if it were placed in fresh water. Why?
6. Name a bird that lives in Australia that cannot fly.
7. Three general, anatomical features are used to distinguish insects from other animals. List the three features.
8. Some species of flowering plants contain both male and female reproductive organs. _____ True _____ False
9. In the insect world, most of the honey bees in a hive of honey bees are sterile females. _____ True _____ False
10. What planet in our Solar System is often called either the morning star or the evening star, although it is not really a star at all?

Name: _____________________________________

Address: ___________________________________

Phone Number: ______________________________

The Vice View  - Mr. John McPhee, Vice-Principal
     Hello avid View Readers! The rain managed to stay away just long enough so that the school could have a great track meet day on May 12^th. The day was a success with many school records falling. The following week Eston Composite School hosted the Intersectional track meet which saw the advancement of many of our athletes to the provincials in Saskatoon on June 4^th and 5^th. Congratulations to Travis Tatomir, Lisette Christopherson, Monty Massey and Taran Robinson as representatives of Eston Composite School at the provincial track meet. Taran Robinson earned a provincial gold medal in Long Jump. Way to go Taran! The elementary K-6 track day was a chilly day to be outside! Brrrrr! It is difficult to believe that we can get that kind of weather on June 5^th. Congratulations to all our athletes for participating and competing in a successful event. The staff would like to thank all the parent and community volunteers that came out to cheer on their athletes and help during the events.
     The Eston Composite staff will be meeting on June 15^th to finalize school learning improvement plans for the upcoming year. This information will be presented to our School Community Council at a meeting on June 18^th. The School Community Council is pleased to invite all interested community members to the playground work-bee at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday June 20^th. Come on out and help make our playground a better place for the students! The final exam schedule for the high school students has been released. If you need an extra copy feel free to stop by the office and pick one up. Unfortunately, this will be my last Vice View column. In the fall, I will be working in a new position at the school. I will be the new Principal for Eston Composite School. Therefore, there will be no need to panic as I will have a new column in the newsletter starting in the fall. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the parents, students and community members for all their support over the past year. Good luck to all students with their final exams! Have a Great Summer!!
John McPhee, Vice Principal
 

Art Show
     Congratulations to our grade 6-12 art students on another successful Art Show. This year’s show was held on Thursday, June 4^th. Thank you to our local judges, Verna Thompson, Pat Proudlove, Catrina Houston, Amanda Swan and Brenda Ormsby.

2009 People’s Choice Winner - Amber Bahm

2009 Runner-up to People’s Choice - Paige Lobdell

SRC (submitted by Paige Lobdell)
     May was a good month for the SRC. We had the opportunity to set up a booth for both our local track meet and the intersectional track meet. This served as a good fundraiser for the SRC because we got some out-of-town customers and we had a good turn-out at both meets. Also this month, the SRC donated $500.00 to the Amy Hill Memorial Scholarship Fund. Amy was our SRC President last year (2007 - 2008) and we thought that this was one way for us to pay our respects.
     Our executive is busy planning several events for the end of the school year. We hope that we can make the end of the year fun for all of the students of ECS and we have some great activities planned: game week, end of year barbeque, and laser tag. We are still searching for dates that we can hold some of these events. The SRC hopes to make this end-of-school celebration a memorable one!

June Finals
     June finals have begun. You can find the exam schedule posted on our school website and students have each received a printed copy.

Awards Night
     Eston School’s annual Awards Night was held on Tuesday, June 16^th. We had a terrific turnout of parents, grandparents, students and community members and the evening was a great way to recognize our student’s achievements. Congratulations to all of this year’s award recipients on your hard work.

Merit Roll (80 - 85%)
Grade 6
Carissa Dodman
Skye McDonald
Sydney McEvoy
Wyatt Milton
Desiree Olson
Shaunda Watts
Grade 7
Shay Brehm
Alora Hughes
Grade 8
Brandt Carter
Blaine Toner
Emily Faraday
Tyler Serfas
Grade 9
Jordan Andrew
Ashley Frogge
Tyrell King
Grade 10
Emma Cook
Austin Hansen
Shauna Hodgins
Tanner Morpak
Shelby Robinson
Grade 11
Paige King
Paige Reimer
Meghan Thompson
Grade 12
Kyle Clark
Jared Day
Alicia Lonnberg
David Matchett
Kaylie Pederson
Tyson Swan
Chris Vogel
 

Honour Roll (85 - 100%)
Grade 6
Codie Cumiskey
Brooklyn Carter
Ty Hansen
Meghan Holben
Olivia Jackson
Parker Killam
Austin Sauser
Kelsey Silvester
Cody Skjei
Grade 7 - n/a
Grade 8
Madeleine Christopherson
Brooke Lobdell
Evan Pinter
Grade 9
Katelynn Gardiner
Jessa Hughes
Jesse Milton
Grade 10
Daniel Bertram
Ashton Brehm
Lisette Christopherson
Hanna Goto-Mah
Ashley Healey
Taylor Herback
Andrew Schmidt
Devin Serfas
Grade 11
Amielle Christopherson
Ben Faraday
Paige Lobdell
Jehremy Ryde
Grade 12
Amber Bahm
Travis Herback
Megan Hodgins
Tara Robinson
Rebecca Serfas