News from Viscount Alexander School • June 2018
Michael Barnes
Thanks to two graduating School Council members
This year, Viscount sends a special thank you to two special school council members who have served the Viscount community well over several years. Their children are graduating and heading to new schools in the fall. So, to Tamara Rader and Kim LeSage LeBlanc, we truly appreciate your contribution to school life and learning over the past several years. Every student has benefitted through your gift of time, organizational skills, fund-raising efforts and good counsel. Viscount is a better place because of both of you. Thank you!
Jumpstart Games
On Tuesday May 8, the grade 4, 5 and 6 students from Viscount Alexander participated in the Jumpstart Games at the University of Ottawa. Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities is dedicated to helping kids overcome financial and accessibility barriers to sport and recreation in order to provide inclusive play for kids of all abilities. Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes, who competed at PyeongChang, ran the activity stations, where students had a chance to try out games linked to curling, hockey and snowboarding, and to collect autographs from the athletes throughout the day. Jumpstart Games was a super fun day of play, where our students practiced teamwork skills and were inspired through participating in sports alongside their peers and some accomplished athletes. An unforgettable experience for all!
To learn more about Jumpstart visit http://jumpstart.canadiantire.ca/. Anyone wishing to donate to this cause can do so through the Jumpstart web site.
Bike Rodeo May 11
It was a perfect day for our annual bike rodeo: sunny and cool. This year, 28 bikes were given to children who needed one, the most in all the years we have held the rodeo. Each class, Grades 1-4, got 45 minutes outside to learn about helmet fitting, road rules, and then riding a slalom course. The Grade 5 and 6 students went on a bike trip to Mooney’s Bay and back, using bike paths. It was a very fun day!
None of this would have happened without the support of our sponsors and event coordinator. Many have supported this bike rodeo for many years, and we truly appreciate their dedication to this Viscount tradition. This year, the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre supplied loaner bikes, bells and repair services. The Kiwanis Club of Bytown provided financial support to obtain bicycles. Brian Smith found and fixed eight bikes. Paul Wylie of Cycle Salvation gave 20 bikes to the cause. Trish and Rob from the Ottawa Safety Council ran the event. A big thank you goes out to all donors and volunteers, including the students in Lisgar Collegiate’s Outdoor Education program who helped run the bike stations and assisted our new riders. Finally, Cristine Elrick was the event coordinator and altogether this was one of the best rodeos ever at Viscount.
International Potluck dinner
Viscount Alexander has a wonderful tradition of having an international potluck, where families are asked to bring food from their country to share. On May 3 more than 175 people attended the dinner, and the food they brought filled 15 large tables in the gym. The teachers served the food, and school council helped with appetizers and calling out table numbers. This meal gives families new to Canada and Viscount a sense of community, and gives everyone a chance to make new friends and meet old ones. It was a wonderful and successful night and the food was superb!
Viscount Wax Museum
On April 26, 39 students from Grades 5 and 6 participated in the annual Wax Museum. This year’s theme was Superheroes. The students dressed up as their favourite superhero and memorized a two-minute speech about the origins and life of their hero; they also created a storyboard with images and text about their hero. Small groups of students from Grades 1-4 were invited to listen to the speeches. The superheroes stood in their spots, acting like wax figures, until the light turning on reanimated them and they spoke to their captive audience. Thanks to Mrs. Kristi Fulford for organizing such a very successful museum!
Safi’s provides delicious lunches
Viscount students have enthusiastically embraced a new samosa and cheese pie lunch program this spring, which broadened their palates, giving parents some welcome relief from packing lunches.
School council started the weekly program in early May in partnership with Safi Fine Foods on Somerset Street East. Operations manager Mohamed Ali Abdo delivers several dozen Halal chicken samosas and mini cheese pies just before the students’ second nutrition break. Three parent volunteers distribute the food to the classrooms and the hungry kids dig in. Even staff members are participating!
Thank you to Mohamed, the parent volunteers and school council for making this new lunch program a success. The program has been so well received, school council plans to continue it, and possibly expand the menu, for the next school year.
Viscount is a team of many talents and together they provide a welcoming, supportive learning environment for our students. We thank teachers, staff and principal, Paula Slesar, for all they do for our students. There is still another month of school before the summer holidays but as this is the last IMAGE issue until the fall we extend our appreciation for the gift of learning you provide our students now. Thanks to all of you and best wishes for an enjoyable summer.