Kings County Academy
Mike Ouellette, Principal 35 Gary Pearl Drive
Victoria Laurence, Vice-Principal Kentville NS B4N 0H4
Telephone: (902)690-3850 Fax: (902)690-3864
kca.ednet.ns.ca
NEWSLETTER
April 30, 2015
Hello families at home,
Each year, due to issues related to enrollment and class caps, I will review all students who were here on transfers. In fact, board policy states, “It is necessary to re-apply for a transfer each year once it has been approved.” The issues related to class size continue to be an issue, so I am making sure that all families that are here on transfers understand the need to re-apply. Forms for transfer students will go home with them before the end of the year. As the policy states, I will base my decisions to accept transfers on class size/configuration, school history (behaviour, academics, attendance, etc.), and other factors. Students attending KCA from outside our catchment area that are in our regional immersion program are not considered transfer students, so this policy does not apply to those students and families.
We recently sent home letters related to attendance and lateness and I want to thank the many families who responded positively to that important information. We still see a number of students struggling with lateness and with attendance issues and I want to remind all families of our willingness to provide support if you need it. At its most serious, non-attendance can slip easily into school-avoidance and result in a debilitating cycle where the more time a child misses, the more challenges they face academically and socially in trying to return. We have plenty of expertise that can help you work through these situations and we can also collaborate with outside agencies and support when needed. Speaking of attendance, grade 8 students will be writing provincial assessments on May 25 & 26. Attendance for these assessments is very important. Please let us know if we can help in any way.
We have had some wonderful guests visit the school recently. Representatives from Kentville’s twin festival in Goosnargh and Whittingham, England, popped in for a visit and were accompanied by a talented young singer named AJ Brown, a rising star in in the British jazz/pop scene. It was a real privilege and I think we might someday see this young performer rise to the top of the charts and have the privilege of saying he came to little old KCA! We also had guests from CCC Kei Wai Primary School in Hong Kong. Their youth choir is on a Canadian Tour and they stopped in to spend a morning with us. They really enjoyed a chance to hang out with Canadian students in our classrooms and our kids had a blast hosting them. It’s nice to see our school making these international connections. It is so important for our students to know and understand their place in the world and to have the chance to meet and interact with diverse cultures.
Lastly, just a reminder of Spring Fling coming up on June 3rd. This is our PTA’s most significant fundraiser and one of our school’s most important community events. We are all keeping our fingers crossed for great weather…something I think we more than deserve after the winter we have had!
Mike Ouellette, Principal
Important Dates: (A full list of KCA’s upcoming dates is available on our website kca.ednet.ns.ca)
- Friday, May 1 – Primary Registration (No School Smith/Kinsman/Rafuse/E. Parsons)
- Monday, May 11 – 11:00 Dismissal (Cafeteria closed)
- Wednesday, May 13 – Band trip to Neptune Theatre, Halifax 9-4pm
– Running Club – Final session
- Monday, May 18 – Victoria Day – No School
- Tuesday, May 19 – Final PTA Meeting – 6 pm/School Planning Mtg. – 7 pm
- Thursday, May 21 – Gr. 5-8 Dance – 7-9 pm (Grade 5 students are invited to dance)
- Friday, May 22 & Saturday, May 23 – T&F Districts at Acadia
- Monday, May 25 & Tuesday, May 26 – Gr. 8 Assessments
- Wednesday, May 27 – Gr. 8 Orientation at NKEC (8:30-2pm) also Gr. 8 students invited to NKEC Dance 7-9pm
- Thursday, May 28 – Final newsletter home
- Friday, May 29 – Inservice Day – No School
- Fri. May 29 & Sat. May 30 - T&F Regionals @ Acadia
- Wednesday, June 3 – Spring Fling and Scholastic Book Fair - 4:30-7pm (raindate June 4)
- Friday, June 5 – Primary Orientation(No school Smith/Kinsman/Rafuse/Parsons, E.)
- Monday, June 15 – Band Concert – 7 pm
- Wednesday June 24 – 11:00 Dismissal - Inservice
– Gr. 7/8 Semi Dance 7-10 pm
- Thursday, June 25 – No School – Marking Day
–10 am Gr. 8 Grad Practice/Luncheon to follow
- Friday, June 26 – No School – Marking Day
–12 Noon – Gr. 8 Graduation
- Monday, June 29 – P-7 Field Day –– “Hats and Sunscreen”
- Tuesday, June 30 – Last Day of School (report cards issued)
PTA Message
Many thanks to the parents who sent in sandwiches, sweets, salads and soup for the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon on April 24th, as well as to the parent volunteers who hosted the event! It was very much appreciated by all! Spring Fling is right around the corner and is set for Wednesday, June 3 from 4:30-7:00(raindate June 4th). Again this year we will have a BBQ, bouncy castles and cotton candy. Teachers will also have booths and will be looking for parent help. As always it promises to be a great family event which also puts money raised directly into the classrooms! We hope to see you there! Our final meeting for the year will be on Tuesday, May 19th at 6:00 in the Art Room. As always, everyone is invited to attend!
Kathy Boutilier, President
Science Fair Results
Congratulations to all Science Fair participants! We held our science fair here at KCA on March 4th and 5th with a fantastic turnout from all grades! We sent a variety of projects to the Regional Science Fair held at Kingstec from March 30th to April 2nd. Representing grade 3 was Josephine Reynolds, Daniel Duke, and Olivia Seaman. From grades 4-6, our representatives were Oliver Baker, Grace Hennebery-McNeil, and Bronwyn Knowlton. Our students from grades 7 and 8 included, Dahlen Doubleday, Andrew VanLuxemborg, Andrew Archibald, and Maurick Parsons.
The following students won awards at Regionals: Grade 4-6 DISCOVERY - silver medallion, Grace Hennebery McNeil, Grade 4-6 - ENVIRONMENT - bronze medallion Oliver Baker, KINGS PHYSIOTHERAPY: $25 gift certificate toward a massage - Grade 7-9 Maurick Parsons & Andrew Archibald. Way to go!
Caitlin Mitchell & Angela Shay
Science Fair Staff Representatives
Physical Education Department
Track and Field is in full swing and we have 32 athletes from grades 6 to 8 competing in various events. Practices are every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:30 to 3:45pm. Districts are May 22 & 23 ; Regionals
May 29 & 30 and Provincials June 5 and 6 all held at Acadia University. Good luck to all our athletes.
We have 96 runners from grade 3 to 8 participating in the running club this year. We run every Wednesday from 2:30 to 3:30. The final run day is on Wednesday, May 13.
I would like to thank Mlle Casey and Mrs Crystal Peach for running the Monday Gr. 4-6 Mini-Volleyball again this year.
Paulette Schrader
Physical Education Teacher
End of Year Class Trips
Just a reminder to parents that if you are volunteering to go on your child’s class trip that all volunteer forms needs to be complete: Child Abuse Registry, Police Check and Form J- if you are driving your vehicle. NEW: The Child Abuse Registry and Police Check needs to be completed every three years (School Board will send out reminder).
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