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Drop Off and Pick Up Safety

Dear Armbrae Parents and Community Members:

Morning drop off and afternoon pick up are the most dangerous times of our school day, and we need your help to mitigate the risks.

NRC and DAL
Recently, we have been contacted by both the National Research Council (NRC) and Dalhousie University (DAL) about Armbrae parents parking in their parking lots between the hours of 8am and 5pm.  This note is an appeal to stop doing this, and it is driven by two primary concerns:  

1.  Without teachers or staff present to supervise the situation, the use of these parking lots during school hours poses a significant safety risk to our children. Yes parents are there, but the extra sets of eyes are important.
2. Additionally, the parking spaces in these lots are reserved for the employees of NRC and DAL. While this may not directly pertain to safety, we do want to maintain positive relationships with our neighbours.

Oxford Campus
Parents should only be dropping off students at the Oxford Campus. If a parent must accompany a PreSchool or PrePrimary student into the building, they can temporarily park at spot #30. All other parking spots are reserved for teachers.

While on this topic, I would like to revisit a request I made a couple of years ago regarding parking on Oxford Street in front of the school. Parking there is illegal and dangerous:  cars leaving our parking lot - and turning left (north) onto Oxford Street - simply cannot see around a parked car. 

Coburg Campus
Also, a reminder that there is no parking or designated drop-off zone at the Coburg campus and parents/guardians are asked not to turn around in our neighbouring driveways or pull over directly in front of the driveway as it can create unsafe conditions for students, pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists. If being driven to school by parents or guardians, students should be dropped off at the Oxford Campus or nearby in a safe drop-off area, such as further down Coburg Road. 

Finally, I acknowledge that traffic in the HRM has become increasingly challenging, and that drop-off and pick-up can be congested and time-consuming. However, we have established processes and protocols in place for the safety of our children. It is crucial that we adhere to these guidelines, as it only takes one tragic incident to profoundly impact our community.

That’s it from me for now. Please enjoy the rest of this edition of the TWA.

Cheers,

Steve.

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Full School General Announcements
 
Halloween Announcements: Tuesday, October 31st

Halloween Activities will be taking place on October 31st. Students are invited to wear their costumes to school. Please ensure that the costumes are comfortable for the classroom and doing school work. Weapons of any kind are not permitted. If costumes have special parts that may get lost during the day, it is recommended that they stay at home. If your child does not want to wear a costume, they should come to school in their uniform.
 
Middle School Dance + Activities: October 27th (Coburg Campus) - Our Middle School students are planning a fun Halloween-themed evening with dancing, cookie decorating, and awards for best costumes + best pumpkin carvings. To ensure the success of this event, we are seeking parent volunteers who can help with set-up beforehand, chaperone during, and tear down afterward. Please sign up here to volunteer your time and support.

Armbrae’s 2023-24 Annual Fund Campaign 
At Armbrae, our Annual Fund Campaign is the foundation of our fundraising efforts. These are projects designed to enhance the learning and other experiences for current students - the following school year. The projects you have supported over the last few years include:  microscopes for our science lab, the new bicycle shelter, playground equipment, new classroom furniture, classroom SMARTBoards, and our scholarship and bursary fund. Remember, tuition fees only cover 85% of the school’s operating budget, but your generous support for these projects bridges that gap. Our annual fund projects this year include: SMARTBoard upgrades across all divisions, Musical Instruments, Visual Art Equipment, and our Scholarship and Bursary Fund. During the next month, we will have a series of opportunities for you to make a donation.

Armbrae’s 4th Annual Amazing Shake Competition: November 22nd & 23rd 
Our 4th Annual Amazing Shake competition is happening on Wednesday, November 22nd for all students in grades 5-8! The Amazing Shake is a dynamic and exciting live competition that rallies leaders and role models in a community together to teach students about professional skills for success. Click here to learn more! If you are interested in volunteering, click here. Stay tuned for more details! 

Photo Retake Day
Retakes of school photos will take place during the day on Friday, November 10th. This will also be the time for any students who were absent on our initial photo day to get theirs taken. Students will be in their Number One Uniforms for the Remembrance Day Assembly. Please inform Mrs. Langille (Grades PS/PP/P-8, mlangille@armbrae.ns.ca) or Ms. Smith (Grades 9-12, dsmith@armbrae.ns.ca) if your child will be getting a photo taken on this day.

Remembrance Day Honour Roll
We invite our community to join us for our special Remembrance Day assembly on Friday, November 10th at 8:30am. We would love to continue the tradition of honouring your family members who have served in the CAF, RCMP, HRP, etc., in our Remembrance Day Honour Roll slideshow. We ask that you send in a picture of them (in uniform if possible), their name, and a quick note on their relation to the student, area of service and rank. Please send to Mr. Ur (bur@armbrae.ns.ca).

Middle School Council Fundraiser 
MS Council is excited to announce that House Colour merchandise will be on sale shortly. Be on the lookout for emails and posters. Prices and details will be published soon.

Youth Running Series–Kevin Jager
The next Youth Running Series Race is Scary Beazley on Saturday, October 28th. This is a fun event open to all levels of runners. Wear your Halloween costume if you dare!  

Date: Saturday, October 28th
Time: Races start at 1:00pm Bib pickup begins at 11:30am
Location: Beazley Fields, Dartmouth

If you are already a full series member, you are ready to go. For non-full series runners, register at: Single Race Registration. Registration is open until 6pm, Wednesday, October 25th. Please contact Mr. Jager (kjager@armbrae.ns.ca) if you have any questions.

Events Order: U6 Girls, U6 Boys, U8 Girls, U8 Boys, U10 Girls, U10 Boys, U12 Girls, U12 Boys, U15 & 18 Girls, U15 & 18 Boys.
Track Event: 1 km = 2.5 laps / 1.5 km -  3.75 laps / 2.2 km - 5.5 laps

Middle School
Please help Middle School students develop a routine to charge their electronic devices every evening to ensure they are fully charged for class the next day.

As the school work and homework starts to pile up, it may be helpful for your child to have a homework folder so they can transport their worksheets between home and school. Students had an opportunity this week to file their papers into their binders but they should take time every week to stay on top of their organization.

Upper School

Take Our Kids to Work Day (Grade 9)
The national Take Our Kids to Work day is Wednesday, November 1st. We encourage parents to check with their employer to determine if there are planned events, presentations or opportunities for your family to consider as participants. This is a valuable experience for your child to see where you work, meet your colleagues, be introduced to various roles, jobs and of course, to observe exactly what you do each day. Should you plan to participate, please notify Armbrae in advance for the planned absence and share the intent to join the Take Our Kids to Work day. Students are advised to communicate with their teachers and secure any missed tasks covered in their classes.

AP Exam Registration Reminder
A reminder that this year’s deadline to register for AP exams is Friday, November 3rd. Students can submit their registration using this form. If they would like to discuss which AP exams may be a good fit with their academic plan, students can speak with Mr. Maki. Any questions about registration or exam logistics can be directed to Ms. Read. 

Save the Date: Canadian University Fair at Armbrae (Coburg Campus)
On Wednesday, November 15th, Armbrae will be hosting 25 universities from across Canada for a fair at our Coburg Campus. Armbrae students, parents and members of the local community are encouraged to attend. Please see here for a list of participating schools. 

Athletics

• The U-13 soccer team played in the CAIS tournament that was hosted by Armbrae and Halifax Grammar School last weekend. Out of 18 teams from across Canada, Armbrae placed 7th. Our team was awarded the Johnny McGrath Award which is awarded to the team that displays a good understanding that soccer is a team game, solid sportsmanship, and the most consistent fair play throughout the competition. It was quite an honour for the team to be recognized for their sportsmanship.
• Morgan Clarke placed 3rd in the Junior Girls Division at Cross Country Provincials. The Junior Boys Team placed as follows:  Mason - 26th, Gavin - 50th and Remi -80th. Congrats to all.
• On Thursday, November 2nd, the Junior Soccer Teams will play at BMO Soccer Nova Scotia in a tournament.

Auxiliary Programmes 
As the weather is starting to change, just a reminder for students staying for PlayLab we are outside in all weather until 4:30pm. Please make sure your student has the appropriate clothing for the weather. You can find more information and registration for our PD camps and Parent “Time Outs” HERE & stay tuned for our Holiday Camps and March Break Camps coming soon. 

APA Information 

October 31st - Lower School, Calling for nut-free​ snacks for the 'Halloween Snack Station'

• The Prefect Council is gearing up for an exciting Lower School Halloween event on the afternoon of Tuesday, October 31st. We need your support to make it a fantastic day for the students!
• We're looking for nut free​ snack donations, such as baked goods, popcorn, fruits, veggies, and more, to create a delightful 'Halloween Snack Station.'
• Please sign-up here to contribute to the fun. Your contributions are greatly appreciated! 

November 9th at 7pm (Oxford Campus) - Wine and Cheese Kick-Off Meeting for Purse Bingo

• Armbrae's Annual Purse Bingo is a fun evening of fundraising and competitive bingo games with prizes of "designer" quality handbags.  This year's Purse Bingo event will be held on February 24, 2024. Stay tuned for event updates on our social media!
• To get things started, join us for a wine and cheese kick-off meeting at Armbrae on November 9th at 7pm. 
  • We'd love for you to join us, so please RSVP to confirm your attendance here! 

November 17 at 5:30-8:30pm (Pacifico) - Parent Social 

• Join us for a fun parent social event! This is a great opportunity to reunite with familiar faces and make new connections within our community.

Armbrae Academy

Oxford Campus: 1400 Oxford St, Halifax, NS B3H 3Y8 ~ 902-423-7920
Coburg Campus: 6430 Coburg Rd, Halifax NS, B3H 2A6 ~ 782-641-3834

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