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TWO WEEKS AHEAD
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Dear Parents and Armbrae Community Members:
The winter term in the school calendar is typically the busiest term - and this will be evident in the depth of content in this and future editions of the Two Weeks Ahead.
Behind the scenes, we are also quite busy on a strategic level. The 2023-24 budget, homework survey and Strategic Plan were just completed. Meantime, the School Leadership team is working on the implementation plan for the Strategic Plan, as well as our CAIS Response report - due to the CAIS evaluation council on March 1st. This is also the time of year when students complete the course selection process, we look at our staffing needs for the next school year, and finally, we are in the midst of re-enrolment season.
Homework Survey - P-12
Thank you to everyone who responded to the Homework Survey. We wanted to share with you some of the highlights here:
- We had a 50% response rate from parents in Grades P-12;
- 73% of respondents support homework being assigned Monday to Thursday;
- Overall, homework is a positive experience for most families;
- Most students complete their homework independently;
- On average, students are following the general rule of 10 minutes of homework per grade but there were some who were completing more or less than this.
We shared the feedback with teachers and they have had good conversations amongst themselves and with their students which reinforced the importance of the following practices:
- A subject teacher not assigning homework to be due on the same day as a test;
- Regularly checking student agendas (in Lower and Middle School) and reviewing the homework instructions - that are posted on Brightspace - for clarity;
- We encourage your child (and you) to reach out to your child’s teacher if you have concerns or if you feel your child is spending a disproportionate amount of time on homework.
Strategic Plan
Two weeks ago, we released our new Strategic Plan: Unleash Your Potential. If you remember, we had a power outage that forced us to postpone the family pizza dinner launch party on January 26th. We will re-schedule that event to a date that is sometime in the spring term. In the meantime, we are excited for you to get your hands on a copy. So please visit our website to view the Plan online or to download your own digital copy.
Re-enrolment
As you know, the initial call for re-enrolment was part of Jill Hennigar’s letter to you on February 3rd. If you haven’t had a chance to re-enrol please click here to re-enrol online and follow the instructions for your preliminary instalment and tuition fee payments. Please note that a (digitally) signed contract and your preliminary instalment of $1,500 are both due by Wednesday, March 1st.
If you’ve lost your login credentials, please check your inbox (or your junk mail) for the letter from Jill Hennigar (Board Chair) dated Friday, February 3rd. Or, please reach out to Mrs. Morrison for help.
Thank you to the dozens of families that have already re-enroled for 2023-24.
Important Upcoming Dates:
- Wednesday, February 8th: Europe Trip Information Meeting 6:30pm (Virtual)
- Friday, February 10th: IWK Casual Day
- Friday, February 10th: Grad Photos 10:00am - Coburg (Dining Hall)
- Friday, February 10th: Parents’ Night Out 5-9pm (AARC - Art Room)
- Tuesday, February 14th: Valentine’s Day–Wear pink or red
- Thursday, February 16th: Lower School Instrumental Showcase 2:15pm - AARC
- Friday, February 17th: Report Cards released
- Wednesday, February 22nd: Grade 10s write PSAT 10
- Thursday, February 23rd: Shakespeare Performance 7:30pm - AARC (Drama Studio)
- Friday, February 24th: Shakespeare Performance 7:30pm - AARC (Drama Studio)
- Saturday, February 25th: Designer Purse Bingo - AARC Tickets can be purchased here
- Wednesday, March 1st: Course Selection Forms Due (Grades 8-11)
- Friday, March 3rd: Talent Show 2:00 pm - AARC Parents are welcome to attend
- Apple Financial Tuition Assistance Application Deadline - April 12,2023
Shakespeare - A Comedy of Errors
Come join us for an abridged version of Shakespeare's, "A Comedy of Errors". Grade 7 - 9 students have been rehearsing since the fall with Ms. Barry and Eliza Rhinelander to create a memorable and fast-paced Shakespeare experience that will be accessible to all. To quote one of the original songs written by Eliza, "He had two kids and they were twins and they were both named Antipholous." Join us for a series of hilarious mix-ups and a look back into the 1990's.
Public Performances February 23 & 24, 7:30pm - AARC (Drama Studio)
$10 CampBrain Link is coming soon! Tickets can be purchased at the door with cash.
Parents' Night Out!
February 10th, 5-9pm (AARC - Art Room)
Pizza! Craft! Drama Games! Movie!
Open to Grades P-6
$25, +$10 for each additional child
Parents' Night Out REGISTRATION
Talent Show
March 3, 1:55pm - AARC - Parents Welcome!
1. All entries must email Ms. Barry with their specific act by February 22, 2023. jbarry@armbrae.ns.ca
2. Accompaniment must be submitted to Mr. LeBlanc by February 24, 2023. dleblanc@armbrae.ns.ca
3. Talent can be any type of performance entertainment (singers, dancers, spoken word, instruments)
4. We can provide a flat stage, basic lights, a speaker and piano accompaniment.
5. Students will have a chance to rehearse with Mr. LeBlanc & Ms. Barry date TBD.
6. The Talent Show has a time limit which means that Talent Show sign-up is limited, you will be notified whether you will be performing by February 23rd.
Division Updates
Foundation Years - Rebecca Cornick
We are looking forward to having a party on Valentine's Day. The students are welcome to wear pink or red casual clothing on the day.
If students would like to bring cards for their friends, please ask your children to write who they are from and not who they are to. This makes it so much easier when the students are distributing the cards to each special Valentine bag.
Lower School - Tara Burt
Valentine’s Day is coming up on Tuesday, February 14th! Come dressed in pink or red on that day! If your child would like to bring Valentines for their classmates they are welcome to do so and their teachers will help facilitate distribution.
In Music, Lower School students are working hard learning songs on a variety of instruments. On Thursday, February 16th at 2:15pm, the Lower School will perform these instrumental music pieces for each other in the AARC. Parents are welcome to attend. The show should be approximately 30-45 mins.
Middle School - Stephanie Sajatovich
The Middle School Council is continuing to sell Candy Grams this week until Friday, February 10th! The Candy Grams are 50¢ for 1 or 3 for $1. Remember to bring small denominations of cash on those days.
Upper School - Ally Read
- A reminder that Course Selection Forms are due to the Coburg Office by Wednesday, March 1st.
- Thank you to students in our African Canadian Studies class, as well as the students who volunteered to take part, for planning a fantastic assembly to launch African Heritage Month last week.
Athletics - Susan Beazley
Please check the School Calendar for all practices and games. For more information, please contact Susan Beazley at 902-423-7920 ext 229 or email sbeazley@armbrae.ns.ca.
- Junior High Girls and Boys basketball final games are next week.
- Senior Girls and Boys Basketball Teams start playoffs on Wednesday and Thursday this week.
- Our HockeyTeam is in a tournament on February 28th at KES
- Our Junior Osprey Basketball Teams play in the ACIS tournament on February 24th at Summit
- The ACIS Swim Meet is at KES for grades 5-9 on February 23rd.
Auxiliary Programmes - Ashley Matthews-Duffett
amd@armbrae.ns.ca or 902-471-1993.
You will find all the information you need for Co-curricular programmes, CAS opportunities, camps and more:
- Check out our Newsletter HERE
- March Break Goalie 101 Camp Registration open
- March Break Camps Registration open
- Discount Code for Armbrae Families; WELOVEARMBRAE
- Registration Site HERE
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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
Copyright © 2023, all rights reserved.