TERM 2 REPORTS

Term 2 Reports will be sent home on March 17. Please take the time to review your child’s report and the comments made by his/her teachers. Many students are experiencing difficulty attaining the curriculum outcomes in some subject areas and will need to increase their marks in order to experience success. Teachers will be reviewing student performances to identify at risk students and making contact with these homes.

Parent teacher interviews are scheduled for Thursday, March 25 from 12:30 – 4:00 pm and 7:00 – 9:00 pm and are by appointment only. We look forward to seeing you. As of March 18, appointments can be made using the OPTIS system. If you do not have access to the internet you may book an appointment by calling the school secretary at 834-9847. To accommodate these interview sessions, students will be dismissed at 11:15 am on March 25.

COURSE SELECTION for GRADE NINE STUDENTS

On Friday, March 5 our grade nine students will meet with Mr. Wayne Rodgers, Principal of Queen Elizabeth High School, to discuss the selection for their high school courses for the 2010-2011 school year. A parent meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 8 at 7 pm at Queen Elizabeth High School. I look forward to seeing you there as you make these important decisions regarding your child’s academic future.

NEW STAFF

I wish to welcome Ms. Kelly Power to staff. Ms. Power will be replacing Ms. Joy Ricketts for the remainder of the school year. We look forward to working with her!

EASTERN SCHOOL DISTRICT RECOGNITION AWARDS PROGRAM

Once again this year, the Eastern School District is inviting nominations for the Recognition of Excellence Awards Program. Parents and members of the school community are invited to submit nominations for outstanding school administrators, teachers, support staff and management employees. For more information on the Recognition of Excellence Awards Program, and to obtain a nomination form, please visit the Eastern School District website: www.esdnl.ca. The nomination deadline is Friday, March 19, 2010.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

There will be no classes for students on March 26 or March 29 as teachers engage in professional development. On March 26, teachers will be taking time to develop plans to engage our at risk students as they develop their academic improvement plan and on March 29 teachers will be involved in the internal review process as part of the school development cycle.

YOUTH INNOVATION GRANT

As part of the Youth Innovation Grant (approximately $18,000.00) that was awarded to the school this year, Frank Roberts Junior High hosted a student workshop on February 20 in which students from five different schools attended sessions on video graphing, video editing and story board writing. These sessions were hosted by professionals in the field – CBC cameraman, Gary Quigley; host of Living Newfoundland and Labrador and Out of the Fog, Erin Sully; and video editor, Tom Donovan. Students developed a storyboard, conducted interviews and then edited their work. It was an extremely successful day!

On Thursday, February 25 the school’s m-cast (multi-media broadcasting) group visited the CBC studios to witness the filming of Here and Now. Students had the opportunity to interact with Debbie Cooper, Jonathan Crowe and Ryan Snoddon before and after their taping segments.

On Thursday, March 4 seven professionals with career in tv news, weather broadcasting, engineering, accounting, nursing, occupational therapy and plumbing visited with our grade nine students to discuss the academic requirements needed for each of their careers, outline a day in the life of and answer any questions the students may have. It is hoped that these sessions will link career choices to education and their upcoming course selection for high school. As part of their health program, students have also been involved in a program called Career Cruising in which they have set up profiles to help them with the very important process of deciding the career they wish to pursue. Ask you child about this program and view the profiles they have established. It can be accessed at www.careercruising.com

BREAKFAST PROGRAM

The breakfast program is continuing to be a huge success. We have introduced grilled cheese sandwiches, pancakes and scrambled eggs to the menu. As such we are looking for donations to supplement this worthwhile program. If you are able to donate cheez whiz for toast, cheese slices for the grilled cheese sandwiches or syrup for the pancakes it would be greatly appreciated. I look forward to your continued support.

OLYMPIC COMMOTION

On Friday, February 26 as Vancouver celebrated Newfoundland and Labrador Day at the Olympics, the students and staff at Frank Roberts Junior High celebrated with an Olympic Commotion here at school. Students made banners to represent their countries and then took their banners and paraded into the gym – all to the music “I Believe!” Students then enjoyed a video, produced by Patrick Butler, that highlighted the journey the torch took travelling from Bejing to Conception Bay South making stop at the Welcome to CBS sign in Seal Cove, the Robert French Memorial Stadium, All Saints Parish, the Royal Newfoundland Yacht Club and Manuels River. The torch then made its way into the school to be carried into the gym by Mitchell Knox! The crowd went wild! After opening ceremonies, students enjoyed interactive games like Spectagular, Ski Slalom and a Tug-of- War. I am proud to announce that the teachers team emerged victorious in the Tug–of-War. Students then enjoyed ball hockey, boot camp, snow shoeing and cross country skiing sessions before finishing the day with a snow sculpture contest in which each house was responsible for making a replica of the Olympic Inukshuk! It was a fantastic day enjoyed by all. Many thanks to Mr. M. Butler and Ms. Ghaney for all of the work they did in organizing it. I also wish to thank Production Services Network for the kind donation of $150.00 which was used to help cover the cost for the snacks for the nutrition break.

RAVEN’S MATH HOMEWORK CLUB (RMHC)

On Monday, March 8 the Math Department will launch the Raven’s Math Homework Club. Any student in grade 7, 8 or 9 may join the club and avail of the opportunity to stay after school to do homework under the supervision of a math teacher(s). Students can attend any session on any day. Students would be required to bring all necessary materials to do their assigned work.

Day: Monday - Thursday

Time: 2:30 – 3:20

Place: Room 215

NOTE: Any student taking part in this club MUST ensure a ride has been arranged for 3:20 sharp. If a student is negligent in arranging a ride, on time, they will be required to withdraw from this club.

SCENTED PRODUCTS

Please remind your child to be scent aware. Many students and staff are sensitive or allergic to scented products or suffer from asthma. When these products are worn to school or sprayed in the washrooms, change rooms, classrooms or corridors, it causes others to suffer from headaches, break out in rashes, suffer from skin irritations or experience difficulty breathing. It has been necessary for some students and staff to go home after they have been exposed to scented products. Obviously, this cannot occur. Again, students are asked to refrain from using these products. Thank you for your cooperation.

SHAVE FOR THE BRAVE

On Friday, March 12, staff and students from Frank Roberts Junior High will participate in the Annual Shave for the Brave. This charity raises money to send children suffering from cancer to a retreat – at a cost of approximately $1800.00 per child. Participants agree to part with their hair under the watchful eye of the entire student body. Volunteers from the Woodford Training Center will shave each of the student and staff volunteers’ heads. If you interested in supporting this very worthwhile cause you can log onto the school website (www.fris.k12.nf.ca ). I wish to thank Mr. Fowler for his hard work and dedication in organizing this amazing event!

SPIRIT DAYS

As indicated in the letter sent home on March 4, the week of March 8-12 will feature theme days as organized by the School Spirit Council such as Ugly Sweater Day – be careful as your kids may raid your closet – or Retro Day, Super Hero Day and School Colours Day. On Thursday afternoon, students will participate in a skating or bowling session – their choice (permission slip required). On Friday students can enjoy a pancake breakfast and the opportunity to view Mr. Gary Summers as he delivers his Journey Through Time and Space hypnosis show. Please note that only grade 9 students may volunteer to be hypnotized and they must have parental consent form signed. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in the Mystery Bucket and the ever popular Pie the Teacher contests. It should be a great time!

QUEBEC TRIP

"What a fantastic trip" is perhaps the best phrase one can use to summarize the beautiful experience that 22 students and 2 teachers had during a 6 day trip to Quebec. A trip that is designed to display the beautiful culture of Quebec provided everyone involved with memories that will last a lifetime. The trip was packed with cultural events, as well as local activities that gave students a fantastic picture of La Belle Province.

Throughout the week we participated in a number of cultural experiences such as visiting the Sugar Shack (where maple syrup is made and processed), re-enacting the war and traditional singing and dancing at Soldat de Tour, toured the Chateau Frontenac, and walked through picturesque Old Quebec. Obviously, a trip to Quebec in February would not be complete without participating in the Winter Carnival activities. The opportunity to watch the closing parade, meet with BonHomme - the Carnival mascot and participate in an outdoor dance truly gave us an appreciation of the magnitude of this festival.

Although there were many places to go, the trip certainly had its fair share of fun! Whether it was a group outdoor skate (where everyone dawned the blades to try their hand at skating) or the tubing/ sliding experience at Val Cartier, a ton of fun was had by all.

The food was a fabulous opportunity to experience the local flavour! And although the group was ready to return home after a wonderful week, everyone was sad to leave because the experience was truly a wonderful one, that filled everyone with countless memories. May we all return again someday!!!!!!!!!

ROBERTS RAVES

Volleyball – The Under 15 Boys Provincial Volleyball Tournament will be hosted by Frank Roberts Junior High on March 5 – 6. Fifteen teams from all over the province will be competing at the gyms of Frank Roberts Junior High, Queen Elizabeth High School or Villanova Junior High. Feel free to drop by either of these schools to cheer on y the boys!

The Grade Girls will be travelling to Grand Falls Winsot this weekend to compete in the Under 15 Girls Provincial tournament. We wish them the best of luck!

Hockey - CBR Pee Wee A will represent the Avalon Region at the Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games being held in Grand Falls-Winsor. The team includes Tyler Hennessey, Nick David and Nathan Rowe all are Frank Roberts students. We wish them the best of luck!

Dates to Remember:

March 8 - RAVENS Math Homework Club starts

March 12 - Skating/Bowling Session in pm session

March 13 - Pancake Breakfast/Spirit Days Activities – Shave for the Brave and Gary Summers – Journey through Time and Space hypnosis show

March 17 - Term 2 Reports go home

March 18- 25 -  Schedule your Parent Teacher interviews using OPTIS

March 25 - Parent teacher interviews from 12:30 -4:00 pm and 7:00- 9:00 pm. Students dismissed at 11:15 am.

March 26 and 29 - Professional Development Day for teachers. No classes for students