Happy New Year!



Terry Fox Warm Up

 September always seems more like New Year's to me than January 1st.  I guess it is partly because I've spent the last 43 years living according to an academic calendar.  Our school year started off with a lot of change.  We have over 100 new students and 10 new teachers.  We have one new Vice-Principal, Sue Reed, and one new Educational Assistant, Barb Clarke.  That is a lot of newness!  But in the midst of all that newness there are "anchors" that keep us grounded, so to speak.  Some of these anchors are the traditions, the rituals and celebrations that happen every September. 

There is the Terry Fox Run, before which teachers spend a great deal of time reminding students who Terry is, what he did, and why we should keep his dream and his memory alive.



Cross Country Running team at BES





Our Roots of Empathy Baby, Lucas, is bigger than Baby Apple.

 Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope certainly inspires our Cross Country Team, another autumn tradition.  It was wonderful for Mrs. Heilig and me to see so many (60+) students come out to practices and to the three meets.  We think the students learned more than just how to strategically run the trails.  We think they learned about courage, sportsmanship, determination, and empathy.

Speaking of empathy, our little Roots of Empathy baby, Lucas, came to meet his Wondergarten Class (Mrs. Yates).  He is going to teach the students about how we care for the most vulnerable, and how we are all vulnerable and must look after each other.  Have you read Mary Gordon's book, Roots of Empathy?  You really should.

This week we are looking forward to another tradition, the Hallowe'en Carnival.  This annual event, run by parents and volunteers, raises a lot of money for our school.  This year, we hope to put some money towards the installation of a new playground for our students, and for the community.

Spooky, I know!

Finally, we are looking forward to the beginning of a new tradition:  WE Day.  Twenty-two of our grade 7's, all of whom applied last June, will be attending WE Day at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, with 20,000 other youth and their supervisors.  WE Day is an initiative of Free the Children, an international organization with Canadian roots.  Our students will hopefully feel empowered and inspired to actions that make the world a better place.  Thanks to Mrs. Verbeek for organizing.

The fall is a season of change and new beginnings, just as much as spring is.  I'm looking forward to the year ahead and all that we can learn in 2012 - 2013.