As we approach our winter break, I would like to extend warm holiday wishes to all of our MidSun Community.  We have so much to be proud of.  Our students are doing a great job in school.  Our completion room has been full these past weeks as students elect to attend after school and get their work done.  Our Centennial High School tutoring program has had record numbers.  Student achievement is up.  We are anxious to get the results from our Tell Them From Me survey that students completed this week.  Their voice is an important part of setting the direction for school improvement.  We have hired a new educational assistant, Karen Johansen, who is working to help us improve literacy by providing a program called Precision Reading to struggling readers at MidSun.  She has already begun to work with students on this daily reading initiative that aims to increase reading fluency and comprehension.

Our fall sports have all done very well and our students have been actively participating in clubs like debate, catering, art and badminton.  Chess club starts in January. Our intramural program has been a real success with many students storming the gym over the noon hour to play games like bump, badminton, or dodge ball.  This week has been particularly fun with such leadership events like “Wrap the elf” and gingerbread house decorating.  One of the most rewarding aspects of school life heading up to our holiday is the generosity that our community showed during our Adopt-A-Family program.  Three families will have a wonderful Christmas with gifts and a complete turkey dinner thanks to all of you.  Way to go, MidSun!

Parents we need your support. School does not begin until 8:55 AM and we would ask that students are not in the building until at least 8:30 AM as our teachers are often not even here yet.  They are arranging for their own child care!  The same goes in the evenings when we ask that students are out of the building by 4 PM unless they are in a supervised activity.  Please arrange to pick your child up promptly after their scheduled event is finished.  Completion room is over at 4:30 daily.  Thank you for your help.

The New Year will bring a few staff changes as Ms. Theroux, will be going on a leave and will be replaced by Mr. Gordon and Ms. Duthie will be moving to Janet Johnstone School and Ms. Semos will return.   We hope to see you out at Parent, Student, Teacher conferences this Thursday and Friday. If we don’t see you have a very merry Christmas and all the best for a wonderful New Year!

Warm Regards,

Veronica Saretsky

Principal, MidSun School