That time is here again. It only seems like yesterday that we were all saying our goodbyes and offering good wishes for the summer. I am especially excited for the beginning of this, my third, year at Brockton School because of the wonderful, ever increasing sense of energy and forward motion.

I am delighted to be able to welcome new staff and many new families to Brockton. I hope that everyone is able to join us at our Back to School BBQ on September 7th from 5-8pm in order to meet and welcome our new families and staff members.

I am also still basking in the glow created by our amazing Brockton World Music Ensemble. These 16 wonderful MYP students and their amazing teachers, Paige Freeborn and Adrian Dyck, wowed two full house audiences in Beijing early in August. Please check out the pictures and letters of commendation on their performance on our website. Thank you to every member of our school community who supported this trip through participating in the many fund raisers throughout the year. Your generosity enabled us to take these students on a trip they will never forget. The next International Society of Music Educators conference takes place in 2012 in Greece. I know that our group will be receiving an automatic invitation to perform again!

I am also happy to report that our enrolment is continuing to grow. I’ve registered six new students just in the first two days I’ve been back in the office, and I have more meetings to come. The word is definitely out that Brockton is a unique and very special school. I was contacted by the Globe and Mail this summer to see if I would be interested in having Brockton School be one of the profiled independent schools in their September Lifestyles (BC) magazine. If you get the Globe and Mail you will see the article and our full page ad. Truly, (as much as I hate to say this…) when Ontario knows you exist in the independent school world you have been placed on the map.

First Day of School

We hit the ground running at Brockton! The first day of school will be Wednesday, September 8th. This is a full day of school starting at 8:30 and ending at 3:00. The day will start with an Opening Assembly at 8:45. As with all Assemblies, families are warmly invited to attend. New students will be introduced and receive their Brockton pin at this Assembly.

Students will start the day in their classrooms. Please ensure that your child is at school, and in their room, by 8:30. There will be signs in the hallway directing you to the correct classroom.

Kindergarten parents are welcome to stay in the classroom and accompany the class to Assembly. We ask that K parents then sit in the parents section. All other parents, please, say goodbye in the classroom or at the door and let the teacher establish the start of school routine right away. It is much easier for children if there are no protracted goodbyes or worried looking parents peering at them. Please head down to the gym and take a seat for Assembly if you are able to stay. Parents may pick up their children in their classrooms at the end of the day.

Welcome Back Coffee

Following the Assembly we will be hosting a coffee and tea time for parents, grandparents, caregivers etc. Please make a point of staying for a few extra minutes after the Assembly to reconnect with returning families and to welcome new parents to our school.

Forms, forms, forms…

In this package you will find a number of forms. Please take the time to complete these forms and return them to the school Office on the first day of school.

Returning families: Please make a point of checking over the Verification Sheet. Make any changes directly on the sheet so that we can update our records. If there are no changes, please indicate that as well so we don’t harass you needlessly for the information.

School Supplies

As in previous years the Kindergarten to Grade 5 school supplies will be purchased by the school. No need for those parents to battle the crowds at Staples!

Our Middle Years students (Grades 6-9) however, will need to purchase their supplies. An emailed list of supplies was sent home recently. If you did not receive it, please look for it on our website under NEWS and then 2010 DOCUMENTS.

Uniform

Brockton School now has its very own Uniform Police! Mrs. Wall will be making it her special mission this year to help students (and their families) wear their uniform with pride. It is actually not a very challenging task for students and their parents. The expectation is that students arrive at school with their uniform pieces clean, pressed and mended. Students are also expected to be appropriately groomed for school which means hair neat and tidy and face and hands washed.

Students who are in Grade 4 and older should be taking an increasing responsibility to ensure their uniform is in order. Younger students will continue to need support from home.

Shoes need to be all black with no flashes of any other colour.

The big uniform issues we encounter (so you can be on watch for this):
- Missing ties
- Wrinkled clothing
- Wrong shoes
- Wrong socks (sorry, fluorescent orange is not okay)

Please help us with uniform compliance by ensuring that your child has the correct uniform pieces. The uniform requirements are laid out in the school agenda book that will be given to your child on the first day of school. Thank you.

MYP Outdoor Education Trips

Grade 6 and 7 will be heading off to Strathcona Park Lodge on Vancouver Island on September 13th to September 17th.

Grade 8 and 9 will be attending the Rolling Earth Outdoor School on the Sunshine Coast during those same dates.

Please ensure that all forms and payments are in to the school Office no later than Friday, September 10th.

Board of Directors 2010/2011

It is my pleasure to announce to your our new Board of Directors for this school year. Please feel free to contact any member if you have any questions or concerns or commendations!

• Chairman: Steve Eccles (Tom, Grade 1; Jack, Grade 4)
• Past Chair: Dan O’Day (Brody, Grade 2; Mackenzie, Grade 4)
• Vice Chair: John Fengler (Ahren, Grade 1; Pascal, Grade 6; Dante, Grade 8 )
• Secretary: Nina Von Keyserlingk (Reas, Grade 6; Alex, Grade 8 )
• Treasurer: Jason Milne (Angus, Grade 5; Duncan, Grade 7)
• Director: Jabeen Janmohammed (Zia, Grade 2)
• Director: Andre Viljoen (Rianette, Grade 7)
• Director: Paula Rogers (Noa, Grade 2)
• Director: Rob McNair (Ronan, Grade 2; Conor, Grade 4)
• BPC Chair: Carolyn Agyagos- ex officio (Ryan, Grade 5; Tyler, Grade 7)

Important Dates

September 7 - Back to School BBQ 5-8pm
September 8 - First day of school 8:30-3:00
September 14 - MYP Outdoor School (Sept 14 - 19)
September 16 - PYP (Grades K-5) Curriculum Night 7-8pm
September 22 - MYP (Grades 6-9) Curriculum Night 7-8pm
September 28 - Photo Day—Formal uniform required
September 29 - Grade 4 and 5 Sea to Sky Camp (Sept 29-Oct 1)
September 30 - Casino Night (adults only)

For details on these and other upcoming events please visit the school calendar at www.brocktonschool.com/calendar

• Welcome Back Newsletter
• Welcome BBQ
• 2010/2011 School Calendar
• Medical Form (New students & Returning if there are changes)
• Off Campus Trips Permission Form
• Emergency Comfort Kits
• Parking Safety
• Personal Information Consent Form (Returning students only)
• MYP School Supply List

Grade 4/5 Outdoor School

• Outdoor School Letter
• Brockton School Consent Form
• Sea-to-Sky Consent Form
• Personal Profile
• Packing List

Gr 6/7 Outdoor School

• MYP Outdoor School Letter
• Brockton School Consent Form
• Strathcona Consent Form
• Medical Form
• Packing List

After School Care

• ASC Fees and Hours
• ASC Consent Form

Ivy Lerner-Frank of the Canadian Embassy, Beijing

Tobias Zuser of the ISME

The group are continuing their travels across China. They’ve already been to see the Great Wall, the Terra Cotta Army, a silk factory, tea plantation and much more. They’ll have some great stories to tell when they get home. Photos are added every few days.

China Photos

More Photos from China

Photos from China

Silk Factory

Calligraphy

Unfortunately I didn’t meet you in the CNCC in Beijing, but I would like to express my deep respect for your performance. I saw your concert on the first evening and the atmosphere was amazing. Even the two policemen standing next to me applauded with a smile after your show. That was a great picture.

Thank you so much for all your efforts made to come to Beijing. I hope you enjoyed your shows at ISME as well and that you come back to China one day.

Best wishes,

Tobias

________________________________________________________________
Tobias Zuser
International Communication
Concert Management Team of ISME 2010 Beijing

I wanted to follow up with you to let you know how very impressed I was with the performance, creativity, and enthusiasm of the Brockton World Music Ensemble performance. The dedication of the teachers and the commitment of the students to the work was palpable. I loved the Steve Reich-inspired drumming, the interplay between teachers and students, and the heartfelt and age-appropriate expressions of gratitude that were conveyed in the work.

It’s so important for kids to have the opportunity to express themselves creatively. You have provided that — and the confidence that naturally comes with this type of empowerment and self-expression — in abundance.

It would be great to have your introduction and the text translated when you are performing in Shanghai, but I know that could be difficult on short notice.

All the best for continued success and creativity!

Kindest regards,

Ivy

Ivy Lerner-Frank 林爱微

Trade Commissioner and Manager, InfoCentre
Déléguée commerciale et Gérante, InfoCentre
Embassy of Canada/ Ambassade du Canada
19 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District
Beijing, PRC 100600