The sun was out, spirits were high, and red finally took the coveted Tennyson Cup!
The day started with the much loved cheers where Grades 4 - 7 showcased their talents in both French and English. And then the games began!
The final standings were :
1st:  RED
2nd:  YELLOW
3rd:  GREEN
4th:  BLUE
Fun was had by all. A great big Sports Day Cheer goes out to Mme Christine and the Gr 7s for organizing this year's Sports Day. MERCI!

The Parent Appreciation Luncheon was a delight. What a treat to be served by Tennyson staff and to be entertained by Tennyson students. Thank you all very much! It was a lovely lunch.

The  VSB Community Schools Team has partnered with Kitsilano Community Centre and Blue Collar Actor to offer an Anti-Bullying Hip-Hop Video Making Camp. We understand that is a mouthful, which is why we have attached our poster to help explain things...
We can offer full or partial subsidy and have set aside spots in the event that any subsidies are needed.
JPongratz@vsb.bc.ca

Here are a couple of  childcare requests  for incoming Kindergarten students for September:

1.   
My name is Christine and my daughter Seraphina is starting kindergarten September 2015! I look forward to meeting you in the fall.
I am currently on the wait list for TOSS, YMCA and Kits House for after care but it looks like Seraphina will not receive a spot.
As an alternative until I can get after care, I am looking for someone to pick up Seraphina from school (3pm) and walk or drive her to my home at 2253 West 6th Ave (cross street Yew). My mother lives with us but is not mobile so unable to pick up. I am open to a young responsible person that lives in the neighborhood or parents. Pay is negotiable. 

I am also open to any suggestions or advice on after care!
Thank you,
Christine Becker    (604-346-8023) or email.

2.  Also looking for suggestions or someone willing to help with childcare after school is Kelly Robertson (her son will be in Kindergarten in the fall).
Email Kelly if you can help. Thanks!

Here is a message from Borja:

HOWLin’ toward the end of the school year!

Wait? Did she say Howl ?!?! But it’s June!!!

Yes that is right – it is June, but it’s never too early to be thinking of the Howl.

This is a (not-so) gentle reminder that we need a new team of dedicated parents to take over as Howl Coordinators next year.  Ward’s eldest daughter is graduating, and after 10 years I need to hand over the reigns. I am willing to train the new team, but I cannot continue on my own.

Coordinating the Howl has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and there is no better way to insert yourself into the fabric of the school. It is an intense but compact time committment, that everyone will love you for. Ideally the Howl should be organized by a team of 2-6 parents, at least some of who can commit to 2 years (learn one, do one). There is lots of good documentation, and with each division taking on an activity, it has become much easier to manage than it used to be.

Normally the Howl is the last Friday before Halloween, but since that is Oct 30 this year, we have moved it up to October 23rd, so that we can take advantage of the Pro D Day.

2015 would make the 29th Annual Howl!  I know the passion is out there to continue this amazing tradition.  So while you are enjoying your summer activities, please consider how much joy all the students get from the Pumpkin and Costume contests, gym games, fortune telling, von stinko, cake walk, haunted house and all the rest!

Email me if you are interested and want more info.  Borja@bmltech.com

Have a  HOWLing good summer and see you all in the fall

As most of you will have heard, Tennyson students participated in a fantastic week-long residency last week with the dynamic Capoeira group Aché Brasil, funded by our PAC Fine Arts budget and an ArtStarts grant.

Capoeira is a Brazilian art form, which combines dance, music, and acrobatics with martial arts. Known as the secret dance of Brazil, capoeira is an astonishing display of acrobatics, breath-taking kicks and self-defence tactics performed to the music of the Berimbau (an ancient stringed bow-like instrument) and drums.

All  students participated in workshops from 30 minutes for Kindergartens to 60 minutes for Intermediates and we we assured that they definitely worked! The residency culminated with two breathtaking performances on Friday morning, including several Tennyson students showing off their Capoeira skills.

Aché  means  “everything positive in the world”. The performers had the audience generate all the “Aché” they could and send it out to the world.

Here is an article on why girls need athletic role models:.
http://sirc.ca/blog/why-do-girls-need-athletic-role-models

Please join the administration and  staff when they thank the parents at the Parent Appreciation Luncheon.
No matter how big or small your contribution to the school was, it is appreciated! Please join us! 
RSVP to jlavoie@vsb.bc.ca

Check out this quote from the president of the  Jerome Outreach Society:
"Your school had the most number of teams entered and by far the best parent participation.  Tennyson parents are to be commended for investing all the time and effort for your children.    Last night was a refreshing treat for me."

Over the year, many of you have had the opportunity to get to know Ella. You have seen her in the hallways, and on the playground and many of you have even become her friend. And while you have accepted Ella, some of you may have wondered why she is a little bit different. You may have wondered why she doesn’t speak very clearly or needs a little extra help here and there. This is, in part, because Ella has Trisomy 21, otherwise known as Down Syndrome.

Down Syndrome is a disorder that occurs because there is something different in the individual’s genetic make up. Genetics are what give you blond hair, or brown eyes, or your mother’s smile. Chromosomes make up your genetics. The average person has 46 Chromosomes, or 23 pairs. Individuals with Down Syndrome have 47 – they have one extra copy of the 21st chromosome. This means that there is an excess of any genetic material contained in that 21st chromosome. For this reason, people with Down Syndrome often have a flattened bridge between their eyes, or heart problems, physical and intellectual developmental delays along with many other potential health risks.

If Ella was born in 1929, she would only be expected to live 9 years. If she was born 20 years after that, she would only be expected to live 12 years and upon birth would have probably been put in a hospital or institution to live. She would have never had the opportunity to go to school at a place like Lord Tennyson nor would she have so many wonderful friends.

Today, the life expectancy of an individual with Down Syndrome is over 60 years. And it is my guess that, for Ella, those 60+ years will be filled with learning to read, going to university, living independently, working at a job that she loves and above all, being loved and accepted by the people around her. This, however, is not to be taken for granted; this did not just happen by chance but through the hard work and advocacy of organizations like the Down Syndrome Research Foundation. Not only are they consistently advocating on behalf of individuals with Down Syndrome for the right to inclusion and early intervention but they also provide services to enhance the lives of individuals like Ella NOW. Ella has had the privilege of benefiting from Speech therapy and the Early Reading Program at DSRF. This June, we want to give back and do what we can to help other families be able to take advantage of these programs and the many other services that the DSRF offers.

This Sunday, June 7th we are Running Up for Down Syndrome. Some participants will be doing a 5 km run while others, along with Ella, Ella’s family, Madame Janesse and Madame Carolyn, will be walking 1.5 km at Simon Fraser University to raise money for Down Syndrome. Will you join with us?

You can join Ella’s team in two ways:

1.) You can run or walk with us on June 7th or 
2.) You can donate to Ella’s Team.

For more information  visit http://dsrf.donorpages.com/RunUpforDownSyndrome2015/EllasExtremeTeam/

Let’s make a difference in the lives of individuals with Down Syndrome... you never know what they might accomplish!