Embedded Files
June 2024
Every month, our school council (CASC) meets to discuss events, fundraising, and other school-related topics. As part of the meeting, our teacher representative provides an update on some of the events that occur in the school. In addition, our principal sends out a weekly email which often includes a bit of information about what's happening around the school. While this post does not capture every event that happened this month, it does provide some highlights as shared by our staff.
School of Rock was INCREDIBLE!! We were all so proud of the students and staff who sang and played their hearts out. The daytime show was fantastic and the energy in the evening show was phenomenal. Well done to everyone involved! A huge thank you to Ray, Owen and all staff and members of our school community who contributed to make this a memorable event.
If you haven’t heard it yet, CBC Radio interviewed Ray, Owen and School of Rock students to get their take on why School of Rock is such an important part of the Churchill educational experience. Check out the link here:
Churchill Alternative on CBC Radio
Click the image below for a video from the concert!
Staff shared the following: Thank you so much for hosting a lovely lunch. Everyone enjoyed the get-together. The food was delicious, the flowers spectacular and the new cutlery divine! We might even have enough to get us through until September!
Many students enjoyed the open gym over the last several weeks showing up for Bordenball, Tchoukball, indoor soccer, floor hockey, basketball, and badminton.
Congratulations to the Yetis, who worked hard to create and perform an amazing drama presentation. After a stellar evening event, they performed for all classes in the school. Well done, Yetis!
World Ocean Day was Saturday, June 8. To mark the date, a Churchill parent graciously offered to set up a Google Meet with Nick Lapointe, an eel researcher from the Canadian Wildlife Federation who discussed Ottawa's connection to the Ocean. Students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 participated in a Google Meet and learned a lot more about the American Eel. The Story of Sarga, an American Eel who makes her way to Ottawa can be found online. More info about American eels (including a link to this cool video on the eel), can be found by clicking the link or families can visit carolanneblack.com/ocean-week-canada for some great follow up activities.
62 students in grades 4/5/6 participated in the 1st annual Alternative Soccer Tournament at Riverview. As usual, our students made us proud with their hard work and sportsmanship. A huge thank you to the patent volunteers who brought sun shelters and water and helped referee games!
The Owls parepared a Poe-T-ree - art show and poetry reading.
The last school sharing of the year was pretty special with a full gym of students, staff and families there to celebrate another year. Classes of all grades and as well as clubs shared some of their learnings and reflections from the year. And staff finished off by singing a lovely song to the Grade 6s followed by a dance party!
And from Vanessa's final update of the year...
I am going to be very cliché and say that I cannot believe that this is the last Family Update for the 2023-2024 school year! Truthfully, there have been so many highlights this year that I couldn’t even begin to create a list to share in this newsletter.
This week alone there was the Grade 6 leaving ceremony, the kinder ceremonies, a field trip to Gatineau Park, a downtown scavenger hunt and restaurant experience for our departing grade 6s, a super artistic Poe-Tree event with art, tea and snacks, a Starbucks barista experience, and a very successful Chalkfest event today. We also had Luv2Groove, a kinder water play day, and a beautiful end of year Sharing last week. With all of the experiences that staff planned for students, I’m sure there is something I am forgetting!
I have spent a lot of time this year reflecting on what the Alternative program really means to me and what is the essence of what makes Churchill so special. In my view I think it really comes down to community, collaboration, care and most certainly creativity.
A big part of what I have observed is that the focus in teaching, learning and the development of all of our students is on the journey we each take as individuals and not necessarily just the destination. We recognize that it is a culmination of the many powerful moments and experiences that shape who we are as a community.
Churchill is what it is because of the people- the generous, committed and wonderful members of our school community, our dedicated and outstanding staff and all of our kind, thoughtful and incredible students.
On behalf of all of the students and staff at Churchill, I wanted to extend a huge thank you to the Churchill Alternative School Council- CASC. The parents and guardians who very generously donate their time and efforts in so many different ways are an integral part of the fabric of Churchill. Throughout the years, CASC has organized many events such as the glow dance, movie night and the craft fair and more! They work tirelessly to fundraise for items and experiences that are a big part of the Churchill experience, such as the Kinder yard, music equipment, document cameras, field trips, art supplies, an upcoming drama workshop, yard equipment and more.
Here are some parent reflections during the Grade 6 Honouring Ceremony:
Churchill has been a part of our lives for the past 9 years. Our son, Hayden, started in grade 1 and our daughter Ellie is finishing grade 6 this week
In looking back on these past 9 years, I don't think we really knew what we were getting into with this school.
I expected my kids to learn about math. I did not expect them to run a small business at the craft sale without even realize they're learning math.
I expected my kids would learn to play the recorder. I did not expect to them to learn how to play guitar and drums in a rock band.
I expected my kids to make friends at school. I didn't expect that to include all of their teachers.
I didn't expect everything to be so… connected.
The tree families are one of my favourite examples of this. They connect everything, across grades, across classes, across subjects. Students become teachers, grade 1s become friends with grade 6s. It's wild. And this diversity; this relentless inclusion that makes its way into everything here is what builds the empathy, confidence, and resilience in all the Churchill kids.
As you all move onto new places, it's important to know that schools and your experiences there aren't things you leave behind. They're more like rings that grow on a tree. Every year you grow new rings and you get bigger and stronger. And at the core of your tree are those inner rings you've built here at Churchill and they aren't filled with math and geography and French. They're filled with empathy and confidence and those are what will make you resilient as you continue to add more rings to your tree.
We're so excited to see what comes next for you all and so grateful for the rings that Churchill has added to your trees.
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