Lion's Roar - Friday, January 28, 2011

This is a copy of IHMS's weekly news article "Lion’s Roar" that appeared in The Western Star newspaper on Friday, January 28, 2011.

By: Nathan Anderson, Vanessa Ford, Maria Reynolds, Jenna Yetman

Kindergarten English class working on an art project. (L-R): Alessandra LeBlanc, Arabella LeBlanc, Patrick O'Flaherty, Thomas Bradbury, and Jacob Bursey.

We had our first snow day of the year this past Monday. We hope you all enjoyed the extra day off and got to play in the snow.

On Tuesday Mr. Brian Hancock came and did a presentation on power safety called “Hazard Hamlet” with the grade 5 and 6 class.

The grade 3 and 4 class had a wonderful day this week for cross-country skiing. It was week two of a four-week program. Thank you Mrs. Du Toit, Mrs. Sheppard, and Mrs. Tucker for driving them.

On Thursday the Kindergarten classes visited the hospital for the hospital orientation session. They all had fun.

Today is Ms. Renee Hink’s last day for her work placement with the Junior Kindergarten classes. Good luck in the future.

Stars of the Week

The Girl’s Basketball team played in an invitational tournament last weekend at J.J. Curling. The girls played really well. Go lions, go!

Class News

The Junior Kindergarten classes are doing ground hog activities and are learning about shadows in science.

The Kindergarten English class is learning how to write the letter “m” and enjoyed their hospital visit this week.

The Kindergarten French Immersion class is learning about French body parts and vocab words that start with the letter “o”.

The grade one class is learning about goods produced in our area and services provided here in social studies. They are painting in art class.


The grade two class is counting down to the 100th day of school. We have 11 days left until the 100th celebration!

The grade three and four class is collecting recyclables for their SMARTboard fund. They are enjoying cross-country skiing and are still selling Eco Friendly Friend Bracelets. They have a new math pet, a fish named Equation. He is fin-tastic!

The grade five and six class is planning a recycling art project and art show. They are entering an eco project contest where each student could win a digital camera and Mrs. McCarthy could win an e-reader.

The junior high class is writing their last midterm exam today. They are all studied out. They have begun planning the storyboard for the informational video they are making. Almost all the filming is complete.

Coming Up

The first instalment for the St. Pierre trip is due on Monday.

On February 1st we will be celebrating a special Prayer of the Rosary.

February 26th is IHMS Family Fun Day. Many parents and staff are working very hard to make this day lots of fun.

The mini-reporters are being eco-friendly in art. Recycle this paper!

Lion's Roar - Friday, January 21, 2011

This is a copy of IHMS's weekly news article "Lion’s Roar" that appeared in The Western Star newspaper on Friday, January 21, 2011.

By: MacKenzie Brothers, Abigail Companion, Douglas MacKenzie, Hannah Sparkes, and Bethany Whelan.

Grade 5 student, Aaron Hancock doing a survey for math class with the grade 2's on pyjama day last week. (L-R): Jack Ryan, Liam Dawe, Rogan Seaward, and Sam Antle.

The grade 3 and 4 class is still selling Eco Friendly Friend Braclets for two dollars. Students are wearing them to remind them to be kind to the environment.

On Tuesday two student nurses, Rebecca Noseworthy and Ashley Bennett, did a smoking presentation with the grade 5 and 6 class for Non-Smoking Week. Hannah Sparkes won the class prize.

Table Tennis intramurals began this week.

On Wednesday the girl’s basketball team played a fun game against St. Gerard’s at our school gym. Thank you to Mr. George for refereeing the game. We had a school pep rally to get ready for the game. Thank you to the JH students for setting up the sound equipment and chairs and to Skylar Anderson and Anri Vermooten for Emceeing the rally. Great game girls!

Yesterday two nursing students, Michelle Skanes and Heather Mousseau, visited the junior high class to do a survey about an upcoming project they will create for the students.

Also, yesterday afternoon the grade one class hosted a celebration of life for their class newt, Colours, who died on Monday. Colours was two and a half years old. He will be missed.

Today exams start for the junior high class and continue next week. Good luck, everyone.

This week we welcome Mrs. Amanda Ellsworth to our school. She is working with the junior kindergarten program.

Stars of the Week

Congratulations to Keely Brothers who won a bronze medal last weekend in vault at the Blizzard Gymnastics Invitational Competition in St. John’s.

Congratulations to our skaters who won medals last weekend. Brooklynn Companion bronze, Anna Brake won bronze, Bethany Whelan won gold, and Caylie Blake won a gold medal. Abigail Companion and Olivia Park also skated very well.

Also, congratulations to Sydnee Hynes who won first place in the Ye Old Cross Country Skiing Competition.

Class News

The Junior Kindergarten classes are doing sponge painting and winter activities. They are enjoying playing outside in all the snow.

The Kindergarten English class had a great time at the pep rally on Wednesday. They are learning about families.

The Kindergarten French Immersion class is learning the names of the body parts (le corps) in French and printing the letter “o”.

The grade one class is starting a new unit in math on measurement. This week they planned a celebration of life for their newt Colours. They are discussing what kind of new pet they will get.

The grade two class is learning about penguins. They are doing a poem and a painting on penguins. They are finishing an author study about Robert Munsch. In gym they are playing tennis.

The grade three and four class is playing tennis in gym. This week they started a four week cross country skiing program at Blow Me Down Ski Club. Thank you to Mrs. Du Toit and Mrs. Sheppard for driving the students. In language they are learning to write secret messages with pictures.

The grade five and six class got another computer in their homeroom. They are writing trickster stories about Anansi the spider. They are enjoying all the snow we have gotten.

The junior high class is preparing for exams. They are making collages in religion and creating magazines in language arts. They have started practicing for the festival in band.

Coming Up

The girl’s basketball team is playing a tournament this weekend at J.J. Curling Elementary.

There will be a meeting for the Entertainment/Auction Night Fundraiser on Wednesday at 7 pm in the school cafeteria.

IHMS is having a Family Fun Day during winter carnival on February 25.

Lion's Roar - Friday, January 14, 2011

This is a copy of IHMS's weekly news article "Lion’s Roar" that appeared in The Western Star newspaper on Friday, January 14, 2011.

By: MacKenzie Brothers, Abigail Companion, Douglas MacKenzie, Hannah Sparkes, and Bethany Whelan.

Girl's Basketball Team pictured following a game against St. Gerrard's. Pictured in the photo are: Front L-R: MacKenzie Brothers, Alex Williams, Bethany Whelan, Olivia Park, Maria Reynolds, Nicola du Toit, Vanessa Ford. Back: Lindsay Dutton, Hannah Sparkes, Abigail Companion, Claire Reynolds, Carla du Toit, Jenna Yetman, Nicole Keeping, Sarah Keeping and Greg Taffee.

Last week the Student Leadership Council organized a recycling blitz. They raised $375 for our school library. Thank you to Mrs. McCarthy, the student council and other students and parents who helped with the recycling.

Last Friday we celebrated a special prayer service with Mrs. Coleman and the prayer group. Thank you to the special helpers Yvette Coleman, Hailey Kawja, and Phillip Cave.

Last week our computer lab received new flat screen monitors. The computer lab looks great.

A new after school program schedule will be starting soon for everyone to enjoy.

On Tuesday the public health nurses Carla Gilliam and Rebecca Noseworthy visited students from kindergarten to grade 9.

On Wednesday the girl’s basketball team played a fun game against St. Gerard’s. Great game girls! See a few of the video clips below.

IHMS's Maria Reynolds scored the first basket from the tip off

IHMS shows great team work by getting the rebound shot.

IHMS's Bethany Whelan scores another 2 points

IHMS's Abigail Companion gets the rebound and scores another 2 points

IHMS's Nicola du Toit gets the basket after a great team effort

On Wednesday night there was a parents meeting about the St. Pierre trip coming up in May.

On Thursday we had a school pajama day organized by the Student Leadership Council. Everyone looked comfortable.

Father Roche is celebrating mass with our school this morning. He will be visiting our school after to do some magic tricks.

Over Christmas break Mr. Kennedy was busy building two new kitchen sets and 3 bookshelves for several classrooms. Also this week he installed new flat screen televisions in many of our classrooms.

Before Christmas William O’Flaherty won a Christmas stocking prepared by our cafeteria lady Mrs. Agnes Neville.

Stars of the Week

Sarah Keeping competed in the Charles Gorman Speed Skating Championships in Saint John, New Brunswick last weekend. She received three ribbons and a third place bronze trophy.

This weekend Brooklynn Companion, Abigail Companion, Olivia Park, Bethany Whelan, Anna Brake and Caylie Blake will be competing in a regional figure skating competition in Stephenville.

Also, Keely Brothers will be competing in the Blizzard gymnastics Invitational Competition in St. John’s. Good luck everyone!

Class News

The Junior Kindergarten classes are doing family activities.

The Kindergarten English class is practicing the rosary with the rosary beads and starting addition in math.

The Kindergarten French Immersion class is learning les vetements d’hiver (winter clothing) and learning how to print all their letters.

The grade one class is learning how different materials can be changed to alter the appearance, texture, smell, or taste in science. In religion they’re learning about how God takes care of us and how we take care of others.

The grade two class is learning about weather in science.

The grade three and four class are still selling eco-friendly bracelets. They will be collecting recycling for their SMARTboard from February 1-4. In gym they are doing soccer baseball. They are reading green tips everyday. They have a total of $700 for their SMARTboard.

The grade five and six class really enjoyed the spelling bee they had on Wednesday. They are super spellers! They love band class and are improving with their instruments.

The junior high class are working on a school video in Enrichment class. They are preparing for their midterm exams next week.

Coming Up

There is a playground project meeting on Sunday at 7:00 pm in our school cafeteria. All families are encouraged to attend.

Junior High exams begin next Friday.

The mini-reporters are S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G! We’ll be back next week with more news.

Lion's Roar - Friday, January 7, 2011

This is a copy of IHMS's weekly news article "Lion’s Roar" that appeared in The Western Star newspaper on Friday, January 7, 2011.

By: MacKenzie Brothers, Abigail Companion, Douglas MacKenzie, Hannah Sparkes, and Bethany Whelan.

Maria Reynolds (grade 5) wishing a Merry Christmas to residents of the Senior's Complex. The Chamber Choir visited and sang Christmas carols for the residents.

First we would like to say welcome back and happy New Year to everyone!

Before Christmas we had our Christmas parties and Christmas Variety Show. There were many great acts that performed. Thank you to Carla du Toit and Jenna Yetman who did a wonderful job as emcees. Also on the last day of school we donated items to the food bank, stockings for seniors and the Firefighters toy drive. Thank you to everyone who brought items in. Derek Atwood even donated his birthday money for the toy drive and stockings for seniors! Bethany Whelan helped with the RNC with the annual delivery of food items to the Salvation Army.

Also before Christmas the Chamber Choir sang at the Senior’s Complex. Thank you to the girls and Mr. Graham, and to Mr. Brothers and Mrs. Du Toit who helped by driving them.

Our Christmas Character theme day raised $250.00 for Multiple Sclerosis. Thank you to everyone who participated and donated.

Students made their own Christmas cards, which were printed and offered for sale for $1 each. There were some very nice cards, great job everyone! Thank you to everyone who participated and purchased Christmas cards.

Maria Reynolds and Alex Williams presented a cheque for $500 to Monsignor Gale for the Shepherd’s Fund. This money was raised from our Shop and Drop Fundraiser before Christmas.

We would like to send a reminder that Christmas Concert DVDs are still available at the office. These DVDs were produced by our Enrichment team. Donations for the videos have raised $358.48 for the playground project.

The Student Leadership Council had a recycling drive this week in aid of the school library. Recyclables can be dropped off at the school on Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm.

The grade 3 and 4 class is selling Eco-Friendly Friend Bracelets and promise cards for $2 each to raise money for their SMARTboard and to show that “going green matters”.

Ms. Renee Hinks, a College of the North Atlantic student, has started her work placement in the JK classes this week.

Thank you to Ms. Robyn McHugh who has been volunteering her time with the Junior Kindergarten classes and band program.

Stars of the Week

We had five winners in the annual Remembrance Day Contest. Caylie Blake won first place in the primary colour poster contest, with Olivia Gallant placing third. In the junior essay category William Goodridge placed second and Maria Reynolds placed third. Carla Du Toit won first place in the intermediate grade essay contest. All winners received a certificate and a cheque at a ceremony on December 20.

Congratulations to Abigail Companion and William Goodrdige who have been nominated to attend the People to People Leadership Conference in Washington, DC this summer.

Class News

The junior kindergarten classes are learning about different families and doing all about me activities. They welcome to their class Georgia Perrett and Katrina Verge.

The kindergarten English class is talking about needs and wants in social studies class. They talked about their Christmas vacation together.

The kindergarten French immersion class is beginning a winter theme and learning lots of vocabulary about winter. They welcome to their class a new student named Anna DeCarl.

The grade one class is learning about how paper is made, about number stories in math and planning fun activities to celebrate the New Year.

The grade two class did show and tell and they are doing new years activities.

The grade three and four class is studying different animals in Canada. Each person is studying a different favourite animal. They are excited about a projector they got for their classroom.

The grade five and six class is getting back into the routine of school. They are doing data relationships in math and are excited about a class spelling bee next week.

The junior high class is preparing for midterm exams at the end of January. They are working on a school video project and learning all about cameras and shooting scenes. They are “on location” all around the school.

Coming Up

The Student Leadership Council recycling blitz ends on Saturday. Recyclables can be dropped off between 10 am and 4 pm.

There will be a meeting for the St. Pierre trip on Wednesday, January 12, at 7 pm in our school cafeteria for parents of students in grade 4 to 9.

The girl’s basketball team will play at St. Gerard’s next Wednesday after school. All are welcome to cheer on our team!

Junior High exams begin on January 21.

A school musical “Annie” will be performed in May.

The mini-reporters are celebrating the New Year with back to schoolwork.