Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - September 5, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba a4 Winnipeg free press tuesday september 5, 2006 Back to school new school year Savouring the last Day of vacation by Nick Martin Diana Juchnowski a style of teaching has kids climbing the Walls ? and that a won Beaverlodge elementary school a National award. Beaverlodge is one of three Manitoba schools to make today a Parent Maga Zines top 30 schools in Canada list this year. The others Are Beaumont school Only a few blocks away from Beaverlodge in Westdale and Ecol James Nisbet school in seven Oaks. Juchnowski has 209 kids in Kinder Garten to Grade 6 who take her physical education classes but she a also work ing on physical activities at lunch and before and after school. I try to offer a lot of variety said Juchnowski. Variety indeed. There a a Rock climbing Wall Pur chased by the Parent Council unicycles juggling skipping rope and ultimate Frisbee. Juchnowski the principal and the custodian installed and painted the climbing Wall. Parent Council president Linda Wiens nominated Beaverlodge for the today a Parent award under the category of terrific teachers. She a amazed at the Vari Ety of activities Beaverlodge offers and thankful that the Pembina trails school division school has a phys de teacher. When she lived in Regina Wiens said there was no phys de teacher at her Chil Drens school ? the classroom teacher would Book gym time. They threw balls and ran around in its important to have the widest pos sible Range of physical activities so that kids who might not enjoy team sports can exercise and have a Chance to Excel said Juchnowski who was also named Manitoba a phys de teacher of the year last year by the Canadian association for health physical education recreation and dance. Ecol James Nisbet school in seven Oaks school division was cited for its respectful environment. We decided we were very much about academics but it was time to grow hearts said vice principal Cheryl Gaudet. Three years ago the school launched seeds of peace grow Here ? the acronym peace meaning polite empathy acts of kindness co operation and everyone counts Here. For us its just everyday Good living Gaudet said. We see it in our students ? they re Happy they re Beaumont elementary school in West Dale was feted for its extraordinary extracurricular activities. The school has had a juggling program for the past 20 years said principal Janet Taylor. It goes Back about 20 years started by a former phys de teacher Bob Daw son who Snow at Westdale Junior High. Current phys de teacher Kathy Isaac carries on the program. The kids Start with juggling cloth then move on to beanbags and balls. Some just a handful of divisions require kids in class today by Nick Martin t Oday is the first Day of school across Manitoba but most kids get one last Day of summer vacation. Only a handful of school divisions actually require kids to be in class today with the vast majority of Divi Sions holding an administrative Day for teachers. St. James Assiniboia school division expects students to be in school today for orientation sessions. Seven Oaks Southwest horizon and Western school divisions also expect students to be in school today. Its More complicated if your Chil Dren go to school in Frontier school division across Northern and Eastern Manitoba ? the first Day of classes is official today or tomorrow at enrolment is the discretion of each school the taken depart 29, and just ment of education advises and you la under have to Check with 200,000your local school. Children Are classes Start thurs Day in Turtle River expected to school division. Be in the school runs to june 29, 2007, so this is a system this 196-Day school year year including 10 administrative or professional development Days. Before the doer government decreed that school would Start the Day after labour Day and the school year ran 200 Days schools would have opened last tuesday. Official enrolment is taken sept. 29, and just under 200,000 children Are expected to be in the system this year. Last year 184,498 students attended Public schools. There were 14,079 in Independent schools and 1,133 kids Home schooled. Enrolment has been slowly declining and is expected to continue dropping for the foreseeable future. The last Day of classes before Winter break is dec. 23, and if you want to Mark your Calendar for next year classes resume Jan. 7, 2007. Full details on important dates in each school division throughout the school year Are available at www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/schools/school . Ecol James Nisbet school in seven Oaks school division was cited for its respectful environment. Three years ago the school launched seeds of peace grow Here ? the acronym peace meaning polite empathy acts of kindness co operation and everyone counts Here. Even juggle while Riding a unicycle. Its especially Good for some kids who maybe Don to Shine in the academic area but they Shine in this area Taylor said. We have older kids who juggle on the unicycle or shoot baskets on a unicy?cle.?. ;