This issue of the Bulldog Bulletin is dedicated to the many volunteers that assist the staff and students at Burkevale.

According to the American, G. Thomas Gale: ‘A pessimist, they say, sees a glass of water as being half empty; an optimist sees the same glass as half full. But a giving person sees a glass of water and starts looking for someone who might be thirsty.’

As you will read in today’s bulletin, our school community is blessed with wonderful volunteers. Parents and grandparents, and even complete strangers with no connections to Burkevale, who give of their time and/or expertise freely to help make our school a better place. A number of regular classroom volunteers assist teachers with a variety of tasks, such as running reading groups and giving one-to-one support. Others share their ideas and energies as part of the School Council, running fundraisers and providing the principal with valuable input on school matters. Others assist with a specific function or program, such as assisting in the library, organizing the weekly milk orders, or helping with the school bands. Just as valuable, is the contribution of community members and business people who provide resources or a service for one of our many special events. The contribution of all the volunteers enhances the program we offer at Burkevale and strengthens our ties to the wider community.

Thank you for your kind efforts.

Tim Mallon, Principal

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To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; …to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, …This is to have succeeded. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

The above quote helps describe former Burkevale volunteer andProtestant Separate School Board Trustee, Win Willson, who passed awayMarch 8th, 2012. Her positive impact on our Burkevale community will be felt for years to come, and is now a key part of the 129 year history of our school and the school board.

The mother of our current boardchair, Lynne Cousens, Win was beloved by the hundreds of staff, students, and parents she touched over her 20 year association with the school. And her lovemfor them was just as strong. For years she donated her trustee honourarium back to the school. She had the manner of a gentle grandmother and was known as Nan by her relatives. She volunteered in the grade one classroom and was affectionately known as The Candy Lady by the students in all the grades, as she dispensed candy and advice on manners to them during recesses. Years later, she still kept in touch with children long graduated.

As a trustee Win was Burkevale’s strongest advocate. She served on many board committees and when necessary, fought for our educational rights at Queens Park. In 1998 our computer lab was named in her honour. Win will be dearly missed.

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If you’ve been on this earth long enough you’ve witnessed the amazing transformation of society by the evolution of technology in our lives. Remember when colour television replaced black and white, or the invention of the tv remote? Cassette tapes and VCR tapes have been replaced by CDs and DVDs, and so on.

Whether these and dozens of other examples of new technology have really enhanced our lives is debatable. Certainly the improvement in housing materials has helped homeowners and the environment. It’s hard to believe that cars didn’t always have air bags, ABS braking and other safety features we take for granted.

The ways students are taught and learn has undergone dramatic changes, as well. Innovative computer programs now assist students with special needs, and the chalk board is being replaced by the more versatile digital white board. But is student reliance on calculators weakening our students basic math skills, such as being able to add and subtract in their head, or knowing the times table?

Then there’s the internet, which has revolutionized the way we communicate research, and share information globally. This powerful tool is used daily at school in many positive ways. But it can also be used to cyber-bully others, a devastating vehicle for hate. Also cell phones, while convenient outside school, become a distraction in a learning environment, and are therefore prohibited. Help protect your child and assist our school by monitoring their use of these two technologies.

Tim Mallon, Principal