Friends Update

New Co-Chair

The Friends of NMS welcome Janice MacFarlane as the new CoChair for our parent volunteer group. Janice brings with her many years of experience and loads of positive energy. Janice has been a very active volunteer member in our school this year and we are very pleased that she has agreed to take up the challenge of a leadership role. Janice fills the Chair recently vacated by Vicky Patterson. As one of the founding members of 'Friends', Vicky has worked hard to promote and advance the many projects and initiatives of the group. We are very grateful for Vicky's efforts and wish her all the best.

Janice MacFarlane 474-1132 Mary Leo Dick dickrogr@nbnet.nb.ca Mary Rowe m.rowe1@rogers.com


Thank You

Healthy Eating
We would like to thank all the parents who dedicated their time and culinary skills on April 16th & 17th. The Friends of NMS volunteers prepared and served delicious Taco Soup to the students and staff as a Healthy Eating Initiative. The kids loved it and many offered positive feedback. (See recipe below.) We had lots of fun and a great turnout!

MEXICAN SOUP

1 lb lean ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 cup celery
1 can corn niblets
1 28 ox chopped tomatoes
1 can kidney beans
1 pkg chili macaroni hamburger helper
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder
8 cups water

Saute meat, onion, celery and peppers until brown, then drain and rinse. Add all remaining ingredients and simmer until warm. Add pepper to taste. Serve with a few nacho chips crumpled on top. Makes a fairly large pot of soup. Enjoy.

Winter Carnival
Thank you to the group of parents who served hot chocolate to the children participationg in outside activities on Feb.27th. Special thanks to the cafeteria and Janice for loaning the urns to enable us to serve nearly 800.

Women's CIS Volleyball
Thank you to the 3 parents who helped with supervision when 46 NMS students went to watch a CIS volleyball match.

Pink Shirt Day
The office and hall were decorated by parent volunteers and kids as part of the national antibullying campaign. All staff and many of our NMS students showed their support by wearing pink. It was a fun and visual way to promote Anti Bullying. The school received coverage in the Gleaner, Northside News and was spotlighted on CBC. Thank you to all the parents who came out to plaster the walls with Pink!

Talent Show
We were fortunate to be able to help with final preparations for the Talent Show back stage on Feb 19/20th. The days were spent organizing the kids, working with timing, and calming preperformance jitters. Fun was had by all.


Thanks again,
Mary Leo, Janice and Mary

Volunteer Appreciation Day Changed

We would like to inform everyone that the Volunteer Appreciation Event scheduled for Thursday April 23, 2009 from 11:30-1pm has unfortunately been cancelled as our respondants indicated too many scheduling conflicts.

It is due to the wonderful participation of parents like you that our NMS students and staff have a fun and positive environment in which to grow. Although many of you felt you hadn't done much to warrant an invitation, we want you to know that you did. Every contribution, whether it was donation of a baked good, contribution of time or word of encouragement, was valuable and very much appreciated by our NMS community.

We apologize for any inconvenience and would like to again thank all of you for your contributions in making NMS a better school.

Healthy Eating

Hi Everyone,

We were hoping to do a healthy eating initiative next week (Friday April 17,2009). Kim has a great recipe for taco soup and we will need volunteers who can come in Thursday night ( ~7pm) to help make the soup. We will also need volunteers who are available on Friday to come serve the soup. If you are available for either time, or both, we would love to hear from you.
You can contact any of the Friend's co chairs: dickrogr@nbnet.nb.ca, vicky.patterson@rbc.com, m.rowe1@rogers.com
Thank you in advance!