December 17 meeting

Hi Families!

This week's meeting is our last meeting before the Christmas break. The Sparks are invited to wear their pjs. We'll be decorating gingerbread cabins (mini gingerbread houses) and singing Christmas carols.

Two notes:

1. Our first meeting back after Christmas will be on January 7, same time, same place!

2. We are in the process of ordering cookies for the spring cookie sales (vanilla and chocolate mix). Please let Marigold know on the 17th if you would like more than one case.

All the best to you and your family over the holidays!!

Marigold, Jewel and Hearts

December 3 Meeting and Parade

Hi Families,

This week we are looking at how people celebrate birthdays in other countries! Please have your spark bring her scarf (or another scarf or bandana) this week -- we'll need it for a couple of games. This is also the last week for Snowsuit Fund donations if you are interested in contributing. We've had a great response already -- thank you!

Also, below are the details for the Santa Claus parade in Manotick. Marigold will be there helping the Brownie unit if your Spark is interested in coming. (Please let me know on Tuesday if you are definitely coming so I can get you a permission slip.)

Santa Parade this Saturday, December 7th.  We will meet at the Manotick arena -  all kids should come at 12:45 so that they don't have to wait too long before the parade starts.  Please remind the girls to dress warmly - snowpants, hats, mitts, boots, as jackets and scarves would all be great. Girls should also where their sashes over their jackets.

Please also bring a blanket for the float and an elf hat if possible (they are available at the dollar store). The hats should be pinned onto the girls outer hats, because they are not very warm by themselves, and the pins will ensure that the hats stay on their heads.

See you soon!
Marigold, Hearts and Jewel

November 26 and Upcoming Events...

Hi Families,

Just a reminder to please return your Spark's leaf this week. Please include the meaning of your Spark's name (see our last post for details), and note on the back if you have family that have come from anywhere outside of Canada. Thanks!!

Our Habitat for Humanity Challenge went really well last week! We are donating the flower pot we made to a new homeowner this week as a "Welcome Home" gift.

Also, just a reminder about the memorial campfire on Saturday November 30. Please come out if you can -- it will be a great opportunity for families to see what we do at the campfires and for you to have a look at the campground we'll likely be visiting for spring camp. The campfire starts at 6:30 and is expected to last about 30 minutes. If you'd like more details please come see Marigold.

Snowsuit Fund (Sparks Community Service Project): We are accepting donations of gently used or new hats and mitts for the next two weeks. We'll have a donation box near the sign-up table if you would like to contribute. Thank you in advance for your help!

Manotick Santa Claus Parade: The Girl Guides will have a float in the Manotick parade on December 7. Please keep an eye out for us! If you'd like more details please see Marigold.

Upcoming Meetings:

December 3rd: We'll continue working on our World Around Me Keeper with a discussions of birthday traditions around the world. We'll also be making Mexican piñatas and having a birthday treat.

December 10th: This week we finish up the World Around Me Keeper by learning about some other winter celebrations.

December 17th: Our Christmas Party!!! This will be a pyjama night. Details to follow.

See you Tuesday!

Marigold, Jewel and Hearts

Nov. 19 - Habitat for Humanity Challenge

Hi Families,

This week we are doing our Habitat for Humanity Challenge. The girls will learn what goes into building a house and about women in the trades. We'll also be making a special present for a family who is getting a Habitat for Humanity house at the end of November. (Challenge crest, In My Community Keeper)

On November 26 we'll continue working on our World Around Me keeper by discussing the Girl Guides' World Centres and talking about diversity. There will be a bit of "homework" to do for this week: on the 19th your girls will bring home paper leaves. On her leaf, please write her first name (middle name if you'd like as well) on it, along with what her name means and its origin, ie:

Jennifer - means: white wave. Origin: English (I just looked my name up on Babynames.com)

Also, please put on the back of the leaf where your family is from, e.g. if your spark has a parent/grandparent from Germany, etc.

November 30 - Just a reminder about the Memorial Campfire for Pauline Kuiack at RCMP Long Island Campground (Manotick).  The campfire starts at 6:30pm on Saturday November 30th, and all Girl Guides and their families are invited to participate. We'll also be collecting donations to help pay for a plaque that will be permanently displayed at Camp Woolsey in Pauline's honour .

Snowsuit Fund - Between now and our December 3 meeting we will be collecting new or gently used mitts and hats for the Ottawa Snowsuit fund as a community service project. If you would like to donate, please just bring your donation in during one of our next three meetings.

Reminder: Forms are due for the Mommy and Me sleepover this week!

Thanks and see you soon,
Marigold, Jewel and Hearts

Just a few notes...

Hi Families,

We're back to our normal schedule at the community centre this week. We hope the girls had fun at the farm last week -- it sure looked like everyone did!

This week we are going to do our Cross Canada (Getting to Know Canada) Challenge. If you could please remember to send a picture of your Spark somewhere in Canada to the meeting, that would be great. We'll talk about the pictures and send them back home with your Spark tomorrow night.

Upcoming Events:

November 12 - We'll be discussing Remembrance Day and what our troops do overseas. We'll also be having a special guest. Also, girls are encouraged to wear their Girl Guide uniforms to school on Remembrance Day.

November 19 - This week we'll be working on the Habitat for Humanity Challenge. It's a great Challenge: the girls will learn what goes into building a house and women in the trades. We'll also be making a special present for a family who is getting a Habitat for Humanity house at the end of November.

November 26 - We'll continue working on our World Around Me keeper by discussing Girl Guides' World Centres and talking about diversity. There will be a bit of "homework" to do for this week - details to follow!

November 30 - Special Campfire for Pauline Kuiack, RCMP Long Island Campground (Manotick). This summer our local Guiding Community lost a great friend -- and one of the best Girl Guide Leaders you'll ever meet! -- to cancer. To honour Pauline's memory, we will be a holding a special campfire at 6:30pm on Saturday November 30th. We'll sing all of Pauline's favourite songs -- it will be a great time! All Girl Guides and their families are invited to participate. We'll also be collecting donations to help pay for a plaque that will be permanently displayed at Camp Woolsey in Pauline's honour .

And skip ahead to January 25th -- Mark this date on your calendar for our Sparks Mommy and Me sleepover! It will be a joint event with the other Sparks units in our area and will be held at the North Gower community centre. More details to follow...

One final note -- we're sorry for the delay in cashing the dues cheques. We have been working on getting access to our unit bank account but it has been taking a long time. The issue should be rectified shortly.

See you soon!
Marigold, Jewel and Hearts

Monday October 28 - Miller's Farm

Hi Families,

Just a reminder that we are meeting on Monday (Oct 28) this week instead of Tuesday. Please meet at Miller's Farm at 6pm. Our activity is supposed to finish at 7:30pm, but it may be best to arrive back a few minutes early. Most of the evening will be spent outside, so please dress your Spark for the weather. The event will run rain or shine.

Also, please send your Spark with a plastic bag for her pumpkin. We'll have glow sticks for the girls because it will be dark, but if you would rather your Spark have a flashlight, feel free to send one (please make sure it has her name on it!).

Finally, just a reminder to please send a picture of your Spark (e.g. from a family vacation) taken at a landmark somewhere in Canada (Ottawa is absolutely fine!), noting where the picture was taken, for our November 6 meeting. The pictures will be used for our discussion about Canada and will be sent home the same evening.

Have a great weekend!
Marigold, Jewel and Hearts

October 22 - Cybercitizen Challenge

Hi Families,

This Tuesday we'll be working on the Cybercitizen Challenge. The girls will learn about avatars and how to stay safe while they are on the internet. (In My Community Keeper)

Upcoming events:

October 28 - Our Miller's Farm Trip! Families are asked to drop their Sparks off at 6pm, with pick-up shortly before 7:30pm. The Sparks are asked to bring a plastic grocery bag for their pumpkins. Please also remember to dress for the weather! (In My Community Keeper)

November 6 - This week we will be getting to know Canada by doing the Cross Canada Challenge! This week, if possible please send a photo of your Spark (e.g. from a family vacation) taken at a landmark somewhere in Canada (Ottawa is absolutely fine!), noting where the picture was taken. We'll be talking a bit about the different provinces on a map and we thought this might be to give the Sparks a bit of context. (The World Around Me Keeper)

Remembrance Day - In honour of Remembrance Day, across Girl Guides are invited/encouraged to wear their uniforms to school.

See you on Tuesday,
Marigold, Jewel and Hearts

October 8 - outdoor meeting

Hi Families,

Just a reminder that our October 8 meeting will be held outside. This event will count towards the work we are doing on our In My Community Keeper. It will be held rain or shine, so please dress for the weather! Moms are welcome to joins us on the hike if you are available. We also asked the girls to bring a water bottle and their bee prepared kit (in a small bag or backpack that they can easily carry). Also, if you have a chance to talk to your Spark about being safe on the road and in our neighbourhood more generally that would be great. The girls can wear their Sparks shirts if they like, but they do not need to wear/bring their sashes or scarves this week.

Thanks again to all of you for coming to enrolment. It is easy to see that we have a great bunch of girls. We are going to have  a fun year!



Welcome to the 3rd Riverside South Sparks!

We also completed our first SWAP event this past week. The SWAPs (which are supposed to be cookies) are part of the badge work required (marketing component) for the Cookies Rising badge. We made extra swaps as well, which will be traded with a Sparks unit in Peterborough, ON. The girls will get their swaps from the other group after Thanksgiving. If your Spark did not come home this week with their own cookie SWAP, please let us know.

Also, if you have a family member in a Sparks unit somewhere in Canada that may be interested in "swapping" a SWAP with us, please let Marigold know.

Cookie selling SWAPs!

Upcoming events:

Oct 15 - Const. Nicole Gorham from the Ottawa Police will come to talk to the girls about safety and being prepared in emergencies (In My Community Keeper)

Oct 22 - Tonight we'll be doing the Cyber Citizen Challenge, and learning how to stay safe in Cyber space.

Oct 28 - Our trip to Miller's Farm! Details to follow. Please note this event is on a Monday night.

See you Tuesday!
Marigold, Hearts and Jewel

September 24th - Enrollment Ceremony!

Hi Families,

Just a reminder that this week is our Enrollment Ceremony! Please make sure your Sparks come dressed in their full uniform (shirt, sash and scarf). Families are invited to join us at 6:50 for the actual ceremony.

And, cookies are coming! They will be distributed at the October 1 meeting. Please bring a cheque for $60 (payable to Girl Guides of Canada) as a deposit for the case. Cheques will be cashed once the campaign is over in late October/early November. If you do not think your Spark can sell a case or if you would like more, please send Jen (Marigold) an email or let us know at the meeting.

There may not be a blog update next week, so here is an idea if what is coming up the first few weeks of October:

Oct. 1 - we plan to talk about safe cookie selling and being safe in our community (work towards the Cookies Rising and In My Community keepers)

Oct. 8 - Neighbourhood hike - Please come dressed for the weather -- we go rain or shine!!! (work towards the In My Community keeper)

Oct. 15 - Constable Gorham from the Ottawa Police will visit our unit to talk about street safety. The Monday night Sparks unit will be joining us as well (work towards the In My Community keeper)

As always, do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions!

See you Tuesday,
Marigold, Hearts and Jewel

September 17th meeting

Hi Families,

This week we'll continue to work on our "Being a Spark" keeper. We'll be doing an activity related to the Girl Guide Code of Conduct with the Sparks, as well as preparing for our big enrollment ceremony on September 24th.

Just a couple of notes:

- Please remind your Spark to bring her name tag, water bottle and indoor shoes.

- Some of you expressed interest in selling more than one case of cookies this fall. If you did, could you please send Jen (Marigold) an email letting us know how many cases you would want? Right now we can guarantee one case for every Spark, but will look into getting others. Cases are $60 and have 12 boxes of cookies ($5 a box) in them.

- Invitations will come home this week for the enrollment ceremony on September 24th. The ceremony will start at 6:50pm and be fairly short. Parents and siblings are invited. The Sparks will need their full uniform (shirt, sash, scarf if you have it) for the ceremony.

Have a great weekend!

Marigold, Hearts and Jewel

Meetings start this Tuesday, September 10!

Hi Families!

Just a reminder that Sparks starts on Tuesday September 10. Please remember to bring:

- A completed H1 form
- A $32 cheque for dues
- Indoor shoes and a water bottle for your Spark

There will be a short (10 minutes) meeting with the parents right at 6:15 as well.

 

Looking forward to meeting all of you!

Marigold, Hearts and Jewel

Welcome to Sparks - meetings begin September 10

Sparks Program

Welcome to 3^rd Riverside South Sparks! We have an exciting year planned for the girls, and can’t wait to get started! Our Sparks will be involved in many activities this year that will help them strengthen their potential, meet new friends, and help them get to know themselves and the world around them. The variety of activities we have planned will help the girls earn keepers as well as various challenge badges. We welcome feedback and suggestions. Donations of craft supplies are always appreciated too! 

Meetings and Communication

Our meetings are held at the Rideauview Community Centre in the front meeting room on Tuesdays, from 6:15pm to 7:15pm. Our program runs for a total of 32 weeks. There are no meetings on December 24, 31 and March 11.  However, there will be additional meetings for camping trips and other activities throughout the year. You will be notified of these dates as early as possible.

Our primary forms of contact with you regarding meeting activities will be via this blog or by email. (Regular meeting updates will be available on the blog, while permission forms will be emailed to you.) If you do not have regular access to email or the internet, please let us know. Leaders are available to answer questions before and after the weekly meetings, or you are more than welcome to email or call us.

Uniform

The Sparks uniform consists of the Sparks t-shirt (either the new blue one or the older pink one), scarf and sash, with dark bottoms when possible. These items are available for purchase online at www.thegirlguidestore.ca.

All Sparks and Leaders should wear their uniforms to meetings and special events. We ask that you attach all keepers to your child’s sash. Some, but not all, of the keepers and crests are iron-ons. Other earned crests could be attached to the sash or a camp blanket or poncho if you wish.

Dues

Dues will be collected at the start of the program to cover our weekly activities (crafts, snacks, etc.). The amount is $32. Please make cheques payable to Girl Guides of Canada, Ontario Council, noting 3^rd Riverside South Sparks in the memo line. Thank you!

Allergies and Special Needs

If your child has allergies or special needs, please notify the leaders. We also require that H1 forms be filled out at the first meeting (leaders will have them available when you drop off your child).

Crystal and her Journal

Each week a Spark will be able to take home our doll named Crystal and her journal. Your Spark can then draw a picture of her adventure with Crystal during the week. When it is your Spark’s turn to have Crystal, we would ask that a parent help write a 1-2 sentence description of your child’s picture to help with storytelling in our sharing circle. Please remember to return Crystal and her journal to the next meeting so that Crystal can continue her adventures with another Spark.

 

Final Reminders:

 

       

·         Please ensure your Spark goes to the washroom prior to coming to Sparks. If we can minimize the washroom breaks, the girls will get the most out of the short time we have together.

·         Please send a pair of indoor shoes when the weather is wet outside. It will help keep the floor clean and safe for everyone in the room.

·         Your Spark is more than welcome to bring a water bottle to our meetings. The girls tend to get thirsty and this would help minimize our trips to the water fountain.  

 

 

 

Welcome to 3rd Riverside South Sparks!

Hello Families!

Welcome to 3rd Riverside South Sparks. We are looking forward to meeting your daughters in September. Stay tuned to this site for more details in the coming months.