A HUGE Thank You

Hello! It’s Ali (Guider Jen’s daughter) again I would just like to say a HUGE thank you for your help on the Make a Difference Bags for Cornerstone’s Women’s shelter. With your help and support, we were able to make a total of 9 bags! PLUS a kid’s bag and an arts and crafts bag! So once again, thank you for your help! This project was great success!😊

November 24 - Make a Difference! - and upcoming events

Hi Families,

This week’s meeting will focus again on community service work – we will fill our Make a Difference bags (donations are definitely welcome, please see the previous blog post for details) and we will be making cat beds for the Ottawa Humane Society. Drop-off for the meeting is 6:30pm and pick-up is at 8:15pm.

Please remind your Guides that, unless specified, they need to attend our meetings in full uniform (Guide shirt, necker, and sash, plus dark pants or skirt). They should also bring indoor shoes. We have informed the girls that only patrols that have all members in full uniform will be able to carry the flag in our opening horseshoe.

Also, I am emailed a handy camp skills handbook that you may wish to print for your Guide. We went through some of the items in it last week and it is a very handy reference for the girls to have.

Upcoming events and other notes

Dec 1: more general badge work to cover off some programming requirements and practice for our Sing Ontario Sing night with the brownies.

Dec 2 – 4: Camp Woolsey for those attending. *Please remind your Guide she needs to pack her own belongings as part of the camper badge requirements.

Dec 8: Sing Ontario Sing challenge with the 2^nd Riverside South Brownies. We will meet from 6pm to 7:30pm at St. Jerome School for this meeting.   

Dec 15: we are making winter hats and playing some games

Dec 22: Christmas Party!

Dec 29 and Jan 5: No meeting

Thank you,

Jen

Make a Difference Bags-November 24

Hello families! My name is Alison. I am first year pathfinder. I am also Guider Jen’s daughter and I am doing a project that I would very much like your daughters to help me with. I am doing make a difference bags. They are reusable bags filled with the most needed items from shelters. In my case I will be donating them to Cornerstone’s Women’s Shelter. If you would like to learn more about them you can visit http://www.ottawa.anglican.ca/cornerstone/index.html. I will be coming in to talk to the girls on November 10, 2016 and we will be making the bags on November 24, 2016. I will be bringing a collection box between the 17th and the 24th so if you have any donations, please drop them off in the box. Donations will be greatly appreciated!!

 

Most needed items include:

• New toiletries
• Recreational items such as puzzles, knitting needles, colouring books, pencils & markers or yarn
• Craft supplies such as watercolour paper, construction paper, multi-use paper, acrylic paint, white glue, sharpies or clay
• Re-usable bags

 

Thank you for your help!

 

 

 

Operation Christmas boxes - Items for November 10

Hi Families,

As per usual, we will spend a good chunk of the next couple of months doing community service work. Our first project will be Operation Christmas Child boxes. We would be grateful if your Guide could contribute one or two of the following items to help us fill some shoeboxes for our November 10 meeting.

Suggested items include:

• School Supplies - Items such as pens, pencils, pencil crayons, note pads, and picture books
• Hygiene Items - Items such as: facecloth, toothbrush, comb, and soap. Please place soap in a sealable bag
• Toys & Other Gifts - Items such as: stuffed animals, small musical instruments, hair clips, toy jewelry, t-shirts, and socks
• Personal Note - Include a personal note and/or a photo in your shoebox (not inside the donation envelope)

Please do not include:

• Decks of standard playing cards (other card games such as UNO are allowed)
• Food or candy: Including gum (due to customs regulations)
• Used items (due to customs regulations)
• Toothpaste (due to customs regulations)
• Liquids or items that could leak, melt, freeze, or break - Shampoo, creams, lip balm, bath gels, mirrors, or glass, etc. (these can damage other items in the shoebox).
• Items that can scare or harm a child - War-related toys, knives, and toy guns, etc.

Later this month, we will also be making "Make a difference bags" to help a local women's shelter. More details to follow soon.


Thank you for your help!

Jen

Camp Forms - December 2 - 4 at Camp Woolsey

Hi Families,

 Please check your email for the forms for our camping weekend at Camp Woolsey, December 2 to 4. The theme is “master chef”. We will also work on our kitchen creations badge, do some community service work, go on a hike and do some crafts. Please return camp forms and payment by November 10 if your Guide is interested in attending.

This week, November 3rd, is enrolment for the unit’s new Guides. We will do a short ceremony starting at about 7:45. Parents/family members are welcome to attend. For the first part of the meeting we will talk about camp planning, so please have your Guides think about their favourite camp food, songs and activities.

Other Reminders/Upcoming events:

- Our unit is collecting milk bags (the coloured outer bag that holds the three inner milk bags). Please bring any clean, dry, bags (kept flat if possible) to our weekly meetings.

- We will be doing two separate donation drives as part of our Community service work in the lead-up to Christmas holidays: first, Operation Christmas (Nov. 10) and second, “Make a Difference” bags for our Action on Poverty Challenge (Nov. 24). We would appreciate any help you could give on either of these initiatives. “Wish lists” will be posted soon on the blog. 

- Another optional camp will be held Feb 25-26 at MacSkimming. Stay tuned for details!


Thanks and see you soon,
Jen

Please let us know your Guide's plans for October 27!

Hi Families,

Could you please let us know if your Guide will be attending all or part of our Halloween meeting next week (October 27)? We know that some of the Guides may be attending the SMPS Halloween dance at the same time, and we need to confirm our numbers for snacks, crafts, etc.  It would be great if you could please let us know via email by this Sunday what your Guide’s plans are.

Also, the Sparks units are having a sleepover on November 12 at the North Gower Community Centre, and have asked for some of our Guides to come help with the early events. We are looking for 5-10 Guides (2^nd and 3^rd years preferably) who can come from 5pm to 8:30pm to help run an outdoor game and lead a short campfire. Guiders Lisa and Jen will also be there. The Guides will receive a pizza dinner, a crest and credit towards the sparks helper badge for their efforts.  If your Guide would like to attend, please let us know that by Sunday as well.

Many thanks for your help,

Jen

Travel badge this week and reminders for the Parliament Hill trip this Saturday, Campfire on October 19

Hi Families,

I hope you all had a nice long weekend!

This week we will be working on the travel badge in preparation for Saturday's scavenger hunt on Parliament Hill. Please find a few reminders below about this event, as well as some information about the campfire in Barrhaven on Wednesday October 19 (for those attending). Please note that we will still have our normal meeting on October 20 as well.

1. Parliament Hill Trip Itinerary:

8:30 am – meet at OCTranspo Station Riverview 1A (across from Moncion’s Your Independent Grocer on Earl Armstrong)

8:54 am – board OCTranspo bus #94 to downtown Ottawa

9:51 am – arrive at Rideau Centre

Walk to Shepherds of Good Hope, 233 Murray St, to deliver sandwiches to kitchen

10:30 am (approx.) –arrive at Major Hill’s Park for snack

10:45 am to 2:00 pm – Complete scavenger hunt challenge. Unit will be broken into smaller groups, each of which will be accompanied by an adult.

-          During this period, Guides will also stop to eat their packed lunch

2:00 pm – Groups meet at Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill for snack, to discuss scavenger hunt and sing a few songs around the Flame.

2:50 pm – head to Albert and Bank St. bus stop.

3:09 pm – catch 94 bus home

4:00 pm – arrive at Station Riverview 1A. Parents to pick Guides up.

To bring:- A back pack - Lunch (light snacks will be provided)- Refillable water bottle- Sun screen, hat (mandatory!!), rain coat/poncho if it is calling for rain- Sweater, warmer hat and mitts.  (if they are wearing they don't need to pack extra)- Optional - paper and pen 
**Guides should wear good walking shoes and dress for the weather, dress in layers as we will be outside all day. Please go to the washroom before leaving home as well.
  

We could still use another parent volunteer or two if you are interested in joining us.

2. Campfire, October 19 (optional - we are also holding our meeting on October 20):

Location: 333 Beatrice Drive Mont Sir Paul Baxter (see map here). We will be in the field to the left of the school (when facing the school-opposite side from the parking lot). If it rains we will be inside.

Drop-off/Pick-up details: Drop offs are to be done in the school bus lane in front of the school.  Look for either Guider Jen or Guider Lisa with a large sign. Guides should be dropped off at 6:20pm. Pick-up is at 7:45pm in the bus lane. Please do not park in the parking lot - it is for the Leaders. Please remind girls to have gone to the bathroom before arriving, as the entrance to the school is on the other side of the building from our campfire. Don’t forget  -Flash lights as it get dark early  -sit-upons or a tarp are needed

Please confirm this week with Lisa if your Guide is attending either of these events.

Thank you!

Guider Jen

This week and forms for our first adventure!

Hi Families,

Thanks for a great night of cookie selling last week! We still have some cases left, so if you would like more, please let me know and I can bring them to our meeting.

This week’s meeting is at Canyon Walk Daycare, attached to Steve MacLean Public School (the entrance is off Goldeneye Way, not Spratt). From now on, meetings will run at this location from 6:30 to 8:15pm, unless otherwise specified. Please be prompt with pick-ups; the custodian is often waiting for us to finish up in the room so he can clean it. The Guides should wear their uniforms, have their program book, dues (if not paid for up-front), and indoor shoes. A water bottle might also be handy.

We understand if some Guides may be late this week due to meet the parent night at SMPS. That is fine; please just come when you can. We will be working on promise and law and teamwork activities.

In addition, please check your email for forms and background about our trip to downtown Ottawa on Saturday, October 15. We plan to take the city bus to downtown, deliver some homemade sandwiches to Shepherds of Good Hope, and complete a fun scavenger hunt around Parliament Hill. Cost is $5 and girls bring their own lunch. Although our trips are optional, they are designed to provide fun, supplementary programming to the Guide program and we encourage everyone to attend! (That said, if you already know that you Guide cannot attend, please let me know as soon as you can.)

Finally, our unit will be participating in a community campfire on Wednesday, October 19 at Monsignor Paul Baxter School in Barrhaven, from 6:15 to 7:30pm. If your Guide is able to attend, please let us know. Parents will be responsible for drop-off and pick-up. We will also have our regular meeting that week.

Thank you!

Jen

September 22 - Cookie selling!

Hello!

This week we are going to do door-to-door cookie sales. Please meet at 6:15pm at 822 Covehead Cres., and we will sell on nearby streets.  Pick-up will be 8pm, again at 822 Covehead. This is a rain or shine event.

• In addition to selling, we would ask parents to pick up a case that evening for their Guide to sell on their own. Cases are $60 each and include 12 boxes.  Please make cheques for the cases out to Girl Guides of Canada (or see online banking options below). *If your Guide is interested in taking more than one case to sell, please see Lisa.


• Please also remind your Guide to wear her uniform (if she has it yet) and go to the washroom before the meeting. We will be outside the entire time, so she will also likely need a jacket, a flashlight and possibly an umbrella.

Online banking:

If you wish to make a payment for cookies, camp, dues, etc. online, the details can be found at this link: http://www.girlguides.ca/web/ON/Adult_Members/Unit_Banking/Unit_Banking_-_Parent_Online_Bill_Payment_Set-up_Instructions.aspx . The unit’s banking ID number is 003754. If you need your Guide’s IMIS number, please let me know and I can send it to you.

See you soon,

Jen

Sept. 15 meeting, cookies are coming, and a calendar of events

I hope everyone has settled into the new school year and is ready to get back to Guiding! A few key dates have been pinned down in the past few days; please find a calendar of events below. Please note that events that do not fall on meeting nights are optional. We would still love to see as many Guides as possible come out for the events though!

Thurs. Sept. 15: This week the meeting will be in/near the pavilion in Four Seasons Park and will run from 6:15pm to 8pm. If the weather forecast is bad, we will have the meeting at Jen’s house. I will send an email out on Wednesday next week to confirm our location.

• Please bring completed H1 forms, uniform (if possible), dues (either pay ahead or weekly as noted in my previous email), and a water bottle. Bug spray might also be a good idea.
• Guide Store order:  If you need to order something from the Guide store and would like to take part in a group order, please email Jen with what you need (sizes, etc. as well) before this meeting.

Thurs. Sept. 22: COOKIES are here! Tonight we are going to do door-to-door cookie sales. Please meet at 6:15pm at 822 Covehead Cres., and we will sell on nearby streets.  Pick-up will be 8pm. This is a rain or shine event.

• In addition to selling, we would ask parents to each take a case for their Guide to sell on their own that evening. Cases are $60 each and include 12 boxes.  Please make cheques for the cases out to Girl Guides of Canada. *If your Guide is interested in taking more than one case to sell, please see Lisa.
• Also, it would be great if we had an extra parent or two walk with us that evening. If you are interested, please let Jen know.

Thurs. Sept. 29: Tonight we will be working on the You and Guiding program area – lots of games, a bit of a discussion and a craft. We will meet at Canyon Walk Daycare from this point onward, and the meeting will run from 6:30pm to 8:15pm. Please remember to bring indoor shoes!

Thurs. Oct. 6: Tonight we will be working on the peace badge with activities related to the International Day of Peace.

Thurs. Oct. 13: Tonight we will work on parts of our travel badge and log some community service time making sandwiches for the city’s homeless.

Sat. Oct. 15: City bus trip to Parliament Hill for a scavenger hunt! Details to follow.

Wed. Oct. 19: Community Guiding Campfire in Barrhaven, 6:15pm to 7:30pm at Mont Sir Paul Baxter.

Fri. to Sun. Dec. 2-4: CAMP WOOLSEY! Details to follow.

That’s it for now. As always, please feel free to email me with questions.

Guider Jen

Welcome Back! Our first meeting is September 15.

Dear Families,

It is hard to believe we are almost at the end of summer! Welcome (back!) to the 4^th Riverside South Guides. Below is some important information about the upcoming Guiding year. The leaders are all very excited to get started!

Start date and meeting location: Our first meeting will be on Thursday September 15, from 6:15 to 8pm. This meeting will be at Four Seasons Park under the pavilion. If the weather is bad, we will move the meeting to Jen’s house at 4635 Sugar Maple Drive.

Beginning on September 22, or meetings will be held at Canyon Walk Daycare (attached to Steve Maclean Public School; the entrance to the Daycare is off Goldeneye Way), from 6:30 to 8:15pm.

Other general meeting information:

1. Guides are required to submit a completed H1 form (this form has been emailed to you) at the first meeting. Unfortunately they are unable to stay at the meeting if this form is not submitted.
2. Guides are asked to bring the following to every meeting: A bag for holding everything; uniform – shirt, sash, scarf and program book (available for purchase at http://www.thegirlguidestore.ca); runners (indoor shoes); and dues. Water bottles may also be handy.
3. Please check our unit’s blog (http://4thriversidesouthguides.blogspot.ca/) for regular updates. Email communication will generally be saved for sending out forms and urgent/important reminders. I will try my best to have the blog updated every Tuesday!

Dues:

Please ensure your Guide brings her $1 for dues every week, including those nights when we are taking a field trip. The dues, along with the proceeds from cookie selling, cover craft supplies, badges and help pay for special activities. As an option this year, if you like we can accept payment for dues up front rather than sending the money weekly: either $32 at the beginning of the year, or $16 in September and $16 in January.

Badges:

As was the case last year, most of our meetings will be spent doing badge work – while we will generally focus on badges that fall in the program areas we are covering this year --You in Guiding and You and Others, we will also add some others as we discuss programming with the Guides. If your Guide would like to work on a badge but is unsure if we’ll cover it as a group, please do not hesitate to ask. We are also more than happy to do additional badge testing during the year; please just have your Guide mention it the week before she’d like to be tested so that we can book some time at the following meeting.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. We are looking forward to a great Guiding year!!

Yours in Guiding,

 

Jen C., Lisa, Debora and Mary

April and May updates

Hi Families,

 

This week we are working on the BC Guides Ocean Awareness Challenge. We are back at the daycare, from 6:30 to 8:15.  Here are a few reminders:

 

April 21 - Door-to-door cookie selling. Girls are asked to dress for the weather and go to the washroom before leaving home. We will send out directions as to where we will meet soon. Cases will also be available for pick up. Please bring $60 for your case - cheque is fine. If you have ordered more than one case, please see Alice.

 

Friday April 22 - Aeronautics badge at the Aviation museum (optional event). Details to follow shortly for those attending.

 

Saturday April 23 - Special meeting for 3rd year Guides who want to do their experienced camper badge this year at Spring Camp. Please meet at 3pm at Jen`s house.

 

April 27 - Registration deadline for girls returning to the same unit if you want to guarantee a spot. Registration for the unit is open to other Guides and Brownies starting April 28.

 

April 28 - Box Ovens and camp prep.

 

Saturday April 30th (am) - Pond Cleanup at Nimiq Park (environment challenge badge and BC Shoreline Cleanup Challenge - family members welcome!). ** Please let us know by the 21st if your Guide plans to attend.

 

May 5 - Catch-up night

 

May 12 - Year-end Party

 

May 13/14/15 - Spring Camp, RCMP Campground (optional event, but we hope to see everyone there!). Cost is $45 and forms will be sent shortly. If you already know that your Guide will NOT attend, please let Jen know.

 

May ? - Advancement ceremony

 

Thank you!

Jen

 

Mar 24 meeting and other important updates

Hi Families,

 

I hope you have all had a great spring break and that the girls are ready to get back to Guides!

 

This week, we are having two engineers visit the group to help celebrate National Engineering Month. The girls will be working on crazy contraptions. Should be a good night.

 

I have listed a few important reminders below. Please also check your email for permission forms for the Guide night at the Aviation Museum on Friday, April 22 from 6pm to 10pm. Guides will earn their aeronautics badge for attending. NOTE: please return permission forms this week so that we can get an idea of numbers. If we have extra spaces, we will be asking another Guide group to join us.

 

March 31 - Bring a friend night! We are also going to work on the Astronomy badge.

NOTE: can you please let us know in advance if your Guide will be bringing a friend? It is an optional event - there is no problem if your Guide decides against bringing someone. In the past we have also had cases where two girls would like to bring the same person - that is OK too! Finally, we are looking for a couple of parent volunteers to stay that night. If you can help us out, please let us know.

 

April 7 – Rainbow Revelry Challenge with the 2nd Riverside South Brownies. NOTE: our meeting will be at St. Jerome in the Gym, from 6pm to 7:30pm.

 

COOKIES: Unfortunately, due to delivery problems with the supplier, cookies will not be arriving until the week of April 19. We are sorry for the inconvenience!

 

REGISTRATION: Registration for girls returning to the same unit next year begins March 31. For girls moving up or changing units, registration begins April 28. More details can be found on the post below.

Thank you!

Jen

2016-17 Registration Information

Hi!


If your Guide is interested in returning to Guides next year (and we sure hope so!), please see the link below for more information.


http://www.girlguides.ca/web/ON/Parents/ON/Parents/Guide_ON/2016/March/Spring_into_2016-2017_Online_Registration.aspx


Registration for returning to the same unit begins March 31. Registration for Guides changing units (e.g. girls in grade 6 heading to Pathfinders) begins April 28.

Upcoming Events (Reminder: no meeting Feb. 25)

Hi Families,

We have a lot of exciting meetings planned for the next few weeks! Here is a general overview:

March 3 – our first of two meetings with StrongOrange. We will be talking about self-defence techniques and working on our Streetwise badge. ** Dues for this meeting will be $2 to help offset the cost of the session.

March 10 – our second of two meetings with StrongOrange. **Again, dues for this meeting will be $2 to help offset the cost of the session.

March 17 – NO MEETING (MARCH BREAK).

March 24 – Crazy Contraptions – National Engineering Month special guest/activity. ** GIRL GUIDE COOKIES SHOULD ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR PICK-UP.

March 31 – Bring a friend night and work on our Astronomy Badge.

April 7 – Rainbow Revelry Challenge with the 2nd Riverside South Brownies. Note: our meeting will be at St. Jerome in the Gym, from 6pm to 7:30pm.

April 22 (Friday evening from 6pm to 10pm) – Aeronautics badge at the Aviation Museum. Cost will be $15 for this special program. Permission forms to follow shortly.

May 13-15 - Spring Camp at RCMP Long Island Campground.

Thank you!

Jen

Feb 11th - Cultural awareness and Thinking Day Update

Hi Families,


This week we are finishing up our cultural awareness badge with some fun activities about Chile, Ontario's "Twinning 2020" partner. For more information about Twinning 2020, please see this link.

To help us out, please have your Guide bring a toilet paper or paper towel roll for one of our activities.


We will also be making covers for our recipe books, which are coming along nicely. Thanks to all who sent in recipes!


Next week, we will finish up our recipe books, cover off a few loose ends, and work on planning for a couple of upcoming events.

Thinking Day: This year's theme is Connect with Guiding - exploring how connections unite us, inspire how we learn, share, grow and communicate with each other. To celebrate, we will be doing a community-wide event at St. Francis-Xavier High School on Monday, February 22, from 6:15pm to 8pm (please arrive as close to 6 as you can - it will be busy and they would like to start on time). Guides are asked to wear their full uniform, and bring dues, indoor shoes, as well as two books for our annual book exchange. The books should be at the Guides' reading level if possible; one will be donated to a needy school, while the other will be her contribution to a book exchange. The girls loved this activity last year and are looking forward to doing it again. **If your Guide cannot participate this evening, please let us know beforehand.


Upcoming Meetings:

Feb. 25 - MEETING CANCELLED (Replaced with St. FX event)


March 3 and March 10 - special meetings to cover our streetwise badge with StrongOrange.org - more details to follow!

March 17 - MEETING CANCELLED for March Break

Thank you!

Jen

CSI Challenge and Sleepover Reminders

Dear Families,

This week we are doing the CSI challenge. It’s a fun night of sleuthing and science-related activities. Please have your Guide bring her indoor shoes and wear her uniform!

Here are a few important reminders:

1. The sleepover is this weekend! For those attending, please add a sleeping mat to your kit list – we are sleeping on the floor. Also, helmets for the roller skating are optional, but recommended. The sleepover starts at 5:30pm on Saturday and goes to 8:30am on Sunday.
2. Recipes for the recipe book are due by Feb. 4. Please email recipes to Jen.
3. Feb. 4 meeting: This week we are doing the Sing Ontario Sing Challenge with the Brownies. Please note our meeting will run from 6pm to 7:30pm at St. Jerome.
4. Feb. 22: Our Thinking Day meeting will be on the MONDAY of this week, from 6:15pm to 8pm at St. FX High School. Please meet at the St. FX gym shortly after 6pm so the girls can help set up. More details about the evening and our book exchange that night will follow soon.

Thank you!
Jen

Skating's a go for this week - Spratt Park at 6:30pm

Hi Families,

 

The weather’s not looking too bad for Thursday evening at this point, so please plan on meeting us at the Spratt Park skating rink at 6:30pm for some skating. We will be outside the whole time, so please have your daughter go to the washroom beforehand and dress for the weather. Helmets must also be worn. We will probably wrap up around 7:45, but will confirm the pick-up time that evening.

Fundraising Project: As part of the Going Global Challenge badge work the Guides are doing this year, we will be raising money for the Canadian World Friendship Fund by selling handmade recipe books. For this, we are asking the Guides to send us two recipes: one for their favourite dish, and another for a food from a country where a WAGGGS centre is located (they should know this one!!). Please have your Guide type up the recipes and send them to me via email before Tuesday February 9, so that we can incorporate them in our book. We will be decorating our books on February 11 and will be selling them at the upcoming Thinking Day event on Monday February 22 at St. FX.

Thank you for your support!

 

Jen

Happy New Year! Upcoming Events

Hi Families,

Here is a list of upcoming events. Please also check your email for a new poll about cookie selling.

Jan. 14 - We will be having a special visitor talk about Guiding history. Please bring a large scarf or shawl, towel, or apron. 

Jan. 16 - Special meeting for 3rd years completing Lady Baden Powell Challenge at Guider Jen's house, 3:00pm to 4:30pm.

Jan. 21 - Skating at Spratt Park (weather permitting)

Jan. 28 - CSI Challenge (STEM work)

Jan. 30 to 31 - Sleepover at Monkey Around (optional - work on sports badge, crafts).

Feb. 4 - Sing Ontario Sing Challenge - this is a bridging event with 2nd Riverside South Brownies, where we will teach them the songs they need to complete the Challenge. Please note: we will meet at St. Jerome from 6pm to 7:30pm.

Feb. 22 - Thinking Day event at St. FX High School. Please note: we will meet on Monday night this week.

Thanks and see you soon!
Jen