News from Vanier - December 2, 2019

December 2nd, 2019
Dear Vanier families and friends,
As we enter the season of Advent, together we eagerly anticipate the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.  At Vanier, this time is also devoted to helping the less fortunate in our community through the Share the Spirit fundraisers that help needy families, especially children, have a happier Christmas season.  Our annual pancake breakfast will be this Thursday, December 5, starting at 7:30 am.
Along similar lines, our Booster Cards will be distributed this week and they are an essential fundraiser for our school’s student fund.  This fund helps students who, due to their family’s financial situation, may not be able to participate fully in school activities without some financial assistance.  We ask that each student sell at least two cards to help this fund.
In both cases, I would encourage you to pause and reflect on why this charity is needed in our community – are there systemic injustices that result in this situation and how can we help to eliminate those injustices?
Sincerely,
Ryan Sikkes, principal

Prayers for Lighting the Advent Wreath Candles - First Week
All-powerful God, increase our strength of will for doing good that Christ may find an eager welcome at his coming and call us to his side in the kingdom of heaven, where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God, forever and ever.

Amen.

January Exams – our January Semester 1 exams are the week of January 13-16.  The schedule can be found here:https://www.vcss.ca/home/january-2020-exam-schedule
All exams will take place in regular classrooms. Courses with multiple sections will use two classrooms.
If Requested:
ELL students may write exams in room 43 – see Mr. Gray
Grade 8/9 separate setting: Skills room – see Ms. Cann;
Grade 10-12 separate setting: Mr. Thomson’s room 31 – see Ms. Seloterio
January 20-24: Numeracy Assessment window: any grade 11s or any grade 12s who request it, will have the opportunity to write. Please see Ms. Brogdon or Ms. Gallant to arrange a specific time.
January 24: Literacy Assessment 10 @ 9:00am: all grade 10 students must write this exam.




Booster Cards – Booster Cards will be distributed this week.  They cost $20 each and we ask that each student sell two for the school’s student fund.  We are grateful for our new and continued sponsors:

• Bean North Café
• Booster Juice
• Cadence Cycle
• G-P Distributing
• In Bloom Flowers
• The Kind Café
• Klondike Motors
• Midnight Sun Coffee Roasters
• Mount Sima
• Murdoch’s Gem Shop
• Northern Lights Bowling
• Otter Falls Cutoff
• Panago Pizza
• Riverside Grocery
• Sportees & LOL
• Summit Kombucha
• Terra Riders
• Territorial Auto Parts
• The Claim
• Titan Gaming Café
• Whitehorse Subaru
• Yukon Built

Explore – French Language Program
Most expenses are covered!  Are you looking for a spring or summer program?  Do you want to discover another region of Canada and meet new people?  Go Explore!  Explore is an intensive language-immersion program.  You can take the program in the summer.  Participants in Explore receive funding that covers tuition fees for the programs, instructional materials, meals and accommodations, workshops, and other mandatory activities.  Discover another region of Canada while learning French.  Have an adventure and make new friends this summer!
Yukon Department of Education’s French Language Programs adds $700 at the end of the program upon your return to the Yukon.  https://www.myexplore.ca

Dates to Note:
December 2 - Share the Spirit begins
Share the Spirit Yukon is back!  Join us in helping families in need this Christmas.  Share the Spirit Yukon has grown in the last 4 years to become the biggest geographic Christmas support program in Canada covering communities across the territory.  Vanier will hold a variety of fundraisers during this time to aid us in supporting as many families as possible.
December 4 - Class of 2020 Grad Meeting
Parents/Guardians of the graduating Class of 2020, please join us at 7pm in the Learning Commons for our first Grad Meeting.
December 5 - Annual Pancake Breakfast – 7.30am - 10am, $5 a plate or $20 a family.  All proceeds to "Share the Spirit" Fundraiser.
December 6 - National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.  Our school annually commemorates this day with a moving ceremony.  This year's ceremony will start shortly after 10:00 am.  All are welcome.
December 19 - Alumni Day!  All graduates of Vanier are invited and encouraged to come visit on Thursday, December 18 to say hello and share their experiences with current students.  An Alumni vs. Seniors Basketball Game will happen at lunch!
December 20 - Christmas Celebration - 9:00 am - all are welcome!  Vanier's Got Talent - show starts at 12:30.  Yellow school buses are running early this day - dismissal time TBD.