News from Vanier - March 30-April 3

Dear Vanier Students and Families:
 
Today was a new experience for all our staff as we met virtually through a Microsoft Teams meeting! Lots of good ideas are already emerging that will result in an effective and engaging educational program to start on April 15.
 
We also held our first daily prayer over Instagram Live at 12 noon today – this will continue every weekday and we invite all our students and families to join us.
 
We appreciate your understanding and patience as we continue to make preparations.
 
Here are some other things that will be happening this week:

• A staff member will call each family to confirm contact information, share some information, and ask some questions about technology access and supports that students may need to have in place while learning from home.
• We will be preparing to empty lockers so students can have all their learning materials they need at home.  We will be offering curb-side pick up or delivery to homes – we will send another email when this will be ready.
• We will be preparing to offer loans of materials from our Learning Commons – visit our catalogue at vcss.ca  Learning Commons  Catalog.  Again, we can arrange curb-side pick up or home delivery!  Email requests to [email protected]

 
I know the biggest question on most students’ minds is, “What am I going to do until April 15!?”  Here are some suggestions:
 

• Start building in some routines during the work-week - consistent bedtimes, wake-up times, and work times;
• Watch our Instagram feed (vcssyukon) for daily prayer (12 noon) and daily challenges and contests;
• Make sure you have a quiet space set aside at home to do school work;
• Daily reading time – start reading a novel (order one from the learning commons for pick up or delivery) or download the Libby app and use your Whitehorse Public Library card to download e-books;
• Review prior learning (with materials from lockers, when available) in all courses in progress;
• Catch up on work that was assigned prior to spring break – submit those overdue assignments;
• Grade 10-12 students – do practice Literacy and Numeracy assessments
• Use online tools to master mathematics  or literacy skills – e.g. Khan academy
• Read online news sites and have current events discussions (what else is going on in our community, country, world aside from Covid-19?!);
• Watch YouTube videos to help revisit and master those tricky topics that you don’t feel you learned well enough the first time;
• Daily physical activity – make it a goal to get outside for at least 30 minutes every day;
• Do an art or craft project;
• Find a free audio book to stream on your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet.  There are stories available in French as well: https://stories.audible.com/start-listen?ref=adbl_ent_anon_ds_hm_hb
• Start a journal – in a notebook or digitally to write down your thoughts, tell a story, or write poetry;
• Watch an online documentary (and get your friends to watch it at their home) and meet online to discuss it.  National Film Board (https://www.nfb.ca/) has an excellent, free collection;
• Watch a Powerful Stories Tedx:   https://www.ted.com/playlists/386/10_years_of_ted_talks_powerfu
• Listen to a podcast for teens – there are so many great options out there!

 
I know many of you, especially Grade 12 students, will be anxious to get going on new learning.  Again, please be patient and don’t email your teachers asking for work – they’re working on preparing it for you now.
 
Teachers will be in touch soon to outline what will be happening in their classes.
 
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions or concerns.
 
Thanks,
Ryan Sikkes, principal and Jeanette Gallant, vice-principal