News from Vanier - May 4-8

Dear Vanier students and families:


​A Metaphor for Change


Spring is a metaphor for change. Some changes we eagerly await, and some we abhor. Some changes we plan and others arrive uninvited. To all these changes we ask the gift of Your perspective beckoning us to expectation, hope, and rebirth.
May the sunlight and the rain be reminders that You are at work renewing the earth. As a God of renewal, You are ever at work in our lives, too.
Open our eyes and lives to the needed changes in our lives this Spring. Awaken us to new life and perspective, for this we pray in Jesus’ name.
- Author Unknown


As the weather continues to improve, we understand that it may become more and more difficult to be sitting in front of a screen each day to work.  This may be a bit easier if you schedule your time each day – routines and schedules can be something to help bring calmness and predictability.  They can also help with motivation, too!

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We encourage everyone, near the start of each week, to plan out your time for the week – our Learning Assistance Teachers and Educational Assistants are available to help students in this regard.  Please feel free to email [email protected] to ask for help or visit “The Hallway” in Google Classrooms to see who is on duty in the Virtual Skills Room (and get the Zoom code to visit it).


Is Google Classroom a bit of a mystery?

Many of our teachers are using Google Classroom to help manage their classes – we know that many parents are wondering how it works or what it looks like!  Here is a short video that explains it well for parents/guardians: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgS-hoSIjnw

Remember that you can contact a teacher and ask to be added as a parent so you can get notification emails!


Extra Long Weekend coming up!

We had a PD Day scheduled for April 24 that we postponed to May 15. Our staff need some time set aside to plan for the end of this year and the start of next year.  On Friday, May 15, class meetings and regularly scheduled events may be cancelled or postponed – those details will come directly from teachers next week.  Further, Victoria Day is Monday, May 18 and there will be no classes that day, as well.


Service Learning

Service Learning has always been a core component of our school’s religious education program.  Completing these hours in Grades 10-12 also help each student meet the requirement of BC’s Graduation Program – a requirement that we cover through the mandatory service learning hours in Christ and Culture 10 and World Religions 12.

Service Learning is not intended to be a burden – rather it is designed to help our students understand that giving of themselves – their time, talent, and efforts – actually helps them experience a sense of satisfaction and/or gratitude that can be life-changing.  In these current times of physical distancing and feelings of isolation we need, more than ever, to find ways to stay connected to our larger community.  Service Learning is one way to help our students do this.

Our school’s Social Justice Club will be highlighting service learning on our Instagram feed (vcssyukon) all week!

Tomorrow, students who have not yet met their service learning requirements will receive an email from Mr. Gillard and Ms. Gray.  We continue to expect service learning hours to be completed and will allow parents to monitor and sign the log sheets.  The time requirements are:

• Grade 8 – 5 hours
• Grade 9 – 10 hours
• Christ and Culture 10 – 15 hours
• World Religions 12 – 15 hours

Of course, many of the traditional opportunities to earn service learning hours are not available due to the Covid-19 pandemic and public heath restrictions.  Here is a list of service learning opportunities that will meet our requirements:

• A “random act of kindness” for another person
• Pick up trash in around your neighbourhood (or a school yard!)
• Sharing books/puzzles/games with other families in your neighbourhood
• Zoom or phone tutoring for other students (please, no in-person meetings!)
• Write letters to those who are housebound (we can help deliver them)
• Write thank you cards/letters to essential service workers (we can help deliver them)
• Do some extra chores around your house (above what you normally do)
• Collect food from your friends and neighbours and deliver to the Food Bank
• Sweep driveways or sidewalks for others
• Walk a neighbour’s dog
• Prepare a meal(s) for someone who could use it
• Go to the store/get groceries for someone who cannot go out

Counselling

Our school’s counselling department has always provided supports for students who are grappling with a variety of personal issues.  Ms. Ouellette and Ms. Brogdon continue to be available to students and families.

The best way to get in touch with them right now is by email ([email protected] or[email protected]) and they can make individual arrangements to schedule an appointment.


Please contact us!

Please don’t hesitate to contact teachers, counsellors, or the school’s administration to address your concerns – we’d very much prefer to resolve an issue while it is still small rather than let it grow into something more serious. We also need your feedback in order to know how things are going!

• Telephone: 667-5901
• Email:
  • School’s general email:[email protected]
  • Skills Room email:[email protected]
  • Staff emails:[email protected](e.g. [email protected])

Sincerely,
​Ryan Sikkes, principal and Jeanette Gallant, vice principal