News from Vanier - October 5-9

 Dear Vanier Students and Families:

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
Dear Lord, thank you for the perfect peace that comes from you. I will rest in your love today and trust that you will take care of all of my needs. Amen
 
Later this week, all households should start receiving interim reports from all teachers in the mail.  At the Junior School (Grade 8 & 9) these only focus on Behaviours for Success (e.g. work habits and effort) as we do not have enough work to report on academic progress.  At the Senior School (Grades 10-12), both Behaviours for Success and academic progress will be reported.

Today, we discussed “lockdown” and “hold and secure” procedures with students but did not practice them as that would require students to come in to very close contact with each other.  A letter containing more information about our school safety procedures is attached to this email.

As we approach Thanksgiving, we would like to remind all our students and families of the Food Drive that will be happening next week.  We will be distributing bags to households all across the city as usual, but we will not have students/families driving around to pick up food on a designated evening.  Instead, between 8 am and 8 pm on Tuesday, October 13, food drop-offs will be accepted at the following locations:

• Vanier Catholic Secondary
• Porter Creek Secondary
• FH Collins Secondary
• Wood Street Centre
• Whitehorse Food Bank (306 Alexander Street)

The Whitehorse Food Bank heavily depends of these food drives to stock their shelves for the winter.  We hope that students and families can think creatively and safely about how to encourage friends and neighbours to donate and drop off food that day!

Sincerely,
Ryan Sikkes, principal and Alethea Wallace, vice-principal
 
Week-at-a-glance
Monday, October 5th

• Senior School - Day 1
• Lockdown Discussion @ 9:30 (and at 2:30 for SR students only)
  • We did not practice a lockdown (which would likely involve students needing to come close together).  Instead, teachers will discuss the processes and expectations for both Lockdown and Hold & Secure.

Tuesday, October 6th

• Senior School - Day 2
• Interims mailed:
  • Junior School – indicates Behaviours for Success only
  • Senior School – indicates Behaviours for Success and academic progress

Wednesday, October 7th

• Senior School - Day 1
• Liturgy Day - Thanksgiving    
  • AM senior shift: 10:20
  • Grade 8s: 11:15
  • Grade 9s: 11:45
  • PM senior shift: 2:15
• Junior School - X=Period 7

Thursday, October 8th

• Senior School - Day 2

Friday, October 9th

• Senior School - Day 1 

Monday, October 12th

• Thanksgiving Day – no school

Tuesday, October 13th

• Whitehorse Schools’ Food Drive – food drop off locations open from 8 am to 8 pm

 
Interim Reports
As mentioned above, interim reports will be mailed home this week.  At the end of October, a full report card will be written for all of our Senior School students that will include a percentage grade.  At that time, another interim report for our Junior School students will be sent that will include information on academic progress.

Blended Learning – how to help
The first interim reports may indicate that students are not on track to earning the grades that they (or you) wish.  Here are some suggestions to consider if their progress is not what was hoped for:

• Ensure your child has access to devices, technology and Internet away from school. If you do not have devices for your student to access, please ensure they know that devices can be accessed in the Senior Skills Room. 
• Keep in contact with teachers about your child’s learning progress during the year by email, phone, or arranging an in-person meeting.
• Talk to your child about using digital tools and ask them to show you what they are learning on their devices.  Help them figure out when work is more effectively done without devices present to reduce distractions (e.g. reading or textbook work).
• Have your child log you in on your device to their MS Teams so you can track what is being assigned.
• Help your child establish routines and a weekly schedule (including planning for sleep, homework, paid employment, chores, and leisure time)
• Be cautious of the number of hours being spent at paid employment or other activities that may need to be spent on course work.
• Be aware that a students Rapid Identity login provides access to all the software students need to complete online assignments (Teams, Word, Power Point, Excel) on both Mac, Windows, iOS, or Android devices.

 
Skills Room Contest
As a thank you to all our students who have been respectfully making good use of our Senior Skills Room, ten students will be rewarded with a surprise gift box just before Thanksgiving!

The Senior Skills Room is open every school day from 8:15 until 3:30 in the basement of the Riverdale Baptist Church and Ms. Seloterio (our Learning Assistance Teacher) and Mr. Biss are available to provide help in all subjects.
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On that note, students who are not “on shift” in classes are not permitted to be in the school while the other shift is in class.  The Senior Skills Room is the only permissible place to work unless specific permission has been granted by the school administration, a Learning Assistance Teacher, or counsellor.  Please contact the school if you feel that you (or your child) needs this exception made to work either the Junior Skills room or Learning Commons.