STAYNER COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE TELEPHONE 705-428-2639 FAX 705-428-0562 Caroline Smith, Trustee casmith@scdsb.on.ca Jackie Kavanagh, Superintendent jkavanagh@scdsb.on.ca Janice Ellerby, Principal jellerby@scdsb.on.ca Deborah Prairie, Vice-Principal dprairie@scdsb.on.ca Janice McLeod, Student Success & Special Education Ben Murray, Student Services Joan Walsh, Cooperative Education

Time is certainly flying by as we enter Week 12 of 20 in our semester next week. SCI is, as usual, a thriving hub of activity and learning for all students from Grade 9 – 12. Some of the highlights of our semester so far are contained in this newsletter – check it out!

As you review your child’s mid-semester report card, please take note of all the important information contained therein. Our reports are more than just a grade. Please take note of the Learning Skills and where there are areas for improvement noted. Learning Skills are important contributors to your child’s overall success in their courses. Also, please take note of the attendance. Students who struggle to attend classes will inevitably struggle to earn their credits. We will be working closely with your children in the weeks ahead to help them be successful. We encourage you to help them develop the grit and resiliency to “stay the course” and continue to put forth a concerted effort in every subject. We all have the same goal in mind – to help our students find success and to move on to the next phase of their lives. Please remember to sign up for my Remind text messaging service (see article inside), like us on Facebook, bookmark www.staynercollegiate.com, sign up for daily announcement feeds from our Facebook page, or connect with us on Twitter @jellerbyscdsb or @StaynerC to stay connected between newsletters. Janice Ellerby, Principal

ATTENDANCE AND LATE POLICY One of the single most important factors contributing to a student’s success in school is regular attendance. Because of the significant correlation between achievement in school and good attendance, we urge all parents to hold their children accountable for school attendance and to also support consequences at home/school for unexplained absences.

Students who are absent, even if only for one period in a day, are to bring a note from their parent/guardian to the Office upon their return to school. Parents may also call the Office to explain the absence.

HEALTH NURSE This year, health professionals from the South Georgian Bay Community Health Centre will be making regular visits to SCI to provide support for our students. If a student is interested in connecting with the health nurse, all they need to do is speak to a guidance counsellor.

ONTARIO COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY APPLICATIONS JANUARY/FEBRUARY DEADLINES!!! To be given equal consideration with other students applying to college and university, you must submit your on-line applications by the dates outlined below. Several college and university application workshops will be presented at SCI this month. If you are applying to university you will need to obtain your PIN number, password, etc. from the Guidance office. For college applications you will need to get your OEN number from us.

November 13, 2014

This Newsletter

Principal’s Corner

Attendance & Late Policy

Health Nurse

Ontario College & University Applications

Coming Events

Full Disclosure

Community Service Hours

Scholarship Opportunities

Advanced Placement Program

School Council Meetings

Specialist High Skills Major

Textbooks

Grade 8 ‘Spartan In Training’ Day

Gr 9 Geography’s Toronto Trip

Graduation Photos

Math Extra Help

SCI Yearbook

Lockers

Career Fair Display & Cooperative Education

SCDSB Mission, Vision & Values

Circle of Learning Parent Academy

Gr 8 Information Night

Field Trips, Sporting & Others School Events

Bus Cancellation Information

Local Health Unit Monitoring Enterovirus D68

2014 Ontario Child Health Study & Mental Health

Surveys

Awards Assembly

History field trips

HOT OFF THE PRESS…

SCI has a new attendance hotline email address:

staattendance@scdsb.on.ca You can email about your

student’s absences directly!!

Add us to your contacts and ‘safe sender’ list!

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UNIVERSITIES (Ontario Universities Application Centre) www.ouac.on.ca Application Deadline: January 14th, 2015

COLLEGES (Ontario Colleges Application Services) www.ontariocolleges.ca Application Deadline: February 1st, 2015

Please note these on-line services become extremely busy as the deadline dates approach. To avoid frustration and/or disappointment do not leave your application until the last minute.

FULL DISCLOSURE (SR. COURSES) November 20th, 2014 is the last opportunity to make changes to your Semester 1 timetable without having courses and marks appear permanently on your transcripts. If you require any changes, or if you would like further clarification regarding full disclosure dates, please contact the Guidance office.

COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS Attention Grade 12 Students! Many of you have not submitted your community service hours sheets to Mrs. Kaster in Guidance. Signed forms accounting for 40 hours of community service need to be returned to Guidance in order for you to be added to the list of potential graduates. Deadline for submissions: April 15 of current school year.

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES There are always new scholarships popping up for graduating students, so it’s important to listen to the announcements for regular updates. Two of the newest (and most lucrative) scholarships are:

♦ Ray’s Place Scholarship ($5000 per year, for 3 or 4 years) Awarded to a graduating student in the Clearview area (conditions apply)

♦ Lakehead University Citizenship Scholarship ($3000 per year for 4 years) Awarded to a graduate from Stayner Collegiate Institute (conditions apply)

Contact the Guidance Office for more details and application forms.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM A new program at the SCDSB allows high school students to prepare for university or college courses and exams.

The Advanced Placement (AP) program gives students who have in-depth knowledge of particular subject areas the chance to write examinations covering over 30 subjects. The exams are administered by schools on specific dates in May and students who achieve a score of 4 or 5 can be considered for advanced placement in post-secondary programs that recognize the AP designation.

Prior to exam dates, the Continuing Education Department of the SCDSB will be offering AP Exam Preparation programs for the exams that have generated the most interest from students.

Each program will provide 18 hours of intensive study focusing on exam content, taught by qualified teachers, using College Board AP exam study material.

Visit http://www.thelearningcentres.com/advanced-placement for more information and to register.

SEMESTER ONE

Nov. 13 Mid-Term Report Card Distribution Nov. 14 Elementary & Secondary P.D. Day Nov. 24 Full Disclosure Nov. 24 School Council Mtg. 7:00-9:00 pm – Library Nov 27 Grade 8 Open House 6:30 - 8:30 pm Nov. 28 Character Recognition Assembly

TBA Cdn Open Math Challenge Dec. 10 Coop Employer Appreciation Breakfast & Career Fair Dec 15-19 Holiday Cheer Activities (Student Council) Dec. 17 Holiday Concert 7-9:00pm Dec. 22-Jan.2 Holidays

Jan. 5 Return to Classes Jan. 8-23 EQAO Math Testing (Grade 9) Jan 13-16 Grad Photos Jan. 15 University Applications Due to OUAC Jan. 22-28 Moratorium on all school activities Jan. 22-28 Final Evaluations for Sem. 1 Jan. 26 School Council Mtg. 7:00-9:00 pm – Library Jan. 29 Secondary P.D. Day Jan. 30 Elementary & Secondary P.D. Day

Feb. 1 College Applications Due to OCAS

SEMESTER TWO

Feb. 2 Semester 2, Term 1 Starts Feb. 4/5 Grade Assemblies Feb. 11 Report Card Distribution (Sem.1) Feb. 16 Family Day (no classes) Feb. 23 School Council Mtg. 7:00-9:00 pm –Library Feb. 24 Math Contests, Pascal, Cayley, Fermat

Mar. 2 Grad Photo Retakes Mar. 6 Semi-Formal Dance 6:30-10:30 pm (Student Card Required) Mar. 8 Daylight Savings Time Begins Mar.16-20 March Break Mar. Progress Reports Mar.26 OSSLT Testing

Mar. 30 School Council Mtg. 7:00-9:00 pm – Library

Apr. 1 Student/Parent/Teacher Interviews 5:00 – 7:00pm Apr. 3 Good Friday (no classes) Apr. 6 Easter Monday (no classes) Apr. 15 Term 1 Ends Apr. 15 Math Contest, Euclid Apr. 15 Coop Information Meeting for Sem 1 Students for next year Apr. 16 Term 2 Begins Apr. 27 School Council Mtg. 7:00-9:00 pm – Library Apr. 30 Mid-Term Report Cards

May 1 Community Service Hours Deadline -Grade 12’s

TEXTBOOKS Students and parents are reminded that all textbooks are loaned to students for their use

and must be returned to the school at the end of each semester. In the event a textbook is lost or damaged, the student will be responsible to pay for its replacement.

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JOIN A CLUB, TEAM AND/OR GET INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES

LISTEN FOR MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS, WATCH THE TV IN THE HALL

OR CHECK OUT THE SCI WEBSITE FOR MEETING TIMES AND PLACES AT LUNCH AND AFTER SCHOOL

Grade 8 Spartan In Training

Wed. Nov. 5th

Over 100 grade 8 students from the Stayner Collegiate

family of schools were “high school students” for the day

on Wednesday November 5th. Students participated in a

variety of classes including business, art, music, science,

physical education, math, photography, technology, social

science, geography and green industries.

As part of the grade 8 transition plan, students were given

the opportunity to come to the secondary schools in

Simcoe County and see a day in the life of a high school

student.

The “Spartans In Training” also learned about special SCI

opportunities such as the Environmental Specialist High

Skills Major, Library Live and as well as our specialized

physical education programs.

The student services department and student success look

forward to meeting with the grade 8s again to discuss op-

tion sheets and course selection for next year.

Grade 8 students and parents are encouraged to attend the

GRADE 8 INFORMATION NIGHT on Thursday

November 27th from 7:00 -9:00pm. There will also be a

“Parent Transition” presentation beginning at 6:pm for any

parents interested in learning more about the development

of teenagers.

SHSM On October 23rd, 15 of our Environmental SHSM students travelled to the University of Guelph for an SHSM training day. Students participated in two interactive training sessions where they learned about Plant Management and Habitat Res-toration using plant species. The above image shows 6 of our students enjoying a tour of the Guelph research greenhouses where they used some impressive research technology to measure light intensity, carbon dioxide output, soil pH and soil moisture and nutrient levels.

LOCKERS Lockers are on loan to you by the school. Please attach items with masking tape only. Use your markers on paper and tape it into your locker. If you damage or disfigure the

locker you are using, you can be held responsible for repairs.

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GRADUATION PHOTOS

Graduation Photos: January 13, 14, 15 Graduation Retakes: Monday, March 2

If you have questions or problems you can contact Edge Imaging at 1-888-416-3343.

MATH ... meh MEH! Math Extra Help

Interested in some FREE math extra help?

Please see your math teacher or Mr. Pearson in Room 660. The Math Extra Help program will run every lunch (excluding Wednesdays), and after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

S.C.I. YEARBOOK 2014-2015

ORDER A LIFE TIME

OF MEMORIES

$40.00 PREORDERED

$45.00 IF YOU DON’T

ORDER YOURS TODAY

YOU CAN PAY BY

CASH, CHEQUE

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(2 PAYMENT PLAN AVAILABLE)

Exploring Geography Toronto From The Ground

In October two of Mrs. Brown’s grade 9 geography classes traveled to Toronto to take in the sights and sounds of Canada’s largest city, Toronto. We took the bus to the Yorkdale subway station, bought our tickets and boarded one of the new subway trains to the downtown core. We saw lots of different types of land use throughout our walk and took in the multicultural flavour of Ontario’s capital city. Highlights of the trip included Queen’s Park, the very expensive stores of Bloor Street, the University of Toronto, Chinatown, Nathan Phillips Square, the Eaton Centre, Union Station, the underground malls, and of course the world renowned C.N. Tower. The students were very tired after walking 8 kilometres but the heavy rain held off and they saw and learned lots of new things about Ontario’s capital city.

SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETINGS We invite parents/guardians to attend our monthly School Council Meetings the last Monday of every

month 6:30-8:30 pm in our School Library. All parents/guardians are welcome!

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Career Fair Display in the Library of SCI Wednesday, December 10 8:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Parents and Employers,

SCI, Byng PS, Clearview Meadows PS, New Lowell PS, Nottawasaga Creemore PS, & Duntroon PS students

are invited to attend

COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM “Learning from Experience”

We are now into Term II, week 11 of the Cooperative Education Work Experience. Students are learning a lot about themselves, their interests, and their aptitude for various work environments; they are learning many new skills and really enjoy the myriad of hands-on learning experiences. They are addressing and learning a lot about different communication styles and perceptions. Some quotes come to mind:

"There are no mistakes, no coincidences. All events are blessings given to us to learn from." -- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross "Do a little more each day than you think you possibly can." -- Lowell Thomas “Most success springs from an obstacle or failure” -- Scott Adams "Pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever." -- Lance Armstrong

NOTE: The Simcoe County District School Board and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, Appren-ticeship branch are targeting and promoting non-traditional trades to young women. The Skills Work, WOMEN CA-REER EXPLORATION EVENT, Networking Luncheon, Thurs. Nov. 13th, at the Nottawasaga Inn in Alliston is one of several promotional events that will take place during the 2014/15 school year. Girls have the opportunity to meet and enter into discussions with female mentors. Many girls were involved in the TECHSPLORATION Conference, a 2 day event held at Horseshoe Resort, in October, a great opportunity to explore trades and to challenge them-selves. The Ministry’s direction is to increase enrolment in non-traditional trades, apprenticeships. Girls should contact Mrs. Walsh to find out more information.

We will be offering CPR/First Aid training and certification and Forklift/Fall Arrest Training this year. Listen for announcements and sign up early for the training.

Please continue to discuss your children’s work experiences with them and help them to problem solve and grow through their hands-on experiences. Talk to your children about workplace etiquette and socially acceptable behaviour, about the importance of attend-ance and punctuality and about the need for completion of assignments as due.

Please contact the Coop department at any time to discuss any concerns or questions you may have about the program. Mrs. Walsh, Mr. Morris

We are actively engaged in signing Apprenticeships for students who have made a career choice through their work experiences. We are very fortunate to have many employers who continuously support students and open doors for them as they enter into the world of work.

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FIELD TRIPS, SPORTING & OTHER SCHOOL EVENTS

Prior permission from School Administration must be received if your student is on a field trip, sporting, or oth-er school event and will not be returning with the bus or driver. Parents must send a written request for this per-mission in advance of the event. Due to liability issues students are not allowed to drive themselves unless they are 18, have written parent permission, filled out a Private Vehicle Use Form and have School Administra-tion permission. Students are under no circumstances allowed to drive other students, including siblings.

CIRCLE OF LEARNING PARENT ACADEMY Free workshops to help you boost your child’s success.

As a parent/guardian, you were your child’s first teacher and you are still his or her most important teacher. Your involve-ment in your child’s education has an impact on success. Reg-ister to attend workshops throughout the year designed to help you support your child’s learning and development.

Sessions include: • Successful transitions – how parents can guide their chil-

dren to achieve their full potential • Make the difference in math with a growth mindset, Math

101 - all parents can support their children in math • Resilience: Nine things kids need from their families,

schools, and communities Find workshop dates, times, descriptions and register online at www.scdsb.on.ca/circleoflearning.

The Circle of Learning Parent Academy is hosted by the Simcoe County District School Board’s Parent Involvement Committee and made possible with the support of the Ministry of Education through a Parents Reaching Out Grant.

GRADE 8 INFORMATION NIGHTS Is your child starting Grade 9 next year? High school information nights happen this winter! Information nights give an overview of what’s

new and what to expect, and are a chance to ask questions.

High school is an exciting time—there are so many programs, clubs and activities for students to try. Attend the information night (see schedule on SCDSB’s website here: http://www.scdsb.on.ca/Schools/Pages/highschool.aspx) to find out what’s offered at your local high school.

If you can’t attend an event, call your local public high school to book an appointment to visit.

BUS CANCELLATION INFORMATION IN CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER Although fall has recently arrived, winter is just around the cor-ner in Simcoe County. With it comes the possibility of severe weather, challenging winter driving conditions and, as a result, possible bus and school event cancellations.

All information regarding cancelled buses in Simcoe County is posted on the Simcoe County Student Transportation Consorti-

um’s bus information website at www.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca. Our school is in the WEST zone. When buses are can-celled, please remember that schools are still

open (unless otherwise noted) for student learning. The Consortium, in conjunction with bus operators, will make the decision to cancel school buses before 6 a.m. and as such, will make every effort to post announcements between 6 and 7 a.m. Parents should also note that inclement weather cancella-tions are effective for the whole day and buses cancelled in the morning will not run at the end of the day. You can also subscribe to receive bus delay notifications here: https://scstc.ca/Subscriptions and you can follow the Consorti-um on Twitter @SCSTC_SchoolBus.

LOCAL HEALTH UNIT MONITORING ENTEROVIRUS D68 You may have heard of a nasty cough that has been hospital-izing some children in the United States. It has now been de-tected in Canada, including communities in Ontario. This par-ticular bug is called the Enterovirus D68, a cousin of the family of common cold viruses. For most people including most chil-dren, this virus will cause mild illness similar to the common cold. Symptoms include fever, runny nose, sneezing, cough,

and body and muscle aches. Most people don’t need a visit to the clinic or the hospital, and will get better on their own. There is no specific

antibiotic or antiviral medication or vaccine for D68.

The virus spreads like the common cold, by droplets from sneezing or coughing and from nasal mucus. It can also be picked up by touching surfaces that have been contaminated.

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This virus behaves much like the cold or influenza, and pro-tecting yourself and your children is much the same as with those diseases. For more information, visit the Health Unit’s website at www.simcoemuskokahealth.org.

PARTICIPATE IN THE 2014 ONTARIO CHILD HEALTH STUDY AND SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH SURVEYS The 2014 Ontario Child Health Study is underway and will pro-vide vital information about the mental health needs of children

and youth living in Ontario today. This study will be the first of its kind in Canada to examine the influ-ence of family, community and school environments

on child and youth mental health. The results will be used to develop programs and services to improve the mental health of young people in Ontario.

From October 2014 to May 2015, Statistics Canada will be inviting 7,000 families with children aged 4 -17 to complete an interview in their home. At the same time, McMaster research-ers will be conducting School Mental Health Surveys in 240 Ontario schools to help us learn new ways of promoting and addressing student mental health needs.

Let's make our province a better place for children and youth. If invited to participate, please say ‘yes’ to the 2014 Ontario Child Health Study and School Mental Health Surveys. For more information, visit: www.ontariochildhealthstudy.ca.

HISTORY COMES ALIVE

On October 21st, Mrs. Wiwchar's and Mr. Neilsen's grade 10 Canadian History students had the chance to visit the Simcoe County Museum in Midhurst to participate in the Museum's new World War I program. They examined WWI artifacts and archival resources. The reproduction of a 60-foot trench pro-vided an opportunity to experience life on the front line in a manner unattainable in any classroom. Students learned about the recruitment process, donned actual WWI gear, demonstrated their skill in basic training and experienced trench life. They even participated in a mock WWI battle where some were very lucky, others were injured and some did not make it home. Students also studied the contributions made by Simcoe County during the war years, discovered the true impact of WWI on Canadian soldiers and those serving on the Home Front, as well as connecting with local soldiers and nurses through personal stories and belongings. The ex-perience brought to life the trials and tribulations of WWI. They all made great soldiers and even braved the cold and rainy weather.

On November 21st, Mrs. Wiwchar's and Mr. Neilsen's grade 10 Canadian History classes will be visiting Base Borden. This day will give the students the opportunity to speak with military personnel and aid them in developing a true under-standing of the sacrifices made by Canadian soldiers since WWI. Students will receive a guided tour of Base Borden's Military Museum which holds a significant collection WWI, WWII and post war armoured vehicles, trucks, and aircraft. They will also receive a talk from military personnel about future career opportunities in the military. It should be a great day!

On Monday, October 20, SCI recognized the academic success of those students in the 2013-14 academic year who:

♦ Earned the top mark in their Grade 9 – 11 courses ♦ Earned a place on the SCI Honour Roll by having an

average over 80% in all their courses during the year.

Over 80 students crossed the stage to receive these awards, many earning multiple awards and/or a place on the Honour Roll.

Congratulations to all those earning top mark / scholar awards. Your hard work and dedication to academic suc-cess is something you should all be proud of.