GHS NEWSLETTER – March 31, 2015

GRAVELBOURG HIGH
SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
#7 – March 31, 2015
Gravelbourg High School/École secondaire de Gravelbourg
Phone #: 648-2480 Fax #: 648-3228
Website: www.prairiesouth.ca/gravelbourghigh
Principal: Mr. Jody Lehmann V.P./Directrice adjointe: Mme Francine Gauthier
VARIOUS NEWS ITEMS
IMPORTANT DATES
Apr. 3 – No classes (Good Friday)
Apr. 6-10 – No classes (Easter Break)
Apr. 13 – L.I.T. Early dismissal (periods 1,3,4,5,6 only)
Apr. 17 – Monday schedule
Apr. 17 – GHS Alumni Post-Secondary Planning Day
Apr. 17 – Senior Badminton Sections at GHS/ÉSCM
Apr. 18 – Bantam Badminton Sections at GHS/ÉSCM
Apr. 24 – No classes
Apr. 27 – L.I.T. Early dismissal (periods 2,3,4,5,6 only)
May 1 – Tuesday schedule
May 8 – No classes
May 11 – L.I.T. Early dismissal (periods 1,2,3,4,5 only)
May 15 – No classes
May 18 – No classes (Victoria Day)
May 22 – No classes
May 23 – Grade 12 Commencement Ceremony
May 25 – L.I.T. Early dismissal (periods 1,2,3,4,6 only)
May 29 – Monday schedule
STUDENT-LED CONFERENCES
Thank you to all parents and students who attended
Student-led Conferences March 26/27th and to those
who rescheduled due to conflicts with the established
dates. We encourage parents to continue to be
involved in their child/ren’s learning and to show
interest in their growth and academic achievement.
What fantastic support! For more info, see page 3.
SRC DONATIONS TO TELEMIRACLE AND
OTHERS Be sure to read more details on page 5.
FRANCOFIÈVRE
Le 25 mars, la plupart des élèves du programme de
l’Immersion ont assisté à la Francofièvre à l’Université de
Regina. Les élèves ont eu l’occasion de participer à une
activité de Parcour (ou ‘Wipe-Out’ plutôt). Ils ont assisté
à deux présentations d’artistes musicaux: Mario Lepage
et Treizième Étage. Ils ont pu écouter à Shaun Jobin
encore une fois aussi puisqu’il était animateur.
Les grands messages que les élèves ont pu certainement
retenir de la journée, étaient: ‘Gardez votre
Francofièvre!’, ‘Foncez! Ne lâchez pas!’ et ‘Respect! You
know what I mean!?’ Bonne participation lors des
activités et lors de la partie concert!
GHS ALUMNI POST-SECONDARY
PLANNING DAY
Friday, April 17th, Grade 10-12 students will be attending
GHS’ fifth Alumni Post-Secondary Planning Day.
Presenters are as follow: Danielle (Carrobourg) Baht,
Peter Pathamavong, Santana Strieb, Wendell Neubeker,
Brett Lepine and Charlene Michaud.
Students will learn about their schooling experiences,
both secondary and post-secondary, as well as valuable
advice associated with both of these. Presenters will
speak about their career choices, employment
opportunities, challenges and accomplishments.
Students will be exposed to various careers, valuable
advice and numerous suggestions in regards to how to
face and overcome challenges they may face as young
adults. We look forward to this great opportunity
where our former students are able to connect with our
grade 10 – 12 students and share with them a wealth of
information, tips and tricks.
GHS NEWSLETTER – March 31, 2015
IMPROVING STUDENT LEARNING
A FIT BODY MEANS A FIT MIND
GHS 2014-2015 GOALS
STUDENT LEARNING GOAL - READING
Along with physical strength, a little
exercise helps kids build brainpower.
Forget the term "dumb jocks."
According to the latest research,
that's an oxymoron. New findings
from biology and education research
show that regular exercise benefits
the brain in numerous ways.
Not only can regular workouts in the gym or on the
playground improve attention span, memory, and
learning, they can also reduce stress and the effects of
attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and even delay
cognitive decline in old age. In short, staying in shape
can make you smarter.
"Memory retention and learning functions are all about
brain cells actually changing, growing, and working
better together," says John J. Ratey, clinical associate
professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and
the author of Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of
Exercise and the Brain. "Exercise creates the best
environment for that process to occur."
Although researchers aren't exactly certain how
exercise leads to better cognitive function, they are
learning how it physically benefits the brain. For
starters, aerobic exercise pumps more blood
throughout the body, including to the brain. More blood
means more oxygen and, therefore, better-nourished
brain tissue.
Exercise also spurs the brain to produce more of a
protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or
BDNF, which Ratey calls "Miracle-Gro for the brain." This
powerful protein encourages brain cells to grow,
interconnect, and communicate in new ways. Studies
also suggest exercise plays a big part in the production
of new brain cells, particularly in the dentate gyrus, a
part of the brain heavily involved in learning and
memory skills.
It wasn't until recently that researchers turned their
interest to children -- in whom exercise may have more
impact. The brain's frontal lobe, thought to play a role in
cognitive control, keeps growing throughout the school
years, says Charles Hillman, associate professor of
kinesiology and neuroscience at the University of
Illinois. "Therefore, exercise could help ramp up the
development of a child's brain," he says.
http://www.edutopia.org/exercise-fitness-brainbenefits-learning
By June 2015, 75% of grade 8-12 students will
comprehend what they read at proficiency level or
higher as determined by the Whole Class Reading
Assessment. The focus for LIT to be vocabulary – “tier
two academic words”.
DROP EVERYTHING AND READ PROGRAM
Students and staff continue with the
D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything and Read)
day every early dismissal day. At that
time, everyone in the school devotes
15 minutes to reading.
THE IMPORTANCE OF READING
COMPREHENSION
The lack of strong reading comprehension skills affects
a student’s success in school. Academic progress
depends on understanding, analyzing, and applying the
information gathered through reading. Developing
strong reading comprehension skills is essential for a
rich academic, professional, and personal life. Imagine
trying to survive and thrive in a society where you
couldn’t comprehend the basic meaning of your cable
bill, your mortgage agreement, or how to follow an
instruction manual. Living safely and productively is only
one of the many outcomes of proper reading
comprehension skills. Being able to derive meaning
from the written word also enables students to develop
intellectually, socially, and emotionally.
http://www.k12reader.com/the-importance-of-readingcomprehension/
STUDENT WELL BEING GOAL – IMPROVING
SCHOOL CULTURE
By June 2015, 90% of the grade 8-12 students will score
at the A or B level in each of the categories of respect
that were addressed in the survey.
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GHS NEWSLETTER – March 31, 2015
NUTRITION MONTH
A lot of people struggle
with making healthy
food choices outside
of the home. That’s
why Nutrition Month
2015 is dedicated to helping
Canadians learn how to eat well all
day long – whether at work, at school
or at play.
http://www.nutritionmonth.ca/
Pack-&-Go Solutions
Want to power-fuel your day with delicious, nutrientrich food when you’re outside the home? Make it and
take it with you, wherever your day takes you – work,
school or family outings. It doesn’t have to be
complicated or time-consuming. It can even save you
money. Let these tips and recipes help whet your
appetite for creating great food to go.
Breakfast to Go
Mornings too rushed to sit and eat? Prepare grab-andgo breakfasts the night before. Some nourishing ideas:
 Make a big batch of hot cereal, cooked in milk, on
weekends, pack in individual servings and
refrigerate. Ready to heat and eat wherever you are!
 Make parfaits in small Mason jars the night before.
Create attractive layers of fruit and yogurt. Put a
little muesli, as well as a few chopped nuts, in a
separate container to sprinkle on before eating.
 Make and freeze muffins on the weekend. Defrost,
cut in half, slip in some cheese and pack up for a
scrumptious satisfying breakfast.
Snacking Strategies
Get hungry between meals? Bringing nutritious snacks
to work reduces temptations to pick up nutrient-poor
choices from vending machine and food courts. Try
these energy-boosting tips:
 Bring milk to drink at work. You’ll get a protein boost
and 15 other essential nutrients.
 For satisfying instant snacking, keep yogurt, fruit,
cheese, as well as cut veggies and hummus, in the
office fridge.
 Have snacks such as unsalted nuts, seeds and dried
fruit in pre-packaged small portions in your desk.
SCC NEWS
The sun is shining and the Easter break is within sight! I,
for one, am looking forward to spring! The GHS School
Community Council has a very busy month ahead.
A big THANK YOU to all the parents who participated in
Student Led Conferences this past week and came
upstairs to complete the “Tell Them From Me” parent
survey. The school division, staff and SCC use the
information gathered to improve our school
environment and plan for the future school year. This
year's prizes were donated by the SCC.
Congratulations to the following winners:
Kobo Aura E-reader: Mr. Verdiales
Bouquinerie Gravel Bookstore gift certificate: Mr.
Brisebois
Family swim combo pack: Mrs. Heinrichs
Members of our SCC Mrs. Sutherland, Mrs. Jacobs, Mr.
J. Lehmann, Sylvie, along with Mark, will be presenting
at the National Congress on Rural Education in Canada
on March 31st in Saskatoon. We will be sharing
experiences with the Alternate School Calendar that
GHS has been using for past 12 years. This 3 day
conference brings educators, SCCs and educational
specialists from around the world to discuss education
in a rural setting.
Members of the SCC will be attending the PSSD Annual
Meeting of the Electors on April 14th. This is an
opportunity for us to network with other SCCs in the
division and learn what's going on at the division level.
Mark your calendars! The GHS SCC Annual General
Meeting is April 30th at 7pm. Please come out to meet
the new SCC and to hear reports. We are your SCC and
look forward to seeing at the AGM. If you are
interested in joining the SCC, please speak to Mr.
Lehmann, or any member of the SCC.
If you have any questions for the SCC, please call or
email the school or Yvonne Sutherland. We value the
input of all parents and community members.
-
Yvonne Sutherland
Thank you to SCC members Mrs. Sutherland, Mrs.
Brisebois, Mrs. Jacobs, Mrs. Bakaluk and Sylvie who
graciously helped out with parent TTFM surveys at SLCs!
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GHS NEWSLETTER – March 31, 2015
SPORTS UPDATE
BASKETBALL
SENIOR BOYS
The senior boys’ basketball team
wrapped up its season at Moose Jaw Sections. The boys
had the lead for the better part of the game but lost to
Cornerstone.
- Mr. Simonsen
SENIOR GIRLS
The girls hosted Conference playoffs on March 14,
played well but did not advance. The team had a very
successful year. They were 12-9 and undefeated in the
league. Well done ladies!
- Mr. Lehmann
Thank you to our basketball coaches , teacher
supervisors, minor officials, fans and canteen helpers
for all your contributions this season. Thank you also to
all the dedicated fans!
CURLING
SENIOR CURLING
Sarah, Renée, Sylvie and Isabelle,
coached by Mr. Huyghebaert,
competed at Regionals in Regina on
Feb.27/28. They played well. In their final game, they
lost to Regina Campbell Collegiate in the B-side final,
placing them third at Regionals. Unfortunately only the
top two teams advance to Provincials from each of the
four zones in the province. The girls should be proud
that they placed among the top 12 teams in the entire
province! What a great accomplishment!
Beau travail les filles!
BADMINTON
SENIORS
The following students attended the Swift Current
tournament March 28th:
Manoc & Breana – mixed doubles
Jarod & Wyatt – boys doubles
Abby & Isabelle – girls doubles
Morgan – girls singles
Derek– boys singles
Breana and Manoc lost in the semi-final match. Jarod
and Wyatt won the gold medal match. Congratulations!
BANTAMS
Without even having a practice our
players jumped right into a
tournament hosted by Mankota.
Friday, March 13, Rylan and Chloé
attended the singles tournament
and each came home with the Gold medal. The next
day, players returned for the doubles tournament.
Lianne and Tarah played girls doubles and won the
Bronze medal. Chloé Pand Rylan joined forces in mixed
doubles and won the Gold medal. Great start to our
season. Can’t wait to see what happens after a few
practices!
We hosted our own tournament at GHS/ÉSCM the
following weekend, March 21. Thank you to all those
who brought baking, soup and chili. Parents Mrs.
Wilson, Mrs. Boire and Mrs. Smith all helped out in the
canteen. Thank you so much for your time. I am sure
athletes enjoyed the food. Gold medals were handed
out to Ethan and Jun (Boys doubles) and Chloé and
Rylan (Mixed doubles).
- Mme Pouteaux
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
ACADEMICS FIRST, EXTRA-CURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES SECOND
Our prime focus at GHS is the acquisition of knowledge
and of lifelong skills. While extra-curricular activities
add to the overall experience of students’ high school
years, they are not the prime reason for being here.
When students are failing classes or are chronically late
with completion and submission of assignments,
students may be removed from their extra-curricular
activities until they can produce a passing grade and
until they are caught up in their assignments.
As always, we encourage students to ask questions,
take advantage of review sessions, complete
assignments to the best of their ability, prepare in
advance for tests and ask for extra support if required in
order to ensure passing grades.
Next, senior athletes will compete at Sections on April
17th at GHS and at ÉSCM. Best of luck to all!
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GHS NEWSLETTER – March 31, 2015
FOOD POLICY
SRC BOOK REPORT CONTEST
Please do not bring any food items into the
building that may contain any type of nuts
or nut products. We insist on your
cooperation for the safety of those
students who are affected by severe nut allergies.
In conjunction with our school learning goal, the SRC is
presenting a contest for students. A book report on a
novel (200 pages or longer) must be submitted to Mr.
Huyghebaert or Sylvie by April 16. The report must
include the following:
1) Name & Grade
2) Title of novel & Author
3) Describe each step below, as it happens in your
novel, in 4-5 sentences:
a) introduction
b) problem
c) rising action
d) major crisis
e) climax
f) conclusion
4) Write a paragraph of at least 5 sentences stating
why you liked or disliked the novel.
5) In a paragraph of at least 8 sentences, describe the
character that you can relate to the most and why.
6) Would you recommend this book to others? Why or
why not (3 sentences)
VARIOUS SCHOOL CLUB UPDATES
BOOK CLUB
To date, Book Club members have read and rated 53
novels outside of school books. The goal is to read 70.
Book Club members ask students to check
out the list and read a book today!
- Mr. Simonsen
WISC
2014 Women in Sport Conference participants Sarah,
Anna Mae, Brianna and Ashley, are bringing back some
of their expertise to GHS. They are organizing the
following noon activity sessions: April 20 – wrestling
and May 11 – yoga. Be sure to stay tuned for more
details.
SRC
RED CROSS DAY OF PINK
On April 1, 2015, communities and schools across
Saskatchewan will take a stand against bullying by
wearing PINK. It is an engaging way to get us thinking
about what we can do to create a safe and respectful
environment in our school and community.
A donation of $700.oo, mainly from bottle/can refunds
at Sarcan throughout the year, was sent off to Me to
We / Feed the Children. $500 of this amount is being put
towards furnishing a school and providing textbooks for
a school. $200 of this amount is providing two schools
each with one month of healthy meals.
ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL DONATION
NEW GHS CLOTHING
Ladies’ Jacket (black or white)
Men’s Jacket (black or white)
Adult Unisex Hoodie (black or blue)
Youth hoodie (black or blue)
Ladies’ Polo (blue)
Men’s Polo (blue)
Youth Sweat Pant (black, grey or royal)
Adult sweat pant open bottom
(black, grey or royal)
Adult sweat pant closed bottom
(black, grey or royal)
ME TO WE / FREE THE CHILDREN
DONATION
$90.00
$90.00
$70.00
$65.00
$40.00
$40.00
$25.00
$35.00
$30.00
A donation of $300.00, collected from students’ hat day
donations, was given to our local St. Joseph’s Hospital.
This money will possibly be used to purchase a nebulizer
and a blood pressure machine.
TELEMIRACLE DONATION- $650 donated!!
Cheques totalling $650.00 were sent to the Kinsmen
Telemiracle Foundation. This amount included
donations from 2014/15 and 2013/14. As always, we are
confident that this money will help out individuals with
special needs.
Samples and additional order forms are at the office.
Orders must be handed in to Sarah by April 1.
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SRC – MORE NEWS
ST. PATRICKS DAY
Congratulations to Renée and Lianne who were named the Queens of Clover during the traditional Queen
of Clover challenge on St. Patrick’s Day.
SPIRIT WEEK REMINDER
Monday – Easter Colours Day
Tuesday – Twin Day
Wednesday – Pink Day
Thursday – Beach Day
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Reminder to Parents & Senior Students:
Think Opportunity … Think Snapshots events are coming soon! What great opportunity for students to learn
first-hand about various career opportunities. Please take a look at the Think Opportunity Events Calendar
below. If your child is interested in any of these careers, please speak to Mr. Huyghebaert to get the information
needed to sign up. Seats are limited for each event so don’t wait too long to decide!
Other Career Presentations/Opportunities:
GHS NEWSLETTER – March 31, 2015
March 5, 2015
Dear Parents:
Attached you will find the 2015-2016 school year calendar that was approved by the Prairie South Schools
Board of Education on March 3, 2015. The calendar committee met January 21 to discuss parameters and
developed two draft calendars. A survey was then conducted to collect feedback from school based-staff and
parents. There were 1,431 participants, with seventy-five (75%) indicating a preference for Option A, with ten
days for Christmas Break, five days for February Break and six days for Easter Break.
The committee worked hard to achieve a five-day February break after receiving feedback that this was
important to a variety of groups. We were able to achieve this for the 2015-2016 year because of the
adjustment to the beginning of the school year approved by the provincial government for 2015. We hope
parents will take the opportunity that this break offers if they are considering a winter holiday in 2016 to
prevent lost instructional time that occurs when family holidays happen during times when school is in
session.
The calendar development process was guided by:
 Education Act Amendment Regulations 2012 effective January 1, 2013
 Locally negotiated contracts (prep days negotiated and placed strategically to meet requests of
teachers, the beginning/end of the school year, report card times and semester turn around)
We appreciate the efforts of all stakeholders to provide feedback to establish a school year calendar in a
manner that respects the needs of students, staff and communities. If you have questions or need
clarification please contact Barbara Compton at 306-694-1200.
Barbara Compton
Superintendent of Operations
Prairie South School Division
15 Thatcher Drive East
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
[email protected]
306-694-1200 (office); 306-640-9807 (cellular)
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GHS NEWSLETTER – March 31, 2015
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