February - Dover Bay Secondary School

6135 McGIRR ROAD, NANAIMO, B.C. V9V 1M1
Newsletter
Telephone: (250) 756-4595 / Fax: (250) 751-3405
Website: www.doverbay.ca
Follow Dover on twitter@dover_bay
Principal: Ms. Jill Bailey
Vice-Principal: Ms. Theresa Kraeker and Mr. Darcy Hoff
FEBRUARY 19, 2015
ERASE Bullying
A confidential and anonymous,
online reporting tool for
students.
Online parent resources at:
www.erasebullying.ca
DOVER BAY SECONDARY
The School Newsletter will be available to students and parents on-line ONLY. A telephone message will notify you that it has been posted on the Dover Bay
website www.doverbay.ca If you do not have access to a computer, there will be some copies available in the office for you or your child to pick up.
PRINCIPAL’S COMMENTS:
Dear Parents and Guardians,
February has been a busy month. In the first week
we completed final assessments for first semester,
including Provincial exams in some grades 10, 11,
and 12 courses. Then all staff and students
switched to second semester courses. This week
we held grade assemblies, welcomed our grade 7
parents and teacher in two separate meetings, and
hosted the first of three District “Your Voice”
review / input meetings. (See the following page
for further information.) We also welcomed to
Dover Bay some new or returning teachers: Ms
Lafleur, Mr. Cathcart. Ms Sterner, Mr. Holmes, Ms
Gvojich, Ms Macalister, and Mr. Slater.
Dover Bay staff members are committed to
ongoing professional learning and teamwork. PLC
(Professional Learning Community) groups
continue to work collaboratively, developing and
implementing plans, and gathering data to improve
student learning and social development. One
project, called “Gotcha Good!” involves recognizing
when students perform acts of kindness for others,
or do something to improve our school
environment. This initiative is being launched this
week by a group of staff.
This newsletter contains useful information for
senior students as they prepare their scholarship
and post-secondary applications.
Grade 12
students are reminded that Graduation Transitions
Standards, a Ministry requirement for graduation,
should be completed by March 31st in time for the
third report card. We remind Grade 12 students
interested in applying for scholarships, bursaries,
and entrance to post-secondary institutions, that it
is important to meet application deadlines.
Counselors have completed course selections for
next year with students in grades 8 – 11, and this
month they will be visiting grade 7 classes in our
feeder schools
As always, I invite parents and guardians to contact
me with your questions or concerns.
Jill Bailey
IMPORTANT DATES
Feb 19
Feb 23
Feb 24
Mar 20
Mar 23-27
Mar 11-12
Mar 30
Apr 3
Apr 6
Apr 21
Apr 22
Apr 29
Apr 30
May 4
May 18
Jun 18
Jun 19-24
Jun 23
Jun 26
Jul 6-10
Semester 1 Report Cards Issued
District Non-Instructional Day
School Based Non-Instructional Day
Last day of classes before Spring
Break
Schools Closed for Spring Break
Interim Reports
Schools Re-Open
Good Friday Holiday
Easter Monday Holiday
Semester 2 Term 1 ends
Beginning of Semester 2 Term 2
Semester 2 Term 1 Reports issued
Parent Teacher conferences
School Based Non-Instructional Day
Victoria Day Holiday
Last Day of regular classes
Assessments / Provincial
Examinations
Graduation Ceremonies
Dry Grad Celebration
Final Report Cards Issued
YOUR VOICE 2015
Hello Parents,
Your Voice 2015 recently launched in the Nanaimo
Ladysmith Public School District. This an
engagement process where the Board of Education
wants the community to review and provide input
for the Enhanced Facilities for Learning Plan and
the 2015-16 budget.
There are a number of ways to get involved:
 Complete the online survey
 Fill out the online booklet and email it to
[email protected]
 Print the booklet and drop it off at the
school office
 Attend one or all of the public round table
discussions
Public Meetings will be held from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
on the following dates:
 Tuesday, February 17, 2015 – Dover Bay
Secondary
 Thursday, February 26, 2015 – John Barsby
Secondary
 Thursday, March 5, 2015 – Ladysmith
Secondary
The purpose of the round table meetings will be to
hear directly from those in the community. The
session will be led by a facilitator and you will have
the opportunity to share your thoughts at one of
the many table settings at each venue. During the
meeting, there will be multiple opportunities to
share with your table and also with the entire
group. Trustees will be there to listen and gather
your feedback. Your voice will help guide the Board
in planning for the next steps in the budget
development process and the future of the
Enhanced Facilities for Learning Plan. For your
convenience, there will be childcare available at
John Barsby Community Secondary and Ladysmith
Secondary.
You can also make a presentation to the Board by
booking your 10 minute presentation with Kelsey
Toye: [email protected]
Presentations to the Board will take place
Thursday, March 19, 2015 at the Vancouver Island
Conference Centre (Shaw Auditorium) from 6:30 to
8:30 p.m. Book today as spots are limited.
Finally, if you want to share your thoughts but can’t
get to a public meeting, you can send your letter
by:
Email: [email protected]
Mail:
Your Voice 2015
Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools
395 Wakesiah Ave
Nanaimo, BC V9R 3K6
For more information, visit the Your Voice 2015
webpage.
GRADUATION INFORMATION
Grade 12 Update
On February 18th, Grade 12 students attended a
semester two assembly. During the assembly
Grade 12s were reminded about Graduation
Transition Standards (GTS), which is a graduation
requirement. Students must make an appointment
with their advisor and complete the process by
March 31st.
During this last semester at Dover Bay, all grade 12
students must ensure that they are in a position to
graduate. For example, some still have grade 10
and 11 courses that have not been completed.
Courses that are often overlooked include: Social
Studies 10, Planning 10, Math 10 and 11, P.E. 10.
Counsellors will be checking on the graduation
status of all students, and working with students on
a plan. Parents will be informed if their son or
daughter has serious deficiencies that could impact
their ability to graduate on time.
Ms. Domino again discussed applications for
scholarships, awards and bursaries. There are
many opportunities for students to be successful,
but they must submit applications by the
deadlines. For example, applications for the
Nanaimo Ladysmith Schools Foundation (NLSF)
awards must be submitted to Ms. Domino by
February 27th. Dogwood District Scholarship
applications are also due on the same date.
Dover Bay Graduation ceremonies take place on
Tuesday, June 23rd, and the District Dry Grad is on
Friday June 26th.
MISCELLANEOUS
PINK SHIRT DAY
Secondary School Apprenticeship (SSA) "Earn while
you learn" and get a head start on work-based
training for a trade. You could earn 16 high-school
credits, earn 480 (or more) work-based training
hours towards your apprenticeship, and be eligible
for a $1000 SSA Scholarship. For more information
please contact Roxanne Boyko at 250-713-4581 or
[email protected].
Wednesday, February 25th is Pink Shirt Day Canada
wide. Pink shirts are on sale at in the atrium Friday
and Wednesday for $3. We hope to see PINK
everywhere on Wednesday, to celebrate putting an
end to bullying.
Work Experience 12A (WEX) Explore a career path,
gain employability skills, and earn credit. This 4
credit course provides an opportunity to link
classroom knowledge and work place skills. Both
employment and volunteer work placements can
be used for credit. For more information please
contact Roxanne Boyko at 250-713-4581 or
[email protected].
DRAMA – PERFORMING ARTS
Musical Theatre Academy
Do you love to sing, dance, and act?
Would you love to get a Language Arts Credit while
rehearsing a musical?
Have you always loved Avenue Q and want a
chance to perform the School Edition?
If you answered yes to these three question, then
Learn at Home’s Musical Theatre Academy is right
for you!
Open to all current grade 9 – 11 students, this
program will include rehearsing a musical while
completing individual English assignments. By the
end of the program, students will have completed
sufficient work to earn credits in Theatre
Performance/Production
AND
English/Communications.
Auditions – Friday, May 8th at NDSS
First Read Through – Friday, June 12th at NDSS
Rehearsals at NDSS: July 6 – July 30th (Monday –
Thursday)
Shows: Friday 31st – Saturday 1st (with Saturday
matinee)
Contact Ms. Barnum [email protected] for
more details.
SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE
Education Minister, Peter Fassbender, recently sent
a letter to Nanaimo Ladysmith School District to
congratulate our Aboriginal students on reaching
the highest six year graduation completion rate
ever achieved in this district. At 64%, Nanaimo
now has a higher Aboriginal graduation than the
provincial average.