LION TALES
ADAM SCOTT C.V.I.
An Information Newsletter to Parents
Bill Mitchell, Vice-Principal Craig Allan, Principal Karin Mackenzie-Russell, Vice-Principal
Sharron Hatton, School Council Chair November 2006
Adam Scott C.V.I./I.S. has a focus on student achievement with clearly stated expectations and equitable assessment guidelines.This mandate will be met within a purposeful learning atmosphere that is free from the threat of physical or emotional harm, delivered within a climate which is supportive of curriculum and instruction, and addresses the learning needs of both staff and students.
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
Academic Excellence
We have just completed a week in which we celebrated academic excellence. Our Commencement ceremony was on Saturday, November 4th followed by our Junior Awards ceremony on Monday, November 6th.
At Commencement, we celebrated the graduation of 139 students. Thirty-eight of these graduates were Ontario Scholars and many students received awards and scholarships donated by the community.
At our Junior Awards Assembly, the top students from last year in each subject area were honoured as were students with averages in the Honours and Honours with Distinction categories. One hundred and two students in grades 9 - 11 had averages of 80%+.
Extra-Curricular Activities
As I have mentioned on numerous occasions, I believe that high school life involves a balance of academic success along with participation in some facet of school activity outside of the classroom. I continue to be impressed by the number of activities that we have going on at this school. These activities include many sports teams, band, clubs and participation in community events.
We are the smallest high school in the city (800 students) and yet we participate in many events. It takes a highly motivated and committed student body to participate in these many events, and it takes a dedicated group of teachers to make it happen.
Next School Council Meeting
Come out and join us at our next School Council Meeting on Monday, November 20th at 6:45 p.m. in the School Library. School budget will be discussed and Mr. Wright will be doing a presentation on our new Outdoor Education course. (He will be showing many pictures of their 4-day trip.)
The agenda will be posted on our website and the Minutes of all meetings are posted in the Library.
Dates of Subsequent Meetings
January 22, 2007 - 6:45 p.m. - Adam Scott Library
February 19, 2007 - 6:45 p.m. - Adam Scott Library
ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOL LITERACY TEST
Adam Scott staff and students are beginning to prepare for the Grade 9 and 10 Practice Literacy Test which will be held during Period 1 on the 27th and 28th of November. The results of this practice test will allow the time for students to be actively supported in preparation for the Grade 10 Literacy Test in the Spring of 2007. As you are aware, the successful completion of the test is a requirement for graduation. Testing of our Grade 9 students will allow the teaching staff to focus on areas of the test which require improvement in student scores. The Grade 10 student results will be used to provide appropriate remediation and intervention to support individual students. Additionally, students who have yet to pass the test will also participate in the Practice Test to allow our staff to support them as well in preparation for the Spring 2007 testing.
Adam Scott students produced the highest success rates ever for the school last year (86%). We look forward to continued improvement this Spring. Results by grade level and individual student will be available prior to Christmas.
GIRLS’ ICE HOCKEY
The clocks have been turned back and Commencement is over. It’s time to grab a stick and hit the ice for another season of Canada’s sport! Mr. Lees and Mr. Ralph invite all Adam Scott girls interested in playing ice hockey this year to try-outs being held at the Northcrest Arena on November 16th and 21st from 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. We have a local tournament scheduled for November 22nd and our first league game is on the 27th in Lindsay. The time commitment is not great, with only seven league games and playoffs beginning on Valentine’s Day. We will play against teams from local schools as well as L.C.V.I., St. Thomas Aquinas, Norwood, and Lakefield. If you are a hockey player and a girl, come out to have some fun representing Adam Scott on the ice.
Winter Student Transportation
The winter season is fast approaching and it is very important that we recognize the need to review winter weather procedures with students. Aside from ensuring that students dress warmly for conditions and carefully obey all traffic rules when walking in the community, we would like to emphasize the following points for students who are bussed to school:
► Prior to the beginning of the school day, inclement weather or poor road conditions may force the cancellation of school transportation services. In this event, bus delays and cancellations will be posted on the www.stsco.ca website and area radio stations will also broadcast related information. A list of radio stations is provided below for your convenience.
► Remember that if a bus is cancelled in the morning, it will not run in the afternoon.
► parent or guardian, it is recommended that you:
- know your children’s school bus route number;
- know the name of the bus company operating the
route;
- listen to your local radio station in the morning for
delays or cancellations;
- provide for getting your children safely to and from
the school bus pick-up and drop-off location;
- ensure that your children are at the school bus stop
prior to the scheduled arrival time of the school bus;
- review contingency procedures with your children
covering such areas as what to do if their bus is late
or cancelled and generally what to do when they
encounter inclement weather on the way to and from
their bus stop.
► If you need to confirm your child’s route number, you can call the STSCO Telephone Information Line (705-748-9240 or toll free (1-866-433-4441). When calling, you will need your child’s 9-digit OEN student number, located beside their name on their report card, as well as their birth date.
► The STSCO Telephone Information Line (same #’s as above) can also be used to check if there are any large scale bus cancellations (i.e. county or regional) on the day of the call.
By keeping the above tips in mind, you and your children will be better prepared to deal with issues which may arise in relation to their transportation during the winter months ahead.
Radio Stations for Peterborough City and County (also including Campbellford and area schools):
WOLF 101.5 FM
KRUZ 980 AM
COUNTRY 105.1 FM
CKPT 1420 AM
Student Talent - Commencement, Junior Awards and Remembrance Day
In the last few weeks, we have celebrated Commencement and Junior Awards and recognized the contribution of Canadians in a Remembrance Day Assembly. While many staff members are involved in the creation of these events, there are also numerous students whose talents are much appreciated.
The Guide Post
It has been a busy Fall in the Guidance Office. Potential grads have indicated their plans for next year and we have been busy trying to make sure that they have the information needed to make informed decisions about their future. We’ve had more liaison visits from colleges and universities across the province (and even country) than ever before. Many students have been busy attending these sessions, asking questions and collecting resources. Countless college and university representatives have commented on the excellent questions that the students asked and the level of excellent research they had done prior to the visits.
In addition to school sessions, students have been busy attending university and college information programs and campus visits and tours. We strongly encourage all students and parents to visit campuses as they are narrowing down their choices. We always say to the students, “You wouldn’t buy a car without test driving it first, so why would you spend all of that money on post secondary education without taking a look at the campus?”
The students who will be applying for entrance to college next Fall should have attended an assembly last week where the on line application process was presented and the College Guides were distributed. Please remember that students must use their Ontario Education Numbers (OENs) to apply for college programs in Ontario. The Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) needed to apply for university have not yet arrived, but should be here soon. When they arrive, there will be an assembly to distribute them and go through the on-line application process. In the meantime, university applicants have been encouraged to do their research and have their choices ready. We are encouraging all students to complete their application process(es) before Christmas so that they can relax and enjoy the holidays with the task off their plates.
The deadline for college applications is February 1st and for university applications is January 10th. For more information visit www.ontariocolleges.ca and/or www.ouac.on.ca. or call the Adam Scott Guidance Department (Mrs. Kelly - ext. 132, Mr. Lees - ext. 159).
Students planning on entering the world of work or apprenticeship programs are encouraged to make an appointment with a guidance counsellor to discuss plans and procedures. We are also fortunate to have Sarah Haase, from Job Connect here every other Wednesday afternoon to assist students with job search information, resume writing, etc. Appointments can be made through Mrs. Kelly.
A reminder to all students, and especially grade 12's, that 40 hours of Community Involvement must be recorded on your transcript, in addition to 30 credits (18 compulsory &12 elective), and meeting the literacy requirement in order to receive your Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
J. Kelly - Head of Guidance
IMPORTANT DATES
November 16 - Mid-Term Report - Semester 1
November 17 - Files Due to OUAC
November 20 - Photo Retakes - Per. 1
- School Council Meeting
- 6:45 p.m. - Library
November 22 - “MADD” Assembly - Per. 1
November 27 - Practice Literacy Test - Per. 1
November 28 - Practice Literacy Test - Per. 1
November 29 - Co-op Integration Day
November 30 - School Dance
December 1 - Professional Activity Day
December 14 - Christmas Concert - 7:00 p.m.
December 15 - Influenza Vaccination Clinic
December 15 - School Dance
December 20 - Co-op Integration Day
December 22 - Christmas Assembly
- Last Day of Classes before Winter Break
December 23 - January 7 - Winter Break
January 8 - Classes Resume
January 9 - 12 - Grad Photos (tentative)
January 10 - Co-op Integration Day
- University Applications Due
January 17-18 - Gr. 9 Math EQAO (tentative)
January 19 - Professional Activity Day
January 22 - School Council Meeting
- 6:45 p.m. - Library
January 24 - Term 2 Ends/Last Day of Classes Semester I
January 25, 26, 29, 30, 31- Sem. I Exam Days
February 1 - Assessment Day
- College Applications Due
February 2 - Professional Activity Day
February 5 - Semester II Begins
February 19 - School Council Meeting
- 6:45 p.m. - Library
February 20 - Pascal/Cayley/Fermat Math Competitions
February 23 - Grad Photo Retakes
March 4 - Ontario Ergometer Championships
March 7 - Co-op Integration Day
March 9 - 18 - March Break
March 19 - Classes Resume
March 21 - Progress Reports
March 28 - Parent/Teacher Interviews
- 7:00- 9:00 p.m.
March 29 - Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test