LION TALES
ADAM SCOTT C.V.I.
An Information Newsletter to Parents
Karl Wunderlich, Vice-Principal Craig Allan, Principal Bob Fenton, Vice-Principal
Sharron Hatton, School Council Chair September 2005
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
It has certainly been an enjoyable three weeks back at Adam Scott. The students and staff have returned from a warm summer well rested and ready to start another busy academic year. The term busy does not come close to describing the activity level at this school.
Extracurricular activities are in full swing. This school has always offered the largest compliment of sports programs for both boys and girls. I am also pleased to see that auditions have started for this year’s musical, “Annie” which will hit the stage in early December and Ms. Gauthier is again leading band practices. Many of our clubs have started again and our Student Council and GWMEs have been busy preparing for our school dances and our Grade 9 Day. Students and staff are also gearing up for the annual Terry Fox Run on Thursday, September 29th. This is a great school spirit event that supports a wonderful cause. This year students from the whole school, grades 7 - 12 are encouraged to get involved.
As I tour the school, I am also pleased to see the variety of academic programs offered. The new guitar program is popular with four classes as is the new race car design/fabrication program. This school also continues to produce scholars in the more traditional courses.
Building on work initiated at this school last spring and supporting Board-wide goals, our main goals as a staff this year will be the following:
1) Communication - I would like to see an increase in communication between all stakeholders in the education process. I believe that we need to continue to publicize the accomplishments of our students/staff/alumni.
2) EQAO Scores - I would like to see our Ministry scores increase as a result of student practice/preparation.
3) Character Education - I would like to see all members of the Adam Scott community value the virtues highlighted in Character Education.
If you would like to provide input into our school goals, developmental process or any other component of school life, please write me a note or better yet come out to our next School Council Meeting on Monday, October 17th at 6:45 p.m.
I trust that our school calendar has made it home and that you are making good use of our school web site www.adamscott.ca. I hope to meet many of you on October 19th (7:00 - 9:00 p.m.) at our Parent/Teacher Interview evening.
CO-OP DEPARTMENT AND STUDENTS THANK THE COMMUNITY
September saw our Co-op students busy trying to secure Co-op placements in the community. In this increasingly competitive process, job interview skills are critical and the Peterborough community once again stepped up to help.
On Tuesday, September 13, twenty five volunteers from the business and professional community conducted MOCK INTERVIEWS for the Co-op students. These volunteers, mostly Rotarians, generously donated their time to assist Adam Scott students with interview practice and training. The process is highly valued by the students as they move one step closer to the workplace.
Special thanks go to Peterborough Rotarian, Rick Storey and Kawartha Rotarian, George Rankin who both assisted greatly in the promotion of this program within their membership. Specific thanks go to Rotarians Bob Angione (Coyle Corrugated), Jon Bryan (Mexicali Rosa’s), Ken Clare (Brown Business Equipment), Willard Chapman, Clarence Collison (GMAC), Paul Darby (PRHC), Edwina Gracias (City Health Unit), Lloyd Graham, William Hampton (lawyer), Paul Hartung (Trent Valley Literacy), Dawn Hennessey (Bank of Canada), Pat Hooper (St. Joseph’s Care Foundation), Ross Jefferey (Collins Barrow CA), Norm Kastner (CIBC), Len Lifchus (United Way), Doug Lockington (Play It Again Sports), Joe McCulloch (Vincent Press), Doug Schultz (Scotia McLeod), Lorraine Skipwith (City Health Unit), Morgan Smith (Signarama), Rick Storey (Bill Storey Pontiac Buick) and Wendy Swain (Holiday Inn). Thank you to educators Denise Severin, Marilyn Tudhope, Phil Winslow and Karl Wunderlich.
The Mock Interviews were successful due to the tremendous support of the Peterborough community.
Catherine Delorme
Co-op Teacher
LIBRARY NEWS
The Adam Scott web page (adamscott.ca) and the on-line homework system receive about 20,000 hits per month. Sixty percent of students use the web page for research. The web page has links to the world’s best educational links. The following research web sites need logins:
SITE LOGIN PASSWORD
EBSCO HOST ascvi get from library
BRITTANICA ONLINE adamscott get from library
WORLD BOOK kprworldbook get from library
CAREER CRUISING kawartha get from library
A new service which allows parents to receive Adam Scott news automatically to their e-mail is being offered. Look for the link on the main page.
School telephone extensions, daily announcements and the school calendar are also posted.
PEER MEDIATORS READY TO GO
In a building with almost 1,000 students, disputes sometimes arise. One of our most effective pro-active strategies to solve inter-personal difficulties is the Peer Mediation Program.
On Monday, September 19th, two resource personnel from Behaviour Services at the Board trained twelve of our students from Grades 8 - 12 in the skills of mediation. Basically the process involves some strict rules which allow both sides of a problem to be discussed without anger and recrimination. The final goal is to produce a confidential written agreement which records the steps created to resolve conflict. We have found that solutions guided by trained people closer to the age of the disputants are usually better.
Staff, students and sometimes parents request mediation for students in conflict. Almost always, once the process is completed, minor disputes don’t become large problems.
“ANNIE”
Adam Scott students have started auditioning for parts in the musical, “Annie” which will be Adam Scott’s production this year.
Performance Dates: Dec. 8, 9 & 10 @ 7:00 p.m. in the Adam Scott auditorium. Ticket prices will be $5.00 for students (with I.D.), $10.00 for adults and $25.00 for a family of four.
EUROPEAN TRIP
There are plans for a European trip during March Break 2006 to France, Switzerland, Austria and Germany for Gr. 11 & 12 language students of Core French, French Immersion and/or German.
THREE MONTH EXCHANGE
Adam Scott student Suzanne Campbell is hosting a student from France for 3 months. Caroline Mengeot arrived in Peterborough the middle of August and will be here attending Adam Scott until November. Suzanne will fly to France in February and attend Caroline’s school until mid May.
SKI TRIP
There will be a ski trip for Gr. 10 students enrolled in a French class (Core French or French Immersion) to St. Donat, north of Montreal from February 16 - 19, 2006.
TRACK & FIELD
This year at Adam Scott, we have a national champion, Kathryn Jackman and a national Canadian team member, Lauren Van Leeuwen as well as a national coach, Mr. Richard Borek.
GIRLS’ RUGBY
There are plans for a tentative (first ever) tour for Adam Scott’s girls’ rugby players to British Columbia, April 7 - 14th, 2006.
Canadian Mathematics Competitions - 2005-06
Canadian Open Mathematics Challenge
- Wed., Nov. 23/05 (sign up by Oct. 7/05)
Pascal Contest (grade 9) - Wed., Feb. 22/06
Cayley Contest (grade 10) - Wed. Feb. 22/06
Fermat Contest (grade 11) - Wed. Feb. 22/06
(sign up by Nov. 18/05)
Euclid Contest (grade 12) - Wed., April 19/06
(sign up by Feb. 17/06)
Fryer Contest (grade 9) - Thurs., April 20/06
Galois Contest (grade 10) - Thurs., April 20/06
Hypatia Contest (grade 11) - Thurs., April 20/06
(sign up by Feb. 17/06)
If you are interested in signing up for any of these Math Competitions, please see Mrs. Shank in Rm. 132.
FREE PRESENTATION ON
BULLYING AND PARENTING
Here’s your chance to hear Barbara Coloroso firsthand as she offers wise and witty advice on bullying and parenting.
This presentation will be held on Monday, October 17th at 7:00 p.m. at Sir Sandford Fleming College.
“SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL SCHOOLS”
Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board presents “Safe and Successful Schools”, a Parent and School Council Conference to be held on Saturday, October 15, 2005 at Port Hope High School from 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Pre-register by October 1, 2005. Registration forms are available at the school or call the school for more information.
GR. 12 DRAMA
Adam Scott Gr 12 Drama students are working on developing a set of short plays to perform for Grade 7 & 8 students as part of Peterborough’s Drug Awareness Program. Over a thousand students from several schools will attend the performance which includes a question and answer period. The Health Unit, Kinark, Arbor-Theatre and Holy Cross S. S. are all involved in this important project to increase awareness of the consequences of substance abuse.
Plays will be performed the week of November 21 - 25 with one evening performance on Wednesday, November 23rd at 7:00 p.m. in the Adam Scott auditorium. The evening presentation is for older students and parents.
‘Making a Difference… One Student at a Time’
The Peer Helping Program is well under way this year. Students who selected this program in the spring were required to get teachers to support their wish to become a Peer Helper, and, where timetables have permitted, we have paired these students and teachers together. Many other teachers have requested support for their classes and we have accommodated them as best we can.
In Semester I, we have almost 30 senior students working throughout the day in a wide variety of classes including Phys. Ed, Tech, English, Math, Science, Music & Family Studies to name a few.
All of the Peer Helpers met for an Introductory Workshop on Sept. 21, and are excited and prepared to work with students who may be struggling or who require some moral support with the workload. Although each Peer Helper is required to complete several assignments and Bi-weekly Reports, the primary focus of the program is working with students.
Peer Helpers who have already earned the praise and respect of their classes are…
Candace Urwin working with Mrs. Hill’s LLS class and Kasandra Vernon-Dodds working with Mrs. Hancox’s English class. Well done!
We also have a Peer Helping Reading Program that focuses on assisting students specifically with reading and comprehension skills. Mrs. Knox has been very busy training the students in this program to work with grade 7 & 8 students and they are now paired up and in “full swing”.
Submitted by: Mr. Mallory
IMPORTANT DATES
October 7 - Professional Activity Day
October 10 - Thanksgiving Day
October 13 - Progress Report - Semester I
October 17 - School Council Meeting - 6:45 p.m.
October 19 - Parent/Teacher Interviews
October 26 - Adam Scott’s Music Concert
November 5 - Commencement
November 8 - Last Day Semester 1 - Day 1
November 9 - First Day Semester 1 - Day 2
November 11 - Remembrance Day Assembly
November 15 - Picture Retake Day
November 17 - Second Report - Semester 1
November 18 - Files Due to OUAC and OCAS
November 21 - School Council Meeting - 6:45 p.m.
December 7 - 9 - Adam Scott’s Production of the Musical, “Annie”
December 9 - Professional Activity Day
December 23 - Christmas Assembly
Dec. 24 - Jan. 8 - Winter Holidays
January 9 - Classes Resume
January 10 - 12 - Grad Photos
January 16 - 24 - Activity Moratorium
January 23 - School Council Meeting - 6:45 p.m.
January 25 - Semester I classes end
January 26, 27, 30, 31 - Semester I Exam Days
February 2 - Assessment Day
February 3 - Professional Activity Day
February 6 - Semester II Begins
February 20 - School Council Meeting - 6:45 p.m.
February 24 - Semester I Final Report Card Distribution
February 24 - Grad Photo Retakes
Next School Council Meetings
October 17, 2005 - 6:45 p.m. - Adam Scott Library
November 21, 2005 - 6:45 p.m. - Adam Scott Library
January 23, 2006 - 6:45 p.m. - Adam Scott Library
February 20, 2006 - 6:45 p.m. - Adam Scott Library
