GHS NEWSLETTER – December 19, 2014

GRAVELBOURG HIGH
SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
#4 – December 19, 2014
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
Dec. 22- Jan. 4 – Christmas Holidays
January 5 – Classes Resume
Jan. 9 – Thursday schedule
Jan. 10 – Bantam Girls Basketball Tournament
Jan. 12 – L.I.T. Early dismissal (periods 2,3,4,5,6 only)
Jan. 16 – No classes
Jan. 16/17 – Senior Girls Basketball Tournament
Jan. 23 – Wednesday schedule
Jan. 24 – Bantam Boys Basketball Tournament
Jan. 26 – L.I.T. Early dismissal (periods 1,2,3,4,5 only)
Jan. 26 -29 – Exam week (see exam schedule on p.8)
Feb. 6 – Tuesday schedule
Feb. 6/7 – Senior Boys Basketball Tournament
Feb. 9 – L.I.T. Early dismissal (periods 1,2,3,4,6 only)
Feb. 13 – No classes
Feb. 16 – No classes (Family Day)
Feb. 17 – No classes
Feb. 18 – No classes
Feb. 20 – Monday schedule
Feb. 27 – Wednesday schedule
For more dates, be sure to see the new GHS website.
DECEMBER TURKEY DINNER
This year’s GES/GHS SCC Turkey
Dinner was a great success! The meal
was absolutely fantastic and very
much appreciated by all students and
staff. Many thanks go to Mrs.
Baedke and her amazing team of
volunteers!
DRAMA PRODUCTION - FM 20.14
Students from grades 7 to 11
performed a school play on
Wednesday, Dec. 17th. FM.20.14
had raving reviews from all who
attended. We thank Mr.
Simonsen, Mrs. Cooper-Erickson
and all the actors for their stellar
performance and their dedication over the past three
months. The cast included the following talented
individuals: Nick, Isabelle, Mackenzie, Joselynne,
Tarah, Maggie, Alayna, Avery, Aldeneil, Lianne, and GES
students Devon, Shania and Anthony.
Merci à tous ceux et celles qui ont rendu cette pièce de
théâtre un si grand succès! Bravo!
GRANDMOTHER MOON SYMPOSIUM
On Dec. 5th, Brittney, Erin, Avery, Joselynne and Mr.
Simonsen travelled to Moose Jaw for a First Nations
conference called the Grandmother Moon Symposium.
Students heard an impressive student drum circle. They
witnessed a candle lighting ceremony in honour of
women who have suffered violence (particularly the 14
women killed at Montreal’s Polytechnique 25 years
ago). In the afternoon, students heard from a retired
police officer and from Gabrielle Scrimshaw. The
former discussed how violence against women in
Saskatchewan must
end; the latter
travels the world
promoting
aboriginal issues.
GHS NEWSLETTER – December 19, 2014
GUEST SPEAKER MR. WAYNE MORIN
Dec. 9, Mr. Wayne Morin came to speak to the 8/9B
students in Mme Dubeau’s Sensibilisation aux carrières
class. He spoke how, as citizens, we need to improve
ourselves by continuously pushing ourselves to do
better. He compared the 7 virtues of Bushido (the code
of honor and morals developed by
the Japanese samurai) to the six
pillars of community at GHS and
how this can help us be better
students and people. His main
emphasis was on how students
need to try and reflect on our
learning and what we have done
throughout the day.
Thank you Mr. Morin for your
time and words of wisdom.
Un grand merci pour tes mots de
sagesse!
UNE SESSION D’INFORMATION DU
MINISTÈRE DE L’ÉDUCATION –
VOYAGES ET PROGRAMMES!
Le 15 décembre, Mme Kelly Larkin Conway, agente de
promotion, est venue rendre visite aux élèves de la 8e-11e
et a présenté des programmes de langues susceptibles
d’intéresser les élèves: Explore, Odyssée, Destination Clic
et Échange Saskatchewan-Québec. Ceux-ci représentent
une merveilleuse opportunité d’apprendre et de
perfectionner son français ainsi que de découvrir un autre
coin du Canada.
Explore est un cours de langue intensif de cinq semaines.
Les élèves peuvent s’inscrire même s’ils n’ont aucune
expérience en français. Un tirage au sort offre aux
candidats une bourse de 2000 $ et couvre les droits de
scolarité pour le cours, le matériel didactique, les repas et
l’hébergement. La date limite de mise en candidature est
le 28 février 2015. Pour plus de renseignements, allez au
site web www.jexplore.ca.
Odyssée est un programme de moniteurs de langues à
temps plein. Les participants auront l’occasion de
préparer et de présenter des activités en anglais à des
élèves du primaire, du secondaire ou du postsecondaire.
Les moniteurs de langues gagnent 18 500 $ pour les neuf
mois de leur mandat. La date limite de mise en
candidature est le 15 février 2015. Pour plus de
renseignements, allez au site web www.myodyssey.ca.
Destination Clic est un programme de trois semaines pour
les élèves de 8e et 9e année. Celle-ci propose des
découvertes stimulantes, des expériences nouvelles, des
rencontres inoubliables et des réalisations concrètes et
utiles dans une région francophone du Canada autre que
la vôtre. Un tirage au sort offre aux candidats une bourse
de 2000 $ et couvre le prix du cours, le matériel
didactique, les repas et l’hébergement. La date limite de
mise en candidature est le 31 mars, 2015. Pour plus de
renseignements, allez au site web www.destinationclic.ca.
Échange de six mois Saskatchewan-Québec est un
échange réciproque pour les étudiants en 10e ou 11e année
où ils peuvent améliorer leurs connaissances de la langue
française ainsi que la culture québécoise. Les demandes
sont faites quand les élèves sont en 9e ou 10e année et
l’échange se déroule en 10e ou 11e. Les participants de la
Saskatchewan sont jumelés avec des participants du
Québec. De septembre à décembre, les familles
saskatchewannaises accueillent les jumeaux québécois
dans leurs maisons et leurs écoles. De février à avril, les
élèves seront accueillis au Québec par leurs jumeaux. Des
frais de 300 $ sont demandés pour couvrir une partie du
coût des vols. La date limite de mise en candidature et le
15 février 2015. Pour plus de renseignements, allez au site
web www.education.gov.sk.ca/echange .
Note, although these programs seem to cater to
students speaking fluent French, most are also available
and are very beneficial to non-fluent individuals as well.
For example, students in grade 8 or 9 interested in
improving their French skills during the summer should
consider Destination-Clic. Those in grade 11 or 12
interested in improving their basic French skills during
the summer should consider Explore.
There are various generous bursaries available that help
pay expenses for both of these programs.
Those who are interested in working in a school in a
French community for nine months of the year (after at
least one year of post-secondary schooling), helping
students perfect their English skills, while site-seeing
and learning the French language/culture during their
free time, should consider Odyssée. The pay is quite
attractive, the flights are covered and the experience is
amazing.
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GHS NEWSLETTER – December 19, 2014
If you are interested in any of these three programs,
please go to the bilingual websites listed previously. If
you have any questions, please do not hesitate to
contact Mrs. Kelly Larkin Conway at (306) 787 9448.
FIREARM HUNTER SAFETY COURSE
OFFERED IN LAFLECHE
UNE SESSION D’INFORMATION DE
L’UNIVERSITÉ DE L’ALBERTA
Lors du 26 novembre 2014, notre école était chanceuse
de recevoir la visite de Mme Frédérique MacDougall,
conseillère en service de liaison scolaire du campus
Saint-Jean de l’Université d’Alberta. Lors de sa visite,
Mme MacDougall a partagé avec nos élèves de 10e et 11e
année d’immersion française les différentes possibilité
qu’offre l’Université de l’Alberta entre autres: étudier
en français ou de façon bilingue, les bourse d’études et
différents autres services offerts. Cette visite a permis à
nos élèves participants de réaliser combien grande est
leur chance de réussite dans la vie grâce à la langue
française.
LIVE DIFFERENT
On Nov. 19, GHS students
and staff attended a great
LIVE DIFFERENT
presentation.
This year’s theme focused on helping students discover
and embrace their ability to overcome negative
mindsets, pressures, and group norms, and start to
connect in meaningful ways, caring authentically for
those around them. Students were reminded that life
isn’t about keeping up appearances or living up to
labels, it’s about learning, growing and cultivating a selfconcept that gives teens the resiliency to embrace and
grow from life’s challenges, and find help along the
way. Conforming to harmful or superficial social norms
is very easy, but it can side-track us from the things that
really matter.
In a digital world with so many distractions, real
relationship is still what we are wired for. Students were
reminded about the importance of connecting with the
people in our lives in
caring and authentic
ways.
NEW AND IMPROVED GHS WEBSITE
Be sure to check out our new website! (see p.5)
REQUESTS FOR BUS SERVICE
 At the beginning of each school year the
Transportation Department receives over two
hundred requests and/or changes for bus
service. There are over two hundred additional extra
trips to administer in September, too!
 As a result and combined with the usual routine
of daily operations our manpower resources are
overextended and strained during September.
 Schools are closed July and August.
 Bus drivers do not work during July and August and
will not be available to prepare the route until at or
near the beginning of the school year.
 Any new requests for bus service received after June
30 will be processed within four weeks or even a
longer extended period after the commencement of
the school year in September. This will provide
sufficient time to deal with all requests and the least
amount of disruption to adding new bus stops on a
route as morning pick up times may need to be
adjusted.
 A parent/guardian will be responsible to arrange
alternate transportation until confirmation for
services is received from their school.
 If further information is required please contact your
local Transportation Office:
- Moose Jaw – 306-694-7553
- Assiniboia – 306-642-4112
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GHS NEWSLETTER – December 19, 2014
IMPROVING STUDENT LEARNING
GHS 2014-2015 GOALS
STUDENT LEARNING GOAL - READING
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 the next few months will be on INFERENCES.
Making an INFERENCE is when you use experiences,
observations, prior knowledge and clues to figure out
what the author is not directly saying.
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.
We are to be reminded that RESPECT is but ONE of the 6
pillars of character!
IMPROVING STUDENT LEARNING II
Insider’s Guide to Studying Tips
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.
TIP #3 : Review with a pen and paper
Students of all ages can hone their study
skills with these tips.
The Fake Test
There’s a test coming up. How will you do? One way to
find out is by taking the wait-and-see approach. The
other is to practice taking the test until you’ve got it
perfect! This is a take-charge approach to studying that
helps students anticipate test questions and discover
how well they’ll perform on the actual test. Here’s how
it works:
1. As you read over your notes, use a separate sheet of
paper to write down questions about what you are
reading. (This uses the pencil-to-paper style of ACTIVE
studying that keeps students engaged during the study
process. See Tip 1 from last newsletter.) Bonus tip: keep
track of where to find the answers to your fake-test
questions. For instance: Q: When did Christopher
Columbus sail for the New World and what were the
names of his three ships? (page 37, first paragraph)
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GHS NEWSLETTER – December 19, 2014
2. As you read, pay special attention to the challenging
concepts. Create more questions for these concepts.
Really test yourself. After all, that’s what a test is
designed to do—assess how well you understand
something. So dig in and ask the tough questions. Go
for those bonus marks!
3. Now that you have read over all of the study
material, and have a sheet filled with questions—
what’s next? Put the fake test aside and wait a day or
two. Then, when you sit down to study next, begin with
your fake test. Did you pass or fail? How many questions
did you answer correctly? How many were you unable
to answer?
4. Go back and study some more, and focus on the
questions that you answered wrong or that you were
unable to answer.
5. Start early! Building a fake test that really challenges
your topic knowledge takes time. You won’t be able to
properly test yourself if you left studying to the last
minute. The extra time required to get organized and
create a fake test pays off. As the saying goes: practice
makes perfect.
See more at:
http://www.oxfordlearning.com/2010/02/26/tip-3-thefake-test/#sthash.58sJG0uQ.dpuf
WAYS TO BOOST YOUR BRAINPOWER
To get stronger, you need to work your
muscles with regular exercise. The
brain is like a muscle that can also be
"worked out."
Your brain keeps growing:
The brain grows throughout life — the more you
challenge yourself, the more the brain will grow.
Success is earned:
Many people (Including plenty of grown-ups!) think that
people are just born smart. But "smarts" are less about
the brains you are born with and more about the hard
work you put into developing your brain. To be a
success in school and throughout life, you have to work
for it — often very hard. Through great effort, comes
great success.
Hard work is a chance to learn
As work gets harder, many kids start pulling away from
working hard at school as a way to rebel from their
parents. Don’t forget that hard work is a chance for you
to learn, grow, and become better at something that's
important to you (sports, music, school . . . whatever it
may be).
http://www.greatschools.org/parenting/3995-Tweenand-teens-brains.gs
GREAT WEBSITES TO EXPLORE
http://socratic.org
http://www.ccdmd.qc.ca/fr/exercices_interactifs/
a comprehensive collection of
interactive grammar activities.
Essayez le site et améliorez rapidement
vos habiletés de la langue française!
http://www.jeuxmaths.fr – une multitude d’activités et
de jeux mathématiques
http://lingro.com/ – very cool interactive dictionary in 11
different languages!
1) On this site, type the site you wish to explore
(ex: Wikipedia, etc.) to make words on site
clickable.
2) Click on words you don’t know. Lingro
translates them for you immediately as you read
your information.
3) Lingro even remembers all the
words you look up, so you can
easily review and study them
http://www.flocabulary.com/ – a variety of rap videos
created to enhance learning of history, math, etc.
https://schools.prairiesouth.ca/gravelbourghigh/
new and improved GHS website,
where you will find more upcoming
events, the student calendar and
much more!
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GHS NEWSLETTER – December 19, 2014
SPORTS UPDATE
VOLLEYBALL
THANKS to all coaches and
supervisors for your
commitment to our youth!
Many thanks go to Mrs.
Cooper-Erickson, Mrs. Tallon, Mme Pouteaux, Mrs.
Teixeira, Mr. Boire, Mr. Blair, M. Lusanga, Mr. Lehmann
and Mme Gauthier for all your time and effort during
this recent volleyball season!
BASKETBALL
SR BOYS
Coach: Cst. Devin Roddick
Teacher Supervisor: Mr. Simonsen
SR GIRLS
Coaches: Mr. Lehmann and Mrs. Karen Lehmann
BANTAM BOYS
Coach: Mr. Michael Eva
Teacher Supervisor: M. Lusanga
BANTAM GIRLS
Coach: Mrs. Smith
Teacher Supervisor: Mrs. Tallon
CURLING
SENIOR CURLING
Coach: Mr. Huyghebaert
BANTAM CURLING
Coaches: Sarah and Mme Dubeau
The bantam team/s welcome more curlers.
*Names of athletes and play updates (for both basketball
and curling) will be included in the January edition.
VARIOUS SCHOOL CLUBS
DRAMA CLUB
CHESS CLUB
All students who are interested
in playing chess, be sure to check
things out in room #5, starting
Jan. 7th. Thank you to
community member Mr. S. Hoag
who is going to share a few strategic moves with
students.
SRC
The SRC members planned a December SPIRIT WEEK
(Dec. 15th- 19th) for students and staff at GHS.
Monday, boys dressed in green and girls in red. There
was an epic battle of dodgeball at lunch between boys
and girls in the gym. Tuesday, students wore their
favorite Christmas hat or toque. Wednesday, students
wore their Christmas sweater and participated in “sleigh
races" at lunch in the gym. Thursday, students dressed
as Christmas characters and enjoyed a delicious turkey
lunch provided by the GES and GHS SCCs. Friday,
students sported their pajamas on this last day before
the holidays. They enjoyed cinnamon buns in the
morning and activities later in the
afternoon. Many students who
were involved in a “Secret Santa”
activity enjoyed the extra fun
throughout the week.
On behalf of all students at GHS, the
SRC wishes to thank Mrs. Lech for
her amazing commitment to the
breakfast program!
The SRC wishes all students, staff and families a safe and
joyful holiday season!
HOLIDAY WISHES FROM GHS STAFF
The staff would like to take a moment to wish all
students and their families a beautiful Christmas, a safe
holiday season and all the very best in 2015!
Joyeuses vacances! Bonne et heureuse année à tous!
Congratulations to all GHS and
GES’ talented actors (listed on
page 1) for their great
performance, as well as Mr.
Simonsen and Mrs. CooperErickson for their dedication.
FM 20.14 was enjoyed by all!
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Parents and grade 11 & 12 students, for more information, please see emails (with more comprehensive info) already
sent to you from PSSD. If you did not receive this info and wish to receive monthly emails, please be sure to let
Mme Gauthier or Mr. Huyghebaert know as soon as possible. Thanks.
GHS NEWSLETTER – December 19, 2014
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