Through the Halls of Bell HS

Hello,

Another wonderful week at Bell HS. We have now officially crossed the midpoint of the semester and teachers are busy finalizing their marking and entering mid-term marks. Official mid-term report cards will be issued to students on November 19, 2009. Please request to see them from your children as they arrive home.

The Ministry of Health sent home this week with students an information page for your interest. They have provided some clearer language around the H1N1 vaccine that is below:

“Now that the vaccine is available, I strongly encourage you and your children to get vaccinated when the supply of vaccine allows. Children over six months are eligible for the H1N1 vaccine. Children under 10 years of age require two doses, 21 days apart. The free vaccine is currently available through the Ottawa Public Health vaccination clinics. We are currently focusing on priority groups, which include children from 6 months to 5 years, as well as children with chronic conditions. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care announced on November 4 that school-aged children will be next in line to receive the vaccine. For information on locations and schedules, please contact 3-1-1 or visit Ottawa.ca/health. Clinics fill quickly, and I urge you to be patient and bring toys and activities to make the wait more tolerable.”

Maya Bielinski is a graduate of Bell HS from the class of 2008. You may remember Bell HS’s musical Whitechapel that was performed in December of 2007. The play itself was written by Maya as well as the music that went with it. Each year, Carousel Players chooses eight plays from its submissions for publication to its yearly Anthology. I am pleased to inform you that Maya’s play was chosen as a winner and is now published in the anthology. Copies are on order and will be prominently displayed in our school. Congratualtions to Maya as well as Mr. Perry Van Allen for his fine work as he worked with Maya in putting together this truly memorable musical for our school community.

This Wednesday November 11, 2009 is Remembrance Day. Bell HS is pleased to present ceremonies in the morning. We will be holding two assemblies at which members of the school community are invited to attend. If you are planning on attending, please contact the school office at 613 828 9101 so we can plan a spot for you as we celebrate and remember the ongoing sacrifices of the men, women, and children of conflict.

This is a reminder of our PD day this Friday November 13, 2009. Students are not required to attend classes that day. This professional development opportunity provides staff at Bell HS with the opportunity to grow together. The topic of this particular day is Special Education and will see a number of workshops offered for teachers to choose from. Days like these are integral for us as we take an introspective look into our teaching practices and discuss ways to improve for the benefit of students. Classes resume in regular fashion Monday November 16, 2009.

Attached, please find this weeks edition of Bell This Week.

attachment: bell-this-week-nov-9-13-2009.doc

Have a super week.

Bruce Whitehead - Principal