Hello,

Exams have wrapped up nicely and teachers are busy marking and calculating final marks. Report cards will be issued in period one classes on Thursday February 12, 2009. Please be sure to request of your children to see their final marks from semester one. In addition to the final marks on this report and equally important are the comments and learning skills. Looking at the report card as a two sided document, I was at a presentation lately where it was suggested by the presenter that the left hand side of the report (final marks) is the part that will get students hired and the right side of the report card (learning skills – organization, group work, homework, initiative, works independently) will get students fired. Operationally there seems to be some truth to this statement.  Â

With semester 2 upon us and classes beginning Monday February 2, 2009, it is important that students return ready to “switch gears” as they commence semester 2 classes. To facilitate the distribution of timetables for semester 2, February 2 (usually run as a day two since it is an even calendar day) will run as a day 1.

It is important for students that we properly wrap up semester one by facilitating the handing back of exams to students and provide them the opportunity to ask clarifying questions, if any, of their teachers. In order to make this happen we will be running a “turnaround” day on Friday February 6, 2009. This means that we will be running a combined day with semester one and semester two classes running throughout the day. Schedules for students are posted in the school.

While we are just beginning semester 2 classes, we are also in the process of ramping up the planning for the 2009-2010 school year. The process begins with the distribution of course contracts to students on February 9, 2009. To guide students in their course selections, Student Services personnel will be personally visiting all classrooms over the course of a few days to remind students of the importance of these contracts from both personal and staffing perspectives. Once again, students are strongly encouraged to make course choices very carefully in consultation with parents and guidance counselors. Parents are asked to carefully check comment boxes on end of semester report cards where in certain instances teachers may be making recommendations for level changes in particular subject areas as a means of guiding the course selection process. Parents and students are asked in these circumstances to strongly consider this guidance as course choices are made for the 2009-2010 academic year. Course contracts are due back to Student Services no later than February 20, 2009 in time for our first projection for the upcoming academic year. Wow how time flies.

Finally, a reminder to all that Friday February 13, 2009 is a board-wide professional development day for all staff. This is followed directly by Family Day on Monday February 16, 2009. In both cases there will be no classes.

Have a super weekend and a great week next week!

Attachment: bell-this-week-feb-2.doc

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

As we make our way through the exam period I wanted to take this opportunity to thank students and staff for their conscientiousness as we move through this important part of the semester. A reminder to parents that semester 2 classes begin on Monday February 2, 2009 at 9:05 a.m.

Finally, a reminder of our monthly school council meeting on Monday January 26, 2009 beginning at 7 p.m. in the staff lounge. This month we welcome Mr. Barry Bickerton (Principal – Curriculum Services) and Ms. Toula Makris (Teacher & Instructional Coach – Curriculum Services) who will be presenting to parents beginning at 7:05 p.m. on the topic of assessment & evaluation. Please feel free to join us for what will be an informative and engaging discussion.

Please see attachment below.

attachment: bell-this-week-jan-26.doc

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

A reminder to all parents that exams begin this week, Friday January 23, 2009. Students are busy completing summative evaluations in classes and preparing for final examinations. Please note that as a means of supporting students and in consideration of the OC Transpo work interruption that continues, morning exams will begin at 9:30 a.m. instead of the previous time of 9:00 a.m. This will allow time for students to arrive on yellow buses transporting students in place of the former 600 series that typically transports students on a daily basis.Â

Please see the attached calendar for the week of January 19 – 23.

attachment: bell-this-week-jan-19.doc

Have a great week.

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

Please find below this weeks edition of Bell This Week for your planning.

attachment: bell-this-week-jan-12.doc

This is a busy time for students as they busily prepare for summative evaluations in their courses. There are times when quesitons may arise across subject areas. As a means of providing help, three students have spearheaded a new help initiative called the Auxiliary Lounge. Congratulations and thanks go out to Young-Young Shen, Jim Yang, and Victor Malkov for this wonderful e-idea. Yes, e-idea. This facebook group’s (actually called the Auxiliary Lounge) goal is to provide academic support to students in ny subject. When students feel they need academic help they may visit this group to request it.

The URL is: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gd=4007231480.

Have an awesome weekend.

Mr. Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

Happy New Year to everyone! I trust that the holidays provided valuable catch-up time and connections with family and friends.

I wanted to take an opportunity to update you on the OCTranspo labour action. The OCDSB has reached an agreement with the Amalgamated Transit Union to begin offering yellow bus services for students normally travelling to school on OCTranspo 600 series buses. Bus schedules as well as more detailed information are available by visiting the board website at www.ocdsb.ca. The schedule lists 600 series buses and associated pick-up points and times for students.

Please note that the arrival times for Bell HS are approximate, will depend upon traffic flow and weather, and do extend beyond the start of the school day. In recognition of this fact, a discussion with teachers has yielded alternate plans for attendance and evaluation of student performance in the first timeslot of the day. Please note that it is not mandatory that students board these buses. Students who have made alternate arrangements with respect to getting to school are permitted to continue this means where applicable. This new service is presented as an alternative to facilitate transport where it is currently very difficult.

For your planning purposes please find below Bell This Week for the week of January 5 – 9.

attachment: bell-this-week-jan-5.doc

Sincerely

Bruce Whitehead – Principal