Hello,

It’s confirmed! HOT 89.9′s street team will be hosting live between 7:30 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. from Bell HS on Friday May 8, 2009 in support of this years Pancake Breakfast. This will undoubtedly add to the atmosphere in a positive way on this very special morning. Please consider joining us along with HOT 89.9′s team and our many other community partners as we celebrate this wonderful organization together.

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

The United Way Pancake Breakfast is on the horizon taking place on Friday May 8, 2009 from 7:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. With a number of community sponsors this year including Loeb in BC’s, Aramark Foods, Starbucks, Maple Leaf Foods, and General Dynamics Canada please join us for this wonderful fundraiser on your way to work. Of special note this year is our offering of REAL maple syrup due to a generous community partner in Fortune Farms. Please mark your calendars and we look forward to hopefully seeing you there. Â

Staffing has begun for next year and things are looking fine. Based upon our projections with respect to student numbers for September, all of our existing teachers and staff are expected to return in September…great news as we embark on the building process for next year.

The timetable is in the midst of being built. Students yet to submit their option sheets must do so immediately to maximize opportunities for first course choices. Courses are filling up fast so time is of the essence.

Congratulations to Brooke Delcorde for successfully organizing Bell HS’s OSCARS this past Friday. About 150 students enjoyed the awards and dance portions of the ceremony. Students who attended enjoyed themselves immensely and are hoping that this once again becomes a regular activity on Bell HS’s calendar in the years to come.

A reminder that mid-term report cards were issued to students in Friday March 24, 2009. Parents are asked to request to see these important documents showing progress to date in each of their children’s courses. With nine weeks left in the semester, guidance and administrative staffs will be reviewing marks for all students and developing gameplans where required.

Please see the attachment line below for Bell This Week.

attachment: bell-this-week-april-27-may-1.doc

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

Congratulations to Ms. Diana Hall, Mrs. Lisa Hetherington, and Mrs. Alison Green for their support in leading students with the International Banquet this past Friday evening. Also very deserving of special mention are students Victor Malkov and Yuka Sai who put a tremendous amount of time and effort into this wonderful evening, organizing everything from the catering (Dave Smith) to the silent auction. Many thanks also go out to the wonderful community organizations who came out to support us. Over 100 attendees enjoyed an evening full of food, music, and dance all in support of our sister school in Ndutu, Kenya.

A reminder of our next School council meeting Monday April 27, 2009 beginning at 7 p.m. in the staff lounge.

A reminder as well that this Friday will see students receive their mid-term report cards. Please request of your children to see these important documents.

attachment: bell-this-week-april-20-24.doc

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

I trust that everyone has enjoyed valuable family time together this weekend. As we move further into spring it is important to note the following:

1. If your child is returning to Bell HS next year and has yet to submit an option sheet indicating their course choices it is imperative that this be completed this week. We are in the midst of staffing the school for next year and with the vast majority of option sheets already submitted, the Leadership Team is considering which courses will run and those that must be cancelled due to low enrolment. In order to improve chances of getting the courses they want, students who have not already handed in their option sheet must do so immediately.

2. Friday April 17, 2009 will see Bell HS host its second annual International Banquet. Under the watchful eye of Mrs. Wendy Verreault, our very own Bell HS students have put together an evening of fine food (catered by the one and only David Smith), song, dance, and both silent and public auctions. It is not too late to purchase tickets that are being let go at the remarkable price of $20/adult and $15/child. I strongly encourage you to join us for this wonderful event with a community feel that will leave you in awe! Proceeds from this years banquet have been earmarked to support our sister school in Ndutu, Kenya. Â

3. Please set aside the morning of May 8, 2009 between 730 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. to join us for breakfast at Bell HS as we host our annual Pancake Breakfast in support of the United Way. We are excited as we roll out this year’s festivities that will likely include participation from a popular radio station as well as other community support from Aramark Foods, Starbucks (coffee), Loeb (in Bell’s Corners) and real maple syrup…yes that’s right, real maple syrup kindly donated by Fortune Farms, a local sugar bush that is also part of our school community. We are excited at yet another opportunity to host you and your family in addition to supporting the wonderful organization of United Way and all they do for our school, our students, our community.

4. Finally, term three has just ended and marks are being entered into the computer. Please note that official mid-term report cards will be issued to students on April 24, 2009. Please ask your children to see them as they arrive home at the end of the school day. It is as partners that we move forward successfully in facilitating success for them. Â

attachment: bell-this-week-apr-13-17.doc

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

What a whirlwind week! Congratulations to this year’s SEARS festival team and Mr. Perry Van Allen for his hard work in preparing our students so masterfully for their performance this past Wednesday evening at Woodroffe HS. Everything from costumes, to set to the actual performance itself were outstanding! Good luck to the entire team as they vie for a spot at the regional level in the upcoming weeks.

Thursday April 2, 2009Â saw our grade 10 students complete the mandatory OSSLT (Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test), a graduation requirement for all students. Sincerest thanks go out to everyone involved in making this another successful writing inlcuding Mr. Kicul, Mrs. Verreault, and Jody Downs for their wonderful planning, organization, and management abilities. Also deserving of special mention are Mr. Jim Risk, Mr. John Cook, who coordinated this years practice sessions with students. Student results will be available in late May.

In support of Student Success, additional Ministry funding was provided to all schools. Bell HS received $6500 of additional funding to support hands-on learning opportunities for secondary students in the areas of visual art ($1000), music ($2000), science ($2000), and boy’s literacy ($1500).  Department heads of their respective departments worked diligently with teacher in their departments to order learning materials for all students to augment their excellent programs.

In order to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma all students must earn 40 hours of community service. While many students complete these hours in a timely manner, each year graduating students find themselves requiring anywhere between 1 and 40 hours even at this point in the semester.

To facilitate this graduation requirement, the Ontrario Youth Volunteer Challenge has been issued to schools during National Volunteer Week, April 18 – 26, 2009. Please see the attached information below for this wonderful opportunity for students.

attachment: ctw-youthflyer.doc

attachment: bell-this-week-april-6-9.doc

Have a super weekend.

Bruce Whitehead – Principal