Hello,

For the past two weeks Mr. Kicul, Mrs. Verreault, and myself have been moving around classrooms speaking with students about our expectations of them as well as addressing questions when and where they have arisen. These visits provide an opportunity for us to connect with students in a more quaint setting (the classroom) reminding them of their responsibilities in such areas as attendance, punctuality, academic preparation periods, assessment & evaluation, and cancelled classes in addition to new information on such devices as the defibrulator that we now have in the main foyer of the school for emergency purposes. During these visits, one of the most important topics was assessment & evaluation. Bell HS revised its school policy this year and it is attached for your perusal. The policy is predicated upon communication between the student and their teachers and of course includes parents. Please note that if your child is ill and missing an evaluation in one of their classes that it is imperative that you contact the school office by phone to let a member of the office staff know. Justifying your child’s absence changes the lay of the land if you will in regard to additional opportunities to complete such missed evaluations. I would also like to draw your attention to the Opportunity Room (OR) being provided four times each semester as a means for students to make up missed major evaluations (tests and assignments). The first of these sessions will be taking place September 30, 2009 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the staff lounge. In instances where students are required to attend the OR, this will be their last opportunity to complete the missed evaluation tool. It is therfore imperative that they are there.

attachment: 2009-2010-final-ae-policy.doc

The other very important aspect of this dialogue revolves around community service hours. In order to earn their OSSD, students must successfully complete 30 credits, pass the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (grade 10), and complete 40 hours of community service by the end of grade 12. Right now we are projecting in the neighbourhood of 200 graduates this year. Interestingly 50% of them have yet to complete the CS hour requirement. This is troublesome because time is running out and while it might seem like lightyears away (June graduation ceremonies), they are really just around the corner if those students who have yet to complete their hours don’t get on it immediately. There are a myriad of opportunities within the walls of Bell HS to earn hours and other information concerning hours within the community can be found in Student Services.

Each year the Royal Canadian Legion Bells Corners Branch 593 hosts a poster, poem, and essay contest for students in the OCDSB. Bell HS students typically represent us very well and each year we seem to have a winner in one or more categories. If this particular type of contest is of interest to you I would encourage you to visit the link in the poster attachment to find out more concerning topics and deadlines. Good luck!Â

attachment: 2009-remembrance-poster-literary-contest-ad.doc

Progress reports will be mailed home October 13, 2009. Each teacher will produce a report for each of your children in each of their classes. The purpose of these reports is to provide you with a snapshot of the progess made to date as well as form the basis of discussion for parent-teacher interviews being held on October 21, 2009. Please watch for these documents coming home via the mail and at the same time please mark your calendars for this important evening.

For the first time this year, Bell HS is proud to host a Grad info night for parents on Wednesday October 7, 2009. This evening will be run by members of our Guidance department and provide very valuable information for parents of students in grades 10 – 12 as you navigate the senior years of high school with your children. The evening will begin at 7 p.m. and be an excellent opportunity for you to ask and have questions answered revolving around this important topic!

Finally, I wanted to comment briefly on the tragic automobile accident that took place in Navan one week ago today claiming the lives of three and badly injuring a fourth. It was my distinct pleasure to be the Principal for the two males killed in the accident (Brad Rivington, Chris Sabean). The female killed (Ginny Marko) was the daughter of a dear colleague and friend. A parent myself of a son 16 and daughter 8, I still cannot fathom the pain that these families are enduring as a result of their respective losses. As I stood at Ginny’s funeral this past Friday, I could not help but become emotional at different points during this wonderful ceremony as we celebrated her short life. My heart ached as I listened first to Ginny’s stepfather and then her mother address the congregation, speaking about the superb person Ginny was with her “wonderful smile that could and would light up any room.” Perhaps the strongest person in the room Friday was Ginny herself who believed that “everything happened for a reason” and if she were here today I know she would repeat that for all of us to hear. Taken too soon, it is events like this that cut deep for us as parents. I left the church once again thanking God for the many blessings he continues to bestow upon me including good health for myself and my immediate and extended family.

Please remember to hug your kids tonight and every night. As parents it is important we celebrate them for the gifts they are, the joy they bring to us and how they enrich our lives. Life is so short and one never knows what tomorrow may bring. Â

Please see attached this weeks edition of Bell This Week.

attachment: bell-this-week-sept-28-oct-2-2009.doc

Have a super week.

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

Three weeks in and things continue to run very smoothly. Classes are moving forward “full throttle” and with timetable changes behind us, students have settled in nicely. The current number of students currently tending remains steady above spring projections and will translate into additional staffing in the upcoming weeks. Additional staffing such at this time of year allows us to look at our existing classes and split those that are not only large but also for which there may be waiting lists. These added classes will mean the addition of more teaching staff.

I wanted to personally thank all parents who attended the Meet the Teacher evening this past Wednesday night. Having opened up this evening to parents of all students for the first time, I am very pleased by the turnout. While we have debriefed internally, I am also interested in any feedback you may have concerning this evening. If you have a moment, please take the time to respond and provide your comments to me about the evening providing information on what you felt went well as well as areas in which you feel would could have been better. Your feedback is important to us and will help as we prepare for next year.

UBUNTU was hosted yesterday by Bell’s LINK crew. This activity was masterfully put together for all students in grade nine thanks to the efforts of Mrs. Mason and Mr. Hemstreet as well as Mrs. McFall-Smith, Mrs. Collins, Mr. Stasko, and Mrs. Green. Due to their hard work and planning along with support from all teachers of grade nine classes in the morning, the entire event went off without a hitch. All students participated in a myriad of games and activities as a means of fostering socialization and continuing to establish a safe culture among our newest Bruins. Seeing students and the fun they had proved to me once again the power of the LINK program. Student feedback was excellent. If you have a moment as well as a child in grade 9, please ask them about their morning. I am sure your dialogue will be positive. Â

Please find attached this week’s edition of Bell This Week.

attachment: bell-this-week-sept-21-25-2009.doc

Have an awesome weekend.

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

Well, week two is beind us now and things continue to run smoothly. This was the last day for course changes through the Guidance office and we look forward to students settling into their final timetables for the remainder of the semester. Our numbers remain strong in large part due to the number of international students from abroad choosing to come to Bell High School for their studies in Canada. This is great news for us as these students add additional richness to the wonderful diversity we celebrate within our four walls.Â

This evening, our perennial Iftar dinner is being hosted by BISA (Bell Islmaic Student Association). In case you may be unaware, the Iftar Night event is hosted annually in the month of Ramadan and is a chance for all those fasting to open their fast together and for everyone to enjoy a delicious dinner and meet one another. The joy of this evening is that it is cross-cultural not to mention free with food donations coming from our own parent volunteers as well as community businesses. Many thanks go out to Saba Chowdhry for her painstaking efforts in organizing this years celebration. Please join us this evening from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. for this wonderful event.

Character development is an initiative that we have chosen as a staff for strict focus this year. Character development involves efforts on behalf of everyone to nurture those attributes in our students we feel are important for them that contribute positively toward their future success. These attributes set a standardard if you will in developing respectful, safe, and inclusive learning cultures. This is not to say that we have not been working hard on this already, we have. What we have agreed to do this year is to make it a central focus enlisting the help of all staff and students. Stay tuned for more updates in future blogs.

Please see attached this weeks copy of Bell this Week.

attachment: bell-this-week-sept-14-18-2009.doc

Have a super weekend,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal Â

Hello,

What a wonderful week! Our start-up has been quite smooth this year in large part due to the efforts of a super staff working non-stop in their planning, organization, and management in leading up to this very important week. The “buzz” is back in the building after its summer absence and what a feeling it is!

Our current numbers look promising. Back in the spring we projected a specific number of students to arrive to Bell and classroom teachers were hired based upon that number. Today, we have registered more students than we expected which is good news. Should we maintain the current situation we will receive some additional staffing toward the end of September.

Next Friday Bell HS is excited about once again hosting our annual Iftar dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m. Our Muslim students are currently in Ramadan, their month of fasting, in preparation for Eid. The school community is invited to celebrate with our Muslim students and their families.

Meet the Teacher night is being held on Wednesday September 16, 2009. In past years, this evening has been reserved for parents of grade 9 students. This year, I am excited to inform you that we have expanded this evening to include all students and their families. Now open across to all students across grades (9 – 12), parents are encouraged to join us and follow your child’s timetable meeting their teachers, hearing about course requiremnts and expectations, reviewing curriculum, and asking any questions you may have. The evening will begin at 7 p.m. and wrap up at approximately 8:45 p.m.

As always, please see the attached version of Bell This Week to aid you in your planning as well as to inform you of important upcoming events.

attachment: bell-this-week-september-7-11-2009.doc

Have a super Labour Day weekend.

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal