Hello,

Happy Friday! With another week behind us we creep yet a bit closer to the holiday season. With three weeks left until the holidays officially begin teachers are busy making their way through course material as they begin to prepare students for the very important end of semester including summative evaluations. As a reminder, the “summative season” as it is sometimes referred, is that final 30% of a students mark that is made up of two separate evaluations in every course. These summative tasks take various forms depending upon the course itself.

This coming Monday November 30, 2009 we will be hosting our third Opportunity Room (OR) of the year. The OR is a place for students to complete missed evaluations in their classes. Students are referred by their classroom teacher and have already been approached meaning they will already know if they are to attend. Because this is a students last opportunity to complete this piece of evaluation it is imperative that students being referred for this opportunity take full advantage of it. Missed OR opportunities result in missing marks in students evaluation record which can have serious impact on credit acquisition at the end of the semester.

Until now, only some high schools have been providing school-based support to students who are dealing with substance abuse. Some of these schools were also providing a low level of service, which means they weren’t reaching enough students or as often as they should.

Through project s.t.e.p., every high school student will have ongoing access to an addictions counsellor. This is critical to ensuring that we reach teens at the right time before they move onto harder drugs or even go down that path.

The Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (or OCRI) is coordinating the implementation of this enhanced addiction education and prevention program. The Substance Abuse and Youth in School Coalition, the four school boards, youth-focused addiction treatment agencies, professionals in the enforcement, health and social services sectors, teachers and student support professionals are also working together to implement the program in all the high schools.

There are four parts to this program:

Why is an enhanced education and prevention program in the high schools so important?

For one thing, students and families will have ongoing access to an addictions counsellor.

For another, we’ll be able to address youth substance abuse before serious health risks result.

And we know that this type of program really does work. Of the 22 schools that already had an education and prevention program in place, 60 per cent of the students who received counselling significantly reduced their substance use over the school year; 45 per cent increased their grade average; and 80 per cent finished their school year.

Lastly, this program represents the first time that there is a cohesive and consistent partnership to deal with teen substance abuse education and prevention.

Finally, please find attached a copy of this weeks version of Bell This Week to aid with your planning.

attachment: bell-this-week-nov-30-dec-4-2009.doc

Have a super weekend.

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

Report cards went home with students this past Thursday and were distributed in period 1 classes. If you have not seen this document as of yet please be sure to request to see it and discuss its results. The marks on this report card are based upon evaluations up to and including November 4, 2009 which was the half-way point in the semester. With just four weeks remaining until Christmas, there now remain just 7 weeks to the end of the semester.

The School Improvement Team met for the full day Friday November 20, 2009 looking at school results specifically in the areas of grade 9 EQAO math and the OSSLT. We met our goal by days end with that being the draft creation of Bell HS’s School Improvement plan for this year. Having looked at Bell’s results we have decided to embark heavily upon our Literacy initiatives specifically as they pertain the success completion by all students on the OSSLT. While our results are impressive as a school the data does reveal that work still remains in better preparing all students for the first and subsequent attempts on this graduation requirement.

Learning Support Services at the OCDSB is currently undertaking a review of Special Education programs and delivery for the 2010 – 2011 year and beyond. Public consultations have been arranged as follows as sent by Superintendent Dawn Paxton:

Please find below the schedule for the public information and consultation meetings concerning report 09-189 Special Education Classes, Programs and Services for 2010-2011. For reference the report is located on the board web site at www.ocdsb.ca in the Education Committee agenda on November 17, 2009 and Special Education Advisory Committee agenda on November 25, 2009.

Learning Support Services staff will be holding two consultation and information meetings to provide all stakeholders with information concerning the Special Education Classes, Programs and Services for 2010-2011 (December 3 and December 9, 2009). At the same time, stakeholders will have an opportunity to provide written input through the board’s website allowing Learning Support Services to collect additional input from all stakeholders regarding these proposals.

CONSULTATION SCHEDULE

 Special Education Classes, Programs and Services for 2010-2011

 Thursday, December 3, 2009             Sir Robert Borden High School, Library (7:00 – 8:30)

                                                       131 Greenbank Road, Nepean ON K2H 8R1

 Wednesday, December 9, 2009         Gloucester High School, Auditorium (7:00 – 8:30)

                             2060 Ogilvie Road, Gloucester ON K1J 7N8

Please find below this weeks edition of Bell This Week.

attachment:Â bell-this-week-nov-23-27.doc

Have a super week.

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

Yikes! Looking at the calendar and only 5 weeks remaining before the Christmas Holidays…where does the time go?

With mid-term marks being entered as we speak, official mid-term report cards will be issued to students this Thursday November 19, 2009. As your children arrive home please ask to see their report cards and discuss their progress with them. Being as supportive as you are they need to know how proud of them you are for their efforts while at the same time how supportive you can be where things are not going so well. If you have questions please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s guidance counsellor or their classroom teachers.

This is just a reminder of Bell High Schools musical, Hello Dolly, being performed Decemer 9 – 12 in the schoo cafetorium. The cast and crew have been working tirelessly in putting together yet another memorable performance of music and dance. As is typical,the hype is building as we approach the start of the performances. Hats off to Mr. Perry Van Allen and Mr. Tom Sparks and the rest of their supporting cast for the tremendous work they have already put in behind the scenes.

Today’s PD day was a resounding success. Our day began with a plenary session from Dr. Susanna Talarico attended by the entire teaching staff. Dr. Talarico is a third year residency student from CHEO working under the direction of Dr. Clare Gray piloting an advocacy program entitled Mental Illness in the Classroom. Prevalent in today’s classroom, Dr. Talarico’s presentation was indepth, informative, and very well received by teachers as evidenced through their questions. Dr. Talarico will follow up with the second part of her presentation on December 8, 2009 at our next staff meeting where she will be discussing practical strategies and accommodations that can be instituted in the classroom in helping students manage their particular mental health issues. Following her plenary, teachers then chose between a series of workshops in the area of Special Education including a book club (Lost at School), Up in Smoke (Drugs & School), Gifted Education, and a more indepth look at the Ontario School Record and Individual Education Plans.

For your information, Monday is a regular day of school for secondary school students not to be confused with our elementary colleagues who have an additional PA day on that date as well.

Please see this weeks edition of Bell This Week attached.

attachment: bell-this-week-nov-16-20-2009.doc

Have an awesome weekend.

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

I wanted to take a moment to correct my comments about Whitechapel and the anthology mentioned on Friday.

Maya Bielinski was the student congratulated but I cast the net too narrowly and for that I apologize. Maya wrote the book and lyrics for the show but equally as important with regard to the shows success was its music, composed by Bell HS graduates Don Rankin, Charles Hoppner, Ellen McAteer, and Julian Zanetti.Â

In addition, the show itself was part of the Sears Ontario Drama Festival in the spring of 2008. The play is being printed by Playwrights Canada Press, the largest publisher of dramatic literature in Canada. While referred to a yearly event, this is actually only the third anthology form the Sears Ontario Drama Festival in its 64 years – the last was published in 1996. Maya is only one of two students whose play was selected while the other six were written by teachers or professional playwrights.

Congrats once again to this amazing group of students for their contributions to the Drama program at Bell HS and its continued success.

cheers,

Mr. Whitehead – Principal

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

Hello,

Please find below the latest updates on H1N1 from Ottawa Public Health in the form of an attachment. Please read carefully.

attachment: Â h1n1-update-moh-letter-to-parents-oct30_en-3-n0v2-09.doc

Public Health also manages student vaccinations. Please find attached important information concerning Meningitis and HPV vaccinations including dates and times for clinics for those interested.

attachment:2-meningoschools_blk_en-2-nov2-09.doc

attachment-_3-ocdsb_clinic0910_revised-2-nov2-09.doc

Finally, Chartwells happily attaches this weeks menu choices for students in the Bell HS cafeteria. Please have a look and if you are interested in dietary information, please follow the link at the bottom of the attached table.

attachment: Â chartwells-menu-november-2009.doc

Have a super week,
Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

School council met this past Monday and it was a pleasure to welcome three new faces around our table. Lots of important information was shared and we engaged in rich discussion around many topics related to our school, our board. I appreciate everyone’s great questions in what proved to be a very thought provoking evening. I look forward to meeting with this group again on the last Monday in November.

Congratulations to Fiona Macdonald and Cindy Wei for their efforts in putting together a very successful first dance of the year. Three hundred students came together for a night of fun and frolic in an atmosphere that was one of celebration and saw students “let their hair down” enjoying music from Rhythm Force who put on a marvelous show once again. Thanks as well to our teacher volunteers (Ms. Luce, Ms. Frazer) and our many student-teacher volunteers who gave of themselves and contributed significantly to the success of the evening. With this dance now behind us, students are already looking forward to semi-formal in February; typically the most anticipated event of the school year in terms of school dances.

Celebration! That is the first word that comes to mind in discussing our Friday afternoon as Bell HS embarked on an official partnership with Special Olympics Ottawa. Dr. Frank Hayden addressed 400 students who pledged the Special Olympics pledge together in the presence of teachers and media. Many thanks to Julia Coe for her efforts as she worked closely with Mr. Kicul in putting this wonderful event together.

Our second opportunity room ran successfully this past Friday. Fifty six students were referred with 40 presenting themselves. In another four instances, further arrangements were made with teachers by these four particular students resulting in 44 missed evaluations being completed that would have otherwise fallen by the wayside. Thanks to Mrs. Verreault and Mr. Kicul along with one of our student teachers who proctored this opportunity for students. Our next opportunity room will take place November 30, 20o9 for students who have missed major evaluative pieces in the month of November.

Normally I would be posting this weeks edition of Bell This Week. Mrs. O’Brien is the staff person who happily coordinates this production and unfortunately she is ill at the moment. We wish her a quick return to good health and I promise to post the schedule as soon as I get it this week.

Have an awesome week.
Bruce Whitehead – Principal