Hello,

Second semester has begun with a flurry of activity throughout the school. Students are busily adapting to new schedules and Student Services has been busy addressing timetable concerns  with all students. While very busy, things have rolled out very nicely and most students are comfortably settled into their new surroundings.

Meet the Teacher Semester 2…Want to meet your child’s second semester teachers? As we did last year, Bell HS is proud to offer you that opportunity on Tuesday February 7, 2012beginning at 4:00 p.m. in the cafetorium. Following a few quick introductions classroom visits will begin at 4:15 p.m. and provide you with the opportunity to review course outlines and peruse curriculum materials in classes. Please note that many other activities are also going on for some teachers such as coaching. In such cases, some teachers will not be available but will be leaving a sign-up sheet outside their classroom for you to request a phonecall or email. Please join us on this evening as we begin our journey together toward June.

Ontario Secondary School Literact Test (OSSLT) is a mandatory graduation requirement for all students currently studying in their grade 10 year. As part of our school improvement plan, students in grade 9 and 10 classrooms have been exposed to a minimum of three OSSLT tasks in each of their classes to better prepare them for the test itself. These tasks are identical in every way to the tasks students will be required to complete on the test itself. This year’s test in being held on Thursday March 29, 2012.

As we embark on semester two we will continue to provide students with information about the test and prepare them thoroughly. If you are interested in previewing the tasks required of students on the test including samples from past OSSLT tests, please visit the Ministry website at http://www.eqao.com/Parents/Secondary/10/10.aspx.

Community Service Hours Update for Potential Graduates…My most recent potential graduate list contains 192 students. Of these, 75 have yet to complete their mandatory 40 hours of community service. It is critical to note that students unsuccessful in meeting this graduation requirement will not cross the commencement stage nor receive their Ontario Secondary School Diploma in June if nothing changes.

How can you verify how many hours your child has completed? Potential graduates missing hours will be informed by a brightly coloured sticker placed directly on their report card coming home Tuesday February 14, 2012. Parents, please be sure to review your child’s report card with them. Where stickers are present I would suggest following up with your child’s guidance counselor for a conversation. In addition and attached to the end of semester report card coming home Tuesday February 14, 2012 at the end of the day is a credit counseling summary showing all credits earned to date as well as the number of community service hours currently on file in our database that your child has completed.

A reminder that Friday February 17, 2012 is a board-wide Professional Development day. There will be no classes that day. In addition, Monday February 20, 2012 is Family Day and once again there are no classes. Classes will resume on Tuesday February 21, 2012.

Bell This Week

For your planning, please find attached this weeks version of BTW.

attachment:

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

Due to inclement weather this past Friday, Friday exams will be written today and Monday exams tomorrow (Tuesday). Semester 2 still begins Wednesday February 1, 2012.

School Council meets tonight in the staff lounge beginning at 7:00 p.m. All parents are welcome!

For your planning, please find attached this weeks edition of Bell This Week.

attachment: 12-01-30 Bell this Week

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

Exams

Exams begin this coming Wednesday January 25, 2012. As was done last year, exams will be written in the same classrooms students had their courses all year and on the same day. What this means is that period 1 exams will be written on Wednesday, period 2 on Thursday, period 3 on Friday, and period 4 next Monday January 30,2o12. ALL exams begin @ 9:30 a.m. in the morning and no students will be writing more than one exam in a day. ALL students will have time and one-half to complete their exams in the spirit of eliminating time as a barrier, especially for students who find this time very anxiety ridden.

A gentle reminder that semester 2 classes start on Wednesday February 1, 2012.

School Council

Our next school council meeting will take place on Monday January 30, 2012. The meeting will begin @ 7:00 p.m. in the staff lounge and all parents are invited to attend.

Fire Alarms @ Bell

Bell HS staff and students worked very nicely through two fire alarms this past week. There was no active fire in either instance nor were pullstations pulled by students or staff. The source of the alarms were mechanical in nature which has been addressed by District personnel. In each case it was very cold outside and in such instances students are evacuated to Bell Arena and portables. Each alarm lasted for approximately 15 minutes from start to finish. In cases where students were writing summatives, accommodations were made for those requiring extra time through classroom teachers.

BTW

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

attachment: 12_01_23 Bell this Week

Have an awesome week!

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

Please see the message below from Superintendent Paxton’s office re: special education program consultation for the 2012-2013 school year.

On behalf of Dawn Paxton, the following link provides information on a Consultation that will be taking place at Confederation Education Centre on Thursday, January 19, 2012 regarding Special Education Classes, Programs and
Services for 2012-2013.

The link includes an email address for interested stakeholders to provide input as well as a copy of the report that was presented to the Education Committee on 13 December 2011.

http://www.ocdsb.ca/Pages/FeedbackNews_ConsultationonSpecialEducationClasses,ProgramsandServicesfor2012-2013.aspx

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call 613-596-8254.

Lorraine Smith-Champagne

Administrative Assistant to
Superintendent Dawn Paxton of Learning Support Services

613 596-8254

Hello,

Thanks to everyone who partook in our annual Open House this past Wednesday night. Three hundred parents and students attended and we are hoping you found what you were looking for in our presentation and displays.

Congratulations to Passport draw winner Evan Holland. You may pick up your prize from Mrs. Cathy Seguin in the main office as early as Monday January 16, 2012 and anytime thereafter. Thanks for playing!

For your planning purposes, please see this weeks edition of Bell This Week.

attachment: 12_01_16 Bell this Week.doc

Have an awesome week.

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

It is with a heavy heart that I communicate to you the sudden loss of our Chief custodian, Mr. Steven Squirrell due to a sudden illness.

Steven had been with us at Bell HS for the past two years and during that time he easily endeared himself to the entire staff. Steve was very much a people person. His kind, gracious manner made him very approachable, a quality very much respected by all of us. His tireless work ethic and attention to detail resulted in relationships with staff and students that are already being missed.  

Students were informed of this sad news this morning by teachers in their first period classes. Students who had spares were met by Mr. Kicul and Mrs. McNamara in the staff lounge. With their well-being our first priority, students experiencing difficulty as a result of the news had access to District personnel from our Tragic Event Response Team if they felt the need to discuss their feelings.  

A school letter will be coming home with your children tonight (also attached). We are stressing the importance of leaning on and supporting one another as we all move through this difficult time together. I would encourage you if you feel comfortable to perhaps discuss this with your children if the opportunity arises.

Our school flag is at half-mast in respect of Steve. We mourn as an entire school community and I hope you will join me in keeping Steve’s family in your thoughts for the next while as they grieve his tragic loss.

attachment: Steven Squirrell parent letter

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

Please see the attached for an interesting opportunity for students with wonderful awards attached.

attachment: Gulen Essay p1

attachment: Gulen Essay p2

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

Sens Foundation Skate – Jan 27, 2012

The event is happening at night and every participant will be given a headlamp and toque. We think it’s going to be a fantastic visual watching 2,000+ skaters go down the canal wearing lights.  The event will give everyone the opportunity to be part of something special, something that’s never been done before and most importantly they will be part of All-Star weekend, something that happens only once every 30 years.

For more information, please see the attachment below.

attachment: ENS_mediakit

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

Kudos again this year to Mr. Stanutz and Mrs. Ward for their wonderful Christmas Concert last week @ Bell HS. In excess of 250 guests took in the festivities that featured outstanding musical performances by each of Bell’s choirs and bands. Full complements of each boast 80 participants; what a sight it was! Thanks to each of these very special people who devote so much time to the Fine Arts program @ Bell HS!

I wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a very safe and happy holiday season. It has been an exciting semester to date and while hard to believe it is almost over, please know what an honour it is to work with you as partners in educating your children, our leaders of tomorrow.

Please see attached this weeks edition of Bell This Week.

attachment: 11_12_19 Bell this Week.doc

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

CHEO Connects!

Free Information Series for Parents

Adult High School, 300 Rochester Street @ Gladstone

Attendance and parking are free

For more information or to pre-register, please visit www.cheo.on.ca/CHEOconnects

There is an overwhelming amount of information out there for parents. The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) is working to help parents sort through the volume and complexity of information as well as learn about the key physical and mental health issues that impact their kids.

CHEO Connects is a free information series for parents — providing trusted information and access to local experts. Six evening events will be rolled out over the 2011/2012 school year – each covering both physical and mental health topics for a specific age group.

CHEO experts will be on hand to answer questions.

attachment: CHEO connects poster Feb 6 FINAL

attachemnt: CHEO connects poster April 16 FINAL

Silvia Wettstein

Partnerships and Advocacy

Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO)

401 Smyth Road  Ottawa, ON  K1H 8L1

Tel: 613 737 7600 x 4106  |  Fax: 613 738 4866  |  swettstein@cheo.on.ca

cheo.on.ca

Making a difference in the lives of children, youth and families