Two Bell High School students are basking in the glory of provincial and national recognition. The grade 10 Communicationsand Technology students – Agastya Kalra and Belden Pham won gold for a 3D
animation project in Ontario and bronze at the 2012 Skills Canada National Competition.

The national competitionincludes Canada’s best skilled trade and technology students, on behalf of all provinces and territories. More than 500 students took part in the national event which included more than 40 skill
sections ranging from robotics to welding and cooking to aircraft maintenance.

The competition sees the top student talent in Canada tested against rigorous industry standards configured by a National Technical Committee consisting of skilled trade and technology professionals from industry and education.

Paul Chislett, Communications Technology Teacher at Bell High School says, “The competition allows the students to shine on the provincial and national stage. It is proof positive that skilled trades and technology programs are valued and respected by both educators and industry leaders. There is a high level of pride and professionalism exhibited by the students who are putting into practice the skills, topics, and techniques they have learned in the classroom.”

The provincial and national competitions are designed to raise awareness of the growing career opportunities in the trades and technologies workforce. Statisticians are forecasting a shortage of about 1 million skilled trade workers by the year
2020. With continuing collaboration from the Government of Canada, industry leaders, and educators, these students signify a bright future for the next generation of skilled trade and technology workers.

Way to go Agastya and Belden!

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

United Way Pancake Breakfast…

This is gentle reminder of our annual United Way Pancake Breakfast taking place this Friday morning from 7:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Many gracious hosts from the District office as well as greater school community will be in attendance. Please consider beginning your day with us; breakfast after all is a critical start to your day! Five dollars will get you a stack of pancakes with real maple syrup, a sausage, and fruit as well as coffee or juice. It is a can’t miss morning for everyone!

Resume Writing/Interview Preparation Skills

Are you actively searching for a job? Would you like to be briefed on the art of interviews as you prepare for your next interview?

The Ottawa Public Library is hosting two sessions in upcoming weeks specifically speaking to these two critical aspects of landing a job. Please see the attachments below for more information.

attachment: May 11 blog resumeprep1

attachment: May 11 blog Interview skills program 2

Bell This Week

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

attachment: 12_05_14 Bell this Week

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

Having met with city By-law officials today, I want students to be fully aware that given the new provincial by-law pertaining to smoking in public places, there remains no area around Bell HS in which it is permissible to smoke. This includes all parks, arenas, and parking lots adjacent to the school. Fines have already begun.

The fines for smoking or supplying tobacco to a minor are $305 and $365 respectively. Please don’t put yourself in a situation where you are smoking on school property. As administrators, we are obliged to submit witness reports if and when we see students smoking anywhere on school property and from here, fines will be issued.

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

I just wanted to take a moment to inform you that Bell HS performed a practice lockdown this afternoon. Lockdowns are practiced to allow staff and students to verify and review procedures in instances where there is imminent risk to student safety.   

Today’s practice drill went very well. Staff and students in most instances carried out their specific reponsibilities appropriately and efficiently. We will be debriefing with staff after school today and are seeking feedback from students through Student Council as we move forward with this important aspect of ensuring student safety in these situations.

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

Graduation Date Correction

In last weeks blog I mentioned a commencement date that was not accurate. For the record, this years commencement ceremony will take place at Centrepointe Theatre on Friday June 29, 2012 beginning at 10:00 am. My apologies for any inconvenience the date as published last week may have caused.

Mid-term Report Cards

Report card time is upon us once again. With term 3 now behind us, teachers are busy entering mid-term marks into our data management system as we prepare to print mid-term report cards.  These reports will be sent home with students on Thursday April 26, 2012. Please be sure to request them as your children arrive home from school that day. With nine (9) weeks left in the semester there remains a lot of work to be done by all students. If your child is in their graduating year and on the heels of our perennial Graduation breakfast this past Friday, please be sure to ensure they have completed their mandatory 40 hours of community service. This is a mandatory requirement in order for students to participate in our upcoming ceremonies this June. Students not completing these hours will not be crossing the graduation stage as they will not have met Provincial graduation requirements.

Cafeteria Student Survey

Chartwells, the District provider of cafeteria services, is requesting students complete the attached online survey. Feedback is important as it will assist the provider in shaping what cafeteria services look like in our cafeteria at Bell High school. Student may simply click on the link below.

link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ontschoolsmay2012__

Bell This Week

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

attachment: 12_04_23 Bell this Week.doc

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

April School Council Meeting

April’s school council meeting will be held on Monday April 30, 2012, not Monday April 23rd as previously communicated through council. If you are interested in hearing more about the “inner workings” and specifics of Bell HS from behind the scenes, please feel free to join us! All meetings begin @ 7:00 a.m. in the staff lounge.

Grad Breakfast

Grads, mark your calendars! This years graduation breakfast is taking place this Friday April 20, 2012. All potential graduates are invited to this event in celebration of their accomplishments and impending graduation. Here, students will be have the opportunity to pay their graduation gown fee of $25 that includes a cap and gown for the actual ceremony. Potential graduates will also be advised of a few logistical things important for them to know at this juncture in the year. This will include reminders from staff about not “shutting down” academically, and any outstanding community service hours and/or OSSLT requirements where applicable. Once again a reminder that June 15, 2011 is the absolute deadline for submission of community service hours to be recognized in time for graduation.

Commencment Ceremonies

We are busy gearing up for this year’s commencement ceremonies taking place on Friday June 30 June 29, 2012 beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Centrepointe Theatre. Formal invitations are being handed out to students who are projected to have successfully completed all graduation requirements (30 credits, 40 hours of CS, successful completion of their OSSLT) so they can plan. Students on the potential graduation list who, according to school records, are not aligned to complete all of these requirements have not received their formal invitation as of yet. If our records require reconciling in the eyes of students they are requested to see their Guidance counselor immediately to rectify any discrepancies and receive their formal invitation. In order to accommodate all graduates and their families, invitations go out with a three seat guest maximum. If as a family you are interested in obtaining additional seating for family members at the event, please have your child see Mrs. Seguin in the main office. She will compile a list and if additional seats become available and we can accommodate part or all of your request she will inform your child in the upcoming weeks.

Bell This Week

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

attachment: 12_04_16 Bell this Week.doc

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

Elaine Wright, Bell High Schools’ – Cooperative Education Teacher and OYAP / Dual Credit supporter, received the first of  five OYAP – Star Awards being presented to OCDSB teachers for their ongoing work and support of students who are interested in pursuing apprenticeship programs through the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program. 

The OYAP program, in conjunction with the Dual Credit program (http://www.ocdsb.ca/programs/sec/dc/Pages/default.aspx)  is moving our youth forward in their career pathways.  Thanks to Elaine and all our Cooperative Education and Dual Credit Contact teachers throughout the OCDSB, our OCDSB students’ lives are being changed! 

Congratulations Elaine!

To learn more about OYAP , go to: http://www.ocdsb.ca/programs/sec/oyap/Pages/default.aspx

Hello everyone,

Cross Boundary Transfer Appeal Decisions

For the first time in five years, Bell HS had a zero cap this year with respect to cross boundary transfers (CBT). This is because when we look at our existing student population for students in grades 9 – 11, add the expected number of new Bruins we are projecting for September 2012 (260), add our expected registrations from International students and finally subtract our graduates leaving us this June, we end up with a student population greater than our Ministry cap of 1092. While CBT applications were still accepted during the window in February, our zero cap meant that all applications were denied.

Some parents decided to proceed with the appeal process which is part of the first denial. The next step in the process is for me to sit down with Superintendent Bennett to review each appeal letter one-by-one assessing it against the criteria stated in the District procedure governing this process. Once we have had a chance to review it together Superintendent Bennett will then be bringing all appeals and our decision to the all Superintendent’s of Instruction to ensure consistency as this part of the process unfolds. All to say that decisions at this point in the process can be expected later this week or very early into the first week of April when letters will be mailed to parents who are appealing the initial decision. I (we) appreciate your patience as we fully understand the implications of our decisions.

OSSLT Writing this Week

Students in grade 10 for the first time as well as those students who were not successful in their first attempt will be writing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test this week on Thursday March 29, 2012. Students have been prepared in each of their classes by teachers beginning back in September as part of our School Improvement Plan. Additional work is being done with certain students for whom we feel could benefit from extra support. This began last week and is continuing up until the end of day Tuesday March 27, 2012. Many thanks are extended to the many staff who have volunteered their time in preparing students to meet this graduation requirement.

School Council

This is a quick reminder of our School Council meeting tomorrow night beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Staff Lounge. All parents interested in finding out more about the workings of Bell “behind the scenes” are encouraged to attend.

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

attachment: 12_03_26 Bell this Week.doc

Have an outstanding week!

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Hello,

Thanks to all parents who attended our Meet the Teacher afternoon this past Tuesday. About 250 parents parents took advantage of this opportunity and met their child’s semester two teachers. We appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedules and hope you found your time productive and informative.

Course Contracts (Option Sheets/Course Selection)

This is a critical time of year for schools as we gear up for the 2012-2013 academic year. Student responsibilities at this time require them to choose their courses for next year. For the second consecutive year we are using a web-based computer program called Career Cruising where students and parents have the opportunity to work together through the course selection process for the upcoming year. Between the 10th and 16th of February, students will be seen personally in one of their classes by a teacher from Student Services to reacquaint them with this program. During these sessions, each student will be provided with a userid and password to allow access to the program. By the end of the day on the 16th, all students currently attending Bell will have their personal login information. If they have forgotten they will need to visit the Guidance office for a reminder.

In an attempt to assist with course choices for next year we are providing students with a 45 minute window this Thursday February 16, 2011 between 9:15 a.m. and 10 a.m. to make their way around the school and ask questions of teachers within departments about the specifics of courses they might be interested in taking to assist with final decisions. We are hoping that this time will be well-used by students and be helpful for families as you work together making course choices for next year. To assist in the process, please find attached the information sheet to help you through the process with your children.

Finally, please pay careful attention to the choices you make with your children as they move into next year. Once course choices are made in Career Cruising you are asked to print of a hard copy of choices, sign it where required and have your child return it to Student Services. The choices you make drive staffing including teacher hiring through the spring and the building of the school timetable for next year. While timetable changes are always requested by about 20% of the population in September and February, our ability to make these changes is becoming much more limited as our numbers and class sizes grow oftentimes reaching maximum levels. To avoid possible disappointment further down then road, please be very careful in choosing courses for your children.

attachment: Career-Planner-Student-Information-Sheet 2012

Final Report Cards – Semester 1

Final report cards for semester 1 will be distributed on Tuesday February 14, 2012 at the end of the day. Please request to see your child’s final grades from semester one. This report will consist of three pages (labeled pages 1, 3, and 4; page two prints blank for all student so is recycled), one of which is a credit counseling summary of your child’s credits earned to date. Toward the bottom of this page you will also be able to track community service hours completed to date as well as OSSLT completion (checkbox) or not. A gentle reminder that the OSSLT is written for the first time by students in their second semester (end March) so if your child is in grade 9 are 10 this year they will have yet to complete the test so this box will not be checked. Please pay particular attention to this document and I would suggest you file it for your records as you monitor your child’s progress toward their graduation that happens when they earn a total of 30 credits; 18 compulsory and 12 electives, a minimum of 40 hours of community service and successful completion of the OSSLT.

Bell This Week

For your planning, please find attached this week’s edition of Bell This Week.

attachment: 12_02_13 Bell this Week

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

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