Trusting you have had a wonderful summer. The school office is once again open during regular school hours and registrations are in full swing.

A synrevoice message (automated call) was sent out in the last few days in which we erred with the start date for school. It was reported in the message that the school start date for this year is Septebmer 1, 2010. With apologies, this information is not accurate as the actual start date is Tuesday September 7, 2010.

Students in grades 12 and 11 will arrive tomorrow (Tuesday August 31, 2010) in the morning and afternoon respectively. Student remitting their student fees on these mornings will have the opportunity to also choose their lockers while they are here. After many years the levy has increased to $50 but as it has in the past three years will continue to provide a yearbook to every student. Last year 927 students walked out the doors in June with a yearbook in hand; that time capsule that captures the ever important high school years. Chalk full of memories it is important to us at Bell HS that this memory is reachable for every student.

New this year @ Bell will be the offering of a driver’s education course for students 16 years of age and over interested in persuing this course as they work toward their G2. For more information, please open the following attachment which also includes a website link for even more!

attachment: drivers-ed.pdf

Have an outstanding finish to the summer and we look forward to seeing students for the first day of school on Tuesday September 7, 2010.

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead -Principal

As we approach our commencement ceremony Friday June 25, 2010 at Centrepointe Theatre. The ceremony begins @ 6:30 p.m. Graduates are reminded of the following key times:

Choir – vocal/sound check at 4:45 p.m. (please arrive at 4:30 p.m.)

Graduates – please arrive at 5:30 p.m. to pick up your gown and get ready for the ceremony.

Looking forward to celebrating with you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Mr. Whitehead

As we gear up for graduation ceremonies on Friday June 25, 2010 at Centrepointe Theatre beginning @ 6:30 p.m., please be aware of the following:

All guests require a ticket for the ceremony. This year Centrepointe Theatre requires their own tickets in addition to those that have been prepared by Bell High School. We are asking all grads to get the Centrepointe tickets in the Bell Main Office by Tuesday June 15th. Grads can also pick up extra tickets that have been previously requested.

Also, due to construction, there is limited parking at Centrepointe Theatre. There is additional parking on Centrepointe Dr. and at Sir Guy Carleton High School.

If you have any questions please call our school office at 613-828-9101

Bell This Week

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

attachment: bell-this-week-june-14-18-2010.doc

Sincerely,
Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Option sheets provide opportunities for families to choose courses for their children. At Bell HS we have maintained a practice of sending course verification sheets to families. This year however, this process has changed. 

Due to the volume of paper and ink required to complete this process (one page is produced for every student coming to Bell HS the following September) and in support in “greening” our practices, we are no longer continuing this process. Please note that for grade 9 students, their course offerings are very “canned” with only one opportunity for course choice in the arts (visual arts, drama, music). Please also note that it is rare that students do not get their first arts choice as indicated on their option sheet. The rest of their courses are deemed compulsory or mandatory and staff from student services have worked diligently with grade 8 teachers from our feeder schools in helping you as parents choose the appropriate pathway (applied or academic) for your child.

The timetable is ready and while we continue to make very small adjustments, we are in great shape. Students for whom substitutions were required (grades 10, 11, 12) they have been seen over the past week or so by their guidance counselor. Again, for students coming in in grade 9 next year we have been successful in timetabling our newest Bruins with the first choices, in almost all instances.

Thanks for understanding as we gear up for September 2010!

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Staff Appreciation 2010 

For the third consecutive year our school council is busily preparing for Staff Appreciation Day on Tuesday June 8, 2010. This wonderful event recognizes the wonderful work and amazing contributions of the various staffs at Bell HS. Staffs are recognized and thanked using food; generous donations from parents and the school community for our end of day staff meeting. Organized by our current chair, Mrs. Donna Bussiere-Finnegan she is being capably supported by many other parents on council. If you would like to show your appreciation through a kind contribution of any sort (desserts, fruit, cheese & crackers, sandwiches, vegetables, etc.) please feel free to drop it by the school on the morning of June 8, 2010. Further information can be gleaned from Donna whose email address is redbus@sympatico.ca. In addition, more information will be available at this months school council evening being held Monday May 31, 2010 beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the staff lounge. Please join us in person if you have the time.Thanks in advance for considering a contribution!

Staffing

At this time of year we are in the process of staffing for the 2010-2011 academic year. Staffing happens at various levels and there is one particular move that I believe you need to know about at the administrative level. It is with mixed feelings that I congratulate Wendy Verreault on her upcoming move to Sir Robert Borden Secondary School next year. Wendy has been a super addition to the staff at Bell HS and she will be dearly missed. Krista McNamara, currently the Department Head of English at Osgoode Township Secondary School will be joining Darryl Kicul and myself in the office next year. We look forward to having her as part of our team!

Semester 2 Dance Showcase  

Congratulations to Mrs. Mizuyabu for another extremely successful dance showcase this past Friday evening. 250 guests and visitors enjoyed the show and were presented with dances across various genres as performed by the students in the dance class this semester. Many hand make light work and without the generous contributions of many behind the scenes this could not have been the success it was. Congratulations to everyone involved and a huge thank you to those members of the audience for attending. We hope you enjoyed the show!

Bell This Week 

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

attachment: bell-this-week-may-31-june-4-2010.doc

Sincerely,
Bruce Whitehead – Principal

United Way Pancake Breakfast 

What an awesome week! Things were “buzzing” here this past week and culminated in another extremely successful Pancake Breakfast in support of United Way. Special thanks go out to Jocelyn Ma and Tiffany Lam and their painstaking leadership efforts that also included very capable direction from Mrs. Green. Their efforts brought in a winfall of $2200 in support of the United Way for 2010! I would be remiss if I did not thank our wonderful community partners for their generous support including General Dynmics Canada, Myrna Fenton on behalf of Fortune Farms (Real Maple Syrup), Damas Supermarket (Halal sausages, Mango juice), Metro (Bells Corners), Starbucks (Bells Corners), Maple Leaf Foods, and Chartwell Foods (pancake mix, plates and cutlery). Without the generosity of these estabishments this wonderful gala would not be possible. A personal thank you to all dignitaries who attended including Pierre Polievre (local MP), Lisa MacLeod (local MPP), and Cathy Curry (Chair of the Board). Finally, special thanks to all community members for coming out and sharing in this wonderful event in support of the many community organizations that we are blessed to have at our disposal for youth. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Gifted Review – Report 10-001

A week or so ago I reported to you on an Education Committee meeting that was occurring at the Board office to further discuss the gifted review – report 10-001. This coming Tuesday May 25, 2010 this report will be discussed once again at the Board meeting beginning at 8:00 p.m. The purpose of this discussion will revolve specifically around designated gifted centers for the OCDSB 2010. If you have a child currently attending Bell High School in our gifted program or are a parent with a general interest in this type of discussion I would strongly encourage you to attend this meeting.

Graduation Celebrations

Graduates are in the midst of planning for their attendance commencement ceremonies proudly hosted by all schools toward the end of June. In addition, graduates are also busily planning activities that will occur after these ceremonies that are not school-sanctioned. These events often include alcohol and are not limited to post-commencement celebrations. Unfortunately, certain activities such as car rallies and Tequila Sunrise events (defined below) are also planned. These activities are neither sanctioned nor condoned in any way, shape, or form by the OCDSB, Bell HS, nor the Ottawa Police Services.

Car Rallies

Car rallies are typically a fund raising event involving “teams” of high school seniors getting together for a type of “treasure hunt”. Teams accumulate points by completing tasks that can range from unpleasant to criminal, and potentially dangerous. Police are expecting an increase in the number of car rallies across the city over the next few weeks.

Tequila sunrise

Tequila Sunrise refers to a gathering of students, historically the night before the last day of school, when students roam neighbourhoods and parks consuming alcohol, taking drugs and partying until the “proverbial” sunrise.Unfortunately these events have, in the past, resulted in damages due to vandalism and mischief. Of even greater importance is the safety of the students involved in either of these activities. Our experience is that not only graduating students participate in these activities.

A parent myself of a son in grade 11, I cannot stress how important it is for all of us to consider the potential legal and safety considerations with regard to these activities. I bring this information to you because I feel it is important for you to know and understand the implications of participation in these activities.

attachment: tequila-sunrise-communique.doc

Bell This Week

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

attachment: bell-this-week-may-24-28-2010.doc

Have a super Victoria Day weekend!

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Half-way through May and we find ourselves with just four and one-half weeks of classes left before official exams begin. It is a crucial time for all students to bare down and push to the finish. As a reminder, students are busily completing summative responsibilities in all courses. Just as a reminder, summative evaluations are those making up the final 30% of students marks in course that, when combined with their term work (70%) comprise their final mark in each course. Every student in every course will be required to complete summative work (projects, presentations, performances, pen/pencil tasks, etc). This evaluation will be in addition to a final exam during the final exam period beginning June 17, 2010. The exam schedule has been posted in the school for the past three weeks. Final exams are mandatory and all students must remain committed until June 24, 2010 which is the final day of the exam schedule.

United Way Pancake Breakfast

Each year Bell HS hosts a Pancake Breakfast in support of the United Way. In a manner of speaking, this breakfast begins the 2010 Campaign for the United Way. With the help of many community organizations including Metro (Bell’s Corners), Charwells (our cafeteria provider), and M&M Meats (Bells Corners), and Starbucks (Bells Corners) Mrs. Green with the help of two capable senior students have been busily planning for this year’s breakfast being held this Friday May 21, 2010 between 7:30 a.m. and 9:15 a.m.If you can find the time, please join us this day for a hearty breakfast of pancakes with real maple syrup, sausage, fruit, juice, and coffee. Breakfast will be offered at a cost of $5 per plate and all proceeds will once again go to support the United Way Campaign. We look forward to seeing you this Friday morning.

For your information, there are some interesting podcasts available on the Canadian Association of Mental Health website particularly geared toward parents on topics such as mother-daughter relationships, adolescent substance abuse, and internet addiction to name a few. If these sound interesting, please visit www.camh.ca.

Many thanks go out to Mr. Devlin and Ms. Luce for their ongoing dedication to this sport at Bell HS. Their time and willingness to go above and beyond have had a large contribution to this years success.

Article 1: National Capital athletes give record-breaking performances at OFSAA badminton championships
Article 2: Reluctant Bell exchange student wins gold medal at OFSAA badminton championships

Way to go team!
Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Gifted programming in the OCDSB has been a topic of intense discussion specifically in the past two years. Senior staff has reported to senior staff with report number 10-001 through Education Committee (EC). This particular report will be debated again at EC at the Board on May 18, 2010. As a reminder, attached is an information sheet that went home with report cards two weeks ago. I am providing it for you once again just in case you did not receive it. Parents interested in this discussion are encourged to attend the meeting on the 18th of May.

attachment:  report-10-001-letter-for-bell-parents.doc

Sincerely,

Bruce Whitehead – Principal

Very Important Bruins (VIB’s) for May
Each month, Bell HS staff from each department nominate individual students for VIB status. All students have the ability to earn such status and are recognized for their acts of kindness that mesh with our school slogan “PRIDE lives here” and who display those character development qualities we aspire to as a school. Students who are chosen have their pictures prominently displayed in a showcase in the grad hallway to the left of the doors entering the cafeteria. It is my pleasure to congratulate May’s worthy recipients in Doyle Smith, Ayisha Butt, Brad Rowsell, Aneri Ghandi, Rebecca Reid, Rebecca Ellis, Jessie Lloyd, and Kevin Zhao.

The Ministry of Education and Special Education 
Students were provided with an information handout on Thursday May 6, 2010 to take home to parents. The handout specifically provides Information Available on the Ministry of Education Public Website about Special Education and at first glance looks like a helpful resource. Attached below is a copy of the letter provided to students; just in case it did not make it home. 
attachment:  website-special-education-notice-to-parents-from-principal.doc

Bell This Week
For your planning, please find attached this weeks copy of Bell This Week.
attachment:  bell-this-week-may-10-14-2010.doc
Have an awesome week.

Sincerely,
Bruce Whitehead – Principal