August 2011 Newsletter - St. Augustine CHS
August 2011 Newsletter - St. Augustine CHS
August 2011 Newsletter - St. Augustine CHS
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Volume XI No. 1 <strong>August</strong> <strong>2011</strong>ST. AUGUSTINE C.H.S.ORACLE <strong>Newsletter</strong>Opportunity • Religious & Spiritual Growth • Assessment Evaluation & Catholic Curriculum • Connected Learning Community • Life-Long LearningPRINCIPAL’S MESSAGEDear Parents/Guardians:It gives me a great deal of pleasure to welcome all of our new parents and students to the <strong>St</strong>. <strong>August</strong>ine CatholicHigh School family and also to welcome back our returning parents and students.The new school year brings us a new graduating class and a new cohort of grade nines entering into ourcommunity. For those graduating and moving on to new post secondary destinations of university, college andthe world of work we encourage you to make this your best year with full involvement and commitment toyour academics and school life. To our incoming grade nines, we hope you will embrace all the good thingsthis school has to offer: a strong and rigourous academic program, many sports teams to get involved in, andmany clubs and activities to meet new friends and to gain valuable and important skills for the future.May the spirit of <strong>St</strong>. <strong>August</strong>ine continue to inspire us, teach us, and protect us. I look forward to another schoolyear working with and for a wonderful community of students, staff and parents. To those students returningto us in grades 10 and 11, we hope you will continue your development in the life of this community.The year that has just passed, 2010-<strong>2011</strong>, was a great success, our tenth year as a school community. We toppedthe YCDSB in the OSSLT and continued our achievements in the grade 9 math EQAO. We had a successful10km walk in June where we raised over $10,000 for the Markham <strong>St</strong>ouffville Hospital Foundation, a tributeto the school’s commitment to reaching out to our community and in our social justice efforts.A special goodbye to our Attendance Secretary, Mrs. Liliana Tomasso who will be moving on to Jean Vanier<strong>CHS</strong> and to our Head Secretary, Ms. Heather LaMacchia, on taking a temporary assignment at the YCDSBHuman Resources Department for <strong>2011</strong>-2012.May God continue to bless you always.Bernie SmithPrincipalSCHOOL BEGINSTUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, <strong>2011</strong>
OPENING SCHOOL PROCEDURESSTUDENT SCHEDULESThe schedules for students will be distributed on the first day ofclasses, Tuesday, September 6, <strong>2011</strong>. <strong>St</strong>udents will arrive atschool and proceed to the main foyer to check the homeroomlists. The lists will indicate the actual room number to which thestudent is to report for the first time. The homeroom teacher willthen give out the complete first semester timetable for each classmember. <strong>St</strong>udent council representatives will be available in themain foyer to assist students in finding their way around the school.OPENING WEEKOn opening day, homeroom teachers will review key segmentsof the <strong>St</strong>udent Agenda Book. Parents are advised to alsofamiliarize themselves with this publication since it contains somuch helpful material dealing with organizational skills, timemanagement skills, and, of course, practical guidance to schoolpolicies and procedures. The consistent use of the <strong>St</strong>udentAgenda Book provides an excellent planning and learning toolfor success.Grade level assemblies will be held during the first week ofschool. The purpose of the assemblies is to introduce to studentsthe various support services that are available to them, to reviewin detail school policies and procedures and to reinforce thecode of behaviour and the school’s expectations of all students.LOCKERSAll students are assigned their own lockers. There is no needfor a student to share his or her locker with anyone else. Alllocks must be school-approved Dudley locks. All other lockswill be removed.Each school year problems arise with locker-sharing (thefts,vandalism, etc). <strong>St</strong>udents who are sharing a locker will bedirected back to their assigned locker by a vice principal andmay face disciplinary action.DAILY SCHEDULEThere is no change from last year. There will be 4 periodsduring the school day which begins with a warning bell at8:19 a.m. and ends with dismissal at 2:30 p.m. All students willreceive a 40-minute lunch period during period 3.COURSE FEESOur annual <strong>St</strong>udent Activity Fee is collected at the time ofstudent registration to supplement the student school experience.The following items may be covered by the <strong>St</strong>udent ActivityFee: Yearbook, student agendas, student recognition programs,extra-curricular activities, dances, student clubs and teams,school theme days, retreats and other appropriate activities.By having all students contribute to the overall costs of theseitems, every student benefits. If this fee is difficult for a parentplease contact Mr. Smith directly on a confidential basis.TEXTBOOKSTextbooks will be distributed in various subject classes. <strong>St</strong>udentsdo not have to pay for textbooks, but they are fully responsiblefor returning books in good condition at the end of the semesteror paying their full replacement cost if lost or damaged.TRANSPORTATIONIf you have not changed your home address, your child’stransportation arrangements will remain the same as last yearand you do not need to take any action to receive transportationin September. Please ensure your child arrives at the bus stopten minutes early. If you do change your address or school,you may confirm school bus stop information by accessing thefollowing internet site: www.schoolbuscity.com after <strong>August</strong>22, <strong>2011</strong>. In order to be eligible for school busing you mustreside 4.8 km or more away from the school as per Board policyfor Grades 9-12. If you live within 4.8 km from the school andwould like to obtain York Region Transit information, pleasevisit their website at www.yorkregiontransit.com or phone1-866-668-3978.GRADE 9 MUSKOKA WOODSThis event is scheduled for September 19, 20 and 21 atMuskoka Woods Resort. Any grade 9 students who have notyet committed to attend should do so as soon as possible. Thecamp orientation is invaluable as a positive introduction tohigh school and a bonding experience with new classmatesfrom different elementary schools. Contact Vice Principal Mr.Iannucci for more information.CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCILThe first meeting of the <strong>St</strong>. <strong>August</strong>ine Catholic School Councilwill occur on Wednesday, September 21 at 6:30 p.m. All parentsare welcome to attend and to participate. This is a very importantand supportive body that does much to help the well being of theschool. We are appreciative of the support and assistance that theCatholic School Council has provided to our school community.UNIFORM DONATIONThe Special Education Department of <strong>St</strong>. <strong>August</strong>ine <strong>CHS</strong> isvery happy to accept donations of gently used uniform items(of our graduating students). Please drop off any items tothe Main Office of the school. These items will be sold at a“Used Uniform Sale” during Parent-Teacher Interview Nightscheduled for later this year. The funds raised during the salewill be used to support the Special Education program.STUDENT PHOTOSAll students will be photographed for school records, the TitanYearbook and their I.D./Library Cards on Thursday, September29, <strong>2011</strong>.S M I L E !
OPENING SCHOOL PROCEDURESATTENDANCEWe believe that regular attendance is fundamental toacademic success but it also has an impact on future success.In the world of work, employers are looking for people whoare reliable and one of the things they focus on to predictfuture performance is dedication displayed by punctualityand regular attendance. If you have not developed the habitof punctuality and regular attendance, make this year theyear you acquire it. The following are guidelines for the <strong>St</strong>.<strong>August</strong>ine attendance procedures.Reporting <strong>St</strong>udent Absences:We urge parents to please call our dedicated attendance line(905) 887-7950 to report student absences. When leaving amessage on the answering machine, spell your child’s nameand give the reason for the absence. Upon their return toschool please provide them with a written note, dated andsigned by a parent/legal guardian which is to be given to theirhomeroom teacher.Early Leaves:Should there be an occasion when your child has to leaveschool early they must report to the Attendance Office beforeschool starts to arrange for an early leave. Early leaves willonly be accepted at the Attendance Office up to 8:10 a.m. in themorning. <strong>St</strong>udents must have a signed parental note, statingthe time, date and reason for the early leave. Our AttendanceSecretary may call parents to verify notes received.PLEASE NOTE: Any student who is ill during thecourse of a school day must first report to the Main Officebefore leaving the building. The student will use the officetelephone to contact their parent and the Attendance secretarywill speak to the parent and arrange for an early leave.Lates:Any student arriving to school after 9:00 a.m. must report tothe Attendance Office to sign in before reporting to class.Telephone Messages:It is the school’s policy not to interrupt classes in session.Parents who need to contact their child during the school dayare asked to call the main office and a message will be relayedto the student.CONTACT INFORMATIONMoving residence, changing jobs? If any of your personalinformation has changed, such as your address, home orbusiness telephone numbers, health information, etc., pleasecontact Mrs. Coutts in the Main Office at anne.coutts@ycdsb.ca to have the changes recorded. It is important thatwe know where to contact a parent/guardian in the event ofan emergency.SCHOOL UNIFORMIncluded in our <strong>St</strong>udent Agenda is the school’s uniformpolicy. We would ask that both parents and studentsreview it.We expect all students to respect and comply with ourschool dress code. In choosing <strong>St</strong>. <strong>August</strong>ine CatholicHigh School, parents and students accept the schooluniform as an integral part of the school community life.• A student must be in complete uniform throughoutthe school day including lunch hours.• All student shirts/blouses should be such a size sothat all buttons close comfortably and they should belong enough so that they stay tucked in to the slacks.• The waist of the dress pant is to be worn at thestudent’s waist.• Uniform sweaters are one of the options of the <strong>St</strong>.<strong>August</strong>ine uniform. However, sweaters are requiredonly when the student is cold. No other sweater willbe permitted to be worn at any time.• Hats or any other headgear, sunglasses, chains andextreme jewellery shall NOT be worn in the school.• If there is a serious domestic emergency that resultsin the student being out of uniform, the student mustsee their Vice-Principal prior to school with a parentalnote. However, students will never be permitted toattend class in jeans.• Serious problems with uniform compliance are tobe directed to the school administration. Persistentinfractions will result in a formal school suspension.Refusal to wear the school uniform is a breach ofthe registration agreement between the school andthe parent/legal guardian if the student is under18 or with the student if he/she is 18 or over.CELL PHONE & ELECTRONIC DEVICES<strong>St</strong>udents and parents are reminded of and are requestedto please respect the policy at <strong>St</strong>. <strong>August</strong>ine C.H.S. withregard to electronic devices. All electronic devices such ascell phones, cameras, iPods, etc. are to be off and invisiblefrom the beginning of school until the closing bell. Thisalso includes lunch times in the cafeteria.Use of these items during the course of the day may resultin confiscation. In order to prevent loss, confiscation ordamage, students are encouraged to leave these devices athome. The taking of photographs of non-willing staff orstudents is strictly prohibited.
ORACLEINFO.......2188 Rodick Road, Markham ON L6C 1S3Phone: (905) 887-6171Fax: (905) 887-6163YCDSB Trustee: Carol Cotton (905) 713-2711PRINCIPAL’S LIST<strong>St</strong>udent Earning Top Average in each grade based on 8 Credits(*6 for grade 12 taken in a day school setting) - top 3 students per gradeGrade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12*Carmen Chan 94.25 Aaron Lobo 95.50 Yu Yang Wu 96.13 Adrian Fong 95.57Adam Morga 94.25John Palmer 93.63 Renee Benczik 94.50 Mina Ibrahim 95.63 Michael Leung 94.71Jeffrey Lee 94.50Chun Him Poon 94.50Chantelle Bastien 93.25 Kimberley Lau 94.13 Samantha Rossi 95.25 Gloria Cheung 94.17MAJOR AWARD WINNERSJr. Male Athlete of the Year:Sr. Male Athlete of the Year:Jr. Female Athlete of the Year:Sr. Female Athlete of the Year:Athletic InspirationalAward Winner:Outstanding Contribution to<strong>St</strong>. <strong>August</strong>ine Athletics:Alex CubellisShawn ThomasJaclyn HoElena MaCeline WongCaddie SzeDillon Ho2010 - <strong>2011</strong>Special EducationBocce BallChampions!HIGHLIGHTS/OFSAA PARTICIPANTS:-Emily Fung won two gold medals in the 50 & 100meter free style swim.- Sr Boys Badminton doubles team Jason Mak andAvery Lee captured the bronze medal.- Brenna Llewellyn two time OFSAA participantfinished 4th in the 51kg class in women’s wrestling.