May 2012 Newsletter - Schools - School District 68

John Barsby Community School Newsletter550-7TH StreetNanaimo, B.C.V9R 3Z2Phone: 250-753-8211Fax: 250-753-2430Principal: Ms. R. GrayVice-Principals: Mrs. K. Proctor / Mr. D. TraversWebsite: http://myjohnbarsby.ca May 2012Facebook: General Information - http://www.facebook.com/JohnBarsbySchoolFacebook: Grad Class Information - http://www.facebook.com/johnbarsbygradinfoPRINCIPAL’S MESSAGEDear Parents, Caregivers, Students and CommunityMembers:Students have been busy participating in a number ofactivities this past month. Our District’s Safe SchoolCoordinator presented Cyber Safety to all grade 9 & 10students. The Track and Field Team is heading off tothe BC Championships this weekend. The BulldogTheatre students have been busy rehearsing for theirperformance, The Chrysalids, being presented on May31 st , June 1 st , and June 2 nd . Our Concert Bandperformed, on tour, to many lower mainland schools andwill be showcasing their talents to John Barsby classesMay 30 th . Lastly, we welcomed our grade 7’s to ourschool last week to tour the facility, share in the FineArts performances, and participate in gym activities.Our grade 9/10 Leadership class provided excellentguidance / mentorship to our grade 7 students. We aretruly grateful to all of our teacher, parent, andcommunity supporters who continue to work closelywith our students to provide extra-curricularopportunities. Students are very appreciative for yoursupport and time.As we near the end of the term, it will be morechallenging for your son or daughter to remain focusedand on-task as we move toward the final weeks ofSemester 2 and final course assessments/exams. Pleaseencourage your student to continue with purpose andstrive to do their very best in the learning process. If atany time, you wish to know how your student isacademically performing, please do not hesitate tocontact your student’s teacher or counsellor for anupdate.Students have been recognized and acknowledged fortheir academic efforts. Last week over 200 studentswere honoured with certificates for being on the HonourRoll list. John Barsby will also be hosting a ScholarshipTea on June 7 th at 10:30 a.m. in the Library. All familymembers are invited.I would like to welcome Mrs. Frostad to Barsby. She istemporarily replacing Mrs. Kennedy in two Englishclasses.Lastly, I would like to acknowledge Judy Morris for hermany years of contributions serving as the President ofthe John Barsby Parent Advisory Council. Judy has hadfour students attend and graduate from Barsby. We havebeen fortunate to have her dedication, leadership, andenergy on the PAC. She has worked collaborativelywith parents and the administration to support the needsof our students. A sincere heartfelt thanks!As always if you have any questions, please do nothesitate to contact any one of the administration team.Robyn Gray, Principal2011 – 2012 SCHOOL CALENDARMay 31, June 1, 2June 7June 22June 20-27June 28June 29July 3-5“Chrysalids” DramaPresentationScholarship TeaLast day of regular classesExamsGrad RehearsalGrad Ceremony & Dry GradReport Card Pick-UpPLANNING ON MOVING?Please notify Ms. Rispin in the office if you have movedor plan to move schools over the summer. This willassist us in making plans for next year.JUNE EXAM SCHEDULEMonday, June 18Tuesday, June 19Wednesday, June 20Thursday, June 21Friday, June 22Monday, June 25Tuesday, June 26All students in sessionAll students in sessionAll students in sessionProvincial Exam (see schedulebelow)All students in sessionProvincial Exam (see schedulebelow). Grade 11 students notwriting the exam are dismissedfor the afternoon.All students in sessionProvincial Exams (see schedulebelow). Grade 10 students notwriting the exam are dismissedfor the morning.Students not in sessionCompletion School in sessionProvincial Exams (see schedulebelow)Students not in sessionCompletion School in sessionProvincial Exam (see schedulebelow)

Wednesday, June 27Thursday, June 28Friday, June 29Students not in sessionStudents not in sessionStudents not in sessionDate Time Exam RoomWed., June 20 8:30-11:30 am ENG 12 E-EXAM 106Thurs, June 21 12:30-3:30 pm SS 11 MPRFri., June 22 8:30-11:30 am ENG 10 MPR12:30-3:30 pm COMM 12 201Mon., June 25 8:30-11:30 am AW MATH 10 E-EXAM 10612:30-3:30 pm SCIENCE 10 MPRTues., June 26 8:30-11:30 am FOUNDATIONS MATH 10 E-EXAM 106 &207GRAD CEREMONY REHEARSALGrad ceremony rehearsal will be held on Thursday,June 28 at 2:00 p.m. at the Port Theatre. All grads areexpected to attend. This year, students will receive theircap and gown at the rehearsal. The gown, cap and veestoles do not need to be returned. They are for thestudent to keep. At the rehearsal, students will receivetheir cap and gown and have their picture taken. Wepractice the walk up and get last minute instructions forthe ceremony the next day.GRAD CEREMONYThe grad ceremony will be held on Friday, June 29 at10:00 a.m. at the Port Theatre. All students need tobring their cap and gown to the ceremony. Each studentwill be given four (4) guest tickets for the ceremony. Ifyou require additional tickets, please contact the schoolas soon as possible. Additional tickets are available on afirst come, first serve basis.Shantel Beute and Brodie Virtanen will be ourvaledictorians at this year’s grad ceremony.DRY GRADDry Grad will be held at Beban Park on Friday, June29. It runs from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. the next day.Dry Grad is run by the Nanaimo Dry Grad Society. Thecost is $50 and is payable at the school office. Onlygraduating grade 12 students from the Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District may attend. NO GUESTSARE PERMITTED.The Nanaimo Dry Grad Society needs your help. Theyare a group of volunteer parents that organize and runDry Grad each year. The Society is in need ofvolunteers (parents, guardians, aunts, uncles) for DryGrad on June 29. If you have a student that is going thisyear, or in the next few years, they encourage you tocome and check out how you can be a part. Visit thewebsite at www.nanaimodrygrad.ca or contact thesociety via email at volunteers@nanaimodrygrad.ca orinfo@nanaimodrygrad.ca. Thank you!GRAD FEESGrad fees are $65. If you have not already done so,please pay your grad fee as soon as possible.If there is a concern regarding the payment of grad fees,please contact Mr. Travers.HOMESTAY FAMILIES NEEDEDSchool District 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) is currentlyseeking caring and supportive homestay families whowould welcome the opportunity to share their home withan international student. The students are generally 15to 18 years of age and would attend the high school inyour neighbourhood. The district pays a stipend tohomestay families. If your family is interested in thisrewarding experience to share our Canadian culture, andoffer support and guidance to young internationalstudents, please call Homestay Placement Coordinator,at 250 729-5081 or email bcormack@sd68.bc.ca.TUTORINGIt’s near the time when students begin to worry aboutfinal exams. Once they have a log in, students are ableto access online live tutoring for courses such as Math,Biology, Chemistry, and Physics in grades 10, 11 and12. There are also videos and online quizzes for SocialStudies 11 and History 12. The website address iswww.learnnowbc.ca/services/tutoring/default.aspxHEAVY METAL ROCKS (HMR)Heavy Metal Rocks is a joint project between SchoolDistrict 68, Vancouver Island University, WorkSafeBCand the Vancouver Island Construction Association.The program involves an introduction to worksite safetyand hands-on experience with heavy equipmentoperation. This is a limited competition - only 32applicants will be chosen.Program OverviewThis program is intended to give students an overview ofheavy equipment operation, experiences operating up to16 pieces of equipment, and related safety topics. Theskills and attitudes developed will help students topursue future employment in the construction sector. Itprovides secondary school students with an opportunityto focus on training and experiential hands-on learningunavailable in the regular school system. There is nocost to students.Training Overview Safety requirements and WorkSafeBC Standards forlarge construction sites Completion of the Construction Safety TrainingSystem Course (CSTS-09) Tour of a local heavy equipment facility Orientation training and pre-trip inspections onvarious pieces of heavy equipment Hands-on experience operating a variety of heavyequipment Overview of career options in the constructionindustryWho should apply? Students currently in grade 10 or 11 showing: Good attendance and satisfactory school marks Interest in the construction industry Good physical fitness2

Application Forms Available from your school counsellor Questions? Call or email Rick McDonough -rmcdonough@sd68.bc.ca; 250 740-2032HOME-BASED CYBER SAFETY EDUCATIONAND AWARENESSParents of teens…please have your youth bookmarkTNT (Teens Networking Together) on their SmartPhone, tablet, or computer browsers:www.tntnanaimo.com. TNT is our locally created,youth safety, social media network. It offers a widearray of 24/7 support. Please discuss it with your childand the importance of carrying the mobile site on theirSmart Phone when they go to hockey games, dates,parties, mall, etc.Please find below parental cyber safety links:Parents’ Guide to Facebook (Revised 2012) - byAnne Collier and Larry Magid:www.connectsafely.org/pdfs/fbparents.pdfParents: The Door That’s Not Locked (CanadianCentre):www.thedoorthatsnotlocked.ca/app/en/parenteParenting Tutorials (Canadian MediaAwareness Network):www.mediaawareness.ca/english/parents/index.cfmYOUTH LEADERSHIP WITH THE CITY OFNANAIMOThe City of Nanaimo’s popular Leaders in Training(LIT) and Quest programs are back this summer! Theseprograms are a great opportunity for youth age 13-18 togain valuable work experience, meet new people andhave fun, all while making a difference in theircommunity. The program includes 11 hours of trainingon topics such as basic child management, safetyconsiderations, and confidentiality, as well as facepainting, balloon animal making, and leading games andcrafts. Participants then volunteer at community eventsand Parks, Rec and Culture programs. Don’t miss out onthis fantastic opportunity! For more information or toregister, please call 756-5200 or visit us online atwww.nanaimo.ca.PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMSWant to participate in our programs but can’t afford to?A LEAP card entitles you and qualified family membersto a 50 percent course fee discount to a maximum of $40for 4 courses per year! (Some programs may not qualifyfor the discount). In addition, all participants will beissued a Swim/ Skate/Gym Pass for 50 FREE admissionsthroughout the yearYou can register online at ireg.nanaimo.ca or call 250-756-5200 for more information.Netsmartz for Parents (from blogging to webcams and sexting): www.netsmartz.org/ParentsHow Do I Set Up Non-Annoying ParentalControls on All My Devices?:http://lifehacker.com/5868750/how-do-i-set-upnon+annoying-parental-controls-on-all-mydevicesSome thoughts on the ‘Future of Internet-basedLearning in our Schools’ It’s Not a Question of‘IF’ Internet-based Learning is Class-wide, it’s aQuestion of ‘HOW’ We Do It? MSNBC - NewsStory - May 6, 2012Knowledge is power; take the time to really listen toyour children/youth - let them teach you; and don’tallow fear or denial to rule your household when itcomes to technology!'HEALTHY START TO LEARNINGChildren (up to 6 years old) and their families are invitedto attend a “Healthy Start to Learning” event onSaturday, June 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at BowenPark Community Centre.Special events include a professional photographer, facepainting, and Jumping Jiminy’s.Health professionals present may include: speechpathologist, public health nursing, nutritionist,community dental hygiene, Pacific-Care (CCRR),Vancouver Island Regional Library, Kool and Child,Save-On Foods, Morrell Sanctuary, Power-Up – KerriIsham, Boys and Girls Club, Parent Child MotherGoose, and many other agencies and organizations.Come out and interact with health professionals who canhelp you ensure that your child is healthy and ready tolearn.3