NEWSLETTER

MCNAIR NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2016
MATTHEW MCNAIR SECONDARY SCHOOL
NEWSLETTER
HOME OF THE MARLINS -­‐‐ ESTABLISHED IN 1974
Principal: Mr. J. Leslie Address: 9500 No 4 Road, Richmond, BC, V7A 2Y9
Vice Principals: Mr. M. Jaswal & Ms. D. Ten-­‐‐Pow Phone: 604-­‐‐668-­‐‐6575 Fax: 604-­‐‐668-­‐‐6585
PAC: Mr. K. Chana Early Warning: 604-­‐‐295-­‐‐6497
Trustee Liaison: Mr. K. Hamaguchi Twitter: @McNairMarlins
Website:
http://mcnair.sd38.bc.ca
Principal’s message:
As the half-way point of first semester approaches, the people who make up McNair seem comfortable, engaged and fully immersed
in the learning activities that make the school such a great place to work and learn. In fact, just last week, in a conversation with a
few different staff members, a comment was made that “the school has a very positive ‘vibe’ right now”, and it is true. Students are as
friendly as ever, staff are enjoying working with each other and the students and the energy in the building is overwhelmingly
positive.
Highlights from October include a terrific Breaking Down the Walls seminar from October 5-7. Dean Whellams led our
students through three inspiring days designed to help bring our students closer together and understand each other’s stories. The
students who participated called the sessions “life-changing” and “the best thing we have done at school”.
Other highlights from October included Interim Reports being sent home, a wonderful Thanksgiving long weekend, our worldfamous
Haunted House and the great efforts being displayed by our athletics teams.
November promises to be another great month as we have our Mid-Semester Report Cards coming home, our spectacular
Remembrance Day ceremony and Parent Teacher Conferences. We look forward to meeting with and making
connections with all of the stakeholders in the McNair community.
Mid-Semester Report Cards and Parent-teacher Conferences
As indicated on the School Calendar, Mid-Semester Report Cards will be sent home on November 10 th . Parent-Teacher
Conferences will occur on November 16 (2-4 PM) and 17 (2-4 PM and 6-8 PM). To sign up for appointments, please go to
the following link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f44a9aa2baafc1-parent
If you are not comfortable leaving information on this site, you can call the school at (604) 668-6575 to book your appointments
with our clerical team. We look forward to meeting with as many parents as possible on November 16 th and 17 th .
“A great place to learn”

MCNAIR NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2016
Take Our Kids To Work
On Wednesday, November 2 nd , Grade 9 students all
across Canada will get the opportunity to go to work with a
parent or family member. Over 250,000 students take part
every year and this is a chance for students to see what goes on
in their parents work lives as well as become inspired toward
potential career options. We encourage all of our Grade 9
students and their parents to get involved in this program. In
order for your child to participate, please ensure that they
have completed the permission form available at
http://mcnair.sd38.bc.ca/news/2016/10/15/take-our-kidswork
and return it to the office ASAP. More information
about the program is available at:
http://www.thelearningpartnership.ca/what-we-do/studentprograms/take-our-kids-to-work
Class Attendance
Attendance is taken in each class during the day. If a student
is absent or late first period and the school has not been
notified, the school will phone home. If a student is missing
from a later class but was at school earlier in the day, you may
be telephoned by an administrator, teacher, or counsellor.
Also, a recorded voice message is sent home at the end of the
school day through our Synrevoice System. Regular
attendance is necessary for successful learning, which is the
primary goal we share with our students and their families,
regardless of whether they are in Grade 8 or Grade 12.
Follow McNair Secondary School on Twitter
Please stay connected to our school and join
the over 550 students, parents, alumni and
community members who are already
following McNair on Twitter! This is a great
way to get short reminders and updates of all that is happening
at McNair Secondary. Twitter is easy to use from your smart
phone or computer and is a very popular social medial platform
used by millions of businesses, universities, news agencies and
community organizations in Richmond, Canada and
throughout the world. Follow us: @McNairMarlins
Subscribe to the McNair Secondary School Website
The school website has been completely updated this year and
contains a wealth of information about McNair Secondary
School, including our School and Athletics calendars. All
McNair families are encouraged to bookmark
http://mcnair.sd38.bc.ca and add it to their Favourites folder
and check the website weekly. We have also added a new
feature this year and you have the option of subscribing to our
website. If you subscribe, you will receive an email when
anything new is added to the main page or when a monthly
school newsletter is published. Check it out today!
PAC Meetings
The McNair PAC executive invites you to attend PAC meetings
held on the second Tuesday of the month in the conference
room. These meetings provide an overview of what is
happening at school and an opportunity to ask questions and
provide feedback. Our next PAC meeting is scheduled for
November 8 th at 7:00 p.m.
Protect Personal Belongings
The best defense against acts of theft is to not bring valuable
items to school. Protect your belongings and do not leave
money or other valuables in an unattended bag, locker or
changing room. Students should LEAVE VALUABLES AT
HOME!
MCNAIR SECONDARY SCHOOL DATES:
(Please check the calendar on the school website regularly)
October 31 Halloween November 2 Collaboration Day (9:45 start)
November 2 Take Your Kids to Work Day (Grade 9) November 3 We Day Vancouver
November 6 Daylights Savings (set clocks back 1 hour) November 8 PAC Meeting (7 PM)
November 9 SFU Info Day November 10 Report Cards issued
November 10 Remembrance Day Ceremony November 11 Remembrance Day (school closed)
November 15 Post Secondary Fair (10AM – 11:30AM) November 16-17 Parent Teacher Conferences
November 18 Pro-D Day (school closed) November 24 Dry Grad Meeting (7PM)
November 25 Grade 12 Winter Formal
“A great place to learn”
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MCNAIR NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2016
Grade 12 Information
On October 26 th , McNair hosted an
information night for Grade 12 parents.
Organized by Mrs. Bagnall and Mr. Leslie,
this evening was attended by over 70 parents
of Grade 12 students who had questions
about Graduation Requirements,
Scholarship Applications, Post-Secondary Admissions and the
Major Events in the Graduation year.
The Grade 12 year is an incredibly important time in a child’s
life and there are many milestones and important events. It is
very important to help your child maintain balance in their
lives, ensuring that they eat well, get enough sleep, exercise
and manage to balance the academic demands and the social
opportunities that come with the last year of high school. If
you have questions about how to help your child, be sure to
contact the school and ask to speak with their Counselor.
The first major Grad Event is coming up in November. The
Winter Formal dinner/dancing is being hosted on Friday,
November 25 th at the Paradise Banquet Hall in Delta.
This evening of fun, food, and dancing will bring the class
together for the first of several big events and promises to be a
great time. Grad Council will be selling tickets as of
November 2nd for $50 in the fishbowls, so be sure to get yours
and be part of the fun!
There will be a Post Secondary Institutions BC
Minifair Event at McNair Secondary on November
15, 2016. Various BC Post-Secondary institutions
(SFU, UVic, Langara, Trinity Western, KPU, VCC to name
a few) will be at McNair from 10:00am - 11:30am.
Also coming up in November will be a TVR assembly.
This is where Counselors will give students a report that shows
all courses and marks they have taken towards graduation. It
is very important that students look over this document very
carefully so we can correct any mistakes.
New Curriculum
Hopefully, parents are aware that changes are happening to
curriculum and reporting in all schools in British Columbia. At
McNair Secondary, the changes are happening this year in
Grades 8 and 9 and they will be in place next year for Grade
10-12. Our teachers are committed to studying, discussing and
implementing the changes in steady, thoughtful steps. Parents
are encouraged to read and learn more about the changes
online at https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca
The Ministry is also considering changes to report cards and
how schools inform parents on their child’s progress. All
parents are invited to participate in an online survey to provide
input: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/yourkidsprogress/en/home/
Register Your Bike
Bike thefts have long been a problem all
across the Lower Mainland, and Richmond
is no exception. In recent weeks, we have
had 4 bike thefts at McNair and we suspect
that the person responsible is an adult (not
a McNair student). While we are in the
process of having surveillance cameras
installed (they hope to working at McNair soon), we also
encourage all students to get their bicycles registered with the
new bike theft program that has been initiated by the
Vancouver Police Department. Project 529 is something that
services the entire lower Mainland and we suggest you register
your bike with this program. To learn more and register you
bicycle, please go to this site:
https://project529.com/garage/users/sign_in
Terry Fox Run
On Thursday, September 29 th ,
McNair hosted its annual Terry Fox
run in honour of the great Canadian
hero, Terry Fox. This year’s run was
the 36 th anniversary of Terry’s
Marathon of Hope. The Terry Fox
Foundation is still raising money
towards cancer research and is now
close to $700 million dollars. This incredible legacy is one that
has touched many lives, and McNair was proud to be a part of
it. Special thanks go out to Mr. Sangra and the Athletic
Council who organized the event. Also worth mentioning are
all of our 830 students who participated and each of the staff
who went out and helped supervise and set a great example.
Our efforts raised almost $500. Well done, Marlins!!
“A great place to learn”
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MCNAIR NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2016
McNair Dry Grad 2017
Dry Grad Bottle Drive & Clothing Donation
To: ALL GRADE 12’s and PARENTS
What is a Dry Grad? A Dry Grad is a lively, informal event
which follows the Grad Dinner/Dance on June 27. This is an
alcohol-free and drug-free event where the grads enjoy a safe
place to celebrate. The participating students are bussed directly
from their formal Dinner/Dance downtown to the McNair
Gym. The event runs late into the night (ending by 5 am). It’s a
fun-filled atmosphere where the grads enjoy good food,
refreshments, music and many forms of entertainment and
activities.
Help is needed by parents for.....donations, fundraising and
organizing the dry grad event.
Please return your bottles for recycling to the Bottle Return It
Depot located near Ironwood Plaza. This is a fundraiser for
the Dry Grad After Party.
Please quote account #256 McNair School when handing
your bottles back to ensure this is deposited in our account.
Return It Depot
Unit #110 -11020 Horseshoe Way, behind The Keg
Next Dry Grad meeting is November 24 (Thursday) at 7pm
at the school. Join us and bring your ideas for making a great
dry grad event for our kids.
Please visit the school website to access the donation
letter http://mcnair.sd38.bc.ca/parents/mcnair-dry-grad
Drop off your empty bottles/cans at Ironwood Bottle
Depot and request to deposit funds in McNair Dry
Grad 2017 Account # 256.
To contact Dry Grad committee, email us
at mcnair.dry.grad@gmail.com
There is also a Big Brother clothing bin on the front corner of
the school which gives us a percent of proceeds collected. Go
thru your closets and get rid of any unwanted clothing. Drop
off at the bin when you come to school. They will take
clothing in good condition, shoes, boots, linens, bedding,
towels, draperies and curtains.
** Items cannot be soiled or torn and must be suitable for resale
ERASE Bullying
The safety of all who work and learn in schools is an important topic in all school communities. Bullying is a term that is very
common in the media and in all aspects of society. The Ministry of Education has developed a thoughtful strategy for schools
called ERASE-Expect Respect and a Safe Education. These are not new ideas and conversations at McNair. We continue to
promote the ideas of SAFE, CARING and RESPCTFUL treatment of themselves, each other, the school and our community. We
speak repeatedly at our Grade 8 Retreat, Grade Assemblies and in our classes about making positive connections with each other
and helping one another out. Any time students or parents have concerns about mistreatment, please encourage your child to
speak with a teacher, Counselor or Administrator. We will treat all issues confidentially and seriously. We want to make school as
comfortable and welcoming as we can for all our students. Some resources that may help parents deal with these issues include:
http://www.erasebullying.ca, http://www.cyberbullying.ca, and https://needhelpnow.ca/app/en/.
“A great place to learn”
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MCNAIR NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2016
Remembrance Day Ceremony
McNair has a proud tradition of
putting together very inspiring and
moving Remembrance Day
ceremonies. This year’s ceremony
will be performed on Thursday,
November 10 th and parents and community members are
welcome to attend. Mrs. Watts and the Senior Acting classes,
alongside Ms. Berman and the Music students will be putting
together some fitting tributes as we acknowledge all those who
have had their lives impacted by war and those who have
sacrificed so much for the freedoms we now enjoy. Parents are
welcome to attend our school ceremony in the large gym at
approximately 10:30 on Thursday, November 10 th .
Breaking Down the Walls
Congratulations need to go out to all the students and staff
who participated in our recent Breaking Down the Walls
seminars. On October 5 th , Dean Whellams from Learning for
Living led our entire school through two assemblies about
making connections and listening to each other’s stories. The
assemblies were very powerful, and following those, he led 60
student leaders through an afternoon of training. On both
October 6 th and 7 th , 30 student leaders and 7 staff members
led 150 student-participants through a day-long seminar
about how to make better connections with each other and
provide better support and understanding to one another.
The experience was extremely valuable
for everyone involved. We are looking
forward to keeping the momentum going
in the future as we try to build upon all
that was learned in the seminars.
Haunted House!
The Stagecraft 11 and 12 classes along with the Acting
12 class were busy creating another spooky Haunted
House this year!
The Haunted House opened on Friday Oct 28 th during
Blocks B and C as well as break and part of lunch.
Take Our Kids to Work
Wednesday, November 2 nd is national Take Our Kids to
Work Day. Grade 9 students from all across Canada will have
the opportunity to go to work with a parent or family friend.
This is a very popular and successful program that has been in
existence since 1994. We strongly encourage all Grade 9
students to take the day to learn more about the world of work
by attending this day with a parent or family friend. Forms are
due by Monday, October 31 st , and can be printed off the
internet on the link below.
http://mcnair.sd38.bc.ca/sites/mcnair.sd38.bc.ca/files/attach
ments/Sat%2C%202016-10-
15%2012%3A26/Take%20Our%20Kids%20to%20Work%20
-%20%20Consent%20Form.pdf
Please complete the form and submit to the main office ASAP.
Halloween celebrations on October 31st
Halloween is a time when people of all ages dress up and have some fun. The RCMP will be out in force to ensure all people have
the opportunity to enjoy the evening without being afraid or worried about acts of vandalism. Have fun, but remember, the most
important thing is that people are safe!
“A great place to learn”
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MCNAIR NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2016
CBC (Courtyard Beautification Committee)
POINSETTIA FUNDRAISER
6 inch with foil and all taxes included
only $12
(available colors: Red, White, Marble,
or Pink)
10 inch (huge pot with 3 plants in 1 pot)
with foil and all taxes included only $30
(available colors: Tri-color (red, white, pink), All Red, All
White, All Pink, or All Marble)
All proceeds will go to the purchase of a living wall for the
existing courtyard for all students to enjoy.
If interested in purchasing poinsettias, please send an email to
Catherine Liu with your order.
Delivery will be the first week of December....pick up at McNair
Secondary.
CBC thanks everyone for the support!
McNair Fall Athletics
The Fall Athletics season has been a great success so far as all of
our Volleyball teams are enjoying success, most specifically our
Senior Girls, who are currently in second place in Richmond
with only one loss. Our Senior Boys Soccer Team is also
enjoying a tremendously successful season, having finished
second in Richmond in league play and is now entering the
Lower Mainland Championships as Richmond #1, hoping to
qualify for the Provincial Championships. Our Cross Country
Team has also had a successful season, with Bailey Brodie
finishing 6 th in the Lower Mainlands and qualifying for the
Provincial Championships.
CBC (Courtyard Beautification Committee)
RAFFLE FOR GIFT BASKET
CBC is fundraising for a living wall for the existing courtyard
by having a raffle for each basket.
One basket will have 2 movie ticket passes, 3 McNair shirts, 1
pair of McNair sweatpants, chocolates, candies, mugs, touque,
mitts, and earbuds. Total value of this basket is over $150.
Each raffle ticket is only $2 or $5 for 3 tickets or $10 for 7
tickets.
The 2 nd basket will have a total value of over $200 with an Air
Canada Travel card valued at $100, a 40 oz bottle of Tequila,
a bottle of Layer Cake Wine, Margarita Mix, Starbucks coffee
and mugs.
Each raffle ticket is only $2 or $5 for 3 tickets or $10 for 7
tickets.
If anyone is interested in
supporting our courtyard’s
Living Wall project, please
email Catherine Liu, teacher, at
Theatre
Auditions for Theatre McNair’s production of The Lion King
are well underway. Over 120 students have auditioned for the
play and we are currently in the process of calling actors back.
We hope to have the play cast by the beginning of November
with rehearsals beginning the first week of December.
In the upcoming Winter session, McNair will be offering 8
basketball teams and we are looking forward to great success
and fantastic opportunities for all of our students. Keep your
eyes peeled and ears open as try-outs for each of these teams
should get started in early November.
“A great place to learn”
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MCNAIR NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2016
Career
Check out the new website: SD38careercentre.weebly.com.
All new information is posted on the Home – New Info page. The calendar is a very important tool on this website as dates from the
“Home - New Info” section are recorded here. The other sections will help students in their search for career direction, how to
navigate their way through the post-secondary application process in a timely fashion and also how to find scholarships.
Visit Ms. Hudson’s Facebook page as well for updates: www.facebook.com/MsHudsonCareerCentreNews
Drop in to see Ms. Hudson, Career Advisor, in the Career Centre Mon – Fri from 11:15 to 3:15
EducationPlannerBC
EducationPlannerBC is new and is a comprehensive post-secondary British Columbia resource for students. The site
highlights education and career options in all aspects of:
• Planning
• Searching
• Applying
Visit: https://www.educationplannerbc.ca/
University/College Visits to McNair
BCIT – Fri Oct 28 at lunch in the Library
Western University – Tues Nov 1 at lunch in the Library
Simon Fraser University – Wed Nov 9 at lunch in the Library
University of Alberta - Mon Nov 21 at lunch in the Library
Post-Secondary Fair - Tues Nov 15 from 10am-11:30am in the main hall at McNair
When Do University/College Applications Open?
Colleges accept applications on a first-come first-served basis. Universities operate on an application deadline basis.
SEPT 1 – Vancouver Community College
SEPT 15 – Emily Carr University
OCT 1 – Douglas College
OCT 1 – Langara College
NOV 1 - Kwantlen Polytechnic University
NOV 15 – BCIT
University Application Deadlines
JAN 15 - University of British Columbia
FEB 1 to MAR 1 – University of Northern BC (depending on Program)
FEB 28 - Simon Fraser University
FEB 28 - University of Victoria
JAN 15 – Emily Carr University
MAR 31 – Capilano University
MAY 31 – Thompson Rivers University
Online Application for Admission to BC Colleges and Universities
Students may apply directly to a specific institution or use the Apply section in EducationPlannerBC. If using
Education Planner, after completing the first application, students select the next institution and the personal/contact
information and academic history will automatically be filled in. https://www.educationplannerbc.ca/
Online Application for Admission to Alberta Colleges and Universities
• Use the Alberta Post-Secondary Application Service: https://applyalberta.ca
“A great place to learn”
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MCNAIR NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2016
Career (continued)
Online Application for Admission to Ontario Universities
• Use the Ontario Application Service: http://www.ouac.on.ca/ouac-105/
• All other Post-Secondary Institutions: Check their websites for instructions
Post-Secondary (PSI) Choices Form Online
Grade 12 students planning to attend post-secondary must fill out this online form at the following website:
https://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/exams/tsw/tsw/student
• This enables the Ministry to send student transcripts to the Post-Secondary institutions applied to.
• Students must complete the PSI Selections form by March 1, 2017 to have preliminary transcript information forwarded in
mid-March to the BC Electronic PSIs list and to the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC) institutions.
Partnership Between Langara College and Queen’s University
Students can complete their first two years at Langara in Vancouver and then transfer directly in to one of 17 Arts or Sciences
programs leading to a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Computing degree at Queen’s University in Kingston,
Ontario.
Langara students who have completed an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree will receive up to 57 units of transfer credit
towards their Bachelor degree program at Queen’s.
Applicants who have not completed the Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree will be considered for admission on a creditby-credit
basis, based on the assessment of transfer credits for the courses completed. The number of transfer credits granted will
determine the year of study in to which the students are admitted.
Some Other Upcoming Events
This is not an exhaustive list. Make sure that you visit SD38careercentre.weebly.com and use the calendar to find upcoming events.
Nov 7/16 –Volunteer - RCMP Youth Advisory Committee - Application Deadline
The RCMP is looking for youth between the ages of 14 and 18 who have something to say about the issues facing young people
today, to get involved and be part of the conversation. They are looking for youth to join its YAC (Youth Advisory Committee). For
an application, email: yacbc@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
NOV 08/16 and FEB 09/16 The SD38 District Career Programs Education in Action Series
The Career Programs office is offering an opportunity for grades 8-11 students to spend a morning in the Professional Cook or
Plumbing ACE IT programs. Students will work alongside current ACE IT students and instructors and experience first-hand what it
would be like to take a college training program while in high school!
Space is limited and priority will be given to those in grades 10 and 11. Workshops will be held on November 8, 2016 and February
9, 2017. For details and to register visit: http://careerprograms.sd38.bc.ca/students
NOV 16/16 BCIT - BIG Info Night - http://commons.bcit.ca/biginfo/
NOV 23/16 Explore Capilano Info Night 6:00-8:30 pm
Vancouver Police (VPD) 2016 Information Sessions. Information Sessions are held at 10:00 a.m.
November 12
December 10
Registration is not required. Information Sessions are held in the auditorium of the Justice Institute of B.C. Police Academy. The
JIBC is located at 715 McBride Boulevard in New Westminster.
For details, visit: http://vancouver.ca/police/recruiting/police-officers/information-sessions.html
NOV 28/16 – SHAD SUMMER EXPERIENCE - Application deadline
SHAD offers a one-month in-residence program each July across our Canadian host university campuses for 700 students
(approximately 50 students per campus) who are in Grades 10, 11, and 12. This unique program focuses on science, technology,
engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) disciplines, with the goal of helping exceptional students envision their extraordinary
potential as tomorrow's leaders and change makers.
For more information and to apply: http://www.shad.ca/apply
“A great place to learn”
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