Nicole's Notes: Volume 20 (Jan. 28, 2013)

Dylan Champion at the Coffee House

Happy Monday TOSH Parents and Guardians!

I am hoping that your son/daughter had a productive weekend of studying for the upcoming week of Semester 1 final exams. The stress our students sometimes feel during assessment time will be much less if they go into the experience feeling prepared.

It is important to remember that how LONG students study for an exam is not as important as HOW they study. There are some helpful tips on the following website:

http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/top-10-most-effective-study-habits/

As we head into Semester 2, students should note that the best preparation for these final assessments is to be in class regularly and on top of assignments, tests, and classwork all semester long. It is difficult to cram 110 hours of course learning into a few days at the very end!

FINAL EXAM WEEK NOTES 
Final Exam week is scheduled for Jan. 28-31 inclusive. Please note the schedule for the week (below) and the fact that ALL exams begin at 9 a.m. The first opportunity students have to leave an exam is 10:30 a.m. each day. They will not be permitted to go to their lockers until exams end at 11:30 a.m., so they should bring their things with them to the exam if they expect to leave early. The afternoons during the exam period are meant for focused study and/or help classes. Students who remain in the school will be expected to be studying in the library, cafeteria, or working with teachers in classrooms. NOTE:  There will be a zero tolerance policy around cell phone use in classrooms during the scheduled exam periods.  

Schedule this Week:
Monday, Jan. 28:       BLOCK A Exam- 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 29:      BLOCK B Exam- 9 a.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 30: BLOCK C Exam- 9 a.m.
Thursday, Jan. 31:    BLOCK D Exam- 9 a.m.
Friday, Feb. 1:          Turnaround Day- No Classes

While the final assessment in courses can take forms other than the traditional "pen and paper" style exam (presentations, projects, debates, etc), there will be meaningful assessment taking place in every class that week. This means that attendance during exam week is mandatory and it will be important for parents/guardians to get permission from the administration if their son/daughter is not going to be in school any of those days. Please note that attendance will be taken at the beginning of the exam period and calls made to parents if students are missing.

WINTER STORM DAYS AND FINAL EXAMS
In the event that we have a Snow Day off school during the regular Final Exam schedule, all schools in the former Western School Board will be following the same protocol:
* The exam that should have happened on the Snow Day will take place the morning of the very next day and any future exams scheduled will be bumped ahead in order
* Feb. 1 will remain as Turnaround Day (no school) regardless of exams
* Monday, Feb. 4 will become the final day for exams, if the need arises, with Semester 2 beginning on Feb. 5
We are hoping that week will go as scheduled!


Upcoming Dates to Note:
January:
28-31   Final Exams

NOTE:  Nicole is out of province Jan. 30-Feb. 3 inclusive for a national board meeting. Please contact Mr. Jason Gallant: xjgallant@edu.pe.ca or Mr. Gerald MacCormack: gkmaccormack@edu.pe.ca if you have any questions or concerns during this time.

February
1        Turnaround Day- No classes
4        First Day of Semester 2
          Parent Council Meeting- 6:30 p.m. (Speaker: Andrew Richardson)
7        Principals' Meeting- Nicole out
18      Islander Day- No classes
21      Meet the Teacher Evening- 6:30 p.m.

Bake Sale was a hit!

MOSQUITO NET/MALARIA PROJECT FUNDRAISER

Mr. Oulton's class raised over $400 this past week to provide mosquito netting that will help stop the spread of malaria in Third World countries. $10 buys one bed net. 40 nets helps 160 people! Thanks to everyone who participated in the Video Game Tournament, the Coffee House, the Homeroom $10 Challenge, and those who bought yummy treats at the Bake Sale!

COFFEE HOUSE PICS!

James Brown, Music Council President

Great voice!

ANCIENT HISTORY 421 MEDIEVAL FAIR 

Singing "Wagon Wheel" for Ms. Haire ;-)

Ms. Allen assessing royalty! :-)

Gypsy Magic!

Popes and Princesses and Gypsies, oh my! :-) Kudos to the students in Ms. Allen's Grade 10 Ancient History 421 class who presented their medieval "characters" in the Medieval Fair held in the 100's hallway last week. The students showed an in depth knowledge of what life in those times would have been like for the people they researched and the costume creativity was awesome!

SCIENCE 421 "WORLD BUILDER" PROJECTS 

Grade 10 students in Mr. David Ramsay's SCI 421 class presented their "World Builder" projects this week. The title is self-explanatory! The students worked in groups, integrating the major curriculum outcomes for this course into one project in which they "built" a new planet from scratch that could sustain life! They had to use principles from physics, chemistry, and biology to create their world and their technology skills were challenged, as well! VERY impressive work by all involved and parents/guardians were invited into the school to witness how much these students learned through their work on this project.

MS. HAIRE'S AWESOME THURSDAY AFTERNOON "WANDER" AROUND THE SCHOOL...

Popsicle Stick Baby Barns in MAT 801

"Wrestling" with Math 421 Problems! :-)

Water for Change Meets Its Goal!

Art and Addictions Expo





KUDOS TO OUR KIDS!

To Logan MacLean (pictured above), Dakota Oliver, and James Brown from the Music Council for performing in the lobby at the Summerside Storm home games on Thursday and Friday evening!

To the members of the Summerside Silhouettes Synchro Skating team who returned from East Hantz NS with a Gold medal win at Atlantic synchro skating championships!

To Daniel Bridges on his excellent showing at the Atlantic biathlon competition for cadets at Brookvale last weekend!

To CJ Kitts who won the Legion poetry contest! One other student who wishes to remain nameless was recognized as well.

To Robbie Squires for supporting a fellow student this week!

Study for Exams? Cheer on the Storm? Why not BOTH?!
:-)

Challenge:  Offer your son/daughter some extra TLC as they work through exams this week. Make sure they are eating healthy, getting plenty of rest, and that they have a quiet place to study where they can concentrate on the task at hand.

Quote of the Week:  "I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it." ~ Thomas Jefferson

Enjoy your week!

Nicole

Nicole's Notes: Volume 19 (Jan. 21/13)

Hannah Arsenault sporting her new Storm jersey!

Happy Monday TOSH Parents and Guardians!

One more week of classes and we are into Final Exams! Please read the Dates to Note section below carefully so that you will know the schedule for the next two weeks.

This past weekend, Three Oaks Athletics partnered with the City of Summerside and the Summerside Storm  Basketball team to present an invitational Men's AA Basketball tournament on the Storm's court at Credit Union Place. The following teams competed: TOSH, KISH, KRHS, and Bluefield and KISH came out on top, winning the final game against Three Oaks. Special thanks goes out to Storm Basketball Coach, Joe Salerno and Assistant Coach, Mike Leslie for their support. Also, thanks to Storm players: Louis Birdsong, Antonio Ballard, Omari Johnson, and Brandon Robinson who rode the team benches and cheered the players on! Kudos to TOSH Player of the Game against KRHS: Colton Wadman (Grade 10) and the Player of the Game in the final against KISH: Brady Arsenault (Grade 12)!

Brett Poirier interviews Brady Arsenault

TOSH WELCOMES BABY GUS AND BABY RILEY!
Congratulations to TOSH teachers Joel and Amanda Arsenault on the birth of their beautiful baby boy, Gus! No doubt he will look awesome in Green and Gold, and we are happy to have our TOSH family expanded to include him!

Also, congratulations to EPPY Coordinating Teacher, Elsa Riley, on the birth of her new granddaughter, Riley! 

Upcoming Dates to Note:

January:
23       HIS 421 Medieval Fair
24-25  SCI 421 World Builder Project Presentations
28       BLOCK A Final Exam- 9 a.m.
29       BLOCK B Final Exam- 9 a.m.
30       BLOCK C Final Exam- 9 a.m.
          Nicole to CASAA Winter Board Meeting in Toronto (Jan. 30-Feb. 3)
31       BLOCK D Final Exam- 9 a.m.

February
1        Turnaround Day- No classes
4        First Day of Semester 2
          Parent Council Meeting- 6:30 p.m. (Speaker: Andrew Richardson)
7        Principals' Meeting- Nicole out
18      Islander Day- No classes

FINAL EXAM WEEK NOTES
Final Exam week is scheduled for Jan. 28-31 inclusive. While the final assessment in courses can take forms other than the traditional "pen and paper" style exam (presentations, projects, debates, etc), there will be meaningful assessment taking place in every class that week. This means that attendance during exam week is mandatory and it will be important for parents/guardians to alert the administration if their son/daughter is not going to be in school any of those days. Please note that attendance will be taken at the beginning of the exam period and calls made home if students are missing.

WINTER STORM DAYS AND FINAL EXAMS 

In the event that we have a Snow Day off school during the regular Final Exam schedule (See above), all schools in the former Western School Board will be following the same protocol:

* The exam that should have happened on the Snow Day will take place the morning of the very next day and any future exams scheduled will be bumped ahead in order

* Feb. 1 will remain as Turnaround Day (no school) regardless of exams

* Monday, Feb. 4 will become the final day for exams, if the need arises, with Semester 2 beginning on Feb. 5

We are hoping that week will go as scheduled!

MOSQUITO NET/MALARIA PROJECT FUNDRAISER

Mr. Oulton's class is organizing three fundraisers this week in an effort to provide mosquito netting that will help stop the spread of malaria in Third World countries. $10 buys one bed net.
Jan. 22-24: Video Game Tournament in the Lecture Theatre
Jan. 23: Coffee House in the caf at noon
Jan. 23: Homeroom Challenge= $10 donated per HR

Community donations for this project will also be accepted in the Main Office.

KUDOS TO OUR KIDS!

To Emmalee Dunn, Zach Phillips, and Brett Poirier for their work timing, scoring, and announcing the basketball games at the tournament at the CUP on Saturday! So pro!

To Emmalee Dunn for her Random Act of Kindness in bringing Ms. Haire a Tim Horton's coffee at the CUP Saturday afternoon!

To Rachel Barry, Colton Profitt, Noah Richardson, and Maria Dalton who represented TOSH at the Rotary Youth Parliament event this weekend!

To Robbie Squires for his tech expertise at the assembly this past week!

To CJ Kitts and Jake McAleer for kindness and concern shown to a fellow student in need this past week!

To the students who gathered with Ms. Haire Thursday at noon to discuss a plan for school climate work this coming semester! Some great ideas shared, so stay tuned!

Challenge: Help your son/daughter find that importance balance between staying focused and getting prepared for exams without allowing the stress that sometimes accompanies this assessment period to take over. Let us know if he/she needs help from us this week!

Quote of the Week:  "One who walks the road with love will never walk the road alone."
                                     ~ C. T. Davis

Have a wonderful last week of Semester 1 classes!
Nicole

 

Nicole's Notes: Volume 18 (Jan. 14/13)

Happy Monday TOSH Parents and Guardians!
Hope this finds you and your family WELL and happy as another week begins. There seem to be a few "bugs" on the go, so please encourage your son/daughter to get lots of rest, drink plenty of liquids, and wash their hands often. If they need to miss time due to illness, please call the school to let us know and make sure that he/she gets the work missed. The flu that's around doesn't seem to get that this is "crunch time" for high school students!! Final Exams begin on January 28 which is the week after next!

Upcoming Dates to Note:
January:
15    Positive Choices Assembly for Grade 11 and 12 students
18    Trades Expo in caf- 1:15 p.m.
28    BLOCK A Final Exam- 9 a.m.
29    BLOCK B Final Exam- 9 a.m.
30    BLOCK C Final Exam- 9 a.m.
       Nicole to CASAA Winter Board Meeting in Toronto (Jan. 30-Feb. 3)
31    BLOCK D Final Exam- 9 a.m.

February
1      Turnaround Day- No classes
4      First Day of Semester 2
7      Principals' Meeting- Nicole out
18    Islander Day- No classes

FOOD DRIVE!
Our Community Works Council will be collecting non-perishable food items in aid of the Salvation Army throughout January. Donations can be made by students through their home room where they will be given a ballot to win a free cafeteria meal. Community donations can be dropped off at the Main Office. The basic needs some local families have do not end with the holidays. Philanthropy begins at home, so please be generous!

CLOTHING DRIVE: JAN. 14-25
The Community Works Council is also partnering with students in 
Mr. Chisholm's Global Issues class to run a clothing drive from January 14-25. The beginning of a new year is a great time to go through your 
old clothes and donate those that you may no longer be wearing. Don't forget to check through your old winter gear too (coats, hats, mittens, etc) as these items are in demand during these cold winter months. Contact ctdecoste@edu.pe.ca or dmchisholm@edu.pe.ca for more information.

SUMMERSIDE STORM TICKETS ON SALE! 

Tickets for home games played by the Summerside Storm at Credit Union Place can be purchased through the Phys Ed Office or Main Office at TOSH for $5. All proceeds from these ticket sales goes to TOSH Athletics! The next home games are January 18 at 7 p.m and January 20 at 2 p.m.

POSITIVE CHOICES ASSEMBLY (GRADE 11 AND 12)- Jan. 15/13

The Leadership 621 class and SADD group here have worked together to offer a session for Grade 11 and 12 students on the topic of positive choices and substance abuse on Tuesday, January 15. This will take about 40 minutes during Block B that day. Grade 10 students were already exposed to this topic during their TEAM 2015 day back in September. Speaker Alex Poole will be addressing our students and sharing his personal story.

TRADES EXPO JANUARY 17- 1:15 p.m.
This expo, which will be held in the cafeteria, will feature career 
exploration activities and will provide students with information regarding careers in Trades and Technologies programs at Holland College. Reps will be on hand to discuss awards, bursaries and the application process. There will also be information about Apprenticeship Training as a post-secondary education option and how to complete training requirements and final exam to achieve a Red Seal. A representative will be on hand to discuss the PEI Provincial Skills Competitions and how getting involved can further benefit ones future in this area. 

SCHOOL DRESS CODE-WE NEED YOUR HELP!
We have seen an increase in dress code violations lately, despite the cold weather. The specifics are found in the student agenda and I will be reviewing these with our students on Monday over the PA. Infractions seem to mostly be skirts that are very short (shorter than the finger tips when held by their side) and shirts that are worn off the shoulder, showing bra or spaghetti straps. Please take the time to review our dress code expectations with your son/daughter and be diligent when they are getting their fashions ready for school in the morning. I know I have had to turn my own kids around in the past and send them back upstairs to choose an outfit that is more appropriate for school. 

KUDOS TO OUR KIDS!

To the AAA Women's Basketball team for winning the Charlottetown Rural Confederation City Classic tournament on the weekend! Individual award winners from TOSH were:

Becky Clark- Player of the Game (Final) and Tournament All-Star!

Erica Gillis- Tournament MVP and Player of the Game against Sackville High

Jaime MacLean- Player of the Game against Tantramar High

Michaela Walker- Player of the Game against Colonel Gray

To the AAA Men's Basketball team for their silver medal finish at the Charlottetown Rural Confederation City Classic tournament on the weekend! They finished the tournament with 3 wins and 1 loss, which was a close game against Charlottetown Rural in the final.

To Julien Caron for writing to PEI Education Minister, Alan MacIsaac with his comments and concerns and securing himself an audience with the Minister here at TOSH last week!

To Andrew Brawn, Brett Poirier, Brandon Adams, Alex DesRoches, Andrew Richardson (LED 621) and the members of SADD for helping to plan the Positive Choices assembly this week.

To Becca Gallant for having her persuasive essay for Mr. Hockin's ENG 621 course published in the Journal Pioneer on Saturday!

Challenge: Encourage your son/daughter to start reviewing for final exams in his/her courses sooner rather than later!

Quote of the Week: "There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist or accept the responsibility for changing them."~ Denis Waitley

Have a wonderful week!

Nicole

Nicole's Notes: Volume 17 (Jan. 7)

S'Side Storm Player, Avery Smith, sports his TOSH pride !

Happy New Year TOSH Parents and Guardians!

I am hoping that you all had a restful holiday surrounded by family and friends! It is hard to believe that we are back to school already. Considering the fact that there are only three weeks remaining before Final Exams, we had to jump right back into course work...ready or not!

We had a great run to the holidays with lots of school spirit shown. I will throw in a few pictures throughout this week's post for you to see and enjoy. We have an awesome school community and it makes me smile to see so many staff and students working so hard to make TOSH such a great place to work and learn each day!

We welcome Mr. Mark Gregory to our staff! Mr. Gregory will be filling in for Mrs. Amanda Arsenault while she is on maternity leave. No Baby Arsenault in the house, as of yet! We'll keep you posted on that!

We also welcome Mr. Brian Carruthers who will be doing his student teaching over the next 6 weeks with Mr. Chris Higginbotham and Dr. Heather Pringle! Mr. Carruthers is studying Education at the University of Fort Kent in Maine, USA.

Upcoming Dates to Note:
January:
3      First School Day for 2013
7      Presidents' Council Meeting- Noon in conference room
        Parent Council Meeting- 6:30 p.m. in the Library

28    BLOCK A Final Exam- 9 a.m.
29    BLOCK B Final Exam- 9 a.m.
30    BLOCK C Final Exam- 9 a.m.
       Nicole to CASAA Winter Board Meeting in Toronto (Jan. 30-Feb. 3)
31    BLOCK D Final Exam- 9 a.m.

February
1      Turnaround Day- No classes
4      First Day of Semester 2
7      Principals' Meeting- Nicole out
18    Islander Day

PARENT COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY, JANUARY 7 

The meeting begins at 6:30 P.M. in the TOSH Library and all parents and guardians are welcome to attend!

WATER FOR CHANGE FINAL TALLY!

Congratulations to the Leadership and People Helping People students and their advisors for running a very successful fundraising campaign! We met our combined goal with KISH of $2500 and will be able to provide clean drinking water for LIFE to 100 people as a result! Well done!!

FOOD DRIVE CONTINUES!
Our Community Works Council will be continuing to collect non-perishable food items in aid of the Salvation Army throughout January. Donations can be made by students through their home room where they will be given a ballot to win a free cafeteria meal. Community donations can be dropped off at the Main Office. The need some local families have for food does not end with the holidays. Please be generous!

SUMMERSIDE STORM TICKETS ON SALE!

Tickets for home games played by the Summerside Storm at Credit Union Place can be purchased through the Phys Ed Office or Main Office at TOSH for $5. All proceeds from these ticket sales goes to TOSH Athletics! The next home game is January 18 at 7 p.m.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Day!

KUDOS TO OUR KIDS!

To Evan Tynski who was chosen as one of three Island youth members for the PEI 2014 Community Advisory Committee. Evan will serve for a two-year period, until the end of December 2014. At the end of their service term, the youth representatives will be awarded a PEI 2014 $1,000 bursary to be applied to their post-secondary education. In addition, the volunteer hours accumulated by the youth members of the PEI 2014 Community Advisory Committee can be applied to the Community Service Bursary Program offered by the provincial department of Innovation and Advanced Learning.

The PEI 2014 Community Advisory Committee’s role is to ensure community-based input into the planning and implementation of the 2014 program of events by providing high-level advice on the planning of the 2014 celebration, and offering practical expertise and a community perspective on local considerations.  In 2014, Canadians will mark the 150th anniversary (Sesquicentennial) of the historic 1864 Charlottetown Conference, which paved the way to Confederation. PEI 2014 Inc. is facilitating the planning, promotion and implementation of the Sesquicentennial. Through activities and initiatives that educate, inspire, and have a lasting impact, the PEI 2014 program will honour the past, celebrate the present, and plan a bold tomorrow.

To Noah Richardson who has been chosen as an Active8! Campaign PEI Ambassador!

To the students who are helping Ms. Forbes provide English lessons to local Vietnamese immigrants!

To Chandler Acorn who recently received a Canadian Parents for French (CPF) PEI French Student Excellence Award!

To the students who gave substantial amounts of their own money this holiday to help provide Christmas gifts to students/families in need, thank you for being the Spirit of the Season! Love in action=priceless!

Mr. Trainor makes the best Santa!

To the members of the various Councils who provided awesome holiday activities for all to enjoy the week before, and on, Dec. 21!

Teachers vs Students Reach for the Top Game
To the members of the Pep Band for providing music at the Christmas Classic game TOSH played Dec. 21!

Pep Band 2012-13

To the members of the Athletic Council for helping to organize and run the Christmas Classic basketball tournament!

Our Awesome Axeman, Nathan Stavert!

To the students in Mr. David Ramsay's Physics class who created and displayed their awesome Angry Birds project before the holidays!

This Week's Challenge:  Final Exams begin January 28. Please check on SAS or with your son/daughter and/or teachers this week to see what assignments need to be completed in order for your child to head into exams caught up and prepared. Any catch up work that has been arranged will need to be completed right away so that teachers can assess it properly and in time for final marks to be calculated. 

**This is crunch time!!! Please encourage your son/daughter to make sure that all their academic ducks are in a row ASAP!**

Quote of the Week:    "What seems like the right thing to do could also be the hardest thing you have ever done in your life. "~ Unknown 

Have a great week and all the best to you and yours in 2013!

Nicole