Nicole's Notes: Volume 18 (Jan. 20/14)

Al Stewart and Antonio Ballard with Mrs. Gillis' Class

Happy Monday TOSH Parents and Guardians!

WOW! This is the final instructional week of Semester 1! The school year is flying and final exams marks the "half way point" for our students and staff. Please note the Final Exam schedule below and it is important that all students arrive on time and ready to go by 8:55 a.m. each day for their final assessments. If your son/daughter is not present and alternate arrangements have not been made through the administration, we will be giving you a call to let you know!

Please make sure that your son/daughter has completed all assignments that will still be accepted by teachers by Friday and encourage him/her to start reviewing for exams sooner rather than later. If help is needed, just ASK!!!



THANK YOU to Island Storm players (formerly of the Summerside Storm) Al Stewart and Antonio Ballard who dropped into TOSH this week and spent some time on the court with Mrs. Gillis' class!

WELCOME BACK to Mrs. Amanda Arsenault who is returning from maternity leave this week!

ALL THE BEST to Ms. Cindy MacKendrick, M. Mario Fiset, and Ms. Amanda Allen who will be leaving us on their deferred leaves for Semester 2 on Jan. 31!

WELCOME to Mr. Brian Carruthers who is joining our staff to fill Mr. Faber MacDonald's position!

WELCOME to Ms. Emma Boswell who will be filling M. Fiset's position!

THANK YOU to Mr. Mark Gregory who did such a great job in Mrs. Arsenault's absence and who will be filling in for Ms. MacKendrick Semester 2!

UPCOMING DATES TO NOTE:

January:    
22-28  CSLA Winter Board Meeting-Nicole Out
27      FINAL EXAMS-BLOCK A (9 AM)      
28      FINAL EXAMS-BLOCK B (9 AM)
29      FINAL EXAMS-BLOCK C (9 AM)
30      FINAL EXAMS-BLOCK D (9 AM)
          Principals' Meeting-Nicole Out
31      Turn Around Day-No Classes

February:
5-6    Transition Planning Presentation to Grade 11 Students-Mr. Donovan
10      Semester 1 Report Cards sent home to parents (via students!!)
17      Islander Day- No Classes
18-21 Winter Carnival Week
25      2014-2015 Course Description Handbooks out to students
26-27 Transition Planning Presentation to Grade 10 Students-Mr. Donovan
28       Collaborative Planning Day- No Classes

March:
4        Band Days
7        School Effectiveness Day-No Classes
10      MADD Assembly
17-21 March Break-No Classes


PBL CELEBRATION NIGHT JAN. 16
The end of the semester is always a time of celebration and this past week was no exception. Students in Mrs. Milton's WRT 421, Mr. Ramsay's PHY 521/621 and SCI 421, Ms. Evans' ART 621, and Mrs. Halupa's SCI 421 classes hosted a Project Based Learning celebration evening on Thursday, Jan. 16 that was well attended by parents and community members. The research team from UPEI who were involved with Mrs. Milton's class projects were in attendance, as well. We thank them for their collaboration with our school and look forward to hearing their research results. I was truly impressed by the quality of our students' work and took some pictures to share with you here:

PHYSICS 521/621

Mr. Ramsay Measuring Success!

ART 621

WRT 421

Mrs. Milton Addresses the Audience

Mrs. Halupa Oversees the World Builders

PHYSICS 521/621

ART 621

Mrs. Evans Poses with Maria

POST-SECONDARY VISIT SCHEDULE:
Portfolio Days (Holland College)- Jan.31/14
UPEI Info Session (Pre-register in Student Services)- Feb. 13/14 @ 1 PM
St. Thomas On Site Waved Admission Fee (Student Services)- Feb.19/14
UNB On Site Waved Admission Fee (Student Services-15 min interviews)- Feb. 26/14
UNB Evening Info Session (Loyalist Inn)- Feb. 26/14 @ 7 PM

FUNDRAISER FOR TOSH BREAKFAST AND LUNCH PROGRAM!

One of our TOSH families has generously decided to share their creative talents with us and donate the beautiful plaques (pictured below) for a draw fundraiser. Tickets will be available in the Main Office here by mid-week and are selling for $2 each or 3 for $5. There are THREE prizes to be won and the draw will take place on Feb. 14/14. All proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to our TOSH Breakfast and Lunch programs. THANK YOU to the MacDonald's for helping in this way and I would encourage you to get in on this draw! Check out what you could win!!!

First Prize- $75 value

Second Prize (Family Name plus 3 first names)- $25 value

Third Prize (Family name and 2 first names)- $20 Value

SEMESTER 2 COURSE CHANGES

The final date for Semester 2 course changes is Friday, February 7/14 but we are encouraging students who know they wish to make changes to get on that sooner rather than later. Some courses are already full but we will do our best to accommodate students who have specific changes they wish to make. They should see Mr. Jason Gallant (Main Office) or Mr. Jim Donovan (Student Services) ASAP!


ANCIENT HISTORY MEDIEVAL PROJECTS-JAN. 17
Ms. Allen's HIS 421 students presented their projects in the hallway by the bus doors on Friday. These grade 10 history students researched people who lived in Medieval times and then "represented" their findings by dressing in period clothing and displaying "artifacts" from that period in history. Check them out!!

Ms. Allen Assessing Through Questioning

MS. HAIRE'S HAPPY WANDERING!
It has been a privilege to get into classrooms more regularly lately and witness the AWESOME work that our students and staff are doing! A picture says a thousand words, so here you go!

Planes!!

Dr. Pringle's creative "test writing in a lab" technique!

Chemistry solutions available to Mrs. Keough's students!

Mr. Beaulieu and our future welders finishing up projects!

Mr. MacKinnon explains a task to Scott!

An Automotive "Light Bulb Moment"!

On the job!

Buildings going up in Carpentry class!

Saw horses galore!

End of class treat in Aviation: Flight Simulator

Clear for landing!

KUDOS TO OUR KIDS!

To the students who participated in the PBL Night on Jan. 16!

To Ms. Allen's HIS 421 students for an awesome Medieval Fair!

To our TOSH men's and ladies' dodgeball teams for representing us so well at the provincial dodgeball tournament!

To all the students who participated as mentors in the Lunch Buddies Program this semester!

To Taylor Sonier for kindness shown towards a fellow student!

To Bruce Ramsay and Kaitlin Taylor for their dedication to the Breakfast Program!

Challenge:  Help your son/daughter come up with a study plan for final exam week. Also help make sure there is a quiet place for him/her to prepare for these important final assessments!

Quote of the Week:  "Worry is not preparation."~ Buddist proverb

I am off to my Canadian Student Leadership Association Winter Board Meeting on Wednesday this week and will be returning next Tuesday. I will be keeping in touch via e mail and text, but Gerald MacCormack will also be Acting Principal in my absence. Please contact him or Jason Gallant if you have any immediate questions or concerns while I am away. 

Have a wonderful week!

Nicole

Nicole's Notes: Volume 17 (January 13/14)

Happy Monday and Happy New Year TOSH Parents and Guardians!

Mr. David Gallant being patient :)

First of all, please accept my apology for not posting last week. My three children were all home for the holidays from university and all three had to be transitioned back throughout the weekend. The lost time, coupled with the transition to a very quiet house, meant that I didn't get all things that I wanted to complete done. This week, however, was a busy but positive one at our school. With only 10 school days remaining before the start of Final Exams, we were also thrilled to have had a full week of instruction!

PLEASE NOTE that the Parent Council meeting scheduled for this month (Monday, Jan. 13) has been cancelled.

I continue to try to carve time out in the day to do the most important work a principal can do: Be in classrooms to witness and celebrate the teaching and learning that is taking place in our building! I took some pictures as I wandered in and out of rooms last week, and I thought I would share some of those with you:

Culinary 801 Meal delivered to teachers Thursday

Mr. Gillis helps Physics students prepare at noon for their test

Frankie proudly sporting his Christmas gift from Hannah :)

Ms. Haire treats received for great work in Math class!

TOSH Envirothon Team practising with Mr. Higginbotham and Dr. Pringle after school

Sample Comic Book Project from French Immersion 421 class

Culinary 801 Prep: Sweet Potato Fries group

Culinary 801 Prep: Salsa group

Clay and Charlotte rocking the hats! So pro!

Thinking I need these guys at my house!! Cleaning...

Math Fun!

Biology class can be stinky business on lab day!

Higgy and his squid!

Cheryl the shark!

Fish dissection

Kevin the bird...and some sad faces haha! ;)

There is never a dull moment at TOSH, and it is a privilege to witness the magic our students and staff are creating together!

UPCOMING DATES TO NOTE:

January:
      
13       NOTE: Parent Council Meeting-6:30 p.m. CANCELLED!
16       PBL Night- 6:30 p.m.
17       Ancient History 421 Medieval Fair (AM)
22-28  CSLA Winter Board Meeting-Nicole Out
27      FINAL EXAMS-BLOCK A (9 AM)      
28      FINAL EXAMS-BLOCK B (9 AM)
29      FINAL EXAMS-BLOCK C (9 AM)
30      FINAL EXAMS-BLOCK D (9 AM)
          Principals' Meeting-Nicole Out
31      Turn Around Day-No Classes

February:

5-6    Transition Planning Presentation to Grade 11 Students-Mr. Donovan
10      Semester 1 Report Cards sent home to parents (via students!!)
17      Islander Day- No Classes
18-21 Winter Carnival Week
25      2014-2015 Course Description Handbooks out to students
26-27 Transition Planning Presentation to Grade 10 Students-Mr. Donovan
28       Collaborative Planning Day- No Classes

March:

4        Band Days
7        School Effectiveness Day-No Classes
10      MADD Assembly
17-21 March Break-No Classes

FINAL EXAMS (JANUARY 2014)

Final Exams for Semester 1 are scheduled for January 27-30, 2014. Attendance is mandatory unless permission has been granted from Administration and alternate arrangements made. If your son/daughter must miss one or more of his/her final exams for whatever reason, we ask that you contact Nicole Haire directly via e mail: nmhaire@edu.pe.ca or phone: 888-8460.

NOTE:  If your son/daughter is unsure how to prepare for final exams, please ask him/her to seek help from our team in Student Services!

Upcoming Post-Secondary Visit Schedule:
Mount Allison University (Outside Lecture Theatre)- Jan. 15/14 @ Noon
Portfolio Days (Holland College)- Jan.31/14
UPEI Info Session (Pre-register in Student Services)- Feb. 13/14 @ 1 PM
St. Thomas On Site Waved Admission Fee (Student Services)- Feb.19/14
UNB On Site Waved Admission Fee (Student Services-15 min interviews)- Feb. 26/14
UNB Evening Info Session (Loyalist Inn)- Feb. 26/14 @ 7 PM

FUNDRAISER FOR TOSH BREAKFAST AND LUNCH PROGRAM!

One of our TOSH families has generously decided to share their creative talents with us and donate the beautiful plaques (pictured below) for a draw fundraiser. Tickets will be available in the Main Office here by mid-week and are selling for $2 each or 3 for $5. There are THREE prizes to be won and the draw will take place on Feb. 14/14. All proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to our TOSH Breakfast and Lunch programs. THANK YOU to the MacDonald's for helping in this way and I would encourage you to get in on this draw! Check out what you could win!!!

First Prize- $75 value

Second Prize (Family Name plus 3 first names)- $25 value

Third Prize (Family name and 2 first names)- $20 Value

SEMESTER 2 COURSE CHANGES

The final date for Semester 2 course changes is Friday, February 7/14 but we are encouraging students who know they wish to make changes to get on that sooner rather than later. Some courses are already full but we will do our best to accommodate students who have specific changes they wish to make. They should see Mr. Jason Gallant (Main Office) or Mr. Jim Donovan (Student Services) ASAP!



PBL CELEBRATION NIGHT!

Science 421 PBL work with Mr. Ramsay

On Thursday, January 16/14 here at school, we will be celebrating the Project Based Learning that has been going on in the following courses this semester: The WRT 421 class will display at 6:30 p.m. and SCI 421, PHY 521/621, and ART 621 will display at 7:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend and parents of the students who participated in the PBL are encouraged to come out and see what your son/daughter accomplished through his/her project work!

KUDOS TO OUR KIDS!

To our basketball teams who have been representing us so well during league play and at tournaments this season!

To Ty Wright and Brandon Donovan who were recognized as Players of the Game against Glace Bay in the Confederation City Classic tournament this weekend!

To Sherry Anne Hiscock for kindness shown toward a peer who was having a bad day!

To Noah Richardson, Justin MacEachern, and Millee McKay for their participation in Rotary Youth Parliament this year!

To Stephen Smith, Aaron Dockendorff, Jonathan Walfield, and Eddie Mills for being recognized for their great work in math!

To Samantha Harris, Colton Profitt, Noah Richardson, Jill MacIntyre, Caitlin Gallant, Jessica Gillis, Kelsey McIsaac, Jenna DesRoches, Millee McKay, and Brittan Turner for visiting our feeder junior high schools and sharing their positive energy and enthusiasm about our school with our incoming students!

To Destiny Bradshaw and Connor Byrne for their excellent participation and sharing in English class!

To Bradley Murphy for patiently explaining what a logarithm is to his math challenged principal!

Challenge:  There are only two weeks left before final exams. Help your son/daughter take stock of the following:
a)  Is he/she caught up with assignments and work in all courses and, if not, is there a plan in place for that to happen before the end of the semester? NOTE: Some "drop dead dates" may have already passed but it is worth touching base with the teacher if you are unsure of the situation.
b)  Does he/she know what exams are being written and when?
c)  Does he/she have a study plan in place in order to be prepared for these final assessments?
d)  Does he/she have all the courses desired for Semester 2 in place?

Quote of the Week: "There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."~ Colin Powell

Have a wonderful week!

Nicole