PARENT/GUARDIAN NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2017

Principal J. Shako Vice-Principals N. Arnold-Sallows B. Millsap M. Wolf

We are now half way through the school year and into semester two. The semester one report card your

child is bringing home with this newsletter is an indicator of your child’s achievement thus far in high

school, and specifically with respect to the courses taken during semester one. I would encourage you to

review with your child the information provided in the report card and use this information to assist your

child in setting goals, assessing her/her progress, and providing you with useful details to help support

your child at home.

Of course, the report card is one indicator of student achievement, and at Banting Memorial High School

we understand and appreciate the value of home/school communication. Throughout the

school year teachers are available for parent-student-teacher conferences, interviews, and telephone

calls. Please contact your child’s teacher/s if you have any questions or concerns.

My sincere best wishes to all students for a successful second semester!

Jo Shako

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Banting Memorial High School

Family Day February 20

Pink Shirt Day February 22

School Council March 2

Option Sheets Due: Gr. 10-12 March 3

Option Sheets Due: Gr. 9 March 10

Grad Photo Re-takes March 7

March Break March 13-17

Progress Reports March 20

Parent/Guardian/ Teacher Night March 23

OSSLT March 30

IMPORTANT DATES

FROM THE SCHOOL LIBRARY Parents, please remind students to return school library books as soon as possible.

Semester 2 students will need all books to be available for assignments.

Banting books can be identified by the Banting barcode in the top left corner.

Your assistance is appreciated.

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Primetime: During Semester One, Grade 12 Visual

Arts students created and installed artwork for a month

-long exhibition at the Gibson Centre in Alliston. Titled

“Primetime”, the show ran from January 14 to February

11. The Opening Reception on Saturday, January 14

was very well attended by students, parents, and the

greater Banting community.

Fine Arts Night: Visual Arts students from all grades

will have their work displayed at Banting’s annual Fine

Arts Night on Thursday, May 18. It’s a great night that

also showcases Drama, Improv, a coffee-house, and

many more arts-related activities. All are welcome to

attend. Stay tuned for more details. Semester One

students are reminded to pick up their artwork from

their respective art teachers on the Friday following

Fine Arts Night.

Portfolio at the MacLaren Art Centre: this annual,

juried exhibition showcases artwork created by Grade

12 Visual Arts students from across Simcoe County.

Students whose work is accepted into the exhibition by

the MacLaren’s jury will be notified on Wednesday,

April 12. The exhibition runs from April 22 to May 14.

All are welcome to attend the Reception on Thursday,

May 4 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the MacLaren Art

Centre in Barrie.

Contests: OSSTF's Student Achievement Awards 2017

In Honour of Marion Drysdale is a contest that is open

to all students in all grades and levels. This fall,

students were invited to submit creative work exploring

the theme, "#MirrorMirror". Congratulations to Shelby

Hotson (Senior Creative Division), Andrew Whittle

(Digital/Animation/Video Division), and Jessie Humen

(Intermediate Creative Division) for having their pieces

win at the Board level. Each students’ winning entry

has moved on to the regional level where, if successful,

they will be judged at the provincial level. The top

provincial winner in each category wins $1000.

VISUAL ARTS

On Wednesday, March 8th there will be

a charity hockey game in support of Joe

Robert's Push for Change to assist

homeless youth. The event is being

organized by the Nottawasaga

detachment of the OPP and Banting's

Athletic Society. The OPP's hockey team

will take on a combined boys' and girls'

Banting varsity hockey squad at the

NTRC. Faceoff will be at 1:15pm and we

will have students back to the school for

2:30.PM.

CHARITY HOCKEY

GAME

Yearbooks are on sale for $35 until

February 28, 2017!

See Ms. Meadows in Room 182 to place

your order or order through

School Cash Online

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SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION Scholarships are a wonderful way to help reduce the expense of post-secondary education. We encourage you to explore the many opportunities by visiting the following:

www.yconic.com and www.scholarshipscanada.com.

UNIVERSITY APPLICATIONS Following the receipt of semester one marks,

Ontario Universities may make a conditional offer of admission to an Ontario secondary school student. Offers of admission will continue to unfold until May 26th, 2017 with the majority of offers being made after receipt of April mid term marks. June 1st is the earliest date by which Ontario universities may require a response to an offer of admission and a financial commitment of any kind.

COLLEGE APPLICATIONS College applications were due to the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS) on or before February 1st, 2017. Offers of admission will begin to unfold after that date. By May 1, 2017, applicants must confirm their acceptance of an offer of admission to their chosen program through: ontariocolleges.ca

GUIDANCE NEWS

COURSE SELECTION PROCESS

The course selection process for the 2017-2018 school year will begin on February 16th, when we will be holding Grade 10, 11 and returning Grade 12 student assemblies to review the on-line procedures. Grade 9 students will be completing their on-line option sheets at school, in computer labs, with the assistance of guidance counsellors. Our Course Calendar and the on-line Option Sheet may be accessed through the Banting website:

http://ban.scdsb.on.ca

- Guidance Link - Course Selection Link

Parents and students are free to print the calendar in its entirety or print only those pages pertaining to their grade level.

For those students requiring assistance with their on-line Option Sheet, Guidance Counsellors and Special Education teachers will be available for appointments from February 16th to March 10th. All students are asked to review their education plans with their parent/guardian.

COURSE SELECTION DEADLINES

March 3rd- Access to the on-line application closes for all Grade 10, 11 and 12 students.

March 10th - Access to the on-line application closes for all Grade 9 students.

After this date, changes can only be made by contacting the Guidance/Special Education department at the school.

On the Completion of Requirements for Graduation Form, you will find indication of the student’s accumulated Community Service hours. Please ensure that the number of hours is accurate. Remember, performing the 40 hours of community service is a diploma requirement. For students intending to graduate this year, the deadline to submit all accumulated Community Service hours is June 9th. Guidance must have evidence, by this date, that a student has completed the 40 hour diploma requirement.

Community Service Hours

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T here are many reasons why developing youth

leadership skills at a young age is important –

it builds confidence, perseverance, problem-

solving and communication skills. While leadership

skills can come naturally, children learn lessons along

the way that significantly impact them later in life.

The right words at the right time can make all the

difference. Here are some ways you can teach

your children how to develop leadership skills at a

young age:

Encourage team activities: Identify your children’s

interests and encourage their participation in group

activities. Whether it’s participating in afterschool

sports or joining the school band, children learn

valuable lessons about teamwork through these

activities.

Enrol in camp: Overnight and day camps are filled

with opportunities to participate in team-building

activities and build self-confidence. Once youth reach

a certain age, they can also become counsellors,

where they’ll be tasked with leading groups of

younger children – the ultimate leadership

experience!

Find volunteer and community service opportunities:

firsthand experience is one of the best ways to teach

leadership skills to children. Look for local

opportunities that will welcome youth helpers and

volunteers in your community.

The YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka offers Youth

Leadership Development programs for youth in grades

5 to 12. Participants in our leadership programs often

adopt healthier lifestyles, become volunteers in their

community, make new friends, earn volunteer hours

for school, acquire training certifications, travel to

other countries and gain an understanding of their

potential impact on their community.

DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP SKILLS

Has your teen started driving? Getting a driver’s license and riding as a passenger

with friends is an exciting milestone for many teens,

but it can also a stressful and challenging stage for

parents. It can be hard to balance giving them

independence and trying to keep them safe.

Be patient and look for opportunities to help your

teen learn driving laws, and how to be safe behind

the wheel or as a passenger with friends. For more

information, visit the health unit’s website at

www.simcoemuskokahealth.org or call Health

Connection at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520.

Information provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District

Health Unit

Bus cancellations and snow days are inevitable in

Simcoe County. Each time buses are (or aren’t!)

cancelled, the SCDSB and the Simcoe County

Student Transportation Consortium (SCSTC) receive

many questions from students, parents and

community members. Check out the Sharing Simcoe

blog for the top eight questions and answers - visit

www.sharingsimcoe.com and search for ‘snow’.

Remember to follow the SCSTC on Twitter

@SCSTC_SchoolBus for bus updates and

cancellations.

Your top eight snow day

questions answered

For more information about the YMCA of Simcoe/

Muskoka Youth Leadership Development Programs

and opportunities, visit http://

ymcaofsimcoemuskoka.ca/ymca-youth-leadership-

development/.

Information provided by the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka