Greater Saskatoon Catholic

Schools

www.gscs.sk.ca

HOLY CROSS HIGH SCHOOL 2115 McEown Ave

Saskatoon, SK S7J 3K8

Principal - Lisa Hodson

Vice Principal - Jason Benson Assistant Principal - Nadine Cannell

Director of Education - Greg Chatlain

Superintendent of Education - Scott Gay

Board Trustees - Todd Hawkins, Jim Carriere & Alice Risling

Newsletter September 6, 2019 A Tradition of Excellence

We’re on the Web! http://www.gscs.sk.ca/student

sandfamilies/schools/hch/

Principal’s Message Welcome back! We are looking forward to another great school year at Holy Cross! I would like to thank the entire staff for all their efforts and support in getting the year off to a great start. A very special welcome to the grade 9 students and all students new to Holy Cross. I’d also like to welcome all new staff: Mrs. Hailey Campbell (French), Ms. Rebecca Chelack (Home Ec), Ms. Amanda Gourlay (choir/band), Mr. Troy Kendry (Social Sciences), Ms. Tanya Kohl (English/BEST), Mr. Jessie Kraus (Math), Ms. Tanya Roesch (Math), Mrs. Crystal Serhyenko (Math), Mrs. Nicole Turk (Physical Education), Ms. Melanie Unruh (Science), and Interns Mitch Dear, Paul Hansen, and Mieke Malan. We are very excited to have them join the Holy Cross team! Our wonderful chaplaincy team, Mr. Tom Saretsky and Father Mike Dechant, are back and ready to go for another faith-filled year! Father leads mass every Tuesday at 7:45am in the Chapel, and all students, parents, and staff are welcome to attend. We will be having our Triumph of the Cross Mass at Holy Spirit Parish on Tuesday, September 17th. We have a new Daily Schedule, so make sure to check the website for the new times. Our Shortened Day Schedule will remain the same. At this time of the year, many sports and clubs are starting up. I encourage all students to listen to the announcements and become actively involved in our extra-curricular program. Students will find by becoming involved, self-esteem improves, friendships develop, and study habits improve leading to better academic success. Your support with everything we are doing in the classroom is greatly appreciated. Success in education is a three-way partnership. We encourage you to communicate with teachers directly if you have any questions or concerns about how your child is doing in a particular class. Grade 9 parents are invited to attend the Grade 9 meet the teacher night on Tuesday, September 17th at 7:00 p.m. A brief program overview as well as an opportunity to follow your students schedule will occur. See you there. All parents and guardians are invited to the Holy Cross Catholic School Community Council meeting and AGM on Monday September 23rd at 7:00 pm in the Library. Everyone is invited to attend. Please take a moment to visit our new school website at http://www.gscs.sk.ca/studentsandfamilies/schools/HCH . You can find all kinds of information about the school including upcoming events, newsletters, calendars, school handbook, registration information, and information about the Catholic School Community Council (CSCC). Thank you and God Bless. Lisa Hodson Principal

Monday, September 9th

➢ Welcome Week

➢ Green & White Day Tuesday, September 10th

➢ Welcome Week

➢ Amazing Race Activity at noon Wednesday, September 11th

➢ Welcome Week

➢ Activities Fair at noon Thursday, September 12th

➢ Welcome Week

➢ Grade 9 Hairstyling

➢ Pep Rally (alternate schedule)

➢ Welcome Week Football Game Friday, September 13th

➢ Welcome Week

➢ SRC BBQ and Grade 9 activity Saturday, September 14th

➢ Jr. Football Scrimmage at Holy Cross - 10:00 am

Monday, September 16th

➢ Student Safety Presentation Tuesday, September 17th

➢ Opening Mass @ Holy Spirit

➢ Grade 9 Meet the Teacher Night Wednesday, September 18th

➢ Musical Auditions Thursday, September 19th

➢ Musical Auditions Friday, September 20th

➢ Musical Callbacks Monday, September 23rd

➢ Catholic School Community Council Meeting - 7:00 pm

Tuesday, September 24th

➢ SRC Retreat Thursday, September 26th

➢ Shortened Day - 12:30 Dismissal

➢ Fall Canoe Trip Friday, September 27th

➢ Fall Canoe Trip Saturday, September 28th

➢ Fall Canoe Trip Sunday, September 29th

➢ Fall Canoe Trip Tuesday, October 1st

➢ Grade 9 Retreat (AM Transition Students)

➢ Economics for Success - Gr. 10 Wednesday, October 2nd

➢ Grade 9 Retreat (PM Transition Students)

➢ Cross Country City Championships

Upcoming Events

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Locks & Lockers

➢ All new students are issued a school lock at a cost of $10.00.

➢ All students were assigned a locker at the beginning of the school year.

➢ Students who did not have a locker assigned to them are asked to speak with Mrs. Cannell in the main office.

➢ Each student must assume personal responsibility for their locker and keep it clean, free of writing and in good order. Writing on lockers must be removed immediately. Damage to lockers must be reported to the Main Office.

➢ If a lock becomes lost or damaged, or needs to be replaced, students should contact the Assistant or Vice Principal.

➢ Replacement locks are available for $10.00 (new) and $8.00 (used).

➢ Locks not belonging to Holy Cross are not permitted and will be removed.

➢ Students should never reveal their locker combination to anyone and should ensure that their lockers are always closed and locked when they are not present.

➢ Lockers should be used to store all belongings not required for class. Backpacks are not allowed in the classroom.

➢ Lockers are school property. School authorities have a right and responsibility to enter lockers for health, safety, and security reasons.

➢ Valuables left in lockers are the student’s responsibility.

Did you Know?

Restorative Action Program The Restorative Action Program (RAP) is an initiative of the Saskatoon Rotary Clubs in partnership with GSCS & Saskatoon Public Schools. The purpose of the program is to help students manage conflict that occurs in their lives, whether at school, at home, or in the community. The program aims to provide students in conflict with assistance and support in developing skills related to conflict resolution, self awareness, and respect for others. Mr. Rutten is the teacher assigned to run the program. Mr. Rutten is at Holy Cross Wednesday’s & Friday’s and Monday afternoons.

Student fee invoices for the 2019-2020 school year will be sent home at the beginning of October. Please be sure to check with your child for their invoices. Student fees are due by October 31st. Payment may be made in the form of cash, cheque or debit. Students with larger amounts, including amounts from past years, are asked to contact Mrs. Bloski at 306-659-7605 to make arrangements for payment.

Student Fees

Round-about In Front of the School A reminder that the round-about in front of the school is for student drop-off and pick-up only. Please do not stop in the left hand lane of the round-about as this causes congestion and puts both our students and parents in risk of an accident. Cars left unattended are subject to a $60 parking fine.

The week of September 9th to 13th is all about welcoming our grade 9 students to Holy Cross High School. This needs to be a positive experience for everyone. Any form of bullying will not be tolerated. This includes any form of hazing, forcing the student into to any indignity, wearing clothes that say “property of” etc. As a Holy Cross student you are accountable to the Administration during the school day and all school sanctioned events. After these hours you would be accountable to Police Services. Any students who feel they are being bullied should contact Administration or our new RAP Teacher – Mr. Rutten. Also you should always let your parent/guardian know. Let’s all be safe and respectful of each other and always remember “WWJD?” (What Would Jesus Do)

Welcome Week

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Christian Ethics / Catholic Studies Service Projects

Each student enrolled in Grade 10, 11 and 12 Christian Ethics at Holy Cross is required to complete 10 hours of volunteer work as part of the Christian Service Project. Students should speak with their Catholic Studies and Christian Ethics

teacher for the documents associated with the project.

Students who would like a quiet room to do homework can go to Homework Hall in Room 352. Homework Hall begins at 12:25. If you need extra help in math this is a great place to go. You can get help in all other subjects too.

Homework Hall

The Outdoor Education Club will be doing a canoe trip in the Fall from Thursday, September 26th to Sunday, September 29th. Students who missed the sign up meeting on Sept.. 5th can see Mr. Blais or Mme. Vermette for more information and to pick up the forms.

Outdoor Education

Your SRC is busy at work to organize a fun filled Welcome Week. Here is the plan: Monday, September 9 - Green and White Spirit day and SRC meeting at noon Tuesday, September 10 - Amazing Race games around the school at noon (details to follow) Wednesday, September 11 - Activities Fair at noon (come check out all the clubs and activities you can get involved in at the school) Thursday, September 12 - Hairstyling at noon, pep rally, and Welcome Week football game at 7:30 pm @ SMF Field Friday, September 13- BBQ (each grade 9 will get a ticket for a complimentary hotdog and drink) and games at noon outside. Please join us as we welcome each of you to Holy Cross! Grade 9 elections will be taking place during the month of September. Nominations for two grade 9 reps will open on Wednesday September 11th . The grade 9 reps will conduct their election speeches on Wednesday September 18th during first period. And the vote will take place in Homeroom. The SRC is a very active club at Holy Cross High School, that plans and carries out a number activities throughout the year. All grade 9’s are encouraged to apply and join this fantastic group as it is an excellent way to get involved at school.

SRC News

On Tuesday, September 17th all students and staff of Holy Cross will take part in our annual pilgrimage to Holy Spirit Parish to celebrate the Triumph of the Cross opening mass. All students and staff will be making the walk from Holy Cross to Holy Spirit beginning at 9:20 am and returning to the school immediately following mass. Students are reminded to wear appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes for the walk.

Triumph of the Cross Opening Mass

Holy Cross Clothing will be available for purchase this Monday over the noon hour for students who wish to purchase items. The following items will be available: Hoodies - $65 Sweatshirts - $55 Long Sleeve T - $25 String bag - $20 Bucket Hats - $20

Holy Cross Clothing

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School Photos Lifetouch photography will be at the school on the morning of Tuesday, October 15th to take photos of students who missed the August photo dates. Students who did have photos taken but wish to have retakes will need to sign up in the main office. Students will be called out of class on October 15th, by grade, starting with Grade 12’s in period 1. Students who had their photos taken in August should receive their proof packages in the next two weeks.

Music Department News The HCMPA Uniform night will be held on October 8th. Students registered in band or choir will be required to come, this includes all students new to the Holy Cross Music program registered in either Band or Choir as well as all grade 10 and 11 students. Please bring TWO cheques with you, one for your rental and one for your damage deposit. Band & Choir Costs – Assessed by the Music Parent’s Association

Gr. 9 Band Rental Cummerbund, Bow Tie, Pants $ 50.00 / 2 yrs. White Tux Shirt purchased $ 30.00 (new) $ 15.00 (used) Gr. 10 Band Vest (all other pieces will be used from previous year) no charge Grade 9/10 Choir Choir Gown $ 50.00 / 2 yrs. Gr. 9/10 (band & choir) Damage Deposit $100.00

(post dated for June 30 of students grade 10 year) Gr. 11/12 Band & Choir

Gown/Tuxedo Rental $ 50.00 / 2 yrs. Gr.11/12 (band & choir)

Damage Deposit $100.00 (post dated for June 30 of students grade 12 year)

If you have any questions or concerns please contact the Holy Cross Music Parents Association (HCMPA) at hcmpauniforms@gmail.com

Important Music Department Dates: Please mark your calendars for these very important dates. Uniform Night: October 8th Choral Concerts: December 4th and May 20th Senior Band and Choral Concert: December 9th and May 25th Junior Band and Choral Concert: December 11th and June1st Junior (Grade 10 Band) Cantando Music Festival Tour: April 6th to 8th (Not Mandatory) Graduation (Grade 11 Band & Choir): June 23rd

Holy Cross Catholic School Community Council The Annual General Meeting for the Holy Cross Catholic School Community Council will be held on Monday, September 23 rd at 7:00 pm in the office conference room. If you are interested in being a member of the Community Council please contact Mrs. Hodson at lhodson@gscs.ca. All member of the Holy Cross community are encouraged to attend.

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Student Parent Teacher Conferences Student Parent Teacher Conferences for Semester 1 are scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 24th from 1:30-4:00 pm and 6:00-8:30 pm and on Friday, Oct. 25th from 8:30am-12:30 pm. Parents will use the same username and password they have from previous school years. Your username and password does not change when your child enters high school. If you do not have a username and password from the previous school year please contact the school in early October at 306-659-7600 and they will request one be emailed to you. The web page for parents to log on to and select their conference times will open on Friday, Oct. 4th at midnight and close on Monday, October 21st at noon. Parents are encouraged to log on early and book conference times with their child’s teachers as soon as possible to ensure they are able to see as many of their child’s teachers as possible.

There will be a very important meeting for parents of students who are planning on applying for Graduation June 2020 on Tuesday, October 8

th at 7:00 pm in the Holy Cross Theatre. At this meeting we will discuss requirements for graduation, school

sponsored graduation activities and ask for volunteers for the parent run After Grad. Grade 12 students will have a similar meeting on Tuesday, October 8th during period 4. Grade 12 students with a period 4 spare are asked to please be in attendance for this meeting in order to be informed about graduation requirements and receive this very important information.

Graduation Meeting

Fall Awards Day The Holy Cross Fall Awards Day will be on Tuesday, October 22th. We will be recognizing students who achieved Principal’s Honour Roll standing for the 2018-2019 school year. These are students who were in Grade 9, 10, or 11 last year. A list of students who achieved Honour Roll standing will be posted outside of Student Services in early October. Students who have achieved this standing were given a memo about the awards day.

Student Vote Canada 2019 Holy Cross will be participating in Student Vote Canada 2019. This program will turn the upcoming federal election into an authentic learning opportunity, where students will not just learn about civics and citizenship from a textbook, but will experience participating firsthand in the habits of active and informed citizenship. Student Vote will help students learn the crucial role of a citizen in our democracy, and the publication of the Student Vote results will allow our students to feel that their voices matter. This years Student Vote will also include a section around digital literacy and news consumption habits in light of the amount of misinformation and disinformation online, helping students develop literacy habits that will help them decipher fact from fiction. National Student Vote Week will take place between Tuesday, October 15 and Friday, October 18. For more information about the program and see some of the material students will be using, please visit studentvote.ca/canada

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Student Services

Student Services would like to welcome everyone back to school!!! We hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable summer break! What is Student Services & What do we Do? Student Services works together with students, families, teachers & administration to support Student Wellness. School Counsellors assist students recognize their ability to…

Understand themselves and live well despite mental health challenges, Match interests & skills when choosing a career, Maximize opportunities for learning, Recognize that their behaviours have an impact on their wellness, Establish peace and harmony in their lives, Establish and maintain positive relationship with family, friends, and teachers.

How Do I Connect with Student Services Personnel? Drop by the Student Services Office from anytime between 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Make an appointment if the staff member you were wishing to see is not available immediately. Make immediate contact in time of crisis. Student Services Staff: Debbie Foltz- Office Secretary 306-659-7609 dfoltz@gscs.ca Ladean Park- Grade 10 & 12 School Counselor 306-659-7640 lpark@gscs.ca Michelle Remizowski- Grade 9 & 11 School Counselor 306-659-7610 mremizowski@gscs.ca Nicole Meckelborg-Francis- School Social Worker (appointments made with Debbie Foltz) Harjeet Kaur- SWISS Worker (appointments made with Debbie Foltz) Dean Rutten- RAP Teacher (Restorative Action Program) Monday p.m.’s, Wednesday’s & Friday’s 306-659-7643 drutten@gscs.ca Grade 12’s who would like to receive alerts/memos/reminders of upcoming events and deadlines can sign up for Remind (HCH Graduating Class 2020) from Mrs. Park. Enter the number 613-702-8860 and text the message: @c72793. If you don’t have a mobile phone, go to rmd.at/c72793 on a desktop computer to sign up for email notifications. Grade 11’s who would like to receive alerts/memos/reminders of upcoming events and deadlines can sign up for Remind (graduating class 2021) from Mrs. Remizowski. Enter the number 613-702-8860 and text the message: @cdd79a. If you don’t have a mobile phone, go to rmd.at/cdd79a on a desktop computer to sign up for email notifications. U of S Nursing Students will again be partnered with Holy Cross this semester. They will be available to staff and students starting September 10th. These are fourth year nursing students who are available to present in classes, provide information to students and help with any medical concerns. Their schedule is Monday and Tuesday 8:00-4:00 and Wednesday 8:00-12:00. They will be located in the staff room office conference room in the main hallway of the school. Stop by and say hello. Career Work Exploration 10, 20, and 30 Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools offers Career Work Exploration 10, 20, A30 and B 30 through our Evening Work Education Program. This course is designed for students who wish to earn an extra credit outside of the regular school day, as well as any student who wants an opportunity to explore the world of work. There are two components to the Evening Work Education Course. The in-class portion of this course will be offered through an individualized work package. The second component will consist of the Work Placement. The Work Placement can be completed during evenings, weekends and school holidays. All work placements must be completed prior to the end of each semester. See a counsellor for more information. Post-Secondary Institutions will be offering Information Sessions AT Holy Cross!

Queen’s University: Monday October 7th at noon. Bring your lunch University of Alberta: Wednesday October 30th at noon. Bring your lunch UBC: Thursday October 31

st at noon. Bring your lunch

University of Toronto: November 5th 3:00 Sign up for these sessions will be available in student services. U of S Events: Open House - Friday, September 27 (9:00 am - 3:30 pm) is the Open House. Gr. 12 students can attend a day on campus that provides an opportunity to “experience” the University of Saskatchewan. Each student can select 3 of many sessions to attend, take part in hands-on activities, tour the campus and college buildings and meet university staff, faculty and students. All students must pre-register. More information on the event can be found by visiting https://admissions.usask.ca (Please note the above is school supported, not a school initiated activity; therefore, students will need their parent’s permission to attend and will need to be cleared at the school level. Students are also responsible for any work that is missed.)

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Scholarships & Awards 2019 University of Toronto National Scholarship Program If you are an: original and creative thinker, committed to your school and community, a high achiever in academic and creative pursuits, enthusiastic about learning and intellectual exploration, you could be a University of Toronto National Scholar. Visit adm.utoronto.ca/ns to apply. Please let Mrs. Remizowski in Student Services know if you are applying because you may also be eligible for the U of T National Book Award. Deadline for Holy Cross to nominate a student for the U of T Book Award is October 9th.

Loran Awards ($100,000) The selection of a Loran Scholar is unique in its attention to a young person’s character. The committee believes integrity, courage, grit and personal autonomy are better indicators of overall potential than standard academic measures. To discover these traits, LORAN Scholars Foundation administers the most comprehensive and thorough scholarship selection process in Canada. Tenable at 25 partner universities, the Loran Award is valued at $100,000 over four years, including mentorship, funding for summer internships and participation in an extensive network of past and present scholars.

Students who wish to be considered for one of the 3 sponsored applicants must submit their applications to Mrs. Remizowski no later than 3:30 on October 4th. This allows time for the scholarship committee to meet, adjudicate and formally submit applications of the 3 sponsored students to the Loran Foundation. No late applicants will be accepted.

Application deadline for Direct Pool candidates is Oct. 24. Go to loranscholar.ca for all the information. Any questions go to Student Services.

Encounters With Canada

Affordable Travel Opportunity as you explore exciting career options! Encounters With Canada is a unique opportunity for Canadian teens to meet other young people from across the country. You will spend an adventure-filled week in Ottawa. Expand your horizons and explore the possibilities for exciting careers that you’ve never before imagined. Visit important Canadian Institutions, develop your leadership skills, meet famous and accomplished Canadians and enjoy an extraordinary bilingual experience. Your air fare is FREE! Applications are now online. Select from one of 15 theme weeks. For more information see a school counsellor or visit https://www.ewc-rdc.ca/pub/en

Basic Military Qualification CO-OP Education Program

In this Co-op Education Program, students will earn pay and up two high school credits PLUS their Basic Military Qualification and Driver Wheeled Qualification by training with the Canadian Army Reserve. Training will be afternoons and some weekends during the second semester. Students learn fun and exciting skills that will apply to their time with the Canadian Armed Forces in addition to everyday life. To be eligible, students MUST be a Canadian Citizen, have a completed Grade 10 and be at least 16 years old. Application deadline is October 31st. To find out more information, the Army Reserves will be hosting an open house and career fair on September 28 th from 10:00 – 4:00 at the Sgt Hugh Cairns VC Armoury located at 930 Idylwyld Dr North in Saskatoon.

Next Newsletter

February 2020