Spartan Speaks - Stouffville District Secondary School

April 12, 2019

MADD Assembly On Wednesday April 10, our grade 11 students attended a special “Mothers Against Drunk Driving” assembly. The presentation was very powerful and thought provoking – many of us felt a strong emotional impact. Hopefully the message hit home and our students will always remember the key messages: never drive impaired, do not enter a vehicle driven by an impaired driver, and call 911 if someone you know is driving impaired (whether by drugs or alcohol). The presenter told the audience “it is better to wake your parents up in the night to ask for help than to get in a car driven by an impaired driver”. Keep safe!

Congratulations Cameron! SDSS staff and students want to congratulate our very own Cameron S. who has been drafted to the London Knights, a team in the OHL. Cameron has been playing hockey since he was 5 years old and has played for the Stouffville Clippers, and most recently for the Markham Waxers. The Knights will be a better team having Cameron as their goalie. We wish him the best of luck!

Healthy Breakfast Initiative

On Monday April 1st and Monday April 8th the ESP team at SDSS ran a healthy breakfast initiative for students, handing out healthy fruit on the Monday mornings. We hope the event, part of the MHAM Spirit Week, helped to promote healthy bodies, leading to healthy minds. The ESP team would like to thank all the staff and students who participated in the event, and would also like to send out a huge thank you to the Stouffville Longos for donating bananas and oranges for students; we appreciate all your help, and staff and students definitely enjoyed all the fruit.

Signing Out It has come to our attention that some students are asking parents/guardians to sign them out of class in order to study for a test or to complete an assignment for another class. Please understand that if you sign your child out of class, he or she will then be under your supervision and is expected to leave the building. If your child is in the building during class time, they are expected to be in class under staff supervision. Thank you for your understanding and support.

No Twitter If you don’t have a Twitter account that’s no problem, you can see all our Twitter posts on our school website. Click here SDSS HOME PAGE and under our calendar you will find “Tweets by

StoufvilleDSS” for school updates, initiatives and many amazing things happening at SDSS!

Rock with Cops To all music lovers, on April 16th during periods 3 and 4 lunch SDSS is having a “battle of the bands” between York Region Police Officers and students and teachers in the cafeteria. Come listen to some great music and show your support!

Envirothon

The Envirothon is a hands-on environmental problem-solving competition for high school students in the US and Canada. SDSS's team participated in the first part of the competition at the Bill Fisch Outdoor Education Center on Wednesday. We are returning on April 24th to compete against other teams from York Region. Go Team!

Anti-Bullying Day

On Wednesday April 10th staff and students wore Pink as a symbol to stand up against bullying, and to support random acts of kindness.

Pizza for Sale The community classrooms will be selling pizza slices after school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in the main foyer during the month of April. Come grab a bite from 3:46pm-4:15pm and support our community class students’ attendance to the Best Buddies Prom, as well as other important initiatives and events.

Best Buddy Volunteers Best Buddies provides an opportunity for students to have one-on-one friendship and leadership development opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Best Buddy club generously provides students with a variety of meaningful ways to volunteer their time with their fellow schoolmates, whether it be through lunchtime reading, craft work, selling pizza after school and working collaboratively to raise money for our best Buddy prom. All Best Buddy club members get to experience the Best Buddy Prom this May 1st. All Volunteers obtain volunteer hours that they need to graduate, and can add this to their resumes for College or University. In addition, they can apply for scholarships for their undergraduate studies through their involvement in this program. If interested, come down to the Special Education office at 1005. We hope your son or daughter will be interested in this opportunity!!

SDSS will B.R.E.A.K. (Build Resiliency, Energy and Knowledge for Mental Health On Wednesday May 8th, the Well-Being Team at SDSS has organized a special day that will allow all staff and students to take a 70 minute break to support their mental health. Participants will engage in 1 of 40 wellness workshops and activities of interest that will be led by our staff and community guests during this break. This wellness initiative will model and bring attention to the value and impact of making time to address and improve our mental health. Students and staff will have the opportunity to connect and build relationships, while participating in activities that are fun, relaxing, and/or informative. There is a modified timetable for the day which is outlined below. Students can find the link to sign up on their Teach Assist account.

The Well-Being Team meets every 2 weeks on Tuesday mornings. Please contact Efy Marinis (efy.marinis@yrdsb.ca) if you are interested in being a part of this team. We hope that all students and staff enjoy their BREAK!!!

Period 1 9:10 A.M. – 10:10 A.M. 60 mins.

Wellness Session 10:15 A.M. – 11:25 A.M. 70 mins.

Period 2 11:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. 60 mins.

Period 3 12:35 P.M. – 1:35 P.M. 60 mins.

Period 4 1:40 P.M. to 2:40 P.M. 60 mins.

Period 5 2:45 P.M. – 3:45 P.M. 60 mins.

Break for Mental Health Sign Up Today via link (speak to Mrs. Marinis or Mrs. Luciani if you have any

questions)

link: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGW1x4vLgy_SnL801TN8JUKwQ2KBf7h5lWoktCFcW_wi2MuA/viewform

Golden Student of the Month We are looking for the next Stouffville District Secondary School “Golden Student of the Month”. This student has contributed to our community with volunteer service hours that deserve recognition. If you would like to nominate someone for this award, please pick up a nomination form in the Guidance office. The best nomination will win!

Summer School Summer School Registration Opens: April 1, 2019 Summer School e-learning Opens: April 5, 2019

Registration Instructions:

1. Summer School Registration: www.yrdsb.ca/Programs/ConEd/Pages/Secondary-Summer-School-Registration.aspx

Summer School E-learning Registration: http://www.yrdsb.ca/schools/e-learning/programs/Pages/Summer-Registration.aspx

Summer Co-op Registration: school/uploaded/Summer Co-op 2019 Flyer - Dates and Locations.pdf

2. Print & Return: Signed Registration Form to the Guidance Office

3. Pick up, Sign & Return: Future Course Selection Change Form

Note: * It is important to complete all 3 steps. * Register early as spaces are limited. * If you have any questions please come to the Guidance Office.

SDSS Graduation Award Applications

Student Graduation Award Applications are now available on Teach Assist. Please ensure that the complete application is returned to Guidance on time.

Content Requirements 1. Cover Page 2. Resume 3. Credit Counselling Summary 4. Question Form 5. Awards Application Form Due Date: Mon April 15th, 2019 by 4:00 P.M. Submission: Printed Copy submitted to the Guidance Office or e-mailed to catherine.chartrand@yrdsb.ca *Please note: - The awards and award values may change at any time as per confirmation from the Award Sponsor. - Not all awards are listed as some are determined by top academic mark(s). - The Student Graduation Award Application must be complete & submitted on or before the date and time listed in the Guidance Office - Incomplete submissions will not qualify. - All information submitted by the student must be accurate or the submission may be declined.

- Awards are announced and presented at Commencements. - Only June 2019 Graduating SDSS Students are eligible to apply.

Application Requirements: school/uploaded/SDSS Student Application for Graduation Awards.pdf

PRIZES!!! Follow the SDSS Library Learning Commons on Twitter: @SDSS_LLC. All new followers to our BRAND NEW Twitter page will be eligible for a prize. Any re-tweets will also be entered, so the more times you retweet, the more chances you will have at a prize! Winners will be announced on Mondays April 8 Winner: Michelle Congrats! Come by the SDSS LLC to claim your prize ALSO…

Updates from the SDSS Library Learning Commons (LLC)

The Library Learning Commons wants to celebrate ALL of the countries and various heritage represented by staff and students at SDSS. Students and staff are invited to come by to pin their country on our map. We can add ALL of the countries of our heritage using the Google Form accessible via the QR code:

Harry Bowes Public School’s 10th Anniversary .

Harry Bowes is turning 10 and would like to extend an invitation to all current and former staff, students and families to attend on Wednesday April 24, 2019 from 6:30pm-8:00pm to join in the celebration.

Mobyss – Youth Walk-in clinic Confidential medical, sexual and mental health services are free for youth between the ages of 12-25, including health care from a Nurse Practitioner, specialized youth mental health worker, and peer support specialist. Mobyss is available at Stouffville DSS on the following Wednesdays on April 17, May 1st, 15th and 29th, and June 12th and 26th in the school parking lot. Mobyss.ca 289-879-2376

Graduate Responsibilities Effective Deadline Location

Grade 12 Students - Commencement, Cap & Gown Now March 31st in office Commencement, Cap &Gown cost is $40

*Size Chart is on line

- Scholarship Applications & Resume Now April 15th Guidance - Volunteer Hours Submission Now June 10th Guidance - Private School Marks Submitted Now June 14th Guidance - Graduation Gown Pick Up June 17th - Commencement Ticket Pick Up June 17th - Commencement June 25 th TBA - Diploma, Transcript, Report Cards TBA

*Must be signed for by the Student

*Summer Office Hours: Mon-Thurs 9:00 A.M. – 2:30 P.M.

Post-Secondary Deadlines Date

College – Deadline to Confirm College Admission Offers May 1, 2019

University – Latest Date for Offers of Admission May 29, 2019

Semester 2 Midterm Marks Transmission to OUAC & OCAS Week of April 25, 2019

University Admission Confirmation Deadline June 3, 2019

Semester 2 Final Marks Transmission to OUAC & OCAS July 4, 2019

Summer School Grades to OUAC Aug 1, 2019

Current/Upcoming Events – April 2019

MONDAY

15

TUESDAY

16

WEDNESDAY

17

THURSDAY

18

FRIDAY

19 Careers/Civic Switch

Day

Toronto Hair show

School Council

Meeting 6:30pm

Rock with Cops

Iceland Trip No School

Iceland Trip

Good Friday

(Western)

MONDAY

22

TUESDAY

23

WEDNESDAY

24

THURSDAY

25

FRIDAY

26 No School Midterm Report

Distribution

National Biology

Competition at UofT

1:00pm-2:00pm

Good Friday

(Eastern)

Information For Parents/Guardians about Vaping

Please see the flyer below for details about information sessions about the health and legal impacts of vaping.

Moderated and Facilitated by Lyndsay Thompson

Hummingbird Hub (6331 Main Street, Stouffville)

7pm Adults $10 Students $5 Winter / Spring

No Parking / Designated Fire Routes

presents

on

PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN DESIGNATED FIRE ROUTES Any designated Fire Route needs to be clear of vehicles and ready for use by emergency vehicles. In an emergency (fire, medical, lock down etc.) time is of the essence and emergency vehicles need access. Fire Routes are signed “No Parking.” What does that mean? 1. This means that you cannot stop your vehicle and get out of the vehicle even for a short period of time.

2. You must obey the signs at all times regardless of the time of day or night. In 2017, the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville will adopt a zero tolerance approach to vehicles parked in designated Fire Routes. By-law Officers, Parking Officers, and Fire Prevention Officers will be issuing tickets when infractions are witnessed, to ensure the safety of all those using our schools and other buildings within the Municipality. If you have questions or concerns, please contact: Whitchurch-Stouffville Fire & Emergency Services at 905-640-9595 OR By-Law Department at 905-640-1900 Ext. 225

Important bussing information sent from our Student Transportation Services of York Region

School Bus Cancellation Notice To ensure the safety of students, school bus service may be cancelled due to inclement weather, extreme temperatures and/or poor road conditions. In these cases, parents and students should develop alternate care/transportation arrangements. Cancellation decisions will only be made after thorough consultation with the Safety Officers of school bus companies servicing York Region and are based on several factors including precipitation, air temperature, road conditions and weather forecast. Please note the following;

A decision to cancel school bus service will be region-wide meaning all school buses, vans and taxis will not operate. Both the YRDSB and YCDSB operate many regional educational programs. Students attending these programs are transported over large attendance areas encompassing several municipal boundaries which prevents the ability to cancel bus service using a municipality or zone methodology.

When bus service is cancelled all school tests and/or examinations will be cancelled and rescheduled.

Student trips involving the use of school buses will also be cancelled.

Unless otherwise stated, schools will remain open and parents can make arrangements to transport their children to and from school even if school bus service is cancelled. If buses are cancelled in the morning, they will not operate in the afternoon. Therefore students transported to school by parents will require the same transportation home.

A bus cancellation message will be available at www.schoolbuscity.com, by calling 1-877-330-3001, or by following @YRDSB and @YCDSB on Twitter. Parents, students and school staff may also access the following radio and television stations after 6:00 a.m. to receive bus cancellation information: RADIO 590 AM 640 AM 680 AM 860 AM 1010 AM 1050 AM 1540 AM 1580 AM 88.5 FM 89.9 FM 92.5 FM 93.1 FM 94.9 FM 95.9 FM 97.3 FM 98.1 FM 99.1 FM 99.9 FM 101.1 FM 102.1 FM 104.5 FM 100.7 FM 105.9 107.1 FM TELEVISION CITY TV CTV Barrie CTV Toronto CP24 GLOBAL NEWS

Please check out the following web sites for current Board and school information:

1) York Region District School Board - www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca

2) Stouffville District Secondary School - http://www.stouffvilledistrict.ss.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/

SDSS Contact Information: Rose Walker, Principal, 905-640-1433 Jeff Foran, Vice Principal, 905-640-1433 Karen Parris, Vice Principal, 905-640-1433 Elizabeth Terrell-Tracey, School Trustee- East Gwillimbury and Whitchurch-Stouffville, 905-953-0562