​The Vanier Catholic Secondary school community is shocked and saddened by the recent news of credible allegations of sexual abuse released by the L’Arche organization against Jean Vanier.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the women who suffered this abuse and who have been living for many years with its consequences.  
 
In no way will we minimize these allegations.  We strongly condemn any actions that violate the emotional and physical well-being of others.
 
We wish to clarify that our school community is named after the Vanier family: Georges Vanier, Canada’s first Canadian-born francophone Governor General and his wife Pauline, founder of the Vanier Institute of the Family – along with their children, including Jean.  Their family name was chosen for our school community for their sense of public duty and public service.
 
We pray for the women who have suffered sexual abuse.  We pray for the soul of Jean Vanier.  We also pray that the thousands of residents, volunteers, and staff of L’Arche communities around the world do not experience additional discrimination or a reduction of community support due to the personal failings of their organization’s founder.
 
We also hope that the wider community will demonstrate empathy and understanding towards our students and staff during this difficult time as we all come to terms with this terrible news.
 
For further information, please contact Cynthia Lyslo, Chair of Vanier Catholic Secondary School Council (clyslo@me.com) or Ryan Sikkes, Principal of Vanier Catholic Secondary (Ryan.Sikkes@gov.yk.ca).

February 17th, 2020

Dear Vanier families and friends,

Over the last 4 weeks, we have been using Monday morning prayer to talk about the four types of prayer in the Christian tradition: Prayers of Adoration, Contrition, Petition, and Thanksgiving. 

Today we finished with the latter and it is a great reminder to me to express my thanks for our very supportive community of parents/guardians.  You are the first and most important teacher in your child’s life and we hope to support you in any way we can.  Conversely, we do appreciate your support of us as we work with your child and we appreciate you calling in to excuse you children, responding to concerns raised by teachers, and being an advocate for your child when necessary as examples of ways that you support us by getting involved.  Thank you for your support. 

Sincerely,
Ryan Sikkes, principal

Dates to Note:

• TONIGHT!  Monday, February 17 – Grade 9 à 10 Parent Information Session – 7:00pm in the Small Gym.  An important session to present the Graduation Program and discuss course selection.
• Wednesday, February 19 – 12:12pm – Cabane à sucre (Sugar Shack)
• Thursday, February 20 – Course selection sheets are due.
• Friday, February 21 – Heritage Day.  No school!
• Tuesday, February 25 – 7:30am – Shrove Tuesday pancake breakfast in the Cafeteria
• Wednesday, February 26 – 11:09 am – Ash Wednesday Liturgy – everyone is welcome to attend.
• Friday, February 28 – Catholic Schools of Whitehorse PD Day.  No School!
• March 2-6 – Informal Reporting Window.  Parents/Guardians should expect progress reports emailed or telephone calls.
• March 15 – 21 –The Whitehorse 2020 Arctic Winter Games, officially known with the slogan “Bring it North”, is a multi-sport event which will take place in Whitehorse!  Vanier will be hosting Arctic Sports, Gymnastics, Accommodations, and Food Services.  The Arctic Winter Games is the world’s largest multisport and cultural event for young people of the Arctic.  Best of luck to all participants!
• March 16 - 27 – Spring Break – Have a relaxing couple of weeks.

CBC Junior Reporter
CBC Yukon is looking for a Junior Reporter between the ages of 12 and 16 to help cover the Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse from March 15-21.

This reporter would help cover the opening and closing ceremonies and events on two days of the week.
 
You would be in front of the camera on television and social media. You would also record audio that would air on radio. You would take photos and video for social media and online stories.
This opportunity could include interviewing athletes at events, finding interesting stories from the athletes’ perspective.
You would work with a producer who would help you write scripts and develop your story ideas. But you should be able to understand instructions and work independently.
There would be some training before the start of the Games.
This is a paid opportunity.
If you are selected and live outside of Whitehorse, transportation costs will be considered. You must provide your own accommodation and you must have adult supervision during the Arctic Winter Games.
SKILLS:

• a strong sense of the kinds of stories your peers are interested in-curious about the world around you
• feel confident and comfortable in front of the camera
• knowledge of iPhone and iMovie a bonus
• punctual
• a way to get to CBC Whitehorse studio
• coachable
• not competing in the Arctic Winter Games

Please send a short video about why you should be the Junior Reporter to jane.sponagle@cbc.ca
Deadline to apply is Friday, February 21, 2020.

David Wells
David Wells is a world-renowned speaker on Catholic Education.  He is coming to Whitehorse to facilitate our PD Day on February 28.  While he is in town, he is offering two additional sessions for the public:

• Thursday, February 27, 7-8:30 pm at CYO Hall (basement of Sacred Heart Cathedral) “A Heart Which Sees”: The school as an evangelizing community.  No RSVP required.
• Saturday, February 29. 9 am – 2 pm at Vanier Catholic Secondary “Faith Culture in our Catholic Schools” (Lunch is provided).  RSVP to ceayukon@gmail.com

Course Selection
Course selection sheets have been distributed to all Grade 8-11 students.  Digital versions are available on school the website.  An important meeting will be held for all Grade 9 students who will enter Grade 10 next year to talk about the Graduation Program on Tuesday, February 11 in the morning.  This information will be repeated during a parent/guardian presentation on Monday, February 17 at 7 pm in the Small Gym.  All Course Selection sheets are due to the office

Wood Street Centre – 2020-2021 Program Application Dates

• Deadline for 2020 - 2021 Experiential Science 11 (ES 11) Applications into Wood Street Centre  - Friday, February 21, 2020.
• Deadline for 2020 - 2021 Program Applications (except ES 11) into Wood Street Centre  - Friday, March 6, 2020.
• ES11 Overnight Event - Friday, March 6, 2020 and Saturday morning, March 7, 2020.

Please see woodstreetcentre.ca for all 2020-2021 Application Packages.

Vanier Learning Commons
There are many items overdue from the Vanier Learning Commons.  These include textbooks and calculators which are needed for classes this semester as well as books from the circulating collection which were borrowed a long time ago and not returned.  This means that they are not available to anyone else to read, to enjoy or to learn from.  Overdue notices were included with the most recent student report cards.  Please help your student look in their closet, under their bed or on family book shelves to find Vanier books and return them!

Tutoring Program
With the start of a new semester, Grade 10-12 students may find themselves in classes where some additional assistance may help them achieve their best.  Grade 8 and 9 students may find, halfway through the year, in a similar position!
All Vanier students can receive tutoring from other students for assistance in course work, assignments or organizational skills.  The students requesting tutors are self-identified or identified by parents or teachers.
To receive tutoring the student simply needs to fill in an application in the Skills Room (Room 3).
Students in Grade 10, 11, or 12 can apply to be a tutor. Tutors can either earn service learning hours or an hourly wage.   Peer tutors are paid on a graduated scale, which increases with grade level and number of hours tutored. Potential tutors need to come in person to the Skills room and fill in an application. Students will be matched one on one by the Department Head of Student Support Services. 
​
Service Learning Hours
If your child received an “I” on their report card for Religion and had a comment saying they need to get their Service Learning Hours completed, please encourage them to see Mr. Gillard regarding this matter.  They may also have hours not completed in previous years that is affecting credits on their transcripts.  Please keep in mind, if a student did not complete hours in one year, they do carry over to the next. 
Please visit the website for more details: https://www.vcssreligion.com/service-learning
 

Updated course selection sheets have been uploaded to our school website HERE.  Paper copies will be distributed to all students over the coming week.

Parents/guardians of Grade 9 students are invited to an information meeting to learn about the graduation program that starts in Grade 10.  It will be Monday, February 17 at 7 pm in the Small Gym.

February 3rd, 2020

Dear Vanier families and friends,

Due to a few unforeseen delays, our report cards did not get mailed last week – they are in the mail as of today, though!  We apologize for the delay.

This week will start our course selection process with the distribution of course selection sheets which we will also post on our website when ready.  These will be due for all Vanier students on Thursday, February 20.  As always, our counsellors, learning assistance teachers, and school administration are happy to provide advice and assistance to students and families when filling out the course selection sheets. 

In addition, I’ll be visiting the Gr. 7 classrooms at Christ and King and Holy Family to begin the transition process for our Class of 2025! 

Sincerely,
Ryan Sikkes, principal

Dates to Note:
This week is a pretty quiet week!  However, there are lots of important things happening next week:

• Tuesday, February 11 – Grade 9 à 10 Course selection / Wood Street presentation for students @ 10 am
• Tuesday, February 11 – Grade 7 à 8 Parent Information Session – 7:00pm in the Cafeteria
• Wednesday, February 12 – 11:09am – Vanier Spirit Rally, 2020 AWG Participants and Volunteers recognition
• Thursday, February 13 – 7:00pm – Wood Street Centre Open House at 411 Wood Street, this is to provide information on all WSC programs
• Monday, February 17 – Grade 9 à 10 Parent Information Session – 7:00pm in the Small Gym
• Wednesday, February 19 – 12:12pm – Cabane à sucre (Sugar Shack)
• Thursday, February 20 – Course selection sheets are due.
• Friday, February 21 – Heritage Day.  No school!
• Tuesday, February 25 – 7:00am – Shrove Tuesday pancake breakfast in the Cafeteria
• Wednesday, February 26 – 11:09 am – Ash Wednesday Liturgy – everyone is welcome to attend.
• Friday, February 28 – Catholic Schools of Whitehorse PD Day.  No School!

Course Selection
Course selection sheets are being distributed this week to all Grade 8-11 students.  Digital versions will be posted on our school website later this week.
An important meeting will be held for all Grade 9 students who will enter Grade 10 next year to talk about the Graduation Program on Tuesday, February 11 in the morning.  This information will be repeated during a parent/guardian presentation on Monday, February 17 at 7 pm in the Small Gym.

Wood Street Centre – 2020-2021 Program Application Dates

• Wood Street Centre Open House  - Thursday, February 13, 2020 – 7 pm at Wood St. Centre.
• Deadline for 2020 - 2021 Experiential Science 11 (ES 11) Applications into Wood Street Centre  - Friday, February 21, 2020.
• Deadline for 2020 - 2021 Program Applications (except ES 11) into Wood Street Centre  - Friday, March 6, 2020.
• ES11 Overnight Event - Friday, March 6, 2020 and Saturday morning, March 7, 2020.

Please see woodstreetcentre.ca for all 2020-2021 Application Packages.

Vanier Learning Commons
There are many items overdue from the Vanier Learning Commons.  These include textbooks and calculators which are needed for classes this semester as well as books from the circulating collection which were borrowed a long time ago and not returned.  This means that they are not available to anyone else to read, to enjoy or to learn from.  Overdue notices were included with the most recent student report cards.  Please help your student look in their closet, under their bed or on family book shelves to find Vanier books and return them!

Tutoring Program
With the start of a new semester, Grade 10-12 students may find themselves in classes where some additional assistance may help them achieve their best.  Grade 8 and 9 students may find, halfway through the year, in a similar position!
All Vanier students can receive tutoring from other students for assistance in course work, assignments or organizational skills.  The students requesting tutors are self-identified or identified by parents or teachers.
To receive tutoring the student simply needs to fill in an application in the Skills Room (Room 3).
Students in Grade 10, 11, or 12 can apply to be a tutor. Tutors can either earn service learning hours or an hourly wage.   Peer tutors are paid on a graduated scale, which increases with grade level and number of hours tutored. Potential tutors need to come in person to the Skills room and fill in an application. Students will be matched one on one by the Department Head of Student Support Services. 

Service Learning Hours
If your child received an “I” on their report card for Religion and had a comment saying they need to get their Service Learning Hours completed, please encourage them to see Mr. Gillard regarding this matter.  They may also have hours not completed in previous years that is affecting credits on their transcripts.  Please keep in mind, if a student did not complete hours in one year, they do carry over to the next. 
Please visit the website for more details: https://www.vcssreligion.com/service-learning

Sleep Hygiene – Installment #3
Here’s our last installment about sleep – it’s pretty repetitive, but we hope that students and parents/guardians will take some of this information to heart!
Teens and sleep: Why you need it and how to get enough

• Tired of always feeling sleepy?
• Having trouble staying awake in class?
• Find it hard to get out of bed for school in the morning?
• Have an overwhelming need for a nap as soon as you get home from school?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are not alone. Many teenagers feel that they are always tired.
Why do teens need more sleep?Sleep helps to fuel your brain and your body. Teens need more sleep because their bodies and minds are growing quickly.
Scientific research shows that many teens do not get enough sleep. To be at your best, you need between 8 and 10 hours of sleep every day. While you might not always be able to get this much, it’s important to try and get as much as you can.
Why is it important to get enough sleep?Although getting enough sleep may not seem that big a deal, teens who don’t get enough sleep and are overtired are more likely to:

• struggle in school,
• have trouble with memory, concentration and motivation (the desire to accomplish a goal),
• be involved in car crashes and other accidents. Sleepiness (the feeling of wanting or needing to sleep in places and at times when you shouldn’t) affects reaction times, or
• feel depressed, which can become a serious medical condition.

What causes my sleepiness?Often the reason is obvious, such as too many late nights in a row. Although there are some medical causes of sleepiness, most sleepy teens just aren’t getting enough sleep.
How do I know if I’m getting enough sleep?Signs that you need more sleep can include:

• difficulty waking up in the morning,
• trouble concentrating throughout the day,
• falling asleep during classes, and
• feeling moody or even depressed.

Why is it so hard to get enough sleep?There are many reasons. Some you may be able to control and some you may not.
You probably have a very busy life, but you still need “downtime” to relax, unwind and spend time with friends. This usually happens at the expense of sleeping. Many teens also crave the quiet privacy of a late night after parents have gone to bed.
When you think about all the other things you need to do (homework, socializing, sports, chores, part-time jobs, etc.), getting to bed early enough to get 8 to 10 hours of sleep can seem pretty hard.
Here are some suggestions:

• Have a relaxing bedtime routine. Have a light snack (such as a glass of milk) before bed. Try to go to bed at about the same time every night. Keep your room cool, dark and quiet but open the curtains or turn on the lights as soon as you get up in the morning.
• Always fall asleep in your bed. Use your bed for sleeping only. Avoid doing homework, using a smartphone or tablet, or playing video games while in bed. Try to be in your bed with the lights out for at least 8 hours every night.
• Napping during the day can make it difficult to fall asleep. If you want to nap, keep it short (less than 30 minutes). Definitely don’t nap after dinner.
• Get exercise every day, but avoid very hard exercise in the evening.
• Avoid caffeine (coffee, tea, pop, energy drinks), especially after mid-afternoon. Don’t use any products to help you sleep such as alcohol, herbal products or over-the-counter sleep aids.
• Limit screen time before bed. Using electronic media and being exposed to the screen’s light before trying to sleep can make it harder to fall asleep.
• On weekends, no matter how late you go to bed, try to get up within 2 hours to 4 hours of your usual wake time. This is especially important if you have trouble falling asleep on Sunday nights.
• Make sure you are not trying to do too much. Do you still have some time for fun and to get enough sleep? If you are having trouble sleeping because you have too much on your mind, try keeping a diary or to-do lists. If you write things down before sleep, you may feel less worried or stressed.

 

January 27th, 2020

Dear Vanier families and friends,

Semester 2 is well under way and students seem to have settled into their new class routines.  Semester 1 report cards will be mailed this week – please contact teachers directly if you have any questions or concerns about what is in the report card for a particular class.  Teachers all have the same email format: firstname.lastname@yesnet.yk.ca and parents/guardians are always welcome to contact teachers directly.

​Course selection season is just around the corner!  More information will be coming over the next weeks to help students and families develop requests for next year’s classes. Stay tuned!

Sincerely,
Ryan Sikkes, principal


Dates to Note:

• Tuesday, January 28: The 1st annual Jim Giczi Memorial Dodgeball Game – Class of 2020 vs RCMP – 12.20pm $2 to watch.

• Wednesday, January 29 – Christian Unity Liturgy – 11:05 am in small gym

• Thursday, January 30 – Class Photos will be taken by Mr. Wilson in the morning.  Grads, please wear your hoodies that day!

• Thursday, January 30 – Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine Catch up visit (see below)

 
Tutoring Program
With the start of a new semester, Grade 10-12 students may find themselves in classes where some additional assistance may help them achieve their best.  Grade 8 and 9 students may find, halfway through the year, in a similar position!

All Vanier students can receive tutoring from other students for assistance in course work, assignments or organizational skills.  The students requesting tutors are self-identified or identified by parents or teachers.
To receive tutoring the student simply needs to fill in an application in the Skills Room (Room 3).

Students in Grade 10, 11, or 12 can apply to be a tutor. Tutors can either earn service learning hours or an hourly wage.   Peer tutors are paid on a graduated scale, which increases with grade level and number of hours tutored. Potential tutors need to come in person to the Skills room and fill in an application. Students will be matched one on one by the Department Head of Student Support Services. 

Service Learning Hours
If your child received an “I” or "In Progress" on their report card for Religion and had a comment saying they need to get their Service Learning Hours completed, please encourage them to see Mr. Gillard regarding this matter.  They may also have hours not completed in previous years that is affecting credits on their transcripts.  Please keep in mind, if a student did not complete hours in one year, they do carry over to the next. 

Please visit the website for more details: https://www.vcssreligion.com/service-learning

2019-2020 MMR CatchUp Campaign
 
On Thursday, January 30, 2020, Whitehorse Health Centre staff will be back at Vanier for the 2019-2020 Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) CatchUp Campaign (all grades) for all students that require that vaccine.
 
Please direct any questions or concerns about the immunization program or the consent process to the Whitehorse Health Center at 667-8864.

Sleep Hygiene – Installment #2

Teens typically need about 8-10 hours of sleep per night, but it is common for the average teen to get 7 hours or less per night.
​
What are some factors that prevent teens from getting enough sleep?

• Shifting of the biological clock. After puberty, a teen’s internal clock shifts about 2 hours. For example, if a teen fell asleep by 9 pm before, he/she typically is not tired until after 11 pm. This also means that he/she naturally will want to sleep 2 hours later the following morning.
• Having a busy social life. Most teens partake in afterschool activities such as clubs, sports, part-time jobs, or household chores, on top of the homework that’s assigned daily and must be completed each evening. Socializing also continues through phone and computer use, which can keep them up even later.

What is affected by not getting enough sleep?

• Mood. Not getting enough sleep can cause teens to be irritable and moody all day. Controlling their moods can be an issue, and they can find themselves frustrated or upset more easily.
• Behavior. Teens who are not getting enough sleep are more prone to risk-taking behaviors such as drinking alcohol and driving recklessly.
• Thinking. Sleep deprivation can result in attention problems, memory problems, lead to bad decision-making, slow down reaction time and stunt creativity. These are all important for academic success.
• Academic performance. Teens who are sleep deprived are more likely to do poorly in school, fall asleep during class, have multiple school absences or be consistently tardy.
• Athletic performance. Sleep deprived teens are more likely to perform poorly in after-school sports due to slower reaction times.
• Driving. Teens are the most prone to fall asleep while behind the wheel. This can be highly dangerous, especially combined with other negative eff ects such as slower reaction times and being easily distracted.

What can I do?

• Keep track of sleep patterns and schedules.
• Maintain a regular sleep schedule.
• Teens should be going to bed and waking up at around the same time every day, including non-school nights. Try to keep the difference in sleep and wake times within one hour.
• Be consistent on weekends. Although teens can stay up a little longer, they should not sleep in to catch up on sleep they missed during the week. It will make it harder to get back on track for their regular schedule.
• Create a sleep-friendly physical environment.
• The bedroom should be comfortable, cool, quiet, and dark. A bedroom that is warmer than 22 degrees can make it harder to fall and stay asleep.
• The bed should only be used for sleeping. Try not to do homework, read a book, or listen to music in bed.
• Keep a consistent bedtime routine. Try to “wind down” by doing less stimulating activities such as reading or listening to calm music. Do not use this time to watch television, cram in more studying, use the computer, talk on the phone, or exercise.

Here are some additional important tips: Try to:

• Incorporate exercise into your daily routine. It may help you fall asleep more easily and sleep more deeply.
• Take a break and go outside for some time every day, especially in the morning. Getting sun exposure helps your body keep its internal clock on track.
• Eat meals regularly, and avoid going to bed on an empty stomach. However, do not eat a full meal an hour before bed, and try to opt for a light snack instead. 

January 20th, 2020

Dear Vanier families and friends,
This is a long email - we have lots of important information to share this week!

Happy start of semester 2! 
The semester change is a natural time to reflect and recommit to the course of studies at Vanier.  This afternoon, we had a short assembly to welcome our new students (and welcome back those who have returned from other schools/programs) and to remind students that the mid-year change of classes is an ideal time to revisit and “dial up” our school’s expectations regarding:

• Coming to class on time
• Observing all school rules regarding cell phones, hats, food, etc.
• Submitting assignments on time

We hope that parents/guardians will support the school’s efforts regarding these issues should the need come up to discuss them.

Finally, I’ve included the first of four installments about sleep, as promised in earlier emails, at the end of this message.

Sincerely,
Ryan Sikkes, principal

A prayer to start the new semester
Lord, as we prepare for the coming of a new semester, make us ready, attentive and available to hear you.

Thank You for the gift of being able to rise each day with the assurance that You walk through it with us.

Thank You for the gifts of creativity and uniqueness, and the energy to put them to good use.

May all that we are today, all that we try to do today, may all our encounters, reflections, even the frustrations and failings all be place in your hands.

May the work we do and the way we do it, bring new hope, new life, and courage to all we come in contact with this semester. We thank you, Lord. Amen

Dates to Note:

• Tuesday, January 21 – School Council Meeting, 7:15 pm in Learning Commons

• Tuesday, January 21: Grad meeting – 7 pm in Room 5

• Wednesday, January 22 – PLC Wednesday – early dismissal at 2:00 pm

• Friday, January 24: Literacy Assessment 10 @ 9:00am: all grade 10 students must write this assessment – it is a graduation requirement.  Future opportunities to re-write this assessment will be available in June and November of this year.

• Tuesday, January 28: The 1st annual Jim Giczi Memorial Dodgeball Game – Class of 2020 vs RCMP – 12.20pm $2 to watch.

• Wednesday, January 29 – Christian Unity Liturgy – 11:05 am in small gym

• Thursday, January 30 – Class Photos will be taken by Mr. Wilson in the morning.  Grads, please wear your hoodies that day!

• Thursday, January 30 – Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine Catch up visit (see below)

Schedule Changes
A note that schedule changes for this semester can be done until the end of next week, although we encourage students to try and confirm their timetable as soon as possible.  See Ms. Brogdon, Ms. Ouellette, Ms. Gallant, or Mr. Sikkes for schedule changes.

Germany Trip
If you are in grades 10 or 11 and want to go to Germany, here is your opportunity!
Our school has an exchange relationship with the Rabanus Maurus school in Mainz, Germany – a small city just outside Frankfurt.  They have sent students to Yukon in the past and are sending another group in May of this year. 
In return, Vanier may take up to 16 students to Mainz, Germany (and surrounding areas) from June 7-21, 2020.   If enough students express interest, then a parent information meeting will be scheduled shortly thereafter.  The cost of the trip is estimated to be approximately $2800 less any fundraising. 
A refundable deposit of $500 is due to the office by January 24th to ensure your student has the opportunity to participate.

Service Learning Hours
If your child receives an “I” on their report card for Religion and had a comment saying they need to get their Service Learning Hours completed, please encourage them to see Mr. Gillard regarding this matter.  They may also have hours not completed in previous years that is affecting credits on their transcripts.  Please keep in mind, if a student did not complete hours in one year, they do carry over to the next. 
Please visit the website for more details: https://www.vcssreligion.com/service-learning

2019-2020 MMR CatchUp Campaign
 
On Thursday, January 30, 2020, Whitehorse Health Centre staff will be back at Vanier for the 2019-2020 Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) CatchUp Campaign (all grades) for all students that require that vaccine.
 
Please direct any questions or concerns about the immunization program or the consent process to the Whitehorse Health Center at 667-8864.

Explore – French Language Program
Most expenses are covered!  Are you looking for a spring or summer program?  Do you want to discover another region of Canada and meet new people?  Go Explore!  Explore is an intensive language-immersion program.  You can take the program in the summer.  Participants in Explore receive funding that covers tuition fees for the programs, instructional materials, meals and accommodations, workshops, and other mandatory activities.  Discover another region of Canada while learning French.  Have an adventure and make new friends this summer!
Yukon Department of Education’s French Language Programs adds $700 at the end of the program upon your return to the Yukon.  https://www.myexplore.ca
NOTE: A representative from the Department of Education will be at the school on Wednesday, January 22 over the lunch hour to promote the program and answer any questions!

Diplôme d’études en langue française (DELF) diploma exam
French Second Language (FSL) students in grade 11 and 12 who are completing the final French course of their FSL program will have the chance to participate in the Diplôme d’études en langue française (DELF) diploma exam in April 2020, being offered by the Yukon Department of Education.
Through this exam, your child could earn an internationally recognized certificate that proves his/her level of fluency in French. This certificate is a valuable asset for his/her resume and for future career and post-secondary opportunities.
The DELF exam is the official French language diploma awarded by France’s Ministry of National Education. It is an official certification of how well a person speaks French as a second language. It is recognized by 165 countries around the world. The exam tests the ability of students to use French in real-life situations. It evaluates four language skills: reading, listening, writing, and speaking.
The results from the DELF exam do not affect a student’s grade or graduation requirements.
This exam is free for FSL students in Yukon completing their final French course as the cost will be covered by the Department of Education.
For more information, please visit:http://www.education.gov.yk.ca/french.html.
The deadline to register for the DELF exam is Thursday, February 20 at 4:00 pm. To register your child, please complete and sign both sides of the registration form available in your child’s French class. Please return it to your child’s French teacher by this date.

Sleep Hygiene – Installment #1

Help your teens on the road to good nights and better mornings.

1. Set a consistent bed-time and wake-time for your teen (even on weekends) that allows for at least 8.5-9.25 hours of sleep each night
2. Encourage your teen to establish a relaxing bedtime routine that includes pleasure reading, taking a bath or listening to music
3. Set up a bedroom for your teen that is cool, dark and quiet
4. Help your teen to cut out caffeine after lunchtime
5. Create an environment that allows your teen to get into bright light in the morning and avoid it in the evening
6. Be a good role model – talk to your teen about the importance of sleep and set the tone by making sleep a priority in your life
7. Keep the television, computer and cell phone in the living room or den instead of your teen’s bedroom – these high tech gadgets are often “sleep stealers”

Regarding the last point: Cell phones are totally corrosive to a good nights’ sleep. Why is this?

• They emit light that keeps you awake at night by suppressing melatonin secretion in your brain, which keeps you from falling asleep.
• They are powerfully addictive. You know how you want to scroll down Instagram just a few more photos or read a few more tweets? Guess what? Social media sites and apps have been engineered by people richer and smarter than you or I to keep you checking in, commenting, posting, liking, etc. That is how they get paid.
• They fragment sleep by emitting alerts during the night Even when a phone is silenced, the light can still wake you up.
• They can generate anxiety and frustration right before bedtime.  Anxiety and stress are contagious, and if you are an anxious or stressed teen, your peers probably are too. Trust me, those Instagram posts will be there in the morning.

(If you want more information here’s more on why electronics in the bedroom are a bad idea.)
There’s a couple of things you can do so you can control your phone, instead of it controlling you.

1. Keep it out of your room. Give it to Mom and Dad and ask them to charge if for you. Tell them to lock it in their car if you are worried you can’t resist the temptation.
2. Turn on “Do Not Disturb” and “Night Shift” (on Apple Devices). These options limit interruptions from your apps and lower the color temperature on your phone. These means there is less blue white light, which is the kind of light that suppresses melatonin. (Note that this is not as good as avowing light altogether.)
3. Use an app like Freedom to limit your digital consumption. It allows you to block apps and websites across all of your devices. You can schedule it or do it on demand.  For example, use it to block all social media sites every night from 10 PM-8 AM

Good Morning!
I know it seems early, but grad photo times have now been booked. They begin this Friday, January 17th! Don't worry, that's a PD day, so no one needs to miss school.
Your sitting fee is included in your grad fees, so no need to pay anything at this time.  Ron Wilson has the cap and gown, flowers, and even a fake shirt and tie for the boys.  No need to bring anything.  Just show up and get your picture taken.
Even if you have no intention of purchasing a package, students are asked to get their photo done, as this is the picture that is used in the year book, the grad slide show, and on the wall display.
We have emailed home the list of appointments, updated as of 09:30, January 13th.
Thanks,
Tanis and Bruce 

We were surprised to get a text message this afternoon from the Department of Education regarding SchoolMessenger.  This text asked you to reply Y to confirm.  

Our school was unaware that they were enabling this service at this time.  We would normally send out notification to let you know that it was coming and how it would affect you.

Please review the attached document to determine if you want to opt in or not.
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On another note, if you opt out of email notifications through SchoolMessenger, you will not receive notifications such as reminders, newsletters, emergency information, classroom updates, etc from the school.
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Please see the attached flyer for more information.

Dear Vanier families and friends,

Happy Epiphany!  Today the Church recognizes when Jesus was made known to the world as the Messiah and Saviour.  Traditionally we also recognize the three wise men and their gifts to the baby Jesus and often mark our doorways with chalk with “20+C+B+M+20” as an invitation for God to bless our homes.  An explanation and short prayer to use when doing this is included below.

There is a lot going on this month – we hope your Christmas break was restful and relaxing as we are heading into some busy weeks!

Sincerely,

Ryan Sikkes, principal
 
Booster Cards
Booster Cards cost $20 each and we ask that each student sell two for the school’s student fund.  Please return money or unsold cards back to the office.  We are grateful for our new and continued sponsors:

• Bean North Café
• Booster Juice
• Cadence Cycle
• G-P Distributing
• In Bloom Flowers
• The Kind Café
• Klondike Motors
• Midnight Sun Coffee Roasters
• Mount Sima
• Murdoch’s Gem Shop
• Northern Lights Bowling
• Otter Falls Cutoff
• Panago Pizza
• Riverside Grocery
• Sportees & LOL
• Summit Kombucha
• Terra Riders
• Territorial Auto Parts
• The Claim
• Titan Gaming Café
• Whitehorse Subaru
• Yukon Built

Dates to Note:

• January 6-10 – Review Week
• Wednesday, January 8 – X block is a Tutorial Session – a great time to get caught up before exams!
• Friday, January 10 – Capstone Presentation Day – All our Grade 12 students will be presenting their Capstone Projects (a graduation requirement) as part of their Career Life Connections course between 10 am and 12 noon.  All are welcome to come and view.
• January Exams - There will be no regular classes – our January Semester 1 exams are the week of January 13-16.  The schedule can be found here: https://www.vcss.ca/home/january-2020-exam-schedule
• All exams will take place in regular classrooms. Courses with multiple sections will use two classrooms.
• The cafeteria will not be serving food during exam week, it will be used as a social space for students who are done writing their exams.
• The Learning Commons will be used as a silent study space.
• School buses will be running their regular, scheduled times.
• French 8 & 9 students will have either tests or assignments to work on during their scheduled exam time.

If Requested:

• ELL students may write exams in room 43 – see Mr. Gray

• Grade 8/9 separate setting: Skills room – see Ms. Cann;

• Grade 10-12 separate setting: Mr. Thomson’s room 31 – see Ms. Seloterio
• Friday, January 17 – PD Day (No School)
• Monday, January 20 – First Day of Semester 2
• January 20-24: Numeracy Assessment window: any grade 11s or any grade 12s who request it, will have the opportunity to write. Please see Ms. Brogdon or Ms. Gallant to arrange a specific time.
• January 24: Literacy Assessment 10 @ 9:00am: all grade 10 students must write this exam.

Sleep
As mentioned in the last email, our students indicated in our recent Student Satisfaction Survey that both sleep and technology use have negative impacts on their learning.  As sleep was indicated to be the largest factor, we will share some sleep hygiene tips over the next few weeks – perhaps following these could be a new year’s resolution!

However, before we share those, it may be useful to understand the links between sleep, technology use, and mental health.  The following link is a video that will share some of the statistics and science that links the three: https://www.cbsnews.com/video/new-study-links-phone-use-and-mental-health-issues-in-teens/ 

Germany Trip
If you are in grades 10 or 11 and want to go to Germany, here is your opportunity!
Our school has an exchange relationship with the Rabanus Maurus school in Mainz, Germany – a small city just outside Frankfurt.  They have sent students to Yukon in the past and are sending another group in May of this year. 

In return, Vanier may take up to 16 students to Mainz, Germany (and surrounding areas) from June 7-21, 2020.  An information meeting for students will take place this Wednesday at lunch in Mr. Janzen’s Room (Room 13).  If enough students express interest, then a parent information meeting will be scheduled shortly thereafter.  The cost of the trip is estimated to be approximately $2800 less any fundraising. 

Service Learning Hours
All students are required to do service learning hours in Grades 8 through 11 as part of our religious education program.  Students who have not completed their hours (and submitted the required documentation) will receive an “Incomplete” mark for their semester religion class.  The mark will be changed to a final mark when the hours are complete and the documentation received by Mr. Gillard.
For more information on service learning hours, please visit the religious education website at: https://www.vcssreligion.com/service-learning


2019-2020 MMR CatchUp Campaign
The week of January 27 – 31, 2020, Whitehorse Health Centre staff will be back in all Whitehorse Schools for the 2019-2020 Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) CatchUp Campaign (all grades).  The specific dates for Vanier have not yet been confirmed.
 
The 2019-2020 MMR Catch-Up Campaign will catch up any student requiring a Measles Mumps Rubella immunization.
 
Please direct any questions or concerns about the immunization program or the consent process to the Whitehorse Health Center at 667-8864.
Epiphany - Instructions for Blessing the Home

Using the blessed chalk (which many parishes will bless and make available) mark the lintel of your front door as follows:20 + C + M + B + 20, saying:
 
The three Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar followed the star of God’s Son who became human two thousand and nineteen years ago.
May Christ bless our home and remain with us throughout the new year.
Amen.
Then say the following prayer:
Visit, O blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence. Bless all who live or visit here with the gift of your love; and grant that we may manifest your love to each other and to all whose lives we touch. May we grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of you; guide, comfort, and strengthen us in peace, O Jesus Christ, now and for ever. Amen.
 
The letters have two meanings. First, they represent the initials of the Magi — Caspar, Malchior, and Balthazar — who came to visit Jesus in His first home. They also abbreviate the Latin phrase, Christus mansionem benedicat: “May Christ bless the house.”
​
The “+” signs represent the cross, and the “20” at the beginning and the “20” at the end mark the year.
Taken together, this inscription is performed as a request for Christ to bless those homes so marked and that He stay with those who dwell therein throughout the entire year.

December 16th, 2019

Dear Vanier families and friends,

This will likely be the last email communication for 2019 – on behalf of myself, Jeanette Gallant (Vice Principal), all staff, and administration of Vanier Catholic Secondary, I wish you a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.  We appreciate all your support over this last year.

Our New Year’s resolution will be to help support our families on the issue of sleep.  Recently, we administered a satisfaction survey to all our students and asked, specifically, about some of the factors that take away from their success.  Over 60% of our students reported “lack of sleep” as one of those factors.  Visit our website to see the whole chart – you’ll notice that this issue was far-and-away the top choice.  In the new year, these emails will share some sleep hygiene tips for students and families.  Over the break, we hope our students will be able to catch up on some sleep!

Thank you to all families who have been selling and returning the money from our Booster Cards – it is very much appreciated!
​
Sincerely,
Ryan Sikkes, principal

Prayers for Lighting the Advent Wreath CandlesThird Week
Lord God, may we, your people, who look forward to the birthday of Christ experience the joy of salvation and celebrate that feast with love and thanksgiving. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Fourth Week
All-powerful God, your eternal Word took flesh on our earth when the Virgin Mary placed her life at the service of your plan. Lift our minds in watchful hope to hear the voice which announces his glory and open our minds to receive the Spirit who prepares us for his coming. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen
 
January Exams – our January Semester 1 exams are the week of January 13-16.  The schedule can be found here: https://www.vcss.ca/home/january-2020-exam-schedule
All exams will take place in regular classrooms. Courses with multiple sections will use two classrooms.
If Requested:
ELL students may write exams in room 43 – see Mr. Gray
Grade 8/9 separate setting: Skills room – see Ms. Cann;
Grade 10-12 separate setting: Mr. Thomson’s room 31 – see Ms. Seloterio
January 20-24: Numeracy Assessment window: any grade 11s or any grade 12s who request it, will have the opportunity to write. Please see Ms. Brogdon or Ms. Gallant to arrange a specific time.
January 24: Literacy Assessment 10 @ 9:00am: all grade 10 students must write this exam.
 
Booster Cards – Booster Cards cost $20 each and we ask that each student sell two for the school’s student fund.  We are grateful for our new and continued sponsors:

• Bean North Café
• Booster Juice
• Cadence Cycle
• G-P Distributing
• In Bloom Flowers
• The Kind Café
• Klondike Motors
• Midnight Sun Coffee Roasters
• Mount Sima
• Murdoch’s Gem Shop
• Northern Lights Bowling
• Otter Falls Cutoff
• Panago Pizza
• Riverside Grocery
• Sportees & LOL
• Summit Kombucha
• Terra Riders
• Territorial Auto Parts
• The Claim
• Titan Gaming Café
• Whitehorse Subaru
• Yukon Built

Dates to Note:

• Monday through Friday, December 16-20 – Christmas Sprit Week!  Each day will have a different theme – visit our website at vcss.ca for details.
• Thursday, December 19 – Alumni Day – Former students are welcome back to participate in a basketball game, a panel discussion, or (most importantly) just to reconnect and to let us know how things are going!  A pizza lunch will be provided to all students that day.
• Friday, December 20 – Christmas Liturgy (9 am), Open House (10 am), Spirit Rally (11:15 am), and Talent Show (1 pm)!
• December 23 – January 3 – Christmas Break (No School)
• Monday, January 6 – First day back at school after Christmas Break.
• January 6-10 – Review Week
• Wednesday, January 8 – X block is a Tutorial Session – a great time to get caught up before exams!
• Friday, January 10 – Capstone Presentation Day – All our Grade 12 students will be presenting their Capstone Projects (a graduation requirement) as part of their Career Life Connections course between 10 am and 12 noon.  All are welcome to come and view.
• January 13-16 – Exams (No Classes)
• Friday, January 17 – PD Day (No School)
• Monday, January 20 – First Day of Semester 2