Join us this evening for a discussion about the graduation program and required courses for grade 10s.
 
Katrina Brogdon is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Next year's Grade 10s
Time: Feb 8, 2021 07:00 PM Whitehorse
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/98753726026?pwd=dzc4cjZ5YStTWGpTN0tDRjVYL0l4QT09
 
Meeting ID: 987 5372 6026
Passcode: RKx8Ek

Dear Parents and Students,
 
Every February, people in Canada are invited to participate in Black History Month festivities and events that honour the legacy of Black Canadians and their communities.
The 2021 theme for Black History Month is: "The Future is Now". Throughout our school, we have been and will continue to enrich our lives with the legacy and future of Black Canadians.  “The Future is Now” is a chance to celebrate and acknowledge the transformative work that Black Canadians and their communities are doing now.
 
Ever present God, you called us to be in relationship with one another and promised to dwell wherever two or three are gathered. In our community, we are many different people; we come from many different places, have many different cultures. Open our hearts that we may be bold in finding the riches of inclusion and the treasures of diversity among us. We pray in faith.
        - Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
 
Week-at-a-Glance
Monday, February 8

• Senior School - Day 2
• Jr. Social Justice Club @12:15 in LC
• Basketball Practices - All Boys Teams - After School
• Next year’s Grade 10 student and parent information session 7:00 pm on zoom

 
Tuesday, February 9

• Senior School - Day 1
• Board Games Club @12:15 in LC
• Basketball Practices - All Girls Teams - After School

 
Wednesday, February 10

• Senior School - Day 2
• Sr. Social Justice Club @11:30 in LC
• Junior PLC/Early Dismissal @2:15 pm for Grade 8/9 students who are caught up with work
• Basketball - Grade 8/9 Boys - After School

 
Thursday, February 11

• Senior School - Day 1
• Skills Canada representatives will do a presentation on Yukon Apprenticeships 11:30 in the LC
• Board Games Club @12:15 in LC
• Basketball - Grade 8/9 Girls - After School

 
Friday, February 12

• Senior School - Day 2
• Valentine’s Photo Booth
• Wear Pink or Red
• Basketball Winter League/Intramural Games-Grades 10-12 After School

 
TONIGHT
Monday, February 8, 2021
7:00 pm
 
We will be hosting a zoom meeting for all parents and students who will be entering Grade 10 next school year.  Grade 9 students and parents should have received an email invitation with the Zoom link. If not, please see it down below. The presentation information will also be put on the website for anyone who is not able to attend the Zoom meeting. 
 
Topic: Next year's Grade 10s
Time: Feb 8, 2021 07:00 PM Whitehorse
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/98753726026?pwd=dzc4cjZ5YStTWGpTN0tDRjVYL0l4QT09
Meeting ID: 987 5372 6026
Passcode: RKx8Ek
 
Course Selection Forms
It’s that time of year already!  Students will be given course selection forms later this week.  Please review these forms.  A parent needs to sign them before they are brought back.  Students please return these forms to the office.
 
As always, please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
 
Katrina Brogdon, Principal and Alethea Wallace, Vice-Principal

The Class of 2021 will be starting our first fundraiser with Mom’s Pantry! With over 200 diverse items, from spices, tea, fruits & veggies, and superfoods to cookie dough, frozen ready to bake treats, and snacks, it’s easy to accommodate everyone’s tastes! All of Mom’s Pantry Fundraising Programs are always peanut-aware, meaning they no longer stock any products that contain peanuts as an ingredient. They also offer several 100% peanut free selections.

For more information about the fundraiser you can contact vcssgrad@gmail.com

You can follow the link and place your order and pay online:
http://www.momspantry.ca?passcode=42310&fund_order_id=325888

Dear Parents and Students,
 
We welcomed February today!  The light is coming back and we celebrate the longer days.
 
I’ve been thinking a lot about compassion these days.  Our English word compassion has its roots in Latin-“pati” means to suffer, and the prefix “com” means with. Compassion, originally from “compati” means to suffer with another person.  Compassion is not sympathy, feeling sorry, or pity for someone, but to feel with them.  I believe it is the root of empathy.  It seems we are often good at showing compassion for others, but compassion for self can be harder to cultivate.  I see so many people around us trying their best, and not feeling the self-compassion that is needed in these times.  We are all fallible, beautifully imperfect people.  Please take care of yourselves the way you take care of others.  
 
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12
 
Week-at-a-Glance
Monday, February 1

• Senior School - Day 1
• Jr. Social Justice Club @12:15 in LC
• Basketball Practices-All Boys Teams-Afterschool

 
Tuesday, February 2

• Senior School - Day 2
• Board Games Club @12:15 in LC
• Basketball Practices-All Girls Teams-Afterschool

 
Wednesday, February 3

• Senior School - Day 1
• Junior School X block = 3
• Sr. Social Justice Club @11:30 in LC
• Alpha @ 12:15 in Room 26
• Basketball practice- Grade 8/9 Boys-Afterschool

 
Thursday, February 4

• Senior School - Day 2
• Board Games Club @12:15 in LC
• Basketball-Grade 8/9 Girls-Afterschool

 
Friday, February 5

• Senior School - Day 1
• Basketball Winter League/Intramural Games-Grades 10-12-Afterschool

 
Meeting For Parents and Students Entering Grade 10 in August, 2021

• Monday, February 8, 2021
• 7:00 pm

We will be hosting a zoom meeting for all parents and students who will be entering Grade 10 next school year.  You will receive an invitation later in the week with the link for the meeting.  We realize that this is not the ideal way to have a parent meeting, but it is necessary at this time.  The information will also be put into paper form and posted on the school website for anyone who is not able to attend the zoom meeting.  Please be on the lookout for the zoom meeting link later this week.
 
Report Cards
Report cards were mailed late last week.  Please wait until Wednesday to see if your report card arrives at your house before asking the school for a digital copy.  We know the mail has been a bit slower lately.   Students in grades 10-12 will be receiving a letter about credit recovery options if they have courses that qualify.  Most students eligible for credit recovery have been contacted already by Mr. Comeau or Mr. Biss.
 
Numeracy and Literacy Exams
Over 100 students in grades 10 and 11 took numeracy exams and several others took literacy exams last week.  We had a “life in the North” incident on Wednesday afternoon with a school wide internet outage that lasted well over an hour.   Students who were in the middle of the exam were able to come back on Thursday afternoon and finish the exam where they left off. Any student in grade 10 or 11 who still needs to write a literacy or numeracy exam will be able to do so in April.  All of those students will be contacted.
 
As always, please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
 
Katrina Brogdon, Principal and Alethea Wallace, Vice-Principal

​Dear Parents and Students,
 
Our first week of the new semester flew by!  Classes are now settled and schedules for senior students are firm.  This week is busy with many grade 10 and 11 students taking the B.C. numeracy and literacy exams. 
 
In reflection of these busy times, let’s take a moment of gratitude for the blessings we have living here in Yukon. We are so thankful for our Vanier community and for the opportunity to still be able to come to school every day and socialize and learn together, even if the conditions are not ideal. Our patience will result in good things and hope is in the air.
 
Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. Psalm 62:5
 
Week-at-a-Glance
Monday January 25th

• Senior School - Day 2
• Literacy 10 exams in the Learning Commons 9:00-11:25 and 1:00-3:15pm (students may take up to 3 hours if needed)
• Jr. Social Justice Club @12:15 in LC
• Basketball Practice – Grade 8/9 boys and Grade 10-12 boys - Afterschool

Tuesday January 26th

• Senior School - Day 1
• Numeracy exams (see Monday’s times) in LC and Cafeteria
• Board Games Club @12:15 in LC
• Basketball Practice – Grade 8/9 girls and Grade 10-12 girls - Afterschool

Wednesday January 27th

• Senior School - Day 2
• Numeracy exams (see Monday’s times) in LC and Cafeteria
• Christian Unity Liturgy
  • 8:50 – Senior AM shift
  • 11:15 – Grade 8
  • 11:45 – Grade 9
  • 12:40 – Senior PM shift
• Sr. Social Justice Club @11:30 in LC
• Junior PLC/Early Dismissal @2:15 pm for Grade 8/9 students who are caught up with work
• Basketball – Grade 8/9 boys - Afterschool

Thursday January 28th

• Senior School - Day 1
• Board Games Club@12:15 in LC
• Make up day for any scheduled student who missed their Literacy or Numeracy exams- there will also be an exam session in April.
• Basketball – Grade 8/9 girls - Afterschool

Friday January 29th

• Senior School - Day 2

• Basketball Winter League/Intramural Games – Grade 10-12- Afterschool

 
A Reminder About Numeracy 10 and Literacy 10 Exams
Both Numeracy and Literacy exams are a graduation requirement for students who are graduating in 2022 and beyond.  Only the numeracy exam is required for 2021 graduates.  The numeracy and literacy exams are not required for students on an Adult Graduation plan.  Students should be writing their exams in their off shift time.  Schedules of who writes, when and where, are posted around the school and on the TEAMS VCS Hallway channel.  Not all grade 10 and 11 students will take their exams this week. Many have taken them in previous exam sessions.  The COVID school closure last spring put us a bit "off schedule" which is why many grade 11 students are taking the exams this year.  There is another session in April and students who were not scheduled, or who missed their exams this week will take them then.  The exam results do not affect a student's school marks, average, or eligibility for school awards or scholarships.  There are no universities that currently use these exam results for any admissions or scholarship eligibility. 
 
Report Cards
All students will have a report card mailed home this week.  In November the report cards took a very long time to arrive for some families.  If you do not receive your child’s report card by the end of next week, please call or email the office and we can reprint or email you a copy of it.
 
Senior Students and Credit Recovery
As we have mentioned in previous emails, senior students who have attempted a course, but did not quite pass, are eligible for credit recovery this term.  Those students who are eligible will receive a letter with their report cards explaining the process for credit recovery. A copy of the letter will also be given to them at school. As a reminder, eligibility consists of completion of the course and a mark of at least 40%.  Every student who is eligible and wants to engage in the credit recovery program will have a time assigned during their “off shift” to work at school and get help from one of our student support teachers.  Attendance in this time slot will be mandatory. 
 
School Name Change
Please read the message from our school council regarding the next steps in the school name change process:

​Thank you again to everyone who participated in our school name change survey in October and those that attended the council meeting on Tuesday, December 15th.
At the meeting, the Council voted in favour of changing the school name. Soon, more details, including next steps, timelines, and plans for consultation and input will be made available.
Just as a reminder, remember to check the School Council section of the school website regularly for updates, including upcoming meeting information.
We want to thank our teacher and administrators who have gone above and beyond to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for all our students.
And to our parent community – we know that you are all doing your best to keep your children motivated and engaged in their studies when sometimes it seems impossible. While we don’t know when things will return to ‘normal’ or what the new normal will look like, please know that the Council is here to assist and advocate for you. Please to not hesitate to reach out!
 
VCSS School Council
 
 
As always, please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
 
Sincerely,
Katrina Brogdon, Principal and Alethea Wallace, Vice-Principal

​Dear Parents and Students,
 
We have started a new term for grade 8s and 9s and a new semester for grade 10-12 students.  New beginnings are exciting and a chance to improve or continue good study practices.
 
In light of these changes and the start of a new semester, we share this prayer taken in part from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio:
Lord, as we begin the 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.
Amen.
"I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted."
Job 42:2

Week-At-A-Glance
Monday, January 18th
First day of new term/Semester 2

• Senior School - Day 1
• Jr. Social Justice Club @12:15 in LC

Tuesday, January 19th

• Senior School - Day 2
• Board Games Club @ 12:15 in LC
• School Council meeting @ 7:15 on Zoom.  Meeting link can be found at vcss.ca

Wednesday, January 20th

• Senior School - Day 1
• Junior School X block = 1
• Sr. Social Justice Club @ 11:30 in LC
• Alpha @12:15 in room 26

Thursday, January 21st

• Senior School - Day 2
• Board Games Club @12:15 in LC

Friday, January 22nd

• Senior School - Day 1
• All schedule changes for grades 10-12 should be finalized

 
Next Week
Monday Jan 25th-Jan 29th
Literacy 10 and Numeracy 10 exams to take place for many, (but not all), students in grade 10 and some students in grade 11 who missed exams due to school closures last year.  Students will be given a specific time and date for their exams. These exams are part of the graduation requirements for BC and Yukon grads of 2022 and beyond.  At this time the scores are not used as part of a student’s grade average or evaluation for post-secondary admissions.  They are not like provincial exams in the past where results were averaged in with school marks.  Currently the exams are used for data collection and analysis only.
Parents and students are encouraged to look at materials and practice exams.  
For the Numeracy exam:  https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/provincial/grade-10-numeracy-assessment and for the Literacy exam:  https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/provincial/grade-10-literacy-assessment
Students will be scheduled to take these exams in their "off shift" time so that they do not miss valuable class instruction time. 
 
Schedule Changes
Because of the compressed time senior students have in classes, we want all class changes to be completed by the end of this week.
If students need a schedule changed, please see Ms. Campbell or Ms. Segriff or Ms. Brogdon this week. There is a list at the office for students who need schedule changes.  If it is a simple change, please message one of the above listed staff on Teams.  That is the quickest way for students to communicate with teachers or administrators.
 
Credit Recovery for Senior Students
We have hired 2 student support teachers for our senior students.  These teachers are both experienced teachers who have taught at Vanier. Mr. Serge Comeau and Mr. Steven Biss will be providing support in specific subject areas for credit recovery and for additional organizational, attendance and academic support. 
How Credit Recovery Works
Senior students who completed courses in the first term and were close but did not pass the course will have an opportunity to work with the support teachers in order to pass their graduation requirement courses.  Students must have reached at least a 40% in their course and must have completed the course. (i.e. if you dropped the course, you are not eligible for credit recovery). Students who have below 40% and need the course to graduate must take the course again.  If a student meets the criteria for credit recovery, the student will be sent a letter with their report cards outlining the requirements of the credit recovery program.  Students will be expected to work on credit recovery in their “off-shift” time and will have attendance and participation expectations.
 
Shift Switches for Senior Students
We had many requests from Senior students and their parents for switching shifts in order to stay a morning student. We have tried to accommodate when possible.  We are experiencing some overcrowding in some of our morning classes. We are asking students in the overcrowded classes to consider switching to the afternoon shift group if possible.  For some students, the afternoon actually works better.  Attendance is critical for success more than ever and if consistent attendance in the mornings is not realistic, consider the afternoon shift.
 
Booster Cards
Students are reminded to please return either your money for the booster cards you have sold, or please return the extra booster cards you have.  We have people who want to buy them!
 
Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Have a great week!
 
Katrina Brogdon, Principal and Alethea Wallace, Vice-Principal

​Dear Parents and Students,
 
We are at the end of the first semester for senior students and the end of the first half of the school year for junior students.  How time flies! This has been a year like no other, and before we know it, spring will be here. 
Even though everyone handles change in different ways, it is comforting to know that some things are stable, solid and always there for you.  The Bible reminds us that no matter what changes happen, no matter what is happening, God is always here for us.  
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
Past, present and future, His faithfulness remains. The character, presence and grace of Christ will never change, even if everything around us does.
 
This Week at Vanier
January 11-13 - Exams
January 14 - Exam make up day
Exam schedule is in effect.  Please see the schedule below.
January 15 - Professional Development day- no school for students
 
Next Week
Monday, January 18th
First day of new term/Semester 2
Students may pick up a copy of their semester 2 timetables if they do not have one.
 
Exams
Exam week is underway and based on today’s sense of calmness in the school, it looks like the week is off to a good start.  We understand that preparing and taking exams creates a lot of stress and anxiety for some students.  Here are a few things that will help to create a smoother exam taking experience: 

• Arrive early to your exam time if at all possible
• Make sure you have a water bottle with you and enough pens, pencils, paper and calculator if needed.
• Take a quick look over your notes if needed, but don’t try to cram everything in the night before. 
• Remember-this is one day in many.  One result on a test is never the entire picture of your class performance.  Your teachers always want you to succeed, so try your best, answer every question, and take your time.

The most important thing of all:  Get a good night’s sleep! Being tired has a big impact on your brain’s function, especially higher-level thinking and memory recall.
 
Schedule Changes
If students need a schedule changed, please see Ms. Campbell or Ms. Segriff this week.
 
Shift Switches for Senior Students
We have many requests from Senior students and their parents for switching shifts in order to stay a morning student.  While we appreciate the intent behind the switch requests, please understand that we will not be able to accommodate most of the requests.  There are many factors we must consider, and while there will be a few students who are able to stay as morning students, not everyone who has requested a morning shift will be able to get one. 
 
Also, we will not allow students to be in “both shifts” to accommodate their scheduling requests.  We understand that the shift system is not ideal for many students. However, we must keep this system at this time. Let’s all take a moment to remember that we are still in school, able to attend every day.
 
Booster Cards
Students are reminded to please return either your money for the booster cards you have sold, or please return the extra booster cards you have.  We have people who want to buy them!
 
Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Have a great week!
 
Katrina Brogdon, Principal and Alethea Wallace, Vice-Principal

 Online tool to participate in the review of inclusive and special education

This is a reminder that the online tool to participate in the review of inclusive and special education remains available for you to fill out until January 24, 2021. 

• Share your experience through the online tool at: https://app.spryng.io/goto/6DhtiyieGZSruKpi2Mypyb

• If using a phone or tablet: select ‘browser’ in the pop-up to continue to the online tool. The app is not being used for this engagement.

 
Open to all families:
All parents and students are encouraged to fill out the online tool, not just those who use additional supports. Part of this review is learning about how all students have their individual learning needs met at school.

Filling it out with your child:
We also encourage you to have your child fill it out if they are 13 or older.  It is important to hear the voices of students as part of this review.

Using the online tool:
The online tool takes 10-15 minutes to fill out. It is not like a typical survey. You can fill it out as many times as you would like with as many experiences as you want to share. Watch this video about filling out the online tool (English only).
For families who may not have a computer at home, we encourage you to contact the school, to fill out the tool on a computer at the school.

A note about privacy:  You should not share any personal information that could identify you or others. Instead, you can make general references, such as, “at school”, or “my teacher”, or “in my community,”. Any information that could identify you or others will be removed so that all responses are anonymous.
​
For more information about the review:

• Watch this video from Dr. Yee about the review: https://youtu.be/krwubfADtEk
• Visit: engageyukon.ca/en/2020/review-inclusive-and-special-education-yukon