Hello Vanier parents/guardians,

We hope that October is treating you well! Vanier is always in full swing, and we have some important information items to pass along to you:

1. One week from today will be our student-led conferences. As the main advocate of your child’s education, you have this opportunity to come to Vanier to see how your child is doing, from his/her perspective and with evidence of learning at hand. Please read the attached invitation for details. We look forward to seeing you here, anytime between 4-7pm!

 

1. Also attached is information regarding the legalization of cannabis. Next Tuesday evening, after student-led conferences are complete, Vanier will be hosting a presentation for parents, called “Let’s Talk Pot,” regarding this issue. The details for this presentation are in the student-led conference flyer.

 

1. The following message comes to you from the Catholic Education Association of Yukon (CEAY):

 
Interested in School Design?
The time has come to set up a building advisory committee to plan for new Catholic school construction and renovation to existing schools. With the population of Whitehorse exploding in the last few years, schools are filling to capacity. The age of some of the schools, plus the spatial requirements of the recent curriculum redesign also prompt an urgency for new construction or renovation of present facilities. The building advisory committee, which is composed mainly of parents and school administrators, will work with the Department of Education in the planning process. Parents are an important part of the committee. The process of setting up and coordinating the committee is being done by the Catholic Education Association of Yukon (CEAY). Parents who are interested in being on the committee can contact CEAY at [email protected]. Even if you cannot attend meetings on a regular basis you can still serve on the committee to share your ideas. This is an exciting opportunity! Let us hear from you.

1. As you are well aware, Yukon Education is embarking on some significant curriculum evolutions that are affecting the way we deliver content, develop competencies, and communicate how learning is going. For more information on the new curriculum, the performance standards and how the new curriculum incorporates First Nations Ways of Knowing and Doing, please refer to the links listed below:

 
Yukon’s school curriculum:
English: https://youtu.be/YS0GPDLdkRU
French: https://youtu.be/C3uCMM-fXzk
 
Yukon’s school curriculum and Yukon First Nations:
English: https://youtu.be/eSNuoXWeJ30
French: https://youtu.be/eSNuoXWeJ30
 
Yukon’s performance report cards: (This video highlights classrooms in Vanier!!)
English: https://youtu.be/f4zWF-ZkF3Y
French: https://youtu.be/OayUZQGNxBE

Please feel welcome to call or stop in to visit the school at any time.

cannabis_information_for_parents.pdf

student_led_conference_flyer_october_2018.pdf

Vanier Catholic Secondary School

October 2, 2018

Dear parents/guardians,

Re: School emergency procedures.

At the beginning of each school year, our school prepares a School Emergency Response Plan to ensure we can act immediately to protect the health and safety of students should a school emergency arise.
Please make sure the school has your current contact information, so that we can reach you should there be an emergency.

Our School Emergency Response Plan outlines how staff would respond to emergencies such as a fire, earthquake, threat, medical incidents, issues with the school building or other situation. It provides the protocols to respond to each scenario, with clear roles and responsibilities of school staff, floor plans, evacuation sites and lockdown information for directing students, emergency telephone numbers and communication protocols with the RCMP, other emergency services and parents. It is developed by the School Safety Team with the Department of Education and the RCMP each year.

The School Emergency Response Plan is shared with the RCMP, the Department of Education and the School Council Chair. We do not share the plan widely, as some information is confidential to keep students safe.
The five basic principles that guide our school’s emergency responses are:

• Student and staff safety is the first priority before all other action.
• Students are supervised whenever they are evacuated to an alternate site until directed.
• Communication with emergency services comes first to ensure safety; communication with parents occurs once we determine students and staff are safe.
• The school cares for the student during a medical incident until emergency services respond.
• The principal is responsible for decision making during an emergency as required.

As a parent, you should follow these basic rules during a school emergency:

• Do not call the school; we must have phone lines open for emergency services.
• Do not drive to the school during a school or city-wide emergency; we need the streets clear for emergency services and to protect student safety.
• Wait for information and instruction from the school.
• Tune in to the local radio for updates and instructions. Sometimes school staff cannot communicate directly with you as they are ensuring the safety of students. 

More information:
School evacuation sites:
The school’s evacuation sites will be posted on the front door of the school for your reference. Evacuation sites at Vanier Catholic Secondary School school include:

1. Christ the King Elementary School (20 Nisutlin Drive in Riverdale)
2. Riverdale Baptist Church (15 Duke Street in Riverdale)
3. Jack Hulland Elementary (1304 Fir Street in Porter Creek)

 School safety drills:
The school performs regular safety drills to ensure students know what to do in an emergency. Safety drills will take place on:
September 10 – Fire Drill
October 18 – Earthquake Drill, followed by evacuation of the building
November 8 – Lockdown Drill, followed by a Fire Drill
January 29 – Fire Drill
March 7 – Fire Drill
April 15 – Fire Drill

You will be reminded that a drill is taking place in our school newsletter before each drill.

School safety procedures:
Please note the difference between these procedures:
Lockdown:  A lockdown occurs when there is a threat of violence within the school or in relation to the school. Students and staff are asked to remain in sheltered areas until the situation is resolved.
Hold and secure: A hold and secure is different than a lockdown. It is enacted when a threat occurs outside of the school but not related to the school. School activities can continue as normal but doors are locked and monitored and no one is permitted to leave or enter until the situation has resolved.
Evacuation: When students and staff vacate the school building in response to an issue or threat inside of the school building, such as a fire.

Thank you for taking the time to read about school emergency response planning.

If you have any questions, please contact the school. 

Our Annual Family BBQ and Honour Roll Ceremony will be on Wednesday, August 29, starting at 6:00 pm.  All students and families (not just those who are receiving an honour roll certificate) are most welcome!  We hope to see all Vanier students and families there!

We hope that you all had a great summer!

Our Student Information System will be offline until August 20, so we will not be able to do course changes until the first days of school.  To assist in your planning, we are posting the courses that we are offering next year below.

The first day of school for all students is Tuesday, August 21.

Click here for our School Supply Lists for the 2018-2019 year.

Report Cards and Newsletters were mailed on Thursday, June 14.  Here is the digital copy of the newsletter and a very important information sheet detailing how we will be reporting to parents differently next year.  Please don't hesitate to contact the school if with any questions or concerns.

School Council Elections are this Monday, May 7 in the Vanier Learning Commons (Library) from 4:00 until 8:00 pm.  
All parents/guardians who are 18 years of age and older and who are Canadian citizens of current Vanier Catholic Secondary students are entitled and encouraged to vote.  More complete information about School Council elections can be found on the Elections Yukon website.
Six (6) candidates have expressed interest in the five (5) council seats, necessitating an election:

• Wanda Robbins
• Truska Gorrell
• Philip Gibson
• Ian Davis
• Charlene Shehnaz Ali
• Cynthia Lyslo

Profiles of each candidate can be found on the Catholic Education Association of Yukon website.
Thank you for taking an active interest in the governance of Vanier Catholic Secondary and we hope that you will come and vote this coming Monday.
Sincerely,
Ryan Sikkes, principal

We are looking forward to seeing all students on Thursday! #mandatory
Students: please invite parents, guardians, family friends, siblings etc. to share in your learning; this is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the incredible work you've done and to reflect on where you're headed next. 
​The cafeteria will be open throughout the evening.