Do you remember those famous words from "Aerosmith"....perhaps if that song had been written today it would read "Walk This Way, Text This Way". It seems that cellphone use has become so common place that I routinely see students sitting in the hall together, texting on their phones, and not one person talking. What ever happened to social interaction. Some of our students are so efficient at texting, they can use their phone while it's still in their pocket.
Don't get me wrong....I'm not against cell phones, I just think that sometimes we rely too much on electronic communication. After all, it can be difficult to read emotion into an email or text. Many people have become so accustomed to using electronic media, they have lost sight of the value of personal communication. In fact, i'm sure in many homes, the issue of teens hogging the telephone doesn't exist anymore. Most socialization occurs either through Facebook or by texting.
And that brings me to my next point which is how school has started to shift its thinking in relation to the use of cellphones and other personal electronic devices. Over the last couple years, the school took the approach that cellphone use was a distraction and not necessary in the classroom. Now, with the emphasis on the use of technology to improve student engagement, cell phones and smart phones are starting to be used in classrooms as teaching tools. Just this past Thursday morning, I sat in a teachers class where she started the day by posing some questions to her class as part of a review from the previous days work. Instead of using paper, she had the students text their answers using a web program called "polleverywhere", which provided the class with real time data related to the class responses. As the students texted their responses, the percentage of students choosing specific questions came up on the web page projected on the Smartboard. It was easy to see that not only did students get real time feedback on their learning, they were also engaged in the activity. Afterwords, almost every student in the class indicated their preference for the use of this type of technology.
Not only are cellphones being used to facilitate learning, but now with the addition of wireless, students are coming to school with other technological tools such as iPads, laptops, iPods, and netbooks. This not only gives students ready access to information, but is also pushing the school to keep up with trends in the use of social media and other forms of technology to make learning accessible and relevant.
I have attached a You Tube clip from educator "Sir Ken Robinson" that captures an interesting narrative on how public education is changing given the demands of our global economy and technological change....enjoy!
Sunday, 25 September 2011
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
First Week of School
Well....we managed to get through the first week of school with only a couple minor glitches. With a number of changes in place, we have all been busy changing student timetables, getting programs started, figuring out the new computer system, meeting with grade groups, all while navigating through the current teacher job action.
Mrs. Webster and Mrs. Argue are meeting with Peer Tutors and Counsellors who are in the process of being trained before they go out into classes. Graduating students are still waiting for the Moodle server to get up and running so they can start their grad transitions package (I hear the server will be up this morning). This year, interviews will be booked with myself once students have completed their packages and submitted to one of Mrs. de Wynter, Mrs. Webster or Mrs. Argue.
The Yearbook committee has met and voted on their new editor....congrats to Kaleigh Horne. The group will soon be starting work on this years edition. The Grad Executive nominations are still open and being collected at the front office. Nominations will close in the next couple days and there will be a meeting on Wednesday to vote where necessary for the new leadership team. The Student Council will be having it's initial planning meeting in the next week or so.
On the sport front, all three girls volleyball teams have begun practices/tryouts as well as the boys soccer team. Stay tuned for updates as the game schedules heat up.
For those of you familiar with the GFSS News, the new team under the guidance of Mrs. Grootjes has just published their first version on the GFSS News You Tube channel....excerpt below
.........I loved the "Godfather" impression.
Undoubtedly we have had many reactions to some of the facility switches, most specifically, the move of the library to the DLC and bringing the Fitness Room upstairs to the old library location. While several concerns have been noted, many positive comments have come forward from students with many already taking advantage of the open, accessible location. Currently there are over 50 students participating in our personal fitness program where they workout before school or during the day if they have a study block (senior students). Due to the declining use of hardcopy books, we retained the fiction section along with some other books that were being used, and have created a smaller library where students can still access and sign out books. With only 20% of the library resources being used prior to the move, we felt that we could better use the space for student learning. We have also retained three computer labs where students do most of their research.
Check out a quick video of students using our new fitness room in morning class before school....
I also wanted to mention some concerns we have over the Grad Camp Out that seems to have become an ongoing tradition. The school in no way approves or condones this activity. As we had to deal with some potential graduating students coming to school on the first morning unfit to be here, it sends the wrong message to our incoming junior students. Perhaps it is time for next years graduates and parents to support a new tradition.....examples like holding a grad barbeque the first morning of school where all students can mingle and enjoy some burgers and hotdogs before heading home, and grads can use that as their first fundraiser, would certainly add more to supporting a positive culture to begin the year.....just a thought.
Lastly...don't forget our first PAC meeting is next Tuesday night, Sept 20th at 7pm in the new library location.....hope to see you there.
As always, you can email any comments you may have to gfss@sd51.bc.ca
Mrs. Webster and Mrs. Argue are meeting with Peer Tutors and Counsellors who are in the process of being trained before they go out into classes. Graduating students are still waiting for the Moodle server to get up and running so they can start their grad transitions package (I hear the server will be up this morning). This year, interviews will be booked with myself once students have completed their packages and submitted to one of Mrs. de Wynter, Mrs. Webster or Mrs. Argue.
The Yearbook committee has met and voted on their new editor....congrats to Kaleigh Horne. The group will soon be starting work on this years edition. The Grad Executive nominations are still open and being collected at the front office. Nominations will close in the next couple days and there will be a meeting on Wednesday to vote where necessary for the new leadership team. The Student Council will be having it's initial planning meeting in the next week or so.
On the sport front, all three girls volleyball teams have begun practices/tryouts as well as the boys soccer team. Stay tuned for updates as the game schedules heat up.
For those of you familiar with the GFSS News, the new team under the guidance of Mrs. Grootjes has just published their first version on the GFSS News You Tube channel....excerpt below
.........I loved the "Godfather" impression.
Undoubtedly we have had many reactions to some of the facility switches, most specifically, the move of the library to the DLC and bringing the Fitness Room upstairs to the old library location. While several concerns have been noted, many positive comments have come forward from students with many already taking advantage of the open, accessible location. Currently there are over 50 students participating in our personal fitness program where they workout before school or during the day if they have a study block (senior students). Due to the declining use of hardcopy books, we retained the fiction section along with some other books that were being used, and have created a smaller library where students can still access and sign out books. With only 20% of the library resources being used prior to the move, we felt that we could better use the space for student learning. We have also retained three computer labs where students do most of their research.
Check out a quick video of students using our new fitness room in morning class before school....
I also wanted to mention some concerns we have over the Grad Camp Out that seems to have become an ongoing tradition. The school in no way approves or condones this activity. As we had to deal with some potential graduating students coming to school on the first morning unfit to be here, it sends the wrong message to our incoming junior students. Perhaps it is time for next years graduates and parents to support a new tradition.....examples like holding a grad barbeque the first morning of school where all students can mingle and enjoy some burgers and hotdogs before heading home, and grads can use that as their first fundraiser, would certainly add more to supporting a positive culture to begin the year.....just a thought.
Lastly...don't forget our first PAC meeting is next Tuesday night, Sept 20th at 7pm in the new library location.....hope to see you there.
As always, you can email any comments you may have to gfss@sd51.bc.ca
Thursday, 1 September 2011
Sept 2011 Start Up
Welcome back to another school year at GFSS
As you may have heard, we will be beginning the year with teachers implementing "Work to Rule" as part of their job action related to ongoing negotiations with the government. This means that classes will continue as per usual, however, teachers will not be supervising students outside class time as well as providing written communication to administration regarding regular school tasks and student reporting. At this time, we do not know how long this situation will last. We will try and keep parents and students up to date as best we can.
Below we have added some information related to some program changes that are taking place this coming year.
Career Education Information for the 2010-11 School Year
GFSS will continue to implement its Career Programs for our senior students. This program will consist of supporting any interested students in obtaining job shadowing placements, work experience placements, Secondary School Apprenticeship opportunities, and dual credit courses for some college placement programs.
As many of our students enter the workforce after graduation, we are looking at developing a more comprehensive program to meet their needs and prepare students with a set of skills necessary to gain employment.
Job Shadowing – allows students to participate in short term placements where they can work alongside a person in a career field they may be interested in pursuing. These volunteer hours can also go towards meeting the grad transition requirements.
Work experience – longer term volunteer placements (that could lead to paid employment) where a student completes a minimum 100 hours and earns 4 credits towards graduation. A student can earn credits through work experience towards their graduation program. The school can facilitate student placements or a student may find their own placement.
Secondary School Apprenticeship – this program can serve as the beginning of an apprenticeship in a trade supervised by a certified trades person. Students are entitled to 16 credits for participation as well as funding provided through the Industry Trade Authority. It allows students that have a good idea of what they want to do for a career to gain early entry where an appropriate placement is available. The school will help facilitate placement or a student may find their own placement.
Dual Credit Program – some colleges provide students with an opportunity to take courses while they are still in high school (usually grade 12). Students that complete these courses will be given credit towards their graduation program as well as credits towards their college program. These courses are offered through distance learning. This coming year Thompson Rivers University is offering courses that our students may wish to take as part of the Dual Credit Program. Students are responsible for paying the University tuition but the District will reimburse students tuition costs upon completion.
Students are encouraged to meet with Mrs. Argue if they are interested in any of these career education opportunities.
Moodle – this is a format that allows our students to take courses online under the guidance of one of our teachers in the DLC room. Initially students will have access to a number of regular courses that they can take within their schedule or outside the timetable if they wish. There is no cost for this option as they are still registered as GFSS students. This will help students that want to take a course but are unable to fit it into their timetable. Students are able to see the courses available through a link on our school website and should contact Mrs. DeWynter to arrange enrollment in a course. It is not meant to replace courses that are available in the timetable.
We have also enclosed below a copy of the yearly calendar. A more detailed copy of our monthly block rotations can be accessed through our website.
Grand Forks Secondary
PROPOSED SCHOOL CALENDAR
2011 - 2012
| Month | Day | |
| August | 29 | District Professional Development Day |
| | 30 | District Professional Development Day |
| September | 6 | School Opening Day (Dismissal at 11:30 a.m.) (School in session Tuesday to Friday this week) |
| | 9 | Friday - School in Session |
| | 27/28 | District Shortened Days |
| October | 10 | Thanksgiving Day (School in session Tuesday to Friday this week) |
| | 14 | Friday - School in Session |
| | 21 | Provincial Professional Development Day |
| November | 2 | Parent Interviews / Grad Spaghetti Dinner |
| | 11 | Remembrance Day (Friday) |
| December | 15 | School Closes for Winter Vacation (Last day of classes) |
| January | 3 | School Re-Opens after Winter Vacation (School in session Tuesday to Friday this week) |
| | 6 | Friday – School in Session |
| | 19-25 | School Exams |
| | 30 | First Day of Semester 2 |
| March | 15 | School Closes for Spring Vacation (Last Day of classes) |
| April | 2 | School Re-Opens after Spring Vacation |
| | 6 | Good Friday |
| | 9 | Easter Monday (School in session Tuesday to Friday this week) |
| | 13 | Friday – School in Session |
| | 17 | District Shortened Day |
| | 18 | District Shortened Day / Parent Interviews |
| May | 21 | Victoria Day (School in session Tuesday to Friday this week) |
| | 25 | Friday - School in Session / Final Deadline for Grad Transition Interviews |
| | 31 | First Grad List |
| | 14 | Final Grad List |
| June | 12 | Lupine Awards Night (Tentative) |
| | 18 | Grad Ceremony Appeals Due |
| | 18-21 | School Exams |
| | 22/23 | Graduation Weekend (Times to be determined) |
| | 29 | Administrative Day |
| Days in Session | 163 |
| Number of Days of Instruction | 156 |
| Number of Non-Instructional Days | 6 |
| Number of Administrative Days | 1 |
| Length of School Day (ie: 6 hrs 45 mins) | 7 hours and 14 minutes |
| Minutes of Operation (Office Hours) | 7:30am to 4:00pm |
| Total Instructional Time | 340 min/day (Elem) 370 min/day (Sec) |
| School Commences | 8:16am |
| Lunch (start and end time) | 12:12pm to 12:55pm |
| Dismissal | 3:30pm |
| Minutes in each block (secondary) | 71-76 minutes |
| Minutes between blocks (secondary) | 4 minutes |
We would also like to introduce our new staff members. Mrs. Malayna Gross has taken over as our Special Education teacher, Mrs. Wanda Hecht is now coordinating our GFSS Aboriginal Education program along with our new Aboriginal Support Worker, Mrs. Victoria Runge. Mr. Garrison will be on leave for the first six weeks with Mr. Mike Fraser taking over his duties in the Bike Shop. Mrs. Deb Steinbach is also back in the office after having been away for last school year.
In addition to some staff changes, we have also had some building and other program changes over the summer. The school library is now in the DLC which is also our online learning center for students enrolled in Moodle courses. The old Ab Ed room next to the counselling area is now the new Grad Study Hall / Career Center where our senior students will be able to access computers and study. The old library location is now our fitness facility that will be open daily for students to access and will also be supported with Peer Tutors in every block. The Ab Ed room is now located upstairs where the old teacher preparation room used to be.
These are just a few of the things happening in September. Have a great start to the year and if you have any questions or suggestions....please email us directly at gfss@sd51.bc.ca
You can also follow updates through twitter @GrandForksSec as we attempt to use other ways of keeping people informed.
The first Parent Advisory Meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 20th at 7pm in the DLC room. Hope to see you then.
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