Thornhill Secondary School PAW PRINTS - Pages - Home Prints... · With this newsletter comes the...
Transcript of Thornhill Secondary School PAW PRINTS - Pages - Home Prints... · With this newsletter comes the...
LOOKING AHEAD
Thornhill Secondary School
PAW PRINTS
VOLUME 5 ISSUE 2 February 2014
INSIDE Page(s) Bonjour 2
Music 2
Special Education 2
Geography Department 3
Community Based Education 4
Library 5
Science Department 5
Business Department 6
English Department 7
Visual Art 7
History 7
Tech Department 8
PAE at Thornhill 8
Mathematics Department 8
Guidance 9
DECA Announcement 9
Family Studies 10
English as Second Language 10
60th Anniversary 11
February 26 Grad Photo Retakes March 7 PA Day March 10-14 March Break March 20 School Council Mtg March 21 Interim Reports March 27 Literacy Test April 3 Parents’ Night April 18 & 21 Good Friday/Easter Monday
Thornhill Secondary School 167 Dudley Avenue
Thornhill, ON L3T 2E5
Telephone: 905.889.5453 Fax: 905.889.0360
Website: http://thornhill.ss.yrdsb.ca
Administration David McAdam, Principal
Shirley Smullen, Vice-Principal Louis Lim, Vice-Principal
Superintendent of Schools Jackie Young
Trustee Susan Geller
School Council Co-Chairs Hayley Morris and Shirley Porjes
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE Greetings! I trust you have experienced a terrific start to 2014. As a school
community, we continue to learn and grow together. I am particularly delighted
that our community partners, parents, staff and students work collaboratively and
tirelessly to make Thornhill a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment.
Thank you for continually putting the well-being and achievements of our
students first, and for contributing to the betterment of the wider society.
With this newsletter comes the final Report Card for Semester One (distribution
date: February 14). Congratulations to students on their academic and extra-
curricular successes. To parents: if you have not received a report card, then
please contact your child’s homeroom teacher. Should your child have a study
period at the start of the school day, please speak with a member of the Office
Staff. Do take time to review the report card with your child(ren), to celebrate
their accomplishments and, where needful, to ensure that supports are in place for
improvements in Semester Two. A good next-step in determining improvement
strategies is to contact your child’s Guidance Counselor or another member of the
Student Success Team. We recognize that parents play a critical role in the
education of our youth and value your ongoing involvement.
As a general reminder, on March 27, 2014, Grade Ten students will write the
Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). Success on this test meets the
Literacy Requirement for graduation. Our staff is working with students to
optimize their performance, and is relying on parents to do the same. For
example, parents may build or strengthen students’ reading and comprehension
skills by making various reading materials available at home, or by reading and
discussing course-related articles or texts with them. Please take a moment to go
through the related Parent Resources and Student Resources at the Education
Quality Accountability Office website at http://www.eqao.com/categories/
home.aspx?Lang=E. We look forward to everyone’s involvement in support of
our test-takers.
As a learning community, we continue to focus on our core business of
facilitating students’ social, emotional and academic growth at T.S.S. A related
emphasis in our School Improvement Plan (S.I.P.) is the development of students’
self-regulation skills in all contexts of school life. I am very proud of our staff’s
commitment as learners and other areas of focus in our S.I.P. We are expanding
and deepening our knowledge and skills to ensure that our students consistently
strive for, and experience, the best outcomes.
To students who are Semester One graduates, congratulations on your scholastic
and personal accomplishments! We look forward to seeing you at the Annual
Graduation Ceremony in June. Be sure to keep in touch for further details.
I invite all Tigers to mark your calendar to be part of the school’s 60th
Anniversary Celebration on May 30, 2014. This promises to be a momentous
occasion for our school.
Thanks to the contributors to this edition of our school newsletter. On behalf of
the Admin Team, best wishes to each and everyone for a successful Semester
Two! Sincerely, David A. McAdam
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 TSS PAW PRINTS PAGE 2
Welcome to another year in the French Department! This semester, students have continued to learn and use their French language skills both in the classroom and out of it. In November, students in grades 10 and 11 French had the opportunity to visit The Sultan’s Tent & Café Maroc as an extension of their food unit in class. At the restaurant, they were able to experience an aspect of
Francophone culture – Moroccan food and customs. As they ate, students watched and even participated in “la danse du ventre” – belly dancing! Thank you to all those students that provided us with so much entertainment and laughter! We would also like to thank Ms. Seni for being part of Thornhill Secondary’s French Department in semester
one. She has done an amazing job and everyone appreciates her dedication, hard work, and fun lessons. You
will be missed!
PAW PRINTS
THORNHILL MUSIC
DEPARTMENT
What a busy but wonderful year it
has been so far. Our Thornhill music
students had several opportunities to
share their love of music with their
peers, parents, and community. The Vocal Ensemble enhanced
the student awards assembly and added an emotional tribute to
the Thornhill Remembrance Day ceremony. Both the band and
the choir reached out to the Grade 8 students through their
performances and welcomed them into the Music Department
during our Grade 8 Open House. We also had the opportunity to
tour and perform for our surrounding elementary schools. Our
students were given a very warm welcome from Henderson P.S.,
Glen Shields P.S. and E.J. Sands P.S. What a rewarding
experience to perform for all the elementary students.
December 11, 2013 was our Music Night at the Thornhill United
Church. We would like to thank all of the parents,
administration, staff and friends for attending, showing their
support for our talented music students, and helping to make the
evening such a success. We look forward to our spring concert
on May 28, 2014.
In March of 2014 our Vocal Ensemble is embarking on an
exchange with another music group from Maple Ridge, British
Columbia. These students will be housed with our students and
given a warm Thornhill welcome. Our students will be travelling
to British Columbia in May where they will perform in
Musicfest. What a wonderful opportunity for our music students.
If there are any businesses who are able to donate items (pens,
pads, bags…) towards our exchange it would be most
appreciated. Please help to welcome these students into our
community. Contact Ms. Spilberg for more information.
TO TSS
We welcome staff, students and families who
are new to TSS this semester! A warm
welcome to the following teachers:
Renee Goodman, Helen Hannah, Nadine Long,
Paul Pilli and Laura Tarver.
The Autism class is celebrating the achievement of many
milestones this semester in literacy, numeracy and
social skills; especially in verbal and social communication,
self-regulation, sequencing, measurement and
addition. We look forward to next semester’s learning
opportunities and we thank Mr. Moore for his
contributions to our program! We also want to welcome
Ms. Long as she joins our team!
Our grade 10 Learning Strategies classes are busy
preparing for the OSSLT and will welcome Daniel
Feilchenfeld , our Technology Resource Teacher, on
February 18 to give our students pointers on the use of
special programs such as Kurzweil, Word Q and Smart
Ideas.
Congratulations to our semester 1 grads! Good luck in
your future endeavours!
A couple of reminders: The resource room, room 109, is
open until 4 every day to assist students with an IEP with
their homework. IPRC’s are coming up and students with
an IEP will need to make a decision as to whether to take
a Learning Strategies course. The focus for the grade 10
Learning Strategies course is preparation for the OSSLT.
The grade 11 course focuses on essay writing skills
whether college or university bound. And the grade 12
course allows students to research future programs
and pathways.
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 TSS PAW PRINTS PAGE 3
Geography Department
“What is where? Why there? Why care?”
Welcome Geographers! As we come to the close of a busy first semester and now look ahead to the second semester, Geographers continue to ask: “what is where, why there, and why care” ?
Grade 9 Geographers have been discussing “real life” resource issues such as Alberta Oil Sands and the Northern Gateway pipeline. At the end of the course, the students became “urban planners” as they looked for ways to combat urban sprawl by re-developing an existing location right here in Thornhill!
Grade 12 World Issues students have examined, discussed and proposed solutions for many contentious global issues such as: population growth and decline, global food insecurity, intervening in geopolitical conflict, dealing with climate change, and how to protect valuable resources like freshwater. We have also “rolled out the red carpet” whereby students have researched, created and showcased their awareness-raising course culminating documentaries.
Course Selections: Course selections for the 2014-15 school year are taking place for students. Have you considered furthering your studies in Geography?
Jobs in Geography:
Cartographer, Climatologist, Demographer, Emergency Planning, Environmental Manager, GIS Specialist, Geologist, Global Business Management, Foreign Affairs, International Development Officer, Land Surveyor, Marketing, National Park Services, Outdoor Guide, Real Estate, Seismologist, Teaching, Tourism, Urban Planner, Volcanologist, Writer, and many more…
Senior Geography courses @ TSS:
Travel and Tourism: A Geographic Perspective, Grade 11 Open
CGG3O This course focuses on issues related to travel and tourism within and between various
regions of the world. Students will investigate unique environmental, socio-cultural,
economic, and political characteristics of selected world regions. They will explore travel patterns and trends as well as
tensions related to tourism, and will predict future tourism destinations. Students will apply the concepts of
geographic thinking and the geographic inquiry process, including spatial technologies, to investigate the impact of the
travel industry on natural environments and human communities. Prerequisite: Canadian Geographic Issues, Grade 9,
Academic or Applied
World Issues: A Geographic Analysis, Grade 12 University Preparation CGW4U This course looks at the global challenge of creating a more sustainable and equitable world.
Students will explore a range of issues involving environmental, economic, social, and geopolitical
interrelationships, and will examine governmental policies related to these issues. Students will
apply the concepts of geographic thinking and the geographic inquiry process, including spatial
technologies, to investigate these complex issues, including their impact on natural and human
communities around the world.
Prerequisite: Any university or university/college
preparation course in Canadian and World Studies,
English, or Social Sciences and Humanities
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 TSS PAW PRINTS PAGE 5
Our students continue to enjoy various engaging activities and labs to support their learning of
science concepts.
The York Region Science Olympics at Seneca at York are taking place on February 26th. We are excited to be choosing our teams and preparing for the competition. Various grade 11 and 12 contests in biology, chemistry and physics will be written in the Spring. Details will be announced as the semester unfolds and the results will be reported in the year-end Pawprints in June. We welcome Ms. Chaudhary to the Science Dept. as one of our senior Physics teachers.
We encourage all students to obtain a Vaughan and/or
Markham Public Library card. The Markham and
Vaughan Public Libraries give students access to online
databases that are impor-
tant in providing information for academic research—an
extremely useful resource throughout their high school
career and IT’S FREE!
PAGE 6 TSS PAW PRINTS VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1
Business Department The Grade 9 Information and Communication Business students learned how
to produce a variety of business documents with various applications including
business letters, Excel spreadsheets, Publisher flyers, brochures and
invitations. They were innovative and had fun creating advertisements
including using Moviemaker for their products. PowerPoint and Prezi were
used to facilitate effective communication. They also maintained a digital
portfolio of exemplary work that not only illustrated their skills in information
and communication technology but could assist them when applying for student employment
positions in future.
The Grade 10 Introduction to Business students learned about all aspects of business: Personal
Finance, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Accounting, Marketing and International Business. Students’
independent study units involved creating and marketing their own business ventures. Some
interesting and very feasible ventures were created! They also enjoyed the stock market challenge.
Grade 11 Accounting students learned how to perform the entire accounting cycle for a small business
and taught their peers about ethics and the implications of recent accounting scandals.
Grade 11 Economics students finished the semester by learning the essentials of financial planning.
This culminated in their creation of their own detailed financial plans for their ‘clients’. This
important skill is crucial to all students as they become managers of money themselves and plan for
their future financial goals and security.
Grade 11 Law students acquired a practical knowledge of our Canadian legal system which included
participating in two mock trials. The trials showed off many of our students’ wonderful debating skills
and the ability to anticipate arguments from lawyers on the other side. In this class, students offered
their opinions on many legal issues and were able to learn critical thinking skills by hearing other
points of view on these issues. Students also learned how to analyze cases which will prepare them for
Grade 12 law or further post-secondary law studies.
Grade 12 law students took their knowledge of the law to the next level by arguing appeals cases in
front of the Supreme Court of Canada. Students prepared factums and made oral submissions to the
bench. Students had the opportunity to be in role as both lawyers and judges. They also
demonstrated their criminal law knowledge by writing from the perspective of a convict who had been
through the criminal justice process from start to finish. There were many very creative stories!
Grade 12 Leadership Students ‘took over the course’ towards the end of the semester, and used their
leadership skills and knowledge to teach – a – lesson – to their peers. They delivered important lessons
about leadership, motivation, teamwork and organizing, which are many of the skills needed for
success in post-secondary school and the workforce. The lessons highlighted the students’ ability to
master content and educate their peers using exciting lessons that included activities, group-work,
videos and more.
Grade 12 International Business students developed their profiles on countries of their choice and
they were quite creative with their marketing plan. They determined the cultural challenges and
benefits for management when doing business internationally.
We wish all our students well!
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 TSS PAW PRINTS PAGE 7
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
The English Department is constantly striving to create curriculum that is innovative and exciting. Since our
student population reflects a variety of interests, we have developed compulsory and elective courses that
appeal to their interests. We are proud to say that the Grade 11 Open Media Course has been quite
successful as it focuses on the different elements and components of media. The Grade 11 Open
Presentation and Speaking Skills Course enables students to examine and use the various skills necessary
to present and speak effectively. Also, the Grade 12 Writers’ Craft Course is popular with its workshop
environment for students to creatively manipulate language and to read each other’s
work.
Department members are committed to providing students with quality instruction
that encourages them to become critical thinkers and problem-solvers. Our focus is on
student-centered learning and other differentiated learning strategies. In addition, we
strive to develop and maximize student learning skills and work habits by
emphasising process and the awareness of learning through metacognitive
assessment.
The History Department is kicking off
second semester with a T.S.S. Model
U.N. contingent that will compete
against other high school students from
across the province at the University of
Toronto from February 7-9; we wish
them the best of luck! On May 15 the
grade 11 World History class will head
down to the Royal Ontario Museum to
work with primary sources from
ancient Greece and Rome and will
participate in a guided tour of the
Rome and Middle Ages exhibit. We
continue to look for new ways to
incorporate technology and critical
thinking concepts in our classrooms.
Please stay in touch with the History
Department for additional information
about the department, courses taught,
or future field trips.
A wonderful semester has come to a close. Ms
England, Ms. Hallis and Ms. Herman-Landau are very
pleased with the hard work and success of the
students and their beautiful pieces of art.
Ms Hallis’s grade 9 students did superb pastel
portraits and interesting India ink compositions.
The combinations of man-made and organic forms
were clever and even ‘punny’. Their Greek vases
made an appearance at Santorini’s Restaurant over
the winter break. Patrons enjoyed these works very
much.
Ms. England’s grade 11 and 12 class created gorgeous
plaster low relief sculptures, and they made amazing
book constructions. The grade 12 art show was
introspective, inspiring, and thought-provoking.
Many staff and students visted.
Both the 11 and 12 craft students created lovely
stained glass and glass mosaic projects. Their
culminating assignment was to create personal
symbolic and functional books. They outdid
themselves. The work is currently on display in the
Student Resource Centre.
Grade 10 Photography students enjoyed working in
the school darkroom and printing portraits and
experimenting with camera settings.
We in the Art Department thank the students so
much for such a gratifying semester! We see that
second semester is off to a wonderful start as well!
Thank you, students of Thornhill for your creativity,
dedication, and artistic integrity!
PAGE 8 TSS PAW PRINTS VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1
Thornhill Secondary Transportation classes would like to thank the
communities of Thornhill and Markham for donating their used vehicles to
the school. These vehicles will prove to be instrumental teaching aids for all
automotive students. It is through these vehicles that students will receive a
hands on education, allowing them to better their skills and understanding in transportation
technologies. Students will learn to remove and replace components on these vehicles while
following the proper procedure and safety cautions needed in the operation. It is because of
peoples generous donations to the course, Thornhill Secondary can continue to offer some of the
best technological courses across the board. Thank you Lou D’Angela, Head of Technology
We are very proud of the different programs we provide in the Alternative Education Department where we serve students who benefit from an individualized learning environment. We have a staff of 10 teachers who are dedicated to supporting the students’ success. Our Supervised Alternative Learning Program (SAL) is a regional program designed to meet the needs of students under 18 years of age. Students have the opportunity to obtain credits both in class and through volunteer or work placements. This semester we have students volunteering in a day care centre, an elementary school and a retirement home. Our Alternative Learning for Excused Pupils (ALEP) program is designed to meet the needs of senior students. Students in this program also have the opportunity to earn credits through work or volunteer experience. They are currently earning credits through working in grocery stores, construction, landscaping and restaurants. Graduates of this program have been successful in their chosen fields of study in a variety of college programs.
MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT We are looking forward to another successful year for math contests. The following is a list of contests that we will be running and the dates at which the contests will run. Pascal Contest (Grade 9 ) Thursday, February 20, 2014 Cayley Contest (Grade 10) Thursday, February 20, 2014 Fermat Contest (Grade 11) Thursday, February 20, 2014 Euclid Contest Tuesday, April 15, 2014 Fryer Contest (Grade 9) Wednesday April 16, 2014 Galois Contest (Grade 10) Wednesday April 16, 2014 Hypatia Contest (Grade 11) Wednesday April 16, 2014
Math Club is running in Room 120 on Thursdays in preparation for these contests. If you have questions you may speak to Mr. Fraschetti.
PAGE 9 TSS PAW PRINTS VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1
Guidance Newsletter Social Networking Safety Tips! Are you using your mobile device safely? Is your identity safe when you log onto the closest “hotspot” at your favourite coffee shop or hangout? On February 13th , 2014, T.S.S. grade 9 and 10 students and parents learned got a clear lesson on how to make ourselves safer online. Paul Davis of “Social Networking Safety Tips” shared important tips on how to make your social media accounts and mobile devices safer from identify theft and online predators. Some tips included: have a different password for every account, change it often and make it 11 characters or more; delete apps like “ask.fm”
and “Snapchat” that put you at risk; and be “friends” with real friends online. Pathway News: Is an Apprenticeship the opportunity you have been waiting for? Apprenticeship is a proven hands-on training program for people who enjoy "learning by doing" and who want to work in a skilled trade. About 90 per cent of apprenticeship training is provided in the workplace by employers. The remainder involves theoretical classroom instruction, which is usually given at a local community college, or provided through another approved training organization. Apprentices receive training while they earn a wage. The length of time that is required to complete an apprenticeship varies from trade to trade. For more information about apprenticeships in Ontario please visit… www.edu.gov.on.ca/skills www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/oyap www.apprenticesearch.com Course Selection Tips Strong math skills are required for some of the skilled trades (e.g. electrical, automotive service technician) If there is a skilled trade you are interested in, you should investigate co-op opportunities (i.e. construction sector may require you to consider a 4 credit co-op in grade 11 in order to participate in the accelerated OYAP program, second semester grade 12)
Congratulations to our 41 provincial qualifiers who competed in the DECA Ontario
competition on February 10th and 11th against more than 6000 of their peers in this
challenging business competition, which tests candidates on their business knowledge and
presentation skills. Our team had an outstanding performance and enjoyed two days of
intense competition and social functions at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Toronto.
We thank all the competitors for their dedication and perseverance, and the countless hours
they spent preparing for competition, and our exceptional executive team of David Bryckine,
Ilia Sucholutsky and Meli Lifshits who ran the club this year. Special congratulations to our award winners.
Placing in the top 15 in their respective categories were: Nicholas Woo Sophie Ziomecki
Crystal Chen Samuel Grobman
Anna Anachenko Ryan Khurana
Finally, we wish to acknowledge the outstanding achievement of three members who qualified for the prestigious
international competition to be held in Atlanta, Georgia this year. Congratulations to:
Ben Levy with a 6th place finish
Ilia Sucholutsky with a third place finish
David Bryckine with a third place finish
Way to go TSS DECA!
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 TSS PAW PRINTS PAGE 10
HEALTH & SAFETY - HIGH WATER SAFETY BULLETIN
With imminent warmer temperatures and rain showers, snow
melt will run into watersheds and will increase flows and water
levels. In the interest of personal safety, please:
Stay off thawing ice on all bodies of water
Be wary of higher water levels and more rapid currents
Stay away from slopes and stream banks
Use extreme caution around bodies of water
Alert children in your care of these dangers.
English As Second Language Department
The ESL Department had a great semester one. We welcomed many new students from around the world. On January 29th we welcomed over 20 visa students from China, Vietnam and Iran to TSS. On Friday, February 14th, the ESL Club celebrated the Asian New Year. The party was well attended and everyone had a great time playing games,
listening to music and of course, eating. Thanks to the ESL Club for all their hard work! Good luck to all of our English Language Learners in Semester Two.
Ms. Bazos & Ms. Nasmith, ESL Department