September 22, 2019
GRAD GAB!
The Grad Gab is the first section of the Saints Scoop, and, as the name implies, has information that is especially important to our Grade 12 students, such as scholarship opportunities and grad-related events. If it has something to do with “Graduation” at LSS, there is a good chance that you will find it somewhere in the “Grad Gab!”
- ScholarTree is back for another year of helping graduating students find scholarships. Over the summer we added over 100 new awards to ScholarTree.
- Since it is early in the year, here are some of our blogs that may be useful to students looking to apply to scholarships this year:
- Additionally, here are a couple of significant scholarships that are available now:
LSS FOOTBALL CELEBRATES FIRST EVER VICTORY AGAINST JOHN BARSBY!
- Congratulations to the Varsity Saints, as they are on a 3-game win streak, this time beating perennial AA powerhouse John Barsby by a score of 49-0! Both the offence and defence played stellar football. For more details of this game, please click on the following link to Varsity Letters: https://varsityletters.ca/varsity-letters-09-20-19-b-c-high-school-football-report-friday-night-lights-early-edition/
- LSS coach Ryk Piche is also the focus of a podcast on Varsity Letters; listen to the final 1/3 of the podcast to hear more for yourself! “Power Offence” Podcast – https://hwcdn.libsyn.com/p/9/9/8/998fdbae48eced88/VL_Podcast_20190918_mixdown.mp3?c_id=52338596&forcedn=attachment&cs_id=52338596&expiration=1568947278&hwt=6df311c3c1874a722cd2cbacbaaa73df
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT DAY – LSS TEACHERS ARE LEARNERS, TOO!
- While LSS students were home on Friday for School Improvement Day, LSS staff were hard at work, developing the the school’s goals for the 2019/20 school year, and then deepening their skills by engaging in and practicing different strategies to support these goals. The goals for LSS staff and students are:
- Developing a Positive Culture through Connections and Care;
- Developing a “Learners” or “Growth” Mindset in our students; and
- Increasing the number of Visible and Active strategies in the classroom.
- See below for some of the different activities that LSS staff were a part of on Friday:
Mr. Moino started the day with a few words, using the spaces in the New Build.
Staff were both sitting in the Student Commons/cafeteria, as well as standing on the “Bridge,” taking in the day’s opening address!
One of the activities has Departments presenting on how they were going to help move the schools goals forward. Here is Fine Arts…
…and Math…
…and Ell/ Modern Languages, among many…
…as the rest of staff were in the audience. This took place in Rooms A210 and A211, with the dividing wall between the two spaces opened-up.
Assistant Superintendent Woody Bradford stopped by to take part in some of the day’s learning at LSS, wearing his LSS Leadership shirt!
After leading the opening activity of the day, Mr. Howlett listens to Mr. Palichuk’s review with staff of the “Tell Them From Me” data, a student survey that takes place each April and May around the District. From this data, staff were able to identify some important themes, which helped us move forward with the development of our goals.
Some of the work presented by the LSS English and Social Studies departments, to help identify future actions towards our goals!
LSS FOCUS PROGRAM GOES ON A MOOD WALK!
- Mr. Greeff, Mrs. Thornburn and Mr. Palichuk led FOCUS students on their first Mood Walk of the year this past week. The group travelled to Kanaka Creek Park and were led by a park interpreter from the GVRD. This is the 2nd year of the Mood Walk, an innovative program that is the first of its kind in BC, modelled after an Ontario Program for adults. The basic idea behind the Mood Walks is that they give our students a powerful tool against the increasing wave of anxiety and mental health challenges in today’s busy society: the simple idea that Exercise and Nature have a positive, calming, and healing effect on the mind. This is an old wisdom that has been partially lost as western societies have become increasingly urbanized, but has been continually proven in modern research. Thanks to the FOCUS program for reminding us all that learning CAN happen outside the walls of our classrooms!
One of the stops at Kanaka Creek Park.
Another photo in the midst of the stunning setting in Maple Ridge.
THIS WEEK! YOUR CHANCE TO “MEET THE TEACHER” – Thursday, September 26!
- LSS is pleased to announce that our “Meet the Teacher” evening is scheduled for Thursday, September 26 at 6:30 pm until 8 pm! This will be your opportunity to meet with your student’s teachers, and to walk the halls of an LSS building that is “In Transition” as we work towards the completion of the final phase of construction for next September 2020!
- Meet the Teacher evening Agenda:
- 6:30 pm – Grade 9 and new parents – in small gym – Topic: Staying connected to your high school student and Tips for a successful grade 9 year!
- 7:15 pm – grade 12 parents especially, but parents of gr 10 and 11 students also welcome – in small gym, as well. Topic: Graduation – Course Requirements and Options to ensure your child graduates on time, and with options!
- 6:30 – 8 pm – Open House walk through the New Building, the Fine Arts and PE wing, the Foods rooms, and some of our portables…. This is a chance to meet teachers and see what the school’s latest iteration looks like!
CAREERS CORNER!
- REMINDER! TAKE OUR KIDS TO WORK DAY – COMING SOON!
- Mark your calendars grade 9 families! Take Our Kids to Work Day is Wednesday, November 6th, 2019. This annual event gives students a chance to step into their future and get a glimpse into the working world spending the day in the workplace of a parent, relative, friend or volunteer host, where they experience and learn about the world of work. More information to come!
- APPLICATIONS DUE THIS WEEK! WORKSHOP OPPORTUNITIES!
- On October 17th from 8:15 – 2:30 there will be a First Responders Workshop for interested students in grades 10-12. Here you will see and interact with Members from the Township Fire Department, Langley RCMP and BC Ambulance who together will respond to a simulated car crash. Please see Mrs. Blessing near the Learning Commons at lunch for more details. Applications are now available!
- See the attached poster for more information: FIRST RESPONDERS TOURV3
- The Township of Langley FIRE HALL is once again offering Work Experience Placements. If you are in grade 11 or 12 and interested in becoming a Fire Fighter please see Mrs. Blessing near the Learning Commons at lunch for more details. Applications are now available.
- See the attached poster for more information: WANT TO BE A FIREFIGHTERV3
- For all those already Waiting and asking… YES… Langley Memorial Hospital -Work Experience Placements are set and ready to go. If you are in grade 11 or 12 and Highly interested a Health Care Profession, Please see Mrs. Blessing for an application. You can find her office next to the Learning Commons. Spaces are limited so be proactive!
- See the attached poster for more information: Health Care Poster
- On October 17th from 8:15 – 2:30 there will be a First Responders Workshop for interested students in grades 10-12. Here you will see and interact with Members from the Township Fire Department, Langley RCMP and BC Ambulance who together will respond to a simulated car crash. Please see Mrs. Blessing near the Learning Commons at lunch for more details. Applications are now available!
- DUE THIS WEEK! Students interested in the First Responders Workshop, The Township of Langley Fire Hall and Langley Memorial Hospital, applications are DUE to Mrs. Blessing no later than September 26th 3pm. Spots are limited. Late applications will not be accepted.
THIS WEEK! TERRY FOX SCHOOL RUN – FUNDRAISING PAGE
- Langley Secondary will be participating in this year’s Terry Fox School Run for cancer research. This is the FINAL WEEK for donations before the run this Thursday!
- #terryfoxliveshere @theterryfoxfoundation #terryfoxschoolrun
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
An activity from Block 1 Japanese 11 class that uses the floor-to-ceiling whiteboards in some classes. The students are just starting to learn past tense form of verbs, and they had to work in small groups to put full sentences together…
…After they finished writing, each group had to explain each part of their compositions to the rest of the class!
AVID 9 doing ACTIVE team-binding work!
AVID 9 group shot… say “Cheese!”
Social Justice 12 preparing for a “Gallery Walk” where students share their learning. The topic of this Walk: Types of transitional housing available.
Half lockers on the 2nd floor are ALSO for sitting!
English 12 students discussing essential questions on “adversity,” one of the themes in English 12. Notice how students are up and out of the seats, and doing/talking… students learn best when THEY are the ones DOING!
It’s Hawaiian Day for Grade 12 students! Last week, during student photos, Grads planned their own way to make the day a unique and memorable one…
More grads getting in to the “Aloha” spirit!
Finally, the Main Office’s Mrs. Battistel said a few words to LSS staff before moving on to Brookswood, where she will be an ISP EA.
LSS CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES!
- LSS Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) – meeting’s at lunch every Tuesday in Ms. Lee’s rm. #A112– This is a safe space for students to hang out and have open discussion. Anyone is welcome to attend
- Grad Council: Meeting every Tuesday at lunch in the Small Gym.
- Dance Class: Free open dance class Tuesdays at Lunch in the dance studio. All Students Welcome. Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary and Zumba (Starts Sept 24th).
- ME to WE Club: If you are looking to volunteer, give back to your community and learn more about local and global issues, join ME to WE Club! ME to WE Club runs Wednesdays at lunch in Room 253 (above old library/office). A great place to share your
- Wii Wednesday: at lunch with Ms.Hajdecki Rm # A183
- Tabletop Thursdays; Thursdays at lunch in Rm # A183 with Ms. Hajdecki
- KnitWits Club: Would you like to relax and learn a new skill? Would you like to learn how to knit? Please feel free to join us on Thursdays at lunch in Room 184 (Ms. Decambra’s Foods Room). The club is open to anyone, beginners to advanced knitters are welcome.
- Model UN Club: the LSS Model United Nations Club is starting. New members are encouraged to join us this Thursdayat lunch in Room A215 (Ms.Cunningham’s).
- Anime Club Friday is in Room #A183 at lunch with Ms.Hajdecki
FROM THE LANGLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
- Langley DPAC is hosting a special presentation titled: Let’s Talk Youth and Drugs. The event is hosted in partnership with the Langley School District, Fraser Health and We All Play a ROLE. Registration on Eventbrite (free); due to overwhelming response, the location is now moved to Brookswood Secondary on Wednesday, September 25.
- https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-talk-youth-and-drugs-tickets-72972497705
- Or click on this link for a PDF of the poster: Let’s talk Substance Use
COMMUNITY NEWS
- Taming worry Dragons for Youth: Taming the Worry Dragons workshop that we are providing here at LCSS with the Children’s Foundation. This workshop on anxiety and coping skills is for youths between the ages of 12 and 15. It will be on Wednesday nights at 6pm to 7:30pm and it starts Sept 25th. Please, feel free to pass on this poster to those that might find the group helpful.
- Operation THIS IS YOU! Please see below for more information promoting diversity in the fields below:
- Community Bulletin Board – SD#35 Langley: To find out more about the different community events happening in our District, consider making it a habit to go to the District’s website, and you will certainly be in the know! https://www.sd35.bc.ca/news-events/community-bulletin-board/
CALENDAR
- Sept 26: Terry Fox Run, a.m.
- Sept 26: Meet the Teacher Evening! 6:30 to 8 pm
- Sept 30: Every Child Matters – Orange Shirt Day
- Oct 7: Photo Retake Day
- Oct 14: Thanksgiving Day, School CLOSED
- Oct 21: PAC Meeting, 7 pm
- Oct 15-18: Interim Report Week (expect a contact home from each teacher)
- Oct 15-21: Grad Photos!
- Oct 21: Federal Election – LSS Small Gym will be hosting a polling station
- Oct 24: Grad Cruise!
- Oct 25: Provincial Professional Development Day, Students NOT in Session
- Nov 12: PAC Meeting, 7 pm
- Jan 20: PAC Meeting, 7 pm
- Feb 24: PAC Meeting, 7 pm
- Apr 27: PAC Meeting, 7 pm
- May 25: PAC AGM, 7 pm
- June 17: Grad Commencement Ceremony, CLA, 7 pm
- June 19: Grad Dinner & Dance, Coast Hotel, 6:30 pm