BLENHEIM DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL

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August 2005

Principal’s Message Here we go again! The 2005 school year is only a few days away.

Tuesday, September 6 is our first day. It will be a Day 2 because it’s an even number date of the month. Odd numbered dates will always be Day 1.

The “Tribes Program” will be expanded to include all the grade ten classes and some individual grade eleven and twelve classes, depending on teacher preference. This initiative has proven to be a successful classroom management strategy.

Tribes is an inclusive classroom philosophy that promotes mutual respect, attentive listening, appreciation and the right to decide how to participate in activities.

We welcome a new program to BDHS this semester. The Developmentally Delayed/Differently Abled program will be starting this year. We are pleased that our school was selected to be the host school for those students in the south region of our Board that require this service. Room 63, a former electronics shop, and formerly the home of our robotics program will be the new classroom for this program. Board personnel will be busy this summer making the necessary renovations to accommodate the needs of our new Bobcats.

This year, students who choose to get involved in our extra-curricular program will be assessed an “Athletic Participation Fee” per sport they play. More information is provided in the Student Planner. This additional charge is necessary for the school to maintain a level of equity of opportunity for our kids who play on school teams.

Our School Council will be hosting its first meeting Thursday September 15 in room 10, beginning at 7 pm. All parents and guardians are welcome to attend and participate in the activities of this informative group.

All our staff is looking forward to another great year in Bobcat Country!

S. Blackshaw

Principal

Guidance Office

Full time Student Students in Grades 9 to 11 must take 8 courses or credits. Students are eligible for

& Minimum Course a “study period” only when they have completed 23 credits. Part-time programs are not

Load Policy conducive to appropriate preparation for post-secondary education and the work world. All BDHS students are expected to be full-time, with a minimum of three (3) courses per semester.

Ontario September 30, October 1, 2 at the Toronto Convention Centre. All Ontario Universities will

Universities’ Fair be represented at this event. Parents and students are welcome and free admission. This is a very worthwhile opportunity for senior students and parents to visit exhibits – attend information sessions – learn about undergrad programs for all Ontario Universities.

Online Course The Lambton Kent Virtual Campus will again be offering selected Senior Credits online.

First Semester HSB 4M Challenge & Change in Society

EWC 4U English – Writers Craft

MGA 4U Geometry and Discrete Mathematics

CGU 4U World Geography – Human Patterns and Interactions

Second Semester CHA 3U American History

EWC 4U English – Writers Craft

MCT 4C Mathematics for College Technology

CHY 4U World History – The West and the World

Students may use computers at home or in the school to complete these courses. However, it is highly recommended that students have internet access at home. These courses may be very challenging and require students to be well organized and self disciplined. Online courses provide students with the opportunity to achieve credits not available in the classroom. Students interested in taking an online course should contact the Guidance office. Further information is available at www.lkdsb.net.

Learning Centre The Learning Centre will again be open for student support in September. There will be some changes due to staffing. Students will be asked to meet with Mrs. Wood as soon as they have settled into their classes. Discussion topics will include course selection, work load, secondary transition to college/university/workplace, expected level of support and personal updates. Up to now the LC has been open from 7:30 to 4:00pm everyday, including lunch hour. With EA support the LC will be open from 8:05 to 2:30 pm. Some of this time may be restricted to quiet individual study. Students are encouraged to come to the LC for quiet work, computer use or group discussion.

IEP’s should have arrived. Please read them over, make comments, sign the consultation form and have your student return the consultation sheet to BDHS in September. You may wish to drop it off during registration. Literacy testing through EQAO will be held in March 2006. This extension will give the 10’s a good chance at preparing for the literacy test.

Daily Schedule Regular Day

Classrooms Open	7:50
Warning Bell	8:00, 8:02
PERIOD 1	8:05 – 9:20
Break	9:20 – 9:28
PERIOD 2	9:28 – 10:43
Lunch	10:43 – 11:32
Warning Bell	11:27, 11:29
PERIOD 3	11:32 – 12:47
Break	12:47 – 12:55
PERIOD 4	12:55 – 2:10

Early Release Day

Classrooms Open	7:50
Warning Bell	8:00, 8:02
PERIOD 1	8:05 – 8:50
PERIOD 2	8:50 – 9:40
Break	9:40 – 9:50
PERIOD 3	9:50 – 10:40
PERIOD 4	10:40 – 11:30
Lunch	11:30 – 12:20

Registration Fee Fees and subject supplies required by students taking particular subjects are all outlined below. We ask that, if at all possible, all of these fees be paid at registration while we are set up with sufficient secretarial service and composite receipts. As well, early payment ensures that students will be properly equipped and able to fully participate in classroom instruction right from opening day. We thank you for your consideration in this regard.

All Lambton-Kent District School Board secondary students must pay a registration fee. This enables students to participate in clubs, intramurals, and dances and to obtain a student card. The fee this year is $20.00.

Subject Fees

●Art Students taking Grade 10 and 11 Art will be required to pay a $7.00 fee. Grade 12 students pay a $10.00 fee to cover the cost of supplies.

●Business Students taking classes in (BBI2O1, BTA3O1, BTX4C1) are required to pay a fee of $4.00 for colour printing services. Individual subject teachers will advise students regarding notebook requirements. Students enrolled in accounting are strongly recommended to purchase a student workbook to supplement course curriculum.

Students taking Entrepreneurship (BDI3C1) are to pay a fee of $25.00.

●French Students are encouraged to have a French-English/English-French dictionary. The Pocket Larousse Dictionary is recommended. All students must have a loose-leaf notebook. Workbook fees are: FSF2D - $8.50

FSF3U - $10.00

●Mathematics All students in Math should come prepared with the following items:

· 3 ring binder with paper

· graph paper

· ruler and pencils

· calculator for all levels – scientific calculators are recommended

●Music Musical instruments, reeds, oils, and other equipment will be supplied. Students are to have a 3 ring binder for class.

●Physical & Uniforms will be available at registration. The cost will be $15.00 for shorts and $15.00

Health Education for T-shirts. Along with a uniform, students should also have a gym bag, white socks, light-soled shoes, deodorant and a towel. For outdoor classes during cold weather, each student should have available a long-sleeved sweater and long pants. The cost for each course is as follows:

PPL 1OW/1OY	$15.00	Pool, Arena, CPR Training
PPL 2OW/2OY	$15.00	Pool, Arena, Outdoor Education
PPL 3O1	$30.00	Golf, Curling, Pool, Arena, Bus
PAF 3O1	$30.00	Pool, Fitness Clubs, Bus, Rock Climbing
PPL 4O1	$30.00	Golf, Curling, Canoeing, Pool, Area, Bus
PLC 4C1	$40.00	Pool, Bus, Outdoor Education
PSE 4U1	$30.00	Exercise Science Workbook, Bus

●Science Students are required to have the following supplies:

· Geometry set

· Calculator

· Metric ruler

· Plain paper

· Graph paper and a 3 ring binder used exclusively for Science

Students taking SPH3U1 and SPH4C1 are required to pay a lab fee of $7.00.

●Technological All students in senior courses should consider obtaining the basic instruments/tools

Studies pertaining to their area of interest/studies. Information on items required and sources of purchase may be obtained on opening day.

A $2.00 fee for the rental of safety glasses will be charged to the students taking any course that begins with TMJ, TCJ, or TTJ. TGJ3M1 and TGJ4M1 students are asked to pay $7.00 for supplies.

●Yearbook Place your order for the 2005-2006 Blenheim Bobcat Yearbook at registration. This year’s book will cost $40.00. This year the Yearbook will be designed by our Yearbook classes.

A few copies of last year’s Yearbook are still available. Please call the school and reserve your copy. Yearbooks are distributed in October.

●Graduation June 2006 graduating students are asked to pay $25.00 for graduation fees.

●Paper $7.00 is assigned to all students to assist in the paper costs associated with photocopying materials that is not available in textbooks or other research formats.

●Field Trip $5.00 is assigned to all students for use of the school’s highway cruiser bus for the

Bus Levy various field trips and sporting events. A number of staff has become certified to drive the bus to further lower costs associated with field trips.

●Locks & Lockers Students will be assigned to a locker the first day of school by their homeroom teacher. Locks found on lockers prior to the first day of school will be cut off. For the protection of both students and school supplies, we ask all students to please have school combination locks on their lockers as soon as possible. Remember, do not let anyone know your combination and do not share your locker. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen articles. Mark all valuables with some identifying symbol. Do not take money to your Physical Education class. Leave anything of value in your locked locker. Homeroom teachers will request the locker combination and the serial number of your lock the first day of school. Locks are available for $5.00 at registration or in the main office.

Bobcat Due to the rapidly rising costs of athletics, BDHS will be charging a user fee for all sports.

Athletics The cost is $30 per major sport and $20 per minor sport.

Major Sports Basketball Minor Sports Badminton

Football Cross Country

Soccer Curling

Volleyball Golf

Tennis

Players must take care of all fees prior to their first game.

Replacement We are implementing a new “lost copy” policy. A student who loses their copy of a

Copies timetable, report card, option sheet, etc. are going to be charged $1.00 to receive another copy.

Report Cards We have withheld report cards from students who have not yet fulfilled last year’s responsibilities for such items as textbooks or library books. If you feel that an error has been made, please come to the main office prior to registration. These outstanding obligations must be cleared up before you can register at BDHS or any other high school.

Synervoice In order to improve communication between BDHS and parents, the office will be using an automated call home system called Synervoice. This computerized system will inform parents of a student’s absence during the school day. Parents are still expected to call the school on the day of the absence or send a note, explaining the absence.

Opening Day This is a full day of classes, beginning at 8:05 am. Students are expected to have a

Tuesday, notebook, pen or pencil, as regular teaching will occur. Any student not attending

September 6 opening day risks being excluded from their classes, which may be over crowded. Our daily schedule will be as follows:

8:05 – 9:20 - To homeroom and Period 1

9:20 – 9:28 - Break

9:28 – 10:43 - Period 2

10:43 – 11:32 - LUNCH (caf is open)

11:32 – 12:47 - Period 3

12:44 – 12:55 - Break

12:55 – 2:10 - Period 4

Dates to September 8 Niner’s Night

Remember September 12 Picture Day

September 15 School Council Meeting

September 23 Red Feather Weekend

September 28 Early Release Day

October 6 Commencement

October 10 Thanksgiving

October 28 P. A. Day

November 3 Early Release Day

November 3 School Council Meeting

November 8 Take Your Kids to Work Day

November 17 Mid-term Report Cards go home

November 22 Parent’s Night

December 2 P.A. Day

School Council The School Council is an advisory panel consisting of parents, students, community

representatives and school staff. Nominations for the representatives to BDHS’s school

council will be received during the first week of September. All nominees are invited to

attend the September 15, 2005 meeting, where the 2005-2006 Council will be formed.

Student Council &

Student Athletic

Association

Executive

STUDENT COUNCIL		STUDENT ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
Prime Minister	Nick Authier	Co-Presidents	Chantel Louwerse Heather Terris
Deputy Prime Minister	Charles Stover	Secretary	Laura Maynard
Secretary	Kelley Anderson	Treasurer	Shantel Vaughan
Treasurer	Matt Randle	Special Events	Amy Rodgers
Social Convenor	Tom Mifflin	Intramural Reps	Bev Brush Addison Ebert
Charity Reps	Trish Dusten Rebecca Webster
Grade Reps	12 – Vanessa Burke 11 – Wade Vermeersch 10 – Erie Snobelen 9 –
Executive Assistants	Jen Vaughan Shane Houston
United Way Ambassadors	Vanessa Burke Ashton Stefina Jolene McKillop