Recent events in the HRSB
Sackville High Marks International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia
Sackville High School's GSA recently held a day of fun and adventure to
celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
Students had a 'dress the rainbow' contest, a dance jam in the foyer,
a face painting celebration and a rainbow banner signing. Students and
staff were also invited to wear rainbow ribbons. Fun was had by all!
Math On!
Congratulations to everyone who participated in the Regional and Provincial
Math On Olympiads. A total of 48 schools and 576 students throughout the
province competed for the coveted Math On Trophy and Engineering Challenge
Trophy which were both awarded to Gorsebrook Junior High School
(photo above). Also a special congratulations to Bedford Junior High School
who placed a very tight second (photo below).
For more Math On standings, click here.
Halifax Regional Heritage Fair
More than 30 student presenters from Grades 4-7 demonstrated how they
brought history to life at the Halifax Regional Heritage Fair last week.
The Heritage Fair is a bilingual initiative that encourages students to explore
different aspects of Canadian heritage. It took place at the Maritime Museum
of the Atlantic. Six students were chosen to participate in the Provincial Fair
on May 31st at Pier 21. Congratulations to all who participated!
Support for BJH's Destination Imagination Team
Bedford Junior High students Robin Wells, Aiden Deveau, Tristan Kays and
Noah Bugden with teacher Mme Julia Hill were recently presented with a
cheque for $500 from Colin MacDonald, President of the Chickenburger.
The funds are to support the cost of airfare for these students representing
HRSB at the World Destination Imagination World Competition at the end of
May in Knoxville, Tennessee. Thanks, Mr. MacDonald!
Celebrating Multi-Culturalism at Clayton Park
Clayton Park Junior High recently hosted a multi-cultural festival to celebrate
the wide range of diversity at the school. The morning assembly included
guest speakers, student presentations about experiences as newcomers
and performances by the band students. In the afternoon, Grade 9 students
set up their "Welcome to our Country" projects that they had been working
on for two months. Students visited the presentations and had to get
passports stamped for the countries they visited and complete a scavenger
hunt for information.
CTV Morning Live host, Cyril Lunney attended the event and recorded parts
of it for broadcast. CTV also recorded students saying “you are watching
CTV Morning Live” in various languages. Thanks to Ms. Theriault, Ms. Dumay,
Mr. Baker, Ms. Mothana, Ms. Matthews and Ms. Toulany for organizing this
wonderful experience for students and staff.
Caldwell Road Represents Atlantic Canada in Virtual Assembly on Science
Congratulations to the students in Mr. Thomas’s Grade 4/5 class at Caldwell
Road Elementary! The class recently participated in the International Flame
Challenge. More than 20,000 students from around the world critiqued
scientists answering the question ‘what is time?’
Caldwell Road was picked to live stream with Alan Alda (host and former
M*A*S*H star) with 9 other schools from North America. Grade 4/5 Thomas
was one of only two schools in Canada chosen to participate. Well done!
Bedford South Cleans Up
On April 19th, 390 students and staff from Bedford South School spent
the afternoon caring for the school, the community and the planet.
Together, they collected more than 200kg of garbage from the school
grounds and surrounding community. Their efforts were part of the
Clean Across Nova Scotia campaign, promoted by the provincial department
of the environment. Great job!
Duc d'Anville's Global Village
During the week of April 22nd -April 26th, Duc d’Anville celebrated being
a global village. Staff and students displayed their understanding of other
cultures in a number of ways, including artwork, music, dance, drumming,
and display boards. A kick-off assembly highlighted flags from around the
world. Some students wore their country’s traditional dress in a celebration
of fashion and then four Halifax West students performed a Diwali dance.
Other events during the week included class to class presentations,
guest readers and a global open house for families and community members.
On the final day, the school came together to celebrate and recognize the
diversity within the building and the community. A PowerPoint presentation
showing the events of the week and the Principal Leger’s message that even
though we come from many countries and cultures, we have shown that we
can all come together and realize the power of one, inspired students, staff,
and guests to be the best they can be.
Dartmouth All-City Music Performs "If I Were a Blackbird"
Staff and students from the Dartmouth All-City Music Program performed
Glenn Walton's If I Were A Blackbird at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
recently. The musical is about Helen Creighton.
Porters Lake Elementary Hosts Students from L’nu Sipu’k Kina’matnuokuom
A class of Grade 3/4 students at Porters Lake Elementary School (PLES)
recently played host to a group of students from L’nu Sipu’k Kina’matnuokuom (LSK),
the Mi'kmaq school in Indian Brook. The students from LSK, ranging from Grades 3-6,
shared their inspiring culture with singing, drumming and dancing while wearing
traditional regalia. The students also enjoyed getting outdoors to do some geocaching
using handheld GPS units and spent some time playing an indigenous stick dice game.
Lunch was served and an art project based on the newly published book,
The Lost Teachings / Panuijkatasikl Kina’masuti’lby by Mike Issac and Dozay
Christmas was completed. The students thoroughly enjoyed their time together
and plans are being made for PLES students to attend Treaty Day events which
take place at LSK in October.
Board Recognizes Student Art
Twelve students were recently recognized by the Governing Board for their
anti-bullying artwork. The students were presented with their original artwork
mounted on a plaque. The art is also on display at Halifax Regional School
Board's Central Office. Congratulations and well done!
Halifax Central Marks Day of Silence
The Halifax Central Junior High GSA organized a school-wide assembly and
Day of Silence on April 19. The Day of Silence is a day during which thousands
of schools and universities around the world choose to participate in a silent
protest against homophobia. Anti-GLBTQ language, harassment and bullying
silences many GLBTQ people every day. This event draws attention to the
importance of supporting GLBTQ youth in our schools and communities and
calls students to take action against homophobia. This is Halifax Central's
6th year to participate in the important event, with more than 150 students
and staff members taking part. Participants wore stickers to indicate why
they are choosing to be silent. The Halifax Central GSA encourages all schools
to participate in next year’s Day of Silence. For more information about this
international event, go to www.dayofsilence.org.
Sir Robert Borden Celebrates Dance
Students at Sir Robert Borden (SRB) participated in the national dance week
recently. Each day, students did 20 minutes of dance. These dances included
a conga line through the hallways, kickboxing to music and dancing to the SRB
song mash-up.
Five Bridges Students Take a Vow of Silence for the Day
More than 100 students participated in the Day Of Silence at Five Bridges
Junior High School. Students participate in the Day of Silence by taking a
vow of silence throughout the school day, unless asked to participate in
class. The event is designed to illustrate the silencing effect of anti-LGBTQ
harassment and discrimination. The school GSA, called The Free To Be Me
Club, meets weekly and involves more than 30 students who are committed
to promoting acceptance and respect for all students regardless of their
gender or sexual orientation, as well as providing support for LGBTQ Youth.
The Free To Be Me Club organized and promoted the event.
Duncan MacMillan Students Score High Marks in Scholastic Challenge
The Grade 8 Scholastic Challenge results are in and five of Duncan MacMillan
High School students scored at, or higher than the national average! Certificate
of Merit from Scholastic along with an Eagle Growth Acknowledgement from
the school were presented to Roscoe Schofield, Melanie Munroe, Allie DeWolfe,
Mallory Lace, and Dylan Norwood! Congratulations!
Elementary Students Trained as Playground Activity Leaders
More than 80 students from Smokey Drive, Cavalier, Beaver Bank Monarch,
Gertrude Parker, Hillside and Sycamore Lane elementary schools recently
gathered to celebrate the Playground Activity Leaders in Schools (PALS)
program. The PALS program teaches leadership skills, conflict resolution
strategies and active games to upper elementary students who then become
school leaders on the playground. The student conference included three
sessions on PALS skills and a keynote address from local ParaSport athlete
Nicole Durand.
Elizabeth Sutherland School Honours Day of Silence
Students at Elizabeth Sutherland School (ESS), led by the Gay Straight
Alliance (GSA), joined together to mark the Day of Silence in support of
those whose voices are not heard. Students from Grade 3 to Grade 9
were invited to participate for the day, and all students were asked to
participate for a single hour. The GSA created a video to explain and
promote the day. Almost all students participated for the hour and
more than half of the students chose to be silent for the full day.
This was the first time that ESS had joined in this cause and it was
a wonderful experience.
Ash Lee Jefferson Celebrates French Culture
The French Immersion students Ash Lee Jefferson Elementary recently
participated in a French Culture Day. The activities included making flags
from French speaking countries around the world, eating rappie pie,
learning a hip hop dance with a French teacher (pictured above) and
participating in a tintamarre. A tintamarre is celebrated on Acadian Day,
August 15, and it is a parade in which you dress up in the colours of
the flag and make noise. The tintamarre is popular in Acadian areas
in New Brunswick.
Auschwitz Survivor Visits St. Agnes Junior High
This week, Philip Riteman visited students and staff at St. Agnes Junior
High. Mr. Riteman is an Auschwitz Holocaust survivor who shared a
message of hope. His courage to speak out over the years has educated
many on the danger of intolerance. He spoke of the need for values,
common humanity and most importantly, of love and not hatred. Mr. Riteman’s
visit was the idea and work of Student Council, in particular, Co-President
Emma Edmonds who is pictured above with Mr. Riteman. Thank you,
Mr. Riteman, for bringing your stories and inspiration to St. Agnes.
Lockview High Students' Experiment Performed in Space
Students at Lockview High School had the opportunity to see one of
their experiments performed by Commander Chris Hadfield on the
International Space Station this week. Grade 10 students Kendra Lemke
and Meredith Faulkner submitted an experiment idea to the Canadian
Space Agency last fall. They wanted to know what would happen
when you wring out a wet cloth in zero gravity. Nearly 100 entries
from across the country were submitted. A panel of judges chose
Lemke and Faulkner’s experiment to be performed in space.
Astronaut David Saint-Jacques (pictured above) emceed the event,
which was broadcast to the entire Lockview student body. To view
a video of Commander Hadfield performing the experiment, click here.
Following the experiment, Commander Hadfield answered questions
about life in space posed by Lockview students. Congratulations to
everyone involved!
Congratulations to Fairview Junior High 'Appstronauts!'
Congratulations to the Fairview Junior High School team, The Fairview
Appstronauts who placed first in the Girls' Tech League Competition that
was held at MSVU this past weekend. The event was sponsored by
Comp Camp, WISE Atlantic and Students in Business.
The Girls' Tech League provides an opportunity for Halifax-area girls
in Grades 7 to 9 to explore the world of digital technology. By using
visual programming to create an app, build a business plan and
envision their bright ideas, the girls learn hard skills while having fun
and working in a team environment. Teams from Highland Park Junior
High, Fairview Junior High School and Bicentennial Junior High School
participated in the event. Congratulations to all of you!
Citadel 'Hoops it Up' for Best Buddies
Students and staff at Citadel High School recently held a lunchtime basketball
shooting competition to raise money and awareness for the Best Buddies
program. The event was featured on CTV Morning Live.
CPA's Pride Orientation and Awareness Day
On April 11, students and staff at CP Allen High School celebrated its
first-ever Pride Orientation and Awareness Day. The day-long event
was organized by the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) and its purpose
was to help students and staff gain a deeper understanding of issues
and experiences of the LGBT+ community.
The GSA organized a series of workshops and invited a variety of guest
speakers into the school to help educate and empower students and staff
to create a more open and accepting school climate for everyone. power
students and staff to create a more open and accepting school climate for
everyone.
Nelson Whynder Students Prep New Books for Library
Nelson Whynder Elementary's Grade 5-6 Leadership team recently helped
to label hundreds of new books for their school library and classrooms.
The books were purchased with their Indigo Love of Reading Grant.
Nelson Whynder received $30,000 in Spring 2012 and is looking forward
to diving into all of their beautiful new books! Nelson Whynder Elementary
encourages other schools in HRSB to apply for this grant.
Sir Charles Tupper Students Connect with Ugandan Students
Grade 3 students at Sir Charles Tupper are taking part in a project called
CHAT to the Future which supports children in Uganda. Recently, they
worked with the Centre for Entrepreneurship Education & Development
(CEED) to develop a small business of greeting cards depicting iconic
Nova Scotia scenes to raise money to support students in Uganda.
Tupper students have been using Skype to chat with their newfound
Ugandan friends. They are learning about the value of sharing, world
issues and cross-border friendships. They have even done a yoga
class together via Skype!
The Grade 3 students raised $1700 for CHAT for the Future. Over the
coming months, the students will learn how their Ugandan friends will benefit
from this money. Thanks to Sir Charles Tupper teachers Laura Kennedy and
Lenore Black for their leadership on this project! Well done, everyone!
For more about CHAT to the Future, click here.
Lockview Receives $25,000 Future Shop Grant
Congratulations to Lockview High School students and staff - recipients
of the Future Shop Future Generation Tech Lab Grant! The school
recently received $25,000 to purchase new technology including
interactive white boards, tablets, document cameras and projectors, etc. .
Lockview High School is one of 12 schools in Canada to receive a cash
grant from Future Shop this year. Since 2008, Future Shop has awarded
more than 48 schools with the resources needed to update classroom
technology necessary to inspire, motivate and empower today's students.
Thank you, Future Shop!
Park West Staff Lights It Up Blue for Autism Awareness
On April 2, students and staff throughout the Halifax Regional School
Board marked World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) by wearing the
colour blue. The purpose of WAAD is to shine a light on autism as a
growing global health concern and the importance of early diagnosis
and early intervention.
Next Stop, Tennessee!
On March 23, four grade seven students from Bedford Junior High
placed first in the Engineering Challenge at the Destination Imagination
Competition held at Auburn Drive High School. Students Aiden Deveau,
Tristan Kays, Noah Bugden and Robin Wells created a 98g structure
made of bamboo and duct tape which held 585 pounds.
This team along with their science teacher, Mme Julia Hill will travel to
the Global Finals Tournament in Knoxville, Tennessee at the end of May.
Teams from Ellenvale Junior High and Eric Graves Junior High will also
attend the Finals in Knoxville. Congratulations!
Alderney Celebrates Purple Day
After having a guest speaker in to talk about epilepsy, students at Alderney
Elementary decided they wanted to recognize World Epilepsy Day by
wearing purple. There was a very large turnout and this photo shows
a small sampling of the students and staff who took part in the day.
Minister Visits Sir Charles Tupper
Education Minister Ramona Jennex recently visited a Grade 2 class at
Sir Charles Tupper School to celebrate Canadian Agriculture Literacy Week.
Minister Jennex read a book about farming to the students and discussed
the importance supporting farmers and agriculture industry.
Brookside Junior High Celebrates Purple Day
Students and staff throughout HRSB helped to raise awareness of
epilepsy on March 26, 2013 by wearing the colour purple for the day.
Brookside Junior High School student Cassidy Megan is the founder of
Purple Day. Halifax West MP Geoff Regan introduced the Purple Day Act
in the House of Commons last year. The day was marked in more than
70 countries this year.
Congratulations, LDP Graduates!
Congratulations to the teachers who recently completed the Leadership
Development Program. Best of luck on your leadership journey ahead!
Parents as Career Coaches
Fairview Junior High School hosted a Parents as Career Coaches session
earlier this month. More than 20 parents and guardians from the FJHS
community attended the informative workshop that was facilitated by
Teresa Francis.
ESDH Boys Hockey Division 2 Champs
Congratulations to the Eastern Shore District High Schooners for winning
the Division 2 provincial hockey title this past weekend in New Glasgow.
They beat the NKEC Titans 2-1 for the championship.
CPA Boys Claim Hockey Title
Congratulations to the Charles P. Allen Cheetahs boys hockey team for
winning the Division 1 Provincial title. The Cheetahs defeated Citadel 5-2
on Sunday in Sydney.
Fairview Heights Students on Love
On February 13th, C100's Moya Farrell visited Gail Sampson's Grade 1
class at Fairview Heights to talk to the students about the meaning of
Valentine's Day. Moya asked students to explain what love means to them,
how old you should be to go on a date and how you know when two
people love one another. Student responses were played on air on the
C100 Breakfast Club program on Valentine's Day morning.
Books for Dutch Settlement
Members of the Milford District Lions Club recently presented Dutch
Settlement Elementary School with 5 books for the school library.
All of the books were written by local authors and were featured at the
local library during literacy week activities. Thanks, Lions!
Atlantic View Nordic Pole Walks On!
Atlantic View Elementary hosted Dr. Klaus Schwanbeck on Thursday,
February 28th to present and demonstrate the physical activity of Nordic
Pole Walking. Dr. Schwanbeck is a leading expert on Nordic Pole Walking
in Europe and North America and engaged with the students by explaining
the health benefits of pole walking and led them in fun exercises and
activities with the poles.
The school received a Healthy Active Living Grant last spring to purchase
the poles and pedometers. The school holds regular walks during lunchtimes
and special walks on the Lawrencetown Trail throughout the year. Colleen
Jones from CBC Television visited during the session and become a Nordic
Pole Walking convert!
Much Music visits ESDH
Eastern Shore District High (ESDH) Student, Brooke Leahy (right) entered
a contest to win a Much Music Video Dance sponsored by Subway. With
an overwhelming amount of support, students managed to win against
schools across Canada. Much Music VJ Phoebe Dykstra (left) flew in
from Toronto to make the dance an unforgettable night at ESDH.
ESDH held their dance on Wednesday, March 6th. Footage from the
night will air during New.Music.Live. on Monday, March 18th at 7:00pm.
ESDH Student Council Co-Presidents Megan Chisling and Tyler Sweeney
with Much Music VJ Phoebe Dykstra.
Park West: A Welcoming School
Park West School is one of the most multicultural schools in Nova Scotia.
Presently, students at Park West School speak over 53 different languages
from 50 different countries. English as an Additional Language Consultants
from Ontario and PEI, who were presenters for provincial professional
development, had the opportunity to visit Park West School recently and
meet the principal, Derek Carter. They visited classes to view EAL best
practices for English language development. Visitors were very impressed
and inspired with the great work happening at Park West School. Many
thanks for Park West School continually being a welcoming school to new
arrivals to HRM.
Harry R. Hamilton's New Playground
The Harry R. Hamilton School Community recently celebrated the official
opening of the new playground. Grade 2 student Katie Reteff cut the ribbon
to open the playground to her classmates. Pictured along with Katie are (L-R)
are Tim Chisholm (parent volunteer), Brad Johns (HRM councillor), Matt Whynott
(MLA) and Dave Wright (Board Member). Students and the community have
been enjoying the new playground since mid-November.
John MacNeil Students Test Their African Heritage Knowledge
John MacNeil Elementary students pose with their African Heritage Month
quiz boxes. As part of the school's celebration, each class creates a quiz
answer box decorated according to a select African Heritage theme. Each
day during the month of February, students are asked two African Heritage
Month quiz questions. Answers are placed in the boxes and brought to the
main office and winners are chosen each day. The two classes with the
most beautiful quiz boxes, as voted by community members, also win
prizes at the end of the month.
Chinese New Year at Bedford South
Students at Bedford South School recently celebrated Chinese New
Year. Grade 9 students created the dragon pictured below. The
Year 2013 is the Year of the Snake.
High School Students Act for AIDS
Prince Andrew recently held an 'Acts for Aids' fundraiser to raise funds
and awareness for the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Eleven HRSB high
schools participated in a wide range of performances including music,
dance, comedy and spoken word. More than 700 students from across
metro were in attendance. Dartmouth High School's Eric Martin was the
winner of the event. Congratulations to all!
Ujamaa: Success is a Journey
Last week, students in Grades 6-12 gathered at Mount Saint Vincent
University (MSVU)for an African Heritage Conference for youth.
The conference was called "Ujamaa: Success is a Journey," and focused
on the success in the African Nova Scotian community. Former Halifax
Rainmen Centre Eric Crookshank (pictured above) spoke about the challenges
he had to overcome in his life to achieve his goals in his keynote address.
Thanks to Ian David, Ashley Taylor, Cindy Cain, Damon Cole, Ira Fraser and
Rainie Williams for helping to plan the conference. Special thanks to
Dr. Ramona Lumpkin, President of MSVU for sponsoring the event. It was
a great success!
Leslie Thomas Teacher Named Distinguished Educator
Carole Foran-Swinkels, the SLD teacher at Leslie Thomas Junior High
was awarded Mensa Canada's Distinguished Educator Award for 2012.
She attended a luncheon at Mensa's annual general meeting where she
as presented the award for outstanding contributions to the life of a
Mensan. A plaque was also given to Leslie Thomas Junior High School
February 1st. Mrs. Swinkels is shown here with her student Ben Schmidl
who wrote about the teacher who made a difference in his education.
Congratulations!
Chebucto Heights Demonstrates Cooperation
Students in Ms. Williams & Ms. Clarke’s Grade 5 class at Ecole Chebucto
Heights school recently did a presentation on cooperation at a monthly
High 5 assembly. The students made this beautiful puzzle design of joined
hands to show cooperation. They then cooperated to put the pieces
of the puzzle together!
Five Bridges Students Learn New Ways to Bowl
Students from the Learning Centre at Five Bridges Junior High recently
went bowling at Bowlarama. For the first time, Matthew was able to
partake in the activity thanks to Bowlarama's special ramp.
Halifax Central Read 209,692 Pages in Challenge
Halifax Central Junior High recently held a reading challenge called
Hurricanes Read. Students have been challenged to record the number
of pages they have read. From the student body of 189 students ,
44 students read more than 1000 pages, 10 read more than 2000 pages,
5 read more than 3000 pages, 2 read more than 4000 pages, 1 read more
than 5000 pages, 2 read more than 6000 pages, 1 read more than 9000
pages and 1 read more than 10,000 pages. The grand total of pages read
was 209,692 pages! The Home and School Association, Woozles, and
our local corner stores (Triple A and Jubilee Junction) supplied prizes
for the eager readers. Great work!
Bell Let's Talk Day at Gorsebrook
February 12 is Bell Let's Talk Day! For every text message sent and every
long distance call made by a Bell or Bell Aliant customer, Bell will give 5
cents to help fund mental health initiatives across Canada! Bell will also
donate 5 cents for every Tweet that contains the hashtag #BellLetsTalk
and every Facebook share of the Bell Let's Talk image.
Let's Talk Day Spokesperson Seamus O'Regan and Kid's Help Phone
Counsellor Lucas Allard visited Gorsebrook Junior High School students
in Grades 7 and 8 to talk about the importance of speaking up about mental
health issues.
Two HRSB Principals Honoured Among Canada's Best
Two HRSB principals - Karen Webber (L), principal of Oyster Pond
Academy and Karyn Cooling (R), principal of Cunard Junior High,
have been chosen as two of Canada’s Outstanding Principals for 2013
by The Learning Partnership. They are among 51 principals from across
the country and the only two from Nova Scotia to be honoured with this
distinction. Click here to read the news release.
Sharing a Love of Reading
To mark Literacy Week 2013, players on the Halifax West hockey team
read to students at Grosvenor-Wentworth Park School!
Pulitzer Prize Winning Composer Works With MSMS Band
Emmy Award and Pulitzer Prize winning composer Michael Colgrass
visited Madeline Symonds Middle School (MSMS) to work with 180
students in the band program on Friday, February 1. Colgrass lives in
Toronto, but was in N.S. for the week to attend the Shattering the Silence
Music Festival at Acadia University.
Colgrass uses a method of composing music called graphic notation,
or when you use images to represent sound. This method of teaching
music composition was recently adopted into the N.S. music curriculum
for junior high school students. During his session at MSMS, he talked
about his life as a professional musician, answered questions from
students and coached them in the art of graphic notation.
Thank you, Michael Colgrass!
Students Give Hope to Injured Wildlife by Collecting Recyclables
Grade 6 students Danielle and Abbie have been collecting recyclable
containers at Colby Village Elementary School (CVES) for nearly a year.
Their goal was to raise money for Hope Swinimer's 'Hope for Wildlife,'
an animal rehabilitation and education centre in Seaforth, N.S.
During CVES's History Fair last year, they collected $75 in donations for
Hope for Wildlife. They then approached the school, hoping to collect enough
recyclables to make a larger commitment which included helping to feed,
care for and shelter injured wildlife. To date, Danielle and Abbie have
collected more than $576! Every week they are collecting more bottles
and cans. Well done!
Sackville Centennial Thanks President's Choice
Students from Sackville Centennial recently delivered letters of
appreciation to President’s Choice Children’s Charity for its generous
donation to the school's breakfast program. Students then took part in
a shopping trip to the Sackville Superstore to purchase items for the
program.
Dr. Martin Luther King Peace Awards at Nelson Whynder
Nelson Whynder Elementary School marked Dr. Martin Luther King's
birthday on January 15. Six students received Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr. Peace Awards for being peace leaders in their classes and in the
school. Congratulations!
Sackville High Students Create Mural for Anchor Industries
Anchor Industries Society (AIS) is a non-profit organization that offers
employment and community options to people with special needs including
many former HRSB students from the Sackville, Fall River and Bedford areas.
Work placements at Anchor Industries have become part of many transition
plans for students over its 30 years in operation.
To help raise awareness of the services and supports provided to individuals
with special needs, the Grade 12 Art students at Sackville High designed and
painted an 8 by 16-foot mural entitled 'Building Futures'. The Building Futures
mural is now installed on the front of the building at 61 Glendale Ave. Great job,
students!
This was a wonderful opportunity for both AIS and Sackville High.
Inglis Street Students Attend Peace Conference
Grades 5 and 6 students from Inglis Street School participated in a Student
Peace Conference at St. Mary’s University last week. The conference theme
was "Tolerance, Acceptance and Human Rights." It was an opportunity for
participants to engage in fun activities and interesting dialogue focused on
what peace means for themselves and for their communities. Premier Darryl
Dexter and St. Mary’s University President Colin Dodds dropped
by for a visit and to welcome the students.
Minister of Technology Visits FJHS
Federal Minister of State (Science and Technology), The Honourable
Gary Goodyear, visited Fairview Junior High school this week and spoke
to Grade 8 students about the importance of focusing on science and
technology in school. His address was followed by a question and
answer session that was enjoyed by all students and staff.
Michael Wallace Sponsors School in Kenya
Michael Wallace Elementary recently formed a partnership with Innovative
Communities Organization (ICO) and Mark and Jennifer Dull to sponsor
a school in Bondo, Kenya. The purpose of the partnership is to give students
real-world experience and to teach them what global citizenship really means.
Students raised $1232.00 with a penny campaign, a yard sale and collecting
recyclables. The money will pay for a water tank for the school in Kenya. Mark
and Jennifer visited the school to show students a video of the water tank being
installed. Students presented Mark and Jennifer with a cheque and pen pal letters
for students they have been corresponding with. Well done, Michael Wallace!
Shannon Park's Mock Election
Government came to life at École Shannon Park School this past October.
Fourteen municipal candidates kept the Grade 6 and the 4/5 classes
spellbound for an hour. They spoke about the importance of youth, the
role of government in our culture, and why the students should vote.
Students did research, took notes, shared their impressions and voted.
Shannon Park's election was won by Fred Connors, Sam Austin, Darren
Fisher, Gin Yee and Melinda Daye. A great start for future active citizens!
Colonel John Stuart Gives Back
In the spirit of giving at Christmas, students, staff, parents and guardians
at Colonel John Stuart gathered together to have breakfast with Santa
in the school gym in December. The annual fundraiser donates all profits
to the Westphal-Cole Harbour Fire Fighters Association, which supports
families at Christmas. This year, Colonel John Stuart presented a cheque
of $1342.80 to Ed Conrad and Derrick Harty who prepared and delivered
Christmas hampers and gifts to families in the community. Well done!
Central Spryfield Celebrates Writing
Michelle Snider's Grade 1 class at Central Spryfield School held an authors'
cafe recently to celebrate student writing. The cafe allowed students to share
the work they have done not only with their classmates and teacher, but also
with the special guests that they invited.
CPA Connects to Space Station
After a year of planning, students at CPA connected to Commander
Chris Hadfield (far right) via Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station (ARISS) on January 5, 2013. Former astronaut Marc Garneau
(above) attended the event and spoke to the crowd about what it's like
to live and work in space.
CPA students (below) asked Commander Hadfield a variety of questions,
including: what he eats in space, what music he listens to and medical
treatments and emergencies. The actual connection lasted about 5 minutes.
It was an exciting event for all involved!
To hear the ARISS exchange between CPA students and Commander
Hadfield, click here.
Concrete Roots at SRB
Urban dance group Concrete Roots recently visited Sir Robert Borden
Junior High School. Students participated in a variety of hip hop workshops.
The group's mandate is to provide physically active, cultural and leadership
opportunities to young people while at the same time, developing the urban
dance community in Atlantic Canada.
Marko Simmons Comes Home
Marko Simmonds, prestigious classical trained musician from North Preston,
visits Nelson Whynder Elementary School and engaged the students with
his presentation entitled "YES I CAN and YES I WILL." Marko shared his
journey in achieving his goals from age 4 until present day. Nelson Whynder
Elementary School gives thanks to their Indigo Love of Reading Grant for
supporting Marko Simmonds to share his artistic intelligence.
SJAM's New Playground
The St. Joseph’s – A. McKay community recently celebrated the opening
of the new playground. Former city councillor Jerry Blumenthal was on
hand to cut the ribbon and to mark the exciting occasion with SJAM
students, staff, parents and other community members. Many thanks to
all those who contributed in so many ways!
Celebrating 50 Years at Upper Musquodoboit
Upper Musquodoboit Consolidated School is celebrating its 50th anniversary
this year! To commemorate this milestone, some surprise guests took to the
stage during the school's recent holiday concert. Six students from the very
first grade primary class of 1962 made their way to Upper Musquodoboit to
share in the Christmas spirit. Later, all 6 women posed with the current grade
primary class for 2012. In the photo, back row, left to right are Colleen Cole
(Pettis), Ava Vacheresse (Stewart), Brenda Dykeman, Karen MacKay (Harnish),
Cindy Fleck (Rogers), Jackie Stewart (Gault).
Kwanzaa Celebrations at John MacNeil
At John MacNeil Elementary, students make a difference! The grade six
leadership team successfully wrote a persuasive letter to SchoolsPlus
to help obtain funding for a Kwanzaa presentation from The Maritime
Centre for African Dance. Drummers and dancers came to visit John
MacNeil Elementary with a high energy musical performance packed
with interactive songs, rhythms, dancing and history. The atmosphere
was rich with culture and excitement for learning!
Graham Creighton Supports Feed NS
Students and staff at Graham Creighton Junior High School competed in
a food drive challenge over the past two weeks. During the 12 Days of
Holidays Campaign, students and staff brought in more than 1900
non-perishable food items for Feed Nova Scotia. Way to go!
'Tis The Season For Giving
Students from Grosvenor Wentworth School presented Q104's Bobby Mac
with toys at the Empire Theatres Toy Drive. Bobby Mac dropped to the floor,
overwhelmed with their generosity! Grosvenor Wentworth students collect
toonies each year to buy toys for children who may otherwise go without.
When dropping the toys off, the students told Bobby Mac that the holiday
season is about giving to others, not getting.
O2 Class Helps to Make Boarding Buses Safer
Students in the O2 program at Sir John A recently built guide posts to
be used at Tantallon Elementary School. The colourful posts were
designed to look like Crayola crayons. They will be used to help guide
young students to and from their buses safely.
Students Celebrate International Day of Human Rights
Students from across Nova Scotia gathered at Millwood High School to
celebrate International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2012. The
theme of the day was: Voice It! Change It!
The day consisted of a harmony breakfast, student presentations (including
dance, drum, music and drama) and award presentations by the Nova Scotia
Human Rights Commission.
Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, His Honour Brigadier-General, the
Honourable J.J. Grant, CMM, ONS, CD (Ret'd) and MLA Hammonds Plains -
Upper Sackville Mat Whynot also attended the event.
Students Learn Roots of Empathy
Grade 6 students at St. Margaret’s Bay Elementary School recently
welcomed a new teacher: Baby Lila. The baby and her Mum Kersti
Tacreiter, along with the Roots of Empathy Instructor, Bernadette Fegan,
visit the class once a month as part of the internationally renowned
Roots of Empathy program. Over the nine themes of the program,
the students learn about and observe the different developmental
stages a baby goes through in the first year. The award-winning
Canadian program has been proven to reduce bullying and improve
parenting skills in students who have participated.
William King Pledges to End Bullying
One day each month at William King Elementary School students and staff
wear pink to reaffirm their commitment to stop bullying. Peter and Moya from
C100 recently joined the school community in reciting an anti-bullying pledge.
Harbour View Elementary's Maud Lewis Exhibit
Harbour View Elementary's Grade 4 class, with the help of parent,
community and staff volunteers, recently replicated the famous painted
house of Nova Scotia Folk Artist, Maud Lewis. The students learned
about Maud’s life and art through their own art-making and research.
They also drew inspiration from a tour of Maud’s house permanently
displayed in the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Afterwards, the students had
the opportunity to provide guided tours of their painted house to staff,
students, parents and community leaders from Harbour View. Above all,
through the exploration Maud’s art, the children not only created something
unique and beautiful, they learned the importance of finding happiness
by valuing the simpler things in life.
Transition Fair 2012
More than 350 participants attended Transition Fair 2012 held at the
Dartmouth Sportsplex on November 8th. It was an opportunity for students,
their families and educators to see what services and programs are available
for individuals with special needs as they leave the school system and access
the adult supports in the community.
A New School for South Dartmouth
On November 21, Labour and Advanced Education Minister Marilyn More
announced a new Primary-9 school for South Dartmouth. The new school
will replace Southdale-North Woodside elementary and Prince Arthur Junior
High when it opens in 2015. Pictured above are students from Southdale-North
Woodside who attended the announcement.
Click here to read the news release.
Lakefront Students Work With Local Artists
Students at Lakefront Consolidated Elementary School were engaged in
their Health Promoting Schools Community Project. The students worked
with three local artists to guide them as to how they see their community.
The artists will take their inspiring art and, by working with other community
members, create wood sculptures and 3D art that will surround their new
playground.
Holiday Concert Prep
Grade 5 students create paper mache props for Waverley Memorial's
upcoming holiday concerts on December 18 and 19.
St. Catherine's Supports UNICEF
On behalf of Ecole St. Catherine's School, grade 6 student Parker Verbroom
recently presented MP Megan Leslie a cheque for $500 to support UNICEF.
Grade 6 students raised the money at a Halloween dance. Well done, students!
Oldfield Students Celebrate Physical Activity and Breakfast
Students at Oldfield Consolidated Elementary recently participated in a
Walk to Breakfast event during International Walk to School Month in
October. Around the world, October is dedicated to the promotion of active
transportation to school and other places kids go. Active transportation
means any non-motorized mode of transportation.
Walk to Breakfast is a partnership of Breakfast Clubs of Canada and
the Ecology Action Centre.
Students started their day with physical activity around the school and
enjoyed a healthy breakfast afterwards.
Photo credits: Pat Healey, The Laker
Saint Stephen's Students Skype With Boston Students
Students at Saint Stephen's School recently met students in Boston via
Skype to learn about the history of Nova Scotia's annual Christmas tree
gift to Boston. Over the next few weeks, students will learn more about
the relationship between their two cities and the history of the Tree
Lighting in Boston.
Bedford South School Remembers
Bedford South School hosted a respectful Remembrance Day ceremony.
Attendees included MP Geoff Regan, MLA Kelly Regan, City Councillor
Tim Outhit, veterans of the community and members of the Bedford Legion.
The ceremony allowed students, staff and guests to reflect on war and
honour those who have served, all with a multicultural perspective.
A beautiful and moving morning!
New Board Members Take Oath of Office
Members of the Halifax Regional School Board took their Oath of Office
on November 7.
Photo (L-R): Bridget Boutilier, Melinda Daye, Nancy Jakeman, Gin Yee,
Steve Warburton, Sheryl Blumenthal-Harrison, Dave Wright, Christy Linders,
Kirk Arsenault and Cindy Littlefair.
Board members elected Gin Yee to serve as Chair and Steve Warburton
as Vice Chair. Both positions are for a one year term.
Dutch Settlement Students Play, Talk & Learn
Students in Mrs. Taylor's primary class at Dutch Settlement Elementary
School show off their Play-Talk-Learn kits. The resource was provided
by the NS Department of Education to all primary students to link learning
at home to the learning in school. The materials support learning through
creative play and conversation. The new resource complements Succeeding
in Reading as part of the Kids and Learning First education plan.
Stad Band Plays for Tantallon Elementary
The world famous Stadacona Band visited Tantallon Elementary recently
to play a children’s concert for students. It was an awesome experience for all!
Justin Trudeau visits Citadel High
Justin Trudeau recently visited students at Citadel High School. He hosted
a town hall type forum where he spoke about the importance of youth
engagement. Students asked questions of him in both official languages.
Photo: Citadel High co-presidents Julia Lawrence and Julia Morrison with
Justin Trudeau.
Harbour View Elementary Transforms School Grounds
Harbour View Elementary has transformed two areas on the school's
grounds which will both improve school climate and provide new areas
for learning.
The first improvement is the re-painting of a dilapidated rink area into a
more appealing place for children to play (see photo above). The second
improvement is the creation of an outdoor classroom and community garden
that will give students a place to learn about plants (see photo below).
There is also a small stage that can be used for theatrical productions!
Harbour View is thrilled with the improvements. Special thanks to the United Way,
Harbour View's Take Action Committee as well as the entire school community
for supporting these projects!
Elizabeth Sutherland Students Walk Across Canada!
To mark Walk to School Month, students at Elizabeth Sutherland are
walking across Canada! Elementary students measured the distance
around the building and determined that 3 circuits equals one km.
Students and staff have been walking during their lunch hour and in
Phys Ed class to improve our level of fitness as a school and to develop
an awareness of the geography of Canada. Daily targets are posted on
a map outside the office to show students how far the school community
has traveled. It has been wonderful to see how involved our students
have become in this challenge!
Crichton Park Students Take Part in Great Canadian Food Fight!
Crichton Park participated in the Great Canadian Food Fight with Feed
Nova Scotia recently. The school held a friendly competition between the
classes. Students brought in more than 2,330 food items to donate to needy
families through Feed Nova Scotia. The gentlemen who brought the truck to
pick up the goods were shocked at the amount of food one little school collected!
Westmount Students Meet Richard Zurawski
Richard Zurawski, meteorologist from News 95.7, recently spoke to
grade 5 students at Westmount School about weather.
Sycamore Lane Students Demonstrate Talking Circle
Students at Sycamore Lane Elementary demonstrate a talking circle for
Superintendent Judy White, Education Minister Ramona Jennex, Ministerial
Assistant for Youth Mat Whynott (on behalf of Justice Minister Ross Landry)
and local media yesterday at Sycamore Lane Elementary.
The demonstration was part of a media event to announce the expansion
of restorative approaches in schools, where students learn ways to manage
relationships and conflict by being encouraged to think about how their actions
affect others.
Nova Scotia will be the first Canadian jurisdiction to initiate a province-wide
restorative approach. To read the news release, click here.
Author Sheree Fitch visits Duc D'anville Students
Duc d’Anville students recently spent a wonderful afternoon with the
well-loved Canadian author, Sheree Fitch!
Fitch has authored many books for children, including ‘Toes in My Nose’
and ‘There Were Monkeys in My Kitchen." Duc d’Anville Students learned
a few tricks from the author, but most importantly, they experienced her
passion for reading and writing! Thanks for the visit!
Lockview Music Teacher Recognized by Prime Minister
Congratulations to Lockview High's music teacher Joe Cormier! Mr. Cormier
recently received a Prime Minister's Certificate of Achievement!
According to a parent who took part in the nomination application, "Mr. Cormier
doesn't just teach students, he builds great citizens. He respects each child
and in turn teaches them to respect themselves and others. He develops their
confidence by believing in them. They become better than they thought they
could be because he believes it is possible."
Mr. Cormier is one of only two teachers in Nova Scotia to receive the PMA
recognition for the 2012 year. Congratulations, Mr. Cormier!
To read more about Joe Cormier's award, click here.
Joseph Howe Part of World Record Attempt
Students at Joseph Howe Elementary recently took part in an attempt
to break a Guinness world record for the largest practical science lesson.
Thousands of students across Canada at 135 different sites did the exact
same experiment at the exact same time. Over the next few weeks,
organizers of the event will be collecting all the required evidence and
forwarding it to Guinness for the final number to be calculated and an
announcement will be made. Thanks to everyone who participated!
Dutch Settlement Celebrates National Tree Day
National Tree Day serves as a celebration for all Canadians to appreciate
the great benefits that trees provide: clean air, wildlife habitat and a
connection to nature. To mark the 2nd annual National Tree Planting Day,
MacPhee Landscaping planted a tree donated by Elmsdale Landscaping
for students of Dutch Settlement Elementary School.
ATV's Cindy Day visits Millwood Elementary
ATV meteorologist Cindy Day recently visited grade 5 Walker students
at Millwood Elementary to talk about weather and the field of meteorology.
Topics included clouds, seasonal trends and ongoing data collection.
Many thanks to ATV for allowing Cindy to share her time and knowledge
with students!
Terence Bay Students Celebrate Thanksgiving with Community
Terence Bay Elementary students entertain their guests after sharing a
delicious turkey dinner on the Friday before Thanksgiving. Every year the
school invites members of the community in for a Thanksgiving lunch.
Sackville Teacher Recognized for "A Day Made Better"
Gail Baird, a teacher at Sackville Heights Elementary, was recently
recognized by Grand & Toy with "A Day Made Better" award. She was
nominated by Dawn Lohnes a parent at Caudle Park, where Ms. Baird
had taught for the past eight years, for her excellent teaching and
motivational strategies, effective communication skills and her involvement
in school events. As one of 40 teachers from across Canada to be
recognized, Ms. Baird received school-related materials valued at $1500.
Ms. Baird is seated in the pictured above with (L to R) Shelley Morse,
NSTU president, Dawn Lohnes, parent nominator, and Geoff Hill, school
principal.
Halifax West Teacher Wins Educator of the Year Award!
Felicitations to Halifax West teacher Sandra Starratt, who
recently won the Canadian Parents for French (Nova Scotia)
Educator of the Year Award! This award recognizes French
Second Language educators in Nova Scotia and acknowledges
excellence in teaching, initiative and innovation. It also recognizes
a teacher's contribution to their profession, school and community.
To read about Mme Starratt's accomplishments, click here.
Photo: Sandra Starratt, Head of the Language Department at
Halifax West High School with Henry Annan, Dalhousie University
student, former French for the Future Ambassador, National Concours
d’art oratoire winner and Halifax West High School graduate.
HRSB Students Stand Up Against Bullying!
To see how our schools recognized the day, click here.
Staples Donates 500kg of School Supplies
Staples donated over 500 kg of school supplies to BBK recently through
the internal school nomination program. BBK was nominated by
Mr. Rob Hartlin, who has family attending BBK. The gift included a new
school camera, thumb drives, calculators and art and writing supplies.
Thank you Staples!
First Book Canada donates 800 books
Representatives of First Book Canada and local author James Leck
visited elementary students at Rockingstone Heights. They celebrated
reading with students and staff and made an incredible donation of
800 books to the school community! What a great start to the school year!
Thanks, First Book Canada!
Family Thanks Saint Mary's
Special thanks to the Singh family who presented Saint Mary's School
with a 50" Samsung television! Their daughters, Tanisha and Rashida
both attended Saint Mary's this past year. The Singh family is moving
back to India and wanted to thank the school community.
First Day of School
An eager student waits outside Park West School on the first day.
HRSB welcomed back 49,000 students this year!
Sometimes going into primary is harder for younger siblings than new
students! Tayma Elbatniji's little brother wasn't quite ready to let her
go to school without him at Park West on the first day of school.
Best of luck to all students and staff! Wishing you a wonderful year.