Dear Families,

I hope you are doing well.

Here is some information for this week:

Vaping Presentation

• Last week, grade 7 & 8 students welcomed a guest speaker from McGill University who delivered a presentation that focused on awareness and the impacts of vaping
• I have attached a letter to this email that contains more information as well as links to additional resources
• If you have any questions or would like more information, please reach out to our Drug Awareness Resource Team (DART) member, Mr. Elvis Heri Masoudi at:  EHMasudi@wqsb.qc.ca 

D’Arcy McGee Midterms

• Please note that our formal midterm session for D’Arcy students is February 2^nd – 6^th, 2026
• Attendance during midterms and final exams is mandatory and as per the Ministry of Education Guidelines, only the following reasons for student absences will be accepted:

·         Illness or accident confirmed by a medical report or certificate

·         Death of a close relative

·         A court summons

·         Participation in a provincial or national event

• Regular classes will be running during the times when your child does not have an exam scheduled
• I have attached the finalized midterm schedule to this email

Upcoming Dates

• December 22^nd – January 2^nd – Winter Break
• January 5^th – PD Day
• January 23^rd – PD Day
• February 2^nd – 6^th – Formal D’Arcy McGee Midterm Week

Have a great weekend!

Tara Laine Directrice Principal Symmes-D’Arcy McGee High School

Dear Families,

I hope you are doing well.

Here is some information for this week:

School Fees

• School fees can be viewed on the Parent Portal
• Online payments are preferred, and instructions can be found here:  https://symmesdarcy.westernquebec.ca/about/school-fees/
• You will need the statement of account open on the Parent Portal for the banking file number and the parent code
• Please note that the banking file number changes when your child transitions from Symmes to D’Arcy
• If you have questions, you can contact: infofinance@wqsb.qc.ca or reach out to Ms. Nadine Plourde at:  nplourde@wqsb.qc.ca

or 819-684-7472 ext437009

Prom Committee Fundraiser

• Our student-led prom committee is hosting a Pickleball tournament at our school on Sunday, December 7^th, 11am-4pm in our school gymnasium
• You can register you team here:

https://sites.google.com/view/darcyyearbook2026/home?authuser=1

or through their fundraising link here:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/pickleball-tournament-23

• The cost to register online is $25
• Walk-ins are welcome at a cost of $30 – you will find a committee member in front of the gym
• This will be a round-robin style tournament which will begin at noon
• Refreshments will be available for purchase with cash or card
• This is an all-ages event!
• If you aren’t a pickleball player but still want to support our prom, you can purchase raffle tickets by clicking on the first link
• All proceeds support the funding for our grade 11 prom

Spirit Week!

• December 15^th – Winter white-out
• December 16^th – Twin Day
• December 17^th – Holiday Accessories
• December 18^th – Throwback Thursday
• December 19^th – PJ Day

Upcoming Dates

• December 22^nd – January 2^nd – Winter Break
• January 5^th – PD Day
• January 23^rd – PD Day
• February 2^nd – 6^th – Formal D’Arcy McGee Midterm Week

Have a great weekend!

Tara Laine Directrice Principal Symmes-D’Arcy McGee High School

Dear Families,

I hope you are doing well.

Here is some information for this week:

Umbrella Program

• Between December 1^st and December 11^th, all grade 8 students will participate in a workshop with our community police officer, Joel Laurente
• This workshop prepared by the Gatineau Police is a “modern initiative aimed at preventing juvenile delinquency and criminal victimization amongst our youth in Gatineau”
• Please see the attached letter to parents with more information

Free Babysitting Course

• Please see the attached flyer advertising a free babysitting course offered at our school on February 27^th

Guidance Emails

• Please be on the look-out for an email from your child’s guidance counselor
• This email contains important information about promotion policies, graduation requirements and tutoring support

Grad Photos

• Grad photos will take place on February 23^rd, 24^th & 25^th
• The link to book your child’s appointment is finally working and can be accessed here:

Upcoming Dates

• December 22^nd – January 2^nd – Winter Break
• January 5^th – PD Day
• January 23^rd – PD Day
• February 2^nd – 6^th – Formal D’Arcy McGee Midterm Week

Have a great weekend!

Tara Laine Directrice Principal Symmes-D’Arcy McGee High School

Dear Families,

I hope you are doing well.

Here is some information for this week:

Term 1 Report Cards

• You will find your child’s report card on the parent portal on Friday November 21^st

Parent-Teacher Interviews

• November 27^th, 5:30pm-8:30pm, in-person
• Interviews will be by appointment which can be made with this booking tool:

https://outlook.office.com/book/PTISymmesDArcyMcGeeHighSchool@wqsb.qc.ca/s/Uqhva66rMEmnsSZTKd35yg2

• Please note that the booking tool will become live at 9am on Monday November 24^th

Grad Photos

• Grad photos will take place on February 23^rd, 24^th & 25^th
• The link to book your child’s appointment is finally working and can be accessed here:

https://calendly.com/d/ctgt-f3z-dzb

D’Arcy McGee Midterms

• Please note that our formal midterm session for D’Arcy students is February 2^nd – 6^th, 2025
• Attendance during midterms and final exams is mandatory and as per the Ministry of Education Guidelines, only the following reasons for student absences will be accepted:

·         Illness or accident confirmed by a medical report or certificate

·         Death of a close relative

·         A court summons

·         Participation in a provincial or national event

• Regular classes will be running during the times when your child does not have an exam scheduled
• The finalized midterm schedule will be published after the winter break

Upcoming Dates

• November 21^st – Term 1 Report Cards
• November 27^th – Parent-Teacher Interviews
• November 28^th – PD Day
• December 22^nd – January 2^nd – Winter Break

Take care,

Tara Laine Directrice Principal Symmes-D’Arcy McGee High School

https://calendly.com/d/ctgt-f3z-dzb

🎓 Graduation Photos Coming Soon!
Graduation photos will be taken on February 23, 24, and 25.

📸 Options:

• Free: Have your photo taken for the yearbook only (no cost).
• $20 Package: Get your photo package and your yearbook photo.
•  

Please book your appointment now. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the yearbook and capture this special milestone!

Yesterday, Symmes Junior High and D’Arcy McGee High came together to honour Remembrance Day. 🌺 Huge thanks to Ms. Laine, Ms. Ball and the D’Arcy band, our cadets, our student speakers and special visitors for making it so meaningful. Lest we forget. 🇨🇦

Do you want to see real Lions, Elphants and Giraffe’s up close like in the Lion King?

Do you enjoy traveling, meeting new people and experiencing new food?

Symmes-D’Arcy is returning to Kenya in 2027!

All interested students are invited to the student information meeting on Tuesday, November 18th **** at noon in room 222.

See Ms. White in the gym office for more information.

Dear Families,

I hope you are doing well.

Here is some information for this week:

Alcohol, Cannabis and Nicotine Workshops

• The organization Substance (also known as Drug Free Kids Canada) is hosting a free virtual workshop on November 19^th at 12pm
• The workshop is designed to equip parents with practical tools for having informed and meaningful conversations with their teens
• Here is the link to participate:

Drug Free Kids Canada – Drug Free Kids Canada

Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams

Parent-Teacher Interviews

• November 27^th, 5:30pm-8:30pm, in-person
• Parents will be invited to book appointment slots with teachers
• We will be sending the booking tool to parents on November 21^st and the tool will become active at 9am on November 24^th

Upcoming Dates

• November 13^th – College, University and Trades evening – Philemon Wright High School
• November 21^st – Term 1 Report Cards
• November 27^th – Parent-Teacher Interviews

Have a great weekend!

Tara Laine Directrice Principal Symmes-D’Arcy McGee High School

Dear Families,

I hope you are doing well.

Here is some information for this week:

Student Council

• Our student council has been busy planning a fun “homecoming” event which will take place on November 5^th
• There will be an exhibition basketball game against Philemon Wright taking place at 4:30pm followed by a dance
• The dance is free for all D’Arcy students and Symmes students can purchase a ticket for $5 during lunch in our caf in the days leading up to the event
• To help decorate, student council is asking for parent donations of clean, used white sheets and a smoke machine
• If you are able to donate, please drop the items off at our reception desk

D’Arcy McGee Midterms

• Please note that our formal midterm session for D’Arcy students is February 2^nd – 6^th, 2025
• Attendance during midterms and final exams is mandatory and as per the Ministry of Education Guidelines, only the following reasons for student absences will be accepted:

·         Illness or accident confirmed by a medical report or certificate

·         Death of a close relative

·         A court summons

·         Participation in a provincial or national event

• Regular classes will be running during the times when your child does not have an exam scheduled
• The finalized midterm schedule will be published after the winter break

Upcoming Dates

• November 6^th – PD Day
• November 7^th – PD Day
• November 13^th – College, University and Trades evening – Philemon Wright High School
• November 21^st – Term 1 Report Cards
• November 27^th – Parent-Teacher Interviews – more info to come!

Have a great weekend!

Tara Laine Directrice Principal Symmes-D’Arcy McGee High School