D’Arcy / Symmes is OPEN

Tuesday May 24,2022

Tuesday May 24,2022 (french)

Dear Families,

I hope you are doing well.

Here is some information for this week:

Summer School

• I have attached information for the 2022 WQSB Summer School
• After the final marks have been submitted at the end of June, we will contact families directly if your child is recommended to register
• Summer School (english)..
• Summer School (french)

2022 Graduation Ceremony

• Please remember that the 2022 Graduation Ceremony will take place on Monday June 27^th in our school gymnasium
• We are still finalizing details and I will update you as we progress with our planning
• Our anticipated start time is 2pm
• Tickets for guests will be organized soon and will be free of charge
• Thank you for your patience as we plan our first full in-person ceremony since 2019 – we are very excited for this event!

Have a lovely long weekend.

Dear Families,

I hope you are doing well.

Here is some information for this week:

June Exam Schedule

• Please refer to the attached June final exam schedule
• As per the Ministry of Education guidelines, absence from an examination will only be excused for one of the following reasons:

• 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

Parent Exam Guide

• If you have a child writing a Ministry exam (grade 10 Science, History & Math, Grade 11 English & French) here is some additional information:

http://www.education.gouv.qc.ca/parents-et-tuteurs/examens-et-epreuves/guides-a-lintention-des-parents/

Keep it Private – Grade 7

• I apologize for sending out links last week for this program that didn’t work
• I have attached the program overview as well as a survey for parents
• Parent Overview
• Survey

Graduation Gowns – Grade 11

• An email was sent to all grade 11 students asking for their height – this is to ensure that we order the appropriate sized graduation gown
• Please remind your child to complete this form before the end of the day on May 13^th

Have a great weekend!

Dear Families,

I hope you are doing well.

Here is some information for this week:

Prom Tickets – Grade 11

• Prom tickets will be sold online for the first 2 weeks in May (2-13)
• As soon as I receive the link to purchase, I will share it with the families of our grade 11 students

Keep It Private – Grade 7

• The #KEEPITPRIVATE Prevention Program is presented to our grade 7 students by the Gatineau Police and CALAS
• This awareness workshop aims to prevent child pornography violations and non-consensual sharing of intimate images
• Here is a link to the Program overview:

file:///C:/Users/tlaine/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/WJCPVXAB/PDF%20parents%20keepitprivate.pdf

• Here is a link to a parent feedback survey:

file:///C:/Users/tlaine/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/WJCPVXAB/keepitprivate.surveymonkey.pdf

E-Waste Collection and Fundraiser

• May 2-7 we will be collecting used electronics for recycling
• Here is some additional information:

Culture Day – May 6

• Some of our students have spearheaded an initiative to host a Culture Day next Friday
• This will be a chance for all students to learn about diversity while having some fun
• Students are welcome to come to school dressed in their own cultural attire on May 6
• Other activities will include music from around the world played during lunch along with info booths where students can learn more about certain cultures
• Snacks from around the world will also be available as well as a cultural runway

Free Virtual Event

• Please see the attached poster for an event hosted by the WQSB’s Special Education Advisory Committee
• The theme of the event is “Accepted and Understood – supporting Special Needs Students Social Interaction Through Communication”

Outdoor Clean-Up

• Today, students from all grade levels helped improve our outdoor space by participating in a spring clean-up
• Thank you to everyone that gave a helping hand with this initiative

Finally, I want to wish our basketball student-athletes and coaches the best of luck as they represent both Symmes and D’Arcy at the Provincial championship tournaments in Chicoutimi and Sherbrooke this weekend.  Go Scorpions! Go Gee Gees!

Have a great weekend,

Dear Families,

I hope you are doing well.

Here is some information for this week:

Progress Reports

• Progress reports will be published to the Parent Portal on April 22^nd
• Similar to the progress report published in the fall, these will indicated Red/Yellow/Green and not a percentage grade
• Progress reports are intended to give you a snapshot of how your child is progressing so far in term 2

Rapid Antigen Test Kits

• We distributed another Rapid Antigen Test kit to our students today (April 14)
• If your child was absent today, they can pick up a kit at our reception desk next week

WQCC Bursary

• Please see the attached application for the bursary program at the Western Quebec Career Centre

Teens and Vaping

• Please visit the following website for information and resources regarding e-cigarettes and vaping:

https://droptheillusion.com/

Please remember that both Friday April 14) and Monday (April 18) are holidays and school is closed.

Have a wonderful long weekend!

Dear Families,

I hope you are doing well.

Here is some information for this week:

Technology Recycling

• Our Environmental and Humanitarian Group has partnered with a technology recycling company
• Parents and students are invited to drop off old electronics (phones, laptops, etc.) at our reception desk the week of May 2^nd -7^th
• More information can be found on our website: https://symmesdarcy.westernquebec.ca/e-waste-fund-raiser/

Virtual Tutoring

• You can register your child for free virtual tutoring by accessing this link:

https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/SymmesDArcyMcGeeHighSchool@wqsb.qc.ca/bookings/

• You can also book free virtual tutoring sessions through Learn Quebec:

https://www.learnquebec.ca/home

Student Survey

• Our school has been selected to participate in the Health Canada 2021-2022 Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey (CSTADS)
• The survey gathers information about health and health-related behaviours amongst Canadian youth and is administered to students in grades 7-12 across Canada every 2 years
• Our students will be asked to participate in this survey on April 19, 2022
• I have attached a letter that provides an introduction to this project
• If you do NOT want your child to participate in the CSTADS survey, please complete the attached OPT OUT form

Lastly, we have been experiencing a higher than usual amount of staff absences.  Thank you for your ongoing patience and support as we continue to navigate things.

Have a nice weekend.

Bring your e-waste to Symmes / D’Arcy between May 2 and May 7

Dear Families,

I hope you are doing well.

It has been a difficult week for our school community.  Thank you to everyone who reached out to express their condolences for the loss of Ms. Vanessa Reyes.  Ms. Reyes was a dedicated educator and she will be deeply missed by our staff and students.

Here is some information for this week:

Covid-19 Booster Vaccine

• Please see the attached information regarding booster vaccines for Covid-19 for children between the ages of 12-17
• English letter INFO Poster
• French letter INFO Poster

Progress Reports

• Progress reports will be published to the Parent Portal on April 22^nd
• Similar to the progress reports published in the fall, these will indicate Red/Yellow/Green and not a percentage grade
• Progress reports are intended to give you a snapshot of how your child is progressing so far in term 2

Please remember not to drop your children off in one of the parking lots if you are driving them to school.  Please use the dedicated kiss-n-ride at the front entrance of the school.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

As the winter sports season concludes we ask for parents to ensure the return of their child’s team uniform.  The return of the uniform ensures that we can continue to offer the sport activity each year to our students who represent our school community.  The following teams’ seasons have concluded:

Benjamin Girls Volleyball

Cadet Girls volleyball

Benjamin Girls Futsal

Juvenile Girls Futsal