Principal’s Message:
Today, in our Chronicle, you will notice that we have put in our classroom assignments for next year. While this is our best guess of which teachers will be in which classroom and grade, please also realize that things can change as enrollment and life situations occur over the summer weeks.
One thing that you will also notice is that we will be once again running a few combined classrooms. Much of the information below comes from a variety of sources I have found when researching combined classrooms over the years. First, I want to answer what it is and more importantly what it isn’t. A combined or multi-grade class is one that includes students from two or more consecutive grades who work in one classroom setting. In the past, the term ‘split class’ was sometimes used which implied a strict division of instruction between two groups in class. This is no longer the normal approach. A combined class, like most modern classrooms, includes a variety of instructional groupings and combinations depending on the students, the learning objectives, and the resources utilized. Most school systems around the world employ combined classes and one-fifth of Canadian students are enrolled in classes with students from more than one grade.
While I realize that this can be a little unnerving for those who have yet to have a child in a combined class, rest assured that the selection of students for classes is a serious task involving multiple staff members who consider a wide variety of factors. Obviously, we start with the number of students and the physical layout of the school itself. We then consider individual students’ needs, interests, social skills, learning styles, work habits, emotional development, spiritual fortitude, and independence as well as the teaching styles of our teaching staff when creating classes.
There have been many studies done over the last several decades on the effects of combined classes. They have found that students in these classes perform as well as students in single-grade classes academically. Many of these studies also conclude that there are other benefits for students in multi-grade classes.
One piece of research stated that one of the greatest benefits of combined classes is the expanded opportunities they provide for peer interaction. Younger students can observe older peers and imitate social behaviors while older students have the opportunity to show leadership and reinforce their own understanding through teaching their classmates. This ability to work outside their grade cohort expands students’ understanding of their learning and the learning environment. Many older students develop leadership skills while developing a more sophisticated understanding of responsibility. Younger students too, have opportunities for peer interactions that are not available in the regular classroom setting.
This expanded peer interaction leads to younger children actively seeking out older students to help them attain knowledge and skills. These interactions lead to greater development of social skills as students develop a sense of comfort and security and gain a more positive self-concept. In these more diversified classes, students become more resourceful and develop skills of independent learning. Teachers find creative ways to combine outcomes, which provide students with a richer academic experience.
I write all of this information for you to be able to process now, before next Tuesday when you will find out which classroom your child is in. As I have mentioned before, selecting classes is not a task taken lightly, and we have looked at things from many angles. As I am sure you can imagine, even one switch can change many different carefully planned decisions, and we are going to be VERY reluctant to do so. I do thank the parents who met the deadline and did write in earlier with a request. I want you all to know those were all printed out and brought to the tables when we were constructing our class lists. Not all of these requests were able to be met, but that usually meant there were other larger factors we needed to consider. Thank you for your understanding and trust that we are doing what we believe is in the best interest of all 350 of God’s children.
Announcements:
Last Chronicle for 2021-2022!
This will be the last Chronicle publication for the 2021-2022 school year! The first Chronicle for the 2022-2023 school year will be sent out towards the end of August. Enjoy your summer and we look forward to seeing you in the fall!!
CCS Golf Tournament – Sunday, June 26, 2022
With our annual CCS Golf Tournament only a couple of weeks away, we are looking for volunteers to help make the day a huge success! If you are able to donate some of your time on June 26 to help raise money for upgrading our auditorium, please visit the link below to sign up.
There is also still time to register to play or to sponsor our event. If you are interested, please visit our website at https://sites.google.com/gshare…/ccs-golf-tournament
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact [email protected].
2022-2023 Cell Phone Policy Input Needed
Something that has become an issue over the years is student cell phone use in class. While we currently have a policy in place, we have been looking at if we need to revamp it to keep up with use. We currently have a model where students are supposed o leave them in their lockers, and they have a few minutes between break/lunch, etc to put them away.
Obviously, the issue becomes when they do not put them in lockers and/or leave class to use them. The draw to their device is very tempting and obviously more exciting than the lesson they are learning in class. The distraction that occurs is also alarming. A 2014 study called “in-situ study of mobile phone notifications” stated that the average teen receives 63.5 notifications per school day, a stat that is obviously outdated by 8 years. In a recent event at school, a confiscated phone had 47 Snapchat notifications within 90 minutes of being on my desk.
We have done considerable research and looked at various policies around BGSD, specifically other K-9 and Jr. High schools.
The concerns regarding cell phone use are prevalent. Some of these concerns include:
- Students are unable to concentrate on their learning while in possession of a smartphone.
- The constant distractions of alerts, text messages, phone calls, social media notifications, and games.
- Students leaving class to receive personal phone calls or respond to messages – yes from parents too! (one of their most common excuses!).
- Photos and videos being secretly taken that breach the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act, BGSD acceptable technology use policies, and compromise classroom security (ex. examinations, class discussions).
- The increased frequency of potential cyber-bullying through social media applications.
- The increased stress and anxiety that students may endure due to relational aggression that occurs on electronic devices.
- An increase in student addiction to smartphone technology.
But here lies the tough thing for Christian educators. As any digital citizen, students need to learn how to handle this technology responsibility as they move into High School and adulthood. As they learn about discerning idols in their lives, phones can be a huge one to think about! A responsibility we do not take for granted. Therefore, we are asking for your opinions on this policy as well. Please fill out the following form, and let us know your thoughts on our policy for the 2022/23 school year.
Once we make a decision (a policy change or keep the same current policy), we ask for your buy-in to it and support.
Thank you for your thoughts on potential policy changes for cell phone use at school.
Learning Commons Year-End Information
All library books that students have out should have been returned last Friday. Any outstanding books will now be marked lost and the fee added to the student’s Powerschool account. (If the book is returned by June 27, the fee will be removed) after June 27, no refunds will be issued.
Textbook returns will be June 20-27. Junior high students can return their textbooks prior to or following their final exam.
Emails will be sent out to students and parents for unreturned items.
If you receive an email and have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at: [email protected]
Grade 6 & 9 PATs and Junior High Exam Schedule
***Grade 6 students will remain at the school and continue with classes for the remainder of their day. Permission to leave after exams is only applicable to junior high students.
- Exams will begin at 9:00 am and junior high students must stay until 11:00 am. Junior high students must bring a book to read while they wait. Phones/Gaming devices will not be permitted due to exam protocols.
- At 11:00 am junior high students are free to leave provided they have the signed documentation, an online form to give JUNIOR HIGH students permission to leave once their exams are finished each day is now on PowerSchool for parents to complete.
- Junior high students without documentation will be in ‘study hall’ in their own classroom area. Once all exams have been completed teachers will go back to their homeroom to supervise.
- Beginning at 11:00 am there will be three check-out tables (7,8,9) in three different locales around the foyer. At 11:00 am, once junior high students have completed their exam they will go to their check-out area to wait for their ride. We hope these will be set up outside if the weather permits.
Year-End Celebrations
We are excited to be able to return to some of our year-end celebrations that have been traditions over the past years. For the last day of school, Tuesday, June 28, the itinerary will be as follows:
- 8:40 am – Classes Begin
- 10:30 am – Year-End Celebration (awards/scholarships, prayer for those leaving CCS, announcements for next year)
- 12:00 pm – Lunch (Year-end pizza lunch and Kona Ice-more details to follow/below) Junior Highs leave to go on a bowling field trip
- 1:00 pm – Homerooms/cleanup etc.
- 3:15 pm – Staff wave Goodbye as Buses/students leave for the summer!
SCHOOL WIDE PICNIC – We will once again be doing a school-wide pizza lunch. This is not a hot lunch-sponsored event but will run similar to hot lunch (a form for the pizza lunch is now available on PowerSchool to complete). Any money that is made from this lunch will go to the Grade 3 Zambia water fundraiser. All parents and younger siblings etc are invited to join us! Our LSCE PR committee will also be providing a KONA ICE treat for all of our staff and kiddos! Visitors will be able to purchase their own Kona Ice treat if they choose as well.
Class Placements and Supply Lists
Class placements will be available next Tuesday with Report Cards. Staples will be continuing their School Tools Package program where parents can order all of their child’s school supplies online and they will be delivered to your home address so you can skip the back-to-school supply shopping in the fall. Once you learn which class your child(ren) will be in, click on the link above, and then find your child’s grade/class. You can deselect items you don’t need/want and add them to your cart. Go to the checkout to make payment and add your home address for shipping and you’re done!
Supply lists will also be posted on our website and a copy will be emailed out to parents along with their child’s class placement letter at the end of June.
Walk for Water – Thursday, June 23, 2022
Our class will be going to eat lunch outside on Thursday and set up on the soccer field. They will start carrying buckets of water and walking after lunch. The water truck will be in the parking lot by the garbage bins. Hopefully, it is not pouring rain!
Black Gold Busing for 2022-2023
Black Gold School Division 2022-2023 Transportation registration is now open!
If you have already applied for bussing for the 2022-2023 school year, please disregard this message.
All applications are to be submitted prior to June 30, 2022, to enable the Transportation department enough time to prepare bus routes and have students receive their bus pass prior to the start of school. Applications received after June 30, 2022, will result in a wait time for students/children accessing a school bus in the fall.
To encourage early school bus registration, we are holding a random draw for two iPads from the list of students who apply for busing before June 30, 2022. Winners will be notified in early July.
Fees for the next school year have increased from previous years. Our bus contractors have faced rising costs in insurance and fuel in the last two years. In order to continue to provide our current level of service to students and their families and fairly compensate our contracted bus operators, transportation fees have increased for the 2022-2023 school year.
You can apply for busing through Black Gold, eligible, ineligible and school of choice, through your PowerSchool parent portal.
Staff Teaching Assignments for 2022/2023
- Kindergarten Monday/Wednesday – Mrs. Alice Vande Kraats
- Kindergarten Tuesday/Thursday – Mrs. Heather Luchak
- Grade 1G – Mrs. Laura Glesman
- Grade 1K – Mrs. Sharon Koopmans
- Grade 2GM – Mrs. Joanne Gulley & Mrs. Ebony Matter
- Grade 2W – Mrs. Danielle Woloschuk
- Grade 3J – Mr. Andy Jenkins
- Grade 3/4CV – Mrs. Nicole Chapman & Mr. Jon Van Huis
- Grade 4HM – Mrs. Nicole Hennink & Mrs. Nicole McConville
- Grade 5B – Mrs. Stacy Bruinsma
- Grade 5/6LV – Mrs. Jennifer Lozeau & Ms. Charlene Van de Kraats
- Grade 6C – Mrs. Caroline Clark
- Grade 7C – Mrs. Michelle Clark
- Grade 7/8H – Mr. Chris Hennink
- Grade 8W – Mr. Colin Ward
- Grade 9S – Mr. Jeremy Schindel
- Grade 9V – Mrs. Nicole Van de Kraats
- Phys. Ed and Wellness – Mr. Philip Drader
- Phys. Ed and Wellness – Mr. Jon Van Huis
- Music – Mrs. Ann McDonald
- French – Mrs. Nicole McConville
- Learning Support Teacher – Ms. Charlene Van de Kraats
- Counselor – Mrs. Jennifer Lozeau
- Assistant Principal – Mrs. Nicole Chapman
- Principal – Mr. Donavin Simmons
New Bell Schedule
We will be making a few changes to the schedule for next year including starting classes 5 minutes sooner and moving our lunch break to be earlier in the day as well.
Celebration
Our last Celebration Assembly will be held on the last day of school, Tuesday, June 28 at 10:30 am. All parents are welcome to join us to close out this year and look forward to next year!
Lost & Found
Please stop by the LOST & FOUND table that will be set out near the Auditorium to claim any misplaced items that may belong to your household. All items that are left behind will be given to a local second-hand store.
Athletics:
We are looking forward to a full schedule of sports teams etc. next year!
LSCE News:
Transportation Committee Member Needed
The Transportation Committee is in need of new members. The committee meets approximately four times a year to discuss transportation needs and issues that arise. If you are interested in joining this committee, please contact Carrie Boyd at [email protected]. Carrie says you should join! It’s a good time and she brings snacks!!
New Addition/Reclamation of the Learning Commons
Earlier this week, once all bids were received, the LSCE agreed to proceed with the expansion of the front of the school! The front office will move into the addition and the current office is set to become the new Library/Learning Commons. Not only does this increase instructional space, but it also enhances safety for our students and families coming into the building!
Calendar:
June:
- 26 – CCS Golf Tournament
- 28 – Last Day of School
- 28 – School-Wide Picnic with Pizza and Kona Ice!
- 29-30 – Teacher Workdays
August:
- 29 – First Day of Classes
- 29 – Welcome Back BBQ (4:30-6:30 pm)
- 30 – Kindergarten Tu/Th Staggered Entry
- 31 – Kindergarten Mon/Wed Staggered Entry
Community Events:
Please click on the image below to learn more about community events in our area! Also found under our Parents menu on the website.
Odds & Ends:
Sign In/Out Form:
In an effort to reduce the amount of shared touched surfaces, we will be using a QR code that you will need to scan with your phone for signing in and out of the school. You can also use this link if you are in your vehicle and need to sign out a student but can’t scan the code. This means that students/parents/visitors can scan the QR code when entering or leaving the office/school to sign in or sign out on their own phone/device.
Parents will also be able to sign their kids out from their vehicle in the parking lot when they arrive to pick them up for appts. etc. please use the link above if you can’t scan the QR code. We do ask that parents pull into a spot (not bus lane) where you can contact the office to let them know you have arrived and we can make eye contact with you
from the staff/office door. Students must also stop by the office before leaving the school. At that point, once a connection is made, we are able to send students out to you.
Facebook Page:
Check out our Facebook page for more highlights of happenings at CCS by clicking here.
