Woodlands School Council

Hello everyone,       

This is to remind you that there will be a School Council Meeting at 7.00 p.m. on Monday November 21st, 2011 in the Woodlands School Library. The presentation following the meeting is on Transition to Colleges and Universities, hosted by Kathryn Wilkinson, a recently retired Guidence Counselor from The Woodlands who continues to do supply work in Guidence.

This is an important topic, particularly for grade 11 and 12 students and their parents. Students will be applying for University and College in the coming weeks, so if you have any questions, this is the time to ask and get the answers you need. Please mark the date and time on your calendar and come out for the meeting/presentation. 

 The Woodlands School Council

Just a quick reminder that the Ford Drive One 4 You Fundraiser is taking place at The Woodlands until 4:00 pm today. For every test drive taken, Ford will donate $20 to the group of your choosing at the school (Music, DECA, athletics, Prefects, math, ...)

More details can be found at http://woodlandscouncil.com/node/744

I just got back from my test drive. It was super-easy - fill out a short questionnaire / survey, show your driver's license, and you're off in any of the 10 different cars, SUVs, and trucks that are at the school. I was done in 20 minutes, the school made $20, and I was very impressed with the 2012 Ford Focus. So a good time all around!

The school is hoping to have 300 test drives today, so please come out and take part.

Woodlands Newsletter, October 2011   

Hello everyone,  

Thanks to all the parents who attended the first school council meeting and presentation on Study Skills and Time Management. It was a great success with lots of ideas,  questions and discussion.    

Early Progress reports went home with students on October 13^th and this was followed by the Secondary Parents Night in the evening. Many of you came to meet your students’ teachers and talk to them about their progress. It was great to see you all there. The parent – teacher partnership is very important to a student’s success.  

We have compiled a list of up coming University Open Houses to help you with some of the information and will put together one for College Open Houses very soon. Keep checking for updates on both lists.

On October 24^th, two of our Woodlands ELP graduates will return to speak to the grade 10s about exploring their creativity.  Belinda McGuire is a Julliard graduate and world-touring professional dancer.  Irene Kim is a corporate lawyer and fashion magazine editor/writer.  They will be speaking during the last half of period 1 and the first half of period 2 in the library.   

November 2^nd, 2011 is Take Your Kids To Work Day. Please make sure you have signed and returned the forms toe your student’s teacher. This is a great opportunity for your student to see where you work and what you do.  

Ford Drive One 4 You Fundraiser will be taking place on Saturday November 5^th, 2011. Please see the information posted on the website front page to find out more about this important School fundraiser, BBQ and Raffle.    

School Council Meeting The next School Council Meeting is Monday October 24, 2011, at 7.00 pm. in the school library.  There will be a Bullying Awareness presentation by Constable McCurley following the meeting. Please do come out and find out more about this topic. There ha s been a lot of coverage in the media on this and we will get some up to date information from the police officers affiliated with the Woodlands School.   

Dates to keep in mind  

Monday October 24^th, 2011:  Grade 10 ELP Guest Speaker in Library (8.20 am)  

School Council Meeting (7.00 pm) Bullying Awareness Presentation by Constable McCurley    

Friday October 28^th, 2011:  Commencement (7.00 pm.)  

Tuesday November 1^st,,2011:  Virtual Classromm with David Suzuki For all Grade 7’s and two Grade 9 Enhanced Geography Classes (1.20pm)  

Wednesday November 2^nd.,2011:  Take Your Kids To Work Day    

Friday November 4^th.,2011 :  No School, Professional Learning Day      

Saturday November 5^th, 2011: Ford Drive One 4 You Fundraiser  

Tuesday November 8^th.,2011: University Application Assembly (8.30 am) College Application Assembly (10.00am)  

Wednesday, November 9^th,2011:  Term One Ends Grade 12 ELP Physics Fair (8.20 am) ELP – Grade 8 Parents Info Night (7.00pm)

Thursday November 24^th,2011: Science and Math Olympics Periods 1 & 2 (Some Gr 11 Science students, some Gr 9 & 10 Math students, some Prefects)  

Friday December 16^h: ,2011: Music Invitational – Periods 1 & 2 (Band Members)   

Monday November 21st, 2011: School Council Meeting (7.00pm) 

The Woodlands School Council October 2011   

October 2011

Hello everyone ...
 
We've had a great start to the 2011-2012 year at the Woodlands school, with everything going smoothly from registration to our first week of classes. The School Council would like to welcome Tom Brownhill, our new Acting Vice-Principal. He is replacing Doreen Johnson who is now acting Principal at Gordon Graydon Memorial Secondary School. We wish her all the best.

Thanks to all the parents who signed up for the council mailing list at registration and the grade 7 and 8 meet the parents’ night (which was a great success). We were able to get several hundred email addresses of parents and/or students for the council's data base and with the help of volunteers we should have themtyped and on the mailing list shortly.   

We encourage parents to try and come to as many meetings as possible. as wehave organised some great presentations for the year that will benefit both parents and students.  Please see list of council meetings and topics for the2011-2012 school year. Meetings are generally held upstairs in the school library, so do try and join us. If you are interested in getting actively involved with the council please contact us through the website or talk to us when you come for a meeting. 
Activities and Volunteering for Students   The Woodlands offers many opportunities for students to participate in clubs and organizations and the beginning of the year is a great time to explore all the options. Do encourage your student to participate, as more and more universities and colleges want to know what activities students are involved in while in high school as well as community activities and volunteering. Counting on You   If you have a grade 9 or grade 10 student that is struggling with Math or Literacy, the school has a program called COY (Counting On You), that youshould look into. Both programs are from 3.00pm to 6.00pm and will start September 27^th, 2011 and finish January 18^th, 2012. For more informationplease contact Mr. Maiedah Ahmad or your child’s teacher. 

Dates to keep in mind 

Thursday September 22, 2011:  Late Start day Secondary classes will begin at 10.20 am. ESL Parents Night - 6.00pm in the School Library(6pm – Refreshments; 6:45-7:15 pm presentation; 7:15-7:30 Q&A)   Monday September 26^th:  School Council Meeting (7.00 pm.)   Tuesday September 27^th:  No School for Elementary Students   In-School Professional Activity/Reorganization (Elementary)  Wednesday, Sep 28^th: Terry Fox Run   Monday October 10^th :  No School, Thanksgiving day    Thursday October 13 ^th:   Early Progress Reports go homeSecondary Parent/Guardian Night   Wednesday, Oct 19^th: Secondary Late Start  (10.20 am.)   Monday, Oct 24^th: School Council Meeting (7:00pm)   Friday, Oct 28^h: Commencement  (7.00pm.)            The Woodlands School Council, September 2011

To celebrate the wrap up of another school year, the School Council is extending a warm invitation to all parents to join us for a pot luck dinner and election of next year's School Council at the school on Monday May 30 at 7:00 pm. Please review the attached document for details.

Hello everyone,

The April 2011 Woodlands School Council newsletter is attached for your review.

Please be advised that our next School Council meeting will take place on April 18th at 7:00pm in the school library. The meeting agenda may be reviewed on the school council website.

Best regards,

Woodlands School Council

Place/ Time: Woodlands School Library, 7:00pm 

1. Welcome and introductions (2 min.)

2. Approval of agenda (1 min)

3. Approval of minutes from Feb. 28th. meeting (1 min.) 

4. Announcements – (3 min.)*

5. Principal's report (10 min.)

6. Other Business (5 min.)

7. Presentation (20 min.)*

8. Questions/Answers (10 min.)

9. Next Meeting, Topic and Time

10. Adjournment

*Our new Trustee, Sue Lawson, will be joining us. 

*This evening’s presentation will be on Cyber Bullying. Our presenter is Terry Whitmell,    currently Vice Principal at Meadowvale Secondary School.

 
School Council Meeting February 28th
The next School Council meeting is on February 28th 2011 at 7pm in the school Library, and will be followed by a short presentation on ‘How to be a Debt Free Graduate’ for parents and students. Please mark this on your calendar. We look forward to seeing you there.
 
Report Cards
Grade 7 and 8 Report cards were sent out earlier this month. We hope you have had a chance to go over them with your students.

Secondary Parent interview night is March 3rd, 2011. Please check with your student for interview times. This is a great opportunity to speak with the teachers about your child’s progress.

We thought you would be interested in the following article from globeandmail.com:
No nagging, lecturing or arguing: Three tips for parents of teens
Sure, it’s tough to quit nagging. And lecturing. And wanting them to agree with your decisions. But if you really want to improve diplomatic relations, it’s time to change your strategy …..
Read the full article online at http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/family-and-relationships/anthony-e-wolf/no-nagging-lecturing-or-arguing-three-tips-for-parents-of-teens/article1860718/
 

Elementary Ski Day
On Tuesday January 4th 2011, 110 Elementary students and staff from the Woodlands experienced a day on the slopes. 104 enthusiastic students arrived at 6:45am to begin boarding the coach buses bound for Snow Valley in Barrie. We were very fortunate to have a wonderful snowy day with pleasant temperatures for many of the 1st time skiers and snowboarders. All those participating appeared to being having a fantastic time and tried very hard to advance the stripe colour on their lift ticket. After the completion of the morning lessons, all students received a hole punch or a coloured stripe on their tickets to indicate their ability. After lunch many students went back out determined to get to the next level and challenge the more difficult hills. It was a incredibly fun and rewarding day for all creating great memories foreveryone.

Kathy Morrison
Woodlands Teacher
  

Some good news about one of our students (Feb. 5/2011) 
Alex Hiscock, a talented English student at The Woodlands School, was thrilled to hear that his short story "Viktor Straw, The Beast With A Human Heart" was published by Teen Ink. Alex, a grade 12 student, has been writing since he was nine. He looks forward to developing the story into a novel.

English Department
Woodlands School
 

Sears Festival at Woodlands
On February 15th, 2011, The Woodlands School opened the 65thannual Sears Ontario Drama Festival in the South Central Peel District. The festival’s aim is to aid in the development and production of student written plays through various theatrical workshops and professional adjudication. The Woodlands School and Applewood Heights began the season with two plays: The Crate, written by Claire Ding and directed by Sarah Norton from The Woodlands School, and Welcome to the Town, a collaborative piece by Applewood Heights’ Grade 12 Drama Class.

  
Michael Reist Presentation at The Woodlands
On February 16, McBride Public School hosted a presentation on ‘Raising Kids in a New Kind of World’, by Michael Reist, a teacher in Peel. He covered a variety of topics of interest to parents. For more information on Michael please contact him at MichaelReist@hotmail.com. He was kind enough to send us his power points, which we will be posting on the council website shortly.
 

The Woodlands School will host a presentation on "Raising Kids in a New Kind of World" by Michael Reist on the evening of February 16, 2011. This presentation is being sponsored by McBride Avenue Public School, but is open to parents of The Woodlands and its feeder schools (Ellengale, Hawthorn, Queenston, Springfield, and McBride).

For more details and to register for this free presentation, please visit http://woodlandscouncil.com/Michael+Reist+presentation

Happy New Year Everyone!!  The Woodlands School Council hopes you all enjoyed the holidays with your families and wish you all the best for the coming year.

Much has happened at the school since our last newsletter in October. Our apologies for not sending this out before the holidays... as a result, we have a lot of news to report! Click any item below to see details on the Woodlands Council Website.

Remember that our next  council meeting is on February 28th, at 7pm.

Newsletter Topics

• Chapters Night
• MacHomer Show
• Theatre Shorts
• Career Law Fair
• Snow Show News
• Marion Drysdale Writing Award Goes to Woodlands Student
• Guidance Office News
  • Kids.Now Leadership Program
  • Junior Achievement - Project Business
  • Skills Canada - Ontario