Believe ~ Rise~ Achieve

2016 November

Principal’s Perspective

Accipiter Calmar Secondary

ak-SIP-i-ter

November, 2016

WE Day: Youth Empowerment. On October 26th, 8 students were able to attend the WE Day

youth Empowerment conference at the Saddledome in Calgary. This was a full day of information

and speakers designed to activate and inspire community youth into positive citizenship actions. As

a school, we are charged with the task of enacting positive citizenship locally and globally. This

was an amazing day for all involved with speakers and artists such as Paula Abdul, Brett Kissel,

Tyler Shaw, Classified, Rick Hanson, Chris Hadfield and Margaret Trudeau. The messages and

topics were profound. Thank you to Giselle Messer for arranging this and supervising students.

Rounding 1st: The first quarter ends on November 9th. This is the midpoint of the term for Sr.

High Courses. We have had Parent Teacher Interviews on October 20th. We host Interviews well in

advance to provide feedback so students can stay ahead of their marks. Please stay up to date on

student marks in Powerschool and if you have any issues logging in to Powerschool, please contact

the school.

School Council: The next combined P.T.A. and School Council Meeting is on Wednesday,

November 16th at 7:00 p.m. Thank you to all parents already this year as we have had a look at

prior years Strategic Plan and began to look at areas of focus for the upcoming year (s).

We are always working for continual improvement.

Believe ~ Rise~ Achieve

CSS Accipiter Events & Happenings

Notes from the Principal’s Desk Dessert Theatre: Dessert Theatre is on Friday, Nov. 18th at 7:00 p.m. at the Calmar Legion. The tickets are on sale from a member of Grad 2017. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. for silent auction item viewing. Well done Grads for all your hard work on this fantastic event! Remembrance Day Ceremony: The Remembrance Day Ceremony will be on Nov. 9th beginning at 10:00 p.m. in the Calmar Elementary School this year due to construction. Thank you Calmar Elementary for hosting this event.

Important Dates This Month Staff Planning & Development Tuesday NOV 1 (No Students)

Early Dismissal - Wednesday, NOV 2 Picture Retakes - Thursday NOV 3

Remembrance Day Ceremony - Tuesday, NOV 9 (10:00am) At Calmar Elementary School

Mid-Term Break (No School) - Thursday NOV 10 Remembrance Day (No school) - Friday NOV 11

PTA/School Council Meeting Wednesday NOV 16 (7:00pm) Dessert Theatre & Silent Auction - Friday, NOV 18 (7:00pm)

REMEMBERANCE DAY—

11 TH MONTH, 11 TH DAY, 11TH HOUR

Believe ~ Rise~ Achieve

CSS Accipiter

ALL H0LLOW’S EVE

Believe ~ Rise~ Achieve

CSS Accipiter Events and Happenings

Notice to Parents;

Many textbooks and novel studies have not been returned. If your child has an

overdue text book or novel study; he/she will NOT be allowed to sign out

another book until the overdue books are returned or paid for.

Mrs. McAviney: Librarian

Believe ~ Rise~ Achieve

CSS Accipiter Counselor’s Corner

Test Time Help Your Teen Be Prepared Whether your teen is facing a chapter test in science class or a final exam, she doesn’t want to walk in unprepared. A study schedule will help her get ready so she can do her best. Here are some practical tips to help your teen prepare for exams.

Set priorities. A good score on a final exam might mean the difference between passing and failing. A poor score could mean she had to attend summer school. The test is important, so she has to find the time to study.

Block out time to study. Your teen can’t study during school hours, during sports team practices or at her part-time job, but she still has to do homework for other classes. Encourage her to consult the calendar and block out study time.

Review past tests. Teachers often have copies of old tests available. Seeing what is expected can help our teen set a realistic study schedule.

Determine what needs to be learned. It will take longer to study for a unit test if your teen hasn’t done the daily homework—encourage her to complete all her homework.

Leave time to review. The night before the test is not the time to learn new material . It is the best time to review.

Source: Rona F Flippo, Preparing Students for Testing and Doing Better in School, Corwin, 2008

Helpful Hints for Parents 15 ways to help your child and your child’s school 1. Encourage your child to develop a positive outlook toward school. 2. Stay in contact with your child’s teachers. 3. Attend parent-teacher meetings, school plays and concerts, social events,

exhibitions, fairs and sports events. 4. Inform the school in advance (whenever possible) of your child’s absence from

school. 5. Avoid taking holidays during school time. 6. Avoid making appointments outside school during school hours (unless it’s essential). 7. Meet with school staff (in confidence if necessary) when an incident involving your child arises in school. 8. Cooperate with the school when solving problems related to your child. 9. Inform school staff of issues that might affect your child’s progress or behavior. 10. Watch for changes in your child’s mood or behavior that might suggest problems at school. 11. Review your child’s homework and assignments, and sign diaries or planners. 12. Provide access to reading and study materials (library, bookstores, Internet). 13. Read all communication (newsletters, reports and report cards) from school. 14. Encourage your child to participate in school activities outside regular school hours (sports, drama, art, chess, or

photography clubs). 15. Spend time with your child at the end of each school day, reviewing lessons, assisting with homework or listening to

your child’s views and opinions. Source: The Parent Institute, www.parent-institute.com

Believe ~ Rise~ Achieve

CSS Accipiter Athletics and Events

C02 Cars

Congratulations to our NAIT cardboard boat race teams! The Sr. High team won gold in their division, and the Jr. High team brought home bronze!

Senior Team Tyler de Milliano, Carson Abel, Cassidy Kabanuk, Edith Peeters won Gold

Junior Team Olivia Fryk, Brooklyn Osborne, Brittany Hansen, Hannah Wurban won Bronze

To see complete results, click on NAIT 2016 Results on the following link http://www.skillsalberta.com/cardboard-boat-races

Outside Phys. Ed. Oct 2016

Believe ~ Rise~ Achieve

Notices CSS

Attendance Reporting Please remember to notify the school at 780-985-3515 if your child will be absent from school for any reason. Thank you!

Powerschool Password or User Name Recovery

If you forgot your user name or password please follow the link below for instructions

to recover. http://css.blackgold.ca/wp-content/

uploads/2015/06/Parent-Account-Forgot-Password-or-Username.pdf

ACORN Update ACORN is a new program that allows parents to pay

school fees such as field trips and hot lunch, etc. on line at no additional cost through their Powerschool account.

Here is a link to the Powerschool login to setup your account:

https://powerschool.blackgold.ca/public/

Black Gold Regional Schools 2016-2017 School Year Calendar

Please click on the link below to access the calendar: http://www.blackgold.ca/news-calendar/division-annual-calendar-2/

HOT LUNCH PROGRAM

All hot lunches must be pre-ordered by Thursday for the following week’s lunches. You can login to ACORN to make your order and payment online. Forms are also available in the office or follow the link to access the form to print off. The forms and

payment can be submitted to the front office.

http://css.blackgold.ca/parents/hot-lunches/

CALMAR SECONDARY SCHOOL – BELL SCHEDULE

2016/2017 School Year

http://css.blackgold.ca/about/schedule/

PowerSchool iOS App

Blackgold Regional Schools are not setup to

allow students, staff, or parents access to

Powerschool through any mobile device app

such as the one from the Apple store. Please use

the web browser for Powerschool instead.

12 Things to Remember in Life

1) The past cannot be Changed

2) Opinions don’t define your reality

3) Everyone’s Journey is different

4) Things always get better with time

5) Judgements are a confession of character

6) Overthinking will lead to sadness

7) Happiness is found within

8) Positive thoughts create Positive things

9) Smiles are Contagious

10) Kindness is free

11) You only fail if you quit

12) What goes around comes around

Quotes Gates

Believe ~ Rise~ Achieve

CSS Accipiter Events & Happenings

WE CONFERENCE, CALGARY , ALBERTA, 0CTOBER 26, 2016

Believe ~ Rise~ Achieve

CSS Accipiter Art Class Option

Painting Option

Grade 7/8/9

Instructor:

Miss Hansen

Believe ~ Rise~ Achieve

Healthy Teens Parent Newsletter

November 2016

CSS Accipiter Health Talk

Youth and Video Games

Research has shown that playing video games (or “gaming”) can affect youth in both good and bad ways. Playing certain video games can help youth

to develop thinking and fine motor skills and manage anger and stress. However, gaming can also result in lower grades and reduce the time spent

with family and friends. Video game play can take away time from other healthy activities and sometimes may encourage youth to act aggressively. It

is up to parents to help their teen learn to enjoy video games safely and responsibly. The following questions will help parents decide whether video

games are a problem for their young person:

Is your teen playing too much? Does gaming interfere with chores, school, work, family time? Too much gaming takes time away from sports,

hobbies, sleep and other healthy activities.

Does the game fit with the household norms or values? Games that include aggression, bullying, violence and discrimination can influence a

young person’s developing beliefs.

Here are some ways in which parents can teach their youth to play video games appropriately:

Make sure play comes AFTER important tasks like chores, school, work, meals and family time.

Ensure play happens in a central location, not a bedroom, so it can be monitored.

Set and enforce a time limit on play.

Discuss with your teen the types of games that are acceptable to you.

Play together. Playing video games as a family can be fun and allows parents to role model appropriate behaviour and monitor play.

Balance video game time with other fun family activities. Invite your teen to go for a walk or a coffee, throw a ball around, go for a bike ride,

play a board game, cook a meal, watch a movie or do a puzzle together.

Teens with Allergies About 1 in 13 teens have a food allergy. An allergic reaction occurs when the body’s immune system overreacts to a food protein (an allergen). The most common food allergens are: peanuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds, soy, seafood (fish and shellfish), wheat, eggs, milk, mustard, and sulphites. Symptoms of allergic reactions can be different for everyone and may occur within minutes or hours. The most common symptoms of allergies are:

Flushed or pale face, hives, rash, itchy skin

Swelling of the eyes, face, lips, throat or tongue

Coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath

Stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting

Feeling anxious, weak, dizzy or faint

Food allergies are not a choice. A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), after eating a food containing allergens, can be life threatening and occur quickly and without warning. These can be treated with an epinephrine auto injector; an EpiPen®. The only way to prevent allergic reactions is to avoid contact with the foods or ingredients that cause them. Most teenagers with allergies are aware of how to avoid the allergen. However, as teens become more independent in social situations they may overlook possible sources of food allergens or take risks to fit in with their peers. They may not want to carry an EpiPen® or ask questions when needed. Parents of an allergic teen can help the teen to make informed choices. The parent can have the teen practice talking to others about allergies and asking questions about the foods served at restaurants, parties, and other public settings. They can talk openly with the teen about dating and the risks kissing can pose if the partner has consumed an allergen. This discussion can help the teen take charge of his allergies and give him the confidence to talk about the food allergy with his peers. Friends and social activities are important to teens and can provide great support in managing the teen’s food allergies. If your teen is a friend of, or is dating a teen with allergies, help your teen learn about allergies, how to recognize reactions and how to treat them. Food allergies are a serious medical condition but peers can help decrease some of the risks. For more information on allergies and teens see “Why Risk It?” at: www.anaphylaxis.ca/

To find an electronic copy of this newsletter, visit: www.albertahealthservices.ca/csh.asp

Believe ~ Rise~ Achieve

Please make sure the

Office has your most

current email address

so you can receive the

newsletter and rele-

vant school updates!

Phone (780) 985-3515

Fax (780) 985-3682

css.blackgold.ca

@CSS_Hawks @CSSHawks

Stay

WE Conference

Calmar Secondary School is part of Black Gold Regional Schools

To Inspire Success

3rd Floor 1101 5th Street, Nisku Phone: (780)955-6025

Fax: (780) 955-6050

If you have any newsworthy items, pictures or announcements you would like to post in the CSS Accipiter please call 780-985-3515 or email leanne.leakey@blackgold.ca

CSS Accipiter Notices

Reminder that volleyball playoffs for Jr. High Boys/Girls is Nov 17th. Girls in New Sarepta

and Boys in Warburg Volleyball Zones for Sr. High is November 18/19. Girls in Onoway and Boys in May-

erthorpe.

Modernization Update: We are getting pretty excited as we are scheduled to move in-

to the gym on November 14th. They are hanging the logo on the wall on Nov. 7th and

prepping the final touches. The library should be ready shortly after. These two addi-

tions will be a great welcome as they will relieve the shortage of space we have been

dealing with. A huge Thank You to Mark Rothfos for coordinating alternative Phys. Ed

activites such as trips to the L.R.C. and bowling and to all our Phys. Ed. staff for utiliz-

ing every option available to.