tiger newswestgate.lakeheadschools.ca/pdfs/tiger_news_nov2015.pdfthe westgate girls basketball...
TRANSCRIPT
It has been a busy start to another exciting school year, and Westgate’s staff and students
have continued to illustrate why “always only the best” is such an appropriate motto for
our incredible school.
During the first term of the 2015-2016 school year, we have enjoyed many exciting events
at Westgate, including but not limited to a fun-filled Welcome Luncheon in our courtyard
for new grade 9 tigers, a memorable SAC Leadership Retreat at the Kingfisher Outdoor
Education Center, an inspiring week of pink ‘Tigers-for-a-Cure’ activities for Northern
Cancer Research, a thunderous and entertaining school-wide pep rally, an outstanding Fall
Classic Basketball Tournament that hosted 23 junior and senior girls’ teams from across
Ontario, a lovely Meet and Greet Luncheon with parents and community members of Fort
William First Nation, a powerful assembly on anti-bullying and a spook-tacular Halloween
dance.
With November now upon us, we are preparing for a very special and memorable
Remembrance Day assembly, an awareness-raising Party Program Day for our grade 11s
and an Achievement Night that will recognize the academic and co-curricular
accomplishments of Westgate students in the 2014/2015 school year. We are also looking
forward to hosting a Musical Cabaret at the end of the month, as well as our annual Tiger
Tip-Off and Tiger Spike-Off tournaments. In the months ahead, we will prepare for more
incredible adventures, including a spring band trip and a March break travel club excursion
to England, Scotland and Ireland. We will also continue our ongoing fundraising efforts
(through Me-to-We Westgate) to help build a school in an under-privileged country.
It is truly an honour to be principal of such an amazing school, and I am
so very proud of our staff and students for the many ways that they
showcase their commitment to being “always only the best.” It has
been another incredible start-up, and I look forward to many great
things ahead.
Ms. Charlton
Westgate Collegiate & Vocational Institute November 2015
TIGER NEWS
Principal’s
Message
age TIGER PROFILE Westgate students: 805 (grades 9 – 12) *Plus, we happily host 75 KICKSTART students after school hours Tigers have 59 teachers, 1 Aboriginal Achievement Tutor, 17 Student Support Professionals, 1 Social Worker, 1 Child Youth Worker, 4 Secretaries, 1 Library Technician, 1 IT Tech, 8 Custodians, 2 Cafeteria Staff, 1 Vice Principal and 1 Principal!
From The Head Custodian's Desk:
The Recycling Program at Westgate remains strong, thanks to the volunteer efforts of the special
needs and multi needs classes. Each week the students circulate through the school, collecting
paper and materials that can be recycled. Head Custodian, Val Haigh, commends the students for
their great job and points out that a few small changes have been made in the cafeteria and
main hallway. Each bin has been labeled (courtesy of Ms. Jaun), making it much easier to recycle
while on the move.
In April of this year, Ms. Kwasny’s Pre-AP Grade 10 Science class and Mr. Andrew’s Grade 11 Physics class went on a tour of the new Cyclotron at TBRHSC. Pictured here are some students in the Cyclotron bunker a couple of days before it closed to the public forever.
Back row L-R: Zach DiCasmirro, Brenden DeGiacamo, Brendon Bukovy, and Keenan Stoger
Front row L-R: Jordan Shchepanik, and Austin Hopkins
There was a definite “orange” theme to the Wednesday, September 30 Country 105 Morning show, and it wasn’t just because it was broadcast from Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute either. Rather, there were numerous references to host John Ongaro’s extreme dislike for anything pumpkin-related. A great morning show was broadcast from Westgate where students and staff took the opportunity to talk about the great things that happen at the School, including sports, the Me-to-We Project, Specialist High Skills Major programs and a host of other topics.
Always Only The Best
The Special Needs, Multi-Needs and PWP staff at
Westgate CVI were honoured with Lakehead Public
Schools Trustee Character Awards for the exemplary
work they do at school every day. Trustee Oikonen
presented the awards to each of the staff members.
"Always only the Best is the motto of Westgate Collegiate
and Vocational Institute. The Special Education Teachers
before us truly personify that motto." expressed Trustee
Oikonen.
Ms. Coral Charlton, Principal, affirmed Trustee Oikonen’s comments with the statement: “The
commitment of our Special Education Program Teachers to ensuring our students are safe,
supported and achieving at their full potential is beyond compare. I am genuinely impressed on a
daily basis by the skill set and dedication of these exemplary teachers.”
CONGRATULATIONS TEACHERS!
Grade 9 Barbecue
Westgate GSA(Gay-Straight Alliance) now the Social Justice League
The name change occurred in order to inform potential members that they do more than
advocate for the rights and respect of lesbian and gay people. Issues regarding all members of
the LGBTQ+ community are discussed, as well as issues of race, gender, etc. The focus this
year will be on renewing Anti-Homophobia/Transphobia Training for grade nine students,
putting together an assembly to educate all students about social justice issues, incorporating
Two-Spirit awareness and providing resources for Aboriginal students. All students are
welcome to join the group
`
Achievement Night November 19 We will celebrate achievement in all of its forms at Westgate CVI on November 19, 2015. Invitations have been sent home for the students who will be receiving awards for their achievement during the 2014-15 school year. We look forward to seeing you and your family on November 19 at 7:00 p.m.
COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS
Potential graduates who still need
to complete their Community Service hours are invited
to speak with their Guidance Counsellor regarding
opportunities that exist. Students are encouraged to
look after this important component of
graduation readiness in a timely manner.
Check out www.volunteer thunderbay.com
Hallo
ween
Ant
ics
Achievement Night November 19
Achie
TIGER NEWS
The Annual Fall Harvest took place on September 23, 2015 at Fort William Historical Park
on a lovely, crisp fall day. This wonderful day is rich in traditional teachings and the ways
of life practiced by the First Nations people of Northwestern Ontario in preparation for the
long and cold winter ahead. Students from the Special Needs/Multi-Needs program and the
PWP program were very happy to attend this full-day event of hands-on learning outdoors
at the Fort. They were very interested in the wild blueberry jam making, the fresh bannock
cooked over a hot fire, the bird preparation and the steaming cups of traditional tea. The
participants learned about Metis Jigging, a dance enjoyed at the end of a long day of work,
and also enjoyed the drum teachings and storytelling. This multi-sensory day provided
many opportunities for exploration:
the way the fur feels on the hide of an animal and the warmth it would provide over
winter
pulling the hot baked bannock off of the stick used to cook it over the fire, before
eating it on a crisp fall day
tasting the jam made from berries alone, no sugar
hearing the sound of the drum and feeling it in our chest
smelling the fire and the smoked meat in a birch bark enclosure
seeing the bird prepared for cooking
Post – Secondary Education Information
January 13, 2016 – Deadline to submit application to Ontario Universities’
Application Centre For more information go to:
www.ouac.on.ca
Ontario College Applications can be submitted now. February 1, 2016 is the
Equal Consideration Date. Web access: ontariocolleges.ca
What good is sitting alone in your room?
Come to the Cabaret!
The music tradition carries on at Westgate where singers, dancers, and instrumental musical performers showcase their talents.
Friday November 27th & Saturday November 28th at 7 pm in the Westgate gymnasium.
Featured will be the concert band, the vocal ensemble and two tiger music classes. Tickets are $10 and will be available from music students or main office.
WESTGATE LIBRARY Students are encouraged to borrow a
book and are invited to enter the monthly
READ A BOOK CONTEST! To participate, students sign out a book, and then speak to Ms. Holland about it when they return the book in order to
receive a ballot. Draws will be held on the last day of every month during the school year.
stu
In other VISUAL ARTS news…. Autumn Sypus was featured on the front page of Lakehead University’s “Education Exchange” Newsletter for her innovative painting on a rain barrel which was used for the Foundation golf tournament.
TIGER MUSIC
Autumn, along with Justine Lizotte also
will be featured in the 2016 Lakehead
University Student Artwork Calendar.
Congratulations!
Upon request from Tina Tucker of the
Thunder Bay Public Library, Mr. Charlton's
Custom Woodworking class and Ms.
Stevenson and Ms. Boucher's Visual Arts
classes constructed and painted "Little Free
Libraries" for the community. Twil Hartley,
Braidon Todd, Nathanial Harasyn and Jayme
Eyben constructed the unique libraries and
Kailey Van Schie, Justine Lizotte, Erika Niva,
Georgia Kerley and Heather Lex painted the
compositions. Watch for a "Little Free
Library" opening up for business near you!
HOMEWORK HELP Free│Online│Math Tutoring!
Grades 7‐10
Sun‐Thurs 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Ontario.ca/HomeworkHelp
Christmas Idea!
TIGER TOQUES are on sale now
$28
Contact main office
The
Art
s……
The Westgate Girls Basketball program
hosted the second annual Tiger Fall
Classic Girls Basketball Tournament
on Oct. 23-24. This was the biggest
tournament yet seeing 23 teams
compete in the Varsity and JV
divisions.
The Varsity Tigers claimed the silver
medal and the JV Tigers earned a
bronze.
Congrats Tigers!
Tigers wearing PINK???
Your eyes did not deceive you! October 19-25th the Girls Varsity and Junior
Varsity basketball teams wore pink and came together in the fight against
cancer.
Always Only The Best
Tige
r A
thle
tics
Teams sold pink t-shirts, had a bake sale, raised pledges and
hosted a tournament to raise funds that will be donated to the
Northern Cancer Research Fund at the Health Sciences
Foundation. Our Tiger spirit was outstanding and coaches are
so proud of their athletes.
Congratulations to Cole Bour on his 5th place finish in the NWOSSAA x country finals at Kamview Nordic Centre on October 21st. Cole placed consistently in the top 10 of the Senior Boys division throughout the season, and will be rewarded for his efforts on November 7th when he will compete in the OFSAA Cross Country Championships in Collingwood, Ontario. We wish you the best of luck, Cole!
WESTGATE SCHOOL COUNCIL
needs new parent members!
Next meeting is
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23rd
7 p.m. in the Library
The council hopes to see you there!
Me to We meets
New Foods Lab open for business…..
Stop in to room 104 and take a look at our new, modern
cooking lab. Students love gathering around the prep islands
to participate in processing food from the garden and in cooking
activities. The sanitation areas simulate a food industry kitchen
with a three sink system and industrial dishwasher and the
access to room 103 allows students to prep meals in the kitchen
and then serve them to visiting classes in the "dining area".
Friends from Fort William First Nation join students
who visit the Learning Lodge for lunch
Literacy Test Information
www.eqao.com
Students in grade 10 may want to visit
this website to access support materials
Oktoberfest!