May 2015 - Bishop Smith Catholic High School

BISHOP IN BRIEF
Bishop Smith Catholic High School Newsletter
May 2015
362 Carmody Street,
Pembroke, ON K8A 4G2
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Tel: 613-735-5496
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Fax:- 613-735-9272
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bsch.rccdsb.edu.on.ca
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Key Dates For May:
 May 3-8: Catholic Ed Week
 May 5: OSAP presentation for gr.
12 students
Volume 1, Issue 8
A M e s s age f ro m t h e A d m i n Te a m : C E W 2 0 1 5
Each year, the Catholic community of Ontario engages in a week-long celebration of the unique
identity and distinctive contributions of Catholic education during Catholic Education Week. This
year’s celebration entitled Catholic Education: Exploring Paths of Joy is the week of May 3–8. The main
theme is inspired by the work of Pope Francis and his “Joy of the Gospel” and the sub-themes are
inspired by the biblical story of “The Road to Emmaus”, namely that we are all on a life journey of
faith where Jesus reveals himself to us, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was talking to us
on the road?” (Luke 24:32). Each day of the week, a different sub-theme will be explored through
class prayer and reflection. On Thursday May 7 @ 9:45 a.m. we will gather as a faith community
with a special CEW mass at the Cathedral. All are welcome!
The five sub-themes for Catholic Education Week: Exploring Paths of Joy:
Walking Together and Sharing our Story
Opening the Scriptures
Welcoming Others to the Table
Recognizing Jesus in the Breaking of the Bread
Proclaiming the Good News
 May 6: Amplify Youth Summit for
gr. 10 students @ Pet Civic
Center
 May 12: Bishop & Beyond session in
a.m. for gr. 12 students
 May 13: Culminating Activity &
Exam memo goes home
 May 14: OPTIONS @ PMC
 May 15: PA Day
 May 20: NET Retreat for gr. 10
students (who sign up!)
 May 23: BSCH Alumni & Friends
Golf Tournament
 May 25: Parent Council Meeting
@ 5:15 p.m. in library
 May 27: Gr. 8 soccer @ BSCH
 May 29: Amazing Race Orientation
D i d Yo u K n ow ? A c c o u n t a bl e Ta l k @ B S C H
Have you ever asked your son or daughter what he/she did at school today? Do you usually get the
response “Nothing”? At Bishop Smith CHS we have been actively involved in infusing “Accountable
Talk” into daily lessons. Here is why.
Talk is an important vehicle for learning. Providing opportunities for talk addresses many needs,
including the developmental needs of adolescent learners. Students generally want to talk, but they
may not have all the necessary skills for productive talk. Learners benefit from explicit teaching on
how to make their talk purposeful. Here are some tips to stimulate thinking by asking open-ended
questions to your son or daughter when he/she does tell something that happened in his/her day…..
*How else could you have…..?
*What would you do if….?
*How are these the same or different?
*What else could you have done?
*Is there any other way you could….?
*How/Why did you….?
Remember…. it is also just as important to listen.
RCCDSB
M o re o n “ M i n d s e t s ”
Mindset: Messages About Success
Listen for the messages in the following examples of success:
“You learned that so quickly! You’re so smart!”
Mental Health
At BSCH well-being is an
important focus for students
and there are several supports for mental health.
- CCAC Mental health and
addictions nurse
-Phoenix Center therapist
-PMFRC therapist
-FCS School-based workers
-School and attendance
counselor
-Guidance counselors
For more information please
contact the school.
Safe Schools Update
Our team continues to meet
regularly to review aspects of
student safety at school.
During the last few months
our focus has been on planning for a series of Ministry
of Education-mandated drills
and practices. Schools in
Ontario are required to complete 6 fire drills, 2 lock
down practices, 2 earthquake
drills and 1 tornado drill each
year .
Now that the weather is nicer, students and staff will be
spending some time completing some of the drills.
For example, on April 27,
students and staff participated
in our second lock down
practice for the year.
“Look at that drawing. Is he the next Picasso or what?”
“You’re so brilliant, you got an A without even studying!”
Do you hear these as supportive, esteem-boosting messages? But listen more
closely. See if you can hear another message. It’s the one that children hear:
If I don’t learn something quickly, I’m not smart.
I shouldn’t try drawing anything hard or they’ll see I’m no Picasso.
I’d better quit studying or they won’t think I’m brilliant.
After seven experiments with hundreds of children, we had some of the
clearest findings I’ve ever seen: Praising children’s intelligence harms their
motivation and it harms their performance.
How can that be? Don’t children love to be praised? Yes, children love praise
and they especially love to be praised for their intelligence and talent. It really
does give them a boost, a special glow—but only for the moment. The minute
they hit a snag, their confidence goes out the window and their motivation hits
rock bottom. If success means they’re smart, then failure means they’re dumb.
That’s the fixed mindset. We want our children to have a growth mindset
which creates a love of learning, builds resiliency and makes them concerned
with improving.
Dweck, Carol S. “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” (2008)
School Cash On-Line
For safety and efficiency
reasons, Renfrew County
Catholic District School
Board would like to reduce
the amount of cash &
cheques coming into our
schools, and the amount of
classroom time being spent
collecting fees.
In the next few months,
information about “School
Cash On-Line” will be sent
home and you will be asked
to register to enjoy the
convenience of paying
online for such items as
student fees, fundraisers,
pizza orders, field trips,
sports fees, and more.
Step-by-step instructions
will be provided, and then
you will begin to receive
email notifications
regarding upcoming events/
fees involving your child
(ren) which are available to
purchase online.
More info will be sent
home with the June
report cards as BSCH
plans to be “live” for
September!