“A great place to learn”

MCNAIR  NEWSLETTER       SEPTEMBER  2016

MATTHEW MCNAIR SECONDARY SCHOOL

NEWSLETTER HOME  OF  THE  MARLINS  -­‐‑  ESTABLISHED  IN  1974  

 

     Principal:                                    Mr.  J.  Leslie                                                                                              Address:               9500  No  4  Road,  Richmond,  BC,  V7A  2Y9        Vice  Principals:                Mr.  M.  Jaswal  &  Ms.  D.  Ten-­‐‑Pow                  Phone:                     604-­‐‑668-­‐‑6575                Fax:        604-­‐‑668-­‐‑6585        PAC:                                                    Mr.  K.  Chana                                                  Early  Warning:       604-­‐‑295-­‐‑6497        Trustee  Liaison:              Mr.  K.  Hamaguchi                                                                      Twitter:                               @McNairMarlins  

                                               Website:                           http://mcnair.sd38.bc.ca  

Welcome to McNair! We are very fortunate to have a friendly, caring and talented staff at McNair, all of whom work exceedingly hard to help your children meet with success. Every year, however, there are some changes to the staff at a high-school and this year we would like to welcome the following people to McNair:

Ms. Deborah Ten-Pow Administration Ms. Gwen Lew Office Staff Mr. Edward Liao Math Ms. Mugi Maskai French,ELL Ms. Tara Azadmard Resource Ms. Cindy Carr Educational Assistant

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Principal’s message: We are now one month into the school year and 2016-17 is off to another great start! We hope all students are now feeling comfortable with their timetables and courses and are excited with how the school year is shaping up. The first month of school is always a blur and this year was no different. Students and staff quickly got involved in excellent events, highlighted by: The Mini School Strathcona trip; The Grade 8 Retreat to Grouse Mountain and The Olympic Oval and the Vancouver International Airport; the opening of our beautifully refinished Courtyard; our very successful Meet the Teacher Night; an inspiring Terry Fox Run and a host of other great learning experiences within our classrooms.

Students at McNair continue to impress me with their selfless acts of kindness and caring and they should all be commended for being respectful of the school and each other. Similarly, our staff have enjoyed a very good start and are setting a great example for our students to follow. Along these lines, we are very excited about the upcoming Breaking Down the Walls presentation at the school on October 5-7th. It should be a very rich experience for our students.

We encourage all parents to stay involved in their child’s education and to connect with the teachers at McNair. We welcome your input and want to continue making connections with you to support your child.

Great start, Marlins. Let’s have a fantastic October!

--Mr. Jason Leslie

 

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MCNAIR  NEWSLETTER                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          SEPTEMBER  2016    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

World Teachers' Day - October 5 The United Nations celebrates World Teachers’ Day on October 5 each year. At McNair Secondary, we recognize that our staff members are dedicated and caring people and our teachers are especially thoughtful and skilled professionals. Through their daily work of teaching, leading, mentoring, supporting, encouraging and inspiring, our staff make a tremendous contribution to the growth and development of all McNair students. We encourage students and parents to take a moment to say thank you to teachers and educators who have made and are making a positive difference in your life.

Parents Welcome! It was great to see so many parents attend our Meet the Teacher Night session on September 22nd! All parents and legal guardians of McNair students are considered members of the Parent Advisory Council and are welcome to attend PAC meetings. Our PAC will meet next on October 11 and November 8 at 7:00 pm in the office conference room and the meetings are very informal. PAC is a great way to meet the principal and other parents and find out more about the school, education policies and hot teen topics. For more information, contact chair Kathy Chana. Similarly, all McNair parents are invited to join Dry After Grad (DAG) to be involved in a fun-filled project and meet and work with other keen parents. The group counts on parents of the grads of 2017, but also needs parents of current Grades 11, 10 and younger students to be sure the Marlins DAG experience remains vibrant and successful for all students in their Grade 12 year. We strongly encourage parents to be involved in their child’s education. Those students whose parents stay involved do much better in school!  

September was Literacy Month! Every year since 1966, the UN's International Literacy Day

was a global observance on September 8. According to UNESCO, one-in-five adults are still not literate and two-thirds of them are women. About 75 million children are out-of-school and many more attend irregularly or drop out. The City of Richmond celebrated Literacy Month this past September. Reading and literacy (in all forms) are

central to success in school and in life. Through reading, people access the ideas, information and experiences that help them to understand themselves and their world. Literacy includes listening, speaking, reading, writing, thinking and digital skills and all are inherently connected in the development and assessment of literacy. Literate students who are engaged in, and able to think about and monitor their reading are more successful in all areas of school. All McNair students are encouraged to check out the wide range of options available at our school library and read for pleasure regularly and in our Silent Reading periods each day. Parents can help by having reading materials in your home, organizing visits to the local library and by modeling good reading habits. Explore the Richmond Public Library at: http://rpl.yourlibrary.ca

Follow McNair Secondary School on Twitter Please stay connected to our school and join the over 475 students, parents, alumni and community members who are already following McNair on Twitter! This is a great way to get short reminders and updates of all that is happening at McNair Secondary. Twitter is easy to use from your smart phone or computer and is a very popular social medial platform used by millions of businesses, universities, news agencies and community organizations in Richmond, Canada and throughout the world. Follow us: @McNairMarlins

 Cellphones/Electronic Devices: Cell phones or other electronic devices are not to be used, seen, or heard during class time, except with specific permission of teachers for educational activities. Please do not call your child on his/her cell phone during class time. In case of an emergency please call the school office at (604) 668-6575 and we will contact your child for you.

Protect Personal Belongings: The best defense against acts of theft is to not bring valuable items to school. Protect your belongings and do not leave money or other valuables in an unattended bag, locker or changing room. Students should LEAVE VALUABLES AT HOME!

 

 

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MCNAIR  NEWSLETTER                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          SEPTEMBER  2016    

 

Back to School Driving Reminders: If you are driving to McNair, we urge you to use common sense, avoid peak times, follow all posted road signs and laws and always be aware of students walking to school. Do not stop on Number 4 Road during busy periods to drop off or pick up students. Please also be very cautious at the crosswalk on Number 4 Road and around our school buses. We have over 250 of our students taking the bus, and need to ensure they are safe. If entering the school roadway, be aware of pedestrians and do not speed in the parking lots or the turn-around areas. Parents should make arrangements to pick up your student near the school - students can walk part way and even a little rain is okay, they will not melt! Student drivers must follow all N requirements, including legal limits on passengers. Thank you for your cooperation in driving with care and ensuring that our students and staff are safe when travelling to and from school each day.

Student Safety Reminders: The City of Richmond is a safe community and our school has a well established ethos of kindness, care and respect; however, the safety of all who work and learn at McNair Secondary School is very important to us and we ask parents to spend some time discussing the following reminders with their teens. Do not give out personal information over the Internet and be cautious online - many people are not who they claim to be. Be thoughtful about your digital footprint and never text, post, “like” or comment on any message or photo that is offensive, hurtful or harmful – once on social media, it can never be retrieved. Teens should always communicate with their parents about where they are going, whom they will be with and what time they are expected. Whenever possible, teens should walk or travel with friends or in a group. Be cautious around strange vehicles, groups or adults you do not know. Always phone for a ride if you will be studying or working later than expected. If you have concerns or spot suspicious people or vehicles, especially when travelling to and from school, talk to your parents and report it to the school. Be wise and be safe.

Subscribe to the McNair Secondary School Website: The school website has been completely updated this year and contains a wealth of information about McNair Secondary School, including our School and Athletics calendars. All McNair families are encouraged to

bookmark http://mcnair.sd38.bc.ca and add it to their Favourites folder and check the website weekly. We have also added a new feature this year and you have the option of subscribing to our website. If you subscribe, you will receive an email when anything new is added to the main page or when a monthly school newsletter is published. Check it out today!    

PAC Meetings: The McNair PAC executive invites you to attend PAC meetings held on the second Tuesday of the month in the conference room. These meetings provide an overview of what is happening at school and an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback. Our next PAC meeting is scheduled for October 11th, at 7:00 p.m.

Class Attendance: Attendance is taken in each class during the day. If a student is absent first period and the school has not been notified, the school will phone home for all grades. If a student is missing from a later class but was at school earlier in the day, you may be telephoned by an administrator, teacher, or counsellor. Also, a recorded voice message is sent home at the end of the school day through our Synervoice System. Regular attendance is necessary for successful learning, which is the primary goal we share with our students and their families, regardless of whether they are in Grade 8 or Grade 12.

MCNAIR SECONDARY SCHOOL DATES: (Please check the calendar on the school website regularly)

October 5 World Teacher Day October 5 Collaboration day (9:45 start) October 5-7 Breaking Down the Walls Presentation October 10 Thanksgiving Day (school closed) October 11 PAC Metting (7 PM) October 11-14 Interim Week October 21 Pro-D Day (school closed) October 26 Gr 12 Parents Info Night (7:00 PM) October 27 Photo Retake Day

 

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MCNAIR  NEWSLETTER                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          SEPTEMBER  2016    Grade 12 Parents Information Night - Wednesday, October 26th at 7:00 PM: Grade 12 parents are invited to an Information Night to learn important information regarding graduation requirements, navigating the Post-Secondary process, scholarship opportunities and graduation events. Please join us!

 

 

 

 

 

Drop-in Learning Centre McNair is continuing with its new model for our Learning Resource Centre. Students are now welcome to attend the Resource centre on a drop-in basis, provided they have permission from their classroom teacher. Any student who is in need of some extra assistance in a subject area may come to the Resource Centre to get assistance from the teachers in the room. Similarly, we have also created an opportunity for students to access this assistance at lunch and after school. Mr. McLellan is a Math/Science specialist, is available to help students during our lunch hour and until about 3:40 afterschool. If your child can benefit from this extra assistance, please remind them to advocate for themselves and take advantage of this tremendous support. It is open to all students and if you want to know if your child is utilizing it, we have a check in and check out system that tracks who is accessing the system.

Grade 12’s-Marlins Grad 2017 Update: Grade 12 is a big year and there is a lot of information, deadlines and events for students and families to know. Our dedicated school counsellors (Mr. Daniel and Ms. Bagnall) and our Career Advisor (Ms. Watson) work very hard to keep up-to-date and share information on post-secondary applications, deadlines and scholarships with students. All Grades 12s are encouraged to attend the university and college visits to McNair, do some research, write down their questions and make an appointment to see their counsellor or Ms. Watson. Grade 12s should also begin exploring post-secondary/university websites for information but also checking these sites every week: http://www2.sd38.bc.ca/~CCNews@sd38.bc.ca/FOV4-0007DFD4/ At McNair Secondary, we are committed to helping our students prepare for a successful transition to post-secondary life, but Grade 12 students must stay actively engaged and informed and, when in doubt, ask questions! Ms. Bagnall, Mrs. Blair and Ms. Becerril will serve as coordinators of the Grad Committee, so if you are interested in planning some of the upcoming Grad events (and there are sure to be many), sign up to be part of this committee.  

Beautiful Courtyard now OPEN! The CBC continues to raise money to help beautify our newly renovated Courtyard. The Courtyard id now open and students seem to be outside enjoying it every day! You are welcome to use it at break and lunch, just be sure to clean up your garbage! The CBC under the direction of Madame Liu will continue to raise some money for Living Letters to spell out McNair Cares” and will be having a Car Wash very soon! Keep your eye peeled and come out and help us raise the money we need to keep that Courtyard looking great!

Breaking Down the Walls October 5-7 McNair is hosting Dean Whellams from Learning for Living to lead us through some seminars called Breaking Down the Walls. This comprehensive, interactive session is designed to help students make better connections with each other and with our staff. McNair is already a very welcoming and inclusive school community, but these sessions are bound to make our school even more connected. We are very much looking forward to working with Dean and are optimistic that the outcomes of the sessions will be very beneficial to our school community.  

 

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“A great place to learn”

MCNAIR  NEWSLETTER                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          SEPTEMBER  2016    

 

 

McNair Theatre Many of the Theatre department’s recent graduates have gone on to post secondary education in theatre at various institutions including Langara’s film program, Studion 58’s coveted Acting program and Capilano College’s Performing Arts program. We wish them all much success.

We are in full swing with preparations for our production of The Lion King. Auditions for this show will begin in October and Mrs Watts hopes to have the show cast by the beginning of November. This is a big production and will involve many students. The excitement is definitely building! Students are asked to listen for the audition announcements and to watch the theatre displays for more information in the next few weeks.

McNair Fall Athletics: The McNair Marlins have been a respected name in high school sports for many years. In all Richmond schools there are three seasons of play - fall, winter and spring and different sports are offered in different seasons. All McNair students are encouraged to try out for a team, volunteer as a manager or scorekeeper or come out to a few games and cheer on their fellow Marlins! Thank you to all of our student-athletes, volunteer staff and outside coaches and team sponsors for representing our school with skill, sportsmanship and class. Students are encouraged to read the Athletic bulletin board near the gym, listen to announcements, and keep an eye on the televisions for try-out and game times. For more information or to find out how you can support McNair athletics, please contact our Athletic Director Mr. Dhaliwal. The following McNair teams are offered in the RSSAA fall leagues - Go Marlins! Gr. 8 Girls Volleyball Riley Yodogawa & Emily Latrace Mrs. Watson-sponsor Gr. 9 Girls Volleyball Veronica Decena, Catherine Liu-sponsor Gr. 10 Girls Volleyball Nicole Evangelista, Theresa Watts-sponsor Sr. Girls Volleyball Michael Jaswal & Jackson Liu Sr. Boys Soccer Maria Zanikos Cross Country Jason Leslie

         

McNair Music/Band The McNair Music program is off to good start this school year. All ensembles are gearing up for the Squamish Music Retreat on November 4th -6th. Every music student attends the retreat. It is a great opportunity to have coaching from professional musicians and work with well recognized guest conductors.

Many McNair music students will be performing in the British Columbia Music association Honour Choir, String Orchestra and Honour Band. These students were chosen by audition out of hundreds of BC applicants to be in these Ensembles. They will be performing at the BCMEA conference on October 21st and 22nd at 11295 Mellis Dr, Richmond, BC V6X 1L8 All are welcome to attend the performances.

The POMMA (Parents of McNair Music Association) first meeting is Wednesday October 5th in the Music room. All music parents are encouraged to attend this meeting. Refreshment will be served.

Terry Fox Run Thursday, September 29th Mr. Sangra and the Athletic Council sponsored our annual Terry Fox Run. The entire school was pulled out of class at 12:00 to go on a 2 KM run/walk through our neighborhood in order to raise money and awareness for Cancer Research. Staff and Athletic Council students were spread all along the route, directing traffic and keeping our

students safe, and all 850 students and staff who participated were well-mannered and respectful of the event and our surroundings. Congratulations to all who helped honour a true Canadian Hero. McNair’s goal is to raise $1000.00 for Cancer Research, and if you were unable to make your donation last week, we are still accepting donations in the Business Assistant’s office. Lease see Mrs. Yee and thanks again to all participants and Mr. Sangra and the Athletic Council.

 

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“A great place to learn”

MCNAIR  NEWSLETTER                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          SEPTEMBER  2016    

 

 

 

 

RISP Homestay Host

Interested in opening your home up for a rewarding experience?

The International Student Program allows overseas students to enter Grades 8 through 12 at selected secondary schools in Richmond, Greater Vancouver. The program gives overseas students the opportunity to study alongside Canadian students in the BC public education system. As a Host Family, you will have an opportunity to welcome into your home, students from around the world. Your family will have a profound influence on the students’ study abroad experience. Both your family and the students you host will ideally gain a mutual understanding and respect for each other’s culture and world-view. In addition to economic remuneration, your reward will be the realization that your commitment to host international students will, in some small way, contribute to global understanding and world peace.

Each member of your family and your student will come to know each other in depth. Our Homestay program is the ideal setting for this type of experience.

If you are interested in learning more about our hosting program please forward an e-mail for information.

Karen York Homestay Coordinator International Student Program Tel: 604-295-4303 email: kyork@sd38.bc.ca

Grade 8 Retreat September 20 and 21, McNair welcomed our newest Marlins, the Grads of 2021, with a two-day Grade 8 Retreat. The two days were organized by a group of teachers and included a day at Grouse Mountain seeing the Grizzly Bears, watching a presentation in the Feasthouse and going up the Eye of the Needle. Day 2 consisted of a trip to the Richmond Olympic Oval for some team-building games and playing in the Olympic experience on the third floor. Following those good times, we headed off to the Vancouver International Airport, for a walking tour orchestrated by Madame Liu. A great time was had by all, and it was a great opportunity for this group to come together and make some new friends. The

students should also be commended for their exemplary behavior. Every place we visited, people working there complimented the conduct of our group. Way to go, Marlins!

 

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MCNAIR  NEWSLETTER                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          SEPTEMBER  2016    Richmond Autism Resource Fair

RICHMOND AUTISM RESOURCE FAIR

Come join us for a hassle free, no pressure opportunity to meet and mingle with a wide variety of professionals, groups and businesses providing services in the Richmond area.

This is a free event but registration is required. Please register online at https://autismresourcefair2016.eventbrite.ca, if you are having trouble please call 604-233-3205.

Refreshments and a pizza lunch will be provided. Child care is not available.

Speakers/Panels

Alexander Magnussen: Bridging the Gap

He is a 28yr old man who has autism. His message – with the right support and early intervention, people who live with autism can realize in themselves that

they are smart and can find their niche in the world

He is

Transitions Through the School Adventure:

Kindergarten, high school and beyond

Life Planning Tools: Disability Tax Credit, Person Centered Planning, RDSP,

PWD, Wills & Estates

Market Place and Information Booths

NOVEMBER 19, 2016 9am-1pm

McMath Secondary School 4251 Gary Street

Richmond, BC

The Richmond Autism Interagency Committee

presents the 5th Annual

Featuring a Special

Appearance from

Mayday Club Youth Choir

 

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MCNAIR  NEWSLETTER                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          SEPTEMBER  2016    Career Check out the new website: SD38careercentre.weebly.com.

All new information is posted on the Home – New Info page. The calendar is a very important tool on this website as dates from the “Home - New Info” section are recorded here. The other sections will help students in their search for career direction, how to navigate their way through the post-secondary application process in a timely fashion and also how to find scholarships.

Visit Ms. Hudson’s Facebook page as well for updates: www.facebook.com/MsHudsonCareerCentreNews

Drop in to see Ms. Hudson, the Career Advisor, in the Career Centre Mon – Fri from 11:15 to 3:15

EducationPlannerBC EducationPlannerBC is a comprehensive post-secondary British Columbia resource for students. The site highlights education and career options in all aspects of: • Planning

• Searching

• Applying Visit: https://www.educationplannerbc.ca/ Students should use the Apply section of the Education Planner when applying. The application process is less time consuming when you use EducationPlannerBC. Create one account and apply to multiple BC post-secondary institutions. After completing the first application, then select the next institution and your personal information, contact information and academic history will automatically be filled in. University/College Visits to McNair Langara College – Wed Sept 28 at lunch in the Library Kwantlen Polytechnic University – Wed Oct 12 at lunch in the Library Emily Carr University of Art and Design – Fri Oct 14 at lunch in the Library University of British Columbia – Thurs Oct 20 at 2:55 in the Library University of Calgary - Tues Oct 25 at lunch in the Library BCIT – Fri Oct 28 at lunch in the Library Western University – Tues Nov 1 at lunch in the Library Simon Fraser University – Wed Nov 9 at lunch in the Library University of Alberta - Mon Nov 21 at lunch in the Library Post-Secondary Fair - Tues Nov 15 from 10-11:15 in the main hall at McNair

When Do University/College Applications Open? Colleges accept applications on a first-come first-served basis. Universities operate on an application deadline basis.

SEPT 1 – Vancouver Community College SEPT 15 – Emily Carr University OCT 1 – Douglas College OCT 1 – Langara College NOV 1 - Kwantlen Polytechnic University NOV 15 – BCIT University Application Deadlines JAN 15 - University of British Columbia FEB 1 to MAR 1 – University of Northern BC (depending on Program) FEB 28 - Simon Fraser University FEB 28 - University of Victoria JAN 15 – Emily Carr University

 

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MCNAIR  NEWSLETTER                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          SEPTEMBER  2016    

   

Career (cont’d) MAR 31 – Capilano University MAY 31 – Thompson Rivers University

Online Application for Admission to BC Colleges and Universities

Students may apply directly to a specific institution or use the Apply section in EducationPlannerBC. If using Education Planner, after completing the first application, students select the next institution and the personal/contact information and academic history will automatically be filled in. https://www.educationplannerbc.ca/

Online Application for Admission to Alberta Colleges and Universities • Use the Alberta Post-Secondary Application Service: https://applyalberta.ca

Online Application for Admission to Ontario Universities • Use the Ontario Application Service: http://www.ouac.on.ca/ouac-105/ • All other Post-Secondary Institutions: Check their websites for instructions

Post-Secondary (PSI) Choices Form Online Grade 12 students planning to attend post-secondary must fill out this online form at the following website: https://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/exams/tsw/tsw/student

• This enables the Ministry to send your transcripts to the Post-Secondary institutions that you have applied to. The service opens in October.

• Students must complete the PSI Selections form by March 1, 2017 to have preliminary transcript information forwarded in mid-March to the BC Electronic PSIs list and to the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC) institutions.

Deadlines to Note: Oct 7/16 Loran Scholars Foundation Scholarship (In School Deadline for Sponsorship): Loran Scholarship deadlines: OCT 7/16 - 'In-school' application deadline for students seeking Sponsorship OCT 26/16 - Deadline for all 'direct pool' applications to be submitted. For details visit: http://www.loranscholar.ca/

OCT 4/16 - Deadline to Apply for Fall 2016 Richmond RCMP Youth SQUAD Program

Some Other Upcoming Events This is not an exhaustive list. Make sure that you visit SD38careercentre.weebly.com and use the calendar to find upcoming events. OCT 4/16 (Tuesday) from 6:30 to 8:30pm Canadian Universities Event (CUE) 2016 @ McMath Secondary All grade 11 and 12 students in Richmond (and parents) are invited to the Canadian Universities Event 2016. Format: info table style only Oct 13 - Vancouver US College & University Fair Open to students and their families between 4:00PM and 5:00PM OCT 21/ 16 KPU Richmond 'Open House' 2016