• Parents Reaching Out Grant
• $500 Council Funding and Proven Ideas   
• Toolkit – Group discussion
• Ontario Scholarships
• Full day Kindergarten

Michele Locke, our Trustee, will join us to facilitate discussions and take your suggestions and ideas back to the PIC members.

More instalments to follow.

• integrity
• responsibility
• co-operation                                                 
• empathy
• optimism
• respect
• honesty
• caring
• inclusiveness
• courage

The Simcoe County District School Board is accepting nominations and will hold a “character recognition evening” May 17 at 6 p.m.

The event formally recognizes 100 staff, students and volunteers who have been recommended by their peers and colleagues for outstanding demonstration of these traits. Nominations will be accepted until Feb. 24 and can be made by email, fax or through the inter-school courier.

For more information and the recognition form, visit www.scdsb.on.ca/parents-corner/commit-to-character

• School Administration Profile was approved with one change (this annually prepared document highlights qualities and skills set Council values and is used when Board considers transferring and/or appointing new MSS VP or Principal).
• Parent Involvement Fund ($500 given to schools to support parent involvement) MSS Council will consider partnering with other schools and possible speakers for future parent event.
• Jan. 11th Gr 8 Open House had a good turnout (thanks to Kate Urquhart for representing Council at event).
• Feb. 15 Healthy Schools Webinar hosted by People for Education will be run as part of School Council meeting. (session length TBD)
• High School Rush (Rogers TV covered Marauderpalooza for Gr 8, congrats to our Link Crew, students, staff and admin)
• Principal Update – auditor’s report released, exams begin Thurs. Jan 25 (for Gr. 12) and run through Jan. 31, nominations invited for individuals who exemplify commitment to character
• Teacher Update – english book fair Jan. 19 at 10:30 in library, Angie will coordinate future teacher guest speakers for Council
• Student Update –  semi-formal (Mar. 2) Partigras, organizing committee working on activities, DJ and meal, Valentine’s Day – red, pink and white theme and school groups planning events
• Future teacher guests – we’ll invite Lesley Beckley and Tim Jenkinson to highlight Healthy Citizenship/Mentorship and Leadership, also look at inviting Constable Dave Young re: safety in our school
• Other Business – Mike Hamelin noted that he is working with a group to determine whether a site like Barrie’s Youth Haven (sanctuary for youth between 16 – 18 years) may be feasible in Midland; also looking at combining with a First Nations home. These are safe places for students to stay for one month when they are no longer living at home for various reasons. Like Youth Haven, the goals would be to connect students with community services and enable students to continue to attend high school locally.

On Wednesday, February 15 from 7 – 8 PM, the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association and People for Education are providing a webinar on Healthy Schools. 

Find out:

• why schools are an ideal place to focus on improving kids’ health
• how to use a simple form to assess your school’s health promotion programs
• what you can do to make your school a healthy school

To register, click on this link:: http://p4e-online-training.eventbrite.ca/

School Council will run the webinar during our Feb. 15th School Council meeting. You are welcome to join us.

(picture credit school district 35)

Final evaluations are coming. Check out the great resources at our MSS school blog, mss.scdsb.on.ca or click on the MSS Homepage at the top of our menu.

Under the heading, ”About Our School”, select the Parent Involvement Library. There you’ll find some great resources including:

• How to Remember What You’ve Learned (3rd row)
• How to Study More Effectively (4th row)
• How to Do Better on Tests (4th row)

When you click on these resources, they open easy-to-read brochures that can help you and your teen(s) during the next couple of weeks leading up to finals.

Encourage your teen(s) to…

• Take time each night to review notes, assignments and old tests.
• Set aside 20 minutes for studying each day.
• Turn off the TV, radio, computer and cellphone.
• Get a good night’s sleep the night before and a healthy breakfast the morning of the test.

—Source: adapted fro Anne Marie Robichaud, “Preparing for Exams,” Canadian Parents Online (www.canadianparents.com)

For our students, these are the last few weeks before exams. As a parent, this is a great time to encourage your student(s) to take some time each night to review notes, assignments and work as they prepare for final evaluations.

School Council will meet next Wed. Jan. 18 from 6:30 – 8:00. Why not join us?

Checking out MSS with your Grade 8? Watch for Kate Urquhart, a School Council member and past Chair, at the Jan. 11th Grade 8 Open House. Kate will highlight what Council does and our goals for 2012.

January 11th sees us host MSS Grade 8 night. Help us change “nothing” to incredible stories and accomplishments.