College Heights Secondary School
December 2015 Newsletter
Building Success!
Principal’s Report
Well, it doesn’t seem like it from a weather stand point but the Winter Break is here! For students
and staff this winter break is a welcome one after a busy and exhausting fall. It is, as always, a pleasure for
me to work in this great school filled with caring and compassionate staff and energetic, determined
students. Since my last newsletter we have experienced our Stand-up-to-Bullying activities, participated in the
United Way Campaign, built 50 doghouses for first nation communities and, of course, held our outstanding
Holiday Luncheon. As we finish the month of December I am hopeful that in January our students will excel in
their final evaluations. We have had the pleasure this fall to get to know a number of terrific teachers and are
looking forward in Semester 2 to the return of some of our staff who are currently on leave.
This current interim reporting process is an extra report that we do to provide one final check-up to see where
students stand heading into the final push. At this time, if credits are in jeopardy, it is important to get in touch
with a guidance counselor, resource teacher or subject teacher to find out what can be done to salvage these
credits. When we return in January we are 3 ½ weeks away from formal exams so I encourage students and
their families to make studying, extra help and hard work a priority as we head into this stretch of the year.
On Thursday, January 28th exams will begin. Period 1 exams will be on Thursday followed by period 2 exams
on Friday January 29th, period 3 exams on Monday February 1st and finally period 4 exams on Tuesday
February 2nd. Wednesday, February 3rd is used as a make-up day for students who have incomplete work
and have made arrangements with their teacher, and finally Thursday, February 4th is a PD day as we
prepare for semester 2 beginning with a Wellness Day to start semester 2 on Friday February 5th. Please note
the inclement weather policy on the next page and how that effects exams should schools and/or buses be
cancelled. Note: if any buses into College Heights are cancelled or the school is closed on an exam day, the
schedule will push to the next day. In the event of an inclement weather day on the PD day, semester 2 will
start as scheduled on Friday, February 5th. Make sure you check the school or board’s website for weather
details or you can get all the news on twitter through #CHSSHuskies. Enjoy the holidays and best wishes in
the New Year!!!
Stephen Gayfer, Principal
Sparkles in the Park
Northern Dogs Project
To help Guelph celebrate the holiday season,
Ms. Rivers and her volunteer crew and Ms.Parks'
Co-op class assisted the Rotary Club in
decorating Riverside Park. For three
days they set up lights and displays to
illuminate the park for the holidays. We
used wire, ladders, generators, LED
lights and our teamwork skills to decorate
many trees, buildings and park
installations.
College Heights
Construction students
built 50 dog houses in
partnership with IFAW
(International Fund for
Animal Welfare) to help
protect dogs from
extreme weather in Northern Ontario
communities. This is the second year for students
making a difference for our northern friends.
Be sure to take your friends and family to
Riverside Park over the holidays to see
our handiwork. This is another great example of
College Heights making our community a “brighter”
place to live. The Sparkles in the Park display
operates daily December 12 - 31 (5:30 - 9:30) with a
special New Year’s Eve Fireworks (beginning at 8:00 pm).
The Bakeshop staff and students
worked diligently for days filling the
many orders. They prepared over
4,800 tarts, over 9,600 cookies,
a village of gingerbread people,
over 600 truffles, and 43
Christmas cakes! Thanks to
Ms. Yates, Ms. Conley,
Mrs. Furfaro and their students.
Also thanks to all staff who
helped whenever they had a
few minutes before and after school,
during their lunch and whenever a
spare minute was available. It was
through this
team effort that
all the orders
were filled.
Well done!
The Hospitality staff and students
were busy preparing a true holiday
feast! Their numbers are just as
amazing - 280 lbs turkey, 70 lbs
carrots, 30 lbs brussels sprouts, 28
litres of gravy, 165 lbs potatoes, 30
dozen buns, 45 lbs Christmas
pudding, 10 lbs of elbow grease
and 1 very tired chef. We served
450 meals. Thanks to Chef,
Mr. Doucette, Mrs. Furfaro, and
their hardworking hospitality
students. Also thanks to the many
staff who helped serve this tasty
dinner. A true TEAM event
demonstrating the kindness and
hard work of this HUSKY family!
Applause
 Congratulations to all the grade 10 students who
successfully completed Work Experience. An extra
congratulations to those who came back with job offers.
Way to go!
 We also extend our thanks to all the employers for
providing our students with a wonderful learning
opportunity. They are Cooke & Denison, K&R
Automotive, Rickson Ridge P.S., Guelph Humane
Society, Studio 404, Squirrel Tooth Alice’s, Noble
Plumbing Supply, Jean Little P.S., Sutton Collision, Green
Legacy, PDQ Tire and Auto, and La Luma Academy.
 To date there have been 1,821 books signed out of the
library!
 The For Huskies group collected money on Toonie
Tuesdays. We raised $161.00 which we then donated to
Adopt-a-Family for Christmas and to World Vision. The
government matched our World Vision amount. Well
done Huskies!
Yearbook available for purchase online
Our student editors have been working hard this semester to record
as much as possible that has been going on at Heights and we will
continue next semester as well. Buy yours now. There is lots to
see and remember!
Visit the College Heights school website to buy your book of
memories online.
http://www.ugdsb.on.ca/college-heights/
Snow Day or Not?
When there is a possibility of a snow day here
are some tips that will help you determine
whether or not the buses are running and/or the
school is closed.
 Call the school 519-821-4510 and press 8.
This number will give you the updated bus
and school information for that day. The
phone line is generally updated daily by 7:00
am
 Listen to the radio. Guelph stations are
MAGIC 106.1 FM or CJOY 1460 AM.
 Check the Upper Grand District School
Board website at www.ugdsb.on.ca and
find the school bus. Click on the “School
Bus Cancellations and School Closures”
and you will find the latest information for
Cancelled and Late Running buses.
Semester End/Exam Schedule
Wednesday, Last day of regular classes. Encourage
January 27 your student to complete all outstanding
assignments and projects.
During the exams
 Buses run as usual. Drop-off & Pick-up at usual time.
 If any of the buses into College Heights are cancelled or
the school is closed, the exam schedule will be moved
by 1 day, eg. if the buses are not running February 1,
period 3 exam would be on February 2, period 3 on and
so on.
 Call 519-821-4510 and press 8 to get the most up-todate information of bus cancellations and how they
affect the exam schedule.
 Cafeteria is open during lunch, Soup and sandwiches
are available during lunch for purchase.
 Students will have a chance to complete assignments
with the help of their teachers until lunch each day and
can also work independently in the cafeteria and library
in the afternoon to also complete assignments.
 All exams are written in the regularly-scheduled
classroom. Students with an IEP are eligible for
alternate settings. Arrangements are made between the
classroom teacher and the resource teacher.
 If your student is sick, call the school before
9:00 am, press 0. Do not leave a message.
 Timetable Changes for Semester 2 are done during the
first week of Semester 2 in Guidance.
Thursday, January 28
Period 1 Exam (9:00 to 11:30)
Friday, January 29
Period 2 Exam (9:00 to 11:30)
Monday, February 1
Period 3 Exam (9:00 to 11:30)
Tuesday, February 2
Period 4 Exam (9:00 to 11:30)
Wednesday, February 3
Rescheduled Exams
Thursday, February 4
School is closed to students.
Friday, February 5
Semester 2 starts. Students will
receive a new timetable this day.
Huskies on the Prowl
College Heights participated in the Intercity Volleyball
Tournament on November 26 in Waterloo. We had a
boy’s team and a co-ed team. Both teams won silver in
the tournament. Students demonstrated great
sportsmanship and skills as they played their games and
made it to the finals in both sections. Great job Huskies!
The wrestling season is in full swing. Evan Laws won
silver at our first tournament at John F. Ross and
Ali Ayoubi won gold at both John F. Ross tournaments
and the most recent at Centre Wellington DHS.
Mark Your Calendars….
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December 21-January 1 - Winter break (school closed)
January 4 - School Council Meeting (6:30 - 8:00 pm)
January 13 - Grade 8 Parent Night (6:30 - 8:30 pm)
January 21&22 - EQAO Math Test (Grade 9)
January 28 - February 3 - Exams
February 4 - PA Day (School is closed to students)
February 5 - Semester 2 starts
February 9 - Semester 2 Photo Day (am)
February 12 - Report Cards mailed home (Sem.1)
February 15 - Family Day Holiday
February 29&March 1 - Grad Photos (all day) by appt only
Green Industries
Holiday Boutique
Ms. Peterson’s Green Industries
students have been honing their
horticulture and design skills while
preparing for the
annual Holiday
Boutique. Students
have done a
marvelous job of designing their urns,
winter patio arrangements, centerpieces
and other seasonal creations along with
providing top notch customer service.
Truly spectacular work team! Bravo!!!