Westside News Issue 04 June, 2015
ISSUE
04
STAY CONNECTED
See our website for daily announcements
www.ugdsb.on.ca/westside
Westside News
JUNE
2015
This Issue
Receive regular school messages on your
phone (ie. No bus days and schedule changes)
Text to 705-230-2295 the message @d6391
Principal’s Message P1
Commencement P2
School Cash Online P2
Follow us on Twitter for event news
@WestsideThunder
Europe trip 2016 P3
Literacy Test Results P3
Important Dates
TRANSPORTATION NEWS:
To check bus info—go to www.findmyschool.ca and login to this secure site with your
child’s OEN number (located on report card), school name, birth date and house
number.
Wellington-Dufferin Student Transportation Services (STWDSTS) offers a subscription
service that will notify the subscriber via email when your child’s bus has been
cancelled or is delayed.
HAVE A
SAFE
SUMMER!
To subscribe go to: https:/www.findmyschool.ca/subscriptions/login.aspx and follow
the directions.
If your address changes, please call and advise STWDSTS at 519-824-4119 ASAP.
Follow STWDSTS on Twitter! STWDSTS will be
using Twitter beginning August 2015. You will be
able to follow us @stwdsts. Please make sure you
connect with us to hear about inclement weather,
cancellations and important information.
ONLINE ATTENDANCE
Currently the Aizan System is calling home for student absences, but you can monitor your child’s attendance each day
online by following these instructions:
Website address: https://students.ugdsb.on.ca/WSS/Students
or follow the link on the Westside Website: www.ugdsb.on.ca/Westside
Username
 First 5 letters of the student’s last name, followed by the first 3 letters of the students first name.
Password
 The student’s 9 digit OEN. This number can be found on a report card or on a student card. If unsure, please contact
Student Services.
New SHSM program at WSS P3
Stay Connected P4
Aug. 31, Sept. 1 & 2 - Link Crew
Training
Sept. 1 - Grade 10-12 Registration
Sept. 2 - Grade 9 Orientation and
Registration (Parent meeting 9-10
am)
Sept. 8 - First day back to school
Sept. 15 - Picture Day
Sept. 17 - Camp Thunder (Grade 9)
Sept. 24 - Awards Ceremony
Oct. 12 - Thanksgiving
Oct. 15 - Parent-Teacher Interviews
Oct. 16 - Picture Re-take Day
Oct. 30 - Commencement
Nov. 4 - Take Kids to Work Day
Nov. 6 - Pink Day
Nov. 10 - Semester 1, Term 2
Begins
Nov. 13 - Midterm Reports
Nov. 27 - PD Day
Dec. 7 to 11 - Grad Photos
Dec. 21 to Jan. 1 - Christmas
Holidays
Jan. 28 - Feb. 3 - Semester 1 Exams
Feb. 4 - PD Day
Feb. 5 - Start of Semester 2
F o l l o w @ W e st si d e T h u n d e r
Transportation P4
Principal’s Message
Online Attendance P4
Welcome Summer! Congratulations to the class of 2015 on reaching the end of high school.
It sure has been a busy year. The second half of this semester was full of activities: soccer, rugby,
badminton and track & field all had busy seasons. Girls’ lacrosse went all the way to OFFSA! Way to
go ladies! The Ultimate Frisbee team brought the Orangeville cup home to Westside after a crushing
victory over ODSS. Go Thunder! We were very proud of our music students who won a gold medal
at MusicFest Canada. This was their first year competing and we are very excited to see what the
future holds. During this past term we also had students travel to Boston for the senior trip, perform
in the school play Thumbelina, and canoe on Island Lake, to name a few events. The co-curricular
gala on May 29th honored many students for their participation in sports, clubs and events and was a
fun evening with dinner and dancing. The Arts department once again hosted an Arts Night in June
that featured work from the visual and media arts classes, music performances, drama skits, food and
a hair show. We ended the year with the Prom at Caledon Estates Banquet Hall.
Exams seemed to come quickly this past semester but students did well, with most students earning
their credits. For the whole year we had 6,625 credits attempted and 6,311 earned. The average
percent of successful students (in a class) was 95.23%. Congratulations on a successful year students!
Sadly, every semester we say goodbye to staff who have retired or moved to other schools. This year
we said goodbye to Mr. Morrison from co-op in February; Mr. DenElzen in custodial, Ms. Perry in
guidance, Ms. Rutledge in custodial, and Ms. Snyder in the office in May; and Mrs. Baptie our hall
monitor, Mrs. Irons in science, Mrs. Roche in social science, and Mr. Roloson in music and
geography in June. We also wished Mr. Larson in art and technology great success on his next
adventure as he is away for the next two years. The end of the semester also meant saying goodbye
to our occasional staff who were filling in for teachers on leave. We said goodbye to Ms. Begin, Ms.
Brown, Ms. Farley, Mr. Farlinger, Mr. McComb, Ms. Montgomery, Mr. Vaine, and Mr. Walker. We
also thanked Mrs. Cole-McNutt who has been filling in on reception.
We expect EQAO Literacy results, from the test in April, to be available Sept 21st. First time eligible
and previously eligible students will receive a report to take home at that time. We also expect the
grade 9 EQAO math results for those students who wrote this June to be available in the fall.
Over the summer we will be busy hiring new staff and the office will be open for report card pick-up.
Fall registration for grade 10-12 students is planned for Tuesday September 1st and grade 9
orientation and registration planned for Wednesday September 2nd. Students will be able to pick up
their timetable on those dates and make an appointment in guidance to address any concerns. Please
be sure to frequently check our website and/or follow us on twitter @WestsideThunder for updated
information on registration this fall.
Have a safe and relaxing summer!
Westside School Council
Please join us for
School Council Meetings on the
last Tuesday of every month at
7:15 pm.
Watch the school website for our
line up of speakers this year.
WSS COMMENCEMENT 2015
Friday October 30th, 2015
Student and Staff Dinner 5pm
Ceremony 7pm
All Graduation requirements MUST be completed by August 31st 2015.
If Community Hours have not been submitted, ensure they are submitted to
Student Services.
Grad Fees to reserve your spot at Commencement must be submitted
to the main office.
Literacy Test Results
Results for the March 2015 literacy test will not be available
until Sept. 21st. However, students eligible to graduate who
are enrolled in the literacy course were notified of their
results before leaving for summer break.
Please feel free to call the school with any questions.
If you have any questions about your student's results or next
steps, you may contact Kristi Will 519-938-9355 Ext. 271 or
Amie Willoughby Ext. 560 anytime after Sept. 23rd.
Specialist High Skills Majors (SHSM) at Westside
Westside is excited to announce that we will be adding a ‘Health and Wellness’ Specialist to our Specialist High Skills
Major offerings for the 2015-16 School Year!
What is a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)?
Paying school items just got easier!
Sign up to get started today.
What Is School Cash Online?
School Cash Online is an easy to use and safe way to pay for your
children’s school fees. Now, with a few clicks, you can pay for your
child’s yearbook, class trips and so much more from your own home.
All you have to do is register an account, attach your children and in
no time you will be able to make payments online. We accept many
different payment forms so come in and check us out!
Why Use School Cash Online?
Convenient - Make secure payments 24/7 from the comfort of your home
Easy To Use - Online shopping with various payment methods
Safe - Your child won't be carrying cash or cheques to and from school
Saves Time - Manage your school expenses and view payment history in one place
SHSM is a program open to ALL students that allows them to specialize in an area of interest in Gr 11 and 12
 SHSM provides students with additional opportunities to gain experience in their area of interest
(workshops, field trips, training - most at no cost to you)
 Students gain free industry/career recognized certifications and Free CPR/First Aid training
 Students complete a co-op to gain ‘real world’ experience in their area of interest
 Students achieve a special designation (red seal) on their graduation Diploma
 SHSM is recognized by businesses, industry and post-secondary institutions
These credits are NOT additional credit requirements. The SHMS designation is achieved within the regular 30 credit
Diploma (OSSD).
What Specialist High Skills Major programs does Westside offer?
 Arts and Culture
 Hospitality
 Environmental
 Transportation
 Health and Wellness
Questions? / Want to enroll? See Ms. Bell, or Guidance
2
email contact: suzan.bell@ugdsb.on.ca
3
Westside School Council
Please join us for
School Council Meetings on the
last Tuesday of every month at
7:15 pm.
Watch the school website for our
line up of speakers this year.
WSS COMMENCEMENT 2015
Friday October 30th, 2015
Student and Staff Dinner 5pm
Ceremony 7pm
All Graduation requirements MUST be completed by August 31st 2015.
If Community Hours have not been submitted, ensure they are submitted to
Student Services.
Grad Fees to reserve your spot at Commencement must be submitted
to the main office.
Literacy Test Results
Results for the March 2015 literacy test will not be available
until Sept. 21st. However, students eligible to graduate who
are enrolled in the literacy course were notified of their
results before leaving for summer break.
Please feel free to call the school with any questions.
If you have any questions about your student's results or next
steps, you may contact Kristi Will 519-938-9355 Ext. 271 or
Amie Willoughby Ext. 560 anytime after Sept. 23rd.
Specialist High Skills Majors (SHSM) at Westside
Westside is excited to announce that we will be adding a ‘Health and Wellness’ Specialist to our Specialist High Skills
Major offerings for the 2015-16 School Year!
What is a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)?
Paying school items just got easier!
Sign up to get started today.
What Is School Cash Online?
School Cash Online is an easy to use and safe way to pay for your
children’s school fees. Now, with a few clicks, you can pay for your
child’s yearbook, class trips and so much more from your own home.
All you have to do is register an account, attach your children and in
no time you will be able to make payments online. We accept many
different payment forms so come in and check us out!
Why Use School Cash Online?
Convenient - Make secure payments 24/7 from the comfort of your home
Easy To Use - Online shopping with various payment methods
Safe - Your child won't be carrying cash or cheques to and from school
Saves Time - Manage your school expenses and view payment history in one place
SHSM is a program open to ALL students that allows them to specialize in an area of interest in Gr 11 and 12
 SHSM provides students with additional opportunities to gain experience in their area of interest
(workshops, field trips, training - most at no cost to you)
 Students gain free industry/career recognized certifications and Free CPR/First Aid training
 Students complete a co-op to gain ‘real world’ experience in their area of interest
 Students achieve a special designation (red seal) on their graduation Diploma
 SHSM is recognized by businesses, industry and post-secondary institutions
These credits are NOT additional credit requirements. The SHMS designation is achieved within the regular 30 credit
Diploma (OSSD).
What Specialist High Skills Major programs does Westside offer?
 Arts and Culture
 Hospitality
 Environmental
 Transportation
 Health and Wellness
Questions? / Want to enroll? See Ms. Bell, or Guidance
2
email contact: suzan.bell@ugdsb.on.ca
3
Westside News Issue 04 June, 2015
ISSUE
04
STAY CONNECTED
See our website for daily announcements
www.ugdsb.on.ca/westside
Westside News
JUNE
2015
This Issue
Receive regular school messages on your
phone (ie. No bus days and schedule changes)
Text to 705-230-2295 the message @d6391
Principal’s Message P1
Commencement P2
School Cash Online P2
Follow us on Twitter for event news
@WestsideThunder
Europe trip 2016 P3
Literacy Test Results P3
Important Dates
TRANSPORTATION NEWS:
To check bus info—go to www.findmyschool.ca and login to this secure site with your
child’s OEN number (located on report card), school name, birth date and house
number.
Wellington-Dufferin Student Transportation Services (STWDSTS) offers a subscription
service that will notify the subscriber via email when your child’s bus has been
cancelled or is delayed.
HAVE A
SAFE
SUMMER!
To subscribe go to: https:/www.findmyschool.ca/subscriptions/login.aspx and follow
the directions.
If your address changes, please call and advise STWDSTS at 519-824-4119 ASAP.
Follow STWDSTS on Twitter! STWDSTS will be
using Twitter beginning August 2015. You will be
able to follow us @stwdsts. Please make sure you
connect with us to hear about inclement weather,
cancellations and important information.
ONLINE ATTENDANCE
Currently the Aizan System is calling home for student absences, but you can monitor your child’s attendance each day
online by following these instructions:
Website address: https://students.ugdsb.on.ca/WSS/Students
or follow the link on the Westside Website: www.ugdsb.on.ca/Westside
Username
 First 5 letters of the student’s last name, followed by the first 3 letters of the students first name.
Password
 The student’s 9 digit OEN. This number can be found on a report card or on a student card. If unsure, please contact
Student Services.
New SHSM program at WSS P3
Stay Connected P4
Aug. 31, Sept. 1 & 2 - Link Crew
Training
Sept. 1 - Grade 10-12 Registration
Sept. 2 - Grade 9 Orientation and
Registration (Parent meeting 9-10
am)
Sept. 8 - First day back to school
Sept. 15 - Picture Day
Sept. 17 - Camp Thunder (Grade 9)
Sept. 24 - Awards Ceremony
Oct. 12 - Thanksgiving
Oct. 15 - Parent-Teacher Interviews
Oct. 16 - Picture Re-take Day
Oct. 30 - Commencement
Nov. 4 - Take Kids to Work Day
Nov. 6 - Pink Day
Nov. 10 - Semester 1, Term 2
Begins
Nov. 13 - Midterm Reports
Nov. 27 - PD Day
Dec. 7 to 11 - Grad Photos
Dec. 21 to Jan. 1 - Christmas
Holidays
Jan. 28 - Feb. 3 - Semester 1 Exams
Feb. 4 - PD Day
Feb. 5 - Start of Semester 2
F o l l o w @ W e st si d e T h u n d e r
Transportation P4
Principal’s Message
Online Attendance P4
Welcome Summer! Congratulations to the class of 2015 on reaching the end of high school.
It sure has been a busy year. The second half of this semester was full of activities: soccer, rugby,
badminton and track & field all had busy seasons. Girls’ lacrosse went all the way to OFFSA! Way to
go ladies! The Ultimate Frisbee team brought the Orangeville cup home to Westside after a crushing
victory over ODSS. Go Thunder! We were very proud of our music students who won a gold medal
at MusicFest Canada. This was their first year competing and we are very excited to see what the
future holds. During this past term we also had students travel to Boston for the senior trip, perform
in the school play Thumbelina, and canoe on Island Lake, to name a few events. The co-curricular
gala on May 29th honored many students for their participation in sports, clubs and events and was a
fun evening with dinner and dancing. The Arts department once again hosted an Arts Night in June
that featured work from the visual and media arts classes, music performances, drama skits, food and
a hair show. We ended the year with the Prom at Caledon Estates Banquet Hall.
Exams seemed to come quickly this past semester but students did well, with most students earning
their credits. For the whole year we had 6,625 credits attempted and 6,311 earned. The average
percent of successful students (in a class) was 95.23%. Congratulations on a successful year students!
Sadly, every semester we say goodbye to staff who have retired or moved to other schools. This year
we said goodbye to Mr. Morrison from co-op in February; Mr. DenElzen in custodial, Ms. Perry in
guidance, Ms. Rutledge in custodial, and Ms. Snyder in the office in May; and Mrs. Baptie our hall
monitor, Mrs. Irons in science, Mrs. Roche in social science, and Mr. Roloson in music and
geography in June. We also wished Mr. Larson in art and technology great success on his next
adventure as he is away for the next two years. The end of the semester also meant saying goodbye
to our occasional staff who were filling in for teachers on leave. We said goodbye to Ms. Begin, Ms.
Brown, Ms. Farley, Mr. Farlinger, Mr. McComb, Ms. Montgomery, Mr. Vaine, and Mr. Walker. We
also thanked Mrs. Cole-McNutt who has been filling in on reception.
We expect EQAO Literacy results, from the test in April, to be available Sept 21st. First time eligible
and previously eligible students will receive a report to take home at that time. We also expect the
grade 9 EQAO math results for those students who wrote this June to be available in the fall.
Over the summer we will be busy hiring new staff and the office will be open for report card pick-up.
Fall registration for grade 10-12 students is planned for Tuesday September 1st and grade 9
orientation and registration planned for Wednesday September 2nd. Students will be able to pick up
their timetable on those dates and make an appointment in guidance to address any concerns. Please
be sure to frequently check our website and/or follow us on twitter @WestsideThunder for updated
information on registration this fall.
Have a safe and relaxing summer!