Westside News Issue 02 February, 2015
A reminder from the library
This year each student was allocated five dollars for printing (50 sheets). Students may check their printing balance by accessing PAPERCUT on UGCloud . PAPERCUT is found in the
“Apps & Services” on the bottom of the main page of
UGCloud. Students may access PAPERCUT with their school login and password.
Please see Mrs. Hahn or Mrs. Crawford if you need to add more funds to your printing balance.
STAY CONNECTED
See our website for daily announcements www.ugdsb.on.ca/westside
Receive regular school messages on your phone (ie. No bus days and schedule changes)
Text to 705-230-2295 the message @d6391
Follow us on Twitter for event news
@WestsideThunder
EXAMS AND EVALUATIONS
Please do not schedule vacations and/or part time jobs, etc. during ANY exams or culminating presentations.
These exams are COMPULSORY and are NOT excusable for vacation or employment reasons.
Upcoming exams for 2014-2015 school year will be:
Semester Two - June 17, 18, 19, 22 & 23
TRANSPORTATION NEWS:
To check bus info—go to www.findmybus.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.
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.
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.
I S S U E
02
February
2015
Westside School Council
Please join us for
School Council Meetings on the last Tuesday of every month at 7:15pm.
Watch the school website for our line up of speakers this year.
This Issue
Principal’s Message P1
Internet Safety P2
Literacy TestP2
2015-2016 Course Selection P2
A Permanent Solution P3
Boston Trip P3
SHSM P3
Library News P4
Stay Connected P4
Exam Dates P4
Online Attendance P4
Feb, 10 - PLC
Feb. 16 - Family Day Holiday
Feb. 24 - PLC
Feb. 24 - Course Selection Due
March 3-5 - Grad Photo Retakes
March 10 - PLC
March 12 - Interim Reports Sent Home
March 16-20 - Spring Break
March 26 - Parents Night
March 26 - Ontario Secondary School
Literacy Test
March 31 - PLC
April 3 - Good Friday
April 6 - Easter Monday
April 14 - PLC
April 14 - Start Term 2 of Semester 2
April 17 - Midterm Reports
April 24 - PD Day
April 27 - Last Day to Drop a Course
for Semester 2
April 28 - PLC
May 12 - PLC
May 18 - Victoria Day
May 20 - Spring Music Concert
May 26 - PLC
May 29 - Co-Curricular Gala
June 2 - Art’s Night
June 9 & 11 - Grade 9 EQAO Math Test
June 17-23 - EXAMS
July 6 - Reports Ready for Pick Up
Follow @We st sideThund er
Welcome to semester two! We were very excited to get through exams with no snow days but sad to start semester two late because of the snow. The start of a new semester brings a few staff changes. I am happy to introduce our new permanent Vice-Principal, Ian Main. Mr. Main is coming to us from College Heights High School in Guelph where he was Vice-Principal. Several teachers from previous years are returning as well this semester. We welcome back Gord Clement (Math), Landry Britton (Law), Brittany Farley (French), and Chad Burford (Auto). You may have also noticed a new face at the desk in student services. Kristel Perry is our new receptionist/administrative assistant in Student Services.
This semester also brings a slight change in our library. While it will continue to be available before school, at lunch and after school for all students, this semester it will be closed to students on a study period last period each day. Teachers will be able to bring their class any time to the library but we will not have supervision for students out of class during the last period of the day, only. It will be important for students to plan ahead and remember to pick up materials they might need for last period or do any last minute printing of assignments in the morning or at lunch.
February is a very important month because students select their courses for the next school year. Hopefully your student brought home course selection information on Feb. 3rd (it is on the website if they didn’t) as they need to make their selections on-line, in My Blueprint, by February 24 th .
All decisions about what courses will run next year and which teachers we can hire are based on the choices students make now. There are special sessions this month in PLC for grade nines and tens to help them with their course selection, so please encourage them to attend. If you have any questions or need assistance with the process please contact our Guidance Department.
At the end of February we will be hosting three performances of the touring play
A Permanent Solution , about teen mental health and suicide. This moving performance will help us to start a conversation with our students about this important and difficult topic. More details on the performances will be sent home with students in the next few weeks.
March will bring the EQAO literacy test to all our grade tens, and any students who were previously unsuccessful. This year they will be writing on March 26 th . Students will be receiving information about the test and test prep over the next two months. Grade tens will also have a special
PLC session about the test early in March, so please encourage them to attend.
Lots of extracurricular activities (teams and clubs) will be continuing and new ones will be starting in semester two (like our new play Thumbelina). Be sure to encourage your student to listen to the announcements each morning to hear about practices and meeting times. You can also see our daily announcements posted on the window in the main office, on our website, or tweeted out on twitter
@WestsideThunder.
We hope to see you on Parent-Student-Teacher Interview night, March 26 th between 6 and
8pm. Until then please call if you have questions and enjoy semester 2.
Deidre Wilson

Keeping Our Children and Youth Safe Online
Over the last few years, there has been a significant increase in the number of reported cases of young people involved in self/peer exploitation. This is generally defined as youth creating, sending or sharing sexual images and/or videos with peers via the Internet and/or electronic devise. The Board recently purchased a resource for every elementary and secondary school called Self/Peer Exploitation, School and Family Approaches to Intervention and Prevention. The resource was created by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, which is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to promoting safety of all children. Principals and Vice Principals also received an in-service on the guide. The following two links may assist youth and families who have been impacted by child sexual exploitation:
Cybertip.ca
may be used to report child sexual exploitation
NeedHelpNow.ca
is a website that offers some practical information for youth on how to deal with this (for example, how to get pictures removed from the internet, how to deal with peers, how to talk with someone,etc.).
February 10, 2015 is International Safer Internet Day. Please consider using this day to talk to your child(ren) about internet safety. The Canadian Centre for Child Protection also produces several useful resources for parents that may be found using the following links: https://www.cybertip.ca/pdfs/C3P_SafetySheet_SelfPeerExploitation_en.pdf
https://www.cybertip.ca/pdfs/C3P_SafetySheet_Cyberbullying_en.pdf
Literacy Test - Do you need help?
This year’s Literacy Test will be administered on Thursday, March 26, 2015. Successful completion of this standardized test is a graduation requirement. For any of our grade 10’s or grade 11’s writing the test,
Westside is offering a free course to help you prepare. This course, called the “Pass the Test Program,” will run after school, two afternoons a week, for five weeks starting in February 2015.
To sign up for the program, or for more information, please call Mrs. Will at 519-938-9355 x 271.
Did you know...Canadian Pink Shirt Day is February 25th. BUT...
The International Day of Pink is April 8th.
February is Course Selection Month!
All returning Westside students must complete their course selection for 2015-2016 this month. It is very important that students, along with their parents, make informed choices so that their next year’s timetable is a reflection of the student’s abilities, interests and graduation requirements. Students are encouraged to speak to teachers and guidance about any questions they have about courses. The decisions students make about their courses now, will determine what courses run next year and how our timetable looks. Course offerings and course descriptions are available in myBlueprint. Additionally, students will be receiving a paper copy of course offerings and additional instructions. All course selections must be completed through myBlueprint
(which is available through the ugcloud). Students must have their courses submitted by February 26th.
Mr. Sippel and Mrs. Kirkland are glad to help students/parents in this process.
A Permanent Solution to a Temporary Problem
By Tom Slater
Will talking about suicide make youth think about it? NO!
This is one of the most pervasive and dangerous myths that exist about suicide.
Why should we talk about suicide/depression? Creating opportunities for open and non-judgmental dialogue is the most successful way to prevent suicide. Students who are thinking about suicide are desperate for help to escape their pain. Helping students to realize that they are not alone and that there are people to help are crucial. Youth sometimes need assistance to realize that problems are temporary and DO NOT require the most permanent solution: suicide.
Let’s Talk About It - February 26th!
Westside Senior Trip to Boston and Salem
Is your son or daughter in grade 11 or 12? Don’t miss out on Westside’s Senior Trip to Boston and Salem May 4-8, 2015.
 Visit the famous Fenway Park in Boston and get close to the Green Monster!
 Take a moonlit tour of the historic town of Salem and be part of a 17 th century witch trial.
 All aboard the first nuclear sub, the USS Nautilus, at the Naval Submarine Base of New London.
 Take part in an “Amazing Race” through downtown Boston to discover the historic path of the American Revolution.
 Experience the wonders of whale watching on the Atlantic Ocean.
 Enjoy a formal dinner and dance on the scenic waterfront in beautiful Mystic.
 At the end of this trip, everyone can say “I went to Harvard.”
 Shoot some hoops at the Basketball Hall of Fame on your way home….
$620 includes round trip coach bus transportation, insurance, 4 nights accommodation, 4 breakfasts, formal dinner and dance, all listed attractions, entrance fees, taxes and tours.
Save your spot with a $100 deposit. Only a few spots left!
Do you know what a
is?
 SHSM is a program for students that allows them to specialize in an area of interest in Grade 11 and 12.
 It provides them with additional opportunities to gain experiences in their area of interest…
(workshops, field trips, training- most at no cost to you ).
 Students gain industry/career recognized certifications and CPR/First Aid training.
 They complete a co-op to gain ‘real world’ experience in their area of interest.
 They achieve a special designation (red seal) on their graduation Diploma.
 Recognized by businesses, industry and post-secondary institutions
The SHSM designation is achieved within the regular 30 credit Diploma (OSSD).
What Specialist High Skills Major programs does Westside offer?
WSS offers a SHSM designation in the following sectors:
- Arts and Culture - Hospitality
- Environmental - Transportation
How and do you find out more? See Ms. Bell, Mr Sippel or Mrs. Kirkland.
Email contact: suzan.bell@ugdsb.on.ca

Keeping Our Children and Youth Safe Online
Over the last few years, there has been a significant increase in the number of reported cases of young people involved in self/peer exploitation. This is generally defined as youth creating, sending or sharing sexual images and/or videos with peers via the Internet and/or electronic devise. The Board recently purchased a resource for every elementary and secondary school called Self/Peer Exploitation, School and Family Approaches to Intervention and Prevention. The resource was created by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, which is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to promoting safety of all children. Principals and Vice Principals also received an in-service on the guide. The following two links may assist youth and families who have been impacted by child sexual exploitation:
Cybertip.ca
may be used to report child sexual exploitation
NeedHelpNow.ca
is a website that offers some practical information for youth on how to deal with this (for example, how to get pictures removed from the internet, how to deal with peers, how to talk with someone,etc.).
February 10, 2015 is International Safer Internet Day. Please consider using this day to talk to your child(ren) about internet safety. The Canadian Centre for Child Protection also produces several useful resources for parents that may be found using the following links: https://www.cybertip.ca/pdfs/C3P_SafetySheet_SelfPeerExploitation_en.pdf
https://www.cybertip.ca/pdfs/C3P_SafetySheet_Cyberbullying_en.pdf
Literacy Test - Do you need help?
This year’s Literacy Test will be administered on Thursday, March 26, 2015. Successful completion of this standardized test is a graduation requirement. For any of our grade 10’s or grade 11’s writing the test,
Westside is offering a free course to help you prepare. This course, called the “Pass the Test Program,” will run after school, two afternoons a week, for five weeks starting in February 2015.
To sign up for the program, or for more information, please call Mrs. Will at 519-938-9355 x 271.
Did you know...Canadian Pink Shirt Day is February 25th. BUT...
The International Day of Pink is April 8th.
February is Course Selection Month!
All returning Westside students must complete their course selection for 2015-2016 this month. It is very important that students, along with their parents, make informed choices so that their next year’s timetable is a reflection of the student’s abilities, interests and graduation requirements. Students are encouraged to speak to teachers and guidance about any questions they have about courses. The decisions students make about their courses now, will determine what courses run next year and how our timetable looks. Course offerings and course descriptions are available in myBlueprint. Additionally, students will be receiving a paper copy of course offerings and additional instructions. All course selections must be completed through myBlueprint
(which is available through the ugcloud). Students must have their courses submitted by February 26th.
Mr. Sippel and Mrs. Kirkland are glad to help students/parents in this process.
A Permanent Solution to a Temporary Problem
By Tom Slater
Will talking about suicide make youth think about it? NO!
This is one of the most pervasive and dangerous myths that exist about suicide.
Why should we talk about suicide/depression? Creating opportunities for open and non-judgmental dialogue is the most successful way to prevent suicide. Students who are thinking about suicide are desperate for help to escape their pain. Helping students to realize that they are not alone and that there are people to help are crucial. Youth sometimes need assistance to realize that problems are temporary and DO NOT require the most permanent solution: suicide.
Let’s Talk About It - February 26th!
Westside Senior Trip to Boston and Salem
Is your son or daughter in grade 11 or 12? Don’t miss out on Westside’s Senior Trip to Boston and Salem May 4-8, 2015.
 Visit the famous Fenway Park in Boston and get close to the Green Monster!
 Take a moonlit tour of the historic town of Salem and be part of a 17 th century witch trial.
 All aboard the first nuclear sub, the USS Nautilus, at the Naval Submarine Base of New London.
 Take part in an “Amazing Race” through downtown Boston to discover the historic path of the American Revolution.
 Experience the wonders of whale watching on the Atlantic Ocean.
 Enjoy a formal dinner and dance on the scenic waterfront in beautiful Mystic.
 At the end of this trip, everyone can say “I went to Harvard.”
 Shoot some hoops at the Basketball Hall of Fame on your way home….
$620 includes round trip coach bus transportation, insurance, 4 nights accommodation, 4 breakfasts, formal dinner and dance, all listed attractions, entrance fees, taxes and tours.
Save your spot with a $100 deposit. Only a few spots left!
Do you know what a
is?
 SHSM is a program for students that allows them to specialize in an area of interest in Grade 11 and 12.
 It provides them with additional opportunities to gain experiences in their area of interest…
(workshops, field trips, training- most at no cost to you ).
 Students gain industry/career recognized certifications and CPR/First Aid training.
 They complete a co-op to gain ‘real world’ experience in their area of interest.
 They achieve a special designation (red seal) on their graduation Diploma.
 Recognized by businesses, industry and post-secondary institutions
The SHSM designation is achieved within the regular 30 credit Diploma (OSSD).
What Specialist High Skills Major programs does Westside offer?
WSS offers a SHSM designation in the following sectors:
- Arts and Culture - Hospitality
- Environmental - Transportation
How and do you find out more? See Ms. Bell, Mr Sippel or Mrs. Kirkland.
Email contact: suzan.bell@ugdsb.on.ca

Westside News Issue 02 February, 2015
A reminder from the library
This year each student was allocated five dollars for printing (50 sheets). Students may check their printing balance by accessing PAPERCUT on UGCloud . PAPERCUT is found in the
“Apps & Services” on the bottom of the main page of
UGCloud. Students may access PAPERCUT with their school login and password.
Please see Mrs. Hahn or Mrs. Crawford if you need to add more funds to your printing balance.
STAY CONNECTED
See our website for daily announcements www.ugdsb.on.ca/westside
Receive regular school messages on your phone (ie. No bus days and schedule changes)
Text to 705-230-2295 the message @d6391
Follow us on Twitter for event news
@WestsideThunder
EXAMS AND EVALUATIONS
Please do not schedule vacations and/or part time jobs, etc. during ANY exams or culminating presentations.
These exams are COMPULSORY and are NOT excusable for vacation or employment reasons.
Upcoming exams for 2014-2015 school year will be:
Semester Two - June 17, 18, 19, 22 & 23
TRANSPORTATION NEWS:
To check bus info—go to www.findmybus.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.
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.
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.
I S S U E
02
February
2015
Westside School Council
Please join us for
School Council Meetings on the last Tuesday of every month at 7:15pm.
Watch the school website for our line up of speakers this year.
This Issue
Principal’s Message P1
Internet Safety P2
Literacy TestP2
2015-2016 Course Selection P2
A Permanent Solution P3
Boston Trip P3
SHSM P3
Library News P4
Stay Connected P4
Exam Dates P4
Online Attendance P4
Feb, 10 - PLC
Feb. 16 - Family Day Holiday
Feb. 24 - PLC
Feb. 24 - Course Selection Due
March 3-5 - Grad Photo Retakes
March 10 - PLC
March 12 - Interim Reports Sent Home
March 16-20 - Spring Break
March 26 - Parents Night
March 26 - Ontario Secondary School
Literacy Test
March 31 - PLC
April 3 - Good Friday
April 6 - Easter Monday
April 14 - PLC
April 14 - Start Term 2 of Semester 2
April 17 - Midterm Reports
April 24 - PD Day
April 27 - Last Day to Drop a Course
for Semester 2
April 28 - PLC
May 12 - PLC
May 18 - Victoria Day
May 20 - Spring Music Concert
May 26 - PLC
May 29 - Co-Curricular Gala
June 2 - Art’s Night
June 9 & 11 - Grade 9 EQAO Math Test
June 17-23 - EXAMS
July 6 - Reports Ready for Pick Up
Follow @We st sideThund er
Welcome to semester two! We were very excited to get through exams with no snow days but sad to start semester two late because of the snow. The start of a new semester brings a few staff changes. I am happy to introduce our new permanent Vice-Principal, Ian Main. Mr. Main is coming to us from College Heights High School in Guelph where he was Vice-Principal. Several teachers from previous years are returning as well this semester. We welcome back Gord Clement (Math), Landry Britton (Law), Brittany Farley (French), and Chad Burford (Auto). You may have also noticed a new face at the desk in student services. Kristel Perry is our new receptionist/administrative assistant in Student Services.
This semester also brings a slight change in our library. While it will continue to be available before school, at lunch and after school for all students, this semester it will be closed to students on a study period last period each day. Teachers will be able to bring their class any time to the library but we will not have supervision for students out of class during the last period of the day, only. It will be important for students to plan ahead and remember to pick up materials they might need for last period or do any last minute printing of assignments in the morning or at lunch.
February is a very important month because students select their courses for the next school year. Hopefully your student brought home course selection information on Feb. 3rd (it is on the website if they didn’t) as they need to make their selections on-line, in My Blueprint, by February 24 th .
All decisions about what courses will run next year and which teachers we can hire are based on the choices students make now. There are special sessions this month in PLC for grade nines and tens to help them with their course selection, so please encourage them to attend. If you have any questions or need assistance with the process please contact our Guidance Department.
At the end of February we will be hosting three performances of the touring play
A Permanent Solution , about teen mental health and suicide. This moving performance will help us to start a conversation with our students about this important and difficult topic. More details on the performances will be sent home with students in the next few weeks.
March will bring the EQAO literacy test to all our grade tens, and any students who were previously unsuccessful. This year they will be writing on March 26 th . Students will be receiving information about the test and test prep over the next two months. Grade tens will also have a special
PLC session about the test early in March, so please encourage them to attend.
Lots of extracurricular activities (teams and clubs) will be continuing and new ones will be starting in semester two (like our new play Thumbelina). Be sure to encourage your student to listen to the announcements each morning to hear about practices and meeting times. You can also see our daily announcements posted on the window in the main office, on our website, or tweeted out on twitter
@WestsideThunder.
We hope to see you on Parent-Student-Teacher Interview night, March 26 th between 6 and
8pm. Until then please call if you have questions and enjoy semester 2.
Deidre Wilson