ISSUE
STAY CONNECTED
See our website for daily announcements
www.ugdsb.on.ca/westside
Westside News
01
Westside News Issue 01 November 2014
Come out to the
Staff/Student Hockey Game
Friday Dec. 5, 2014
N o ve mb e r
2014
this issue
Principal’s Message P1
Special Education & the IEP P2
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 One - January 23, 26, 27, 28 & 29
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.
After Graduation P2
Library News P2
Westside School Council
Literacy Updates & Course Plans P2
Safe Social Media P3
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.
myBlueprint P3
SHSM P3
Stay Connected P4
Exam Dates P4
Principal’s Message
Important Dates
Nov. 18 - PLC
Nov. 21 - PD Day
Dec. 2 - PLC
Dec. 4 - Mock Literary Test-grade 10
Dec. 5 - Staff/Student Hockey Game
Dec, 5 - Semi-Formal Dance
Dec. 8-12 Grad Photos
Dec. 16 - Winter Concert
Dec. 19 - Talent Show
Dec. 22-Jan. 2 - Christmas Holidays
Jan. 5 - First Day Back to School
Jan. 13 - PLC
Jan. 14 - Grade 8’s Parents Night
Jan. 14 & Jan. 16 - Grade 9 EQAO
Jan. 15 - Art Show
Jan. 23-29 - Exams
Jan. 30 - PD Day
Feb. 2 - Semester 2 Begins
Feb. 6 - Reports Home for Semester 1
Feb. 16 - Family Day Holiday
Feb. 24 - PLC
Feb. 24 - Course Selection Due
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.
Online Attendance P4
As you know by now this has been one of Westside’s more challenging years. We were off to a great start in
August with another successful Grade 9 Orientation and were getting the school year up and running when we were
struck by tragedy. Everyone was deeply saddened when we learned that our new Vice Principal Steve Ratz was
tragically killed in a car accident. It was a very difficult time for our staff, students, and parents. It was comforting
to see how everyone came together to help celebrate his life and I was extremely proud of the compassion and care
our students offered both staff and their classmates in the weeks that followed. While it was a heart breaking event
it was a time that brought us closer together.
In the past month we’ve celebrated another Commencement, Thanksgiving, and Halloween. Our Parent-StudentTeacher interview night was well attended and School Council hosted their first ever parent evening on Keeping
Students Safe on Social Media. You’ll find some of the highlights of the event in this newsletter. We are also
planning to run an assembly with similar information on social media for all students later this month.
Staff and students have been involved in many activities this semester through a large array of clubs and teams.
Boys’ Soccer and Girls’ Basketball wrapped up their seasons with the Junior Boys’ and Senior Girls’ both winning
‘District 4’ titles. Boys’ Hockey and Basketball and Girls’ Volleyball are just beginning. New this year is our
Gardening Club who is planting our ‘living wall’. Also new on the scene this year is our Jazz Band who have been
entertaining us at numerous events including Pink Day and the Senior Girls’ Basketball finals.
This year’s fundraising for Breast Cancer was another huge success with staff and students raising over $11,000.
Special thanks go to Scotia bank for their very generous support. Students in the Library Clubs ran a special video
game tournament to help raise funds and it was a great success: an event I am sure we will see run again.
This past week, students took time to honor the men and women who gave their lives so we could have the
freedoms we enjoy today. Staff and students remembered and celebrated with a very moving ceremony. Our next
big event is scheduled for Wednesday Nov. 19 when we look forward to welcoming Lukayo Estrella who will
speak to students about his experiences as a member of the gay, bisexual and transgender community.
There were a few staff changes at the beginning of the year: a big welcome goes out to, Bonnie Brown (Science),
Alision Conyard (Math), Scott Farlinger (English), Anne-Marie Montgomery (Science), Dan Pinizzotto (Math),
Steve Roloson (Geography & Music), Craig Thomson (Technology), Jason Walker (English),
James Wardle (Phys. Ed), and Tom Vain (English). This past month we also said good-bye to Mr. Murakami who
chose to pursue a business venture for the remainder of the semester and welcomed our newest staff member
Melissa McKeil to teach grade 11 Math.
Don’t forget Friday Nov. 21st is a PD day. This year our teachers will be in Fergus engaged in professional learning
on Metacognition with guest speaker Jeni Donohoo from the Ministry of Education.
As cold weather moves in and snow is in the horizon be sure to follow us on twitter, receive our text messages, or
mark our website to learn early in the morning about any snow days.
F o l l o w @ W e st si d e T h u n d e r
Deidre Wilson
Special Education and the IEP
Ideas for keeping your students safe on social media
IEP’s were mailed home on Friday, October 10, 2014. Prior to that date, a member of the Special Education Team had met
with your student to review the IEP, and the IEP was made available to all of your student’s teachers.
The IEP is a working document and will continue to evolve as your student’s needs change. Revisions are made based on
input from you, classroom teachers, and the student. Please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Westside resource team
if you would like to discuss any aspect of your student’s IEP. Feedback is not only welcome, it is encouraged.
Where is your student headed after graduation?
A reminder from the library
Do you have questions about Apprenticeship, College or
University? Please join us at School Council on
Tuesday November 25th for an Information Session on
post-secondary pathways.
Wonder how your student can begin their apprenticeship
while still in high school? How are university and college
different? What does your student need in order to apply?
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.
Bring your questions to the library on
November 25 at 7:15pm.
Wrap up your
Holiday
shopping
with the gift of a
yearbook for your
student
you
For
To purchase a
yearbook as a gift,
contact the school at
519-938-9355
On Oct 28, Westside School Council hosted an evening for parents on
how to keep your students safe on social media. Constable Scott Davis
from Orangeville Police presented many ideas. Here is a summary of
some of the points:
1. Check your “friends” list. A friend should be someone you
personally know and would speak to on the phone. Anyone who
doesn’t fit this category should be removed from the list.
2. Think before you post. Never post anything you wouldn’t want on
the front page of the paper or on the bulletin board at school.
3. Check your security settings on social media sites. What are you
letting just anyone access?
4. Remember to read the fine print when you click ok. Social media
sites usually own your content. ( any photos you post they now
own).
5. Know that there is nothing private on the internet. You might be
able to delete it on your computer but that doesn’t delete it from the
internet.
Boo
k
your
to ha appointm
ve
Grad
ent
Pictu your
re
Dece
mbe s done
r 8-1
2
Westside uses myBlueprint
myBlueprint.ca is a resource where Westside students
complete their IPP (Individual Pathways Plan) each
year.
Their IPP includes planning for high school, post
secondary, careers/occupations and financing. Goal
setting, as well as resume and cover letters are also part
of their IPP. Students will also complete course
selection for their next school year.
To access your account, simply choose the
myBlueprint icon after logging into your ugcloud
account.
Literacy Updates and Plans
This year, in preparation for the Ontario Secondary School
Literacy Test (OSSLT), Westside will be running a one period
(75 minute) mock test the first week of December. The mock
test will help us identify students needing extra support to
prepare for the real test, Thursday March 26th, 2015, and
simulate real test day procedures. Members of our literacy
team will meet with these students to provide instruction and
feedback on critical areas of literacy in the new year.
If you have any questions about the OSSLT, please contact
Kristi Will at ext.271, or Amie Willoughby at ext. 560.
Do you know what a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) is?
What is a SHSM?
 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 get to complete a co-op to gain ‘real world’ experiences in their area of interest
 They achieve a special designation (red seal) on the graduation Diploma
 Recognized by businesses, industry and post-secondary institutions
What Specialist High Skills Major programs does Westside offer?
Arts and Culture
Hospitality
Environmental
Transportation
Pass The Test Program - Preparing for the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test
Is your child writing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) this year? 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 provides students with an opportunity to improve their reading
and writing skills through direct classroom instruction on the tasks of the OSSLT.
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.
Who Is Eligible?
All students in all pathways are eligible. If you are planning on going to university, the workplace, college or an
apprenticeship after high school, you are eligible.
What are the requirements?
Students complete 4 Grade 11/12 major credits in their area of interest, 1, 2 or 3 additional credits that vary by area and a
2 or 4 credit co-op designed to give them real world experience in their area. These credits are NOT additional credit
requirements. The SHMS designation is achieved within the regular 30 credit Diploma (OSSD).
How do you find out more?
See Ms. Bell, Mr Sippel or Mrs. Kirkland.
Email contact: suzan.bell@ugdsb.on.ca
Special Education and the IEP
Ideas for keeping your students safe on social media
IEP’s were mailed home on Friday, October 10, 2014. Prior to that date, a member of the Special Education Team had met
with your student to review the IEP, and the IEP was made available to all of your student’s teachers.
The IEP is a working document and will continue to evolve as your student’s needs change. Revisions are made based on
input from you, classroom teachers, and the student. Please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Westside resource team
if you would like to discuss any aspect of your student’s IEP. Feedback is not only welcome, it is encouraged.
Where is your student headed after graduation?
A reminder from the library
Do you have questions about Apprenticeship, College or
University? Please join us at School Council on
Tuesday November 25th for an Information Session on
post-secondary pathways.
Wonder how your student can begin their apprenticeship
while still in high school? How are university and college
different? What does your student need in order to apply?
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.
Bring your questions to the library on
November 25 at 7:15pm.
Wrap up your
Holiday
shopping
with the gift of a
yearbook for your
student
you
For
To purchase a
yearbook as a gift,
contact the school at
519-938-9355
On Oct 28, Westside School Council hosted an evening for parents on
how to keep your students safe on social media. Constable Scott Davis
from Orangeville Police presented many ideas. Here is a summary of
some of the points:
1. Check your “friends” list. A friend should be someone you
personally know and would speak to on the phone. Anyone who
doesn’t fit this category should be removed from the list.
2. Think before you post. Never post anything you wouldn’t want on
the front page of the paper or on the bulletin board at school.
3. Check your security settings on social media sites. What are you
letting just anyone access?
4. Remember to read the fine print when you click ok. Social media
sites usually own your content. ( any photos you post they now
own).
5. Know that there is nothing private on the internet. You might be
able to delete it on your computer but that doesn’t delete it from the
internet.
Boo
k
your
to ha appointm
ve
Grad
ent
Pictu your
re
Dece
mbe s done
r 8-1
2
Westside uses myBlueprint
myBlueprint.ca is a resource where Westside students
complete their IPP (Individual Pathways Plan) each
year.
Their IPP includes planning for high school, post
secondary, careers/occupations and financing. Goal
setting, as well as resume and cover letters are also part
of their IPP. Students will also complete course
selection for their next school year.
To access your account, simply choose the
myBlueprint icon after logging into your ugcloud
account.
Literacy Updates and Plans
This year, in preparation for the Ontario Secondary School
Literacy Test (OSSLT), Westside will be running a one period
(75 minute) mock test the first week of December. The mock
test will help us identify students needing extra support to
prepare for the real test, Thursday March 26th, 2015, and
simulate real test day procedures. Members of our literacy
team will meet with these students to provide instruction and
feedback on critical areas of literacy in the new year.
If you have any questions about the OSSLT, please contact
Kristi Will at ext.271, or Amie Willoughby at ext. 560.
Do you know what a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) is?
What is a SHSM?
 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 get to complete a co-op to gain ‘real world’ experiences in their area of interest
 They achieve a special designation (red seal) on the graduation Diploma
 Recognized by businesses, industry and post-secondary institutions
What Specialist High Skills Major programs does Westside offer?
Arts and Culture
Hospitality
Environmental
Transportation
Pass The Test Program - Preparing for the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test
Is your child writing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) this year? 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 provides students with an opportunity to improve their reading
and writing skills through direct classroom instruction on the tasks of the OSSLT.
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.
Who Is Eligible?
All students in all pathways are eligible. If you are planning on going to university, the workplace, college or an
apprenticeship after high school, you are eligible.
What are the requirements?
Students complete 4 Grade 11/12 major credits in their area of interest, 1, 2 or 3 additional credits that vary by area and a
2 or 4 credit co-op designed to give them real world experience in their area. These credits are NOT additional credit
requirements. The SHMS designation is achieved within the regular 30 credit Diploma (OSSD).
How do you find out more?
See Ms. Bell, Mr Sippel or Mrs. Kirkland.
Email contact: suzan.bell@ugdsb.on.ca
ISSUE
STAY CONNECTED
See our website for daily announcements
www.ugdsb.on.ca/westside
Westside News
01
Westside News Issue 01 November 2014
Come out to the
Staff/Student Hockey Game
Friday Dec. 5, 2014
N o ve mb e r
2014
this issue
Principal’s Message P1
Special Education & the IEP P2
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 One - January 23, 26, 27, 28 & 29
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.
After Graduation P2
Library News P2
Westside School Council
Literacy Updates & Course Plans P2
Safe Social Media P3
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.
myBlueprint P3
SHSM P3
Stay Connected P4
Exam Dates P4
Principal’s Message
Important Dates
Nov. 18 - PLC
Nov. 21 - PD Day
Dec. 2 - PLC
Dec. 4 - Mock Literary Test-grade 10
Dec. 5 - Staff/Student Hockey Game
Dec, 5 - Semi-Formal Dance
Dec. 8-12 Grad Photos
Dec. 16 - Winter Concert
Dec. 19 - Talent Show
Dec. 22-Jan. 2 - Christmas Holidays
Jan. 5 - First Day Back to School
Jan. 13 - PLC
Jan. 14 - Grade 8’s Parents Night
Jan. 14 & Jan. 16 - Grade 9 EQAO
Jan. 15 - Art Show
Jan. 23-29 - Exams
Jan. 30 - PD Day
Feb. 2 - Semester 2 Begins
Feb. 6 - Reports Home for Semester 1
Feb. 16 - Family Day Holiday
Feb. 24 - PLC
Feb. 24 - Course Selection Due
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.
Online Attendance P4
As you know by now this has been one of Westside’s more challenging years. We were off to a great start in
August with another successful Grade 9 Orientation and were getting the school year up and running when we were
struck by tragedy. Everyone was deeply saddened when we learned that our new Vice Principal Steve Ratz was
tragically killed in a car accident. It was a very difficult time for our staff, students, and parents. It was comforting
to see how everyone came together to help celebrate his life and I was extremely proud of the compassion and care
our students offered both staff and their classmates in the weeks that followed. While it was a heart breaking event
it was a time that brought us closer together.
In the past month we’ve celebrated another Commencement, Thanksgiving, and Halloween. Our Parent-StudentTeacher interview night was well attended and School Council hosted their first ever parent evening on Keeping
Students Safe on Social Media. You’ll find some of the highlights of the event in this newsletter. We are also
planning to run an assembly with similar information on social media for all students later this month.
Staff and students have been involved in many activities this semester through a large array of clubs and teams.
Boys’ Soccer and Girls’ Basketball wrapped up their seasons with the Junior Boys’ and Senior Girls’ both winning
‘District 4’ titles. Boys’ Hockey and Basketball and Girls’ Volleyball are just beginning. New this year is our
Gardening Club who is planting our ‘living wall’. Also new on the scene this year is our Jazz Band who have been
entertaining us at numerous events including Pink Day and the Senior Girls’ Basketball finals.
This year’s fundraising for Breast Cancer was another huge success with staff and students raising over $11,000.
Special thanks go to Scotia bank for their very generous support. Students in the Library Clubs ran a special video
game tournament to help raise funds and it was a great success: an event I am sure we will see run again.
This past week, students took time to honor the men and women who gave their lives so we could have the
freedoms we enjoy today. Staff and students remembered and celebrated with a very moving ceremony. Our next
big event is scheduled for Wednesday Nov. 19 when we look forward to welcoming Lukayo Estrella who will
speak to students about his experiences as a member of the gay, bisexual and transgender community.
There were a few staff changes at the beginning of the year: a big welcome goes out to, Bonnie Brown (Science),
Alision Conyard (Math), Scott Farlinger (English), Anne-Marie Montgomery (Science), Dan Pinizzotto (Math),
Steve Roloson (Geography & Music), Craig Thomson (Technology), Jason Walker (English),
James Wardle (Phys. Ed), and Tom Vain (English). This past month we also said good-bye to Mr. Murakami who
chose to pursue a business venture for the remainder of the semester and welcomed our newest staff member
Melissa McKeil to teach grade 11 Math.
Don’t forget Friday Nov. 21st is a PD day. This year our teachers will be in Fergus engaged in professional learning
on Metacognition with guest speaker Jeni Donohoo from the Ministry of Education.
As cold weather moves in and snow is in the horizon be sure to follow us on twitter, receive our text messages, or
mark our website to learn early in the morning about any snow days.
F o l l o w @ W e st si d e T h u n d e r
Deidre Wilson