On The Trail - February, 2004 (Back to Publication Main Menu)
Index
Welcome to the new semester at Mount Royal. How time flies. A special Mount Royal welcome to all students new to our school. To you and your families we extend a warm welcome to our Mount Royal community.
The new semester brings new hope, new challenges and new beginnings. Mr. Heath Alexander and Ms. Jessica Kant have joined our teaching staff and we welcome back Ms. Tara Eckert after a semester away. Best of luck to Mrs. Tina Rioux, and Mrs. Kristie Palmer who have begun maternity leaves. We also want to wish the best to Mrs. K. Janzen who will begin maternity leave February 23rd. Ms. Allison McPherson will join our staff at that time. In December, we neglected to recognize the good work done by our interns this past fall. Mr. Bardal, Mr. Berry, Mr. Corrigan, Mrs. Keller, Mr. Kenney, Ms. Reiber, Mr. Shantz and Mrs. Snell contributed greatly to the Mustang community during their respective internships. We wish them well as they complete their schooling and head into teaching careers.
We continue to be excited about the new initiatives we have underway. Our Restorative Justice program and partnership with the Saskatoon Rotary Club continues to flourish. We are well into planning for phase two of the project and are looking forward to more great things in 04/05. We are planning our second annual Mini Traditional PowWow for May and are looking forward to our annual Arts Fair this spring. Planning is underway for our Dessert Theatre on April 23rd. All of these events promote the cultural diversity that is Mount Royal.
The cheerleading squads are preparing for our first annual cheerleading competition, which will take place on Saturday, February 28th. We hope this will become an annual event to showcase the efforts of our Senior and Junior Cheerleaders. Teams from Saskatchewan and Manitoba will be participating. Please join us at the school on the 28th. Our Wrestling team continues to impress with a recent victory at the High River Tournament. This looks to be another promising year on the mats for the Mustangs and we look forward to another city and provincial run this year. The Grade Nine Frosh Basketball Mustangs are enjoying a profitable year. Their seasons will culminate with the year-end tournaments on February 5th and 6th. The girls will be at E.D. Feehan and Marion Graham while the boys' tournament will be at Aden Bowman. Good luck to both teams.
As we begin semester two we are already starting our preparations for the 2004-2005 year. Visits to our neighbourhood elementary schools have been completed, and we look forward to grade eight students and parents visiting our schools for our Open House on Thursday, February 5that 7:00 P.M. On this evening we will be able to highlight our school's program to prospective grade eights. We hope that they will all give Mount Royal serious consideration when choosing a high school. Pre - registration for next year for our current students will be happening in the first two weeks of February. Watch for the information and be sure to have all forms in on time. This is the first crucial step in ensuring we are staffed to meet the needs of our young people come fall. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
We encourage parents/guardians to continue to be involved in the education of your student. Visit us during parent teacher interviews on March 17(6:30 - 9:00 P.M.) or March 18 (1:30 - 3:30 P.M.). We welcome your participation.
For the staff,
Basil Hughton
Principal
BASKETBALL
Mount Royal hosts the Junior Girls Year-end Basketball Tournament February
12th and 13th, 2003. Semi-finals take place at 6:00 and 7:30 in both gyms
on Thursday. On Friday the Consolation final starts at 5:00. Third Place is
played at 6:30. The Championship begins at 8:00. All three games are played
in the girls' gym on Friday.
MOUNT ROYAL VOYAGEURS
(Canoe Club)
This club starts for the Veterans on Friday, February 6th at noon in room
214. For all other students (newcomers), it starts on Friday, February 13th.
Everyone is welcome, however, you must be able to swim even if you cannot
canoe.
This Club is for those who like the out-of-doors, like or want to learn about
camping, and want to make new friends.
The trip this year will be on May 20th, 21st and 22nd, starting in Saskatoon
and going downstream (North) for three days. Come and have fun!
This year's Dessert Night will be the week of Feb. 23rd-26th. The Real Inspector Hound is a farcical murder mystery, with auditions being held Feb. 23rd - 26th.
In the last few weeks, the library has been enhanced by displays from these semester one classes:
Thanks to those students for sharing their creations with us. Watch for some new paperbacks in the library after the February break.
The planning committee needs parent and student support. Aftergrad meetings occur on the second Wednesday of every month in the school library at 7:00 P.M. All parents of graduating students are welcome. The next meeting will be on February 11th.
Students on the Grad Committee met Wednesday, January 28th at noon in room 223. Fundraising sheets to sell frozen mini pizzas were given out in homerooms to grade 12's. Forms are due February 23rd, 2004. Good luck with sales. Contact Mrs. L. Gonzalez at Mount Royal with questions or concerns about aftergrad.
The newly formed Physics Club, under the supervision of Mr. Wright, chose to take up the challenge. The club broke into groups and started on this project in October. One group managed to make a machine that completed all the required tasks flawlessly.
On January 15th, 2004 this team took First Place in the High School Challenge. The members of this team are: David Barsi, Darian Brown, York Underwood and Joel Rempel. Way to go, guys!
Mount Royal Collegiate is proud to present Mustang Mania, their first annual cheerleading competition. Teams will be traveling from Alberta, Manitoba and all over Saskatchewan to compete in this amazing demonstration of athletic capability. Mustang Mania will be held on Saturday, February 28th, 2004 at 2:00 P.M. at Mount Royal Collegiate. Admission fees are $5.00 per person with an elementary school rate of $2.00 per child. Seating is limited and is based on a first-come, first-served basis.
A concession will be available as well as a "cheer stop" where you can purchase cheer-related items and competition memorabilia. For more information, contact Laurie Hein, Wendy Mason or Susan Taylor at 683-7800. Don't miss this exciting event.
The MDA 09 held its annual Medieval Feast on December 19th, 2003. The ladies toasted the valiant knights and the men acknowledged the "fair maidens". Dancing, poetry readings, jousting and games of chess entertained the jesters, monks, knights and beautifully-clad women. The food was quickly consumed. Everyone had a great time.
On January 10th, 2004 the MDA 09 held a bottle drive. Thank you to Mr. & Mrs. Bradley who generously offered us their garage. Thank you to the many parents who sorted, crushed cans, drove trucks, etc. It was a job well done.
Grade 09 MDA students had an opportunity to view and evaluate animation projects for Mr. Hoffman's class. It was a valuable experience.
In Semester 2, MDA 09 will be integrated in Science, Math and Information Processing. They will have a chance to earn an extra credit through the compression.
MDA 09 students will be presenting their Science projects for Open House on February 5th. We look forward to some exciting experiments.
We are still fundraising in hopes of going to Banff in mid-May. Students are encouraged to bring forth ideas.
On November 25th approximately 75 parents, guardians, students, community members and school staff attended a workshop at Mount Royal entitled "The Future of Aboriginal Education". The following information is a summary of comments made regarding three questions that were asked. This information will guide us as we continue to enhance the academic program and provide the best possible learning experience for all students.
What are the current and future issues in Aboriginal / Multicultural Education?
The main issues that people identified at the workshop were: a high drop-out rate amongst Aboriginal students; lack of positive Aboriginal role models in schools (teachers, support staff, counsellors, outreach workers, Elders); limited awareness or understanding of Aboriginal and multicultural beliefs and practices; a need for life skills training to assist students in developing self-identity and becoming contributing members of society; and the need to offer cultural programming for all community members (evenings, weekends).
As two individuals wrote … "The population of Aboriginal youth is growing rapidly. The curriculum and support services need to reflect this change. I see the need for historically relevant information about treaties, colonization, pass and permit system, the Indian Act, residential schools, etc.. I see a need for Elders and counsellors who can guide the students, be role models, encourage, and teach." ……. "An attitude of acceptance and inclusiveness is needed. Can we, as parents and teachers, affect the beliefs of high school students? Mount Royal has many initiatives like the Powwow and Folkfest that encourage an atmosphere of understanding and acceptance. Teachers and parents have to model inclusiveness."
What is Mount Royal doing well in an attempt to address Aboriginal education
and diverse multicultural issues?
Participants were very complimentary of the many programs and activities offered at Mount Royal. In particular, there was reference made to the Powwow, Multicultural Day, Native Studies Program, Cree Language Program, Royal West Campus, Re-entry Rooms and Royal Centre Program, English as a Second Language Program, Daycare centres, extra curricular clubs, sports programs and the cultural content that has already been integrated within various curricula.
Many people appreciated Mount Royal's willingness to acknowledge needs, address issues, and listen to parents and students. A frequent comment made was that Aboriginal people are very welcome at the school and are invited to participate in all aspects of school life. It was also noted that the school "is talked about as an accepting place."
What changes (academic, extracurricular or support services) could be implemented at Mount Royal to better address the issues faced by our multicultural student population?
There were many ideas shared throughout the evening (2½ pages of typed bulleted information!). While we cannot list them all here, we can provide an overview of the underlying themes:
· Most of the groups stated that there should be a place in the school
for Elders to talk to students and educate the students about Native spirituality.
These Elders could also participate in classes such as Native Studies and
Cree.
· People were very supportive of the cultural activities and events
already in place and suggested that even more opportunities would be welcome
(a second Powwow, talking circles, sweat lodges, dance troupes).
· Participants also suggested that we continue to focus on increasing
the number of Aboriginal Role models in the school. These role models could
be teachers, support staff, counsellors, outreach workers and coaches.
· A number of individuals and groups felt that Native Studies or a
Canadian History course that addresses Aboriginal Issues should be mandatory
for all students and staff. This would help to increase awareness and understanding,
and contribute to a positive school climate.
· Finally, a main theme was that we must provide students with the
supports they need to address issues in their lives. In particular, these
supports may include drug and alcohol programming, language programs (Dene,
Saulteaux), in-school access to social workers, addictions counsellors, noon
hour study programs and opportunities for students to be recognized in a positive
fashion.
The evening provided us with very valuable ideas that will be used in conjunction with other focus group sessions we have held such as the student forum and ongoing staff planning sessions. If you would like a full copy of the Issues In Aboriginal Education Workshop Report, please contact Nina Henry at 683-7822.
In the fall of 2003, Grade 12 students had the opportunity to work with Monique Blum, a muralist and scene painter, in conjunction with the Mendel Art Gallery, Art For Life Program. Through this project, students painted two walls and the ceiling of the tub room at Stensrud Lodge, a facility for seniors. As well, several large wall murals (an elevator with a crow, baseball players, old cars, and thunderstorms) were painted and hung in the Lodge's hallways.
A team of six students painted for three days straight to complete the tub
room mural. They painted a fall scene of a prairie wheat field in the style
of a famous Canadian artist, Tom Thompson. When finished, the students were
proud of their artwork and pleased to have contributed to the senior's community.
Monique Blum commented that if she received a contract to paint a set for
a movie this summer, she would not hesitate to hire these students to work
for her.
We would like to congratulate the following students for their fine work: Evan Sikorski, Chad Ibbotson, Frank Daigneault, Jenny Bowes, Jeannette Bighetty, Jasmine Oraas. As well, we would like to thank Ms. Geraldine Martin for coordinating the project with the Mendel Art Gallery and Stensrud Lodge.
ZONE 5 Fastball Registration for Squirts, Pee Wee's and Bantams is taking
place February 10th from 6:30 - 8:00 P.M. at the Cosmo Civic Centre.
Saskatoon Rays Baseball
The Saskatoon Rays Baseball Association is looking forward to another successful
baseball season. Baseball is a terrific team sport, and an inexpensive way
for youth to have fun and exercise during the warm spring weather. All school
age players, both male and female, are welcome to register for this year's
baseball season. The Rays baseball zone consists of the area of the city,
west of Idylwyld Drive. Registration is set for Thursday, March 4th and Saturday,
March 6th 2004. For further information, please contact Mark Loran at 934-4651.
February 8th - 15th
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan
PH: 244-2124 / 1-888-473-4636
www.heartandstroke.ca
March 28th - 30th
The Kidney Foundation of Canada, Saskatchewan Branch
PH: 664-8588 / 1-888-664-8588
www.kidney.ca
April 18th - 19th
Canadian Cancer Society
PH: 244-4389 / 1-888-939-3333
www.cancer.ca
May 1st - 9th
The Salvation Army, www.Salvation Army.ca
PH: 244-8096 / 1-888-321-3433
June 1st - 3rd
Lung Association of Saskatchewan
PH: 343-9511 / 1-800-667-LUNG
www.sk.lung.ca
September 25th - October 3rd
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
PH: 244-0429 / 1-800-691-0890
www.mssociety.ca
October 15th - 30th
Canadian Diabetes Association
PH: 933-1238 / 1-800-996-4446
www.diabetes.ca
November 1st - 5th
Alzheimer Society Of Saskatchewan
PH: 683-6322 / 1-800-263-3367