On The Trail - February, 2003 (Back to Publication Main Menu)

Index

Principal's Message

Welcome to the new semester at Mount Royal. It seems only yesterday that the school year was beginning. We have now completed one semester and are moving into the next. 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. As always at this time of year there are some staff changes. Among those leaving us are Ms. Hounjet (Science), Miss Pool (Math.), Mr. Morgan (Work Education), Mr. Bloom (Welding), Miss Michalenko (English), Ms. Hilkewich (Life Transitions) and Mr.Colquhoun (English). We want to thank all of these teachers for the fine contribution they have made to our school. We would like to welcome Mrs. Turton (Home Ec.), Ms. Iron (Social Studies), Mr. Addley (Welding) and Miss Knoll (English/Lifestyles) to our school. We look forward to their involvement in our school programs. We would like to welcome back Mr. Fisher (English), Ms. Avery (Life Transitions) and Mr. Maas (English) who will be returning from leave. We are proud of our dedicated staff and know that these people will only add to the strong staff component at our school.

In the December newsletter we highlighted numerous student accomplishments from the fall. In addition, a couple of our staff members have recently been recognized. Mr. Jim Hoffman was honored by the Saskatchewan Mathematics Teachers' Society with a Master Teacher Award. This recognizes Mr. Hoffman's teaching excellence and his unfailing commitment to our students. His self-created website is a great resource not only for our students but others looking to improve their math skills (schools. spsd.sk.ca/mount/hoffman/). Visit the site and have a look. Mrs. Anne Browne was nominated for recognition by the Education Students' Society on campus for the High School Cooperating Teacher of the Year Award. This recognizes her leadership in working with intern teachers as they complete their teacher education programs. This is a very important professional responsibility in which Mrs. Browne excels. Congratulations to both Mrs. Browne and Mr. Hoffman.

As we begin semester two we are already starting our preparations for the 2003-2004 school year. Visit 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 13 at 7:00 P.M. On this evening we will be able to highlight our schools 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 20 (6:30 - 9:00 P.M.) or March 21 (1:30 - 3:30 P.M.). We welcome your participation.

For the staff,

Basil Hughton
Principal

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Be ready for tryouts at the end of February. The Senior Team will be coached by Mr. Neufeld and Mr. Myrol. The Junior Team will be coached by Ms. Rioux and Mr. Thiessen. Stay tuned for announcements regarding meetings BEFORE tryouts where you will be expected to pick up forms. No forms = no tryout!

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The Voyageurs will be starting around the third week in February. Depending on water conditions, we hope to use the Battle and North Saskatchewan Rivers this year. If the students listen to the notices, they will know when the first meeting is to be. Happy Paddling!

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This group began on Monday, February 3rd, 2003 and will continue until May 5th. This is an interactive discussion about setting boundaries, self-awareness and feeling good in relationships. All female students are welcome. The group meets in Room 243 - lunch is provided. Hope to see you there! Presenters will be rom the sexual assault Centre.

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ROYAL WEST NEWS
As Semester One came to a close, we had a chance to reflect back on the inaugural semester at Royal West. Like all things, trying something new poses its unexpected problems. Surprisingly, the problems have been minor and with some tinkering, we are "good to go" for Semester 2. Numbers are up so-much-so, that we have added another staff member. A big welcome to Mr. Travis Myrol who will be teaching English A31.

The staff look forward to embarking on another semester at Royal West - trying new things with new students!

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As Semester I ends and Semester II begins, there has been much effort to adjust student timetables and register new students. In March the first edition of the Grad List will be published and circulated. This list has the tentative names of Grade 12 students who are in line to graduate at the end of June upon successful completion of Semester II Students are urged to talk with Mr. Farrell or Ms. Binner if they notice any errors on this first list. Course selections for the 2003-2004 school year are happening between February 4th and 11th. Parents/guardians are urged to participate with their students in this important process. Any questions about this? Phone 683-7825.

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MDA 09
MDA 09 have completed a successful first semester with a Medieval Feast, Elizabethan Newspaper, and a week of finals. They are looking forward to integration of math, science and information processing in Semester 2. They will begin Semester 2 by creating a hands-on science project which we hope to enjoy at Open House.

Fundraising is going well. The students held a successful bottle drive on January 10th, raising over $600.00. Thank you to Mr. & Mrs. Bent for hosting the event. Thanks to the many parents who helped in a myriad of ways. It was a great community effort. At the end of January we will do another chocolate drive. We are getting closer to our goal of "springtime in the Rockies".

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THE STUDENT LOUNGE IS HERE!
We would like to thank the "Student Voices" group and particularly the lounge committee members for all their work in getting the student lounge ready for its grand opening on the first day of Semester 2. Committee members were Nina Ngo, Jason Evanochko, Ryan Legge and Kaylin Regier. These students spent countless hours selecting and purchasing items for the lounge, setting it up and assisting in the hiring of Ms. Kim Dahl, a new staff member who will work in the lounge area, providing support to students. Finally, a huge thank you goes out to Mr. McDonald's woodworking students for building couches, tables and dividing walls, and to Ms. Martin's visual art students for painting ceiling tiles. In the next few months a graffiti artist will be working with students to paint artwork on the divider walls. The student lounge is here! Please drop by, relax on a couch, play one of the 25 games available, or just hang out with friends.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MUSTANG WRESTLING TEAM
who won the tournament in High River, Alberta with 64 points!!!

All the wrestlers made us proud and represented our school with dignity and class.

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We would like to congratulate Susan Thai, the winner of the Mount Royal Rewards Semester prize. Susan won a Play Station 2 and a shopping trip to purchase one game and one video. Congratulations!
Our December monthly winners were Hamed Kamaludin and Huy Doan.
Weekly winners since the last newsletter are: Ashley Woodvine, Ryan Legge, Deanna Awasis, Sarah Le, Julian Mike, Kyle Dickhaut, Tara Janzen, Tennielle Gray, Trent Kulbida, Hanani Aden, Teri Mockford, Miranda Hagel, Kellie Phipps, Jason Evanochko, Kyle Lajeunesse, Susan Truong, Starla Fiddler, Erica Kondra and Terri Wiebe.

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WANTED: FAMILIES FOR FRIENDSHIPCatholic Family Service of Saskatoon is recruiting families for their Family-to-Family Ties' Mentor- ship Program … a rewarding and successful family friendship and mentoring program for Saskatoon families in need.Training and professional support provided for volunteers. For more information call Terry, Trish or Shirley at CFS @ 244-7773.YOU DO MAKE THE DIFFERENCEPLEASE CALL TODAY

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Following-up on last spring's Raw Edge Workshops with Mount Royal Collegiate, the Mendel has framed several artworks to install semi-permanently at the school. Four students received scholarships to attend after-school art studios at the Mendel, learning more about digital cameras, photocopiers, videotape, computer-based interventions, and sound. Jennifer Young's media studies class toured the individuals exhibition. The Mendel is planning a special project for exhibit at the Mendel during School Art 2003. Jessica Fauvelle, a Raw Edge Workshop participant, artist, and writer, has been appointed as the student representative for ARTforLIFE. Welcome aboard, Jessica! Mount Royal Collegiate is keen on doing mural projects, so planning at the Mendel is underway! The Mendel is also coordinating touring exhibitions of student work for space secured in the Public School Board Office, the Credit Union Offices, and the Centre at Circle & 8th. The Mendel also wants to hear from students who are interested in writing about art or related program activities for publication. If any students have ideas about how art might enhance curriculum and/or school experience, Troy Mamer, Mendel Liaison, welcomes all inquiries. Call him at 975-7678 or leave a message in his mailbox at the school. (Saskatoon Credit Union's ARTforLIFE: A Mendel Gallery/School Program, is sponsored by the Saskatoon Credit Union, The Saskatoon Foundation, and ArtsSmarts. Did you know that the Mendel Art Gallery is FREE to attend, and is open from 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. every day? You will find lots of different things to see and enjoy. There are drop-in artmaking opportunities, too, like studioXPRESS during the evenings, and Sunday events between 2:00 and 4:00 P.M.

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Considering a career in Art or Animation?The College of Art & Design is committed to providing the highest quality post-secondary accredited arts and animation curriculum available. Learn from the best! The animation teachers have worked for the largest animation studios in the world, including Disney, FOX, Universal, Warner Brothers and Nelvana. For more information contact the Registrar's Office at 242-8006 or check out www.scetch.net

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