April 2016

Principal’s Message Hello to all our West Credit Families!

Spring is always an optimistic and exciting time in secondary schools. By April, our grade 9 students are well-settled and feeling more confident in their new school settings. The weather has improved so the walk or drive to school is easier and we have fewer challenges with delayed buses. Students enjoy getting outdoors during the lunch period. A wide array of spring extra-curricular events begin. The end is in sight for the school year, and students are looking forward to a more relaxing pace during the summer months. In the meantime, we have two and half solid months of teaching and learning, and after a month of March with many breaks due to March Break, Easter, a snow day, EQAO testing, and two professional development days at the start of April, we are all looking forward to having a consistent schedule of classes over the final weeks of the school year. We are well into our staffing process for next school year. With student enrolment declining throughout Mississauga we are relieved to have received the same allocation of teachers for next year that we currently have: 61 teachers. This has allowed us to ensure the continuity of our teaching staff with all permanent teachers scheduled to return to West Credit in September. On-going improvement of professional practice is a priority for staff at West Credit. Staff will be participating in a number of professional development sessions over the next few weeks to continue to update our skills. On April 4 after school, our Numeracy team shared strategies for creating rich tasks designed to improve student numeracy. On April 11th and then again on May 13th, Department Heads will be working with their department members on reviewing and updating final evaluations to ensure they are aligned with

provincial and board policies, and to implement improvement strategies for assessment and evaluation that have been developed by the Curriculum Department at the Central Board Office. On April 19, our Climate team will be leading a workshop for staff on monitoring and promoting student wellness. On May 2 after school, our Technology team will be reviewing with staff our progress with implementing new

technologies in our school over the past year including tablets, online applications, and blended e-learning software. On May 17, our Effective Practices (Voc 101) team will be reviewing with staff IEP requirements of making modifications to the curriculum and sharing best-practices for these modifications. I am tremendously proud of the innovative mindset, commitment to continuous improvement, and exemplary classroom practices of our staff at West Credit.

Inside this issue:

Co-operative Education 2

Hospitality 3

Panthers Athletics 4

Plant Sale and Family

Fun Day

4

West Credit Secondary

School Newsletter

Continued next page

Outside of the classroom, teachers are supporting a wide array of clubs and teams throughout semester 2 including the Yearbook Club, the Team Unbreakable Running Club, Boys’ Basketball, Girls’ Volleyball, Soccer, Track and Field, Badminton, Cricket and Floor Hockey. We are holding many special events through the semester including Black History Month (February), the Valentine’s Dance (February 12), the Peel Technological Skills Challenge (March 8 at Judith Nyman Secondary School), Education Week (April – 18 to 22), the Day of Pink (April 12), the Awards Ceremony (April 13), the Principal’s Reception (May 6), Asian Heritage Month (May), the Family Fun Day and Plant Sale (May 14), Prom (June 3), and Commencement (June 29th at 4:30 pm). There are also field trips happening every week for different classes and programs. I hope all parents will consider coming out to our next School Council event: Life After West Credit. It is scheduled for April 20 at 7:00pm in our school library. Mr. Baraya has arranged for several West Credit graduating students to speak to parents about their time at West Credit and their life after graduating. We ran this event two years ago and had highly positive feedback from the thirty parents who attended the event. Our custodial staff continues to do an exceptional job with maintaining our building. We have been enjoying the upgraded stage, sound system, and light system in our cafeteria. The upgrades to that space have been a tremendous benefit to our enjoyment of special events such as talent shows, lunch hour karaoke, and commencement. We are now planning to focus our resources on updating the main office so that its appearance reflects our school’s commitment to high quality education. We are also continuing to work with Mr. Wukasch, Ms. Irwin, and our art students on installing student art work throughout the building. With our atrium filled with beautiful student pieces, we have focused our attention on installing artwork in other public spaces such as the main office and the conference room where IPRC meetings are held. So far, this has been an incredible year filled with engaging activities that support the learning and personal interests of our students. On behalf of all of the staff at West Credit, we wish all of you a bright, happy, and successful spring. Craig Caslick, Principal

Principal’s Message Continued….

Page 2 West Credit Secondary School Newsletter

Co-operative Education This semester the co-operative education program has approximately 40 students out in the "world of work". The students are working in many different industries such as auto service, construction (SHSM - OYAP), childcare, educational assistant, entertainment services, hospitality (cook BR.2,baker SHSM - OYAP), HVAC, and retail. All the students enrolled in our program are successfully learning good employability skills and appropriate work ethic. Lastly, these students are representing West Credit Secondary School proudly in the "world of work" and are making great partnerships between local employers and the school.

Marilyn Damery, Co-op Teacher

Tabitha Njenga

Silverthorn Public School

Madison Panchenko

Barks N Rec

Another very busy semester is up and running and running!! Our Grade 11 SHSM students are working on their First Aid & CPR Certifications as this report is being written. Later this month they will be attending a day long customer service excellence training day. As mentioned in the Progress Report article, our Grade 12 SHSM students will be attending a conference hosted by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE). Among the keynote speakers will be the head of catering and food services who will speak about employment opportunities at companies like MLSE. Those students attending have been given tickets to the Toronto Marlies game that night … as long as we don’t ask too many questions about the Maple Leaf’s next Stanley Cup Championship … !! Mr. Horn’s classes kept 24 guests guessing as they hosted our second “April Fool’s Backwards Bistro” on April 1st. Meat loaf and mashed potatoes looked like “Cupcakes” and deep-fried pineapple served with Scottish shortbread cookies masqueraded as “Fish and Chips”. Congratulations to the students who volunteered their lunch break to work as cooks and servers. A very successful event for workers and diners!

Many events are on the horizon … Day of Pink breakfast for 600 people, the annual Rotary Luncheon, The Grad Breakfast and High School Rehearsal are only a few of the many responsibilities that allow our students to demonstrate incredible professionalism and Hospitality skills to the West Credit and Mississauga communities.

A reminder that the annual “Bake Sale, Plant Sale and Family Fun Day” extravaganza is coming on Saturday May 14th. Mark the date in your calendar and don’t forget to come early as the baked goods are notorious for selling out quickly!

Sincerely, Mr. Warr, Mr. Horn, Mr. Pakulski & Mr. Walkling

Hospitality

Page 3

Page 4 West Credit Secondary School Newsletter

Panthers Athletics

Plant Sale and Family Fun Day West Credit invites you to our Annual Plant Sale and Family Fun Day on Saturday May 14th, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Our Horticulture students work hard all year in preparation for this event and it is a time to showcase what they have accomplished. We will be selling many heritage vegetables, over 25 varieties of hard to find tomatoes, house plants, mixed baskets and huge Cana lilies. We have the most competitive wholesale prices you will find anywhere!!

The hospitality program will be baking up a storm and selling a variety of delicious baked goods specially made by our students and there will also be some hand crafted wood work items being sold, made by our very talented students.

After you are done shopping for your garden, come on over to our bouncy castles, get your picture drawn by a Caricature artist, get your face painted, or enjoy a peameal bacon on a bun at our BBQ. Bring your family and friends out to this event to show support for all the hard work done by our amazing students. All profits made go to support Student programs in our school.

Ms. Vivian, and Ms. Burnside—Co-chairs—Plant Sale and Family Fun Day

The winter athletic season at West Credit once again produced some great team performances. Mr. Grozdanovski led our junior boys basketball team to a silver medal and our senior boys basketball team earned a bronze medal under the direction of Mr. Hooper and Ms. Bharti. The girls volleyball team also earned a bronze medal in the final tournament. Mr. Ward and Mrs. Basso would like to thank the girls for their commitment this season.

With spring now here, Mr. Nunes, Mr. Beairsto, and Mr. Koehler are busy selecting our co-ed badminton team. Mr. White is organizing our always popular intramural floor hockey league which brings staff and students together for lunch time competition. Ms. Bouwmeester, plus her team of coaches and assistants are busy preparing for our special track and field event in May. Ms. Surtees and Mr. Wukasch are also planning to lead a group of students interested in soccer and Mr. Kumar will continue working with our cricket team. A big thank-you to all of our coaches and good luck to all of our athletes.

Mr. Ward, Head of Phys. Ed.