Dear Vincent Massey families, 

Students in six out of our nine Grade 7 homerooms went to Drumheller earlier this week and had a fun days of learning in support of their Planet Earth unit in Science. We are working hard to reschedule Thursday's trip, which was cancelled due to the weather, and we'll share more information once it becomes available. Thank you to the parent volunteers for their support - we cannot run these activities without your help. 

We have a few staffing updates to provide at this time, impacting 7-5, 7-6, 7-7, 7-8, 8-10, and 9-9. Ms. Heather McCauley will be returning on April 30 from her leave. Mr. Ryan Seibel will be away on leave starting on April 24. Ms. Chelsea Doyle will remain with Ms. McCauley's classes until April 30 and will then move into Mr. Seibel's position, with the intervening 3 instructional days covered by a substitute teacher. As these teachers are in adjacent rooms and teach similar courses, this will support transitions for all students. 

Grade 7 and 8 students will be entering course preferences for next year's complementary courses on April 23. Students will have two complementary courses in each semester, for a total of four courses over the year. Potential offerings for both grades will be as follows: Art, Band, Computer Science (photo/video/3D-modelling focus), Computer Science (robotics and electronics focus), Construction, Drama, Fashion, Foods, French, Guitar, Leadership, Outdoor Education, Photography, and Sports Performance. We may also offer a pre-engineering Design course in Grade 9. Final offering decisions will be made based on student interest and staff availability. It will not be possible to offer top four choices to all students. We remind them that the purpose of junior high options is to try different things and be open to new experiences. 

On Monday, Grade 7 students will receive their Term 4 schedule, with their final classes in their complementary wheel. While they will only have a few days in the new classes, this will hopefully inform their choices for next year. 

Grade 9 students will have received a separate email with information about a Math 15 offering for the summer. Please complete the form that comes with that message to indicate your interest. 

Here are the other upcoming events for the next three weeks and highlights to the end of the year: 

  • April 20 – first day of Term 4 complementary classes for Grade 7  
  • April 21 – Jazz Band workshop during periods 4 and 5 (at Massey) 
  • April 22  
    • Fire Drill 
    • Grade 7 (am) and Grade 8 (pm) rock climbing at Stronghold climbing gym 
  • April 23 – Grade 8 Science Antarctica presentation assembly (period 2) 
  • April 24 – no school for students, Maatoomsii'Pookaiks professional learning day 
  • April 27, 28, 29, & 30 – Grade 8 trips to Calgary Zoo, detailed schedule to follow 
  • May 1 – Grade 8 Outdoor Leadership skills camp 
  • May 3 through 8 – Heritage Trip Grade 9 students to Ottawa/Montreal/Quebec 
  • May 4 & 5 – Grade 8 Badminton Tournament at Vincent Massey 
  • May 6 & 7 – Grade 9 Badminton Tournament at Vincent Massey 
  • May 6 
    • Earth Science presentations to Grade 7 students 
    • School Council meeting – 6:30pm in the learning commons 

Also, please note the following additional key dates in May and June: 

  • May 13 – Spring Band Concert, 6:30pm, all are welcome! (new date to accommodate Honour Band participants) 
  • May 15 – PD day, no school for students 
  • May 21, June 9, 16, 19, 22, and 23 – Grade 9 Provincial Achievement Test days 
  • June 24 – Grade 9 Farewell Ceremonies (am and pm ceremonies, homerooms tbd), Grade 7 to Edworthy Park, Grade 8 to Calaway Park 
  • June 26 – last day of school for students 

 

All the best, 

David Pugh 

Principal