February 2013 Tiger News

ISSUE 00 MONTH YEAR

Bicycles for Humanity receive donations of bikes in need of repair. For the past few years, a unique partnership

has evolved between the Westgate CVI Transportation Services classes and BFH. Teacher Blaine Hill explains

“My students in Grades 10, 11 and 12 all worked on repairing, cleaning, tuning the bikes, using parts from the

other bikes donated – we don’t use anything new, but we manage to end up with a large number of bikes that

will make local kids very happy on Christmas morning.” He added, “It feels good to fix something – the students

see the benefits and realize that it is good for our community.”

Cody Sheedy, an automotive student at Westgate agrees with Mr. Hill, “I would love to see the look on a kid’s

face when he gets his new bike at Christmas. It feels good.” this year. Thomas Charlton, Construction Teacher

described the various toys built this year. “We made Toolboxes for Tikes, Tap Toys for Toddlers, Building Blocks

for children and DVD cabinets for older youth.” The students involved in the Grades 11 and 12 Custom

Woodworking and Construction classes feel very good about using their skills to produce beautiful toys for local

children.Justin McGinnis, Grade 12 student explained the impact by stating, “It is awesome to be able to

contribute in this way. Kids will get other things, but to receive a wooden toy built by us is pretty

amazing.”Christmas Cheer and school communities have had a very long-standing partnership and this year was

no different. From homeroom collections of food items to the production of hand-made wooden toys in the

Westgate Workshops, the school was very happy to support Christmas Cheer again Westgate Collegiate and

Vocational Institute.

Westgate has a long-standing tradition of generosity and charitable giving – I am very proud

of my school community and deeply gratified to see the delightful gifts, boxes of books,

handmade quilts and refurbished bikes,” expressed Linda Karlstedt, Principal of Wes tgate CVI.

“

Books with No Bounds

Books with no Bounds was started with

sisters Julia and Emma Mogus, two girls

on a mission to bring books to First

Nation children in remote communities

in Ontario. The former Lieutenant

Governor, James Bartleman once said,

“My ticket out of a life of poverty was

reading. It opened up a world of

imagination and new possibilities.” He

states, “With reading, I began to do well

in school. I was prepared to take

advantage of the opportunities as I

went along.”

Staff members Nancy Coulter and Jodie

Cataldo were very impressed with the

initiative of Emma and Julia and brought

the Books with No Bounds campaign to

Westgate in the late fall. Last week,

with the generous sponsorship of

Wasaya Airways, 1500 books were sent

to the John C. Yesno Education Centre

in Eabametoong, Ontario from

Westgate students, staff and families.

“The response was overwhelming,”

explained Nancy Coulter, Office Staff.

She continued, “We worked collecting,

sorting and packing the books. It was

very gratifying to be part of something

so meaningful this close to Christmas.”

Students in the Fashion and Creative Expression class at class at

Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute are spreading good

character through their heartwarming efforts to support an

important cause. The students have created unique crib sized

quilts for Project Linus. The quilts will be presented to members

of the local Project Linus on Tuesday, January 22.

“This was a wonderful opportunity for students to use a number

of their skills to help children who need the comfort that these

quilts will give,” says Kathryn McKee, Family Studies Teacher at

Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute. “We are extremely

proud of being able to help project Linus in their efforts.”

"Project Linus is a nationwide group of volunteers whose goal is

to provide security blankets to children facing substantial

distress in their lives. Since 1995, Project Linus Chapters have

delivered over 500,000 handmade blankets to facilities and

individuals in the U.S. and Canada. Although originally focused

on cancer patients, Project Linus has expanded its focus to

include any seriously ill or traumatized child from children

waiting for organ transplants, facing heart surgery, children with

AIDS, or suffering from burns, child-abuse and other life-

threatening conditions." From the Project Linus website -

http://www.projectlinus.org

Project Linus in the Fashion Class

The students in our Special Needs program will participate in a multi-sport festival at Lakehead University on March

6, 2013 to “have a go” at a variety of different Olympic sports. “It is a non-threatening and participatory atmosphere

that students find very engaging,” explained teacher David Workman. “The students will try soccer skills, track and

field, soft ball, shot put and other sports in a day full of activity and sport,” he concluded.

Green Apple School Grant Program

Westgate’s White Ribbon

Campaign 2012

The White Ribbon campaign was

held at Westgate in early

December 2012 and included

the National Day of Action and

Remembrance for Ending

Violence against Women on

December 6, 2012. The white

ribbon campaign is designed to

show our commitment to

stopping all kinds of violence

against girls and women. “All

donations are welcome and the

proceeds were donated to the

Faye Peterson Crisis Home”,

explained Carlos Santander.

Westgate earned a Green Apple School Program grant of $1000 for our health-

minded plans and our EAT Right Ambassador program. This program represents a

group of students in the school who are committed to spreading the word about

the benefits of eating nutritious foods. "The students plan to prepare and

distribute healthy food and snacks to the students at Westgate - smoothies,

muffins and a free salad bar" explained Food and Nutrition teacher, Kathryn

McKee. "They will educate students about the benefits of healthy eating through

peer-to-peer conversations, public address announcements and posters - really

just anything to make connections with students," she added.

"Our belief is that by providing free and nutritious foods, our students will be less

likely to leave school grounds. This will impact on school engagement and more

academic and social success," expressed Kathryn McKee, teacher.

Students will also be provided with recipes for the various food samples so they

can share the food at home and spread the word exponentially.

Specialist High Skills Major Arts and Culture Student Katie Kramer

The Thunder Bay Arts and Heritage Awards were held on December 13, 2012. Westgate student Katie Kramer

won the prestigious “Emerging Youth Artist” for 2012. Her portfolio includes numerous drawings and paintings

that have been on display at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery and here in the halls of Westgate, including a large

mural that will be installed in the near future. She is part of the SHSM Arts and Culture and has participated in

many art activities outside of school within the community. Congratulations, Katie!

Are you a potential graduate for June 2013?

Have you completed all of your 40 Community Hours?

If you have not, please see your Guidance Counsellor this week to check out some options.

Westgate CVI

707 S. James Street

Thunder Bay, ON

P7E 2V9

(807) 577-4251

http://westgate.lakeheadschools.ca

All students will be asked

to complete their Online

Option Sheets for next

year’s Course Selections in

the coming weeks. Student

Services personnel will be

visiting all homeroom

classes to talk about all of

the opportunities for a

variety of programs

available at Westgate CVI.

See your Guidance

Counsellor for more

information.

The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test will take place at Westgate

on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

All Grade 10 students eligible to write the test continue to receive

instruction and coaching in preparation for writing a successful test.

All previously-eligible students (students who missed the test last year

or who were unsuccessful on the first attempt) will continue to receive

instruction and coaching from staff at Westgate.

More information will be available prior to the test date and as always,

Parents and Guardians are invited to contact the school.

Upcoming Dates

February 18, 2013 Family Day – No School

February 18, 2013 Online Course Selection Site Opens at

http://www.lakeheadschools.ca/requests

February 22, 2013 Grade 11 Preview Day at Lakehead University

March 3, 2013 Online Course Selection Site Closes

ALL course selections must be made.

March 7, 2013 Parent/Teacher Interviews

March 11-15, 2013 March Break

March 29, 2013 Good Friday

Senior Students -Check

out programs like Army

or Navy Co-op, Specialist

High Skills Major,

Aviation Co-op,

Advanced Placement