principal’s message - walnut grove secondary

December 18, 2020 Twitter: @sd35wgss Instagram: @walnutgrovesecondary

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Dear Parent/Guardians and Students, I am pleased to announce Jeremy Lyndon as the new Principal of Walnut Grove Secondary. Jeremy brings a wealth of experience in leadership; he served as Principal of Aldergrove Secondary School, Principal of Summer School at WGSS, Vice-Principal at Brookswood Secondary and taught at Aldergrove Secondary, H.D. Stafford Secondary and R.E. Mountain Secondary. Mr. Lyndon is an ACSS graduate and his wife is a grad of WGSS. Welcome to the Walnut Grove Community Mr. Lyndon! I would like to thank you for your support through this unique time at WGSS.   I am very proud and blessed to have worked with a dedicated and passionate staff during my five months as Principal. The team at Walnut Grove has been able to maintain a positive learning environment during the challenges and uncertainty we faced as a community. We have managed to navigate this due to the strong support of our students and families. These five months out of retirement have been such a rewarding experience. I have reconnected with the talents, energy and commitment of Walnut Grove and the Langley School District; our community is truly one of artists, scholars and champions. On behalf of the staff at WGSS, we wish all our WGSS families a safe and wonderful holiday season. Merry Christmas! Frank Roberto Principal


CONGRATULATIONS!

On behalf of Gator Nation, we would like to congratulate Darleen Kifiak on being chosen as a "Hero of Education” featured in the Langley Advance Times. It is a well-deserved award. BRAVO!!!! Here is the link to the feature article: https://bit.ly/33HlYPW Hats off also to nominees Melanie Leonard, Resource Teacher and Logan Kitteringham, Vice Principal. Well done, everyone!

RETIREMENT NEWS Ms. Kalynn is known as the little person with the huge Gator heart in the Counselling Centre. Ms. Kalynn has faithfully served the Gator community for 17 years as Computer Operator. She has been instrumental in the efficient distribution of student report cards, registration of new students, transmission of marks to the Ministry, and working hand-in-hand with all of

the administrative leaders on the school timetables. Even more importantly, Ms. Kalynn has been an important listening ear for many of our students and staff. Rarely does a day go by in the school that a student hasn’t come to share news with her or ask her opinion on an aspect of their life. Ms. Kalynn is retiring at this time and her energy, positivity and service will be missed!

https://bit.ly/33HlYPW


THANK YOU WGSS PAC!

Thanks to the WGSS PAC, we were able to upgrade one of our computer labs this year. Without the continued support of the PAC, we would not be able to offer the programs we do.

PAC President Andrea Smyrski (C) accepting the thank you card by new Principal, Mr. Lyndon (R) and soon-to-be-retired Principal, Mr. Roberto (L)


WGSS 2020-2021 School Calendar

**REVISED** Please note that dates and events may change. See www.wgss.ca for the most up-to-date

information. MONTH DATE

December Dec 18 (F) Mid-quarter Report Card and last day prior to Winter Break

January Jan 5 (T) School re-opens after Winter Break and Quarter Swap-over Day for Grades 10-12 Jan 6 (W) Parent/Teacher Interviews, early dismissal at 1:35PM

February Feb 1 (M) Last day of Quarter 2 Feb 2 (T) Quarter Turnaround Day (students not in attendance) Feb 3 (W) First Day of Quarter 3 Feb 9 (T) Quarter 2 Report Cards published to MyEdBC Feb 12 (F) Professional Development Day (District) (students not in attendance) Feb 15 (M) Family Day (School Closed)

March

Mar 8 (M) Mid-quarter Report Card and Quarter Swap-over Day for Grades 10-12 Mar 10 Parent/Teacher Interviews, early dismissal at 1:35PM Mar 12 (F) Last Day Prior to Spring Break Mar 29 (M) School Re-opens After Spring Break

April

Apr 2 (F) Good Friday (School Closed) Apr 5 (M) Easter Monday (School Closed) Apr 22 (Th) Last Day of Quarter 3 Apr 23 (F) Design and Assessment/Report Card Prep Day (students not in attendance) Apr 26 (M) First Day of Quarter 4

Apr 30 (F) Quarter 3 Report Cards published to MyEdBC

May

May 21 (F) Professional Development Day (District) (students not in attendance) May 21 (F) Mid-quarter Report Card May 24 (M) Victoria Day (School Closed) May 25 (T) Quarter Swap-over Day for Grades 10-12 May 26 (W) Parent/Teacher Interviews, early dismissal at 1:35PM

June Jun 25 (F) Last Day of Quarter 4 (Transition Day - students by invitation only) Jun 30 (W) Final Report Card published to MyEdBC Jun 30 (W) Administrative Day (students not in attendance)

REVISED: December 2020

http://www.wgss.ca/


UPCOMING EVENTS

Please check our website for the most up-to-date information. December 18 Last day prior to Winter Break January 5 School re-opens January 5 Quarter 2 Swap-over Day for Grades 10-12 January 6 Parent/teacher interviews, early dismissal at 1:35PM January 25-29 Numeracy Assessments for Grade 11s February 1 Last day of Quarter 2 February 2 Quarter Turnaround Day, students not in attendance February 3 First day of Quarter 3

SWAP-OVER DAY Just a reminder to our Grade 10-12 students of the Swap-over day on January 5. Our Block A classes for Grades 10-12 will be on a 50% schedule and our Block B classes will be full time. This means that the Learning Group will be changing from Block A to Block B. Block A will need to wear a mask or physically distance while Block B will be in their Learning Group. As we are making a switch in our Learning group, we recommend that all students and teachers in Block B classes wear masks for the first two weeks, January 5-15.


SCHEDULE FOR FOUR-DAY WEEKS

Our first week back after the holiday has a few changes that we need to remember. It is the changeover week for Grade 10-12 classes, and it is a short week with an early dismissal day on Wednesday, January 6. All the information is also available on My School Day app.

Monday Jan. 4 Tuesday Jan. 5 Wednesday Jan. 6 Thursday Jan. 7 Friday Jan. 8

No school

Quarter Changeover Day

Early Dismissal Day

A2 in AM A1 in AM A1 in AM A2 in AM Block B full time Block B full time Block B full time Block B full time

CHRISTMAS CHEER Walnut Grove Secondary Music Department presents "Remembering Decembers", a Christmas Concert for 2020. This concert was filmed and recorded entirely live in the WGSS Gym on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 and is viewable for a short time using the following link https://youtu.be/_Nhjp1xECQM

DEVELOPING DIGITAL CITIZENS MICROSOFT TEAMS CHAT USE GUIDELINES

As we have started to use Microsoft Teams for our classes, we have discovered many benefits to our students learning. With all the benefits, we have also experienced a few challenges. One of the challenges that we have encountered is with the chat function. The District has provided this usage guide to help inform parents and students about the positive opportunities that the MS Teams platform provides, and request that parents please work with us on our goal to develop good digital citizenship skills. Please see the attached “Microsoft Teams Chat Use Guidelines” flyer.

https://youtu.be/_Nhjp1xECQM


WGSS ATHLETICS

While the pandemic has limited Walnut Grove Athletics, our volleyball, basketball, and running teams have continued to hold physically-distanced skills practices and fitness sessions. The Senior Boys Basketball team ordered new track suits and would like to thank Lanette Salisbury for sponsoring the team!


COURSE PLANNING FOR 2021-2022

The Course Planning process will look different for WGSS this year. We will not be able to have assemblies or evening presentations. As with so many other things during COVID – we will be going VIRTUAL. Please mark your calendars: Tuesday, February 2, 2021, Grade 9-12 Course Planning presentations will be available on-line to students and their families. This is Quarter turn around day and students will not be present in school. Please mark this date in your calendars answers to many of your questions will be address in these presentations, and there will be opportunities after this for you to have additional questions answered on Thursday, February 4, 2021, at 6:00 pm for Grade 8 into 9 and 9 into 10 (Juniors) and at 7:00 pm for Grade 10 into 11 and Grade 11 into 12 (Seniors). Parents and students will find that the majority of information regarding Course Planning is on the WGSS Counselling and Careers website here. Our Course Planning Guide will be available January 25 on our website. It can be accessed by students and their families through their phones or home computers. Our Counselling and Career team have put together two PowerPoint presentations for families to review at their convenience. Preparing for University Admissions Presentation, click here. Preparing for Careers, Trades and Gap Years, click here. Grade 11 into 12 Grade Students Grade 11 students going into Grade 12 for 2021 will have the opportunity to join a Teams Meeting where they can submit questions into the Q & A. From the list below, they will choose the meeting session(s) they are interested in attending. The links will be provided in the new year. The schedule is as follows:

http://wgsscounselling.weebly.com/presentations.html

http://wgsscounselling.weebly.com/uploads/2/6/8/3/26835905/2021_preparing__-_university_admission.pdf

http://wgsscounselling.weebly.com/uploads/2/6/8/3/26835905/preparing_for_careers_trades_gap_year_2021-2022.pdf


Date Day Topic Counsellor Time

Jan. 18 Monday NCAA/USA Admission Adrian 8:00 – 9:00 11:30 – 12:30

Jan. 18 Monday O-Z students Docherty 9:00 – 11:00

Jan. 19 Tuesday A-G students Kifiak 8:00 – 10:00 2:00 – 3:00

Jan. 20 Wednesday University Admission Kifiak 8:00 – 11:00

Jan. 20 Wednesday Career, Trades, Gap Year Career Advisor Docherty 2:30 – 3:30

Jan. 21 Thursday H-L students Twemlow 10:00 – 11:00

Jan. 22 Friday H-L students Twemlow 9:00 – 11:00 Jan. 22 Friday M-P students Seymour 9:00 – 12:00

AP Information Session Students that are interested in learning more about the AP courses that are offered, and specifically learning about how to receive the AP Diploma, there will be an information session on Wednesday, January 20 from 2:30-3:30pm. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions during the presentation. The information session will be on Teams and a link will be provided in the new year.


All-Girls* Grade 10: Design Our Future

When? January 23rd, from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. What? This amazing session will feature creative and fun ways to help our world, from your home, using engineering! We will also have some special guests joining us to bring some insight into their amazing field of engineering.

All-Girls* Grade 11: The Future of Tech

When? February 6th, from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM What? As technologies continue to evolve, we are able to leverage them for new applications. In this workshop, we will learn about the differences between electrical and computer engineering through hands-on activities (from home, of course)!

All-Girls* Grade 8: Invitation to Create

When? March 6th, from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. What? In this workshop, you can use your creativity and design skills to solve everyday problems using the fundamentals of engineering! Current UBC engineering students will also be here to tell you all about the technical projects they have been working on.

Each one of our online All-Girls* STEM events are FREE! Don't forget to register here to reserve your spot.

https://geeringup.apsc.ubc.ca/programming/general-information/events/all-girls/

* If you have a boy that is interested in similar programming, we highly encourage you to explore Geering Up and UBC Engineering events. As well, please be aware that we have an inclusive view of the word “girl” and we welcome trans, genderqueer and non-binary folks interested in these workshops.



https://www.geeringup.apsc.ubc.ca/

https://engineering.ubc.ca/events


SASSY AWARDS LANGLEY 2021

The Rotary Clubs of Langley are seeking applicants age 15 to 21 who demonstrate outstanding leadership skills in one of the following seven SASSY (Service Above Self) categories:

• Community Service (local) • Environmental Leadership • Youth Leadership • Arts & Culture Leadership

• International Service (global) • Leadership Beyond Adversity • Sports Leadership

SASSY Awards Langley 2021 $1,000 for first place finish in each of the seven categories + a SASSY Recognition Award $500 for two runners up in each of the seven categories.

Absolute Deadline to apply:

• Email nominations must be received no later than Friday, March 12th, 2021 (11:59pm). E-mail to: [email protected]

• Mailed nominations must be postmarked no later than Friday, March 5th, 2021. Mail forms to: 2021 SASSY Awards Langley c/o Rotary Club of Aldergrove

PO Box 1602 Aldergrove, BC V4W 2V1

You must be available for these dates:

• Thursday, May 6th, 2021, evening: Awards show presentation (pending COVID) at the Chief Sepass Theatre, located in the Langley Fine Arts School.

• Saturday morning, April 10th: The top three winners in each category will be interviewed by a Community Selection panel to determine the 1st place winner and two runners’ up.

WGSS will be hosting an on-line information session to assist students with completing the Sassy Award application form on Thursday, January 7th at 2:45pm.

Follow this link.

Further information can be found at: www.sassyawardslangley.ca (application form) or [email protected] or http://wgsscounselling.weebly.com or see Ms. Docherty in the Counselling Office.

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YzA1NTE5ZjYtMDNhYS00MDFlLTk0NDAtNWNjMWU2YWE4M2M0%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22fcabfaae-f80a-4f74-b6a7-ba15c2a4bb24%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22172b07fd-e545-4c06-8710-3bb3dee9d385%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3atrue%7d

http://www.sassyawardslangley.ca/

mailto:[email protected]

http://wgsscounselling.weebly.com/


FIVE-MINUTE FRIDAY WITH WGSS CAREER ADVISOR

Help us inspire and ignite interest in a wide variety of Career Pathways at WGSS. Five Minute Fridays is a quick Q&A session followed by a “Virtual Classroom Visit” with notable guests within our community. Guests share their career history, notable words of wisdom and lessons learned along the way. Lastly students get a chance to ask a series of questions prepared ahead of time. To date, guests have been impressed with the thoughtfulness and level of professional of our students, thanks so much for your participation, way to go Gators! Guests to date have included:

• Ashli Brook - Clinical Teaching Nurse • Dana Matheson – President of C&D Logistics, Langley RAMS and Burnaby Winter

Club, and owner of Cedarbrook Bakery in Brookswood. • John Aldag - Former Member of Parliament, current Langley Township Culture

Service Manager and Gator Parent! Our next guest coming up in the New Year will Langley City Mayor Val Van Den Broek. We will reach out after the break with specific dates and a TEAMS Link for classes to join in and ask questions or you can email [email protected] or message Cherise McGee on TEAMS.

mailto:[email protected]

principal’s message - walnut grove secondary

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