Friday 5 December 2014

Early signs of winter!

(NOTE:  My apologies.  This post is very late !)

Hello OT.

Now that the leaves have all (mostly) hit the ground many of us are looking ahead to colder weather and the impending snow!  As a result it is a good time to check in with a couple of reminders around the winter season but before we get to that.....we do have some important information to share with all families.

Recent events have helped all Canadians focus more closely on the role of our Armed Forces and the risks they endure in the name of our country.  With Remembrance Day approaching we will have another opportunity to reflect and give thanks to the men and women who gave their lives for us, in the name of democracy and freedom.  As an individual with family members who served, and are serving, in the military I feel a responsibility to take time to pause, and reflect on their sacrifice for me, my family, and for Canada.

Ms. Muzzatti's students will be performing a dramatic presentation for all OTHS students on November 11th and we will all be taking time out for a moment of quiet reflection at 11:00 a.m.  I look forward to experiencing an OT Remembrance Day Assembly for the first time.  As the only Oakville High School to have an in-school memorial (to those OTHS graduates who lost their lives in service to Canada) we are fortunate to have such a moving reminder of the sacrifice of generations past.


Mid Term Report Cards

On November 14th report cards will be distributed to all students.  Report Card time will provide all families a chance to follow up on the meetings held back in early October and to check the progress of their child at the mid term point in Semester One.  If any parent has concerns or questions around the report cards I would ask that you please contact the Teacher in question (via email or phone) at your earliest convenience.  Regardless of the grade appearing on the report card there is always a chance to make significant improvements in a course.


Senior News

Late November is also the time of the year that our senior students begin to finalize their post secondary planning.  It is natural that a student will experience increased stress as a result of their multitude of choices.  Mr. Pope and his Student Services team are available to assist students in their decision making.  Please don't hesitate to contact the school should you have any questions about how you can best help your son or daughter navigate the next few months.  While the final date for submission to the Ontario University Application Centre (OUAC) is early in January I strongly encourage all students to use a self-imposed deadline of December 17th for completing their on-line application.  For students considering out of province applications please make certain you are following the application deadlines set by the various colleges and universities (many of which are January to early March).

Winter Reminders

a) please drive carefully in and around the school.  A little extra patience helps us all.
b) please check the HDSB web site for any news around inclement weather and school closures
c) it's ok to insist that your child wears a coat to school!!!  As a parent of a teen myself I know they think they know ... (a lot) but we know they haven't mastered every skill just yet!
d) please let us know (in the main office) if you know of a family that is going through a difficult time.  Thanks to the generosity of the community we are able to help out in times of need.



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