Daily News - March 14, 2023
THE CHRONICLE
Tuesday March 14, 2023
¬ GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Student Voice Today
A reminder to all of the students involved with Student Voice TODAY with Mr. Slade: please meet at 11:00 in room 314.
Bus #11: Change in Departure Time After School
For all students who ride bus #11 in the afternoons: starting after Spring Break on WEDNESDAY April 5, Bus #11 will leave Claremont earlier (at 3:30) on WEDNESDAYS and FRIDAYS. If you have any questions, please ask the driver.
Spartan Wear – Orders Due March 15
There are two final days to buy Spartan Wear for the Spring order. If you would like to buy a Claremont Spartan hoodie, t-shirt, long-sleeved shirt, sweat pants, or lanyard, please pick up an order form from the Accounting office or HERE. All sales are pre-order only. Deadline for orders is TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) to Mrs. Waller in the Accounting office. The orders should arrive at the school in early April.
Lost & Found
This morning, a single Air Pod in a case and an Adele gym bag with brand new shoes were brought to the office. There is also a selection of lost jewellery and jackets in the office, waiting to be claimed.
As well, a Lost & Found table of clothing and miscellaneous items is set up in the horseshoe hallway. Please check for any items that belong to you. On the last day before Spring Break, anything leftover will be bagged up and sent to a charity.
Encourage kids to READ
Come to the Learning Commons, grab a bookmark and colour them - then we'll send them to Lochside and Cordova Bay Elementary students. Choose from a variety of designs.
After School Homework Club
For all students who would like extra help in academic classes, help from Education Assistants is available four days a week (MONDAY-THURSDAY) for one hour after school in room 235. All academic subjects are welcome, but especially if you are struggling in Math & Science. This is open to all students in all grades.
¬ FINE ARTS
No news today.
¬ ATHLETICS
Rugby
All Girls Rugby players: please return (or pick-up) your player package from Mr. Belvedere TODAY at lunch in room 134.
All Boys Rugby players: please check in with Mr. Belvedere TODAY for a short lunch time meeting in room 134 to prepare for our games against Oak Bay.
To our Claremont students, staff and families: come out TODAY after school and cheer for your Senior Boys Rugby team on the upper field, and the Junior Boys Rugby team on the lower field. Games start at 3:45. Go Spartans!!
¬ CLUBS
No news today.
¬ INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
No news today.
¬ GRAD 2023
Grad & CSI Lacrosse Fundraiser: Hilltop Nursery Flower Baskets & Planters – Deadline April 4
The Claremont Grad 2023 committee and CSI Lacrosse Academy have teamed up to offer the Hilltop Nursery Fundraiser of beautiful flower baskets and planters. For families with a student at Claremont, orders and payment can be made through the online payment system on the District website at saanichschools.ca. For people wishing to support this fundraiser who do not have children at Claremont, please use this LINK for online ordering.
The portals for payments and orders is now available. Deadline for orders: TUESDAY April 4th at noon. Please note this fundraiser takes place over spring break so please place your orders early as to not miss the deadline for these beautiful baskets. Paper copies of the order form are available at the accounting office, if you would prefer to pay by cheque, cash or in person. For assistance with orders and payment, please contact Belinda Waller at (250) 658-6672.
Baskets and planters will be delivered directly to the school and available for pick up on WEDNESDAY, May 10th from 3:00 – 4:30 pm in the staff parking lot behind the gym. Please ensure you pick up your orders, as the school has generously donated this space for us to use and does not have capacity to store plants overnight. Thank you for supporting the grad class of 2023.
Grad Fundraiser: Purdy’s Easter Chocolates – Deadline March 20
The Grad Class or 2023 has a Purdy’s Chocolates fundraiser until March 20th. Information about chocolates is HERE. Deadline to order is March 20th. Thank you for supporting the grad class of 2023.
Grad Fundraiser: Ongoing Bottle Drive
An easy way to support the 2023 Grad Class is by donating empty bottles and beverage containers throughout the school year until June at the Bottle Depot location at Glanford/Quadra. Account name is “Claremont Grad 2023.” Thank you for supporting the grad class of 2023.
¬ CAREER CENTRE
30 Hours of Work Experience/Volunteering
30 Hours of Work Experience OR Volunteering are required for Graduation. Hours can be counted from any grade. See Mrs. Watson in room 222 to find out how to confirm your 30 hours. If you're not working, there are lots of ideas for looking into Volunteerism. You can discuss ideas with Mrs. Watson and she can point out a list of possibilities, such as:
School District 63 Careers Website: careered.sd63.bc.ca
Volunteer Victoria: volunteervictoria.bc.ca
Beacon Community Services: beaconcs.ca
Saanich Volunteer Opportunities (via the District of Saanich): Website
Spring Break/Summer Camps
Pet Care/Dog Walking
Key Club: See Ms. Pang and/or Ms. Wadsworth
Your Church/Temple
Local Food Bank/Shelter
Hospitals
Retirement Homes/Senior Centres
Seasonal Events
Your local Neighbourhood House
Invasive Plant Removal or other garden/yard help (in your area trails/parks/neighbours)
Personal Training/Sport Coaching
"Meaningful Project" or Entrepreneurial Project
Other ideas?
Student Volunteer Opportunity
Organic Farming. If you love being outside with animals and in the garden, you may want to consider organic farming as a future career! An organic farmer in Saanich is providing an opportunity to educate students about organic composting, pruning vines and trees, low-impact irrigation systems and other areas of small farm practices. There is no set schedule, and your visits can be based on interest and your school schedule. See Mrs. Watson in room 222 for contact info and more details.
The volunteer team at the Saanich Peninsula Youth Health Clinic is recruiting new volunteers for their Peer Health Educator program. This is a friendly, confidential and supportive service aimed at helping patients feel more informed and ready for when they meet with the doctor at the clinic. New volunteers will participate in a weekly training commitment of 2 hours on Thursday evenings from 5:30-7:30pm. The clinic runs through the summer, so volunteers should be available throughout July and August as well. Applications due March 23. For more information see Mrs. Watson in room 222, or email her at cwatson@saanichschools.ca
Summer Employment with Saanich School District
Grade 12 Students: The Saanich School District #63 will be hiring summer staff in the Custodial Department! Full-time, union positions will be available from the end of June until end of August, with the opportunity for continuing employment. Earn competitive wages vs. minimum wage. You must have your own transportation, and you must be a graduate by the end of June. For more information, see Mrs. Watson in office 222, or email her at cwatson@saanichschools.ca.
¬ NEWS FROM CLAREMONT PAC
CPAC Meeting
The next parent meeting is March 14th @ 7pm, in-person (Learning Commons) or MS Teams. Visit the PACS site HERE or see Principal Aaron Buckham’s upcoming newsletter for details. Spring Funding budget approvals being requested.
COPACS - is seeking a Vice President next year (Sept 2023-June 2024)
The COPACS Vice Presidents support the President. In practice, this means: attending general and executive meetings; liaising with PACs and their voting delegates (i.e. you folks); liaising with education partners; supporting COPACS committees; and taking on other tasks delegated by our esteemed President. The time commitment isn't huge and can be shaped to your availability. If you would like to know more about the executive positions, please reach out to copacssd63@gmail.com
Join the CPAC Exec Team
We are starting to look ahead to the next school year. If you’re interested in joining the CPAC Exec, please reach out to our team! A few Exec team members will be leaving this year as their grade 12 kids graduate, so we welcome new team members. During the school year, CPAC Exec holds a parent meeting once a month except for December and March. We’d like to hold the AGM this year in May.
Email us at claremontpacSD63@gmail.com if you’re interested.
PAC Fundraiser: Country Grocer Receipts
Here is an easy way to support your PAC year-round. Save your Country Grocer receipts and bring them to the school front office. We appreciate your participation in this fundraiser which will benefit our school community with up to $2000 in grocery gift cards.
¬ COMMUNITY NEWS
Student Recognition Program Celebrating Students of African Descent
As part of the International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD), Binkadi Wellness Society received an IDPAD youth grant from the City of Victoria to establish the first celebration of excellence and achievement for students in ACB communities. If you know a student who is transitioning into elementary, middle or high school, or graduating from high school, college, or university, we want to honour them! The inaugural COEA is a familial and community celebration to honour K-12 and post-secondary students of African descent who have achieved a significant milestone in their academic journey. The June 2023 ceremony and reception include various ceremonial traditions, food, gifts, student speakers, music, and fun. This will be held in Victoria, BC.
Also, due to the unprecedented impact that COVID-19 had on our communities, if the person graduated from secondary, college, or university in 2020 or 2021, we want to honor them as well. This is a free event in June (date TBD). Please complete THIS FORM and return it by FRIDAY, March 17th.
Also, if you are (or know) an elder who never got the opportunity to graduate please e-mail drg@oneloveconsulting.com.
Peninsula Youth Clinic
The Peninsula Youth Clinic is located at 2379 Bevan Avenue in Sidney and is open every THURSDAY from 5:30-7:30pm for help with any medical concern (physical, mental, and sexual health). Call 250-656-4143 to make an appointment with a physician or counsellor. Services are 100% free, confidential, and explicitly inclusive of all genders and sexualities!
A copy of the announcements is posted on the wall outside of the main office door.