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October 21

Daily News - October 21, 2024

THE CHRONICLE

Monday October 21, 2024

 

 

¬ GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

NEW – Girls Lacrosse Fundraiser

Join us for Burger and Beverage Music Bingo Night at The Rack in Saanich on SUNDAY November 17 at 6pm.  $35 gets you a burger, a beverage and one round of music bingo!  Six great prizes to be won!!  For tickets email: aspencelayh@gmail.com with your name and the number of tickets you would like.  We are limited to 65 tickets so purchase early!  (No students permitted).

 

 

Screamfest Haunters COSTUME pickup
ALL Haunters are required to come to a lunch meeting TOMORROW October 22 in the THEATRE to get their costumes and go over any questions.  At this point we are full for Haunters but are taking a waiting list. You can email Mr. Plant at cplant@saanichschools.ca with your name, email and interest in Haunting.

 

 

School Photos

If you have not yet picked up your photos, please come to the office.  You must pick up your Student ID card which is with your photo package.  Students must bring their original picture package to the retakes.

 

 

New System of School Bells

As a result of continued staff discussions since the start of the school year, we are choosing to add in four new bells (one at the end of every block) to ensure students are staying to the bell and leaving classes at the correct times. To this point we have only been using two warning bells, (one before school begins and one to signal the end of lunchtime) which we will keep, but to make things a bit easier/clearer for all, we will now also have a bell to signify the end of each block, including at the end of the school day!

 

 

Parent Volunteers for Screamfest Needed

Many student groups & staff have already signed up to help out with our upcoming Screamfest Event on Oct 28th/29th/30th, but we still have room available for any/all parents/guardians who could sign up to help out in the zones listed on the following Google SIGN UP SHEET.  Feel free to add your full name directly into this document and thank you in advance for your support/help with this community event!

 

 

Literacy & Numeracy Assessments

Our first provincial assessment sessions will be occurring on TUESDAY October 29 and WEDNESDAY October 30 as per the copernican style (long block) schedule shown below, which will be two blocks per day:

 

 

TUES OCT 29TH

WED OCT 30TH

 9:00am - 11:48am

BLOCK 1

BLOCK 2

12:28pm - 3:12pm

BLOCK 3

BLOCK 4

 

These assessments will include Math 10 classes (with the exception of Workplace 10) writing Numeracy 10, all English 12 classes writing Literacy 12, and any senior students who may have missed writing either Literacy 10 or Numeracy 10 last year.  More info on these assessments can be found using the following links: Literacy 10, Numeracy 10, and Literacy 12, and any senior students who need to sign-up for an assessment they have previously missed (see the sign board in the school foyer) need to do so through Mrs. Watson in our Career Centre Rm. 217.

 

 

IBPOC

The next IBPOC meeting will be TUESDAY, October 29 at lunch in Rm. 201. This group is a space for students who identify as indigenous, black, and people of colour, as well as active allies, to connect and build community.  IBPOC is used (rather than BIPOC, an acronym originating in the USA around 2010) in efforts to recognize ‘First Peoples first’ because of the unique history and context of colonization, displacement, and cultural genocide enacted upon Indigenous peoples in Canada and the ongoing national conversation about reconciliation.

 

 

SCREAMFEST - The Biggest Halloween Party in Town – Oct. 28, 29 & 30

Claremont is hosting the 15th Annual "SCREAMFEST" Halloween event Oct. 28, 29 & 30 from 5:30pm to 9:00pm each night.  Tickets are on sale now at the accounting office (cash or debit only for pre-event tickets). Tickets are $10 per person.  Each ticket includes event entry, a chance to win contests, great prizes, plus 5 coupons for access to the famous Haunted Walk, for use at the midway games, or for food at the BBQ/concession.  Extra coupons will be available for purchase at the event.

 

For planning your visit to the Haunted Walk:

 

6:00-7:00 is ‘SPOOKY’ for the younger visitors

7:30-9:00 is ‘SCARY’ for the braver visitors

 

 

Europe Trip

Do you want to go to Europe in July 2025?  Stop by and see Ms. Wells in Rm. 312 for more information!

 

 

Wolf Pack Trip 2026!!!!  Save the Date: Spring Break 2026 in Costa Rica!

Pack your sense of adventure because Spring Break 2026 is going to be epic!  🌴 The Wolf Pack is planning to head to Costa Rica with Gardner and Turnbull for a thrill-packed journey you won’t want to miss.

 

Picture this:

  • White water rafting through Costa Rica’s breathtaking rivers.
  • Ziplining through the lush jungle canopy for the ultimate adrenaline rush.
  • Snorkelling the beautiful beaches and catching some epic waves.

We’re teaming up with EF Tours to make this an unforgettable experience.  Mark your calendars, start dreaming of the tropics, and get ready for an adventure of a lifetime! 🌊 🌞

 

 

Exciting News! Wolf Pack’s Second Seattle Adventure is Coming!

Get ready for an epic journey! This May or June, the Wolf Pack is heading back to Seattle for an unforgettable adventure. We’ll be staying at the awesome Great Wolf Lodge again, but this year’s trip is packed with new and thrilling experiences!  Here’s our tentative plan:

  • A fresh exploration of the lava tubes at Mt. Saint Helens.
  • An underground Seattle tour that’ll take you beneath the streets of this fascinating city.
  • A day at a baseball game, cheering loud and proud!
  • Immersing ourselves in the world of pop culture at the museum.
  • Soaring to the top of the Space Needle for breathtaking views.
  • Wandering through the vibrant Pike Place Market.

Mark your calendars and get ready to dive into a whole new side of Seattle. Let’s make this trip even more amazing than last year!

 

 

School Photos

Photo Retake Day will be held on the morning of THURSDAY October 24.  This is for all students who wish to have their photo redone or for those who missed photo day in early September.  All students in every grade need to have a photo for identification purposes; purchasing a photo package is optional and can be done online through www.lifetouch.caStudents must bring their original picture package to the retakes.

 

 

Parent Volunteers/Drivers

Reminder that all volunteers for School District 63 are required to complete a Criminal Record Check every three years. Sports and trips will start up quickly, so we encourage parents to be proactive and do this NOW, if you might be interested in driving; the process can take a few weeks at rush time.  The LINK to information can be found on the Claremont Secondary home page, under the Parents tab, Volunteer Information.

 

 

If a Student is Absent or Late

Parents are asked to please email your student’s teacher AND the Attendance Line if your student will be absent or late for class. The Link for the Claremont Attendance Line is always quick to find on the Quick Links on the Claremont website’s home page: claremont_attendance@saanichschools.ca  or by phone by calling our main phone line at 250-658-5221 and selecting Option 1 for Attendance.

 

 

 ¬ FINE ARTS

NEW A reminder for Music Students to return field trip forms for field trips and the Whistler Festival.

 

 

¬ ATHLETICS

NEW – Jr. Girls Volleyball

Congratulations to the Jr. Girls Volleyball RED (Gr.10) team who came 4th this weekend in the Belmont Jr. Girls Invitational Tournament. On Friday, the team defeated Royal Bay 10, Mt. Doug and SMUS 9, and finished 1st in their pool. On Saturday, they won against Oak Bay 9 and played an exciting game against the Claremont 9 BLUE team with another win. In the quarterfinals, we fought hard against Dover, and against Belmont in the semi-finals, and finished 4th overall out of 20 teams. Well done Spartans!  With a quick turnaround, TODAY we are hosting Belmont, Oak Bay Black and Spectrum right after school. Come and cheer for the team!

 

 

NEW – Jr. Boys “A” Volleyball

The Claremont Jr. Boys "A" Volleyball Team went undefeated this past weekend in the 16-Team Spectrum Invitational Tournament.  Friday Pool Play:  The boys won all three matches in 2-straight sets (each), clinching first in their pool.  Saturday Playoffs:

Semifinal - Claremont defeated Isfeld from Courtenay  25-23, 25-18 (Fun fact -Isfeld who knocked us out of the VIU tournament last weekend).  Final - Claremont defeated Highland from Comox  25-23, 25-21 (Fun Fact - Highland beat us last weekend in pool play at VIU).  The Spartans battled back in 3 of the 4 sets in playoffs to win.  It was a tremendous team effort by all!

 

 

NEW – Swim Team
Congratulations to the Claremont Swim team for their amazing performance at the Island Championships this weekend. 16 of our 18 team members qualified in one or more events to compete at the Provincial Championships November 15 & 16th.  Meet highlights include: 3 Island titles won by Bogdon Cirovic, 3 Island titles won by Beni Purnhauser, 1 gold and 2 silver medals won by Mila Chernenkoff and outstanding performances by our relay teams winning 2 golds and 2 silvers.

 

 

¬ CLUBS

No news today.

 

 

¬ INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

No news today.

 

 

¬ GRAD 2025

NEW – Claremont Grad Wear

Claremont GRAD WEAR is on sale now for 2 weeks.  You can get your order form from Mrs. Waller in the Accounting office.

 

 

Online Grad Parent Meeting

For all Grad Parents/Guardians that are available to join, we will be hosting our first official Grad Parent meeting of the year online TOMORROW October 22 @ 7:00 pm (virtual only through TEAMs).  Those who attend will have a chance to meet our Grad Parent Exec (and possibly volunteer for a few spots still remaining 🙂), listen to an overview of events being planned, discuss fundraising goals and opportunities, and ensure they are in the know for ‘all things Grad 2025’!  Please find the link to the upcoming Grad Parent Meeting HERE.

 

 

¬ INDIGENOUS EDUCATION

Indigenous Bulletin for October

On behalf of our District Indigenous Education Team, we are pleased to share the “ĆENQOLEW̱ - The Dog Salmon Return to the Earth” edition of the SD63 Indigenous Education Bulletin with you.  Please find a link to the publication HERE that includes ways we can continue to advance Truth and Reconciliation, some recommended reads, and a variety of other resources to help extend our learning!

 

 

¬ FUNDRAISING

No news today.

 

 

¬ CAREER CENTRE

NEW – Elections BC – Youth at the Booth

Students, did any of you get a job with Elections BC - Youth at the Booth?  Application information was sent to about 40 students, so we want to know how many of you got the job!  If you're comfortable with sharing the information, email Career Centre Secretary, Mrs. Watson: cwatson@saanichschools.ca

 

 

NEW - UVic Gustavson School of Business - Info Session!

THURSDAY, October 31 (Halloween!) @ LUNCH in the Career Centre.  Paige will be presenting info about admissions, programs, and student life... Be ready with your questions!

 

 

NEW – University of Alberta

If you're interested in attending the University of Alberta, come meet Tessa!  She will be visiting Claremont on MONDAY, October 28 from 2:30-3:15pm (or later) - in the foyer near the front office.  With teacher permission, take 15 minutes during Block 4 to find out about UAlberta programs, campus life, and admission requirements. 

 

 

Outreach Mentorship Program – UBC

The UBC MD Admissions Office recently launched the MD Outreach Youth Mentorship Program.​  This program connects high school students with UBC Medical Students to learn more about being a university student, learning about self-care, and applying to UBC medical school.  If you are interested in this program, see Mrs. Watson in the Career Centre, or email her for the link to apply: cwatson@saanichschools.ca

 

 

Cordova Bay Elementary Hoot ‘n Howl Volunteers Needed

Cordova Bay Elementary is having their annual Hoot 'n Howl on October 26th!  Volunteers are needed from 4:45pm-7:45pm to help with the following:

  • Running the games station
  • Helping in the gym with pizza and recycling station
  • Giving out the prize bags when the kids finish the activities
  • Set up and clean up 

See Mrs. Watson in the Career Centre (Rm 217) or email her for more info: cwatson@saanichschools.ca.

 

 

EducationPlannerBC

EducationPlannerBC is hosting a Virtual Live Learning Session!  Join in on TUESDAY, October 29, 2024, from 6:30-7:30 p.m.  Explore their website, search thousands of programs, get to know trades, and discover career paths.  Find helpful resources, including financial aid options, admission requirements, FAQs, and the Glossary.  Learn how to create an account, save programs, paths, and careers to My List, and apply to post-secondary in B.C.   This free session is open to anyone interested in learning about post-secondary education and career planning. It is especially helpful for high school students in grades 10-12, parents and student supporters, adult learners, high school counsellors, teachers, and career advisors.  Register here!  Or email Mrs. Watson in the Career Centre, for more info: cwatson@saanichschools.ca.  For more information from EdPlanner Support, please email support@educationplannerbc.ca.

 

 

Volunteer Opportunities at Saanich Peninsula Youth Clinic in Sidney!

There are many volunteer opportunities available at the clinic, including fundraising, health promotion and peer education and support.  See Mrs. Watson in the Career Centre (Rm. 217) or email her for more info: cwatson@saanichschools.ca.

 

 

Yard Help

One of our neighbours is looking for a student to help with yard work on Saturday mornings through the fall.  Hours are flexible but between 10am and 1pm would work best.  See Mrs. Watson in the Career Centre (Rm. 217) or email her for more info: cwatson@saanichschools.ca.

 

 

Greater Victoria Green Team – Volunteer Opportunities for October and Early November – Green Team volunteering activities are a great opportunity for youth and community to spend time together outside, meet new people, learn new skills, and make a real difference in the community by taking care of nature.  All ages, abilities, backgrounds, and experience levels are welcome!  Educational instruction and demonstrations are provided, as well as tools and gloves for volunteers.  There will also be delicious snacks!  See Mrs. Watson in the Career Centre (Rm. 217) or email her for more info: cwatson@saanichschools.ca.

 

 

¬ CLAREMONT PAC

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

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.