Math Resources
Mr. van den Berg has assembled several recommended resources to assist students in grade 7&8 with math.
Grade 9 students should visit the NECTAR online preparation site to help them with the grade 9 math curriculum.
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Civics students participate in "Student Vote 2008"
Grade 10 Civics students at Immaculata, along with more than 400,000 students from across Canada, took part in a parallel federal election known as "Student Vote"; learning about the democratic process, political parties and local candidates before casting a ballot on the official candidates running in their schools' riding.
"Election day" at Immaculata took place on October 10th with students from four Civics classes casting their vote at a "polling station" in the school library in a manner identical to the adult process.
Students correctly predicted that the incumbent, Mr. Paul Dewar, would be re-elected in the Ottawa-Centre riding. Thank you to all of the students for their enthusiasm and engagement throughout the election. Also, thanks to Mrs. Grant, Mme Fowler and Ms. Charron for their help in making "Student Vote" a success. |
Fundraising Help
The school is looking for prize donations for a school raffle. If you are able to donate items such as Senators' tickets, gift certificates, etc. we would be pleased to accept your donation. Items can be dropped off at the main office to the attention of Mr. Ben Seaman.
Fundraising Congratulations
Congratulations to all staff and students who participated in the annual magazine subscription sales. This event serves as both a literacy initiative and a school fundraiser.
Isaiah Kenny-Robillard was the top seller and receives an iPOD touch as his prize. Each student who sold at least one subscription was entered into a draw.
Michael Rowland was the random winner and won an iPod touch. Congratulations to Mrs. Walsh's homeroom who won a pizza lunch for their class participation. Thank you to Mrs. Bacile for coordinating this year's fundraiser. |
| Mac is going GREEN!
Over the next year Immaculata will be working towards certification as an Ecoschool. This means that we will be striving to change our habits and make our school more sustainable. We will be targetting our efforts in areas such as Energy Conservation and Waste Reduction.
Currently we are working on a baseline survey to establish what we need to improve. Watch the school announcements for initiatives and ways you can get involved and make your school a more sustainable place! If you would like to get involved, please see one of the members of the Environmental Club or Ms. Gleeson for more details. |
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Students visit Stratford
A group of 42 grade 11 and 12 English and Drama students and 5 staff members had a wonderful time in Stratford from October 22-24th. The group enjoyed two fabulous Shakespeare productions including Hamlet and The Taming of The Shrew as well as two highly entertaining musicals: Music Man and Cabaret. The experience also included a workshop with a stage manager, a dance class with a dancer from Cabaret, a pre-show session with cast members from The Taming of The Shrew and two tours, one backstage at the Festival Theatre and the other at the Costume Warehouse. This busy schedule allowed for only a little time to rest at the beautiful Arden Park Hotel in downtown Stratford.
The students report having a great time and the supervisors agree that the students were outstanding ambassadors for the school. Plans are already in the works for next year's trip which will include Westside Story and Macbeth starring Colm Feore. Thank you to Ms. Kehoe for organizing the trip and to Sister Lawrence, Mr. van den Berg, and Mrs. Hache for helping to supervise the excursion.
Grade 11 Theatre Trip: It may not be Stratford but the GCTC on Wellington Street West provided a memorable theatrical experience for 80 grade 11 students on October 29 accompanied by Ms. Bacile and Ms. Garry. In addition to $2 tickets, the GCTC also provided a free in school drama workshop that will be presented at a later date. |
Students writing War Letters
The grade 10 History students in Ms. Cronin's class have entered the "Great War Letter Contest" sponsored by the Dominion Institute. Students composed letters as if they were written during the First World War. This was a special opportunity for them to demonstrate and apply their knowledge of the War.
The letters will be judged by a panel that includes Adrienne Clarkson and Paul Gross. The first prize is a trip to Passchendaele in Belgium. Results will be announced late November. |
| School Council
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday November 25th at 7:00 p.m. in the school library. We hope you can attend.
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CIBC Run for the Cure: Immaculata H.S. Team 2008
Our school continued its tradition of ranking not only amongst the top fundraising school teams in the city, but also in the province!
By Run day, our team of 51 students and 11 adults had raised a whopping $18, 035.51 for breast cancer research, diagnosis, education and treatment.
Congratulations go out to our top fund-raiser, Mrs. Kathy Ablett (chairperson of the board and our school's trustee) who raised a $8812.13 for the cause! Kathy has also distinguished herself on the list of top fundraisers in the province.
Top student fund-raisers were: grade 8 student Kate Glennon (over $700.00), grade 12 student Christine Audet ($420.00) and grade 8 student Michael Feil ($300.00). These students received pink prize baskets and will also be receiving notices of their incentive prizes from the CBCF in Toronto. The team would like to extend their sincere thanks to their student team captains, Kate Beauchamp (grade 11) and Emily Beauchamp (grade 12) who did such a terrific job in recruiting team members, writing and reading announcements over the PA system, and helping to sell items at our THINK PINK DAY (October 1st). Our ECL class, under the direction of Mrs. Janice Hlushak baked over 200 delicious cupcakes for us to sell. It is thanks to such a supportive school community (students, staff and parents) that we continue the fight to beat breast cancer. For more information on the Run and other information on the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, please log onto: http://www.cbcf.org
Thank you to Madame Charron for her work in coordinating this event. |
Christmas Light Exchange
Do you have unwanted strings of Christmas lights?
Ottawa Hydro and the Ottawa Catholic School Board have partnered to encourage people in our community to replace their old strings of incandescent light bulbs with super efficient LED bulbs. For every 2 strands you bring in, you will receive 1 new strand of LED lights for FREE!
Bring in your old strands of lights between NOV 10th and 18th. The new LED lights will be distributed in the week of NOV 24th!
For every 450 strands collected, enough energy will be saved to power a home for an entire year!!!
One 7-watt incandescent light bulb consumes the same amount of energy as 140 LED bulbs.
Drop your lights off in the main office - addressed to the attention of the Environmental Club. Please include your name and phone number. |
We Care for God's Creation
Teihard de Chardin once commented that human beings are nothing less than evolution becoming conscious of itself. Consciousness still needs to happen but maybe in a new genre when we consider the statistics of poverty, exclusion, forced migration, violence and war that exist in our world today. We have to ask ourselves: how do we develop a critical awareness of the whole of creation with the events that mark our world?
October 17th was "World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty" on our planet. We also had a nation-wide election in October and the aftermath of a major financial meltdown in the world. What did you hear about during the month of October?
We cannot talk about caring for God's creation without being actively concerned about one of the core justice issues of our day - extreme poverty. Where life is threatened, all of creation is threatened. We have to ask ourselves: with whom do we stand? We can only critically reflect on this question when we look at where we choose to place ourselves, our actions and our very lives - for whom? for what kind of world? Let us pray for the courage and commitment to stand with those who see a new way and stand on the side of life.
What will you choose to hear about during the month of November?
Sister Shelley Lawrence, rscj, Chaplaincy Leader |
Rattle Me Bones: Sunday, October 26th
This year's event, in support of the Ottawa Hospital Foundation, occurred on a chilly but sunny morning. Immaculata was well represented by 20 team members (4 adults and 16 students). Special kudos go out to Ben Gunn-Doerge and Nicholas Glennon who placed 2nd and 3rd in their age division in the 5 km race. |
MAC DRAMA
The grade 12 drama focus program is busy rehearsing for this year's school play Class Dismissed by Craig J. Nevius. The play is about an English teacher who is frustrated by his students lack of motivation to learn. The students end up learning more than English in this classroom comedy.
Class Dismissed runs from Friday December 5th to Saturday December 6th. Tickets are $5.00 and can be bought by a cast member or from the school's office after November 17th.
The focus students just completed their own interpretation of King Lear which they performed for grades 7 and 8. They will begin work on The American Dream and Waiting for Godot in mid-November. These absurdist plays will be performed for senior students at Immaculata.
MAC IMPROV
Immaculata's improvisation team is busy rehearsing to compete in the Connor's Cup on Tuesday November 25th. They will meet teams from Canterbury, Nepean and Holy Trinity at the Gladstone Theatre in a night of laughs and fun. |
Grey Sisters Commemorative Library News
Forest of Reading Programs:
These reading clubs, which celebrate and promote Canadian writers and writing, are sponsored by the Ontario Library Association. We are pleased with the interest these clubs have generated at Immaculata!
Our Red Maple Reading Club (for grades 7 and 8 students) meets every Wednesday during the grades 7 and 8 lunch hour in the library seminar room.
Our White Pine Reading Club (grades 9 to 12) meets every Monday during senior lunch in the library.
The list of the 2009 nominated books has now been released! Please go to the O.L.A. website http://www.accessola.com and select "reading programs" to find out more!
Madame Charron, teacher-librarian, has ordered 4 copies of all nominated books and she will again be enlisting staff members as guest readers/presenters. Students in both book clubs thoroughly enjoyed the variety of presentations from members of our administration, teaching and educational assistant staffs.
Students must read a minimum of 5 nominated books in order to qualify to vote in the province-wide vote in April.
Fundraiser (AVON) for White Pine Reading Club
In May 2009, our White Pine group hopes to return to Toronto to participate in the Forest of Reading Celebration when all winners of the reading programs are announced. Last year was an exciting event for our students who journeyed to Toronto along with other White Pine club members from other catholic high schools. To help subsidize this outing, we are selling AVON products. Parents wishing to obtain a copy of the catalogues are asked to call the school and leave a message for Madame Charron.
Book Donations
The library staff would like to thank the following people who have added some wonderful resources to our library: Mrs. Lorraine Lynch (teacher), Mrs. Jane Cronin (teacher), Mrs. Mary Durst (retired Immaculata principal), Mr. John Gorman (brother of teacher Lynn Gorman) and Mrs. Karen Russell-Letourneau (parent of two students). We greatly appreciate your generosity!
Literacy Initiatives
In addition to Y.O. R. (Your Own Reading)/Lisez à votre goût time, which occurs twice a week, teachers are now setting up their own "Word Walls" in order to familiarise students with the EQAO words (which appear on the grade 10 literacy test). Each week a different word is being promoted via the written announcements and over our PA system. In December, teachers will be "evaluated" by groups of grade 10 students on the Word Walls displayed in their classrooms. |
Mac's Celebrity Chef
This year Immaculata's Destination Employability Pathway has introduced a Celebrity Chef program. Each month, grade nine and ten students will enter the kitchen to prepare simple and healthy meals under the supervision of teacher Celebrity Chefs.
Prior to each cooking session, students will be presented with lessons associated with cooking. This months topic was proper hand washing techniques and the prevention of germs and bacteria in the kitchen. Future topics will include safe food handling, nutrition, and meal planning on a budget. Not only will students be able to enhance their teamwork and communication skills, they will get to reap the rewards of eating what they prepare. They all agree that this program will be a delicious delight!
Thank you to teacher Mrs. Carson-Smith for this initiative. |
Athletic Council
This year's Athletic Council is off to a fantastic start! With many things going on behind the scenes, the group is well underway to highlighting Mac's athletes and teams in new and exciting ways! Our first sports pep rally of the school year is planned for November 19th, which promises to be an event not to be missed!
We are just finishing up our second intramural event, ultimate frisbee, and will be starting handball shortly. And finally, we are proud to announce our athletes of the month for October:
7/8 male - Philip Cull-Mulcair
7/8 female - Marilyn Ashley
High school male - Christopher Kabouche
High school female - Anna Caulfield
Congratulations to all nominees! More on these and past winners, as well as other athletic related information can be found on the school's website.
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Photo Retake Day: Thursday, October 23rd
The success of this day would not have been possible without the hard work and conscientiousness of our parent volunteer, Mrs. Cheryl Tam, who assisted the library staff on this busy day.
School/ library photo ID cards and student photo packages should arrive by the 2nd week of November. For any questions regarding your child's photo package, please call Lifetouch Canada at 1-800-473-5175 |
| Students of the month:
Each month staff members can nominate students in any grade for student of the month honours. Selected students receive 2 tickets to an Ottawa 67s game, an Eat Smart lunch, and their name is placed on a plaque on the Wall of Honour.
Congratulations to the October winners:
Emily Beauchamp - for her leadership role in promoting the Run for the Cure, for her fundraising efforts, and for being a co-captain of the student run for the cure team this year;
Dylan Ventura - for his volunteer work helping in the library, for helping with the student photos and id cards, and for demonstrating the Christian value of compassion by helping out one of his classmates on a regular basis;
Sophia Diebel - for showing exemplary behaviour, initiative, attention to academic detail, and a strong work ethic in class. |
| Jean Vanier Catholic School Accommodation Review
Public Meeting, November 3, 2008 at Jean Vanier School, 7:00 p.m.
Presentation of Final Report and Recommendations
Students and Schools Impacted by the Recommendations
Students Living in Assumption and St. Michael Attendance Areas:
Existing Grade 7 and 8 students currently attending Jean Vanier who live in the Assumption and St. Michael attendance areas will be directed to Immaculata for Grades 8 and 9. There will be no option to attend Lester B. Pearson in Grade 9.
All existing and future Grade 6 students attending Assumption and St. Michael who live in the Assumption and St. Michael attendance areas will be directed to Immaculata for Grades 7-12, effective September 2009.
Existing Grade 4 and 5 French Immersion students from the Assumption and St. Michael attendance areas currently attending Our Lady of Mount Carmel will be transferred to St. Brigid, effective September 2009. Current Grade 6 French Immersion students from the Assumption and St. Michael attendance areas attending Our Lady of Mount Carmel will be directed to Immaculata for Grade 7. All future Grade 4-6 French Immersion students from the Assumption and St. Michael attendance areas will be directed to St. Brigid.
Students Living in St. Brigid Attendance Area:
Existing Grade 7 and 8 students currently attending Jean Vanier who live in the Brigid area will be directed to Immaculata for Grades 8 and 9. There will be no option to attend Lester B. Pearson in Grade 9.
All existing and future Grade 6 students attending St. Brigid who live in the St. Brigid attendance areas will be directed to Immaculata for Grades 7-12, effective September 2009.
If you have any questions or comments please come to the next public meeting on Monday, November 3, 7:00 p.m. at Jean Vanier Intermediate School, 320 Lajoie Street. |
| Community Outreach in Prayer
For several years the Knights of Columbus from St. Patrick's Basilica have been praying the rosary in our school chapel on the third Wednesday of every month. Their prayers are for the students, staff, support staff, administration, and parents of our school community.
Last year, our gr. 9-12 Religion classes began joining them in the chapel.
Please join us for the next rosary, on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 10:30 a.m. For details, please contact Mrs. Galadza. |
| Bully Busters Invade Immaculata!
As part of the anti-bullying committee the newly named Bully Busters made their mark on Immaculata's grade 7 and 8 homerooms on Monday October 23rd.
The Bully Busters are comprised of students in grades 7-10 who all wish to spread the message of anti-bullying. The group visited each grade 7 and 8 homeroom, reciting the anti-bullying pledge, providing helpful facts and information for students are completing an anonymous survey. There will be many other exciting events and information to come from the Bully Busters in the months to come.
If parents have any questions, they are asked to contact Ms. Tracey, Ms. Butler or Madame Charron. |
Grade 7-8 Wrestling
23 great young athletes comprise this year's grade 7/8 wrestling team. Practices have been going on since mid-October, with these dedicated young athletes practicing during mostly the 7-8am timeslot. The East Finals will take place on Thursday November 13, with the City Finals on Tuesday November 18th. Please wish our young athletes luck.
Coaches Ms. Butler and Chan are very pleased with the team. Look for results in the December newsletter. | |
