Grey Highlands Secondary School

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Happy New Year!

We recognize that the features of synchronous (live face-to-face) online learning can make it difficult for some students to be present at all times during the school day. Attendance is taken throughout the day, and many students are being marked absent at certain times because they share a device at home, or do not have consistent internet access throughout the day due to heavy usage.

We understand these unique circumstances, and have therefore opted to turn off absence notifications for secondary students for the rest of the current shutdown period. While absences will continue to be recorded, you will not receive calls if a student in your house has been absent for one or more classes during the day. On January 25, 2021, absence notifications will be turned back on.

Also, I have included a letter to parents from Minister Lecce and one from Director Wilder regarding remote learning for your information.

Please reach out to me directly if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you again for your patience, support, and understanding as we continue to work together throughout the shutdown period.

Sincerely,

Andrew   

Happy end of 2020!!

It has been a long few months but I can honestly say that the students and staff of GHSS have risen to the many challenges of 'these times'!  The spirit of the Lion's Pride may be on hold but is certainly not diminished.

The holidays can be a challenging time for many and especially so with the Covid 19 restrictions in place. Please click here and here for some mental health tips on getting through the holidays.

For Director Wilder's holiday message, click here.

From the staff at GHSS, we hope that you all have an amazing, but safe, holiday! We look forward to the New Year, whatever it may bring!

Hey everyone!

We are excited to announce that the new GHSS clothing line is here!!  Local business, Dunwood Apparel in Dundalk, has a number of items ranging from ball caps to jackets and sweatpants – everything a teenager needs!

Go to https://dunwood.ca/ . At the bottom of the page, click GHSS ONLINE.  Enter the password GHSSORDERS (uppercase, no spaces).

There is a shipping charge to have it delivered to your home BUT you can pick up your items from the store in Dundalk for free!

This would make a great gift for those who are hard to buy for. If you get your order in by December 8th, Dunwood will have your order ready by December 18th for pickup at the school!

 

 

November 30th

SAC is excited announce that this year, they will be hosting a "Crazy Christmas Cash Drive" from Monday, December 7th until Friday, December 11th. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, SAC's annual "12 Days of Giving” will not be able to take place. However, SAC is determined to find a way to continue to support local families during the holiday season!

This year, SAC will be collecting financial donations for the food banks in Flesherton, Dundalk, and Markdale. Starting on December 7th, students and families can contribute by filling a class jar with cash donations or you can also follow the instructions to donate through School Cash Online by clicking here. If you donate on behalf of a GHSS student, the funds will be added to their corresponding class. Students on spare are part of the "Office" team. The class that raises the most money will win a pizza party! Best of luck to all classes!

SAC has also been sending out letters and posters to local businesses and community members to encourage them to donate as well. You can donate on their behalf or as a community member by following the directions by clicking here. We will be sure to acknowledge and thank each business that donates!

Any amount is greatly appreciated and each donation will make the holiday season a little brighter for our local families in need. Thank you in advance for your contribution. Happy Holidays from your GHSS Student Council!

 

Hello!                                                                              November 23, 2020

We are nearing the end of fall weather and into the time of wintery conditions!  Quadmester 2 is in full swing and headed towards the midterm (December 14th)!!

We have a few things to update you on. 

1. We have our second Parent Council (SCC) Tuesday night at 6PM.  Please take this as your invitation to attend this virtual meeting and find out what we are up to at The Highlands! Click here to join in!

2. Masks - as we head into our fourth month, we have noticed that 'Covid fatigue' (or fatigue of Covid restrictions) is setting in and masks are being removed or worn such that they are not effective.  It is a requirement that masks be worn at all times on school property. This includes the bus to and from home. Non-compliance could result in losing bus privileges.

3. VPNs - A VPN is a Virtual Private Network and is an app that allows students to get around the security measures that Bluewater has in place.  They also slow our network down so that it is almost non-functional. The main reason for students to do this is to access social media or streaming sites.  Using a VPN is a violation of the User Agreement that all students and parents are asked to sign. We have the ability to track the use of VPNs and there will be school based consequences if a student is caught using one on school grounds. Please tell your child to remove the VPN from their phones and laptops.

4. Behaviour in Flesherton during lunch and the Independent Study Time.  We have been getting an increasing number of complaints about student behaviour during these times.  These range from loud music and inappropriate language to ripping branches off trees, leaving garbage and blocking entrances to the library and arena.  We need to work with the village of Flesherton and its residents so please ask your child to wear their mask, socially distance themselves and act responsibly. 

5. Report cards went home for Quadmester 1 on Friday.

6. Please go to http://ow.ly/DLZR50Cs9Gn  for the fall newsletter from trustee Jim Dawson.

Hey Grey Highlands Grads!!

It’s time to pick up your diplomas!  We will be waiting out front of the school, ready to hand you your envelope on Thursday November 19^th from 3:15PM to 6PM. 

We will have the GHSS 2020 Grad banner up if you would like to take a photo or if you want to stay in your car, you can do that too.  If you do want a photo, please wear a mask.

This is Very Important! If you are sending someone else to pick up your envelope, you need to let us know BY EMAIL (GHS_mail@bwdsb.on.ca) before Thursday.

For those of you who can’t make it at that time, just give us a call or send us an email (GHS_mail@bwdsb.on.ca) to arrange a time and we will bring your envelope out to the front parking lot.

We apologize for the delay and look forward to seeing you!

IF you have a textbook from last year that belongs to GHSS, PLEASE use this opportunity to bring it back. 

The art wall above was created by the students of GHSS with guidance from Art teacher, Kirsty Wilson and Mental Health Worker, Jenn Ottewell.  Each feather is personalized and tells a story. We are lucky to have such creativity at the Highlands!

November 5, 2020

Welcome to sunny and warm November!

With the increase in cases around the province, we need to be prepared for a variety of scenarios. Because of this, in the event of a school closure, we will need all students and staff to be ready to switch to an online format.

Here is what we need in order to be prepared for an event that we hope won't happen:
- Make sure that your child can access their Bluewater O365 account and their Virtual learning Environment (VLE) from home as this will be essential to their success even for a short term closure.
- Have your child's teachers' names and email addresses so that you can stay informed as to their academic progress.
- If you are in need of a loan of a laptop, please email or call Ms. Jennifer Gunion at 519 924 2721 ext. 525 by Wednesday November 11, 2020.
- If you do not have any way of accessing the internet, please call Ms. Gunion at the above number by Wednesday November 11, 2020.

Other news!
- Our Student Council is preparing biweekly YouTube videos to keep students informed. Get your student to show you the Hallowe'en one.  It's very well done!

- Please click here for a letter to parents from Trustee Jim Dawson.

- Our Remembrance Day commemoration will look very different this year.  Teachers will show a video in class at 11AM on November 11th and 12th made by our Student Council.

- Week 2 Exam Day November 10th at 12 noon.  Week 1 Exam Day November 11th at 12 noon.

October 23rd, 2020  Commencement tonight!

While this is not the way that we would like to celebrate our grads, we hope that you enjoy this virtual ceremony!  To view the ceremony as of 7:15PM tonight, please click here. 

For the pick up of the diplomas, we will be sending a notification out to grads. We ask that you pull into the parking lot in front of the school and we will hand you your grad package or put it into your trunk. The date for this will be in November.

We wish all of our grads the very best and hope to hear about all of your successes! 

October 16th - Parent Teacher Night and Remote Learning Deadlines

GHSS is happy to offer a modified Parent Teacher Interview opportunity due to the Covid 19 restrictions.  On Tuesday, October 20^th, teachers will be available by phone from 6:30 to 8PM.  If you have already been in contact with your child's teachers, you do not need to sign up for an interview.

Also, secondary students wishing to transfer to the Remote School at the start of quadmester 2 must send their intention to the principal of their physical school prior to October 19th, 2020 by emailing GHS_mail@bwdsb.on.ca. Indicate in your email your child’s name and grade. Please note that this is a firm deadline!

 

2020 Grads. Check out the tab at the top of the page for Commencement info.

Photo courtesy of Mr. D. Stevenson, custodian

September 30, 2020

Hello again!

Where did September go?  The weather certainly knows that it's fall but we are all thinking like we have just begun!

A few things going on...
- Parent Council met last night with great ideas! If you would like to hear what is going on at GHSS, contact the school for an invitation to the next meeting on November 24th at 6PM.
- GHSS T-shirts are available for sale ($6 for the old logo and $12 for the brand new one!)
- stay tuned for more details on GHSS clothing for order. Makes a great Christmas present!
- Student Council has had one meeting already and are looking for interested members.  Especially Grade 9's.  Time to get involved!

September 10, 2020

Hello, 

We are nearing the end of our first week and, while some have not started attending, the Grade 9's and 10's have had a good start despite all of the new rules.  We appreciate their cooperation and are all looking forward to a time when things are more 'normal'.

1. Students who are off school grounds during the Independent Study Time:

The form that you have signed to allow your child to leave the school grounds between 2PM and 3PM has meant that large numbers of students are out and about in Flesherton.  We have had multiple complaints of students not wearing masks and not social distancing.  In doing this, they are putting members of the community, themselves and their families at potential risk.  Please remind your child to, at the very least, wear a mask or social distance when they are on and off school grounds.  If there is inappropriate behaviour during this time, the privilege of leaving will be taken away.

2. Covid 19 symptom procedure:

This is to let you know what will happen when a student tells us that they have one symptom of Covid 19. 

1. The student is moved to the isolation room and kept under supervision. 
2. Parents are called to arrange a pickup from school. Students will not be sent home on the bus. 
3. Any siblings of the student who attend the same school will be sent home at the same time.  Siblings of the student at another school are allowed to finish the day. 
4. For the student or siblings to return to school, they must wait for 24 hours after a negative Covid 19 test or self isolate for 14 days.  Evidence of a negative test is reported to the school by the parent. 

These are the symptoms for which we screen for Covid 19 illness. The sudden onset of one of these symptoms can start the above process. 

• · Fever 
• · New onset cough 
• · Chills 
• · Unexplained fatigue 
• · Headache 
• · Sore throat 
• · Runny nose 
• · Stuffy or congested nose (new onset and not allergy related) 
• · Lost sense of taste or smell 
• · Difficulty breathing 
• · Difficulty swallowing 
• · Pink eye 
• · Digestive issues (nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain) 

September 4th, 2020

BREAKING NEWS

How to book a Guidance appointment:

All Guidance appointments must now be booked online.  You will have a choice of a face to face appointment if you are already in the building, by phone or by TEAMS video conference.  When it is time for your appointment, please go to the Guidance office.  You may not enter the office without an appointment.

You may access the online booking tool through this link 

It will go live at 8 AM on Tuesday September 8, 2020.

We will be focusing on time table changes ONLY until September 15th.  If you need assistance with other topics, please wait until after the 15th of September.

September 2, 2020

Hello!

It's almost that time again and, despite the current Covid situation, GHSS is up and running!  A message was sent out by School Messenger today that had a letter to parents with lots of information in it, a copy of the daily schedule for the first quadmester and a form for parents who want their child to be able to leave the school grounds for the Independent Study Period from 2PM onward. 

If you haven't already, I would strongly recommend that you sign up for School Messenger as it is the most up to date information.

Here are the files sent out today:
20 09 01 letter to GHS parents.docx
20 09 01 one page secondary timetable.docx
AF6220 student permission to leave property .docx

We are doing a staggered start next week so please go to the board website to see the Return to School plan.  

If you have any questions, call us at the school.  We are looking forward to seeing all of our students (new and not so new!) back at The Highlands!