County Central March Hawk Talk
'Home of the Hawks'
Principal's Point
Dear Parents & Guardians,
I hope everyone had a safe and restful February Break. Our teachers enjoyed the virtual Teachers’ Convention - though it was strange attending everything online. Sessions attended included Diversity & Inclusion, Poetry Portfolios, Formative Assessment Practices, Mindfulness & Yoga, and keynote addresses from Dr. Jane Goodall and Rick Mercer.
We are pleased to share that our school will be hosting five U of L practicum students this spring:
Hannah Aubie will be working with Mr. Shain
Madison Cook will be working with Ms. Richmond
Carson Gugyelka will be working with Mrs. Slover
Joshua Holloway will be working with Mr. Mattson
Robin Phillips will be working with Ms. Tarney
These practicum students will be with us from March 8th-April 22nd, so please join us in welcoming them to our school.
Our next School Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 10th at 5:30pm. All parents and guardians are welcome to attend. Please contact the office if you would like us to send you the meeting link. (Hopefully we will be able to return to in-person meetings soon!)
The school calendar for next year has been approved, so we will soon be starting the process of creating our timetable. Please stay tuned and check your emails for information about registration sessions - we will be having virtual evening information meetings to help guide students and parents in selecting courses and planning for their futures. If you’d like to get a head start, I invite you to visit our website and read through the CCHS Registration Guide to familiarize yourselves with our high school offerings.
Students and their families are reminded that masks are still required to be worn while in the school building. We have seen a growing trend with some of our senior high students putting their masks on after they've entered the building and taking them off before exiting. In order for our school to remain compliant with AHS guidelines, we ask that students take care to ensure they are masked prior to entering and that they do not take their masks off until they have fully exited the building. We appreciate your ongoing support with this, and we commend our students for doing a really good job with this, for the most part.
Lastly, I’d like to take this opportunity to remind families that they are welcome to contact the school should they ever have any questions or concerns. We are continuously trying to improve our school and provide the best experience possible for our students, so whether you participate on our School Council, complete the surveys we send out, or come and meet with us, your feedback is valued and appreciated.
Take care, and here’s hoping spring is on the way!
B.Sc.Kin., B.Ed., M.A., M.Sc.
Pink Shirt Day
Learning Commons/Library
Exciting things continue to happen in the Learning Commons. Mr. Mattson has worked incredibly hard to get our new aquaponics system set up!
'Over the past few months I have been working to get our new aquaponics system up and running and though it has taken some time, I am so excited to see both the fish and the vegetables growing quickly! I am also thrilled to see that the system has become a centerpiece in our new commons area. Many of the students gather around it throughout the day and have been asking me questions or talking with me about the fish and plants. For those who do not know, aquaponics relies on a delicate balance between three important players - fish, bacteria, and plants. Fish produce waste which is broken down by beneficial bacteria. This produces vital nutrients that are then pumped to the grow bed and absorbed by the plants. After the plants absorb the nutrients, the water is returned to the tank and the cycle continues. Aquaponics systems can use any type of fish, but we have decided to raise tilapia. This will allow us to not only grow a variety of vegetables, but also to raise and harvest an edible fish. Our tilapia are growing quickly, but it will still be a few months before they are ready to eat. Above the tank we are currently growing lettuce and swiss chard. These are easy plants to start off with, but once this growing cycle is finished we will try to grow different vegetables and herbs. The goal is that students in our Foods courses will be able to utilize these ingredients in their cooking. There has been a lot for me to learn recently but as things settle into balance and I have learned how the system works, and more importantly what to do when things go wrong, I am looking forward to taking a step back and teaching students to monitor and maintain the system themselves!'
Hawks Nest
March 2nd- Chicken Burger & Tater tots
March 4th- Taco in a Bag
March 9th- Pizza & Pop (Hawaiian, Pepperoni, Cheese, Loaded)
March 11th- Hotdog, chips & pop
March 16th- Tater tot poutine & pop
March 18th- Chicken Caesar wrap
March 23rd- Bacon Mac & Cheese
March 25th- Cheeseburger & fries
March 30th- Taco salad
Pre-orders are available on School Cash and must be in the evening prior. Get your orders in!!
The nutrition program is also able to provide free items to students such as sandwiches, go-gurt, cheese strings, fruit, juice boxes, and other healthy items. These items are available to all students, whether they forgot their lunch, don't have a lunch, or just need an extra snack.
Palliser Beyond Borders Notes
- Students who have chosen to work on their classes in the Learning Commons must attend when they are scheduled as attendance will be taken.
- Students are accountable to the Learning Commons facilitator, Ms. Zsombor, for their progress. Students who get behind will follow appropriate interventions which may include being reassigned to the PBB Outreach to get on track with their learning.
- Students are welcome to attend the outreach location by appointment. Please coordinate times with Jacob.Fraser@pallisersd.ab.ca. Please ask Ms. Zsombor for permission before leaving the school so she can record your attendance.
Best Regards
Alison Hancox, MET
Principal
403-472-0202
Grad Gab
It is time for staff to start creating the Grad slideshow. We are asking parents and guardians to submit 3 photos of the graduate. If you could please email them to cchsadmin@pallisersd.ab.ca we do not want hard copies submitted this year. Alternatively if you don't have access to email them please contact the office at (403)485-2223 and we can arrange.
As we continue to plan for a "normal" grad, we will be holding meetings for our students to select menus, programs, invitations, and music. We are also looking at back-up plans in case there are still tight restrictions on gatherings. We will be holding another meeting soon, as well as a grad parent meeting in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for some important announcements, and check your emails for meeting invites.
Career Notes
Wize Scholarships Info
Canadian High School Students
2020/2021
Gr. 12 Student Scholarship
Link to apply: https://wizedemy.com/scholarships/4
Timeline: Applications Open until May 31st, 2021
Eligibility: Student currently studying at a Canadian High School in Gr. 12
How to Apply: Visit the above link, click "Apply Now," sign up with email, fill in 3-minute form
1-3 winners will be selected based on applications in June 2021
Gr. 9-11 Student Scholarship
Link to apply: https://wizedemy.com/scholarships/7
Timeline: Applications Open until April 30th, 2021
Eligibility: Student currently studying at a Canadian High School in Grades 9 through 11
How to Apply: Visit the above link, click "Apply Now," sign up with email, fill in 3-minute form
1-3 winners will be selected based on applications in May 2021
Youth Leadership Scholarship (NEW)
Link to apply: https://www.wizeprep.com/scholarships/10
Timeline: Applications Open until May 31st, 2021
Eligibility: Currently a student enrolled in a High School or postsecondary degree between the ages of 14-20. Interested in Leadership! (but do not have to be an expert)
How to Apply: Visit the above link, click "Apply Now," sign up with email, fill in 3-minute form
1 winner will be selected based on applications in June 2021
Jeni Bowden
Off Campus Coordinator
Palliser School Division
(403) 915-5070
Council Reports
Parent Council
The next virtual parent council meeting is March 10, 2021 at 5:30pm. Everyone is welcome! If you would like to attend please let us know so we can be sure to send you the meeting link.
Meeting minutes can be viewed on the CCHS website.
Student Council
March 17th is wear green and keep an eye out for lucky hidden coins and shamrocks. Bring these coins to Ms. Wouters for a prize!
CCHS Web Page
About Us
Email: cchsadmin@pallisersd.ab.ca
Website: https://www.countycentral.ca/
Location: 504 4 Ave S, Vulcan, AB, Canada
Phone: (403)485-2223
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/countycentral.ca/
Twitter: @CountyCentralH1