Greetings,
This week we take the time to remember the sacrifices that so many have rendered to preserve us against those forces that seek our society’s destruction. Sounds exaggerated, perhaps, but only to those who have forgotten, or who have never known, the urgency in those times of peril. Without a sense of history, the whole Remembrance Day project just seems a holiday or an awkward, uncomfortable ceremony. We may well wonder how we would fare against such a threat if it were to emerge today. Many of those shipped off in the wars of the past were the age of our Grade 12s. Many were younger still. What a sacrifice – health, sanity, the obligation to kill, life itself. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Let us strive to be worthy of this sacrifice. This Week On Tuesday, Nov. 9, we will have our Remembrance Day Ceremony in the small gym at 11:00 (3rd block). Don’t forget to wear a poppy and a mask. Don’t forget that Remembrance Day, Thursday Nov 11, is a stat holiday. School will be closed. On Wednesday, Nov 10 we will have an early dismissal/PLC followed by Student-Led Conferences. These will take place from 3:30 to 7:00 in teacher’s classrooms. Teachers will be in attendance, but the real conversation should be between students and their people. Students will get a chance to show their work and talk about their learning progress. Staff will be in a meeting until 3:30. So, even though it is an early dismissal, please don’t expect teachers in their classrooms until 3:30. Friday, Nov 12 is a PD Day. Teachers will be examining the Review of Inclusive and Special Education Report. Students stay home. Food cards are being distributed to students in the office. These cards allow students to obtain a lunch special. Please note that these cards are for the lunch special only. Special orders slow down the line and are not always the healthiest option. While the special has, at times, French fries, this won’t be the usual. We have some new policy around allergy awareness. I’m afraid we cannot guarantee that Vanier is a nut-free location. While we don’t order any nut products for snacks, nor does the cafeteria use nut products, we can’t control what happens outside of school hours. Our entire school is open to the public for use – from the cafeteria to the Learning Commons to the gyms. We have no control over what those user groups bring in, so we cannot guarantee a nut-free school. We can, however, be aware of allergens and work to lessen their presence. We have a working awareness of students with allergies and have epi-pens in various locations about the school. You can view the policy on our website vcss.ca. If there is something more you’d like us to look at, please let me know. [email protected] Our school name-change project is ongoing. No news yet. Report cards for Grades 8 and 9 should be in your mailboxes soon. We’ll get the Grade 10/11/12 out early this week. The Funeral Mass for Wanda Robbins will be held in our large gym on Nov. 20 at 10:30 AM. We will need volunteers to help with the set up on Friday evening and the take down Saturday afternoon. If you are interested in getting in some hours for your service learning, please contact our Religious Education Coordinator, Monica Best, or our all-round go-getting teacher Bruce Gillard. We also need volunteers for the Special Olympics Dinners on Friday Nov 26, Saturday, Nov 27, and Sunday, Nov 28. These can also count as service learning hours. Contact Ms. Best or Mr. Gillard. Finally, In Monday’s gospel reading from Luke, Jesus again gives us hard words to live by. “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. For those who are reading their gospels, this is no surprise. For those whom the gospels are more come-by-chance, Jesus’s admonitions and warnings don’t jive well. But think about it. Can we lead others into sin? Of course, when we sin ourselves. Who or what else can you control? Only yourself, and that with God’s grace. Blessings, Kyle Janzen, Principal VCSS Greetings!
Today is All Saints’ Day, the day after Hallowe’en. This Christian feast day dates back over 1000 years, but how many of us give it much consideration coming as it does in the shadow of Hallowe’en? Funny that we give so much more place in our culture to Hallowe’en, where images of death and decay are celebrated, and we give into to indulging in those treats we know are not good for us. Christ calls us to be Saints, not devils. Maybe we lose sight of that. The darkness that shrouds our Hallowe’en activities can be eclipsed as we try, often with difficulty, to be more like light. As a school, we have to prepare students for a future as adults in the workforce. As a Catholic school, we should also remember that we are preparing students for an eternity. Better to be saints than sinners. News The free lunch program that we enjoyed over the last month is now at an end. Instead, the cafeteria will provide free breakfast snacks during the first break in the morning. The Yukon First Nations’ Education Directorate will issue 10-lunch punch cards to Indigenous students. If you are experiencing food insecurity and require a punch card for your student, please contact the office at [email protected]. All calls are confidential. Lots of excellent Volleyball action this last weekend at Vanier. Thanks to all the athletes, coaches, and supporters. Good times! We’ll have a School Council meeting on Tuesday, Nov 2 at 7:00 in the Learning Commons. All are welcome. This week, the grade 12s will be completing their math and literacy assessments, many of which were not completed last year because of snow storms and internet outages. The big day for this is Tuesday, Nov 2 when 2/3 of grade 12s will write their assessments. Next week, a few notable things are happening:
Bless you all, Kyle Janzen, Principal VCSS Greetings,
First off, we are devastated with news of the sudden passing of Wanda Robbins, counsellor from CKES. Her official retirement was to be this November. Wanda was a principled and powerful presence in whatever role she played. We will miss her greatly. Our prayers and thoughts go out for her family, especially her children who will feel her absence keenly. Rest in Peace, dear friend. A memorial is being planned for mid-November, but we will have to finalize the date. Stay tuned. Violence at Vanier No doubt several of you have heard news about last weekend’s attack on a youth on Vanier school grounds. I want to assure everyone that no Vanier students were involved in this. This incident has no relation to our school community other than happening on our grounds. This is an active police investigation now. Awards Night Last night, Monday, Oct 25 at 7:00, was the Awards Night for the last academic year 2020-2021. We had well over 200 guests. Congratulations to all those who received awards. For those who weren’t there, we’ll send along your certificates in the mail. Confirmation Classes Confirmation classes have begun for those in grade 7 and over Wednesdays at 6:30 in the CYO Hall. For more information, contact the Rectory at [email protected]. Marinoske Art Auction for Braeburn Camp The artworks are currently set up in the Transportation Museum. You can have a look at items that are for immediate sale and those that will be on the auction block Friday whenever the museum is open. The auction begins at 6:00 on Friday Oct 29, but doors open at 4 PM. See you there. We have applied for a beverage license. You can find some images in an entry from Stella Martin on the Whitehorse Buy and Sell Facebook page. Grade 11 Retreat On Wednesday, Oct 27, those grade 11 students currently in World Religions will have a retreat here at Vanier. NET will be aiding in the action. Vaping at School Vapes, cigarettes, pipes, cigars, etc. are all not allowed at school. We are seeing an uptick in vaping – especially in the girls’ restroom. Vapes and other tobacco-type products and devices will be confiscated and destroyed if found on school property. If you have questions, please contact me at [email protected]. Hallowe’en Another Hallowe’en comes round. If you are planning on dressing up for Hallowe’en, please do so on Friday, Oct 29. Some costumes present issues. Please don’t wear any masks that obscure your face, and, please, no guns or other things that could be perceived as a credible weapon. Mid-Term Mid-term Reports will be submitted on Friday, Oct 29. Hopefully we can get these reports out by the middle of next week. Finally, In Monday’s gospel from Luke 13: 10-17, we read of the Pharisee’s giving Jesus trouble for curing a sick girl on the Sabbath. They claim that the Sabbath should be kept as a day of rest. Jesus lets them know that relieving suffering is not the sort of work that one should refrain from on any day. The Sabbath, as a day of rest, is something our culture doesn’t much observe any more. Reflecting on Wanda’s life, her commitment to her family, and her deep and abiding faith, let’s remember her memory and, if possible, make a holy day in the week for rest and family. We often live our lives as if we will never die. Making time for those in our lives that we love and reflection on our relationship with God does take time and commitment. Wanda was good at those things. Bless her, her family, and you. Kyle Janzen, Principal VCSS Important Changes to our ‘Free Lunch’ Program
The Yukon First Nations’ Education Directorate (YFNED) has sponsored the free lunch program for Vanier students during the past month. We thank them for their generosity. The program, however, is going to change. Starting Monday, Nov 1, Jerry and Jhenette at the cafeteria will provide a breakfast for all interested students. Items may include rice, hash browns, sausage, wraps, croissants, and others. Lunch will go back to the way it was before October. Students will be able to purchase a variety of items. However, First Nations students will receive from YFNED a punch card that will have ten free lunches. When that card is used up, another will be issued. YFNED has also extended this offer to those who may be experiencing difficulty. If you would like your student to receive a card, please email the school at [email protected]. Your request will remain confidential. Again, I’d like to thank YFNED for this generous offer as well as their sponsorship of the food trays that classes have been receiving from Jerry and Jhenette twice a week. Thanks also go to Jerry and Jhenette for all their hard work getting the food out to our students. Thanks again, and, if you have any questions, please contact me at [email protected]. Kyle Janzen, Principal VCSS Greetings!
This is the ninth week of classes, and it puts us at the half-way point of the semester. You can expect senior students to be preparing for mid-terms and end of term projects and assessments in the juniors. Studying and completing homework assignments is important. Having had an unorthodox couple of years, courtesy of COVID-19, some habits of study may be lacking. Folks can ask students to open their MS-Teams for an idea of what is going in classes. Habits are formed slowly, but with perseverance, they become standard. Timely completion of assignments, as well as regular attendance, are the two biggest factors for school success. Easy to say; more difficult to practice. More COVID Woes COVID-19 isn’t through with us yet. You likely saw the announcement last Friday about new measures. We will follow our plan until we get specific directions about changing anything. PLEASE HAVE STUDENTS BRING A MASK! We are running out and several students are coming in without their own. After 19 months of masking, this shouldn’t be an oversight! CEAY AGM This Tuesday, October 19, is the Catholic Education Association of Yukon AGM. We were going to have this in the Learning Commons at 7:00, but now it has been moved to Zoom. All are welcome. Here is the invitation: [email protected] is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: CEAY AGM 2021 Time: Oct 17, 2021 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85827792982?pwd=ekw0TVdiWG5Bd0pDb0tmN2lTeUZvdz09 Meeting ID: 858 2779 2982 Passcode: 788986 One tap mobile Marinoske Art Auction I am a member of the Braeburn Lake Summer Camp Board of Directors. As the Diocese is a part owner in this operation, please make it to the Transportation Museum on Friday, October 22 between 4-7. Stan and Leona Marinoske have donated their sizeable collection of Yukon-themed art – originals and prints – to be auctioned off with proceeds going to Braeburn. There will be some rare original Libby Dulac paintings. This is your chance! Good timing for Christmas! NET The folks from NET will have their first day at Vanier on Tuesday, October 19. These are some talented and faithful young folks. They will be helping out with retreats, visiting classes, witnessing to the Lord, and helping around the school. Grade 10 Retreat This is our first retreat event. On Wednesday, Oct 20, Ms. Best, Ms. Spence, some NET members, and others will join our current Religion 10 classes on a visitation of services in the downtown area. Municipal Elections The small gym will be the scene of our municipal elections On Wednesday, October 20 and Thursday October 21. Volleyball The action continues this week. Tuesday, Oct 19 will see the grade 9/10 boys at PC. On Wednesday, Oct 20, the Grade 8 boys and Supervolley will be at FH. Boys at 4:00, Sr. girls at 5, and Sr. boys at 7. On the weekend, the grade 8 Spook and Spike tournament will happen at Vanier. PD DAY This Friday, Oct 22 is a PD day here at Vanier. Awards Night Invitations for Awards Night have gone out. We’ll have this on Monday, October 25 at 7:00 in the small gym. More Reports! The formal mid-term report for seniors and the term assessment for juniors will be due in to the office Friday, Oct 29. All outstanding assignments should definitely be in a week before – that means this week! What do you think of our reporting procedures and schedules? Drop me a line with your thoughts at [email protected] Vanier Name Change Our name is changing, but it is all hush-hush until we receive approval at the upper levels of government. We will announce the change near the end of the school year, but the new name will not take effect until the next. Finally, Today’s Gospel reading has Jesus telling his 72 disciples to go out with no money, no sack, and no sandals. Jesus tells them to offer the Word, but be prepared to be rebuffed. I think of our NET members here. They have bravely put themselves in our community to share the Good News. Let’s be open to them and welcome them with true Christian charity and hospitality. The team will need billeting for two week periods over their time here. They will come in pairs. If you can possibly host a pair, please let our religious education coordinator, Monica Best, know. She can be reached at [email protected]. God bless you all! Kyle Janzen, Principal VCSS Greetings!
I hope everyone was able to spend some time with family and friends counting blessings over this past weekend. Despite the difficulties that pepper life generally, we do have much to be thankful about. I’ve been reading about the ancient Stoics, those philosophers that practiced a calm detachment to life’s troubles. They insist in the practice of imagining how much worse things could be before issuing any complaint about one’s present circumstance. Indeed, the path to wisdom is always calling… Thanksgiving Liturgy The whole school will come together at 10:05 on Tuesday, Oct 12 for the Thanksgiving Liturgy hosted by Ms. Sharma’s Genocide Studies 12 class. This is our first full-school gathering since the pandemic. Food Drive Bags have been delivered to most streets in Riverdale and beyond. Our school will be gathering those full bags of dry and canned goods on Wednesday, Oct 13 all day. We’ll drive them down to the food bank afterschool. NET We met the recently-arrived National Evangelical Team members after mass on Saturday night during a yummy potluck. This group is a little older than last year’s and are full of enthusiasm for the mission ahead. Members will be in and around the school until May, participating in class activities and helping with the liturgies and retreats. Grade 8 Retreat The Grade 8 Retreat scheduled for Wednesday, Oct 13 will have to be postponed until Nov 3. VGSA First meeting of the year is tomorrow, Thursday at lunch in Room 20 (Mr. Willoughby's), please join for free pizza and drinks. Confirmation Classes Confirmation classes are starting up on Wednesday, October 20 at 6:30 in the Sacred Heart Rectory. Registration forms can be found outside the Religious Education Office. Please talk to Ms. Best if interested. It used to be that confirmation was done at the same time as First Reconciliation and First Communion, but that changes about five years ago. Literacy and Numeracy Assessments Due to COVID and a series of unfortunate events (last year’s snowmageddon and internet failure), we are behind on the completion of Grade 10 Literacy and Numeracy Assessments and the Grade 12 Literacy Assessment. These are required for graduation. We will get a large number of these completed during the first week of November. Teachers will have an opportunity to prep students in the coming weeks. Reports All families should be getting the first informal, interim report this week. In two week’s time, teachers will prepare the mid-term report. Please review these carefully and have a discussion with your student. Parents can always check out what work has been assigned by getting on to teachers’ MS-Teams sites. Ask your student to take you there! Awards Night Awards Night is schedule for Monday, Oct 25 at 7:00 in the small gym. Invites will go out this week. Finally, Today’s (Monday) Gospel reading comes from Luke 11: 29-32. They are ominous words. Jesus warns the people of their disbelief and seeking of signs for some sort of proof of God’s presence in our midst. Our Lord reminds us of Jonah who was sent off to Nineveh to convert the evil doers. He found success, but only after he was swallowed by the whale for his cowardice. We often forget the advice of Christ. We don’t want to hear it, for we think we are fine, and that there is no great urgency to turn ourselves to God. Just like making room for gratitude, this weekend, let’s make a little room for God. Let him guide us in a reflection of what we have going for us, and what more we may do bring God’s love into our lives and our world. Let that be all the proof we need. God bless you, Kyle Janzen, Principal VCSS. Greetings!
We begin our seventh week of classes this week. In two weeks we’ll be half-way through the semester! Now, routines are established, relationships are starting to gel, and the learning is underway in earnest. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to have full-day, full-school classes. This is not the case elsewhere in Canada. Even in the Yukon, COVID-19 has impacted operations in Watson Lake and Carcross. Although we may think we are out of the woods when it comes to school closures, we are not. We must remain vigilant and continue to follow our hygiene practices. This means continuing to wear masks when in the hallways and common areas outside of class. Please remember to bring a reusable mask to school! Thanksgiving Weekend This weekend is a long one. Hopefully you can get together with family and friends for a time of sharing and gratitude. Monday, Oct 11 is a stat holiday. School will be closed. The Cafeteria and the YFNED Food Program The Yukon First Nations Education Directorate’s plan to provide breakfast and lunch to all students is changing to reflect the original intention to support Indigenous students. We are happy to follow their lead here. The cafeteria was going to provide 50 free lunches to the first come, first served. After listening to interest, that number is now 100. However, this offering will be in place only for October. The YFNED will then target Indigenous students and the food insecure. We will assist this goal by implementing some sort of voucher in November. Meanwhile, we have a problem with the gas line to the cafeteria, so the variety of foods will be different as the big stove and deep fryer are not operational. Jerry and Jhenn have a way to keep things moving. Food will continue to be on offer. Volleyball The volleyball action continues this week on the following schedule. Lots of games at VCSS! Tuesday Oct 5 9/10 boys at VCSS afterschool Wednesday Oct 6 Gr 8 boys at CSSC Mercier afterschool Thursday Oct 7 Supervolley VCSS vs PC at VCSS (girls 5:00; boys 7:00) Friday Oct 8 Supervolley VCSS vs FH at VCSS (girls 5:00; boys 7:00) Awards Night Because COVID-19 manages to make everything more difficult, we did not have awards nights last year. We would like to honour those deserving students. We’ll have an Awards Night on Monday, October 25 at 7:00. Stay tuned for details. Please know that if you have any questions, you can reach me at [email protected] God bless, Kyle Janzen, Principal VCSS |
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