School News and Announcements
May 24, 2020
MUN Advicing Meeting for current Level III's
On May 25, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. an Academic Advisor will host a presentation to provide information; such as how to set up MUN account and MUN email. They will also provide information about registration, course selections and the rules and regulations for various programs.
Students are encouraged to join this presentation by following the simple steps below and clicking the link 5 to 10 minutes prior to start of the meeting.
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Step 1: Download the Cisco Webex Meet app
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Step 2: Click on this link: https://mun.webex.com/meet/roneill
May 20, 2020
Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB)
The CESB provides emergency financial relief to students and recent graduates who are unable to work, or unable to find work, due to reasons related to COVID-19. It is also available for those who are working but not making more than $1,000 (before taxes) over the four-week period for which they are applying.
This benefit provides $1,250 per month for eligible students or $2,000 per month for eligible students with dependents or disabilities. This benefit will be available from May to August 2020.
Please see the Government of Canada website here for more information.
May 20, 2020
Memorial University Advising
All level III students planning to attend Memorial University in September 2020 are invited to attend a live on-line advising session on Monday, May 25, 2020 at 10:00 am. Mr. Ron O'Neill will discuss issues surrounding the CPT, the Math Bridging program and courses being offered during the summer session (July - August 2020). He will also discuss the timelines for advisor sessions, registration times and services available to students.
At the end of this session students are encouraged to request a one-on-one advising session to discuss course selections, orientation, on-line instruction, etc.
May 06, 2020
Grad Hoodies
This message is for all graduating students and parents/guardians of graduating students. The parent prom chairs in cooperation with the school are now organizing the ordering of GC grad hoodies. The orders and collections of funds are going through the prom chairs, and all information about ordering, including dates, price, paying, and sizes can be found in both the 2020 Grads Facebook page AND the Parents of 2020 Grads Facebook Page. If you do not use Facebook you can email heatherstockley@outlook.com with your order or any questions you may have. Please note the deadline for orders is May 14th. Thank you!
May 01, 2020
Virtual Learning Plan
Virtual Learning - A Guide for 10-12 Students Learning at Home
We are living through an unprecedented event - school is closed, in-school classes are suspended and teachers are working from home. Students are not able to come to school and learn with their friends in classrooms where teachers can provide direct instruction and help. People have many questions and here are some of the common Q and A’s to help:
Frequently asked questions:
I received a report with a final grade, the school year is over right?
No, the school year will continue on virtual platforms and students will now have the opportunity to demonstrate their continued learning. Teachers will be taking the remainder of the school year to fill gaps in student learning and prepare them to meet curriculum needs at future levels. So they will be going ahead with some new material and in doing that, will review some previously learned concepts. Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their learning and receive individual feedback from their teachers. This feedback will help guide the teachers’ professional judgement in determining a final mark in June. So this is your opportunity to improve your final grade. Remember, that opportunity does not equate a guaranteed improved mark, that depends upon the quality of your work.
How will learning take place from home?
Teachers have Google Classrooms and different social media platforms for their courses. They will be posting activities and school work for students. Students can interact with teachers and classmates on these platforms throughout the school week. We are currently in the process of providing families with access to devices that will allow everyone the opportunity to learn from home. Also, teachers will also let their students know what “office hours” they will be available online to answer questions and provide feedback.
My work is going to be graded right?
Grading will not be like it was while in school. The focus of assessment at this time will be providing feedback on the most recent evidence of learning, after such time teachers will use their professional judgment to determine if a student’s grade in June.
What does professional judgement mean?
Teachers have been trained to determine a student’s level of achievement using a variety of methods that go beyond number grades used to calculate an average. These include:
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Individual course work (ie. traditional methods - worksheets, case studies, article analysis, etc.)
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Projects and group work
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Written responses
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Games and problem solving
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Google Forms
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Demonstration of understanding through various means (conversations, replies to feedback, videos, audio calls, activities, etc.)
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Teachers will be able to assess student progress and performance and subsequently determine a level of achievement that could be reflected on the final report card in June.
What if I decide not to complete any of the assigned work?
Although participation is encouraged, it is also voluntary. We understand that each student, probably due to a variety of circumstances, will not have the same opportunity to participate in a virtual learning environment. Your current grade will not drop due to incomplete work during the suspension of classes.
What’s the point of completing school work if I am not going to get a mark?
Teachers will be taking the remainder of the school year to fill gaps in student learning and prepare them to meet curriculum needs at future levels.
Learning from home is very stressful and I don’t understand all of the work. What should I do?
The physical and mental well-being of our students and their families is the priority at this time, and completing school work should not compromise health. The completion of work is voluntary. Students are encouraged to reach out to teachers with questions regarding classwork as they are available to provide help with the curriculum that is posted. Staying connected to education, teachers and classmates is important during this extended absence from the physical classroom. However,if you are feeling overwhelmed or anxious, you can also reach out to the school administration and
April 22, 2020
Parent Survey - Access to Internet
Dear Parents and Guardians of High School students,
Our school and the school district are working on ways to assist students who are having difficulty connecting with teachers and classmates in an online learning environment. We are assessing the level of access that students have to electronic devices or the internet in their home. To determine the level of need, the district has created a survey using Google Forms.The following link will take you to the form. Please complete the survey if possible:
https://forms.gle/X6NJi5BAxkgMxk4U6
The results of this survey will allow us to best determine how to support our students. Thank you for taking the time to complete this. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me and I’m happy to help.
Regards,
Mr. Greg Drover
March 20, 2020
Mental Health and Covid-19
For Mental Health concerns:
Emergency Medical Services 911
Newfoundland Health Line 811
Kids Help Phone 1 800 668 6868
Mental Health Crisis Line 1 888 737 4668 or text Talk to 686868
Warm Line Peer Support 1 855 753 2560
DOORWAYS WALK-IN CLINIC – James Paton Memorial Health Centre
Hours: Every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (last registration at 3:00 p.m.)
Doorways provides rapid access to mental health and addictions counselling services ‘one session at a time’. Walk-in counselling services are available without an appointment or referral.
January 24, 2020
Afternoon Bussing
Good morning all,
In the event that our Gander schools are closed for the morning and reopen for the afternoon session here are our pick up times.
Gander Collegiate / St Paul’s
Pick up begins 11:35 am
Gander Academy
Pick up begins 12:10 pm
Gander Elementary
Pick up begins 12:15 pm
Please note that pick up for Gander Academy and Gander Elementary Benton students will be 12:15 pm.