Principal's Message for December

To our families of École Golden Gate Middle School,

I would like to thank Mme Buchanan for her 27 years of teaching at École Golden Gate Middle School. Mme Buchanan recently announced her retirement and we wish her all the very best as she embarks on a new chapter in her life. Thank you Mme Buchanan for your commitment and dedication to teaching and to the students of Golden Gate over your career.

Our Great Gator Celebration took place on December 21^st! Congratulations to all the students who were recognized for their contributions to the academics, arts, athletics, and/or special achievements. Monthly, students are nominated as Great Gators “Student of the Month” in the areas of band, choir, art and athletics. We had a special awards winner in the area of athletics, academics and special achievement in recognizing a former student, Kienan LaFrance. Kienan, who attended Golden Gate and later Sturgeon Heights, is a member of the Ottawa Red Blacks of the CFL who recently won the Grey Cup! There is Nothing Greater than Being a Gator!

This past week we had lots of fun enjoying Spirit Week! Unfortunately, due to the cold weather we had to cancel our Ice Bucket Challenge but had lots of fun with other activities. We did a great job in raising food items for the Christmas Cheer Board! We were able to provide a “huge” hamper for three families! Way to go Gators for your spirit of giving! Thank you to our Student Leadership team for organizing the week for all of us to enjoy and to help families this holiday season!

In athletics, basketball season is underway. Atomic basketball will begin after the winter break and we encourage students still interested in the game to come out. Just a reminder that we appreciate parental support in driving our students to games, but please ensure that you have completed the Driver’s Authorization Consent Form in advance of transporting any students. Yoga has turned out to be popular amongst students and staff, and is offered Friday mornings at 8 am.  Morning Track and Field will start following the holidays, with sprints, relays, hurdles, jumps and throws.

It is important to review and remind our students of the expectations with regards to snowballs. As this has been a practice since the early years in elementary school, students should understand for safety reasons that snow must be left on the ground at all times. There is no place for throwing snowballs as someone will potentially get hurt, and it is not permitted on or off school property. Students who are not cooperative in following the rule may face disciplinary action.

We are still accepting the Student Self-Assessment/Parent Comment forms that accompanied each student's report card on December 6th.  We appreciate our students and parents taking the time to relay their thoughts, both positive and otherwise.

Our Open House for prospective students will take place on Wednesday, January 18^th at 7 pm in the gym.  If you currently have children attending Golden Gate, and have a child in grade 5, we look forward to seeing you out! Next year as a result of the reorganization phase-in, Golden Gate will have English programming for grades 6 to 8, and French Immersion programming for grade 8’s.

Pre-printed student registration forms, which will include student information for our current grade 6 and 7 students, will be going home with the students early in January and we would expect them to be returned as soon as possible. All registration forms must be handed in to the student’s homeroom teacher by January 27^th. Prospective incoming new students will be provided a registration form on January 27^th. These registration forms will be made available at your child’s elementary school. Registration forms will also be made available online as of January 27^th for our new students.

Here are the Open Houses that will be taking place at the High Schools for our grade 8 students for next year……

John Taylor Collegiate, 470 Hamilton Ave. Thursday, February 16

St. James Collegiate, 1900 Portage Ave. Monday, February 13

Collège Sturgeon Heights Collegiate, 2665 Ness Ave. Tuesday, February 14

Westwood Collegiate, 360 Rouge Rd., Wednesday, February 15

**All Information Evenings for the High Schools begin at 7:00 p.m.

Important dates to remember:

December 23 - Winter break begins

Monday, January 9 - Students return to class Day 5

January 18 - 7 pm Open House

January 10 and 24 - Early dismissals

January 10 - 6 pm Ski Trip Parent/Student Meeting in the Gym

January 26 - 7 pm Grade 6 Band Concert

February 7 and 21 - Early dismissals

 

I would like to wish everyone Happy Holidays and a safe and enjoyable holiday season! Merry Christmas!

Yours respectfully,

Mr. D. Kalynchuk

Principal/Directeur

 

Spirit Days December 19-22

Torture the Teacher ballots may be submitted up until Thursday, Dec.22nd. Collections will be outside the office during lunch.


Monday is Colour Day- grade 6 wear green, grade 7 wear red and grade 8 wear white.

Tuesday is Santa Hat/Hat Day

Wednesday is Ugly Sweater Day- if you don't have one, make your own!

Thursday is PJ Day



Upcoming Important Dates

Tuesday, December 20:  Early dismissal at 3:05
Thursday, December 22: Last day of classes before winter break
Friday, December 23: Winter break begins
Monday, January 9: Happy New Year - classes resume
Tuesday, January 10:  Early dismissal at 3:05
Wednesday, January 18: Golden Gate Open House for grade 5 students
Tuesday, January 24: Early dismissal at 3:05

Principal's Message - November

To our families of École Golden Gate Middle School,

 

On behalf of my teachers and administration, I would like to thank our school community for their tremendous support in the turnout of our Student-Led Conferences. The Passport to Learning theme allows parents to visit each of the subject areas and see what their child is learning. It was a busy evening and our teachers enjoyed seeing so many parents out. It was a great opportunity for parents to bond with their child and support their learning.

 

As we move into December, there are some important events taking place. December 8^th at 7:30 pm is our Winter Concert which is being held at Collège Sturgeon Heights Collegiate. The concert will feature our grade 7 & 8 Concert Bands, grade 7 & 8 Jazz Bands and Choral groups. A concert featuring our grade 6 students will be held on January 26 at Golden Gate. Everyone is welcome to attend!

 

Our next Great Gator Celebration will take place on December 21^st! We look forward to the opportunity to recognize students who have been nominated by teachers or by their fellow students. Students nominated must meet the criteria in two of the following areas of academics, athletics, arts, or citizenship. The submissions must provide information relevant to those specific areas and the Great Gators committee meets to review the submissions in determining the students. Monthly students are nominated as Great Gators “Student of the Month” in the areas of band, choir, art and athletics.

 

Report cards will be distributed in homerooms on December 7^th.  Every student will participate in their own self-assessment reflection and students will be expected to take the reflection home with their report card envelope to be signed. Please return the assessment sheet along with the envelope by Monday, December 12 to their homeroom teachers. All returned forms and envelopes will be entered into a draw for an iTunes gift card that will be drawn and announced during our GatorBytes.

 

In athletics, volleyball seasons have all been completed. I would like to thank the coaches for providing our students with this opportunity to play a great game, and also to our players for their dedication and commitment to each other as teammates, their coaches, and to the game!  Thank you to our parents for driving our students and for completing the Driver’s Authorization Consent Form. Basketball tryouts are now under way! Please see the gym calendar for practice schedules as well as for the intramural schedule. Yoga will be added to the schedule on Fridays!

Thank you in advance to our student leadership team for planning Spirit Week later in December. The activities planned are also a great way to contribute towards the Christmas Cheerboard. 

 

Now that we have had our first snowfall, it is important to review and remind our students of the expectations with regards to snowballs. As this has been a practice since the early years in elementary school, students should understand for safety reasons that snow must be left on the ground. I enjoy watching students build snow forts and “snowmen”, but there is no place for throwing snowballs as someone will get hurt, and it is not permitted on or off school property. Students who are not cooperative in following the rule may face disciplinary action.

 

Cell Phone Policy

Students are aware of our cell phone policy - that they are not permitted out during class time. Students have time to access their phone before the school day, during their 5 minute breaks and during the lunch hour. Students not respecting the cell phone policy will have their cell phone confiscated and may face disciplinary action. Just a friendly reminder that this is also our workplace.

 

Our Open House for prospective students will take place on Wednesday, January 18^th at 7 pm in the gym.  If you currently have children attending Golden Gate, and have a child in grade 5, we look forward to seeing you out!

 

Important dates to remember:

• December 6 and 20 are divisional early dismissal days. Students are dismissed at 3:05 p.m.
• December 7 Report Cards
• December 22 Last Day of School before Winter break
• Monday, January 9 Students return to class
• January 18 7 pm Open House
• January 10 and 24 Early dismissal at 3:05 p.m.
   
  Let us have a great month of December! Go Gators!  
   
  Yours respectfully,
  Mr. D. Kalynchuk
  Principal/Directeur