Provincial Exams

Well, we are almost at the end of the school year. On the road to a high school diploma in BC, you must write 5 mandatory provincial exams. This week and next I will be visiting your Planning classes to discuss your Grade 10 provincial exams in more detail. Here are some tips to remember though.

DON'T

• Show up late for your exam
• Cram right before your exam
• Pull an 'all-nighter' studying for your exam
• Hang around with people who stress you out on the exam day--no drama!!
• Think of your exam in a negative way, as in "This exam is stupid, I'm going to fail!"
• Miss breakfast, especially before you write an exam--your brain needs food!!!

DO

• Study at least a week before your exam if possible.
• Visit the 'Provincial Exams' link on the side of this page, sign up on the Student Secure Web. You will need your Personal Education Number [PEN], it is on your final report card.
• Look at previous exams, you can download them on the Provincial exam website.
• Think of your exam in a positive way--as in, "I only have one more exam after this and then I have a whole summer ahead of me!"
• Arrive at least 10 minutes early for your exam.
• Flash cards!
• Relax right before the exam, clear your mind.
• Bring 2 pencils, 2 pens, an eraser and a calculator.
• Eat a healthy meal before the exam.
• Go to the bathroom before the exam.
• Breathe deeply, be in the present moment.
• When you first open the exam booklet, flip through it so you can get an idea of what to expect during the next couple hours.
• Skip questions that you're stuck on, but do go back to them if there's time.
• Use all the time given to you. If you're done, revisit some of the tougher questions, and check your work.

Finally, if you are being recommended for summer school, I strongly encourage you to enrol as soon as possible. You can see what spaces are left at http://www.continuinged.ca

Spring is Here!

Well hard to believe that Spring Break is already here! By now, all Grade 9's and 10's have selected courses for next year and I am unable to make any changes to course requests until May. A course request confirmation letter will be sent home for Parent/ guardian consent in late spring.

Report cards will be coming home with students on March 26th. Report cards can be discussed directly with teachers on Parent/ Teacher Night, April 6th.

Also, a note to Grade 10's, your Math, English and Science teachers may have recommended you for modified courses next year. If you have been recommended, your teachers have sent you home with letters that require your parent's consent or refusal. Parent/teacher night on April 6th is an opportunity to discuss these recommendations with myself or the teachers directly.

School is back in session on March 15th, have a restful break!

A reminder to all students that Course Planning Night for Parents and Guardians is next Wednesday, February 24th from 6:30-8:00 pm.

The deadline for Grade 9 course selections is February 25.

The deadline for Grade 10 course selections is March 2

This week, Grade 9's, watched the PBS documentary, Growing up Online-a compelling look at the positive and negative aspects of social networking and our digital culture. Here's a link to the documentary which can be watched online.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/

Course Planning 2010/2011

Course Planning for Grade 10's is underway. During my Grade 10 DAZE presentation you were given lots of important information and resources so that you can make informed choices. Key points from Tuesday's presentation:

• The courses you choose in Grade 11 lead you to your future.
• Ms. Mavety discussed the various career training opportunities that are available to Tupper students including: work experience, ACE-IT programs, Tupper Tech, and Secondary School Apprenticeship.
• Mr. Lam discussed post-secondary educational options and some of their admission requirements. He is available in The Career Centre, where you can find university and college catalogues and info.
• Course Planning Night for parents will be held February 24 6:30-8---all parents are encouraged to attend, translation in Tagalog, Vietnamese and Chinese will be available.
• I am available for individual advising after school. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board (outside my office)
• Do not hand your course sheets in yet! I will be coming to your Planning classes at the end of February and we will be entering them into the computer together.

Happy Holidays!!! School is back in session January 4, 2010

Stress Management and Resiliency

Below is a link to one of the videos we looked at in the Grade 9 Guidance presentations this week. It is an excellent illustration of the stress response in the body and how our bodies are biologically wired to respond to stressful situations.

http://cmhc.utexas.edu/stressrecess/Level_One/fof.html

(click on play 'Fight or Flight' movie and it will open in a pop up window)

We also looked at the warning signs of stress and you were given some resources and ideas to help manage stress. The links on the right hand side of this blog can be very useful resources in this regard.

Finally we talked about resiliency, or your ability to bounce back from life's ups and downs. We discussed some real-life examples of resilient people like Nelson Mandela and Oprah Winfrey. We also discussed ways to increase your resiliency including: cultivating meaningful relationships with your family and friends, looking at other people's perspectives, reading, and discovering activities where you can express yourself and find meaning.

Remember, stress is temporary and help is available. Talk to a trusted adult, family member, counsellor, or teacher if you are feeling stressed--we are here to help!

Scholarship and Educational Opportunities

Grade 9's

The TREK Program at Prince of Wales is accepting applications for next year. This is an exciting opportunity open to all grade 9 students. Application information is posted outside my office door or visit http://pw.vsb.bc.ca for more information.

Grade 9's, 10's and everyone else

The Shad Valley Program is an exciting opportunity for students to experience life in residence at a top Canadian university. It broadens your perspective, introduces you to exciting new people, and gives you an edge on scholarships and bursaries. Visit http://www.shad.ca for more information, the deadline for applicants is coming soon. There is also info outside my door.

Grade 9's/ Grade 10's

The Kids Help Line is looking for students to become ambassadors for their program. Duties include: raising awareness, volunteering at fundraising events, and event planning. This is excellent leadership and public relations experience, come and see me for an application if you're interested.