Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
Today we had the pleasure of hosting an appreciation luncheon for more than 30 of our adult volunteers and members of our parent/caregiver community at IRHS. Without this strong group of supporters, our excellent staff, wonderful students and school we would not be the outstanding school that we truly are! Indeed, our volunteers make a huge difference in the way that they, lead, participate, support and mentor and we are very proud and humbled by their many contributions over the past many years. Our parent/caregiver community is recognized worldwide by the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development and we have been asked to lead and present at many venues and via Virtual Conferences as a school who is exemplary in this regard. We know without the building and sustaining of relationships that we would not continue to have the success and acknowledgement as a top school in Ontario and Canada. It is a privilege to learn and work together on behalf of all of our students. Every contribution made enhances student growth and achievment and ultimately our own personal growth as caring adults. I am extremely proud of the leadership of Nancy Anstett and our Parent Engagment Group and School Council members...which includes all of our volunteers! We have grown in strength and numbers and will continue to do so as we reach out to our future parents and caregivers in the years to come. Special thanks to Uzma Kazi and Gordana Panoska for reaching out to our Newcomer Parents and Caregivers this year. We have been delighted to welcome you aboard as part of the "Ridge Family" and "Ridge Team," now and in future years to come! As we enjoyed our luncheon and the recognition provided today I am most appreciative that we are able to host such an event as a way to thank-you for your continued support of our school. We are very fortunate to be members of this fine school community which is "second-to-none", in all of my travels, as a professional educator. Thanks everyone for an amazing afternoon. We look forward to continued celebrations together as we move towards the end of our semester in tribute to the achievements and accomplishments of all of our vested stakeholders...our students, staff, parent/caregiver and extended Ridge community!
Monday, April 22, 2013
The Latest Spring Report!
Hello everyone! We are into full swing with our spring sports. Recently, our Junior Badminton Team won the Halton Team Championship in spectacular fashion! Our Girls' Soccer team finished 2nd in the McMaster Tournament and our Boys' Soccer Team finished in the "Top 4" at the McMaster Tournament. Our Junior Boys' Hockey Team made it to the finals, at The "Wave" Tournament, with excellent team play and great sportsmanship! We are very proud of our student/athetes and teacher coaches for such great results. Well done!
Our Boy's Baseball, Girls' Softball and Track & Field Teams are in pre-season training with their HSSAA competition about to begin. We look forward to some excitement and great outcomes as these teams seek out top results in Halton Secondary Schools' Athletic Association competition.
On the academic front...IRHS participated in the recent Brain Bee at McMaster University where June Lee finished 2nd and Raphael Koh finished 4th. Congratulations June and Raphael for such an excellent result!
Last Friday, we held our first ever "IF Day" at IRHS. This student led afternoon provided a focus on Personal Safety and included: video testimonials via our Live Broadcast System, guest speaker Anthony McLean, followed by a plethora of student/staff workshops on a variety of topics related to the promotion of student health and wellness. There were 17 different offerings of which students could choose 2 and all workshops were led and facilitated by guest speakers both in- house and from our extended community. Our students and staff have given us really positive feedback about the afternoon as we spent time learning together much meaningful and relevant information... and better yet....advice as to where to seek support should access to resources both in- school and outside of our school be required. Special thanks to Kathryn Patterson, Cheryl Joseph and the Personal Safety Team for all of your hard work in making this day a highlight in Semester 2!
We look forward to our Student Council Elections this week as speeches begin at 9:40 am in our gym this upcoming Wednesday April 24th. Good luck to all of our candidates!
We also look forward to a team of 14 staff getting together to "go deeper" in E/Blended Learning Training, as we spend a 1/2 day together this upcoming Thursday April 25th. An additional full day will follow as we start to focus on subject specific/curriculum that will be offered to our students in the very, near future. Really exciting...as we continue to promote 21st Century Skills for our staff and students.
Lastly, we look forward to our Professional Learning Day this upcoming Friday April 26th. Our staff will learn at various sites in Halton with the learning focus primarily on technology in subject specific/curriculum areas. We will look forward to this day as we get to network with other schools and share the great things we are doing to enhance student success and achievement for all of our students.
There will be more to come this spring on a variety of fronts and we will continue to keep you informed and apprised as we immerse ourselves in the busiest time of our year!
Enjoy your spring everyone...it is almost...really here!
Our Boy's Baseball, Girls' Softball and Track & Field Teams are in pre-season training with their HSSAA competition about to begin. We look forward to some excitement and great outcomes as these teams seek out top results in Halton Secondary Schools' Athletic Association competition.
On the academic front...IRHS participated in the recent Brain Bee at McMaster University where June Lee finished 2nd and Raphael Koh finished 4th. Congratulations June and Raphael for such an excellent result!
Last Friday, we held our first ever "IF Day" at IRHS. This student led afternoon provided a focus on Personal Safety and included: video testimonials via our Live Broadcast System, guest speaker Anthony McLean, followed by a plethora of student/staff workshops on a variety of topics related to the promotion of student health and wellness. There were 17 different offerings of which students could choose 2 and all workshops were led and facilitated by guest speakers both in- house and from our extended community. Our students and staff have given us really positive feedback about the afternoon as we spent time learning together much meaningful and relevant information... and better yet....advice as to where to seek support should access to resources both in- school and outside of our school be required. Special thanks to Kathryn Patterson, Cheryl Joseph and the Personal Safety Team for all of your hard work in making this day a highlight in Semester 2!
We look forward to our Student Council Elections this week as speeches begin at 9:40 am in our gym this upcoming Wednesday April 24th. Good luck to all of our candidates!
We also look forward to a team of 14 staff getting together to "go deeper" in E/Blended Learning Training, as we spend a 1/2 day together this upcoming Thursday April 25th. An additional full day will follow as we start to focus on subject specific/curriculum that will be offered to our students in the very, near future. Really exciting...as we continue to promote 21st Century Skills for our staff and students.
Lastly, we look forward to our Professional Learning Day this upcoming Friday April 26th. Our staff will learn at various sites in Halton with the learning focus primarily on technology in subject specific/curriculum areas. We will look forward to this day as we get to network with other schools and share the great things we are doing to enhance student success and achievement for all of our students.
There will be more to come this spring on a variety of fronts and we will continue to keep you informed and apprised as we immerse ourselves in the busiest time of our year!
Enjoy your spring everyone...it is almost...really here!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)