Let the Celebrations Begin!

Last Friday, our Personal Career Counselling Team (PCC) hosted our bi-annual, Luncheon of Champions. Thus began our year-end celebrations of student recognition. Many students, staff, parents and caregivers attended as we spoke to the many accomplishments of our nominated students. Our "champions" stood out and made a difference in our classrooms, in our school community and beyond our school community. Some of the common characteristics attributed to our student winners were perseverance, committment and leading by example.We are very proud of these students who are exemplary role models for others to aspire to! Thanks to our PCC Team, Nancy Anstett, Georgina Cook, Rachel Stecca, Melanie Spelman, and Kris Reeve for hosting a wonderful luncheon and celebration that is definitely a highlight in each of our semesters.Well done!

Phenomenal News!

Hello everyone! I am pleased to let you know that the students of our Safe School Action Team/Anti-Bullying Team (otherwise known as the "Jasmine Project Team" ) were nominated and have now won the "Louise Russo - W.A.V.E. Award" for 2012. W.A.V.E. represents "Working Against Violence Everywhere" and this is one of the most prestigious National Awards that students can win. The award includes a $2,000.00 prize for our student team to continue their great work in 2012/13.We were one of "5" Award Winners and our student team will now represent our school at a Gala Awards Ceremony on Wednesday May 16th at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga. Congratulations to Caitlin Grieve (Staff Advisor) and the following members of this student team: Roshni Jain, Kristine Confalone, Emily and Tristan Vella, Sam Lehner, Sabrina Yeing, Fahad Buchh, Katherine Marek, Sawyer Karabelas-Pittman and Mack Calistan. You are simply...the best!!

Spring Reflection

Spring has finally arrived and students are about to receive their mid-term evaluation for Semester 2. On Thursday April 19th, mid-term report cards will be distributed in Period 1 classes. Interview night will be held during the evening on Thursday April 19th from 6:30-9:00 pm. At mid-term ,it is always important to reflect on successes and challenges and re-set targets and goals for the final evaluation in June. Our teaching staff, admin and service-side staff (Personal Career Counsellors, Special Education and Student Success Team) are looking forward to providing the necessary feedback, coaching and mentorship for all of our students. At all of our reporting periods we review all of our students' achievements and results. Students, parents and caregivers are encouraged to seek out whatever is required to ensure student success. We look forward to working with you in partnership to support the goals of all of our students and thank-you for your continued efforts in supporting best-ever results, both in and outside of the classroom.

You Have the Power!

Hello everyone. I am excited to let you all know that we have just finished two days of filming with Jasmine Richards and Cody for her first music/video "You Have the Power", to be launched very soon. Over the weekend we have seen the first two "rough cuts" and we are very pleased with many elements in this inspiring anti-bullying production. As you know, this effort has been entirely student led and I know that both Jasmine and her producer, Robert Johnston are very happy with the committment, participation and enthusiasm demonstrated by our students. They all have truly inspired me! There will be a little more work to do yet, as everyone is striving to have the best video possible. This upcoming Friday,we will look forward to the Halton "Inside and Out" Conference, where Jasmine will speak and perform her new song. Our GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) will attend with staff members, Jason Schaffer and Caitlin Grieve. This will be a great day of learning and networking together with hundreds of other Halton intermediate and secondary students. This past Friday our staff engaged in a full day of professional learning, which was prepared, planned and led by our Safe School Action Team. In the morning, all of our staff participated in  Restorative Justice Training with Art Lockhart and Art Biffis, followed by workshops in the afternoon that highlighted: our Ridge Respect Website; further learning with board and ministry folks with our ELL Project, in collaboration with White Oaks; students and staff of our GSA presented; program leaders in our board shared curriculum connections incorporating First Nations, Metis and Inuit studies; our public health nurse and our community police liaison officer presented a Drug Education and Awareness session and additional leaders from our board presented a session on how to reach out to our ELL students and newcomers with the assistance of our Settlement Workers. At lunch, while the Jasmine Richards Project was being filmed, our staff had the opportunity to support our students, by taking it to "the street" for their version of a "dance mob." As students, cheered our staff on, from the second floor balcony, all of us had a great time showing off our "moves", whether they be ones "like Jagger" or otherwise! I am sure that this film clip will make a surprise appearance when we least expect it! Special thanks to the following SSAT folks for taking the lead last Friday: Linda Wiles, Kris Reeve, Lisa Omeri, Paul Beck, Kathryn Patterson, Caitlin Grieve, Jason Schaffer, Tamara Phillips, Danny Devine, Elaine Fung, Sara Severin, Celien Steeves, Fozia Rehman, Nicholle Russell, Bruce Hasenbacher, Vinita Maharaj, David Allan, Monique Gazan, Kevin McConvey and Samuel Lehner. I also would like to thank Karm Sangha Boslund, Kerry Sagar, Luisa Botelho, Sherry Saevil and Gillian Hall for leading our afternoon sessions. Your participation in this day ensured that we were all able to take some great learning away with us in support of all of our students, as we continue to sustain a safe, inclusive and positive learning environment at our school.

The Jasmine Richards Project - Anti-Bullying Music/Video

Hello everyone! We are very proud to be involved in a very unique opportunity with Jasmine Richards and her Producer Robert Johnston. Jasmine is a former student of Iroquois Ridge and now a rising Canadian actress and singer. She has performed in Disney Movies, such as Camp Rock and on television in "Naturally Sadie", among other television shows. Just before the exam period, over 120 students met with a few of our staff to begin the process of writing and producing a music video which will highlight Jasmine' new song, "You Have The Power." This song is in response to the tragic suicide of Jamie Hubley, an Ottawa teen, who ended his life as he could not further endure the homophobic bullying he was experiencing. The music video will be filmed this month and released about the same time that "Jamie's Law", an anti-bullying law will come into action. Last night student performers were interviewed and auditioned for the various scenes portrayed in the music video which they have written, created and will film with Jasmine and Robert. This project is a magical one in which student engagement and enthusiasm is at it's finest! This is a lifetime experience for everyone involved and we look forward to the final product in the very near future. "Ridge" students and Jasmine are working closely together to spread an inspirational anti-bullying message through the power of song. There will be more excitement to follow, as Jasmine meets with us again today after school to continue with the creative process. For more information about Jasmine please visit: http://www.jasminetheantibully.com/, where she blogs about our project together and for more Bullying Awareness Education, please also feel free to see our "Ridge Respect Website/Blog" at http://irs.hdsb.ca/. We will keep everyone tuned as to the release of the music video and hope to have a schoolwide assembly to accompany the release and the launch of our own "Give Respect/Get Respect" Campaign at "The Ridge."

Welcome to Semester 2!

We are delighted to have had a successful "turnaround" time, having completed our performance tasks, exams and promotion meetings! We were very happy to see such excellent results by our students, who continue to impress us with their outstanding accomplishments and achievements. As we begin the semester our Personal Career Counselling Services Team (PCC) is hard at work, adjusting student timetables and setting each and every student up for a successful semester. We appreciate their committment and dedication in ensuring that our students will be on the right "pathway" in Semester 2! Very soon, this team will be working closely with our staff and all students as course selections are made for 2012/13.We encourage students to select wisely as they go "on-line" to choose their courses as their selections will determine our staffing for next year. At our most recent staff learning session we introduced new staff to our school.
We are very proud to be welcoming aboard Sarah Hodge (English), Virginia Gingras (Math/Science), Mike Szarka (Moderns) and Sarah Germain (Science). We are very excited about our new recruits as they will add excellent value to an already very, strong Ridge Teaching Staff. As always, our Ridge team is committed to the success of all of our students both in and outside of the classroom. We look forward to an awesome Semester 2 and thank everyone for their continued support as we continue to strive to be the best of the best!

Semester Turnaround!

Hello everyone. As Semester 1 winds down, our secondary students await their final results, based on their term, performance task and exam results. Our staff have had an opportunity to evaluate our students and how well they have met the key learnings in their courses. On Thursday February 2nd, we will be having a special schedule for students to receive feedback from their teachers on their performance and achievement. This day will also be an opportunity for our students to provide our staff with feedback about their experience in their courses. The provincial report card for Semester 1 will be issued on Thursday February 9th during Period 1 classes. During this turnaround period, students get a great opportunity to reflect on their successes and areas in which to improve upon over the next semester. In some cases, this reflection will prompt changes in plans or pathways. At this time, our Personal Career Services Team, Learning Resource Team, Student Success and admin team are available to work with and provide good guidance and counselling for students in regard to Semester 2 choices. We also encourage our students to seek out the advice from their teachers, as to next steps, when they meet with them this upcoming Thursday February 2nd. As a school team we will be reviewing the results of all of our students through our promotion process and look forward to seeing outstanding successess, achievements and personal bests! We are very proud of our staff and students and will continue to strive for excellence in all that we do! Congratulations on a successful Semester 1 and best of luck to everyone for a very, successful Semester 2!