Madeline Symonds Middle School

Phone: (902) 832-2300 https://msm.hrce.ca/ Fax: (902) 832-2302 E-Mail: msms@hrce.ca

Twitter: @madelinesymonds March 2020 

Important Dates March 2 - Ski Trip March 9 - Ski Trip March 11 - Rescheduled March 4th Ski Trip March 12 - School Dance- 6:30-8:30pm March 16-20 - March Break (No Classes) March 25 - Assessment Day (No Classes) March 31 - SAC meeting 6:00pm April 2 - PD day AM (No Classes), Parent Teacher PM (No Classes) April 9 - Report Cards Go Home

If there are any days your child is not attending school or will be late please call the office at 832-2300 to let us know so that we know your child is absent with permission and that the absent days are recorded as “excused” on the PowerSchool attendance records.

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

As you are aware Ms. Acorn will be out for the next several weeks and I am in as Acting Principal. My name is Rick Tully and I am a retired School Supervisor and Principal. I look forward to meeting as many of you as time allows and I encourage you to stop by my office to say hello if you are in the building. I may be reached by email at rtully@hrce.ca.

The Importance of Arriving at School on time On average 40 students arrive late each morning. As a result they miss instructional time and learning experiences. Students entering the classroom late also interrupt the learning environment. Please do your best to ensure your child arrives on time for morning instruction. 10 minutes late each day is equivalent to 6 full days missed. 15 minutes late each day is equivalent to 9 full days missed. 20 minutes late each day is equivalent to 13 full days missed.

Pre-Primary is expanding! HRCE is hiring Early Childhood Educators. In September 2020, all Nova Scotian families will have access to high quality, free, universal pre-primary programs for four-year-olds. The Pre-Primary Program is a play-based program that supports young children’s development and lays the foundation for school success and lifelong learning. The Halifax Regional Centre for Education is currently recruiting for Early Childhood Educators and is inviting qualified Early Childhood Educators to express their interest in consideration for a Lead or Support Early Childhood Educator position with the Pre-Primary Program for the 2020-2021 school year. Term and Permanent positions will be available. Are you an ECE or know someone who may be interested? Candidates may apply on-line at www.myhrce.ca/jobs where detailed information is available. Applications will be accepted until March 18th at 4:00pm.

Celebrating Our Students Madeline Symonds Middle School is pleased to announce that 133 students (18 % of the student population), have been awarded perfect attendance for the month of February. We would like to congratulate them on their accomplishment. Well done !!!! Late French Immersion Student Ambassadors: Madame Matheson and Madame Hamblen would like to thank

Molly DeBay and Lazarus Joseph, 709, for participating in the Late Immersion information session that took

place on February 25th. Molly and Lazarus did an excellent job answering parent questions about the French

Immersion program at MSMS. Both ambassadors did an excellent job representing their classmates and the

school. Thank-you again for coming and supporting our presentation; we could not have done the

presentation as well without you!

MSMS School Dance When: Thursday, March 12, 2020 (6:30-8:30) Cost: $6.00 or $5.00 with a non-perishable food donation to the N.S. Food Bank. Tickets will be on sale from Monday, March 9, through to Thursday, March 12, during both lunches. Who can attend: All grade 6, 7, 8 and 9 MSMS students. Students from other schools are not permitted at our school dances. Hope to see you there!

Grade 9 Trip

The final payment will be due on April 3rd (please make cheques payable to Madeline Symonds

Middle School). If you need an update on how much is left to pay for your student please contact

Mrs. Bolivar at wbolivar@hrce.ca. The final amount for students that did not fundraise and paid the

installments of $100, $100 and $150 only, is $115. Notices were sent home with students that owe an

amount other than $115.

From the Guidance Office

O2 interviews will be held on April 8th. They will last approximately 10 minutes. Below are a few sample questions to help applicants prepare for the O2 interview:

· Tell me about your short-term and long-term goals. · Why is attendance and punctuality important? · Why are you interested in O2? · How will the O2 program benefit you? · What are your career interests? · Are you a good candidate for O2? Why or why not?

2020 Summer Camps

Brigadoon Village is a non-profit recreational facility that has been designed specifically to

meet the needs of Atlantic Canadian children and youth living with health conditions and other

life challenges. With almost 800 campers attending each summer, they are Canada’s largest

pediatric illness camp program. Located on Aylesford Lake in the Annapolis Valley of Nova

Scotia, camp programs are for children and youth between 7-18 years of age. They have

developed a pay-what-you-can fee structure, so that families can choose a payment option

that best suits them. If you are interested in learning more about what they have to offer,

please contact: 1-888-471-5666 | info@brigadoonvillage.org | www.brigadoonvillage.org

African Heritage Youth Quiz 2020 !  This year Mr. Borden’s team for the 2020 AHM Youth Quiz, presented by TD Banking, took home FIRST PLACE in                                       the preliminary rounds and FIRST PLACE in the finals!  We are SO proud of our MSMS students Jayreece, Jullian, Treyvonne, Tyree, and Micah.   

        

African Nova Scotian  History Challenge 2020 

As a follow up to Ms. Ernest’s February ANS History Challenge here is a video the HRCE made about the experience, click the following link to view.

Making History: East Preston's Influential People & Businesses  Ms. Ernest’s students in 803/804 created their ANS History                 Challenge entry with a focus on the historical black community of                     East Preston; their project highlighted the influential people and                 businesses who are ‘making history’ in their community and                 beyond!   Featured in the entry included Lost in Time, the Thomas’ hansom                     carriage ride business, Senator Wanda Thomas-Bernard, the East               Preston Ratepayers’ Association, and many more! Along with the                 students’ research, they made mini-models for the 3D map, as well                     as a web-page that housed their research, which was then                   accessible to their viewers using the QR code next to their model.

MSMS 2019-2020  

Yearbook Update!

Yearbooks will once again go on sale, for the regular price of $40.00, from Monday, February 24th to the last day before the break on Friday, March 13th!  You will be able to order yours online, during those dates, at: yearbookordercenter.com CODE: 21477   They can also be purchased during our lunch hour by cheque made out to Madeline Symonds Middle School with the student’s name and homeroom on it or by cash! Students will be given a receipt by our student staffers. 

Your Yearbook Features: NEW! Included in each book is a 2019 “Our World” insert on news, sports, pop culture, and more! 

- All grade level, student voted, “Most Likely To’s” - Students’ votes “Best of / Top 5 of the Year” on song, movie, show, book, etc. - All grade level school photos sorted by homeroom! - Photos from SLAC and other school events! - Candid photos submitted by teachers and students of all grade levels! - Space for friend and staff autographs during the Yearbook Signing event in June! 

Sports

MSMS is in the planning stages of a school-wide wellness conference with sessions for both students and staff.

The event is slated for Friday, May 22nd. If there is anyone in our greater MSMS community who would be

interested in proving their expertise to run a session please reach out to Mona MacNeil at rmacneil@hrce.ca.

More details to follow in the coming months.

Badminton Age Divisions-Junior - Under 14 yrs. Old as of Dec. 31, 2019 Intermediate - Under 16 yrs. Old as of Sept. 30, 2019.

Track and Field dates 2020 Track and Field tryouts will begin after our Easter break. Students Interested should currently be training for these evaluations. If You are unaware of a training regimen for your given events, please drop in the gym and see Mrs. MacNeil. County Meet May 19-20 Regionals May 27-28 Rain Date May 29th Provincials- June 5-6th (Northumberland Region)

**Students and parents are asked to view the "Athletics" webpage on our MSMS website for any

school sport information.

        

MSMS Student of the Month This program is to recognize students who display leadership in demonstrating respect for self,

others, learning and environment. As well as no office referrals, has outstanding attendance and

all work is up-to-date.

Homeroom February

601 Charlotte Gash

602 Riley Murray

603 Devon Dewar

604 Laurel Davies

605 Lucas Grandy

701 Charlotte Pottie

702 Layla El Azzi

703 Olivia James

704 Jace Burke

705 Anna MacLellan

706 Ellie Giles

707 Aiden Milne

708 Siena White

709 Benny Tsimbler

801 Alysha Benoit

802 Julia MacDonald

803 Evan Peddle

804 Emily Raftus-Quilty

805 Lillian McGrath

806 Morgan Bell

807 Thomas Stewart 808 Jonathan Shepshelevich

901 Chantal Glenn

902 Razan Madbouly

903 Eva Smith

904 Katie Vaughan

905 Micah Anderson

906 Samantha Hovey

907 Matthew Day

 

Art Classes Red Wagon Art Studio on Hammonds Plains Rd. is having a youth drawing class:

Youth Beginner drawing (ages 12-15)

We are here to help you learn more about drawing! In this class, meet other teens with similar

interests, learn foundational techniques, practice still life, drawing a variety of subjects, and get tips

on any drawings you’re working on. We will be using graphite pencils, charcoal and ink.

Return every Friday for 6 weeks at 5:30pm-7:00pm for your class.

No experience necessary. All supplies included. https://occ.sn/FLNChVXn

Youth Intermediate drawing (ages 12-15)

So you’ve got the basics, but you want to learn how to get your drawings to the next level? Join us for

our intermediate drawing class. Take a closer look at understanding how to add depth to your art, and

dive into portrait drawings!

This class does require some drawing experience, or that you have completed our Beginner Drawing

class.

Return every Wednesday for 6 weeks at 5:30pm-7:00pm for your class.

Students must bring their own sketchbook. All other supplies included. https://occ.sn/SPxGsPcC

HATFIELD FARM'S MARCH BREAK PLAYCATION!

Come on out to Hatfield Farm this March Break for some fun and adventure!

NO RESERVATION NEEDED!

March 16th, 2020 - March 22nd, 2020

We have 3 different times for our Family Round Up happening from Monday-Friday during March Break

11am - 1pm

12pm - 2pm

1pm - 3pm

We have 2 different times for our Family Round Up happening on Saturday and Sunday during March Break

11am - 1pm

12pm - 2pm

On Sunday, we also have our Public Sleigh/Wagon Rides at 2pm!