Dear Parents and Guardians,

Week 17 of semester 2 ends with an awesome display of all of the arts

specialities in our Arts Carousel.

Grade 9 EQAO Math Assessments are on Thursday and Friday of next

week.

Athletic Banquet is next week, on Wednesday, June 13th.

We are at the second weekend in June. The time is flying. Get your teen to start prepping for their exams now.

We would like to wish the Islamic members of the Bear Creek community, a blessed Eid-ul-Fitr as Ramadan

fasting ends on June 15th.

We would like to wish the Sikh members of the Bear Creek community, a peaceful and blessed Martyrdom of

Guru Arjan Dev. He was the first martyr, and every year on June 16th, the Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev is

commemorated. This day has been marked to honor him and has been commemorated since 1606.

I am always open to suggestions and comments, so please contact me at twilkinson@scdsb.on.ca if you have

something on your mind.

E-newsletters are available on the Bear Creek website: http://bss.scdsb.on.ca/

Please follow me on Twitter: @VPWilkinson

Please follow me on Instagram: spfx8691

If you see a topic you want to learn more about, you go to the item and press the “Ctrl” button while you click

your cursor and you will be “magically” transported to the topic you chose. To “magically” transport back to

the table of contents, go to the “Back to the Table of Contents” words at the end of each article, and press the

“Ctrl” button while you click your cursor and you will be “magically” transported back to the table of contents.

Table of Contents

Indspire’s BBF: Bursaries, Scholarships and Awards.................................................................................. 2

Green Team ....................................................................................................................................................... 3

It’s In You To Give – Rugby Players .............................................................................................................. 3

Get Paid To Start A Business In South Simcoe .............................................................................................. 3

Dress Code ......................................................................................................................................................... 4

Athletic Banquet ................................................................................................................................................ 6

Weekly E-Newsletter

Stay Connected @ BCSS Friday, June 8, 2018

Students Can Benefit From Gap Year: Sylvester .......................................................................................... 6

Fifteen SCDSB Schools Receive OPHEA Healthy Schools Certification .................................................... 6

2018-19 School Year Calendars Now Approved ............................................................................................ 7

Updated Criminal Record Checks Required For Volunteers ....................................................................... 7

Community Involvement Hours – Opportunity For High School Students Who Speak An International

Language ............................................................................................................................................................ 8

Canada Education Savings Programs Are Available To Help Fund Your Child’s Education .................. 8

Safe Kids Week Is June 4 To 8 ......................................................................................................................... 8

Keep Your Kids Healthy, Active And Engaged This Summer...................................................................... 9

Do You Know a Youth, Aged 15-29, Who Is Looking for A Job or to Gain Work Experience? ............... 9

Rock Climbing Club .......................................................................................................................................... 9

Applying for Scholarships .............................................................................................................................. 10

Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario Provincial Scholarship ............................................................. 10

Stay Safe In The Sun ....................................................................................................................................... 11

Summer Camp Can Be A Life-Changing Experience .................................................................................. 11

School’s in for Summer at The SCDSB ......................................................................................................... 12

New Path Offering Child and Youth Mental Health Walk-In Clinics ....................................................... 12

Gilbert Centre Programs for LGBTQ2S Youth and Families .................................................................... 12

OSAP Applications For 2018-19 Now Available .......................................................................................... 13

BCSS Lunchtime Live/Jam Sessions ............................................................................................................. 13

Volunteer Opportunities ................................................................................................................................. 13

Sports News ..................................................................................................................................................... 14

Important Dates............................................................................................................................................... 15

Positively Speaking ......................................................................................................................................... 15

The Pursuit of Happiness: 3 Myths Everyone Should Stop Believing.................................................... 15

Source: “The Pursuit of Happiness: 3 Myths Everyone Should Stop Believing”, by By Sonja Lyubomirsky,

Ph.D., 2018, .................................................................................................................................................. 17

https://my.happify.com/hd/3-myths-of-happiness/?et=14e9087f-bb7d-462b-a376-1f3a07790be5 .............. 17

Parent’s Corner ............................................................................................................................................... 17

Parent Pointer Calendar for the following week ......................................................................................... 18

P.S. (Positive Statement): ............................................................................................................................... 18

What’s Happening at BCSS?

Indspire’s BBF: Bursaries, Scholarships and Awards The first deadline for Indspire’s BBF: Bursaries, Scholarships and Awards deadline is August 1, 2018.

Indigenous students enrolled in full-time post-secondary programs or apprenticeship, skilled trades and

technology programs for the 2018-2019 academic year are eligible to apply.

If you scroll to the bottom, below my email signature, you will find an email blast for your students, as well as a

checklist of the 4 documents students are required to submit with their application.

Access the online application at Indspire’s website or by clicking APPLY HERE!

The ‘How-to-Apply’ webinar, which takes you step-by-step through the online application form, is also

available online or by clicking How-to-Apply.

Parents/students are encouraged to watch the webinar and to email education@indspire.ca with any questions.

Back to Table of Contents

Green Team

Green Team members are reminded of our final pizza meeting next Monday, the 11th, at 10:45 in Room 207.

Come and bring someone else who wants to help the environment. Back to Table of Contents

It’s In You To Give – Rugby Players

To ALL rugby players who are at least 17 years old - do you want to help save lives?

There is a rugby blood donation challenge on Wednesday, June 13th in the morning. Blood services will pick us

up and drop us off as well as provide you with food after you donate.

It is an awesome opportunity to literally give back and each donation could possibly save up to 3 lives!

See Mr. Wilkey ASAP if you want to help out. Back to Table of Contents

Get Paid To Start A Business In South Simcoe

Imagine being a high school student and a business owner.

The Summer Company is a unique program of Ontario’s Ministry of Economic Development and Growth,

designed to encourage young entrepreneurs by providing up to $3,000, plus mentoring and hands-on training.

It can be seen as an alternative to a summer job for people ages 15 to 29, who are planning to return to their

studies in the fall.

“It’s simple. Essentially, you get paid to start a business,” said Martin Kuzma of Nottawasaga Futures, which is

co-ordinating the program in South Simcoe for the sixth year.

Over the years, he said he has discovered a surprising fact: it is generally not business students who apply, but

students in the arts, sciences and social sciences, who have a business idea and the drive to put it in action.

The deadline to apply this year is the end of May.

The application process involves developing a business plan, registering the business, and regularly attending

workshops and business counselling with an experienced business mentor during the summer months.

Successful applicants will each receive an initial grant of $1,500 as seed money to launch their businesses, and

they must open a business account, provide receipts, and maintain monthly cash flow records to qualify for a

final grant.

At the end of summer — eight weeks for high school students, 12 for post-secondary students — they receive

an additional $1,500, on top of whatever profit their companies have generated.

Among the local entrepreneurs who have signed on to share their expertise with students are Donna Katz,

founder of Genesis Gymnastics, and Tracy Evans, who left a high-paying job in the corporate world to start

Dreamwinds Equine Assisted Learning Centre.

The mentors provide “real life evidence” of the power of entrepreneurship, “and you can’t beat that,” said

Kuzma.

This is the fourth year Evans has provided mentorship.

“I love the program,” she said. “I love helping youth explore their entrepreneurial spirit. It’s amazing.”

Evans noted that schools tend to stream students towards career options “to get out of school, get a job, and

then retire. That was how it was for me.”

She said it took her years to “break out,” and so Summer Company is an opportunity “to help kids think a little

bit more freely.”

Kuzma said response to the program has been a little slow this year and the increase in minimum wage could be

partly to blame.

“The wages have been higher, but there are fewer jobs,” he said.

Self employment may be the better option, he said, because people can earn money, gain real-life experience,

and it looks great on a resume.

Six South Simcoe students have been accepted to the program so far, with another four still working on their

business plans. Four of the students are from Bradford West Gwillimbury area, he said.

The businesses run the gamut from landscaping and handyman services — “Those are always around,” says

Kuzma — to piano lessons, swim lessons, vegan cupcakes, and social media marketing.

“Sixty (per cent) to 70 per cent of the students use this as a summer job … to pay tuition,” said Kuzma.

Some of them also end up creating a business that is so successful, they return to it summer after summer,

although the Summer Company grant is only available once.

There is still time for students to apply. Interested students should contact Kuzma at martin@nottawasaga.com

or 1-800-509-7554 before the end of this month.

It takes “ambition… chutzpah” to come up with a business plan, said Kuzma, but he and the team “will work

with them, to the point where they have a good chance of getting accepted.”

Source: “Get paid to start a business in South Simcoe”, by Miriam King, Bradford Today, May 27, 2018,

https://www.bradfordtoday.ca/local-news/get-paid-to-start-a-business-in-south-simcoe-933689?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Email

Back to Table of Contents

Dress Code

With the warm weather here, we usually have an increase in dress code violations in an effort to stay cool. I

included a graphic for you to share with your teen, in case we (administrators) have to talk to your teen about

this, you know what we are referring to.

One of the things that always happens when we approach Summer is students take out their summer clothes in

preparation for the nicer weather. We see an increased usage of flip flops, tank tops, shorts and muscle shirts

appearing in and around the school. We usually have to remind students that there are appropriate places for

some items of clothing that they wear...but it may not be at school!

For example:

Short shorts are not appropriate at school. How short is short? Well, we don’t use a ruler to measure them,

but generally speaking if the tips of a student’s fingers extend below the hem of the shorts, then the shorts

are probably too short. Another guideline I have been using recently is if the material of the front pocket

can be seen below the hem of the shorts, the shorts are most likely too short.

Tank Tops and Muscle Shirts: We do not allow students to wear these, even in phys. ed. classes. There is a

myth out there, called the “three finger rule”, that says if the straps of the top are more than three fingers

wide the top is OK. Our students have been told that the expectation is that clothing provides “an

uninterrupted line of clothing covering the body from top of the shoulders to mid-thigh”. Tops should

also have appropriate necklines that are not too revealing and there should not be inappropriate graphics or

expressions on the top. Instead of spaghetti straps, think lasagna noodles!

The choice of footwear is somewhat more flexible, but it must be appropriate (for safety reasons) to the

class. While sandals may be appropriate in an English class, they would not be appropriate in a technical

class or a science class (spilled chemicals could pose a hazard).

No clothing should have inappropriate language, drug or associated paraphernalia, weapons, or alcohol images

on them. Again, these may be fine for out of school, but in an educational institution, they are not appropriate.

There are lots of ways to dress for school...

...but there are a few things that aren't okay.

Our board’s dress code is one way that we embed the principles set out in the SCDSB and Ministry of

Education documents, Caring and Safe Schools in Ontario, and Equity and Inclusive Education to ensure safe,

inclusive and equitable learning environments for all of our students. In SCDSB schools, we believe that

students should be able to learn in a safe and caring space that is free of bias and discrimination. When making

choices about what to wear to school, we respect your individuality. To ensure that our learning environments

are safe and respectful spaces, our board has consulted with students and staff to develop this set of shared

standards for student dress. Your clothing cannot pose a safety concern or conceal your identity. Note that

exceptions are granted to students who wear head coverings or other garments/objects for the purposes of

religious observance, medical or sensory needs, or other reasons protected by the Ontario Human Rights Code. Back to Table of Contents

Athletic Banquet

What an awesome year it has been for Bear Creek sports! Let's all celebrate with the annual athletic banquet.

The banquet will be Wednesday, June 13 at 5:45 p.m. in the Cafe.

Tickets will go on sale on Thursday, June 7th at lunch in the forum for $10 each, $15 for sports who did not pay

an athletic fee. Ticket includes meal and take-home gift. It is open to all athletes who represented our school

on a sports team... there is a limited number of tickets for sale...first come, first served. Back to Table of Contents

Students Can Benefit From Gap Year: Sylvester

In an interview with CBC, Cam Sylvester, North American Regional Director of Lattitude Global Volunteering,

argues that some students can benefit from a year off between high school and university, or at some point

during their university careers. “We don't give kids much time to think about who they are and where they're

going to go. They've been told by most of their counsellors they've got to go right into university, their parents

are telling them that,” said Sylvester, citing higher GPAs, lower dropout rates, and quicker completion rates as

some of the potential benefits of a gap year. CBC states that volunteering, working, or taking time to think

about future opportunities are popular options for a gap year.

Source: CBC

Back to Table of Contents

Fifteen SCDSB Schools Receive OPHEA Healthy Schools Certification

Students and staff at Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) schools are celebrating after earning

fifteen Healthy Schools certifications from Ophea. Ophea is a not-for-profit organization that champions

healthy, active living in schools and communities and leads the provincial Healthy Schools initiative.

Ophea’s Healthy Schools Certification recognizes and celebrates school communities for promoting and

enhancing the health and well-being of students, school staff and the broader community. Participating schools

complete the Six-Step Healthy Schools Process, which aligns with the Ministry of Education’s Foundations for

a Healthy School resource. Through a point-based system, schools planned their Healthy Schools process over

the course of the school year. Schools outline the steps needed to achieve certification and apply to be certified

as a gold, silver or bronze.

“We are proud to be part of the 238 schools across Ontario that have been certified as being a healthy school,”

says Paula Murphy, Superintendent of Education and Well-Being, SCSDB. “Our schools focused on many areas

- physical activity, healthy eating, safety and injury prevention, growth and development, mental health and

addictions – to support the SCDSB’s strategic goal of well-being.”

This school year, SCDSB schools earned seven golds, three silvers, four bronzes and one participant level

certification. View the full list here: https://www.ophea.net/sites/default/files/pdfs/HSC/hsc_allschoolslist-

board_14my18.pdf. Last year, SCDSB schools earned five certifications.

Here are the highlights from some our school that that allowed us to reach certification with our initiatives this

school year: If you check the list, you’ll find that we were the only high school in our Board to do this – you

now don’t have to check the list (but you can if you want to). I believe I am repeating myself here BUT I told

you we were the best school in the Board, and here’s one of the reasons why:

SILVER

Bear Creek SS

The Staff Wellness Committee at Bear Creek SS, in collaboration with the student-led Kodiak Wellness Team

and community partners, decided the priority health topic for the year would be substance use, addiction and

related behaviours. The school provided learning opportunities to staff and students throughout Addictions

Week, including a Truth and Consequences Conference for Grade 9’s.

Back to Table of Contents

2018-19 School Year Calendars Now Approved

The Ministry of Education has approved the elementary and secondary school year calendars for the Simcoe

County District School Board's 2018-19 school year.

2018-19 Highlights:

First day of school: Tuesday, September 4, 2018

First day of school for Junior Kindergarten students: Thursday, September 6, 2018

Winter Break: December 24, 2018 to January 4, 2019

March Break: March 11 to 15, 2019

Last day for elementary students: Thursday, June 27, 2019

Last day for secondary students: Wednesday, June 26, 2019

You can view the 2018-19 calendars on the SCDSB website (www.scdsb.on.ca) by clicking on ‘Schools’ and

then ‘School Year Calendars.’

Back to Table of Contents

Updated Criminal Record Checks Required For Volunteers

We appreciate the commitment of all who volunteer at our school. In an effort to ensure the safety and well-

being of our students, and in accordance with the Education Act, the SCDSB requires a complete and up-to-

date Criminal Record Check Vulnerable Sector Screening (CRC-VSS) for all volunteers across the system. If

you are a current, approved volunteer and your CRC-VSS is more than five years old, you will be receiving a

notification this month indicating that you are required to submit a new CRC-VSS. If you wish to continue as a

SCDSB volunteer, please complete the following steps:

1. Contact the school principal to obtain a CRC-VSS request letter.

2. Bring your CRC-VSS request letter to your local police detachment.

3. Submit your original and complete CRC-VSS to the school office for review by Oct. 31, 2018.

If you are a current SCDSB employee volunteering in the system, you are required to submit an updated CRC-

VSS to the school where you will be volunteering. If you have completed a CRC-VSS within the past six

months of the start of the school year for another organization, you may submit that original CRC-VSS for

review. If you have questions, please contact the school. Back to Table of Contents

Community Involvement Hours – Opportunity For High School Students Who

Speak An International Language

Do you speak Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Korean, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Tamil, Ukrainian, Urdu or Vietnamese?

The SCDSB is currently looking for high school student volunteers to help support the Saturday morning

international language classes for students in Grades 1 - 8. The classes run from 9 to 11:30 a.m., starting Sept.

15, at the Barrie Learning Centre (Bayfield Mall) and the Bradford Learning Centre (157 Holland St. E., Suite

200). If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the program coordinator, Amanda Hickling, at

ahickling@scdsb.on.ca . Back to Table of Contents

Canada Education Savings Programs Are Available To Help Fund Your

Child’s Education

The Government of Canada encourages Canadians to use Registered Education Savings Plans (RESP) to save

for a child’s post-secondary education, which includes full- or part-time studies at a trade school, CEGEP,

college, or university or in an apprenticeship program. Employment and Social Development Canada

administers two education savings incentives linked to RESPs:

$ Canada Education Savings Grant - a basic grant of 20% on the first $2,500 in annual personal

contributions to a RESP (this grant is available to all eligible Canadians regardless of their family

income), as well as the additional amount of Canada Education Savings Grant.

$ Canada Learning Bond - available for eligible Canadian children from low-income families born in

2004 or later and provides an initial payment of $500 plus $100 for each year of eligibility, up to age 15,

for a maximum of $2,000. Personal contributions are not required.

$

For more information, visit: www.canada.ca/education-savings. Back to Table of Contents

Safe Kids Week Is June 4 To 8

This year’s theme focuses on concussion at home, at play and on the road:

Help reduce the likelihood of head injury, like concussions, during sports, recreation and unstructured

play by encouraging your teen to use correctly fitting protective equipment and to follow safety rules.

Remind your teen to walk with phones away and heads up.

Teach your teen how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion, which can happen even

without a direct hit to the head and without losing consciousness. If your teen does have signs of

concussion, remove them from the activity and seek medical care.

Be sure to inform your school principal if your teen sustains a concussion, either on or off school property.

Learn more at www.parachutecanada.org. Back to Table of Contents

Keep Your Kids Healthy, Active And Engaged This Summer

Summer is the time for kids to get outside and grow. But for some kids, exposure to activities that stimulate the

body and mind ends with the school year. Studies show 90 per cent of children ages five to 11 years old in

Canada do not meet their minimal physical activity requirements. We know that having an active lifestyle in the

early years is essential to healthy child development and has a positive impact on mental health. Here are a few

tips on how to keep your child's mind and body active this summer:

Learn a new skill! Over the summer months, there is a wide variety of programs to keep children and

youth active. Whether outdoors or in a facility like the YMCA, swimming is a summer time favourite.

Consider signing your child up for swimming lessons, giving them the confidence they need to be safe

in and around the water.

Unplug and enjoy the outdoors! Did you know that the average Canadian child spends almost eight

hours a day in front of a screen? Research tells us that when children are connected to their

environment, they are healthier and happier. Look for opportunities for your child to get connected with

nature.

With some creativity and advanced planning, parents can keep their children’s minds and bodies active this

summer! To learn more about the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka, visit www.ymcaofsimcoemuskoka.ca.

Back to Table of Contents

Do You Know a Youth, Aged 15-29, Who Is Looking for A Job or to Gain

Work Experience?

The Career Centre can help. Services include paid employment training, support with job searches and more, at

no cost. Meet with an Employment Consultant today, or visit the Career Centre website at

www.barriecareercentre.com for more information, including hours of operation. The Career Centre is operated

by the Simcoe County District School Board. This Employment Ontario service is funded in part by the

Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. Back to Table of Contents

Rock Climbing Club

This is a reminder that rock climbing club will be departing after school Fridays from Portable 403. See Ms.

Wilson-Weir if you have any questions. Back to Table of Contents

Applying for Scholarships

Now is the best time for grade 12 students to apply for scholarships, we are in the heart of peak scholarship

season. At ScholarTree.ca, we are continuing to improve on what is already the best site for Canadian students

to find and apply for scholarships.

We've listened to feedback from students and have made some significant changes to the scholarships page.

New Features:

- View scholarships by category

- Filter scholarships

- More sort options

- More accurate matching algorithm

- Improved mobile interface

ScholarTree is 100% free to students! Back to Table of Contents

Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario Provincial Scholarship

Deadline: June 30, 2018

Value: $1,000

Selection:

This scholarship is provided for students furthering their formal education as a full-time student at a post-

secondary institution (in their first year). For scholarships to be awarded, proof of enrolment must be received

by the FWIO Provincial Office by September 30th. Scholarships are forfeited after this date and will be awarded

to the alternate.

Eligibility:

For the 2018 scholarship, students must complete a 500-word essay, answering the question:

"Advocacy has always been a big part of the Women's Institute. What do you see as a topic the Institute should

be advocating for? Why and how should this be done?"

Awarded on the basis of academic achievement upon entrance into the program. A transcript of marks for the

most recent academic year showing the numerical grade average in percentage form for the complete year (e.g.

85%).

Three signed reference letters from community organizers and/or high school faculty (no more than 2 from the

school).

Applicant must be a Canadian Citizen, a resident of Ontario, and a prospective high school graduate. Previous

winners are not eligible.

Full-time students entering their first year of studies at a post-secondary institution.

Conditions:

Candidates may apply only once in any one year.

When only one application is received, a grade point average of 75% must be attained for the full scholarship

award. Half of the scholarship amount will be awarded for a mark under 75%.

FWIO Provincial Scholarship Application Form (PDF)

The above application form has been created in a fillable format. Please complete and return to FWIO by the

above deadline. Back to Table of Contents

Stay Safe In The Sun

It only takes one bad sunburn in childhood to increase the risk of developing skin cancer later in life. As the

weather gets warmer, follow these sun safety tips to keep you and your family safe:

use a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher and SPF 15 lip balm

apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes before going outside (even on cloudy days) and always follow the label

instructions

apply sunscreen to any exposed areas of skin – nose, ears, back of neck, tops of feet, etc.

reapply sunscreen every 2-3 hours and after sweating or swimming

wear loose, long sleeved shirts and pants, a large-brimmed hat and sunglasses

if possible, avoid being in the sun between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

when you’re outside, look for shade.

For more sun safety tips, visit www.simcoemuskokahealth.org or call Health Connection at 705-721-7520 or 1-

877-721-7520 to speak with a public health nurse.

Information provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit

Back to Table of Contents

Summer Camp Can Be A Life-Changing Experience

According to a recent study from the University of Waterloo, the positive development that children and youth

experience at summer camp results in sustained behavioural changes at home, school and in the community.

Friendships blossom, self-confidence emerges and independence grows – helping children and teens build

resilience to help them face new challenges throughout their lives. Here are four life skills fostered at summer

camp:

Increased independence and self-confidence – Camp is the perfect place for kids to practice making

decisions for themselves without parents and teachers guiding their every move.

Making new friends and being part of a positive group – Free from the social expectations pressuring

them at school, camp encourages kids to relax and make friends easily.

Increased environmental awareness – When children are connected to their environment, they are

healthier and happier. Summer camp provides kids with the opportunity to “unplug” from technology

and enrich their perception of the world, while enjoying the great outdoors.

Improved attitudes towards physical activity – Children spend so much time indoors these days and

mostly sitting down. A recent Statistics Canada study found that only seven per cent of youth aged six to

19 got the recommended hour a day of exercise they need. Summer camp is a great way for kids to get

outside and move.

The benefits of camp are plenty – from life lessons beyond the classroom to appreciating nature and building

confidence and leadership skills. Learn more about the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka camps at

YMCASummerCamp.Ca.

Information provided by the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka

Back to Table of Contents

School’s in for Summer at The SCDSB

Are you and your child planning their courses for next school year? Looking for a way to create flexibility in

their timetable and earn a credit? Consider summer school! Each year, the SCDSB offers a variety of summer

programs to over 2,000 students. Summer school options include open, college and university level courses

from Grades 9 to 12. Courses are offered in-person or online. Interested students can also travel and earn credits

with the summer EduTravel program. Summer school program details can be found on the Learning Centres

website at http://www.thelearningcentres.com/high-school-student/summer-school . Current SCDSB students

should speak to their Guidance Counsellor for information and to register. Please see attached registration

pages to bring that to your Guidance Counsellor. Register now so that your summer school choices align with

course selection for next year! Back to Table of Contents

New Path Offering Child and Youth Mental Health Walk-In Clinics

New Path now offers Child and Youth Mental Health Walk-In Clinics in five office locations throughout

Simcoe County: Alliston, Barrie, Bradford, Collingwood and Orillia. The Walk-In Clinic provides a single

session to children, youth and families who require support for emotional, relationship or behavioural

challenges. The Walk-In Clinic can be accessed by children, youth and families as often as they require support.

Children, youth and families can self-refer by attending one of the walk-in clinic locations across the county.

Dates and times of the clinics are posted on the New Path website (www.newpath.ca). For more information,

contact New Path’s Central Intake Department at 705-725-7656 or from the 905 area code in Simcoe County by

calling 1-866-566-7656. Back to Table of Contents

Gilbert Centre Programs for LGBTQ2S Youth and Families

The Gilbert Centre is a community-based, not-for-profit, charitable organization that provides programs and

services to serve lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender individuals and families in Simcoe-Muskoka.

Visit the Centre’s website at www.gilbertcentre.ca for more information about these programs:

LGBTQ2S Youth Connection drop-in groups

LGBTQ2S Youth Connection is a drop-in and social space for lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, 2spirit,

trans, asexual etc. and questioning youth. Groups are a place for youth to connect with each other and to

community. Groups take place in Barrie, Midland and Orillia.

Parenting LGBTQ Youth sessions

These free sessions, ‘Parenting LGBTQ Youth,’ are offered in April, May and June in Alliston, Barrie,

Collingwood and Orillia. Dinner is provided. To reserve your spot, contact Jake at

jakef@gilbertcentre.ca or 705-722-6778 ext. 107.

Back to Table of Contents

OSAP Applications For 2018-19 Now Available

Going to college or university next year? The 2018-19 Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) is now

accepting applications for full-time students. Apply early to get an estimate of the amount of grants and loans

you could receive. Apply now at: www.ontario.ca/osap. Back to Table of Contents

BCSS Lunchtime Live/Jam Sessions

Jam Sessions is a “safe space” mental health initiative that allows staff and students to learn and play guitar

and/or ukulele, for FREE.

Jam Sessions is now in need of any gently used acoustic guitars and currently looking for a Cajun (slap) drum

or djembe drums.

BCSS Lunchtime Live provides a venue to showcase their talents - some of which performing for the first time

(students with high anxiety too!). BCSS Lunchtime Live mainly features music but will have other themed

events like poetry, dance, and improv as well.

Eventually we're looking to have our own sound system for Lunchtime Live as we increase our performances

from 2 times per month to every available Friday lunch: microphones and speakers/amps. (Tech crew is busy as

is and we can't always rely on booking out their equipment.)

Any community support, donation, connection that will help with equipment or costs would be appreciated.

Back to Table of Contents

Volunteer Opportunities

VOLUNTEER!

GET INVOLVED!

BE A PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY!

Do you want to volunteer or get a summer job? Not sure where to start? Check out Bear Creek’s volunteer and

student job opportunity board located outside of the Guidance office. It is updated weekly with fantastic

opportunities! Still not sure what to do? Make an appointment with your Guidance Counsellor for some

further suggestions.

Remember, EVERY student must complete a minimum 40 hours

of volunteer work to graduate.

Please submit your “Completion of Community Involvement Activities” sheet (this sheet can be found either

on-line or at the Guidance office) to the Guidance office as soon as it is signed by both you and a parent.

1. Do you like sports? Are you in need of community service hours? Do you want to get a jump on

community service hours? Well the home game crew might be for you! We are in need of capable and

trustworthy students to help with sports scorekeeping for the year. Basketball and volleyball are the main sports

in which we require help. Please sign up on the list outside of the student success office room 110 or see Mr.

Wilkey.

2. Mr. Wilkinson is looking for students to be part of the Breakfast Club. Please see him at the Breakfast

Club table any day for more information and to sign up.

3. Mr. Wilkinson is looking for students who need volunteer hours to come out and join him on the front

gardens. Lots of fun digging, exhilarating weeding, and planting will be had by all. Contact Mr.

Wilkinson for more information.

4. Kerry’s Place in conjunction with Community Works Canada needs volunteers

Seeking volunteers ages 15-21 to provide peer mentorship to youth with autism once a week for 11

weeks in Barrie

CommunityWorks Canada® is an after-school program for teens with autism to make new friends and gain

valuable work experience while building communication and social skills.

Earn up to 30 volunteer hours

Make a difference in someone’s life

Build leadership skills

Gain valuable volunteer experience

Make new friends

PROGRAM PERIOD: APRIL 18th to JUNE 27th, 2018

WEEK 1: ORIENTATION

WEEK 2-11: WORK EXPERIENCE ACTIVITIES AT VARIOUS LOCAL BUSINESSES

Get involved today by calling (647)296-6476 or email stephanie.bass@kerrysplace.org. Visit

www.worktopia.ca for more details.

Back to Table of Contents

Sports News

To check out scores, schedules, standings, etc., please go to: http://www.scaasports.ca .

Next week’s sporting events look like:

Monday 11th Tuesday 12th Wednesday 13th Thursday 14th Friday 15th Athletic Banquet

5:45 cafe

Are you a new student to Bear Creek in grade 10, 11, or 12 and are interested in playing sports? Did you

transfer from another high school? Please come to see Mr. Wilkey in Student Success, room 110, to fill out the

necessary forms so you can play sports this year.

Congratulations to the Girls’ Rugby team who travelled to Mississauga this last Monday, June 4th and Tuesday,

the 5th, to compete at AAA OFSAA rugby championship. The girls faced the 7th seed team Arnprior in their

first match. They came out strong and were first to put points on the board. Their effort was relentless and the

score was 12 to 17 for them with less than a minute they scored their final try to put the score 22 to 12 in their

favor. Day two the Kodiaks faced Georgetown and defeated them by a score of 22 to 7. The second game of

the day, your Kodiaks were up against TA Stewart. The girls came out hard and fought to the bitter end. We

had key subs step up and replace our starters. The entire tournament was a team effort and both coach Wilkey

and Catling are extremely proud of their attitude, effort, and sportsmanship that was demonstrated throughout

the tournament.

Congratulations to the Bear Creek Girls’ Softball team for winning the SCAA Tier 2 Championship on

Tuesday, June 5th! They battled hard against some very tough teams to make it to the finals, where they faced

Nantyr Shores for the third time this season. Nantyr gave everything they had, forcing the game into extra

innings, but the Kodiaks responded with another thrilling walk-off to get the win.

Back to Table of Contents

Important Dates

Wednesday, June 13 Athletic Banquet, 5:45, cafe

Wednesday, June 13 Grade 9 EQAO Math Test

Thursday, June 14 Grade 9 EQAO Math Test

Sunday, June 17 Father’s Day

Wednesday, June 20 – Tuesday, June 26 Sem II Final Evaluations

Thursday, June 28 Commencement

Friday, July 6 Sem 2 report cards sent out

Back to Table of Contents

Positively Speaking

When I was younger, I often compared myself and my life to those around me. Didn’t have the newest gadgets;

didn’t have the newest car; didn’t have the biggest, nicest house, etc. Since I wasn’t at where I wanted to be, I

thought and believed my life to be a failure.

I recently watched the Marvel movie, “Dr. Strange” and about 20 minutes in to the movie, he considers his life

a failure because he can’t do what he thought he should be doing. However, he had love, material goods, his

life – but still considered his life a failure. I was like that – I was so blinded about the things I believed would

make me happy, I didn’t see the things that were truly important.

As an older (much older), hopefully wiser man, I see that none of that matters and I really don’t care what

anyone else has. I have a healthy, happy family. I have a roof over my head, food on the table, safe

neighbourhood/country. I’ve got it good and the level of happiness is where I expected it to be 20-30 years ago.

I hope you like this article. I made me reflect on the truly important things in my life.

The Pursuit of Happiness: 3 Myths Everyone Should Stop Believing

Have you ever thought to yourself, "I'll finally be happy when I'm married." Or "If I land this job, I'll finally feel

totally fulfilled." Or maybe you relate more to the opposite side of this coin: "I'll never be happy now that I have

this medical diagnosis." Or "I can't be happy when I'm struggling to pay my bills." Psychological research has

revealed two important findings when it comes to these beliefs: Things that we think will make us happy never

make us happy for as long as we think they will. Conversely, negative life events and challenges don't have as

enduring an impact on our happiness as we believe they will, either.

To get your brain off autopilot when it comes to your beliefs about what will—or won't—make you happy,

Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D. shares 3 valuable lessons from her book, The Myths of Happiness:

Happiness Myth #1: I won't be happy until I get a promotion or land my "dream" job.

Think back to the moment when you were hired at your current job—you probably felt a big boost of well-

being, and you were excited by the opportunities and challenges of your new role. Unfortunately, the

excitement we feel happens less and less as we turn our minds toward the countless daily hassles, uplifts, and

distractions of life. We begin to feel our novel and stimulating work experiences have simply become our "new

normal."

One way to prevent yourself from taking your current job for granted is to remind yourself on a regular basis

what your former (less satisfying) work life was like. If you were paid less, set certain time periods (say, one

week per month) to limit your spending to match your earlier consumption habits. Or if you used to have

unfriendly colleagues, have lunch by yourself once in awhile. Such re-experiencing will encourage you to

appreciate your current job and to obtain more pleasure from it simply by mentally transporting yourself to (less

fortunate) times past. And remember, a "dream job" isn't necessarily the best reference point because we tend to

create a fantasy job in our minds of something that doesn't really exist. For example, films tend to glamourize

working at the CIA as one James Bond adventure after another, but real CIA workers often find themselves

sitting in cubicles for much of the day.

Happiness Myth #2: I'm going to lead a sad, lonely life because I'm single.

Imagining a solitary life, sitting by the window with just the cat for company? Erase that picture from your

mind! People who remain single all their lives draw value and purpose from other sources in their lives—from

friends, siblings, extended family members, communities, jobs, or dedication to a great cause. In fact, research

has found that relative to their married (or once-married) peers, single people tend to be closer with their

siblings, cousins, nieces, and nephews, and they continue to develop new friendships as they age as well as stay

in better touch with friends. Research has found that older women who have always been single typically have

up to a dozen important, meaningful friendships, which they've maintained for decades.

Happiness Myth #3: I can't be happy when…

...I'll never be thin.

...I'll never have kids.

...I'll never be a doctor or an astronaut.

We all have dreams that we've harbored since the early years of our lives, but we often have flawed

assumptions about whether we can still be happy despite not achieving those dreams. Psychologists argue that

to be truly unburdened by regrets involves freeing ourselves from our "lost possible selves"—the neurosurgeon

self, the grandparent self, the small-business owner self. To do this, we need to reflect on our lost promises to

gain a new perspective, which in turn, enables us to understand ourselves and our lives better, and to set new

priorities and envision new futures for ourselves.

It can take time to shed a "lost possible self," but you might use journaling or a "Dear Diary" format to describe

the facts about your experiences, as well as your thoughts or feelings about them. You could create lists of the

pros and cons of what happened or what might have happened. Or you could even imagine—or draw—a life

map of dates, locations, goals, and situations. When a particular goal becomes untenable, you might refer to

that map and ask yourself, "How did I get here?" and most importantly—"Where am I heading?" That's the

critical next step: To move on by committing ourselves to new pursuits, and the exciting possibilities that lie

ahead of us.

Source: “The Pursuit of Happiness: 3 Myths Everyone Should Stop Believing”, by By Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D., 2018,

https://my.happify.com/hd/3-myths-of-happiness/?et=14e9087f-bb7d-462b-a376-1f3a07790be5

Back to Table of Contents

Parent’s Corner

With final exams approaching in less than 8 days (afternoon of Wednesday, June 20th), there is no time like the

present to get ready for exams.

This article helps you help your teen prepare for the final exams.

How to Revise Before the Exams

Exam preparation starts at day one of semester. But don’t panic if you haven’t started yet, it’s never too late!

What you have to think about is what MUST be studied, what SHOULD be studied and what CAN be ditched,

especially if you are running out of time. But if you are reading this, then you are well on the way to being

proactive and taking effective steps towards exam success.

Revision essentials:

Get organized. Get all your material together and organize your study space.

Find out about your preferred learning style and match your study techniques to suit this.

Start reviewing early: daily reviews, weekly reviews and major reviews.

Use active learning techniques for revision.

Keep a record of all the exam hints that lecturers and tutors give through the semester, especially

towards the end of semester. Never miss lectures at this stage!

Create and plan a revision topic list and study schedule (work backwards).

Know where you stand! Find out what your cumulative marks are so far and how many marks you need

to just pass the exam or get the credit, and any hurdle requirements.

Learn about the exam type, length and format. For example, exams can consist of any combination of

the following formats: essay exams, multiple choice questions, open book exams, short answer

questions, problem-solving questions, take-home exams, practical exams, oral exams and so on.

Obtain previous exam papers so you can do relevant exam questions and obtain feedback from teachers.

Maintain a balance of mind, body and spirit. Eat well, and eat healthy foods.

Continue to exercise as it has been shown to improve memory and reduce stress. Take time to relax and

visualize success!

Enlist support from friends and family. Ask others to do your chores for you! Remember you can

always reciprocate after exams!

Study difficult subjects when you are at your peak concentration and study subjects you dislike most

first.

Use course outlines to revise objectives, list of topics and brief content descriptions.

Use the SQ4R (Survey, Question, Read, Review, Recite, Recall) method.

Prioritize! It’s better to know a few topics well than to know bits and pieces.

As the exam gets closer find out about the location, time and transport.

Do past exam papers under mock exam conditions. Have an exam party with your friends!

Source: http://www.educationforum.co.uk/revisionstyles.pdf

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Parent Pointer Calendar for the following week

(June 11 – June 15)

Monday 11th Tuesday 12th Wednesday 13th Thursday 14th Friday 15th

Take time for a

bedside chat with

your teen tonight.

End it by saying, “I

love you.”

Look for a volunteer

activity you and

your teen can do

together this

summer.

Does your teen have

a cell phone? Tell

them not to talk on

the phone while

driving. Not only is

it VERY dangerous,

it is illegal.

It is now the #1

cause of teen-

related driving

fatality, even over

drunk driving!

Have every family

member become an

expert on one thing,

and then teach it to

the rest of the

family.

Go through an old

photo album

together. Tell your

teen stories about

your family.

Back to Table of Contents

Have a great weekend!

Go Jays!

Be well!

Terry Wilkinson

Vice Principal

Bear Creek Secondary School

P.S. (Positive Statement):

Life has two rules:

#1 Never Quit

#2 Don’t forget Rule #1 Back to Table of Contents

P.P.S.: If you like what you have read so far, please tell

another parent/guardian, get them to e-mail me, and I’ll add

them to the e-mail list.