End of Course Changes

Mrs. Roberts has announced that course changes will no longer be accepted unless due to exceptional circumstances.

Students who wish to change into a different course because of exceptional circumstances must now obtain a course transfer request form from me. Completed forms with a detailed explanation to the reason for the course change request, together with a parent/guardian signature, will be reviewed by an administrator. A final decision to grant/deny the change will be made, and you will be notified of that decision.

This deadline has to be implemented because, as the year moves forward, it is becoming increasingly difficult for students to catch up on missed work; it is also extremely disruptive for teachers to have students still entering and leaving classes almost two months into term 1. Thank you very much for your cooperation and understanding.

Take Our Kids to Work

Hosted by The Learning Partnership, a national non-profit organization dedicated to championing a strong public education system in Canada, the 16th annual "Take Our Kids to Work" program will take place this year on Wednesday, November 3.
On that day, grade 9 students can spend the day at work, job-shadowing a parent, a relative, or a family friend.

Students who are interested in participating in this program can come and Mr. Hayes in the Career Center, or you can come and see me. A consent form will be issued to you. Completed forms must be returned to me by October 29 (Friday).

Please note: Unfortunately, we will not be able to arrange a placement for job-shadowing for you. You and your family must try to arrange for the day if you are interested in participating. For more information, please come to speak to me or Mr. Hayes directly. You can also visit the Learning Partnership's website (click here) to find out more about the vision and purpose for the "Take Our Kids to Work" program.

Instructional Planning Period

Just a reminder to all of you that there will be an instructional planning period (IPP) tomorrow, Thursday, Oct 14. Teachers will be having department meetings and collaborative time, so, unfortunately, they would not be able to meet with you during that time.

All students are expected to report to their SECOND PERIOD CLASS (i.e. Block B, or 1.2 class) at 10:15, the normal start time for second period.

Challenge Exams Information

Information packages for the language challenge exams are now available from the Delta School District's Challenge Exam website (click here).

Language challenge exams that will be administered include:

• French 11/12
• Mandarin 11/12 (Traditional and Simplified Chinese)
• Spanish 11/12
• German 11/12
• Japanese 11/12
• Korean 11/12
• Punjabi 11/12

All exams will be written in Delta between January 22 to 30, 2011.

Ms. Foster, our grade 11 counsellor, will be the school liaison person for the exams. Students must fill in, electronically, pages 10 and 11 of their application (click here) before printing them out.

Ms. Foster will announce the Templeton deadline for all forms to come in. If you require the application form e-mailed to you, please send me an e-mail at eleung@vsb.bc.ca - clearly tell me your full name, and the exam you are planning to challenge, and I will e-mail the student application form for you.

Please note: you can only challenge for each subject once - and the mark you receive from the challenge exam will become your official mark for the course. For Grade 12 challenge courses, you have the option of writing the optional provincial exams - in that case, your challenge exam's result will become your school percentage (worth 40% of your blended mark).

Reminder: District Closure Day Oct 8

Just a reminder to all parents and students that Friday, October 8 will be a district closure day for schools in Vancouver. School is not in session that day, and staff would not be available either.

School will return to session next Tuesday, October 12 following Thanksgiving Day. Enjoy the added day off, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!

Photo Re-takes: Tuesday, October 12

Photo re-takes will take place next Tuesday, October 12, in the morning only.

The following students can take part in the photo re-take session:

• If you are a new student at Templeton and have missed the school's first photo session
• If you were not present on the first day where student photos were taken
• If you wish to re-take your picture and order a new photo package

As far as I know, you cannot re-take your picture if you want to use it for your go-card only. Please check with the photographers from Artona for more details and the official answer.

Free Math Tutoring

Mr. Handscomb has informed me that, starting this week, math tutoring will be available EVERYDAY at lunch in his room (Room 224). Senior students will be in the room assisting you with various levels of math. You do not have to be a student in Mr. Handscomb class to attend.

You can bring your lunch, bring your friends, and of course, bring your math homework.

A big "thank you" to the math department for providing this service, and an even bigger "thank you" goes out to the peer-tutoring students who are sacrificing their lunch periods to assist you. Please take full advantage of this free service provided.