This Week at Lakehead Public Schools - June 15, 2012

Safely Succeeding!

Congratulations to all Lakehead Public Schools employees! Our organization was recognized by the School Boards’ Cooperative with the School Board Safety Leadership Award for our improved safety performance. The award, “Most Improved Statistically for a Medium Sized Board”, was presented to Health and Safety Officer Rick Molloy by Robbin Lavoie, Senior Health and Safety Specialist with School Boards’ Cooperative at the Tuesday, June 12 Standing Committee Meeting.

OPSBA Delegates Pitch In to Help Local Effort

The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) 24th Annual General Meeting held in Thunder Bay last weekend saw Trustees from across the province learning from educational professionals and each other in addition to taking in Thunder Bay sights and culture. The Trustee delegates also stepped up and made a donation of $3,500 to the Thunder Bay flood relief effort.

Left:  Catherine Fife, President of the OPSBA, accepts a donation for the Thunder Bay Flood Relief Fund from a Trustee delegate.

“The visiting Trustees were shocked by the level of devastation that our community experienced in the aftermath of the recent flood,” says Deborah Massaro, Chair of the Lakehead District School Board. “With that being said, they were also highly impressed with how our community has come together to help each other during this time of crisis. They know that our community will continue to rebuild and move ahead.”

For more information about the 24th Annual General Meeting held in Thunder Bay, please visit the OPSBA website at: http://tinyurl.com/7usukrx.

The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association represents public district school boards and public school authorities across Ontario, which together serve more than 1.3 million public elementary and secondary students.

The Association advocates on behalf of the best interests and needs of the public school system in Ontario. OPSBA is seen as the credible voice of public education in Ontario and is routinely called on by the provincial government for input and advice on legislation and the impact of government policy directions.

Bicycle Storage is a Lock at Hamm

Once again, Hammarskjold High School students and staff have worked together and with community partners to make their school and our city better places to be. On Thursday, June 14, a new project was unveiled that further demonstrates the school’s commitment to the environment and to improving the culture of Hammarskjold. Through hard work and the support of generous supporters, the students and staff officially opened their new bicycle pad storage area.

“We have been dreaming about having a secure storage area for bicycles since the inception of our environmental committee EnviroHamm in 2004,” says Jenny Lamb, Principal of Hammarskjold High School. “It has been an amazing process to see how students, staff and community supporters all worked together to make this dream a reality. It has also provided an opportunity for our Construction and Manufacturing students to receive practical experience in the design and construction of the bike pad.”

The Hammarskjold High School bike pad provides a secure place where bikes can be locked in a specially designed bike locker or secured on a bike rail all under the watchful eye of a school video camera. Hammarskjold Construction students worked with Lakehead Public Schools maintenance employees to complete preparations necessary for the concrete pad and with generous donations from Lafarge Thunder Bay and Harris Rebar. In addition to the local support, the project also received a $4500 grant from the Skills Canada-Lowes Tool Box for Education Grant.

EnviroHamm was created in 2004 with the goal of enhancing the physical environment of Hammarskjold High School. The committee is composed of students and staff who have worked together over the years to:

• introduce recycling garbage cans to the exterior of the school
• plant trees around the school
• organize Spring Up to Clean UP
• install signage around the interior of the school to encourage responsible disposal of garbage and to maintain a healthy environment around the school.

Lakehead Public Schools Character and Generosity

Lakehead Public Schools students and staff continue to rise to the occasion to help those in need following the recent flood. All schools have come to the aid of our city and have shown true Lakehead Public Schools character.

Nor’wester View Public School raised $1,850 for flood relief. They held a sock-hop and had a pajama day last week. In addition, the school filled two pick-up truck beds with food and clothing donations.

Typically, Sir Winston Churchill Collegiate and Vocational Institute hosts a Co-op Employer Appreciation event for all organizations and businesses who give students workplace experience. This year in place of the event, the Churchill Co-op Program will make a donation on behalf of the program and the employers to Ogden Community Public School families who have suffered from the flooding in our community.

The need for food, clothing and other necessities continues in the Ogden Community. To see Lakehead Public Schools character in action, take a look at the TBT clip from Wednesday, June 13 - http://www.tbnewswatch.com/video/24762/Flood-kids  

Upcoming Meetings

• Regular Board Meeting
  Tuesday, June 26 - 7:30 p.m.
  Board Room, Education Centre
  2135 Sills Street
   
• Budget Committee
  Tuesday, June 19 - 6:30 p.m.
  Board Room, Education Centre
  2135 Sills Street
   
• Parent Involvement Committee
  Monday, June 18 - 6:30 p.m.
  Board Room, Education Centre
  2135 Sills Street
   
• Special Education Advisory Committee
  Wednesday, June 20 - 6:00 p.m.
  Board Room, Education Centre
  2135 Sills Street
   
• Aboriginal Education Advisory Committee
  Friday, June 22 9:30 a.m.
  Board Room, Education Centre
  2135 Sills Street

Diversity Dates

Saturday, June 16

• Guru Arjan Dev Sahib (Sikhism)
  Sikh time of remembering those who have suffered for the faith.
   
• Lailat al Miraj (Islamic)
  Islamic observation of Mohammed’s (PBUH) night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and his ascension to heaven.

Sunday, June 17

• Father’s Day
  Father's Day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society.

Tuesday, June 19

• New Church Day (Swedenborgian Christian)
  Swedenborgian Christian celebration of ‘The True Christian Religion’ text.

Wednesday, June 20

• Summer Feast (Aboriginal)
  Description not available
   
• Timkat (Ethiopian Orthodox Christian)
  Eithiopian Christian celebration of the baptism of Jesus Christ.
   
• Zartusht –No-Diso –Shensai (Zoroastrian)
  Zoroastrian anniversary of the death of Prophet Zarathushtra

Thursday, June 21

• First Nations Day/National Aboriginal Day (Canada)
  On June 13, 1996, the Governor General of Canada proclaimed June 21st to be National Aboriginal Day, offering Aboriginal peoples an excellent opportunity to share their rich, diverse cultures with family members, neighbours, friends and visitors. National Aboriginal Day is an opportunity to learn more about Aboriginal people and their contributions to Canada. Share in the Celebration!
   
• Litha/Yule (Wicca/Paganism)
  Wicca celebration of the sacred marriage in which energy of the gods is poured into the service of life.
   
• Alban Hervin-Solstice (Celticism)
  Celtism feast of the spring equinox.
   
• Nisf Sha’baan (Islamic)
  Islamic month when the deeds of the people are taken up to God. Fasting may occur.