I have very sad news to share with you today.   As many of you know, Mr. Bodin has been battling stomach cancer for the past 9 months. Last night he lost that fight.    He will be deeply missed by all who ever knew him.  We will miss his kindness, his patience, his enthusiasm and the wonderful example he set for us in sharing his best with others everyday. Our heart goes now to his family, his friends and all who were close to him. Some students may feel a need to talk about this very sad news, and they may do so with acounsellor.   The two-week winter break arrives for students on Friday, December 17th. This break gives students a chance to rest and relax with family and friends and get ready for the challenges and opportunities of a New Year. When students return on Tuesday, January 4th, there will only be three weeks left in Semester 1 before In-School and Provincial Exams begin. This is once again a good time to remind students to be sure to check with their teachers about missing assignments and exam dates. In a symbolic, and often in a very real sense, the beginning of a new year is accompanied by reflection on the past, hope, and a renewed sense of optimism.  As always, I am grateful for the many positive moments I get to witness each day at McNair;anyone who has taken the time to get to know our community of students, parents and staff is aware of their energy, their enthusiasm and their warm spirits. At McNair, people care about each other. We may not always agree on everything, but we are deeply committed to the values of caring, respect, appreciation of difference and diversity, and social responsibility.  Credit for all this belongs to the hard work and commitment exhibited by our staff, coupled with dedicated and talented students who have been willing to give that extra effort to be the best they can. Thank you to the students and staff for the kindness and care you share with us each day you come to school. Thank you to all our parents.  Your support for the school is invaluable. Congratulations! With the New Year come changes.  As you may already know, I will be moving to Richmond Secondary School for 2nd semester; I know that I will be leaving McNair in very good hands. I am very excited to announce that Ms. Margaret Scarr will be returning home as the newly appointed Principal of McNair Secondary. I would like to extend best wishes for the holiday season and wish you all the very best in the New Year from all of us at McNair. McNair Toy Drive We had been asked to help promote a toy drive by one of the families who support our scholarship program. The toy drive and the scholarship is in memory of McNair alumni Victor Ghirra.   Important information regarding textbooks During the first week of the semester, your sons and daughters were issued textbooks by their teachers.  It is the student's responsibility to take good care of all textbooks that he or she is issued.  At the time the textbook is issued, the number and condition are recorded.  At the end of the semester, students are expected to return the issued textbook that they were issued, in good condition.  Textbooks are very expensive and parents should be aware that students will be required to pay for lost or damaged textbooks at the end of the year.  It is important to emphasize that students are required to hand in the textbook that has the number that they were issued, not simply a textbook that they may have ended up with.  We do not wish to unfairly charge someone for a missing textbook that they are unable to return because someone else has it.  Students who have lost or damaged their textbooks will be given assessments which must be paid to the Business Assistant- Ms. Goertz.  Students who have outstanding fees will not receive their yearbook until their fees are paid. McNair School Planning Council The School Planning Council continues to meet to provide the important link between parents, staff and students in supporting our two school-wide goals: School Performance Plan Goals (SPP) 2010-2011 To increase all studentsí ability to construct meaning in all curricular areas by improving reading and thinking skills To improve active citizenship and social responsibility amongst all members of the school community Learning Matters (A parent's guide) THE PARENT'S ROLE As parents, we are our children's first teachers and our homes their first classroom. Children first learn language, not by watching television, but by listening to us when we talk to them while cuddling or playing. As they get older, if we encourage them to speak and listen, and if we respond to what they have to say, their ability to use language expands. Benefits of Supporting Your Child's Learning Studies show that when parents actively support their childrenís learning, their children: get better grades. improve in their language achievement. are more likely to graduate from high school and to go on to higher education. are better behaved and have a more positive attitude. are more likely to expand in their intellectual development. have better relationships with their parents. Building a Relationship with Your Child'sTeacher As a parent, creating a positive relationship with your childís teacher is one of the best things you can do for his education. It is best to develop this relationship at the beginning of the year. Then, if questions or problems arise later on, it is much easier to resolve them. Here are some ways you can build trust and understanding with your childís teacher: Respect a teacherís uniqueness by not expecting all teachers to have the same teaching style and approach. One of the strengths of our public school system is the different experiences your child will have each year. Maintain an open line of communication with teachers. If you have a concern or a question, let your childís teacher know about it before it becomes a real problem. Let him know if there is an important change in your family. A death, an illness, extended absence of a parent, the death of a pet, a move, home renovations, or even a vacation to Disneyland, can all have an impact on a childís schoolwork. Itís very helpful to teachers to know these things. Be courteous and respectful when you raise questions with teachers. Don't be too influenced by your secondary level son or daughterís message to not get involved at the school. Although adolescence is the age at which children begin to separate from their parents, they still need your interest in and support for their education. Always speak respectfully about teachers to your children and to other adults. Your child needs to respect her teacher as well as you, and she should not feel torn between the two. Support your child, and know when to encourage independence. Sometimes you need to speak with the teacher on your childís behalf. Other times it will be better to help her speak to the teacher herself. Take the time to respond to letters, questionnaires, etc., from school. Some teachers send home a description of what the class did for the week. If you sign it and write a response back, teachers will know that you are interested in what your child is learning. Take an active role by attending parent-teacher interviews and other school functions. Attendance & Tardy Reminders - Keep them coming on time - Regular attendance and being on time for classes is imperative to student achievement. We encourage all students to arrive to school 10 minutes before the bell (8:10 a.m.) so that they are completely prepared to begin their studies on time. Parental support is KEY, and we thank you! Parenting adolescents can be both challenging and exhausting. It is important that we work together to support all our students in achieving to the best of their ability in all areas of school. We hope all our students have a happy and successful year. Congratulations! Duke of Edinburgh Award Recipients Internet Safety Do you know what your child is doing on the computer? Parents are always reminded to be aware of what your children are doing on the Internet.  While a valuable tool for homework, research and communication, it is also a source of many inappropriate sites and chat lines. For more information on the potential dangers of the Internet check out... www.safeonlineoutreach.org. .