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Matthew McNair Secondary |
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Richmond, British Columbia |
Richmond, British Columbia |
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School District No. 38 (Richmond) "McNair: A Caring Community"
McNairís Mission Statement:
McNair is a caring school where students, staff and parents learn together
in a safe environment based on trust and mutual respect. Our purpose is to provide opportunities for all learners to realize their potential and pursue their goals.
As we close our doors for the summer months we wish to thank our students, parents and staff for their ongoing contribution to the life of the McNair School community. We would like to offer our appreciation and thanks to the many teachers, parents and community members who gave of their time and connected with our students over the past year, impacting the lives of so many. I thank you for the strong and growing parental involvement that has helped support our students throughout this year. We are very proud of our school and believe that we have much to celebrate as we work and learn together. Thank you for all you have done to continue to make McNair a great place of learning.
June always means celebrations and acknowledgments for the yearís efforts. Our Award Assemblies honoured students who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in the areas of Academics, Athletics, Fine and Performing Arts, and Service. The outstanding results of our athletes and teams were recognized at our third annual Athletic Banquet. Our Valedictory Ceremony recognized the wonderful achievement of our 2010 Grad Class. Each of these activities was the result of long hours of planning and organizing. The activities the school provides for our students to GET INVOLVED are too many to list here.
There are many things that define a school and more importantly, excellence in a school. It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge the significant contributions that the individuals listed below have made to McNair Secondary School. Each person has, in their own way, made a positive difference to McNairís Learning Community. I know parents and students alike will join me in publicly thanking the following staff for their tireless, generous and professional dedication.
Congratulations to Mr. Kent Campbell. We thank you for your years of service to our students and wish you all the best in retirement. We wish Ms. Donna Dunn all the best as she takes on her new role as Faculty Advisor at Simon Fraser University, Mrs. Evelyn Ioannidis in her new role as a District Counsellor, Mrs. Pasin moving to Palmer, and Ms. Macallum as she assumes a new position at Burnett Secondary.
We wish to thank, Ms. Pickerell off to Westwind Elementary, Mr. Kenneth Lui who will be joining the McMath staff, and Mr. Bryce Miller a heads for Hugh Boyd for all their hard work and support. A special goodbye and good luck to our custodian Mr. George Kam, who will be joining the Steveston-London staff on July 1st and to Mrs. Mary Stopp off to McKinney Elementary school.
We also would like to thank and bid farewell to Ms. Haklander, Ms. Sonja Bone, Ms. Kate Campbell, Ms. Josephine Chen, Mr. Charlie Coleman, Mrs. Marjorie Kokan, Mr. Kristian Naso and Mr. Mike Wang.
On behalf of the staff and students of McNair, I wish everyone a safe and restful summer and look forward to welcoming a new academic year with all its hope, dreams and challenges.
Changes to School Calendar- Two Week Spring Break
In order to assist the Richmond Board of Education better understand the impact of a two week spring break on the community prior to making a decision and to ensure that all voices are heard, a consultation process involving all partner groups and community members will begin immediately. The Board of Education will make its decision based on the feedback of those who will be most impacted; students and their families, our employee groups and our other community partners. Interested parties are encouraged to provide their feedback and input in any or all of the following ways:
The Board will hear from interested members of the public and will make its decision on these calendar changes at the Monday, May 17, 2010 Regular Public Board Meeting.
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. Two Hundred and Fifety toys were sent to Children's Hospital. Grade 12 students, Natasha Nand and Saras Reddy who have played key roles said, “Our challenge is to inspire our peers to give, not to achieve a prize or win a competition, but give because it’s the right thing to do.
 From 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:
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:
Dates to Remember
Date: Event: Time: Location:
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.
 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 Improvement Goals for 2009-2010
Goal #1: To improve reading Comprehension for all students
Goal #2 To improve active citizenship and social responsibility amongst all students
Principal: Rose Sebellin
Representative of PAC Executive: Debbie Hurtig
Representatives of PAC Membership: Rob Dodman, Sandra Cawley
Important information regarding textbooks
During the first week of the semester, your sons and daughters were issued textbooks by their teachers. It is the studentís 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 by June 20th to the Business Assistant- Ms. Goertz. Students who have outstanding fees will not receive their yearbook until their fees are paid.
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.
We would like to acknowledge a number of McNair scholars for excellent achievement on their Provincials exams.
Congratulations to ...
.Math 12 (100%)
Mark Carbungco
Oliver Chen
Saad Khan
Karen Ko
Eric Novak
Irene Tong
Denise Wong
Math 12 (99%)
Harpreet Sandhu
Salimah Valiani
Jenny Yiu
Math 10 (100%)
Josef Murrillo
Course Selection for September 2009
Counsellors have completed visiting and meeting with students as part of course selection for September 2009. Parent participation is a very important part of this process. Final course selection for all grades was completed prior to Spring Break. This year students selected courses online as we will now be connected with the Ministry of Education via a new program called BCeSIS.
Course selection is very important as we are allocated our teaching staff which then determines the number of courses we can offer at the school. We carefully consider the course requests made by students before we begin to 'build' a timetable that will attempt to provide all courses that our studnets need and want for the coming 2009-2010 school year. Once we build the timetable it can be difficult to accomodate requests to change courses.
Our expectation at McNair isthat a student takes a full, balanced program. Students in Grades 8-11 are expected to take 8 courses. Students in Grade 12 may wish to take a study block, but should enrol in a full program whenever possible. A balanced program includes courses from a traditional academic areas as well as a range of electives.
Congratulations!
Duke of Edinburgh Award Recipients
 We are very proud of the hard work, dedication and commitment they have and continue to demonstrate!
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.
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