School spotlight

September 25, 2019—Hermon Public School students are getting a glimpse into their future through a visit to Fleming College in Peterborough.

This stems from a unique practice that happens at the school every day. Every morning all, students and staff meet in the gym in a circle and talk about why they have come to school. Their answers are always that we are all here to work, learn and grow.

This year, they will be broadening their horizons to look beyond the school borders and community in order to see what might be waiting for students down the road. In support of this, students in Grades 4-6 will be participating in tours of various college and university campuses.

The first visit will be to Fleming College on October 1, touring the entire campus with a special tour of the new Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre where students train in carpentry, electrical, HVAC, plumbing and welding trades.

More visits will be scheduled during the school year.

For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Manager, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 62354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

June 28, 2019—Congratulations to Jay Noack, a teacher at Trenton High School who was the recipient of $5,000 from the McDougall Family Fund Contest.

Noack has already secured several thousand dollars for the school through his ‘creativitis’ approach to teaching and learning. He has entered various contests by submitting videos illustrating his work with students and his ideas still to come.

June 4, 2019—Students at Bayside Secondary School are caring citizens who are taking action as part of a national initiative.

On May 24, 2019, approximately 80 students took part in the nationally recognized “Project of Heart,” an inquiry-based, hands-on project that reveals truth about the history and legacy of Canada’s Indigenous people.

Students painted wooden tiles to commemorate the thousands of Indigenous children who died as a result of their experiences at  Indian residential schools after being taken from their homes, many as young as five years old. The edges of each tile are painted black to represent the mourning of children who lost their lives during this tragic time in history. Each tile projects a word or a symbol to offer healing and reconciliation to the families and communities to whom these children belonged.

Students from six English classes, plus a group of Grade 12 students who took Indigenous Studies last semester, engaged in this painting project with meaning and purpose, many feeling compelled to explain the significance of their tiles and paint more. Project of Heart has definitely contributed to enriching the school culture at Bayside Secondary School, as well as furthering students’ understanding and creating empathy for the devastating history of Indigenous people.

This hands-on project has allowed students to become a part of the reconciliACTION process which calls Canadians to action, through social justice endeavors, to change our present and future history collectively. With over 500 tiles painted, this beautiful mosaic will form a new tabletop in the BSS parlour, a meeting place where people come together to solve problems and resolve and reconcile differences on a regular basis.

On May 31, 2019, students attended a presentation by Tanya Maracle-King, Odawa, Crane Clan and member of Wikwemkoong First Nation. Maracle-King is a legacy, a child of IRS survivors, who has given numerous presentations around the topic of residential schools and is well versed in many areas involving First Nations people. Students took part in a smudging ceremony to begin the morning, and had an opportunity to ask Maracle-King questions and hear her stories before they presented her with their tiles as a gift of recognition.

For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 62354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

May 24, 2019—Students in the Grade 12 Theatre Production class at Bayside Secondary School are ready to perform for the community.

EVENT DETAILS

DATE: Thursday, May 30, 2019
TIME: 7:oo p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
LOCATION Bayside Secondary School, 1247 Old Highway 2, Belleville
COST: $5 at the door, proceeds going to the school and two local charities

The students wrote, produced and are starring in a drama performance called “Here We Are — Below the Surface.” This one-hour production is a series of vignettes that flow together to share the issues facing today’s teens, ranging from depression to social media, mental health, gender identity and sexual assault.

Theatre arts can be such an important vessel for students, that sometimes with our busy lives and focus on the larger picture, we do not realize what an impact it has to the students culture and high school experiences.

For more information, please contact:

Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 62354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

May 22, 2019—This Friday, over 350 elementary and secondary students will participate in the Quinte Arts Council Plein Air Painting Festival.

EVENT DETAILS

DATE: Friday, May 24, 2019
TIME: Between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Various, see below

Plein air painting is experiencing painting in the landscape. The practice was made into an art form by the French Impressionists and their desire to paint light and its changing qualities. Artists paint “en plein air,” which is the French expression for “in the open air.”

Each student has been provided with a stamped canvas, plus colour palettes, paint and brushes. According to the Rules and Regulations of Plein Air Painting, paintings must be completed outside and must be direct paintings of the scene surrounding the artist.

Mentors and community partners are a big part of this event because they provide experiential learning to students. These Visual Arts experiences play a valuable role in helping students to achieve their potential as learners and to participate fully in their community. The Arts provide a natural way for students to explore and express themselves, and through which they can discover and interpret the world around them.

Experiential learning allows students to expand their understanding of the industries and career options they may want to pursue in the future. Learning beyond the classroom allows students to see how their in-class learning can be applied in to the world of work.

In collaboration with the Quinte Arts Council, the J.M. Parrott Gallery and the City of Belleville, the 5th Arts en Plein Air Painting Festival will take place in Belleville and the Quinte Region from Thursday, May 23 to Saturday, May 25, 2019.

All canvases will be entered into a juried competition and will be on display at the Quinte Arts Council from May 27 – June 6, 2019.

For more information, contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 62354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

April 26, 2019—It is not often that someone gets to perform live on-air and yet students experienced that today.

The vocal class from Prince Edward Collegiate Institute was on 99.3 County FM and sang three songs: “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper; “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen; and “This is Me” from “The Greatest Showman.”

The performance was part of the station’s annual radiothon as it celebrates five years on the airwaves. The students were invited to join 34 other acts that will be performing live during the 4-day event.

Teacher Andrew Cranshaw jumped at the chance for his Grade 10-12 students to be involved.

Student Cori Goodman, in Grade 11, said, “I’m so thankful to 99.3 County FM for inviting us to do this. They not only gave us the chance to come in and let us perform, but they cheered and encouraged us, as well. I’ve been on the radio as a solo performer before, but they put that extra effort in to ensure we had the space for 10 singers and our pianist/teacher Mr. Cranshaw. There’s nothing more important than music and the people here at 99.3 have supported us in every way.”

The station also supports the school by airing PECI Panthercast every Monday from 8:00-9:00 p.m.

Listeners donated $300 during the students’ performance and requested that the funds specifically support school initiatives.

For more information, contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 62354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

April 26, 2019—If poodle skirts, malt shoppes and jive dancing bring back fond memories, read on . . .

Students at Centennial Secondary School invite you to their production of “Happy Days, A New Musical.”

EVENT DETAILS
DATES: May 14, 15 and 16, 2019
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Centennial Secondary School, 160 Palmer Road, Belleville
TICKETS: $15 for adults, $12 for seniors

This show will take you back to 1959: a time of poodle skirts, malt shoppes, jive dancing, and rock and roll. You’ll sing along with Richie Cunningham, Joanie and Chachi and of course, The Fonz! The show is suitable for all ages.

For more information, contact:
(media) Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 62354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

(show specific information) Carol Wheatley, Guidance Teacher, Centennial Secondary School, 613-962-9233

April 26, 2019—Anytime is a good time to sing and perform for an audience.

Those are a couple of the reasons why students at Eastside Secondary School are rehearsing for “Leader of the Pack.” This lively musical tells the real life story of Ellie Greenwich who wrote dozens of upbeat songs in the 1960s.

Students will perform well-known songs, including “Chapel of Love,” “Da Doo Ron Ron,” “River Deep,” “Mountain High,” and “Leader of the Pack,” among others. This show is suitable for children age 7 and up.

EVENT DETAILS

DATES: Wednesday, May 29 to Saturday, June 1, 2019
TIME: 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
LOCATION: Eastside Secondary School, 275 Farley Avenue, Belleville
TICKETS: Adults $15, Students/Children $10, available at the school, Red Ball Radio or the Quinte Arts Council

For more information, contact:
(media) Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 62354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

(show specific information) Lise Lindenberg, Arts Teacher, Eastside Secondary, 613-962-8668

April 11, 2019—Students in Grades 4 to 8 at Bayside Public School are proud to present the theatrical production of “The Wizard of Oz.” 

This story has captivated the imagination of audiences around the world and now you can experience it for yourself.

EVENT DETAILS

DATE: May 1, 2, and 3, 2019
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Bayside Secondary School, 1247 Old Highway 2, Belleville (between Belleville and Trenton)
TICKETS: $8 at the door or at the Bayside Public School Main Office in advance

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!  Follow the adventures of a young farm girl named Dorothy in the magical Land of Oz, after she and her pet dog Toto are swept away from their Kansas home by a cyclone.  All of your favorite characters from the classic film are here, including the Scarecrow, the Lion, the Tin Man and of course, the Wicked Witch of the West.

Filled with spectacular songs and costumes, Bayside Public School’s version of “The Wizard of Oz” will bring the entire community together for family theatre at its best.

For more information, contact
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

April 11, 2019—The Annual Secondary Art Show continues to be a spectacular way to showcase the creativity and personal expression of Grade 9-12 Visual Arts students from all seven of our secondary schools.

EVENT DETAILS

DATE: April 4-24, 2019
LOCATION: John M. Parrott Art Gallery, 3rd floor of the Belleville Public Library, 254 Pinnacle Street, Belleville

The promotional materials for year’s show, entitled

“Embrace,” are based on works about self-worth, self-love and wellness from students Amanda Meloche and Linsey Milican of Trenton High School.

The gallery exhibit, at the John M. Parrot Art Gallery on the 3rd floor of the Belleville Public Library, displays works from student artists enabling them to present to a broad community audience and experience the impact of sharing their work publicly.

Through their creations, student artists demonstrate what they have learned about the elements and principles of design, the creative process, and the application of a variety of media, materials, technologies, tools and techniques.

This impressive show, in its 31st year, will be open to all during gallery hours from April 4 – 24.

For more information, contact
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

April 10, 2019—The sound of music is in the air once again as students gear up for the 4th Annual BandFest.

Over 250 students from 12 different bands across Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board are participating. This event is a non-competitive board-wide festival for elementary school bands. There are no trophies, ribbons, or ranking systems. It is an opportunity for students who have practiced all year to perform for and listen to their peers.

EVENT DETAILS

DATE: Tuesday, April 16, 2019
TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Centennial Secondary School, 160 Palmer Road, Belleville

This year’s BandFest will include live music performances, workshops, multiple adjudicators and a formal warm-up room. Quinte Symphony musicians are generously providing Masterclass Sessions throughout the day, so that students from different bands can come together to learn skills and techniques specific to their instrument.  Each band will receive a recording of their performance, a live adjudication, as well as a private workshop with a professional conductor.

Door prizes, back-line and practice gear supplied by Long & McQuade Musical Instruments. On-site instrument First Aid and repairs will be provided by Greg Hendrickson of Greg’s Brass and Woodwind Services.

Parents and administrators are invited to attend this board-wide celebration of elementary school music programming.

ADJUDICATOR BIOGRAPHIES

For more information, contact
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

April 9, 2019—What do 130 elementary students, one choir conductor, one pianist, a string bass player and a drummer have in common? The goal of performing a jazz concert for the community.

Students in Grades 3, 4 and 5 from four Belleville elementary schools have been rehearsing for weeks. They practise at their schools on Thursdays then come together for a large group practise on Fridays.

Over the course of the 4-month project, students expand their creativity, develop self esteem, courage, respect, concentration, a sense of accomplishment, teamwork and music skills, as well as an appreciation for the performing arts. This is achieved through learning about jazz music, improvisation and lyric writing. The project concludes with a gala concert.

EVENT DETAILS

DATE: Wednesday, April 24, 2019
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Centennial Secondary School, 160 Palmer Road, Belleville
TICKETS: $10 at the door, free for under age 12

The 130-voice student choir will be accompanied by a professional jazz trio, comprised of internationally known musicians, along with an adult choir and special guest artists.

Participating schools are Prince Charles School (Belleville), Prince of Wales Public School, Queen Elizabeth School (Belleville) and Queen Victoria School.

This wonderful initiative is through a partnership between the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board and We Are One (WAO) Jazz Project. In 2009, WAO became a federally registered charity. Now in its 11th year, We Are One’s innovative jazz choir project has helped build strong community bonds by empowering more than 3,000 young students representing 70+ schools in nine under-serviced areas of Ontario. This project is performance based and delivers supportive guidance by some of Canada’s most accomplished musician/teachers.

For more information, contact
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

March 21, 2019—Datasets, integers, input specifications, output specifications. These are some of the terms students participating in a computer programming contest need to be familiar with.

Students from Eastside Secondary School and Prince Edward Collegiate Institute worked through programming challenges in the Boardwide Programming Contest on March 21, 2019. It is the first level of competition organized by the Educational Computing Organization of Ontario (ECOO).

This event challenges and inspires students to take on problems that exceed the expectations of high school Computer Science courses. Unlike traditional academic contests which have students compete individually, this programming competition requires students to work together as part of a team in order solve a series of challenging problems. It means that organization and communication skills, in addition to computer programming skills, can factor into success in the competition.

As for the contest itself, each team of four students has 3 hours in which to attempt to solve a series of four challenging computer programming problems. To make it even more interesting, each team is only permitted a single computer to work on, which means that organization and time management skills will also come into play.

The problems themselves are very much logical in nature and are drawn from a variety of subject areas, including mathematics, physics and cryptography (breaking codes).

For example, the following is from a previous contest:

The Interlace Cypher is a method of encrypting text by scrambling the letters in a message. The letters are rearranged so that the original words are interlaced by alternating letters from each word (e.g. the first letter from each word, followed by the second letter from each word and so on). Then the resulting letter set is broken up into “words” that match the lengths of the words in the original message, such as this:

Original text: the interlace cypher

Encoded text: tic hnyetpehr elrace

Based on the description provided, the teams of students need to write a computer program that can decode messages that have be written using this cypher.

Solutions to the problems are tested using multiple sets of data. Points are earned for correctly solving the problem, and bonus points are earned based on how much time is remaining in the contest, so teams that are able to come up with a solution faster will earn more points.

More information about the contest is at the ECOO website.

The top three finishers will be invited to represent HPEDSB at the Eastern Ontario Regional Programming Contest to be held at Queen’s University on April 27, 2019. This regional competition draws in teams from Ottawa, Kingston, Brockville and Cornwall in addition to teams from HPEDSB. The top teams from this regional contest then proceed to a provincial competition held in Toronto in May 2019.

For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 62354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

March 4, 2019—Winners of the 2019 Loyalist College Skills Competition were announced following the event on February 26, 2019.

Students participated as individuals or teams competitions for Architectural Technology & Design, Automotive, Baking, Electrical, Esthetics, Individual Carpentry, Mechanical CAD, Photography, Precision Machining, Two-Person Carpentry and Welding.

Congratulations to HPEDSB competition winners

Electrical

1st: Drake Peirson, Trenton High School

3rd: Nate Aagesen, Bayside Secondary School

Esthetics

1st: Emily Palmateer, Trenton High School

2nd: Jessica Howard, Trenton High School

3rd: Brianna Brinklow, Trenton High School

Individual Carpentry

1st: Kyle Genereaux, Bayside Secondary School

3rd: Andrew Graham, Bayside Secondary School

Photography

2nd: Jacob Radocsay, Bayside Secondary School

Precision Machining

1st: Dylan York, Bayside Secondary School

2nd: Kaleb Butler, Bayside Secondary School

3rd: Keegan Sponagle, Bayside Secondary School

Welding

1st: Nolan Porter, Bayside Secondary School

3rd: Cody Johnson, Bayside Secondary School

A total of $22,000 in tuition bursaries were presented to the top secondary school competitors who placed 1^st ($1,000), 2^nd ($600) and 3^rd ($400) in their skill category. The bursaries will be applied as a credit toward tuition fees when recipients register between September 2019 and September 2021 in a full-time program at Loyalist College.

The Centre for Workforce Development, Quinte Home Builders’ Association and BluEarth Renewables also contributed prizes for the competition’s first ever Elementary Challenges in Green Energy, Technology and Construction.

For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 62354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

February 4, 2019—Are you interested in learning to paint or socializing with like-minded people? Come to the Paint Night at Eastside Secondary School.

EVENT DETAILS

DATE: Tuesday, March 26, 2019
TIME: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Eastside Secondary School, 275 Farley Avenue, Belleville
COST: $40 (cash or cheque), all materials will be provided

Join artist Angela Wiggins and the school Visual Arts Department for a night of painting and socializing, no experience necessary!

You will create an original acrylic painting in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Proceeds support the Visual Arts at Eastside Secondary School.

Refreshments and snacks will be available.

For information, please contact:
Lise Lindenberg, Arts Teacher, Eastside Secondary School, llindenberg@hpedsb.on.ca

Updated February 14, 2019

January 21, 2019 –Extended French offers students the opportunity to become fluent in another language. It starts in Grade 5 at York River Public School.

Information Session

DATE: Tuesday, February 19, 2019  Inclement weather date February 21, 2019
(Postponed due to inclement weather Wednesday, February 13, 2019, rescheduled from Thursday, February 7, 2019 )

TIME: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

LOCATION: York River Public School, 131 Newkirk Boulevard, Bancroft, yorkriver.hpedsb.on.ca, 613.332.1833

Pre-Registration Process

Enrolment into the Grade 5 Extended French program will be initiated and continued subject to adequate enrolment of 25 students, continued funding, available space, and qualified staff. Efforts will be made to accommodate all applications received by the host school prior to the registration deadline. If classes are full, your child will be placed on a waitlist.

To be considered for the Extended French program, pre-registrations forms are due to York River Public School by Friday, February 22, 2019.

For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 62354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

January 29, 2019—The Student Leadership Program (Pdf) is for students in Grade 7 and 8 to gain valuable leadership skills through inquiry based learning. The SLP challenges students to develop their leadership skills on a school community and global platform.

Parents and students are invited to an information night.

EVENT DETAILS 

DATE: Tuesday, February 19 , 2019 (rescheduled from Wednesday, February 13, 2019 due to inclement weather)
TIME: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Queen Elizabeth School, 135 MacDonald Avenue, Belleville

About the Student Leadership Program
The Student Leadership Program is for students in Grade 7 and 8 to gain valuable leadership skills through inquiry based learning.

The SLP challenges students to develop their leadership skills on a school community and global platform. The SLP students will enhance their skills and knowledge by participating in a variety of workshops and certificate programs.

Learn more information about the Student Leadership Program. Registration is required by Friday, February 22, 2019.

For more information, please contact:

Program and registration questions

• Principal at Queen Elizabeth School, 613.968.9173, queeneb.hpedsb.on.ca

Media

• Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 62354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

January 21, 2019 –Starting in Grade 4, French Immersion provides an opportunity for students to develop french-language skills in a variety of subject areas. The content is the same as the regular program with French as a language of instruction. Students will have a minimum of 3800 hours of instruction in French by the end of Grade 8. Students who successfully complete the program will receive a French Immersion certificate.

Information Sessions

Pre-Registration Process

Enrolment into the Grade 4 French Immersion program will be initiated and continued subject to adequate enrollment of 25 students, continued funding, available space, and qualified staff. Priority will be given to students registering within their prescribed school attendance area for elective learning programs (host school), based on the student’s home address.

If the program is oversubscribed a random draw will occur. If classes are full, your child will be placed on a wait list. Students who live outside the boundary area of one of the host schools must first be registered at their home school then the parent/guardian must complete Form 340-1: Request for Transfer. Transfer requests will be considered after the process detailed above.

Transportation to the French Immersion program or any other elective learning program is the responsibility of the parent.

To be considered for the French Immersion program, pre-registration forms must be completed and returned to the host school by Friday, February 22, 2019.

For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 62354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

January 17, 2019—The Destinations Program (Pdf) is for Grade 7 and 8 students who are innately curious and passionate about learning.

Parents and students are invited to an information night.

EVENT DETAILS

Information Night 1

DATE: Tuesday, January 29, 2019
TIME: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Queen Elizabeth School, 135 MacDonald Avenue, Belleville

Information Night 2

DATE: Thursday, January 31, 2019
TIME: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Susanna Moodie Elementary School, 376 Avonlough Road, Belleville

About the Destinations Program
The Destinations Program is for Grade 7 and 8 students who are innately curious and passionate about learning and leadership in the local, national and global contexts.

Deep learning experiences build on learner strengths and needs, create new knowledge using real-life problem solving, focus on digital fluency, and help all students identify their talents, purpose and passion.

Students will have opportunities to become active and responsible citizens who are globally minded and technologically savvy. In the Destinations classroom, students inspire and motivate each other to become life-long learners and proficient digital navigators. The program develops students who take steps to create a better and more peaceful world.

Learn more information about the Destinations Program. Registration is required by Friday, February 22, 2019.

For more information, please contact:

Program and registration questions

• Principal at Queen Elizabeth School, 613.968.9173, queeneb.hpedsb.on.ca
• Principal at Susanna Moodie Elementary School, 613.966.8186, smoodie.hpedsb.on.ca

Media

• Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 62354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

January 9, 2019—Students in the Northern Outdoor Studies program at North Hastings High School are excited to share their experiences and learning at an open house.

EVENT DETAILS

DATE: Thursday, January 17, 2019
TIME: 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Room 109, North Hastings High School, 14 Monck Street, Bancroft

This year is a 20th celebration. To date 355 students have participated in the program.

The event is also a way to recognize the individuals, organizations and businesses who have supported the NOS program. It is through their continued support that the program is available to future generations of outdoor-oriented young men and women.

For more information, please contact:

• Barb Gillis or James Burbidge, Teachers, North Hastings High School, 613-332-1220 (program information)
• Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 62354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca (media)

December 21, 2018—Students and staff at Coe Hill School are caring citizens who consider the needs of others and want to make a positive difference in their community.

This year the annual food drive took a twist: All students and staff were divided into three teams.  The White team of Frosty the Snowman, the Green Team  called The Crazy Elves and the Red Team called The Christmas Squad. The goal was to collect the most food items, with a pizza party for the winning team.

The food drive started on December 3 and ended December 18, 2018. During that time, as the boxes filled with non-perishable food items, students would excitedly check their team’s bin to see which team was in the lead. When the 200-mark was reached, everyone was thrilled and a new goal of 400 items was announced. By the last day, the final count was 632 items.

The community was in awe that this little school with 46 students and 9 staff could collect that much food. All 632 items were delivered by staff and students to the Coe Hill Food Bank on Wednesday, December 19, where volunteers were overwhelmed and  grateful for this wonderful donation.

Thank you to all who contributed to this worthy cause.

For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 62354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

December 12, 2018—Students at Trenton High School have worked hard to prepare for the upcoming Muzikwerx show and now they’re ready to perform!

EVENT DETAILS

DATE: Thursday, December 13, 2018
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Trenton High School, 15 Fourth Avenue, Trenton

This annual concert features a 5-piece band and choir performing contemporary hits by Twenty One Pilots, Foo Fighters and Post Malone as well as older classics by Queen, Pink Floyd and David Bowie.

Tickets are available at the door, $10 for adults, $5 for students and children 10 and under are free.

Come for the show, maybe win a door prize and leave feeling inspired!

For more information, please contact:

• Event information: Trenton High School, 613.392.1227, ths@hpedsb.on.ca
• Media: Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 62354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

December 3, 2018—Congratulations to Sabeen Asif, Grade 12 at Centre Hastings Secondary School, selected to participate in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario’s Model Parliament Program. This educational program at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario is for civic-minded high school students in Grades 10 to 12, who are interested in current events and provincial issues.

Asif will be one of 124 students, representing each of the province’s ridings. They will participate in a three-day event in Toronto to meet key figures in Ontario’s Parliament, as well as learn about the parliamentary history and the legislative process through workshops and presentations.

“To be accepted as a candidate in Ontario’s Legislative Assembly is truly an honour. With innovative ideas, solutions, and a fresh new perspective of our Canadian culture, I am proud to represent my home riding of Durham and the students of Centre Hastings Secondary School for the candidacy at the Model Parliament Program. I know that I can make a significant impact that will best fit Canadians, continuing our deep-rooted traditions while also adapting to modern change. Making our future so much more optimistic,” said Asif.

Interested students were required to submit an application consisting of a 450-500 word essay outlining why they think they are a suitable candidate for the program, including examples of leadership, responsibility, maturity and teamwork; their interest in current affairs, provincial issues and government; strong interpersonal and social skills (the ability to get along well with peers and adults); and involvement in a variety of community and extra-curricular activities. A letter of recommendation from a teacher, principal, vice-principal or guidance counsellor to support their application was also required.

Sabeen Asif will be in Toronto from February 27 – March 1, 2018, representing the riding of Durham.

Read more about the Model Parliament Program.

For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 62354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

November 26, 2018—Congratulations to Katarina Blind, Grade 10, Centennial Secondary School, winner of the poster contest for the Quinte Regional Science and Technology Fair.

Katarina was presented with her prize last week. Her design is pictured below. It will be the poster for the 2019 QRSTF scheduled for Saturday, April 13, 2019 at Loyalist College.

Winners from the QRSTF are invited to the Canada-wide Science Fair which will be held in May 2019 in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

For more information, please contact Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, extension 62354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

November 21, 2018—Students at Eastside Secondary School are excited to showcase their learning and leadership by inviting the community to “All the World’s a Stage,” an evening of drama, music and visual art.

EVENT DETAILS

DATE: Wednesday, December 5, 2018
TIME: 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Eastside Secondary School, 275 Farley Avenue, Belleville

Attendees can expect to be doers or watchers at this community event:

• Contribute to the Realm of Dreams mural, designed by senior Arts students, by painting parts of it
• Listen to music performances
• Watch the Improv team

Tickets are $5 for adults, $2 for students, $10 for families, available at the door. Bring a donation for Gleaners Food Bank for a chance to win a prize.

The mural will be on display in the Gym that evening then will be moved to another area in the school.

For information, please contact:
Lise Lindenberg, Arts Department Head, Eastside Secondary School, 613.962.8668, or llindenberg@hpedsb.on.ca

November 15, 2018—A parent seminar about being safe online is being held at Queen Victoria School in Belleville.

EVENT DETAILS: Parenting in the Digital Age

DATES/TIMES: Monday, November 19, 2018 at 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. or Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.
LOCATION: Queen Victoria School, 46 Pine Street, Belleville

Hosted by Matt Richardson, a local consultant about online safety and digital well-being, this seminar will provide parents/guardians with expert advice for safeguarding children and teens online, and for establishing healthy and respectful Internet habits.

Topics include: Tricky People, Online Safety, and Digital Well-Being. Richardson will provide practical advice for staying safe online and how to navigate the digital world in a responsible way.

This presentation is not appropriate for children under age 12.

Richardson has presented at other HPEDSB schools and is a popular facilitator with the Belleville Children’s Safety Village. His messages reflect the realities of what children and youth encounter online.

From Matt Richardson:

“Technology provides young people with new opportunities for learning and has limitless potential to have a positive impact on career prospects. It also presents a number of risks to their personal safety and emotional well-being, and can have negative impacts on their online image that can hinder their future goals. Parents will learn how to protect their children and instill healthy digital habits that will set them up for future success.”

For more information about the session, please contact:
Kevin MacLaurin, Principal, Queen Victoria School, 613.968.4547 or kmaclaurin@hpedsb.on.ca

For media inquires, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170, ext. 62354 or kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

November 13, 2018—The annual Model United Nations conference for secondary school students is taking place in Belleville this week.

EVENT DETAILS
TOPIC: Human Trafficking
DATE: November 14 and 15, 2018 (Wednesday and Thursday)
TIME: 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (see below for the agenda)
LOCATION: Education Centre, 156 Ann Street, Belleville

The event will open with a keynote address by Kaitlyn Ouimette, Victim Services, who will speak about human trafficking through a local lens, on Wednesday, November 14 from 9:15 – 10:00 a.m.

Fifty-five students from HPEDSB secondary schools will then engage in discussions and committee work as they prepare to present, debate and develop position papers on the topic.

What is a Model UN?

The Model UN is an event where secondary school students engage with one another about world issues. The topic this year is Human Trafficking with a focus on Women and Children in Labour.

Students will represent 21 different nations and two international groups*. They’ll explore, discuss and attempt to arrive at resolutions to address the following two questions:

1. What measures are required for the United Nations to monitor those aspects of poverty and globalization that are responsible for the endemic exploitation of labour frequently described with the terms of forced labour and modern slavery?
2. How can the United Nations address the global economic pressures that allow for the constant exploitation and coercion of women, children, and men around the world, contrary to Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN’s Sustainable Goal 8?

Students will examine key issues from a variety of perspectives, including those that take into account economic, humanitarian, and cultural considerations.

*Nations and groups represented include: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, Congo, Cuba, Eritrea, France, Germany, India, International Labour Organization, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Qatar, Russia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vietnam, World Trade Organization.

Agenda, Day 1

8:30 a.m. Registration & Networking

9:00 a.m. Land Acknowledgement, Opening & Welcome

9:15 a.m. Keynote Speaker & Questions

10:00 a.m. Break

10:15 a.m. Part I: Presentation of Frameworks and Responding to Questions

11:30 a.m. Lunch

12:15  p.m. Part II: Presentation of Frameworks and Responding to Questions

1:00 p.m. Follow-up Comments & Questions

1:15 p.m.  Committee Work

Agenda, Day 2

8:30 a.m. Welcome & Networking

9:00 a.m. Committee Work

10:15 a.m. Break

10:30 a.m. Meet in General Assembly, Preamble and Voting Procedure

10:45 a.m. Complete Committee Work

12:00 p.m. Working lunch

12:45 p.m. First Reading and Questions/Objections

1:00 p.m. Fine-tuning

1:45 p.m. Final Reading and Vote

For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 62354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

October 24, 2018—Students and their parents/guardians are invited to an information session (Pdf) to learn more about the International Baccalaureate (IB) & Foundations Programme.

EVENT DETAILS

DATE: Monday, November 12, 2018
TIME: 6:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Eastside Secondary School, 275 Farley Avenue, Belleville

The Foundations and International Baccalaureate Programme provides an enriching educational environment through enhanced courses that stimulate curiosity and inquiry which fosters a spirit of discovery and an enjoyment of learning. We strive to provide excellent instruction within the classroom and through experiential learning.  Go to the website to learn more: http://www.ibo.org/benefits/

Applications for entry to the grade 9, 10 and 11 programs will be available at this session.

Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 62354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

October 22, 2018—If you enjoy going to craft shows, read on . . .

The community is invited to The Holly and the Ivy Artisan Show and Sale.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Saturday, November 24, 2018

TIME: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

LOCATION: Belleville Public Library and John M. Parrott Art Gallery (3rd floor), 254 Pinnacle Street, Belleville

In a lovely art gallery setting, artisans will be selling handmade products, such as soaps, jewellery, photography, baked goods and student-decorated bird houses.

Coffee, tea and water will be available.

This event is in support of education programs for the Adventure Class at Queen Victoria School. Vendors wishing to participate are welcome to contact the school by Thursday, November 1, 2018.

For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

October 10, 2018—This media advisory is about a student event at Harmony Public School.

Event details

WHAT: Student Google Summit for students in Grades 4-8

WHEN: Thursday, October 11 for students in Grades 6-8; and Friday, October 12, 2018 for students in Grades 4-5

WHERE: Harmony Public School, 626 Harmony Road, Corbyville

A Google Summit is a high intensity event that focuses on teaching, learning and integrating Google applications, such as Google Docs, Slides and Classroom, as well as other Google tools, for student learning in K-12 education. Students will participate in four learning sessions. 

EVENT SCHEDULE

9:40 – 10:00 a.m. Welcome by Kim Myderwyk, Principal

Keynote speaker: Meera Moorthy, Student Trustee

Guest speakers:

Mandy Savery-Whiteway, Director of Education

Laina Andrews, Superintendent of Education

10:05 – 10:55 a.m. Session 1

11:05 – 11:55 a.m. Session 2

12:00 – 12:20 p.m. Recess

12:20 – 12:40 p.m. Lunch

12:50 – 1:50 p.m. Session 3

2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Session 4

3:05 – 3:25 p.m. Closing Keynote

On-site contacts: Teachers Andrea Bird or Andrew Brown.

For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

September 19, 2018—Two North Hastings High School Music students earned gold medals in their respective disciplines during last season’s Royal Conservatory of Music examinations. Medals are given to students for receiving the highest marks in the province.

Natalie Nicholson, French horn and Ezra Schell, percussion, Grade 10 students at North Hastings High School in Bancroft, completed their examinations in June 2018, and have been invited to the Convocation Gold Medals Ceremony at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto in October 2018.

This is an amazing accomplishment for both students. We wish them the best of luck in October and in their future music studies.

For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

September 11, 2018—Students and families of the North Trenton Public School community are invited to the Community Breakfast to welcome everyone back to school.

DATE: Wednesday, September 12, 2018

TIME: 8:30 a.m.

LOCATION: North Trenton Public School, 12 Briardale Boulevard, Trenton

A healthy and nutritious breakfast will be prepared by Chef Nicholas (of Batawa Ski Hill).

Visit with friends, school staff and find out about good food choices.

Thank you to Food for Learning for providing funding for this event.

For more information, please contact Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, extension 62354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

June 21, 2018—Congratulations to four elementary schools, recipients of Ophea’s Healthy Schools Certification.

• Bayside Public School, Gold
• Deseronto Public School, Gold
• Prince Charles School (Belleville), Gold
• Maynooth Public School, Silver

Some highlights from the 2017-18 school year include the following:

Bayside Public School, Gold

• Regular activities to promote physical activity: Wildcat Walk & Run, Active Play Days, Jump Rope, Celebration of Dance, Wheelchair Basketball, Hallway Body Break Stations, wellness learning opportunities
• Student leadership through the Active Recess Leadership Team
• Various outdoor learning activities in all seasons
• Creation of the Healthy Kids Bayside Twitter account (@HealthyKidsBPS) to document the school journey

Deseronto Public School, Gold

• Regular activities to promote physical activity: Dragon Dash and Running Club, Active Play Days  and recess leadership activities
• Burp it on Challenges: a physical activity challenge created by hardworking and dedicated students in Grade 5/6; Twitter account (@burp_it_on); with international participation and recognized by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and MP Mike Bossio
• Community partnerships with the Belleville Senators and Napanee Heritage Run

Prince Charles School (Belleville), Gold

• Implementation of classroom and school-based physical learning activities: cooperative games, dances, wellness learning opportunities, yoga, Friday Fun Runs
• Involvement in community partnerships with a variety of organizations: City of Belleville (Mayor’s Bike Ride), Canadian Cancer Society, Goodlife Fitness, Public Health, The Belleville Senators

Maynooth Public School, Silver

• Daily physical activities within the instructional day
• Leadership from older students to lead active play during recess
• Various outdoor learning activities in all seasons

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. Being involved is a demonstration of the school commitment to the goals in the HPEDSB strategic plan which include creating welcoming, inclusive, safe and accepting learning environments that optimize students’ potential; and involve students in developing leadership skills.

Participating schools across Ontario completed the 6-Step Healthy Schools Process, which aligns with the Ministry of Education’s Foundations for a Healthy School resource and the Well-Being Strategy for Education.

Ophea is a not-for-profit organization and is led by the vision that all children and youth value and enjoy the lifelong benefits of healthy, active living. Since 1921, Ophea has been working to support the health and learning of children and youth in schools and communities through quality programs and services, partnerships, and advocacy.

Ophea works in partnership with school boards, public health, government, non-government organizations, and private sector organizations to develop groundbreaking programs and services that support healthy, active schools and communities.

For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

June 21, 2018—Congratulations to seven elementary schools recognized as EcoSchools for their green initiatives.

• Bayside Public School, awarded Gold (1st year participating)
• Harry J. Clarke Public School, awarded Bronze (1st year participating)
• Hermon Public School, awarded Silver (1st year participating)
• Kente Public School, awarded Gold (1st year participating)
• Madoc Public School, awarded Silver
• Stirling Public School, awarded Silver
• York River Public School, awarded Silver

Some highlights from the 2017-18 school year include the following:

Bayside Public School, awarded Gold (1st year participating)

• Recognized for excellent energy conservation efforts
• Recognized for excellent waste minimization efforts
• Ran a successful battery recycling campaign called “Recycle Your Batteries”
• Ran a successful single-use straws campaign called “Let’s Say No to Single-Use Straws!”

Harry J. Clarke Public School, awarded Bronze (1st year participating)

• Students campaigned for wildflower and native species planter boxes in the school yard to “Bring Back the Bees” and wrote a letter to the principal and vice-principal with their request and reasoning
• Students raised awareness about waste from lunches and campaigned for “Wasteless Wednesdays”

Hermon Public School, awarded Silver (1st year participating)

• Students are in the process of creating a composting program
• Students in Kindergarten and Grades 4, 5, and 6 created a food garden and planned a no-mow zone with help of the custodian; they plan to host a community dinner with any vegetables and produce grown
• Students and staff started a recycling program (prior to, all waste was going to garbage) and reinforced its usage to the school with announcements, posters and presentations
• Students ran a Clean Up Habitats campaign to clean their school yard of garbage

Kente Public School, awarded Gold (1st year participating)

• Classrooms participate in composting, vermicomposting, and reducing waste around lunchtimes with Boomerang Wednesdays and the Golden Lunchbox Award initiatives
• The school has built a new raised-bed food garden. Students wrote letters to local business asking for donations, and families will sign up for caring for the beds over the summer months. The school also worked with a local botanist to identify drought-resistant native species, the Food Security Network of Prince Edward County, Indigenous educators, and the Food Bank

Madoc Public School, awarded Silver

• Recognized for a good variety of Curriculum lessons, from learning about the plight of polar bears in climate change, to creating models of watersheds and rivers, to learning about saving the bees
• The school ran Lights-Off Lunches to raise awareness about energy consumption and conservation
• The school investigated waste and money spent on plastic spoon, and banned them to combat these issues

Stirling Public School, awarded Silver

• The school undertook four school ground greening projects which all resulted from classroom inquires and research:
  • Grade 1 students created a native pollinator garden
  • Grade 3 students worked in the greenhouse
  • the EcoTeam created multi-grade planter boxes
  • Learning Forest initiatives

York River Public School, awarded Silver

• School hosted a clothing swap to highlight the impact of fashion and textile waste; families came in and donated/shopped for used goods
• School participated in a school-wide Earth Hour, learning how the impacts of small acts can make a big difference
• School coordinated a Sweater Day initiative, where everyone wore sweaters and turned the heat down a few degrees to raise awareness about energy conservation

EcoSchools is a provincial program that addresses environmental issues in the school system. Student leadership is nurtured to foster environmental learning and actions in the school community. All publicly-funded schools can apply for the annual certification program for free.

Four certification levels can be completed, helping schools work toward common environmental goals and student engagement. Certification is based on a provincial standard of excellence and reaches 1,000,000 students across Ontario.

Each school receives an EcoSchools plaque in recognition of the achievement.

For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

June 18, 2018—Grade 8 students at Park Dale School were are asked to complete a Dragon’s Den Project for a class assignment. This project involved students creating, designing and writing a business plan that was presented to community business leaders in a Dragon’s Den format similar to the popular TV show on CBC.

Ava, Mya, Olyvia and Jess researched statistics about how many women go without personal hygiene items and how it has impacted their lives. The students wrote a business plan and proposed the launch of a not-for-profit charity organization called “The Pink Project: Women Supporting Women.” This projects is about supporting women locally, nationally and internationally who don’t have access to basic feminine hygiene products.

The Pink Project is responsible for creating care boxes containing items such as tampons, pads, razors, deodorant, a hair brush, wipes and inspirational quotes, as well as setting up distribution to under-privileged communities. These four creative students will be making beaded bracelets and selling them to generate money to buy more products and keep production going.

These resourceful girls reached out locally to Proctor & Gamble and also to Moon Sisters, a local charity that supports community Indigenous communities in the far north for help. P&G donated 100 items for the care boxes and Moon Sisters agreed to help with distribution. As a result of this community and teacher support, 100 care boxes are scheduled to be shipped to Northern Ontario.

For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

June 11, 2018—Frankford Public School announces the upcoming musical performances of The Music Man Junior.

DATES: Tuesday, June 12, 2018 and Wednesday, June 13, 2018

TIME:  7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)

LOCATION: Frankford Public School, 36 Adelaide Street, Frankford

COST: $5.00, tickets available at the school

This musical adaptation is based on the Meredith Willson’s musical comedy. This story is full of wit, warmth and good old-fashioned romance.

For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

May 7, 2018—Approximately 160 students in Grades 7 to 11 will participate in the Everyday Leadership & Well-Being Symposium this week.

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Wednesday, May 9, 2018
TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Loyalist College

This event is planned and hosted by the Student Senate which consists of two students from each secondary school. The  purpose of the symposium is to redefine leadership with respect to well-being and living as an everyday leader. Students will participate in three workshops throughout the day (see below) to explore elements of leadership and well-being, supporting globally minded leaders and learners.

Mandy Savery-Whiteway, Director of Education, will bring greetings. Stu Saunders, the keynote speaker, will focus on the theme of Everyday Leadership.

Workshop presenters include students, HPEDSB staff, Dr. Julie Gowthorpe and Sean Kelly, and Loyalist College instructors who will share their experiences and highlight the importance and value of student voice, leadership, initiative and well-being.

Symposium schedule

9:00 a.m. Welcome, opening remarks, Student Senate and Mandy Savery-Whiteway, Director of Education
9:15 a.m. Stu Saunders, keynote speaker
10:10 to 10:40 a.m. Workshop 1 (30-minute workshops)
10:40 to 10:55 a.m. Abby Heffernan, student presenter from Prince Edward Collegiate Institute
10:55 to 11:25 a.m. Lunch
11:25 to 11:40 a.m. Kristen Sutherland, student presenter from North Hastings High School
11:50 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. Workshop 2
12:30 to 1:00 p.m. Workshop 3

STUDENT PRESENTERS

• Abby Heffernan from Prince Edward Collegiate Institute. Abby Heffernan was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2015 before starting high school. She will speak about staying positive through difficult situations and making the best of every situation. Finding and maintaining a positive perspective through challenges reinforces the overall theme of the conference; everyday leadership is about making small changes for personal or someone else’s well-being.
• Kristen Sutherland from North Hastings High School. Kristen Sutherland is an amputee and her speech will have an underlying message of the importance of resiliency. She will speak about how she was able to remain positive and overcome the obstacles that she faced throughout her journey, and how some of the hardest decisions, may be some of the best decisions. Leadership can be expressed in the ability to make choices for oneself; everyday leadership can be personal and does not have to impact others.

WORKSHOP PRESENTERS AND TOPICS

• Keynote address: Stu Saunders. Stu will work with everyday  leaders to reflect and uncover their leadership potential and help them craft their next steps.
• Dressing on a Dime and Feeling Great: Lucille Kyle. This workshop will be conducted in the form of an unorthodox fashion show. It will identify strategies for shopping to meet one’s own comfort level, as well as on a budget. Lucille and student senators will model the importance of dressing to feel confident in one’s own skin. Models in the workshop will have the opportunity to be styled in multiple innovative ways. The goal of the workshop is to show how trends can be limiting.  Students will be encouraged to question and push beyond these boundaries to explore the fun of fashion. An overall theme of positivity will be encouraged throughout the workshop, supporting mental health and well-being.
• Art and Mindfulness: Andrea Kerr. This will be a hands-on workshop. Mindfulness boosts creativity and creativity boosts mindfulness. Learn how to get into creative flow anywhere and anytime you have a few moments of solitude. No drawing experience necessary! Create something of your very own to take home. Choose one project or complete all three!
• Managing and Reducing Stress: Dr. Julie Gowthorpe and Sean Kelly. This workshop will be conducted in the form of a conversational presentation about mindful stress reduction. It will identify sources of stress in a student’s life through conversations facilitated by Dr. Gowthorpe and Sean Kelly. Staying mentally healthy while encountering a variety of barriers to self-esteem can be difficult in social environments (such as high school). The goal of this workshop is to reflect on effective self esteem management and to recognize vulnerability.
• Sleep and Well-Being: Dr. Deanna Mayfield and Julie Pulman- Brogee. This workshop will be conducted in the form of a conversational presentation about the aspects of the brain that manage stress. Mental health specialists will guide the workshop and address the importance of sleep for maintaining mental health and well-being; high school students are within the age demographic that sleep the least and work the longest. They will also discuss how stress impacts memory and how to cope with pressure. Students will also be shown when and how to reach out for help; finding a personal limit with regards to mental health is important to staying healthy.
• The Powers and Pitfalls of Social Media: Kerry Ramsay. This workshop will be conducted as a conversational presentation about the power and pitfalls of social media use. It will identify the positive aspects of social media for students as well as offer strategies to developing a positive online presence. Student voice will be facilitated by student senators and a well-being expert from Loyalist College through conversations about how social media is used and the overall effect on mental health; perceptions of other people on social media can lead to personal pressures and negativity.
• Mindful Yoga: Tammy Kenzie. This will be a mindful workshop in which students participate in a 30-minute yoga session guided by a professional. The goal of the session is to introduce stress reduction techniques through yoga. Physical activity can increase dopamine levels and decrease stress; it is important to be mindful of mental and physical health.
• Mission Impossible: Student Senators. This is an interactive workshop in which students will work in teams to complete the mission, which is comprised of several tasks, such as puzzles, an obstacle course, etc., under a given time constraint and with certain stipulations.  The first time that the teams attempt the mission, they will not be given any time to plan or organize themselves, which typically results in teams being unable to complete the mission. They will then be given five minutes to plan before their second attempt to complete the mission. Teams tend to be more successful in their second attempt, which ultimately demonstrates to students and will lead into a discussion about the importance of time management and organization, as well as effective collaboration.
• Action Planning: What does the world need now?: Student Senators. This workshop will be conducted as a conversation translating into action plans. The workshop will take place throughout the day and each group of students will have a different responsibility. The students in the morning will generate ideas on how to improve their school, community, or world. The students in the afternoon will implement ideas into tangible action plans that can be taken back to schools and used. Action plans developed in this workshop can be brought to conversations with a school’s senator and can be supported by the student senate. The overall goal of this workshop is to transform student voice into tangible initiatives that provide leadership opportunities for students attending the conference.

Throughout the day, students will be encouraged to document their ideas and thoughts. They will keep the ‘Not  Exit Card’ and bring it to a follow-up meeting with their school student senators. The goal of the Not Exit Card is to make tangible connections between ideas (or notable thoughts) on paper (visible thinking).

At the end of the day, students will document one goal on a postcard and it will be placed in a draw with their name and school on it. The postcards will be given to the school student senator for immediate and future follow-up.

The event hashtag is #HPE_BeWell.

For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

May 7, 2018—Students in Grade 7 and 8 are the first to be involved in a StEP UP day of learning. StEP UP stands for Student Empowered Pathways, Unlimited Possibilities.

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Friday, May 11, 2018
Time: 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Location: Loyalist College

Students will participate in two workshops, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, taught by Loyalist College instructors. Topics include the following:

• Animation
• Architecture
• Art & Design Foundations
• Biosciences
• Culinary
• Esthetics & Spa Management
• Film & TV Production
• Fitness & Health Promotion
• Justice Studies
• Photojournalism
• Public Relations
• Radio Broadcasting
• Skilled Trades

StEP UP is an enrichment event for students who have confidence learning in different environments, with new and unknown peers and who have expressed an interest learning more about in post-secondary opportunities.

Agenda

9:15 – 9:30 a.m.: Welcome and opening remarks
9:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Session 1
12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Session 2

This event is a partnership between HPEDSB and Loyalist College. Students will receive an event T-shirt for being involved.

For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

May 3, 2018—All are invited to an Arts Extravaganza and Sale Sale at Trenton High School.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Tuesday, May 8, 2018
TIME: 6:00-7:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Trenton High School, 15 Fourth Avenue, Trenton

This a free event with snacks.

What to expect

The evening will start with a sale of art prints, ceramics, fused glass items and furniture from present artists and alumni. There is a lot to choose from.

Be part of an audience during the middle half hour for student vocal and instrumental music performances in the Music Room.

The last half hour will feature a student drama presentation  in the Auditorium.

All are welcome to attend.

For more information, contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

May 1, 2018—Eighteen students from four HPEDSB secondary schools are set to participate in the Skills Ontario Competition in Toronto.

EVENT DETAILS
Date: May 7 – 9, 2018
Location: Toronto Congress Centre

Students will compete in events for gold, silver and bronze medals and monetary awards. Gold medalists in some competitions will be eligible to go on to represent Ontario at the Skills Canada National Competition in June 2018 in Edmonton, Alberta.

Competitors are judged on their skills in completing their contest project. Students qualified for this event by participating in local competitions held at Loyalist College, St. Lawrence College and at their schools.

Winners will be announced at the Skills Ontario Closing Ceremony on Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at the Toronto Congress Centre (North Building).

For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

May 1, 2018—Prince Charles Public School-Trenton announce upcoming performances of the musical Treasure Island (Pdf).

DATES: Wednesday, May 9, 2018 and Thursday, May 10, 2018

TIME:  7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)

LOCATION: Prince Charles Public School, 138 Dufferin Avenue South, Trenton

COST: $5.00, tickets available at the school

This musical adaptation is based on the Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic that was written in 1881 about Jim Hawkin’s boyhood adventure to find buried treasure.

All are invited to come out and experience unique and exciting pirate adventures.

For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

April 30, 2018—Quinte Secondary School is closing at the end of June 2018.

To celebrate the past and present, students, families and community members are invited to take part in Closing Ceremony activities that have been planned for Thursday, May 31, 2018 through to and including Saturday, June 2, 2018.

Activities are free,  with the exception of the Saints Gala on Saturday, June 2, 2108. There will be a silent auction of special Saints memorabilia throughout the weekend.

QUINTE SECONDARY SCHOOL – REGISTER HERE

45 College Street West, Belleville

This weekend is a time to current and former students to come together to share stories and memories about Quinte Secondary School.

For more information, please contact:

Quinte Secondary School, 613-962-9295, qss@hpedsb.on.ca

or

Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

April 30, 2018—Moira Secondary School is closing at the end of June 2018.

To celebrate the past and present students, families and community members are invited to Closing Ceremony activities (Pdf) which have been planned for Friday, May 25, 2018 and Saturday, May 26, 2018.

MOIRA SECONDARY SCHOOL: 1959-2018

275 Farley Avenue, Belleville

This weekend is a time to celebrate the history of Moira Secondary School. All are welcome to attend the events, reconnect and share individual memories.

For more information, please contact:

Moira Secondary School, 613-962-8668, mss@hpedsb.on.ca

or

Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

April 26, 2018—Over 300 secondary school students from eight schools will participate in a student symposium related to Indigenous Studies.

EVENT DETAILS

DATE: Monday, April 30, 2018
TIME: 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Loyalist College, Belleville

Keynote speaker Michael Redhead Champagne (see below for more information) from Winnipeg, will talk about students being changemakers.

Ignite the Fire will provide students with a better understanding and sense of empowerment to make positive change as learners and leaders. The goal of this event is to provide a forum for students and educators to learn and discuss:

• what Indigenous perspective is and means;
• how everyone is a part of contemporary Indigenous issues;
• teachings from multiple cultures and perspectives;
• the importance of relationships as we move toward reconciliation; and
• how they can become changemakers.

Students will participate in workshops led by Indigenous presenters from several different Indigenous communities across Canada.

Workshop topics 

• Residential Schools: Our History, Our Story, Our Legacy by Tanya (Shoo-Shoo) King- Maracle
• Pillars of Calm, Positivity and Perseverance, by Joe Brant (Thohtharatye)
• Importance of Treating Each Other with Patience and with a Good Heart, by Christine Luckasavitch
• DNA – Dedicated Native Awareness, by Nimkii Osawamick
• Perspectives on Indigenous Knowledge and World View, by Nancy Rowe (Giidaakunadaad)
• Youth Empowerment and Indigenous Rights Awareness, by Gabrielle Fayant
• Storytelling, by Daniel Richer
• Art as Healing for Self-care and Self expression, by Aura
• Re-connections, by Bill Montgomery
• Conveying Cultural Values through Art, by Deron Douglas Ahsén:nase

Agenda

• 8:55 to 9:00 a.m Welcome in the Link Lounge
• 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Creating the Spark, Michael Champagne, Keynote Speaker
• 10:10 to 11:10 a.m. Workshop sessions 1
• 12:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Workshop sessions 2
• 1:25 to 2:00 p.m. Closing Keynote

Background on Michael Redhead Champagne

Michael Redhead Champagne has spent nearly two decades speaking out and leading by example. He takes a hopeful and solution oriented approach to youth engagement, facilitation, community organizing and mobilization.

The list of accolades for his work is both lengthy and well deserved. He was recognized as the 2016 Canadian Red Cross Young Humanitarian of the Year and in TIME Magazine as a Next Generation Leader. In 2016, Michael served on the Bank of Canada’s bank note advisory committee with a task of creating a short list of women nominated by the public to appear on a new bank note. Michael has also received a Manitoba Aboriginal Youth Achievement Award as well as recognition as a CBC Manitoba Future 40 leader, a Manitoba Hero, and a Future Leader of Manitoba.

As the founder of AYO! (Aboriginal Youth Opportunities), he is committed to a wide variety of important community initiatives including Meet Me at the Bell Tower, AYO Politix, ARROWS Youth Engagement Strategy, 13 Fires, Fearless R2W and Winnipeg Water Wednesday. Michael has served as president of North End Community Renewal Corporation, a board member for the Circle of Life Thunderbird House and is currently serving on the board for Marymound Inc. His committee work currently includes United Way of Winnipeg’s Council for Indigenous Relations and is an advisor to the Garden of Compassion initiative.

In January 2018 alone MC has helped announce a new texting service with Kids Help Phone and has been recognized with a Meritorious Service Decoration from the Governor General of Canada.

Michael is known for his straight up and heartfelt style that will leave you moved, inspired and ready for action.

For more information, contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

April 23, 2018—Students from eight secondary schools are looking forward to participating in the “What’s Next?!” conference. It is a hands-on learning day for students who are entering the workforce immediately upon graduation, or who are senior students in looking for assistance to secure a part-time job.

EVENT DETAILS

DATE: Wednesday, April 25, 2018
TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre, Belleville

The keynote speaker is Robert Watt, President and Founder of RJW-Gem Campbell Stonemasons.

Students will participate in workshops hosted by community partners and hear from an employer panel. Information tables will be set-up during lunch for students to find out about employment service providers and community partners.

Workshop topics 

• Tenant Rights
• Financial Literacy Basics
• Job Search Planning
• Preparing for the Interview
• Improving Soft Skills
• Achieving Success in Your New Job
• Consumer Law
• Your Social Media Presence
• Be Your Own Boss

Agenda

• 9:00 to 9:15 a.m. Opening remarks
• 9:15 to 10:00 a.m. Keynote speaker
• 10:10 to 11:00 a.m. Workshop session 1
• 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. Workshop session 2
• 12:25 to 1:10 p.m. Panel presentation

This event was piloted with three secondary schools in 2017. Students found it helpful which led to it being offered to all eight now. Last year students asked questions, made connections with each other and the presenters, developed an understanding of potential future paths and learned how to plan for success after high school.

For more information, contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

April 17, 2018—Moira Secondary School is excited to announce the upcoming Moira Idol event (Pdf).

DATE: Thursday, April 19, 2018

TIME:  6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:00 p.m.)

LOCATION: Moira Secondary School, 275 Farley Ave, Belleville

COST: $5.00 charge at the door

Moira Idol is a spin off of the popular television show Canadian Idol, a competition where singers perform and are judged.

Brett McNaueal will be judging Moira Idol. Brett began writing and playing music at the age of 12. His expansive knowledge of music enabled him to work as a radio personality at a local radio station and as a musical in a number of bands.

All are welcome to come out and enjoy Moira Secondary School student performances.

For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

April 13, 2018—Elementary school students are preparing to take to the stage for BandFest 2018.

Event details
DATE: Thursday, April 19, 2018
TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Centennial Secondary School, 160 Palmer Road, Belleville

BandFest 2018 will include live music performed by students, multiple adjudicators, workshops and a formal warm-up room.  And new this year—the Quinte Symphony Masterclasses for specific instrument groups.

Each participating elementary band will receive a recording of its performance, a live adjudication, as well as a private workshop with a professional conductor. The bands may be either classroom-based or extracurricular and must include, but are not limited to, woodwind and/or brass instruments.

Background

In April 2016, HPEDSB held its first annual BandFest which hosted over 200 students from nine different bands across the region. This event was a non-competitive board wide festival for elementary school bands. With no trophies, ribbons or ranking systems, it was a chance for students who had practiced since September to perform for, and listen to an audience of their peers.

All parents/families are welcome to attend to see elementary school bands in action!

For more information, contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca

April 12, 2018—The Music program at North Hastings High School needed new instruments to thrive. Thanks to MusiCounts Canada and Volkswagen Canada, they were delivered in a VW Golf to surprise students!

“The French horns and oboes that we received from Volkswagen via MusiCounts are in full use in our instrument fleet. I actually have a French horn ensemble now, which is pretty much unheard of for a school our size,” said Dianne Winmill, recipient of the 2017 MusiCounts Canadian Teacher of the Year Award.

Related: National music award for North Hastings HS teacher

According to Winmill it’s amazing how many instruments you can fit in a Golf model.

For more information, please contact:
Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, 613-966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354, kdonnell@hpedsb.on.ca