Submitted by Emily Cameron, BPDS
November was a time of celebration and reflection at Bruce Peninsula District School (BPDS). On November 10, Secondary students participated in several Remembrance Day activities organized by the grade 10 History class. Students got to learn about local WWI and WWII heroes as they moved throughout learning stations. It was a great way to commemorate Remembrance Day and honour those who struggled for our freedoms.
Elementary students also participated in an assembly organized by teacher Ali Mielhausen and the grade 7 class. Several students participated through song, poetry, and spoken word.
Mrs. Mielhausen said, “Thank you to Mrs. Collins and Mrs. Radbourne and their primary and junior choirs for their performances of O Canada, and Let it Be. Also thank you to Anabella Ellis of the Grade 3/4 class for her Land Acknowledgement, as well as to the Kindergarten class, 2/3 class, and 5/6 class for their musical performances of My Little Poppy, Highway of Heroes, and A Pittance of Time in French, respectively. The grade 6 class presented thoughtful spoken word poems and recited Why We Remember. Finally, thank you to the Grade 7 class for readings of For The Fallen and In Flanders Fields. Thank you to all who attended and showed respect throughout the assembly.”
Grade 5 student, Mabel Cameron, was invited to represent BPDS at the community Remembrance Day ceremonies on November 11 at Lindsay and in Lion’s Head by reading In Flander’s Fields.
Throughout all of these activities, BPDS students showcased their care and compassion for past generations.
On November 9, almost 40 secondary Art and History students travelled with Mrs. E Cameron, Ms. Stanton, and Mrs. J Cameron to Toronto to visit the Royal Ontario Museum. Students got to visit a special exhibit titled ‘Death: Life’s Greatest Mysteries’ and explore the many ways various cultures celebrate and commemorate this difficult topic. Students also got to explore the general admission exhibits. Some of the favourites were the Dinosaur Exhibit, Ancient China, and Ancient Egypt. All three teachers were pleased with the students’ enthusiasm and willingness to learn about various cultures.
Grade 10 Students wrote the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test on November 21. Ms. Stanton helped students prepare for the test and organized the administration of materials on test day.
Also in literacy news, Kelly Burgess’ grade 5/6 class were working on persuasive writing techniques and decided to write letters to our community members letting them know what a great school BPDS is. You can read the letters by visiting brucepeninsulapress.com/dear-community/
In athletic news, Sr Boys Volleyball season wrapped up BAA play early in the month. Coach Ashley Myles noted, “The team showed great promise with a high level of skill. Throughout the season there were a lot of laughs and many fun memories made! At the end of our season, we made it to the CWOSSA Qualifiers with a nail biter against Walkerton District. A big shoutout to our super speedy setter, Cooper Love, and Blake Hellyer for the mega hits this season. Great work, Panthers!”
The Junior Girls Exhibition basketball team wrapped up their season having played five games with various teams in BWDSB. The girls worked very hard and overcame many obstacles including illness and many injuries. The girls took their season 5 and 0, winning all 5 games. Coach E-Cam said, “Their dedication and effort are proof that our little school has heart and is able to compete with the best teams in our board!”
On Thursday November 23, Isis Brooks represented BPDS at the Bluewater Allstar Girls Basketball Game hosted by Walkerton District. Emily Cameron got the lucky honour of being the coach of the combined members of the North team comprised of 10 players from OSDSS, GBCS, GHSS, and BPDS. The girls battled it out with team members of the South schools in a fun-filled competition that showcased the best Bluewater has to offer in girls’ basketball. Isis represented her school with pride and scored the most points of any player in the junior division. Way to go Isis!
The Girl’s Secondary Volleyball season has started, and practices are well underway. The Elementary boy’s and girl’s seasons are also underway, and the gym has been a very busy place these days!
All of our BPDS coaches would like to give a HUGE thank you to all our parents and community members who support athletics by being volunteer drivers, coaches or score keepers, or by donating funds. We greatly appreciate your support and could not run these activities without your help. THANK YOU!
Grade 7/8 classes have been busy fundraising for their trip to Ottawa in June of 2024. There is a bottle drive happening in January. Community members are asked to donate their holiday bottles to the trip by dropping them off at the drop off center beside the LCBO in Lion’s Head.
Paityn Handley, a Co-op student at BPDS, wrote the following excerpt acknowledging two staff at BPDS for their time and efforts: “Due to the unfortunate closure of the Lion’s Head Foodland, BPDS students have been struggling to purchase affordable and nutritious lunches, as Foodland was a hotspot for the kids. These circumstances made it difficult for some students to afford to eat lunch, so two teachers decided to volunteer to re-open our school cafeteria that has been closed since the 2019-2020 school year. Ms. Stanton and Ms. Rice have spent countless hours during the school day, as well as their prep time, helping serve students with healthy and affordable lunches. The menu for these delicious homemade meals is changed every week and is always served with a side or vegetables or fruit for the low price of $5. It is a very accessible way to get lunch as students can pay online, with cash, or create a tab. This initiative has even given students a chance to earn volunteer hours towards their diploma.”
As we gear up for the holidays, everyone is reminded to check the school’s Facebook page and watch for school messenger updates about the upcoming Festive Feast, the Food Drive, Holiday spirit events, and more. We will submit an article in the New Year which reflects on all these upcoming events and wish all our BPDS and St Edmund’s families a safe and happy holiday season!
Report from the Principal’s Office
Submitted by Brenda Brewer, Principal, and Breanna Heels, Vice-Principal
We have had our first snow days, so that means it is officially winter! As this season starts to get busy, I think it is also important that we slow down. The winter is a time of natural hibernation to rest and reflect before we move into the New Year.
Whatever you celebrate and whatever this holidays season means for you, we hope this season brings you exactly what you wish for and what you need.
We want to take a moment to pause and reflect on our school year so far, and express our appreciation for YOU – our staff, students and families, and our community. Thank you for always showing up, doing your best, and working together to ensure the success of every student in our schools. It takes a village, and we sure are lucky to have all of you in ours!
Upcoming Important Dates:
• Festive Feast is Thursday, December 14th
• Elementary Winter Concert is Thursday, December 21st at 9:30am
• Winter Break is December 25 – January 5
We will see you back at school on Monday, January 8th! See you 2024!
If you don’t already follow our Facebook page, you can follow us at Bruce Peninsula DS or St. Edmunds Public School Community to see all of the amazing things happening at the school. If you ever have questions or concerns, give us a call at (519) 793-3211 or by email: Brenda_Brewer@bwdsb.on.ca and Breanna_Heels@bwdsb.on.ca.
