Important Dates

Meet the Teacher

We look forward to welcoming students and families at our Meet the Teacher on September 11 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm.  The Leadership class will be working with teachers to provide a BBQ event.  Please come and enjoy a hot dog, chips and beverage.  Teachers will join the BBQ from 5:00 - 5:30 and then make their way to their classrooms.  We will open the school hallways at 5:30 so that your child can show you around and introduce you to their teachers.  We look forward to seeing you!  Please note that Meet the Teacher is not a parent teacher conference, but an informal meet and greet; parents are welcome to e-mail their child's teacher if they need to discuss specific learning needs.

September 26:  Orange Shirt Day

We are excited to welcome Knowledge Keeper Mr. Skip Wolfleg to officially open our new basketball court, acknowledging that every child matters and the joy of playing and recreating for all children on Treaty 7.  We are so very fortunate to live where we do.  Mr. Wolfleg with then speak to our student body to inform and educate about the impact of residential schools and our collective work to move and walk forward together as part of our commitment to truth and reconciliation.  We encourage students to wear orange. The leadership students will be selling Orange Shirts September 23, 24, and 25. The cost is $15.00 and the shirt was specially designed by one of our student alumni.  All proceeds will be donated to the Orange Shirt Society.  

Athletics

Soccer and Cross Country started this week, schedules were sent out last week through messenger and are posted outside the PE office. Soccer tryouts continue next week with Girls on Monday & Wednesday after school and Boys on Tuesday & Thursday after school.

Basketball season begins on Monday, please find attached the tryout and practice schedule for the season. Grades 6,7,8 are eligible to try out for the junior teams and Grade 8 & 9 for the senior teams. We look forward to a Legendary season! 

Phys.Ed

This week in Phys. Ed we spent some time settling into routines and expectations. We also enjoyed getting the kids moving and having some fun! Grades 7, 8 & 9 students will begin changing into their gym strip on Monday. They have all received a locker and lock in the changeroom to store their belongings. All grade 4-9 students are expected to have appropriate athletic footwear - crocs, sandals, boots and slippers will not be permitted. Thank you for your cooperation and support in having our students participate safely. 

Gym strip can be purchased from the PE department with cash, or the fees will be available through MyCBE soon. Grades 7 & 8 are expected to wear MHS issued gym strip. 

T-Shirt: $15

Shorts: $20 (optional)

Learning Commons

Age-Recommended Reading Materials:

My name is Kimberley Litwin, and I am the Library Assistant at McKenzie Highlands School.   

At the beginning of every school year, I feel that it is important to inform parents about the various age-recommended reading materials in our school, and the system that we are using to keep all families' expectations met.    

With the goal of keeping our older readers engaged, it is vital that they have access to books that are thought provoking, entertaining and age appropriate.  However, these books can sometimes contain content like that of a PG or PG-13 movie.   For this reason, our books are clearly identified as being in one of three age groups, which I determine based on the recommendations of United Library Services.   

These are: 

• Books with no labels- suitable for every age level;
• Books marked "Grade 7 & up"- recommended for Grades 7,8 & 9 students; and 
• Books marked "Teen"- recommended for grade 9 students and older.  

It is extremely difficult to know what each family's comfort level is regarding these materials.  So, if you do not wish for your child to take materials from a particular level, it is important that you have a discussion with them, to make your expectations known.  I will show the students, during their orientations next week, where they can find these labels, to avoid confusion.   

Thank you for your help with this.  Please contact me in the Learning Commons anytime if you have any questions. 

Quote of the Week 

"You can find magic wherever you look.  Sit back and relax, all you need is a book" 

- Dr. Seuss

Class Changes

We are a committed faculty, and we do our utmost to support students. We cannot entertain class change requests for options and core academics for multi-factorial reasons, but largely due to large class sizes exceeding 33-37 students, particularly in our junior high grades. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.  

School Microwave Use

MHS has microwaves for student use during lunch.  Please do not bring KD cups and microwavable popcorn, as the cooking time is too long and popcorn poses a safety hazard.  We sell popcorn in the cafeteria and students are welcome to bring pre-cooked KD/pasta and popcorn.  

MHS Has a New Basketball Court

We have a new basketball court at MHS, and it is now open for the community to use!  This is such a great addition to McKenzie Towne Community, and we are delighted to have had the support of School Council and the generosity of our school community.  The court will be used by MHS students during school hours and will be accessible to children and families in our community after school and on weekends.  

Have a wonderful weekend.

MHS School Staff