Dear elementary school families,

There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island.

- Walt Disney

School's out, and it's summer at last. It's time for the kids to head outside and explore, go on adventures, and have fun in the sun. And, it's also time for us to help our kids lose themselves in some great books...

The TD Summer Reading Club kicks off today! Heather Doepner, the children's librarian at the Spring Garden Road Branch Public Library visited us in assembly a few weeks ago and told us all about it. If your child has never participated in this program before, it's a great way to keep them reading for fun through the summer. And the folks at the library even claim that "research shows that kids who take part in the TD Summer Reading Club keep up or improve their reading skills, and return to school in September ready to learn."

The big challenge of getting and keeping your child engaged in reading is connecting them up with the right books and authors. The staff at the library and at Woozles are experts in doing just that. What I have to offer you today are lists. Lists of award-winning books can really help get you off to a good start and heading in the right direction.

Happy reading!

The Newbery Medal honors the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberyhonors/newberymedal

The Caldecott Medal honors the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecotthonors/caldecot

 

The Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award is an Atlantic Canadian book award which allows children to choose their favourite Canadian and Atlantic Canadian books.

http://www.hackmatack.ca/winners.html

The Battle of the Books is a program started by Woozles in 1986 to promote the joy of reading through friendly competition.

http://www.woozles.com/pdf/ebattle14.pdf

Sacred Heart School of Halifax Graduates June 2013!

$500,000 + in University Scholarships!

Grads earned $500,000+ in Univ. scholarships!  Sacred Heart=World Class!  Congratulations, Graduates!

Sacred Heart Debate Camp, August 19-23, 2013

The Annual Sacred Heart Debate Camp 

under the direction of Mr. Brian Casey 

will be held 

August 19 - 23 

at Sacred Heart School of Halifax.

Debate Camp days run from 9am - 4pm.

Cost is $400  ($100 less for local families who take a billet.)

For Debate Camp details, see: 

https://sites.google.com/site/shshdebatecamp/

Headmistress' Letter - June 11, 2013

Dear Colleagues and Families,

As I sat down to write this letter, a poem by Ted Loder^* entered my head:   

How silently, how silently
the wonderous gift is given.

I would be silent now,
           and expectant -

that I might receive the gift I need
                  to become a
                          gift that others need.

Soon, our year will close with traditional Prize Ceremonies, Graduations, and other opportunities for expressions of growth and gratitude. I am grateful for some silent time last weekend that led me to realize, I don't want my first year at SHSH to come to an end. Throughout these past 10 months the wonderous gift was given. You welcomed me into the community, and helped me claim this school as my own. I love it here and could not have asked for more in this first year among you. 

I am very proud of our students for their tremendous accomplishments, their kindness, the way they look adults in the eye and communicate, the doors they hold for others, the awareness, curiosity, boldness, joy, honesty, initiative, laughter, homesick tears, hugs, and back-slapping that they share. Our students are engaged in life. They open themselves to growth. They are learning, stretching. They make me proud.

I am deeply grateful to my colleagues who pour themselves out in the service of education - be it in a classroom, keeping the grounds, office work, or cleaning the hallways late at night ... we have a team that goes the extra mile for our students. And, they enjoy and sppot one another. We are blessed.

I thank God for our parents, alums, grandparents, PALs, and friends. You bring warmth and make possible many positive unique experiences because you are connected, giving back, housing or billeting students, and supporting our School in countless ways. Among you are members of the Board, and Board Committees, the Parents' Guild, and Alumnae/i Executive. We spend hours in meetings, execute great ideas, have fun at events, and I know you share my gratitude for the tremendous power of our strong community.

Our school is absolutely unique. Nobody else has Congé or Primes, no others have brother and sister schools across our world - school cousins who share the same goals. The values embedded in a Sacred Heart education are the strongest way to serve young people today, and our connections throughout the world will guide us throughtomorrow.

I know we need a summer vacation; our graduates need to move on; our Junior Primary children are ready for Primary. I look forward to my annual retreat - to enter into 8 days of silence to be expectant and receptive, and to simply be with the wonderous gift of this year. You will remain in my prayers.

With warmth and gratitude,                                     
Sr. Anne Wachter

^*Ted Loder, Guerrillas of Grace

Congratulations to our Provincial Math Champions!

Sacred Heart Elementary School took the #1 Provincial spot in grades 4, 5, and 6 in the Mathematica Centrum's annual national mathematics contests in April this year!

Anisha Rajaselvem - Provinical Champion in the Byron-Germain (Gr. 4) National Mathematics Contest!

William Nickerson - Provincial Champion in the Fibonacci (Gr. 5) National Mathematics Contest!

Madison James - Provincial Champion in the Pythagoras (Gr. 6) National Mathematics Contest!

Congratulations to our Elementary Students!

Harmony Elementary - Musical June 7 & 8

Harmony Elementary - Musical

Friday, June 7th at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, June 8th at 2:00 p.m.  All tickets are $5.00 each.  Please call 422-4459 for tickets.

The Plot

Three siblings have moved into a new town and are nervous about starting their first day at their new school, Harmony Elementary.  They immediately begin to notice that something is different about this school when they begin to realize that everybody at Harmony Elementary sings.  While at first this seems very strange and disorienting to the new students, through the course of the musical they discover that it is music that keeps this school together and truly in a state of harmony.

Weekly Update, Ms. Scott June 3

This past week we had our end of year choir and band concerts.  We have incredibly talented students and very versatile choir and band directors.  Congratulations and thank you to Ms. Gwen Dawson, Mrs. Linda George-Wegner, choir and band members for all your hard work throughout the year.

The Grade 9 Celebration was a great success.  The young ladies looked stunning, the weather co-operated for photographs, and the waters were not too choppy for the harbor cruise. 

We’ve just completed the last full week of classes, and the last high school class for the grade 12s.  The Last Will and Testament was true to form: fun and full of emotion.  Our Awards Celebration yesterday recognized the student involvement in extra-curricular activities: sports, music, and clubs.  Nearly half the student body received Gold or Silver Pins for outstanding participation in school activities. 

Congratulations to Tina Kim, Grade 12 on achieving her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award!  

Exams begin next week.  I have attached a copy of the schedule for your reference.  The schedule also shows the supervised study times and the study days.  The girls wear their non-dress uniform on exam days.

Prize Day for Grades 7 – 12 is on Thursday, June 20.  The girls come to school at the regular time, in dress uniform.  Our prize day ceremony takes place in the Little Theatre, so space is limited.   As such, we are only able to invite the parents of our graduates and special guests who will be making presentations.  Prize day ceremonies should be over by 11:00 a.m. and the summer holidays begin for the students.

News just in from Mr. Griffiths from Provincial Track and Field – Bailey Francis, Grade 10 finishes 4^th in the province in triple jump setting two new personal bests in the event.  Great job, Bailey!  Thanks, Mr. Griffiths, for all the tweets throughout the day.  Good luck to Jessie Wile tomorrow in the 200M!

This afternoon we had the Headmistress’ Tea in the parlour for the graduates and their parents. The graduates made an amazing transformation from kilted schoolgirls at 3:35 into elegant young ladies by 4:00.  The weather was wonderful and there were many photo opportunities.