The Donahoe Cup - Debating Tournament April 13-14 at Sacred Heart

Sacred Heart School of Halifax welcomes 132 debaters from across Canada this weekend – including teams from Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Saint John and Fredericton, and throughout Nova Scotia.

The Donahoe Family has a long association with Sacred Heart School of Halifax.  Richard and Eileen (Boyd) Donahoe's four daughters attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart (as it was known before 1985) and continue to be active as alumnae, and one as a former teacher.  Richard and Eileen's two sons were both educated at College St. where they were taught by the Religious of the Sacred Heart.

It is with great pride that the Donahoe Family lends its name and heritage to this debating tournament.

Good evening SHES families,

 

Happy Easter! Despite the chill, signs of spring abound and the sun is shining brightly. Our yearlong theme of politeness is alive and well, in the greetings and smiles and acts of kindness we witness here every day. Your children fill our halls, our playground, our days with joyful action. There is much going on and much to look forward to this month…

 

Easter Liturgy & Blessing of the Babies

Father Earl Smith will join us as our primary classes present our Easter Liturgy on Thursday, April 18th ^{at 9:00 a.m. in the Little Theatre. This is a dress uniform day for all elementary students. There will be a Blessing of the Babies ceremony at the beginning of this time together. Families are welcome, however space is limited.}

 

Jump Rope for Heart!

Your child brought home an information folder explaining this special Heart and Stroke Foundation initiative that our students participate in annually. All pledges are due next week, and if you have any questions contact Mr. Griffiths (

^{ggriffiths@shsh.ca). You can also go to www.heartandstroke.ca/healthykids to learn more.}

Nutrition Month

You may have noticed a variety of bulletin boards throughout our school promoting healthy eating and alternative food choices. March is nutrition month in Nova Scotia, and our junior primaries have been visited by four students from Mount Saint Vincent University. They enjoyed a fun afternoon learning about fruits and vegetables and making smoothies! Special thanks go out to Monica Rodriguez who facilitated MSVU’s involvement in our school again this year.

WITS – Writers in the School

The Writers Federation of Nova Scotia offers a special program called Writers in the School, and our Learning Strategies Arlene Robinson has been hard at work setting up visits from a whole bunch of Nova Scotia authors. Many of the authors have been nominated for this year’s Hackmatack Children’s Award. Over the next two months, we will be visited by Sue Edwards (in grade 4), Jessica Scott Kerrin (in grades 4-6), Philip Roy (in grades 2 and 3), Dean Jobbs (in grade 6), and Charlotte Hutchinson (in JP, SP, and grade 1). These authors will share their books, speak about the writing process, and offer workshops for our students.

ACIS Badminton Tournament

Sacred Heart is hosting this year’s Atlantic Conference of Independent Schools Badminton Tournament on Wednesday, April 17th. Competition will start at 12:30 and wrap up around 4 p.m. Here’s this year’s team: Boys’ Singles – William Nickerson and Luc Lefrancois; Boys’ Doubles – Aidan Sampson/Matthew Smith and Abdullah Al-Sharkawi/Derek Ryan; Girls’ Singles – Julia Smyth and Callie MacDonald; Girls’ Doubles – Katherine Culligan/ Laya Haddad and Emily Mann/Maggie Smith; Mixed Doubles – Madison James/Sean Ballesteros and Shykara Saunders/Stefano DiQuinzio; Alternates – Mary Cate Driscoll-Sangster and Matthew Croft.

Family Movie Night

Monday, April 22nd is a special Sacred Heart movie night at Bayers’ Lake Empire Theatres. The movie is Matilda, based on Roald Dah’s book, and is good fun for the whole family. I previewed it with my daughters (ages 5 and 8), and they both loved it so much they had to see it again. RSVP with Carol Parker at the front desk or with our Admissions Director, Robyn Erikson, if you plan to join us for this special community event.

PD Camp

We are offering a camp on Monday, April 22nd. The registration deadline is Friday, April 12th.

Gardening Club

The Tuesday afternoon gardening club will meet on an occasional basis until mid-June: April 16, 23 and 30; May 28; and June 4 and 11. Participants have been hard at work planting seeds and transplanting the growing seedlings. Check out their "seedling nursery" under window near the Grade 3 classroom. The Gardening club welcomes new members any time!

Summer Camps

We are offering summer camp days from the last half day of school on June 19th through to Friday, June 28th. There will be three age groups with varied activities. Registration is ongoing, and forms are available online and on the activities board.

 

Early morning, April 4

Shot rings out in the Memphis sky

Free at last, they took your life

They could not take your pride

Bono

Author and Sacred Heart alumna, Suzanne Edwards, Visits

Author and Sacred Heart alumna, Sue Edwards, visited with our Grade 4 class on April 8th to discuss her book "The Adventures of a Trapper Boy".  The children were thrilled!

Suzanne Edwards, Nova Scotia author and nominee for the 2012- 2013 Hackmatack Children’s Awards, presented her novel, The Trapper Boy to grade 4's.

This book is a children's version of her first book Gus, From Trapper Boy to Air Marshal, an adult novel.  Ms. Edwards was approached to make a children’s version of her first book.

Her children’s' book, The Trapper Boy, tells of her father, Harold " Gus", Edwards moving to Cape Breton from England as a child.  She told of how her father became a trapper boy in the coal mines, was a fighter pilot in World War I, and a prisoner of war who escaped and was recaptured.

She shared how her father became the Commander-in-Chief of the RCAF from 1942-1944. Ms. Edwards read from her book and showed artifacts that now are on display at the Shearwater Museum, a compass hidden inside a uniform button, Commander Edward's parade flag and photos of her father as a boy and pilot.

Weekly Update, Ms. Scott April 8

‘The Sound of Plaid’ – opening night was amazing and we celebrated with the cast and crew after the show at the dessert gala.  We played to sold out audiences on Friday and Saturday evenings, and it was by far the best show in town!  Congratulations to our talented cast and crew!

University of Waterloo CEMC Mathematics Contest results:

Grade 11 Fermat Contest – Mia Cao, Katie MacLellan, Zoé McIntyre – certificates of distinction and provincial honour roll.

Grade 10 Cayley Contest – Laura Bullock, Rebecca Butler, Mattea Roach – certificates of distinction and provincial honour roll.

Grade 9 Pascal Contest – Emma McLean (perfect score), Anya Friesen, Kinza Hart, Sarah Polley – certificates of distinction and provincial honour roll; Alex Baillie, Rory Flynn, Jessica Lopez, Robin Short – provincial honour roll.

Grade 9 School Team - 3^rd in the province.

Congratulations to all our young mathematicians!

The ACIS Badminton Tournament takes place tomorrow at Sacred Heart.  Good luck to our team: U14 – Carolyn Smith, Emma Butler, Hannah Baillie, Hannah Caissie, Alexa Pirie, Caila Smithers; U16 – Markley Wakeland, Julie Inglis, Razan Al-Sharkawi, Sophie McIntyre, Abbey Smith, Katie MacKay; U19 Calla Owens, Claudia Toulany.

Sr. High Debate Provincials – these take place at Halifax West High School this evening and all day tomorrow.  Good luck to all our debaters!

Me to We Club penny/small change fund-raiser – there are bags in each classroom and at the front door for any pennies or small change.  The Me to We club has raised $4,700 towards their $5,000 goal to build a well in Africa and they are hoping to reach their goal with this final fund-raiser.

Donahoe Cup – We are in particular need of judges, no prior experience is necessary as there will be a briefing for judges before the debates get under way – if you can spare a few hours on Saturday, April 13 please register at https://sites.google.com/site/donahoecup/judges

Movie Night at Empire Theatre, Bayers Lake – Monday, April 22^nd @ 7:00 p.m. Students from Grades 4 -12, and their friends, are invited to the movie ‘Matilda’.  Tickets are free and are available from our admissions director, Ms. Robyn Erickson rerickson@shsh.ca

Headmistress' Letter - April 4, 2013

Dear Colleagues and Families,

Happy Easter Season!

Many people know that Lent lasts for 40 days, but few are aware that the Easter season is a 50-day period to celebrate the promise of God's love. Our mission as Religious of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ) is to discover God's love and make it known. We do this through the service of education and in a relational framework called the Goals and Criteria. By extension, everyone of our staff and family members has the responsibility to embrace our Goals, and to radiate the Heart that makes them meaningful.

One of my favourite quotes of St. Francis of Assisi says: Preach the Gospel each day, use words if necessary. and, St. Madeleine Sophie Barat said: Your actions, even more than your words, will be an eloquent lesson to the world.

An eloquent example is given by Kinsey and Kendra Fader, twins in Primary who were born prematurely and have experienced more medical treatment in their young lives than

most people ever will. In their gratitude for care received, the Faders have sought to raise funds and willingly share their story in numerous ways (events, blogs, radio, television). At age five, the girls know about empathy and compassion... and ways to comport themselves at adult functions! Kinsey and Kendra were nominated for the Maritime Philanthropy Awards to be given by the IWK Foundation at its gala event in May. This is only the second time the foundation has ever nominated children.

Last summer, in preparation for a speaking engagement at a donor reception, these little girls learned that relatives of a man who donated his life savings to the IWK Foundation would be attending. The donor had been disabled throughout life, and yet he saved money to help the IWK. Kinsey and Kendra radiated God's love as they made canvas paintings for this man's family. At the reception, the presentation of their gift was very moving and the family was deeply grateful to have priceless representations of their relative's generosity and life witness. Following on this, the girls gave paintings to the ReMax Gala auction in support of the Children's Miracle Network; the Faders were thrilled to speak at the event and to present their paintings to the generous winning bidders!

Discovering God's love is a 24/7 mission that lasts a lifetime. It is not seasonal, and it knows no bounds. I am grateful to be in a community where hearts are huge, and where every little bit counts as we nurture new life, and sow seeds for the future!

With Easter Joy,

Sr. Wachter

Prayer Corner

(Requests may be sent to Patricia Nichols or Sr. Wachter)

We are grateful that Maddy Brennan and Auriane de Naquard are steadily recovering after a week in hospital. We continue to pray for Cynthia Goshn, Gr. 9, who is in hospital. I ask your prayers for the community of Our Lady of Schools, a local Catholic school that will be closing after this academic year; it is a difficult time for their families, staff, and Board. The grandmother of Eva and mother of Brian Lumsden recently had surgery and we are praying for a full and speedy recovery for her.

Three Cheers For...

(Future Submissions to Patricia Nichols)

In my prior Letter I lauded Emma McLean for her perfect score on the Grade 9 Pascal Mathematics Contest (the only other student in Nova Scotia with a perfect score is from Antigonish). Over the weekend, we learned that our Grade 9 team placed 3rd behind Bedford Jr. High and a public school in Antigonish - all three were very close. Also this past week, Emma learned that she is one of only 72 girls chosen from across the country to attend the exclusive summer CEMC Workshop in Computer Science for Young Women; it will be held at the University of Calgary in Alberta.

Madison James, Grade 6 was one of 54 finalists in the Nova Scotia Spelling Bee held last Saturday. We are proud to announce that she placed 7th overall!

We salute four high school students for achieving the bronze level of the Duke of Edinburgh: Hannah Bekkers, Rachel Field, Bailey Francis, and Andy Samman.

Congratulations to the Grade 5 class on placing third at the 2013 Discovery Centre Film Competition.

High School faculty member D.J. DeCoste, recently

completed his M.A. in Theology and Religious Studies!

Next week, six of our Grade 12 students will attend the French for the Future conference at Mount St. Vincent University. Three cheers to Emilie Barakett, Carley Bekkers, Ellen Bursey, Tina Kim, Claire McCusker, and Marianne Saunders. French for the Future is a not-forprofit organization that supports and motivates Canadian students on their path towards bilingualism. The primary goals of the conferences are to forge linguistic and cultural links among students enrolled in French first and second language education programs (principally immersion) and to help students think about their bilingual and bicultural lives, now and in adulthood, including the positive career potential resulting from learning a second language.

On March 27, Author Haroon Akram-Lodhi spoke to our high school boys and girls. A professor at Trent University where he teaches agrarian political economy, he was in Halifax to launch his newly released book, Hungry For Change: Farmers, Food Justice and the Agrarian Question. The book uses a story-telling approach to help gain an understanding of the basis of the current global food crisis.

Building Community

The Sound of Plaid - April 4, 5, 6

Tickets for our high school musical production can be purchased at reception and during the evening of parent/teacher interviews. Show times and tickets:

Thursday, April 4@ 7:30pm, $15 (includes a post show dessert reception)

Friday, April 5 @ 7:30pm, $10 adult/ $8 students & seniors

Saturday, April 6 @ 2:00pm and 7:30pm, $10 adult/$8 students & seniors

Blessing of the Babies - April 9 (Date since changed to 4/18)

On April 18 at 8:30am in the Large Parlour we will welcome

babies (younger than preschool age) of our families and

friends. At 9am we will move upstairs for an Easter Liturgy

with the Elementary School; we will bless the very young

members of our community during the opening prayer. If

you have a little one, or know someone with a young child

who can join us on the morning of April 18, please RSVP to

Barb Martell, bmartell@shsh.ca.

Grandparents' Day - April 26

We are inviting our grandparents to GP Day! Please send to

the homeroom teachers the preferred Grandparent contact

information (student's name, grandparents' names, emails

and/or home addresses) so we can include them in this

inaugural event!

       Upon Arrival, Grandparents of ...

Boys Gr. 7-12 enter Fountain beginning at 9:30

Girls Gr. 7-12 enter main door beginning at 9:30

Pri. - Gr. 6: enter main door beginning at 1:00

Jr. Primary: enter main door beginning at 1:30

       The Programme for Grandparents of ...

Grades 7-12 Boys: 10 a.m. programme in Little Theatre

followed by classroom activities

Girls 7-12 Girls: 10 a.m. classroom activities followed by

11 a.m. programme in Little Theatre

Primary-Gr.3: 1:30 programme in Little Theatre followed

by class activities

Grades 4-6: 1:30 class activities, 2:15 programme in Little

Theatre

Jr. Primary: 2-3 p.m. classroom visits and a Tea Party.

Admissions Notes  . . . Contact: Robyn Erickson

April 22 will be Movie Night at Empire Theatre, Bayers Lake. Sacred Heart students, friends and prospective students are welcome. The movie, Matilda, is most appropriate for Grades 4-12, however those under age 10 need adult supervision at the Theatre. Tickets are free and available by sending a request to Ms. Robyn Erickson that includes the names of attendees, as well as the email address and contact phone number of the parent(s).

The Ultimate Pick-Up Basketball Game

For 10 & 11 year-old boys!

Saturday April 20, 9:30am-Noon @ SHSH.

Format: 3-on-3 with a 5-on-5 Finale.

The morning will include a full, professional warm-up; shoot-around and short skills session; team selection; 1st half-court games (no refs); break & talk (speaker from the Rainmen organization); 2nd half-court games; full-court 5-on-5 finale. For more information, contact Robyn Erickson.

Homestay Families

There are many outstanding opportunities for those who provide homestay for an International Student; you are invited to contact Alison Boyer for more information (aboyer@shsh.ca, 422-4459). This is a wonderful way to put Goals IV and V into action!

Bring a Friend on Friday, March 22, brought 31 visitors to campus. Thank you for your support of this opportunity. Whenever you know students who would like to visit the school, please submit this form in advance. Our third Bring a Friend Day will coincide with the May 17 HRSB professional development day for P-12.

Pre-School 2013-14

We are seeking PreSchool children (age 4 by the end of 2013); if you know prospective families, please encourage them to tour Sacred Heart (PreSchool tuition is eligible for a tax receipt).

Halifax Shopping Centre - On May 11th we will be greeting shoppers at our Sacred Heart booth. Support is needed, so please talk to Robyn Erickson or Barb Martell if you are able to be an ambassador for an hour or two (students and parents are needed and welcome).

Sunnyside Mall - Thank you to those who supported our information booth on March 23rd!

Advancement Activity

Bursary Dinner - April 27

The Bursary Dinner Committee is tending to final details in preparation for Soiree Sacre Coeur to be held at the Lord Nelson Hotel. Please join us ... silent and oral auctions, French cuisine, dancing into the wee hours ... a joyful way to support the tuition needs of students. Tickets are available online (click here) or at our reception desk.

Annual Giving Fund

In November, we sent each family an Annual Giving Fund letter to request your participation. This spring, we are following-up our quest to have all of our parents onboard. Remember, 100% of our faculty, staff, administrators and Board members have already participated!  If you have misplaced your giving envelope, you can simply send a check payable to Sacred Heart School to Sr. Wachter with a note indicating that it is for the Annual Giving Fund. Alterntaively, our website has an Annual Giving button. If you wish to give in more creative ways, you can discuss this with Sr. Wachter or Barb Martell. Thank you for joining our efforts to close the 10% gap between tuition income and operating expenses!

Parents' Guild

Night on the Town - Karaoke ... We are singing the praises of Veronica Lawen, Traci Sullivan, and Jody McDonald for leading another successful and hilarious (at times) fun-raiser. This community building event also netted $400 for our programmes!

"The Sound of Plaid" opened to Rave Reviews last night!

Congratulations to the cast and crew on their opening night of "The Sound of Plaid". Tickets are sold out for tonight's performance (Friday) but are still available for Saturday, April 6th for the 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 performances.  Please call 422-4459 for tickets.

FRIDAY TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT! - Friday, April 5th at 7:30 pm    

Saturday, April 6th at 2:00 pm    .....tickets $10 adult/$8 student & senior
Saturday, April 6th at 7:30 pm    .....tickets $10 adult/$8 student & senior

2013 Waterloo Math Competition Results! Congratulations!

Congratulations to our girls on their Math Accomplishments:

Gr. 11 Fermat Contest – 3 Provincial Honour Roll Students :  Kathleen MacLellan, Zoe McIntyre and Mia Cao.  These 3 students will also receive a Certificate of Distinction for their high scores.

Gr. 10 Cayley Contest – 3 Provincial Honour Roll Students:  Mattea Roach, Laura Bullock and Rebecca Butler.  These 3 students will also receive a Certificate of Distinction for their high scores.

Gr. 9  Pascal Contest – 8 Provincial Honour Roll Students:  Emma McLean, Anya Frieson, Sarah Polley, Kinza Hart, Alexandra Baillie, Rory Flynn, Jessica Lopez, and Robin Short.  The first 4 students Emma, Anya, Sarah and Kinza will also receive a Certificate of Distinction.

Emma McLean scored a perfect score of 150 out of 150 on the Gr. 9 Pascal Contest.  She was one of 68 perfect scores across Canada with a total of 22 669 students participating.  Emma was one of two students in N.S. and one of three students in Atlantic Canada with a perfect score. 

We also placed 3^rd out of 41 schools in the  team competition consisting of Emma, Anya and Sarah in the Pascal Contest.