Home Of The Whalers

Volume 10 Number 4                   April, 2010

Check out our website at www.phss.ca

As Term Four begins, we are enjoying longer days and sunnier weather, with soccer teams practising outside, a newly built Technology Education compound now fenced in behind our shops so our students can work outside, and our garden well underway. We thank Orca Sand and Gravel for the gravel for the garden’s base and Port Hardy Bull for transporting the gravel to us.

We are also looking to Graduation 2010, on June 12^th, and planning for next year, reflecting on what we have accomplished this year,

Principal’s Message

and hoping to carry forward our diverse projects that engage so many of our students. Next year’s planning is well underway, with visits to elementary schools to meet next year’s grade eight students, student course selection at PHSS, and timetable building with staff. We anticipate that our staffing will be slightly reduced next year due to declining enrolment but that we will be able to preserve our current programs for next year.

As we look to the year’s end, we need to remind students, especially as the days become more inviting

outside, to continue to focus on their studies so that their year remains a successful one. Keeping our grade 12 students passing the courses they require for graduation is particularly important to ensure they can participate in the graduation ceremony with their peers. The deadline for applying for most scholarships and bursaries is April 16^th; all grade 12s are encouraged to apply for funding available to them to support their post-secondary plans. Many of the awards and bursaries can be deferred a year or more from graduation in 2010.

Saw”.  This is an uproariously hilarious farce.  Bring your tissues!  Get your tickets early!  Play dates are May 28, 29, 30, June 4, 5, and 6, 2010 at the PHSS Theatre.  Tickets will go on sale in early May at Café Guido’s and the West Coast Community Craft Store.  $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for students.

PHSS Drama Department

PHSS Drama Dept is very pleased to announce that we have winners!!!

From February 25 – 28, 2010 our school participated in the North Island Drama Festival in Courtenay.  We entered a one act play entitled “Next” by Terrance McNally.  We competed against 11 other schools and did very well.  Our big winners were Avellin St. Claire who was acknowledged for his ‘outstanding acting by a lead performer’, Jennifer Wilcox for her portrayal of Sgt. Thech, Logan Wilson for his ‘outstanding Stage Management’ and also for his ‘introductory remarks’ and MJ Melissa Johnson for her ‘outstanding set design’.  We are so very proud of our winners.  Mr. and Mrs. McChesney, Ms. Smith, Mrs. Brunet, and Ms. Wilson would also like to thank all of the other students who participated in the NIRD festival.  Good job everyone!

 Rehearsals are well on their way for this year’s mainstage production called “What The Rabbi

School Culture Survey

Molly Brigden, one of our Science and PE teachers, is conducting a survey and she is asking for your help. The survey is intended to help determine what the school culture is like here at PHSS.  Ms. Brigden is looking for some input from parents and guardians, staff members, as well as the students themselves.

To complete the survey please go to online to:

www.tigersurvery.com/survey.php?survey=15552.

The survey takes roughly five minutes and your input would be greatly valued and appreciated. Thank you for your help.