Dolphin dispatch

Volume 6

March 2016

C S S D

Administration Message

After a wonderful 5 years serving as the proud principal of Madeleine d'Houet, it is with mixed emotions that I am

sharing the news that I have been appointed as principal of a new school and will be leaving Madeleine d'Houet

School.

It has been a true blessing and honour to serve the Madeleine d'Houet school community for the past 5

years. During my time as principal, I have had the privilege of working alongside your children every day. This is a

unique and very special place filled with remarkable students. I have enjoyed getting to know each of the

students and their unique qualities and personalities. This is a remarkably respectful and caring group of junior

high students with high standards for themselves. I am proud to have been part of their education. This is a

wonderful community due to the people that are involved here: amazing kids, dedicated staff, an involved parish

and a caring parent community.

I have been appointed as the principal of a new school opening this fall in the community of Cranston. I believe

God places you where you need to be and I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to open a new

school and work to build a new school community.

In terms of transition to a new administration, I will work diligently with the incom-

ing principal to ensure the smoothest of transitions and provide consistency in

leadership for your children. They are our priority.

In the realm of parents and volunteers within Madeleine d’Houet, thank you

immensely for the great number of very involved and dedicated parents. You are a

true blessing to an administrator as your unpaid work goes so far to make a differ-

ence in a school. Many of the activities that happen are because you show up. It

has been a pleasure to get to know many of you over the past five years and I am

truly grateful for your constant kindness and support.

In this month of St. Patrick’s Day and with my Irish heritage, I felt it appropriate to

share this blessing with you.

D2L — Desire to Learn

D2L is an online platform where parents and students can check student grades,

print off course content, find deadlines and submit assignments. All parents are

encouraged to have their child’s username and password handy. If you do not

have this information, please ask your child to give it to you and to show you how

to use the D2L platform. It is an excellent way to support your child to be more

successful in school.

The students will be writing final exams on the

following dates:

Tuesday May 10 PAT—ELA Part A

Thursday May 12 PAT—FLA Part A

Friday June 17* FLA Final and PAT Part B

(Grade 9 Farewell— 1:30 pm at St. Pius)

Monday June 20* Science Final and PAT

Wednesday June 22* Math Final and PAT

Thursday June 23* ELA Final and PAT Part B

Friday June 24* Social Studies Final and PAT

Monday June 27 Religion Final (Gr. 7, 8 & 9)

Tuesday June 28 (Full Day of School)

Signifies Exam Days that students are dismissed early (11:50 am). There

are no classes in the afternoon on these 5 days.

We remind parents and students that Alberta Education policy states that exams are

not to be written prior to the examination dates.

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FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE

D O L PHIN D ISPATC H

Busses are scheduled accordingly

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Athletics Update - Go Dolphins! Good luck to all Badminton athletes! Badminton season had begun. Flag Football and Track & Field is just

around the corner! Please check www.mdhpe.weebly.com for all season dates. Schedules and current

season info will be added once we get it.

Huge congratulations go out to Logan T. who qualified for the AB long track team and

competed in Quebec City on February 4th-8th for the Canadian Long Track Speed Skating Championships.

Way to go Logan!

Upcoming events-

Grade 8 curling – March 16th

Outdoor Ed Snowshoe Trip – March 23rd

What a busy month in the GYM at MDH. Jasmine from Soul Connexions was here teaching all our students

a 3 hip hop routines. Check our Instagram, twitter or Facebook pages for some videos. Students are to go

home and perform their routines for parents!

The grade 7’s were also lucky to receive speed skating instruction from Alien In-Line. They had an after-

noon of dry land training at MDH, followed by an afternoon at the

Oval on the ice. It was the most kids they have ever instructed on

the ice at one time!

Basketball---a huge thanks go out to all of our basketball coaches

and teacher sponsors! The season does not happen without you

volunteering your time for our kids!

Jr. Girls- Nicole Reed, Mike Foran and Mme. Boyer

Jr. Boys-Mr. Black

Sr. Girls-Michael Hidalgo and Mme. Jackson

Upcoming Events

The past month has been both incredibly busy and incredibly successful

for our music program!

January ended with two very successful band camps where our students

were able to hone their skills working with professional musicians and

guest conductors from the Calgary area. The grade 8’s spent 3 days at

Camp Evergreen and the Grade 9’s were at Camp River’s Edge. We

worked extremely hard and had a lot of fun in the process!

February began with continued preparation for the annual AIBF band festival. This year we entered

4 concert bands and 2 jazz ensembles. The Grade 8, Grade 9, and Honour Band all received rat-

ings of double superior, which earned them gold awards! I would also like to congratulate Emma

R., who received an individual Outstanding Musicianship Award for her performance with the Grade

9 concert band!

The Jazz portion of the festival will take place at the Boyce Theatre on March 1st. The Grade 8 Jazz

band will play at 9am and the Sr. Jazz ensemble will perform at 11am. Also, good luck to the Grade

7’s who will perform for the AIBF beginning band festival on March 15th at Bishop Carroll at

8:40am. While I am extremely proud of the phenomenal performances and musical accomplish-

ments of all of our ensembles, I am equally impressed with the mature and respectful conduct of

all of your kids! Bravo MDH music!

Tuesday, May 3rd , 2016 – MDH presents “Jazz a l’Etage” This is our main music

Fundraiser of the year. There will be a Silent Auction and other activities. All of our Jazz

ensembles will perform. (Jr. Jazz, Int. Jazz, and Sr. Jazz)

Thursday, June 2nd, 2016 – MDH presents our annual “Sounds of Spring” concert. All of our

Concert bands will perform. (Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, and Honour band)

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Band News

D O L PHIN D ISPATC H

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Counsellor’s Corner

The high school registration process is well underway!

Students are aware of their designated high school,

boundary restrictions and district specialized programs.

Students also know about high school streams and

must consider which stream they will be most

successful. Also, our teachers have provided their rec-

ommendations with regard to high school streams.

High school registration is done in a student’s junior

high school with their JH school counsellors. If you have

any questions regarding high school registration,

please contact your junior high school counsellor.

District Specialized Programs

All special program applications have been delivered to

respective high schools. Students who have applied to

St. Mary’s and Bishop Carroll will receive their ac-

ceptances/rejections on March 4th. Some students

have applied to more than one high school. It is essen-

tial that students inform Mme. Badour of their chosen

school by Mar. 5th.

Please note: Students who plan to apply to high

schools outside of CSSD are still asked to register into

their CSSD designated school or to apply to CSSD spe-

cialized programs.

Regular Registrations and Other Key Dates:

March 2- all St. Francis and Notre Dame registration/

course selection sheets are due to Mme. Badour.

Please ensure that registration sheets have a parent

signature. Students will not be able to officially register

until a parent has signed the registration sheet.

Mar. 14-students will officially register into their chosen

or designated high school in the Madeleine d’Houet

library from 9-12:30.

Melanie Badour

School Counsellor

Upcoming Spirit Days

March 17 is

Green Day.

March 23 is

PJ Day!

We Create Change

The Leadership students are participating in the We Bake for Change Campaign during the month of March to raise money to support the education of children living in Sierra Leone. We will be having two bake sales selling bake goods, some of which are glu-ten free for 1-2$. The bake sales will take place on

March 10th and 11th at lunch.

Brandon T. and Kasie A. 9-3!

PAGE 6 D O L PHIN D ISPATC H

Thanks for toys and games!

My name is Doris Boychuk and I have a daughter in grade 9. I am a volunteer with

Calgary Catholic Immigration Services (C.C.I.S). My niece and I are volunteering to help a

refugee family of six settle in Calgary. The family that we have been assisting arrived in

Canada in late September. They have spent approximately 8 years in refugee camps. Our

role is to assist them with any questions they may have. The children attend regular

school and the adult child and parents are studying English Monday to Friday. As a

volunteer, one may be asked to teach a family how to use the public transportation

system, where to shop, how to use various resources available such as the

public library, etc. In other words we are here to help them transition into their new life in

Canada.

I have been enjoying getting to know the family that we have been assigned to as they are

very pleasant and grateful to be here. Mainly the time we have spent with them has

been to practice speaking English since they speak very little English. We are also trying

to help them find work. As you might expect, this is proving to be a challenge. In addition

to the language barrier, it is difficult to put together a resume as it is often impossible to

locate former employers.

A few weeks ago, we had a cooking afternoon and I was fortunate enough to enjoy

making and tasting some of their traditional dishes. So far they love Canada and when we

asked them why, they said because Canada has human rights and people do not discrimi-

nate.

I have also been enjoying working with the staff

at C.C.I.S. Their organization is run by a small

number of people and is well organized. Their

website provides many helpful resources that

can be used to assist the families.

When families arrive in Calgary they spend three

weeks at a resettlement centre. While at the

resettlement centre, one of the things they have

to do is find accommodation for their family.

Once they find accommodation, they then have

to enroll their children in nearby schools. In

January a request for new toys for the children

at the resettlement centre was sent out to the

MDH School Community. I delivered the toys to

the resettlement centre. I would like to thank all

of you who generously donated to the Toy Drive

request. I know that the toys will provide great

pleasure for the children while they wait to move

into their new home. If you would like to know

more about the program, please let me know or

check out the Calgary Catholic immigration

Society's website at www.ccisab.ca

Doris Boychuk

Calgary Catholic Immigration Society

PAGE 6 D O L PHIN D ISPATC H

GRADE 6 PARENTS & STUDENTS

EARLY/LATE FRENCH IMMERSION

INFORMATION EVENING/

OPEN HOUSE

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

6:30 p.m.

Please visit our website

for further information @

www.cssd.ab.ca/madeleinedhouet

Learning Commons at MDH A learning commons is a common, or shared,

learning ‘space’ that is both physical and vir-

tual. It is more a perspective than a “place.”

A learning commons perspective supports a

student-centred approach that emphasizes

active and collaborative engagement and

encourages the co-creation of knowledge by

all learners.

In September 2014, schools were mandated

to begin moving away from the traditional

library towards the vision of the learning com-

mons as outlined in The Learning Commons

Policy and Learning Commons Guidelines.

We are very pleased as we continue to move

forward with our Learning Commons plan.

We are currently looking at the idea of a café

counter and stools along the wall as well as

some technology solutions.

Come practicing your

French with fun games!

Fais-Toi une idée!

Bescherelle Le Jeu!

Spot it!

And more!

Remember the Learning Commons is open for you during

lunch hour to work on a project or play educational games

with other people instead of being on your cell phone or

alone on a computer.

Mme Cantin

108 - 22nd Street N.W.

Calgary, AB

T2N 2M8

CSSD

Phone: 403-500-2008

Fax: 403-500-2208

Catholicity, Community & Academic Success

We’re on the Web!

www.cssd.ab.ca/madeleinedhouet

Madeleine d’Houet’s Vision

École Madeleine d’Houet

Phone: 403-500-2008

Fax: 403-500-2208

VO L UME 6 PAGE 7

Marie Madeleine’s vision was inspired by Mary Magdalen and

the other Gospel women. These companions of Jesus minis-

tered to him out of their own means, companioned with him in

the ordinary day to day, stood by him in the face of torture,

tended him in death and proclaimed his resurrection. (Luke 8

1‐3) Over the years the Faithful Companions of Jesus have

devoted themselves to certain ministries confided to them by

their foundress; the education of youth, especially the poor,

the work of retreats and missions. But above all, following her

example , the sisters are Faithful Companions of Jesus who

desire through their lives to reveal Jesus to the world.

Being a member of a school community whose patron is Marie

Madeleine d’Houet can you, during these days of Lent, spend

some extra time in prayer to see how you might through your

lives reveal Jesus to the world?

When seeking Papal approval for her

congregation Marie Madeleine said:

‘to have the name, Faithful Compan-

ions of Jesus, ‘I would give everything,

all that I am.’

Marie Madeleine’s vision lives on ......

Denise DeNeve, FCJ Sisters

Report Card Distribution Report Cards will be distributed to

students on March 11.

Parent/Teacher interviews will be booked online with Con-

ference Manager. The instruction sheet is included in the

report card envelope. As usual, appointments will be made

on a first come, first served basis. Due to time restrictions

we ask that you limit your interviews to three teachers per

child. Appointments will be 10 minutes long.

Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews will be held on:

Thursday, March 17 from 4:00 – 7:30 pm

and

Friday, March 18 from 9:00 am – 11:00 pm &

1:00—2:30 pm

*Conference Manager will open March 11 at 6 pm (please see

attached sheet for further instructions)

Parent Notice – Parent Teacher Conversations

Madeleine d’Houet Conference Manager We are once again pleased to be using the Madeleine d’Houet Conference Manager to schedule Parent-Teacher Conversations using the Internet.

Step 1 - Conference Manager Opens to Parents –March11th at 6:00 pm If you used the Conference Manager to schedule previous conversations, your email and password are still in the system. You can simply access the Parent Login Page by going directly to https://dhouet.schoolsoft.ca . (DO NOT include “www”) If you forgot your password: Go to and click on “Forgot your password?” If you have never registered in the Conference Manager: You can pre-register anytime by going to https://dhouet.schoolsoft.ca and clicking the “Register Now” button.

Step 2 – Book your Parent-Teacher Conference: Select the teachers with whom you want to book conversations. You will see each teacher’s schedule. Please limit your conferences to 3 teachers/child. After booking your appointments you can print off your schedule. You will also receive an email containing the teacher name, time and location of the conference. You can log into the system at any time to view your bookings, print, cancel or re-schedule appointments. You have the option of submitting comments or questions to the teacher as part of the booking process.

Step 3 – Attend Parent-Teacher Conference: Important Dates: March 11 – Start scheduling your conferences at 6:00 pm March 17– Conference Manager closes at 3:00 pm March 17 – Parent Teacher Conversations: 4:00pm - 7:30pm March 18 – Parent Teacher Conversations: 9:00 – 11:00am & 1:00 – 2:30 pm If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact the school at 403-500-2008.

Dear Parents/Guardians, The Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française (DELF) is an international diploma officially awarded by the French Ministry of Education to certify foreign candidates' proficiency in French. These French tests are offered in 174 countries around the world. The four areas of communication: oral production, written production, listening comprehension and reading comprehension are tested and a lifelong diploma is presented upon successful completion of each of the 4 levels of the DELF (A1, A2, B1 and B2). A student does not need to complete one level before proceeding to the next and our FLA and Études sociales Programs of studies have been shown to prepare our students for the completion of the exams. These tests have proven to be very successful in our district in encouraging Immersion students to remain in the program and possibly continue their university studies in French, as they officially recognize their efforts to learn a second language. The Calgary Catholic School District is inviting our students from each of our five Junior High Schools to present themselves as candidates for these tests. The cost of registering your child for these exams is $70 for levels A1 and A2 and $120 for the B1 level. To register, please have your student submit their name to their teacher before March 1st. Further information will be provided by March 4th regarding online registration and fee payment.

The exams will be administered as follows: • The group exam consisting of the oral comprehension, reading comprehension and written production will be administered on Tuesday April 12h through Thursday, April 14, in your student’s school starting at 10:00 AM. • The date and time for the individual oral production will be determined the first week of April and communicated to you via the school. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me, Francine Payant, at 403.500.2839 or by e-mailing at francine.payant@cssd.ab.ca.

1000 Fifth Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 4T9 403-500-2000 www.cssd.ab.ca

CALGARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT MONTHLY NEWS

ConnectionsMARCH 2016

Canada’s Outstanding Principals – Deana Helton and Kevin DeforgeCongratulations to two Calgary Catholic School District principals – Deana Helton at Bishop Mc-Nally High School and Kevin Deforge at St. Dominic School, who were recognized as part of “Cana-da’s Outstanding Principals” for 2016! They were two of only four principals from Alberta who were selected as part of a group of 40 exceptional educators from every province and territory in Canada. They are being celebrated for demonstrating innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and truly remarkable initiatives in public education. Read more on our website under News & Events/Awards & Accolades.

District Day with the Calgary Hitmen 2016Our annual District Day with the Calgary Hitmen was a huge success again this year, thanks to our fantastic community! Held on February 12, the pre-game events included student face-painters, school mascots and CCSD staff handing out light sticks and greeting students and their families. With $2 from every district ticket sold, as well as 50/50 sales, the Calgary Catholic Education Foun-dation will receive close to $10,000 for enhanced opportunities, equipment and experiences for our students. Thank you for supporting District Day! Read more on our website under News & Events.

Summer School 2016Calgary Catholic School District offers high school courses during the summer to any student born after September 1, 1995, including students completing Grade 9 in June 2016. Students can take up to eight credits in Summer School that can include one direct-instruction course and/or a combina-tion of online courses. Five-credit courses run from July 4 – July 29, 2016 and three-credit courses run from July 4 – July 19, 2016. For more information and to register, please visit our website under Students/Academic Support/Summer School.

CAREERFair: RAP and Skilled Trades 2016Students and parents are invited to one of the annual CAREERFairs to connect with employers and in-dustry. Ask questions about the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) and Skilled Trades. Over 50 booths from a variety of industries will be setup and a brief presentation will be given to show opportu-nities in the Skilled Trades. For more information on dates and times, visit our News & Events page.

CCSD named as one of Alberta’s Top 70 Employers for 2016We are honoured to once again be recognized as one of Alberta’s Top 70 Employers. This special designation recognizes Alberta employers that lead their industry in offering exceptional places to work. Employers are evaluated based on a number of criteria including the physical workplace; work atmosphere; health, financial and family benefits; community involvement and vacation. Employers are compared to other organizations in their field to determine who offers the most progressive and forward‐thinking programs. Read more under News & Events/Awards & Accolades.

Letter from the Bishops of AlbertaThe Catholic Bishops of Alberta have written a letter addressed to the government regarding physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. The letter can be viewed at calgarydiocese.ca under News & Events.

Easter Break 2016All Calgary Catholic schools and administrative offices will be closed for Easter break beginning at noon on Thursday, March 24 and will re-open on Monday, April 4. During this most holy time, we humbly celebrate the gracious gift of God’s mercy and love. May all staff, students and their families be blessed with lasting peace and joy at the resurrection of our Lord.

Did you know?

Bishop Carroll student and biathlete Ben Churchill represented our country as Can-ada’s flag-bearer for the 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway in February!

Deana Helton

Kevin Deforge