Marion M. Graham Collegiate602 Lenore DriveSaskatoon, SK S7K 6A6Phone: (306) 683-7750Attendance: (306) 683-7755Student Services Office: (306) 683-7756

PRINCIPAL: Dr. Shirley Figley

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL: Mr. Shane Bradley

SCHOOL TRUSTEE: Ms. Colleen MacPherson

Web sitehttp://schools.spsd.sk.ca/mariongraham

Parent Portal: https://spslearn.spsd.sk.ca/schools/mgc/Pages/Default.aspx

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGEMidterm report cards were just distributed and this signals that the final stretch of theschool year has arrived. We have a lot of exciting work still to do and many celebrationsto host that will acknowledge the outstanding work of our students.

Some upcoming activities to consider taking in are: our Multicultural Festival (May 14),Jazz Night at the Bassment (May 21), the School Art display at the Mendel Gallery (onnow), the final music concert (May 27), the Athletic Awards Banquet (June 2), ColourDay (June 3), the final School Community Council meeting of the year (June 9) andGraduation (June 25). These events are in addition to track meets, Boys’ soccer gamesand golf tournaments which finish our athletic seasons for the year and the yearendcanoe trip at the end of May.

At our recent Parent-Teacher Interviews we received positive feedback in a survey thatmany parents completed. You let us know that you support our school goal of providingappropriate challenge to every student and the work we are doing using technology toengage students. We also just received the results of the Tell Them From Me Surveythat every student did in April. The feedback from students is also very positive abouttheir learning experiences at Marion Graham.

We wish you all safe and happy summer months ahead and remind everyone thatstudents are scheduled to return to classes in the fall on Tuesday, September 2, 2014.For those families who are moving or have students graduating this year, thank you forall of your support and best wishes in the future.

Finally, I offer a personal farewell and thank you to Marion Graham parents and ourcommunity. Since this is the last newsletter of the 2013-2014 school year, it is also myfinal MG newsletter as I will retire at the end of June and a new principal will beappointed later this spring for the next school year. Thank you to parents and guardiansfor all of the support and encouragement that you provide for the staff and students atMMGCI. You continue to make our school community an envied place by being greatpartners in the education of the fine young people that make Marion Graham a greatschool!

On behalf of the staff,Dr. S. Figley

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Principal’s Message 1

Grad/Final Exams 2

Student Services 6

Sports News 7

Music Association 9

Dates to Remember 10

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MAY2014

GRADUATION 2014. . .

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MMGCI’s Graduation will be held on Wednesday, June 25, 2014.The ceremony is at 3:00 PM in Hall A and the banquet begins at 5:30PM in Hall B, both at Prairieland Park. Tickets for the banquet will beon sale Tuesday, May 13 from 6 to 9 PM and Wednesday, May 14from 6 to 7 PM in the commons area of MMGCI. The cost for thebanquet ticket is $45.

JUNE 2014 EXAM SCHEDULE…June 17 (Tuesday)Period 1 – Instructional Time for Period 1 (90 minutes)Period 5 exam — Grade 12 — 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.(No classes for Grade 12 students)

June 18 (Wednesday)Period 1 exam — All Grades — 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.Instructional Time for Period 2 – 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

June 19 (Thursday)Period 2 exam — All Grades — 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.Instructional Time for Period 3 – 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

June 20 (Friday)Period 3 exam — All Grades — 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.Instructional Time for Period 4 – 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

June 23 (Monday)Period 4 exam — All Grades — 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.Instructional Time for Period 5 – 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

June 24 (Tuesday)Period 5 exam — Grades 9, 10, and 11 — 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.

Odd Day courses meet first hour/Even Day courses meet second hour.

June 25 (Wednesday)Advisory Activity for Grades 9, 10, and 11 — 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.

MARION GRAHAM DANCE ACADEMY PERFORMANCE…The Dance Academy Performance will be held on Thursday, June 12 at 7:00 PM in the Don Wilde Centre for the Performing Arts. The show will include dancenumbers performed by the Dance Academy classes. Admission is free, so come out and enjoy a night of entertainment!

“As the music changes, so does the Dance”

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TEXTBOOK RETURNS… Tuesday, June 17 — 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM Wednesday, June 18 — 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Thursday, June 19 — 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Friday, June 20 — 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday, June 23 — 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Tuesday, June 24 — 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

All students are to return textbooks to the library at the end of term, prior to summer vacation, especiallygraduates or students not returning to Marion Graham. This is the best opportunity for students to clearaccounts.

LOCKER CLEAN-OUT & LOCKS…Students should have all personal belongings removed from lockers by Tuesday, June 24. Any items left inlockers after this date will be removed. The school can not accept responsibility for the care of personal itemsafter this date. Please take your lock home for the summer and bring it back with you if you are returning in thefall.

REPORT CARDS…Report cards for Grade 9, 10 and 11 students (and Grade 12 students who do not attend the GraduationExercises) will be mailed out the first week in July. Report cards for Grade 12 students will be given out at theGraduation Exercises on Wednesday, June 25.

ATHLETIC BANQUET AND AWARDS NIGHT…Parents and guardians are cordially invited to attend the Athletic Banquet and Awards Evening on Monday,June 2, at Marion M. Graham Collegiate. The evening is a great way to showcase our many student athletesand highlight all of our teams’ accomplishments. Awards ceremony will begin at 5:30, followed by supper. Thecost of the evening meal is $15.00. If you are interested in purchasing a ticket, please contact Miss Hills at 306-683-7750, or email: hillsS@spsd.sk.ca, before Tuesday, May 27.

COLOUR DAY…Marion M. Graham Collegiate’s twenty-seventh annual Colour Day will be held on Tuesday, June 3 beginningat 2:00 p.m. This program acknowledges many students for their hard work and grants recognition for differentawards within our school. The program will be held in the Gym. All parents and guardians are welcome toattend.

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STUDENT FEES…Students with outstanding student fees were given reminder notices with theirmid-term report cards in April. If you have any questions or concerns about student fees, please contact Mrs.Barb Robbins at 306-683-7761. Thank you.

CHEM FREE AFTER GRAD 2014…Tickets for the Marion Graham Chem Free AfterGrad will go on sale May 13 from 6 to 9 PM and May 14 from 6 to 7 PM in the Commons. Tickets are $40 each.Our theme is New York. You will be amazed at what you see when you arrive. The room will be decorated withthe New York Skyline, the Statue of Liberty and even a Brooklyn Bridge. Start the evening off with five kinds ofpizza, a hypnotist show, followed by nachos, chicken fingers and dry ribs, fresh veggies, ice cream sundae bar,unlimited pop, air brush tattoos, and a green screen photo booth with lots of props. To finish off the eveningthere is a DJ dance show with door prizes, and them muffins, and fresh fruit. Lots of fun for everyone! Comealone or bring an escort! It will be a Night to Remember! Any questions, contact Sally Horel, After GradChairperson at sallyhorel@sasktel.net

WANTED: The Graduating Class of 2014 is looking for donations, both monetary or prizes, from local businesses.  If you own a business, or know of anyone that might support our Chem Free After Grad Party, please contact Sally Horel for more information at sallyhorel@sasktel.net 

MULTI-CULTURAL FESTIVAL 2014…May 14thmarks the date of our third annual Multi-Cultural Festival at Marion M.Graham Collegiate! We will host a morning where MMGCI students will sharetraditional cultural foods and will present traditional games, songs and dancesfrom their countries.

All students and staff will get the opportunity to travel all around the world anddig deeper into the cultures and diversity of Marion Graham Collegiate!

SASKATOON BLADES… Over the past years the Saskatoon Blades Hockey Club has had a number of young men combining junior hockey and high school education.

We welcome our Blades players, new and returning, to Marion M. Graham Collegiate.

The Blades are seeking billets for the upcoming season. Host families provide room and board for players, aged 16 to 20, from the middle of August to the end of theseason. Billets receive season tickets, plus financial compensation. For information, contact the Blades office at 306-975-8844.

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FROM STUDENT SERVICES . . .

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SCHOLARSHIPS & BURSARIES… Just a couple ofreminders to Grade 12 students. If you are a Grade 12 studentand have received a scholarship or bursary, please bring yourcongratulatory letter to Student Services, as we make a copyof your letter for our records.

If you are not planning on attending the Graduation Ceremony,please let Mrs. Njaa-Davis in Student Services know.

SUMMER SCHOOL 2014…information has been posted atwww.spsd.sk.ca. All Summer School classes will be held atMarion Graham Collegiate. This summer, morning, eveningand online classes are being offered. Summer School runsJuly 2 to July 29. Registration deadline is June 27, 2014.

WHAT IS WWW.MYBLUEPRINT.CA?...Myblueprint.ca is a website where you can:

Plan your high school timetable and keep track ofcourses you have completed

See which post secondary programs andapprenticeships would be available to you based on theclasses you take in high school

Compare post secondary programs side by side Take interest inventories to see what you might be

interested in doing when you are older

All you need to do is create an account using our schoolactivation code: mariong3

Grade 11’s and 12’s and parents of Grade 11 and 12 student- you can now “LIKE” Student Services on Facebook to getupdates about important deadlines, scholarships andother postsecondary opportunities in your newsfeed!!!Search for our page: Student Services at Marion M.Graham Collegiate Institute. If you have any questions,please call Mrs. Njaa-Davis/Student Services Counsellor at306-683-7765. This is our primary mechanism forcommunicating this information to our parents – pleasedon’t miss out!

Dealing with Adolescent Anxiety 

Siobhan O’Connor – Child and Youth 

Mental Health Presenter

Monday, April 7, 2014 Siobhan from Saskatoon

District Health gave a very informative presentation

to parents about youth with anxiety. One parent

remarked that “if you weren’t there, you missed a

great presentation”!! Siobhan shared a

comprehensive overview of symptoms and

suggestions to parents in how to help with this

situation. One of the most helpful suggestions was

that parents can do much to support therapy by

supporting the change from rigid and perfectionistic

thinking to more flexible and realistic thinking. She

also left a number of websites and apps for parents

to download. Here is the list:

http://www.anxietybc.com/parents/generalized.php

http://teenmentalhealth.org/for‐families‐and‐

teens/links‐for‐parents‐and‐teens/

http://www.mindcheck.ca/reality‐check

http://oyh.org.au/training‐resources‐about‐youth‐

mental‐health/fact‐sheets

Some apps that will work on Android and /or Apple 

phones are: Mindshift, MoodWatch, My mood 

Tracker Lite, Moody Me‐Mood Diary and Tracker, 

Worry Box‐ Anxiety Self‐Help; Stress‐Anxiety‐

Depression; Depression CBT Self‐Help Guide.

** If you have any concerns about your teen please 

contact your school counsellor (306) 683‐7756 or 

call Saskatoon District Health (306) 655‐7777.

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MMGCI ATHLETICS…FALCONS FOOTBALL… It has been an excellent off-season. Throughout the winter, the team heldweekly gym sessions and leadership group meetings. We had an excellent commitment to the Strength andConditioning Program.

Finally, with a hint of spring in the air, the Spring Football Season is about to begin. During the spring, all of thegrade 9 – 11 guys may attend many Spring Camps offered by Football Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Minor Football,and the Saskatoon Hilltops. If you are interested in any of the camps, please contact Mr. Eng atengw@spsd.sk.ca.

Our Annual Spring Camp will be held June 9 – 13. The camp provides for an opportunity to learn football skills andto develop an attitude of excellence in the football program. This camp is open to every grade 9 to 11 MarionGraham student. Practices will go from 3:30 to 5:00 daily. No experience is required. The week long camp willconclude with a control scrimmage on June 13.

Fall training camp will start on Monday, August 25, 2014.

If you have any questions about the Falcons Football Program, please contact the school. You can also check outour website at: mgfalconsfootball.ca

SPRING GOLF DEVELOPMENT CLUB… We all hope the spring golf season is justaround the corner. Weather permitting the golf program at Graham will start up after the Easter holiday. Ourgolf program is designed for male and female players of every grade and ability level. The program consists oftwo parts: a developmental component, as well as a competitive component. As a development program weinvite all students who wish to learn the game of golf to come out and participate. Students will get theopportunity to work on their swing at the driving range and play 9 holes during our play days whenever they feelready. For more experienced golfers, we also offer an opportunity for students to qualify to play in the City HighSchool Golf Championship tournament which will be held in June (exact date yet to be determined). Playerscan choose to take part in any or all of the events that the spring golf program offers. There are no cuts,everyone is welcome. Everything we do in our season takes place at local golf courses, so transportation andequipment must be looked after by the student. The school does have golf equipment that can be borrowed.Our program operates on a user-pay basis. If you have any questions, or would like more information, pleasesee Mrs. Bodnar in Room 227.

SRC REPORT… It’s hard to believe we are already halfway through the last semester of the year!One of the SRC’s most recent events was the ever popular Annual Dodgeball Tournament, where many studentsand teachers competed during lunch hours for the championship title. “Dirty Dave and the Boys” took home thegold, for the second year in a row, with their unstoppable team of Grade 12 boys.

Also during March, in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, the SRC promoted a Green Spirit Day that the whole schoolwas welcome to participate in. Just before the Spring break, the Events Committee set up a treasure hunt for thewhole school. Mini chocolate eggs were hidden all around the school and many prizes were to be won on thisexciting day.

The Student Representative Council is very proud of all of the events we’ve planned so far this year and we areworking hard to plan more for the last two months of school! Some events to be expecting are: SRC Elections,B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Banana and make a sundae), a Spirit Day in May, Summer Sizzler BBQ, the year endPep Rally, and hopefully many more! Please keep updated with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, as wellas through the Student Notices … we look forward to seeing you at future school events!!

AmandaSRC Director of Events

OUTDOOR SCHOOL… Outdoor School has had an exciting first half of the semester! Itseems like we are hardly ever at the school. Since the start of term, we have been on two trips, done ourUrban Watershed Trek and been all over the city and the province. We went to Blue Mountain in our secondweek of school, and then a four day ski trip to Duck Mountain Provincial Park. Duck Mountain was a peacefuland scenic park with beautiful snow and pretty much perfect weather for winter camping. We got to sleep inquinzees, chat by the fire, and explore a marvelous forested area of Saskatchewan.

Our next big trip is to the Grasslands National Park, where we hope to enjoy the return of the warmer weather.We hope to see the wildlife as it re-emerges from winter slumber or migration areas. Bison and many types ofbirds are often seen in the Grasslands. Another highlight will be the star, as GNP is a dark Sky Preserve! Wewill be spring camping in the Nisbet Forest following our Grasslands trip. Finally, our spring canoe trip isplanned for early June and we look forward to going to the Boreal Forest for an epic journey through the north.

If you are in Grade 10 and hope to join Outdoor School next year, you can still submit your application andhope that there are spaces remaining. Applications were due April 30th, and those people will get priority,however there is always a chance to make one of your Grade 11 semesters an adventurous and exciting one.From each student in ODS, we send our regards and hope that you experience as much success and joy inyour spring endeavors as we will!

Outdoor School Students – Spring Semester

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MMGCI MUSIC ASSOCIATION… Under the direction of our wonderful teachers themusic students have been involved in some incredible things! The choir rocked Telemiracle. The Jr. Bandand Girls’ Choir toured to Edmonton and competed to positive reviews. The band programs competed in theMusic Festival, also with positive results. Drum line continues to perform amid cheers at events around townand at the annual Fools Roast. Sr. Band and Mixed Choir will be touring to the USA May 9-13.

• Wednesday, May 21 is the Marion Graham Collegiate Jazz Night. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with theshow at 7:00 p.m. As in past years, there will be an admission charge for anyone not performing, with allproceeds going to the Bassment.

• Tuesday, May 27 at 7:00 p.m. is the final music concert of the year. It will be held in the Don Wilde CentreFor The Performing Arts at MMGCI featuring a Salute to the Grade 12 grads.

• Music students who need to complete their music reviews as part of their course work, need to attend andreview a concert before the school year ends!

• Music students can continue with their music by attending a summer camp. Please contact Mr. Fannerand/or Mrs. Oddan for more information and other possible opportunities.

• If you are interested in attending our next Music Association meeting on Wednesday, June 4, please e-mail,MGMA@shaw.ca subject line “Executive meeting date?” and we will get the information to you.

You will find as you look back upon your life, that the moments that stand out are the moments when youhave done things for others. Heartfelt appreciation is extended to: Karen Bechtel, Angie Giesbrecht, LizMoran- Murray and Len Zielinski. These Music Association Executive members have provided many “standout” moments for the music families of Marion Graham and will be graduating with their children at the end of2014. THANK YOU!

“Children and youth are more likely to become engaged citizens if they see someone they admirehelping others, including their parents”. Volunteer.ca

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DATES TO REMEMBER…MayMay 7 Digitized 2014

(Grade 11 and 12 students)May 13 ESIS (Grade 10 students)May 13 Grad Banquet Ticket Sales 6 to 9 PMMay 14 Grad Banquet Ticket Sales 6 to 7 PMMay 19 Victoria Day HolidayMay 21 Jazz Night at The Bassment, 7 PMMay 27 Music Dept. Final Concert, 7 PMMay 28-31 Canoe Trip

JuneJune 2 Athletic Awards Banquet, 5:30 PMJune 3 Colour Day, 2 PMJune 9 School Community Council, 7 PMJune 10 Library Books DueJune 17 Semester II Final Exam for Period 5

(Grade 12 students only)June 18-23 Semester II Final Exams for all gradesJune 24 Semester II Final Exam for Period 5

(Grades 9, 10, and 11 only)June 25 Advisory Activity for Grades 9 to 11 (AM)

GraduationJune 26 Grade 9 Orientation – 9:30 AMJune 27 Last Day for Staff

JulyJuly First week Report Cards Mailed

SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR PARENTS:Meetings are held in the school library at 7:00 p.m.  NEXT MEETING:  JUNE 9TH – Planning topics for the 2014‐2015 School Year.  PARENTS PLEASE JOIN US!