June 5 – Cap & Gown distribution to gr. 12’s after Assembly
June 6 – Year-end Concert 7pm
June 8 – ISP Year-end Celebration 1:30pm
June 8 – Taste of Millstream (Millstream Village)
June 9 – Commencement Ceremonies 11am & 3pm
June 15 – Prom @ Crystal Gardens 5:00pm – 3:00am
June 18 – Yearbook distribution @ lunch in Gym A
June 19 – Locker clean out 3:10pm
June 20 – Awards Ceremony 6:30pm
June 20 – Blocks A/C Copernican (Fri. bell schedule)
June 21 – Blocks B/D Copernican
June 21 – Last day of classes
June 24-27 Numeracy Assessment (TBA)
June 24 – English 12 Provincial Exam 9am
June 25 – FRAL 12 Provincial Exam 9am
June 26 – Communications 12 Provincial Exam 9am
June 26 – Report Cards published
Commencement Rehearsal – May 30
Last week our Grads traveled to UVic’s Farquhar Theatre for their Commencement rehearsal. We look forward to the 2 ceremonies on June 9 at 11am and 3pm.
Grad song rehearsal while students take their seats on May 30.
Congratulations to this year’s Valedictorian for the Grad Class of 2019!
YMCA Summer Work Exchange program
Congratulations to Brenn A. who was accepted into the YMCA Summer Work Exchange program. Brenn will represent Belmont and BC by participating in a 6 week work program in Quebec this summer along with other students from high schools in BC. Félicitations Brenn!
The Royal Canadian Military Display will be visiting Belmont on Friday May 31, 2019. The bus showcases a lot of what the Royal Canadian Military does both here in Canada and all over the world. It has interactive displays and a theatre onboard. This is also a great opportunity for high school students to learn more about job opportunities and careers in the Canadian Military both Full-Time and Part-time. The bus will be available at lunch and during C and D blocks. Come down and visit the bus and look at their many displays.
Belmont ISP Students 2018 – 2019
Belmont harvested pac choi and pomegranate crunch lettuce.
Belmont Robotics
The Belmont Bytes robotics team was invited to attend a robotics demo and a provincial funding announcement at Reynold’s Secondary on May 21st. The BC Government announced a $250k contribution to support growth of FIRST Robotics programs in BC.
A quote from the BC Premier, “I always like it when I get to visit my old high school, Reynolds Secondary. Even better when there’s robots and I get to announce an additional $250k in funding for FIRST Robotics.
Investing in these programs creates more opportunities for students who are passionate about science, technology, engineering and math, and helps prepare them for a career in BC’s thriving tech sector.”
Congratulations to Jessica M. on her recent acceptance into the Spanish Exchange Program 2019 – 2020. Jessica will host a student in August for 3 months and then her 3 month experience will commence in January. Felicidates!!
Congratulations to our Coast Collective 2019 prize winning Visual Artists!
2nd Prize Painting: Theo L.
3rd Prize Painting: Kiera K.
1st Prize Sculpture: Antonia A.
2nd Prize Sculpture: Miyu S.
1st Prize Indigenous Art: AJ B.
2nd Prize Indigenous Art: Mekayla W.
2nd Prize Mixed Media: Morgana A.
Congratulations to all Art Show Participants.
Collective Voices 2019 runs until June 9th: Coast Collective Gallery, 318 Wale Rd., Colwood
Just 1 of the many student exhibits from across our District at the Coast Collective.
Taste of Millstream (Millstream Village) – Saturday, June 8th
Athletics
Sierra G. has recently been featured on CBC for her success with RBC Training Ground and Rugby Canada. Sierra was nominated by Rugby Canada for funding from RBC Training Ground as a result of her testing. She has been excelling in the Rugby Canada Development Academy and on track to be identified as a potential 2024 Olympian in Paris.
The Belmont Ultimate team went to the Provincial Championships May 23 & 24 in Surrey, BC, and represented Belmont well with incredible determination and herculean effort.
The field was fierce and playing against the top teams in the province, including the first seed and eventual champions, this was the first time in BC High School Sports history that a banner was presented to the top AAA and AA high schools for Ultimate.
The Dawgs, Cole B., Devin B., Hamish B., Andrew C., Mykenzy G., Razel H., Peter M., Kayle M., Niklaus R., and Lina Y., as well as coaches Sano and Stee, were very, very happy to have been able to participate in such a historic occasion, to give their all during all six matches played, and to learn an incredible amount about the spirit, the sportsmanship, and the strategies and skill sets associated with Ultimate.
We say farewell to the grade 12’s who are graduating and wish them well in their future, hopefully continuing to play Ultimate at post-secondary institutions and in the community … and the rest of us, who are staying, are looking forward to next year, helping to increase interest in the sport, and wearing the Belmont colours with pride.
We also say a special thank you to Coach Dudzik and Dayna, without whose dedicated coaching and efforts to support the team, we would not be where we are … a BC Provincial Championships team!!
Belmont Mountain Bike Team
On May 24th Connor H., Liam S., Jim W. competed on behalf of Belmont at the BC Secondary School MTB Championships in Squamish. Jim & Liam finished a combined 4th in the team category (X Country, Enduro) in the Gr. 9 division and Connor finished an impressive 7th overall for the Gr. 10 division. As a school, our 3 athletes helped Belmont finish 15th out of 27 schools in our first provincials.
May 22-25 – Belmont’s Theatre on the Edge presents “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead” 7pm. Matinee on the 25th @ 2pm
May 29 – Destination UVic – Gr. 12 campus tour
May 30 – Commencement Rehearsal at UVic 9:00am
May 30 – Elements Dance Competition
May 31-June 1 – Dance Show 7pm
June 4 – Sports Banquet 6pm
June 5 – French Immersion Grad 6-7pm
June 6 – Year-end Concert 7pm
June 8 – ISP Year-end Celebration 1:30pm
June 9 – Commencment Ceremonies 11am & 3pm
Encounters With Canada
Encounters With Canada is a unique opportunity for Canadian teens (ages 14 – 17 years old) to meet other young people from across the country. Spend an adventure-filled week in your nation’s capital! Check out future career options, discover your country, share your hopes and dreams. For 37 years, EWC has delivered a rich and varied, bilingual program. To date, more than 113,000 youth have lived the EWC experience… now it’s your turn! Please see Mr. Chan (Music Rooms – D Wing) or at https://www.ewc-rdc.ca/pub/en for more information!
Destination UVic
Gr 12 students heading to UVic for September: Destination UVic is on May 25 where students will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with an academic advisor, visit the info fair and connect with student services on campus and take an in-depth campus tour. There will also be Reg 101 workshops to attend on campus that day. Students who attend Destination UVic will be eligible to win a tuition credit towards their first year at UVic – one of two $500 prizes and one grand prize of $1000. Students can register to attend online.
Also, any students who are unable to attend this event, we will be hosting a Reg 101 workshop here at Belmont on Wednesday, May 29 during Focus block in room B205.
Careers
All students who have requested Biology 103 Dual Credit Course for September 2019, meet on Thursday, May 23, 2019 at lunch time in room B222 (Mr. Grainger’s classroom). The application package will be distributed along with Instructions on how to apply. You must attend this orientation/registration meeting to receive the BIO 103 Dual Credit package.
Careers 10 – All assignments for Career Life Education 10 have been delivered to the grade 10 students and are due by May 31st. This course is mandatory for graduation. Any questions can be directed to jrobertson@sd62.bc.ca or students can come to B210 for help.
*Last call for Grade 11 & 12 students who still need to complete Planning 10/Career Life Education 10. All assignments are posted in the Google classroom and are due by May31, 2019. Any questions can be directed to jrobertson@sd62.bc.ca or students can come to B210 for help.
Ms. Allen’s Science Class
We’ve had a happy few days in a Science class as we watched 4 ducklings hatch. Meet Willy Honka, Farley, Jose, and Benedict. They will be staying at school for the next couple of weeks, so come take a look through the window of room B312 and welcome them.
Congratulations to Shaan B., a Belmont French Immersion Gr. 10 student, who was a Provincial Finalist this year at the SFU public speaking competition.
Island Health
Recently, Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) immunization consent packages for select grade 10-12 students were sent home from the school. If you have not already done so, please review the information with your child as an opportunity for them to start making decisions about their own health. Please complete the consent form and return it to the school in a sealed envelope as soon as possible. If your consent package indicated that we have no or incomplete immunization records for your child, please attach this information to the consent form.
Although a child may be immunized with the consent of a parent/guardian or representative, a high school student can make an informed decision regarding immunization regardless of parental consent or refusal. This is referred to as “mature minor consent.”
A short video presentation on mature minor has been created for students. It is available at: https://vimeo.com/231149258 or by going to islandhealth.ca/immunization-info à Immunizations à Additional resources à View our video on grade nine immunization and mature minor consent. Although this video is geared towards the grade 9 immunization program, it is applicable to students in grades 10-12.
Contact the local Health Unit at 250-519-3490 (Westshore) or 250-519-3487 (Sooke) if you have any questions.
Belmont Leadership
The Belmont Leadership Class has been involved with the Victoria Foundation’s “Vital Youth” program for the past several years. Josie S. (Gr 12) along her her colleagues met a few times this year to decide on which charity would receive a $1500 grant. Here is their report:
“We decided to give $1500 to the Anawim Society, which provides compassion, resources and a home for those living in poverty who want to improve their lives. The money will go towards buying groceries, running programs and other areas of need. We also gave Community Living Victoria $1000 to support the programs that enrich the lives of differently-abled youth. Everyone was very happy to donate to these two organizations as they make a big impact in supporting our community. ”
Cultural Exchange Spring Break 2020
Current grade 9,10, and 11 Sooke School District French Immersion and French students are invited to learn more about an opportunity to participate in a 7 week student exchange and cultural immersion program to France for the 2019-2020 school year. This exciting opportunity includes both an educational exchange component and experience living in a French environment. For more information, please attend a meeting at lunch on Friday, May 17th in the French Department.
Summer Learning Registration
Summer Learning registration is open and online this year. To register, please visit the Westshore Centre for Learning & Training website at link attached.
Lower Island Championships took place at Uvic’s Centennial Stadium. Coach Cam Smith and T Evans were impressed with the days results. Please congratulate the following athletes:
Julianne S. = 4th in 80m Hurdles, 2nd in 200m
Louisa K. = 2nd in 100m, 4th in 400m, 200m champion
Macaila M. – 2nd in 200m
Tanisha V. – 3rd in 200m
Hailey S. – 2nd in Discus, 1st in Shot Put, 3rd in Javelin
Isabella W. – 2nd in 100m Hurdles, 4th in Long jump
Daryana M. – 6th in Discus, Champion in SP
Sophia L. – 2nd in 1500m Steeplechase, 2nd in 400mH
Liam S. – 5th in Discus, 8th in Shot Put, 2nd in Hammer
Beau L. (N.) – 4th in 200m
Riley B. – 8th 100m
Josh B. – 5th in 200m
Daniel Mielecki 6th in 3000m
Junior Girls Relay team (4 x 100) 2nd place
Junior Boys Relay team (4 x 100) 4th place
Island Championships will take place on May 15th and 16th for these incredible athletes.
May 7 – Golf City Championships @ Highland Pacific
May 7 – “Consider the Consequences” Parent Info Session on the dangers of vaping and cannabis use in teens 6:30-8:30pm @ Royal Bay
May 7 – PAC Mtg. 7pm/Dry Grad 8pm
May 8 – Math Catcher’s guest from SFU
May 8 – Student input on acceptable cell phone guidelines – Focus Blk room tba
May 8 – UVic Lower Island Championships (all day)
May 8 – Important Grade 12 Assembly in the Theatre May 22 Focus Blk
May 9 – Salmon Bake Foods Classes (outside beside garden)
May 10-12 – Con Brio Sun Peaks Music Festival & Trip
May 10 – Pro-D (students not in session)
May 11 – Track & Field Practice 10 am @ RBSS
May 15 – O’Canada/Grad Song Auditions @ lunch in the CRM
May 15-16 – Track & Field Island Championships @ UVic (all day)
May 16 – Gr. 12 Capstone Exit Interviews
May 20 – Victoria Day (school not in session)
May 22 – Grade 12 assembly during Focus Blk
May 22-25 – Belmont’s Theatre on the Edge presents “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead” 7pm. Matinee on the 25th @ 2pm
May 30 – Commencement Rehearsal at UVic 9:00am
May 30 – Elements Dance Competition
May 31-June 1 – Dance Show 7pm
GISP
Cultural Week is coming!! GISP students and the Cafeteria have come together to celebrate the various cultures in our school by offering amazing food and activities during lunch hour. Come down to the cafeteria to enjoy the many options available for our Belmont students and staff. Please see link attached for more info. https://belmontgisp.weebly.com/cultural-week.html
Mon., May 6 – Mexico, Tues., May 7 – Korean, Wed., May 8 – French
Thurs., May 9 – Euro Days
Physicists in Training!
Five of our Physics 11 and 12 students were part of the UVic-ATLAS Masterclass on Saturday, April 13. These students learned about particle physics and data analysis and worked the under the supervision of UVic-ATLAS researchers to analyze real ATLAS data collected at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, near Geneva. At the end of the afternoon, these students shared their results with peers at SFU and TRIUMF UBC in a video conference.
Representing Belmont were: Isaac B., Zaki A., Rosalee G., Hannah F., and Connie J.
It is a pleasure to announce that Belmont student Navya P. has been selected to receive the 2019 Flying Musicians Association SOLO Scholarship. She is one of three recipients in North America to receive this award. Congratulations Navya!! Please see link attached for more info http://flyingmusicians.org/members/page.php?49.
Sustainability 9-12
Last week our students and staff completed the creation of a living roof on one of our sheds in the garden. Future projects include installing irrigation and constructing a shelter for Raven Dancer.
Students first cultivated seedlings in Mme. Grenier’s room.
Belmont/SD62/VIHA Wellness Centre
Check out this short video about the Belmont Wellness Centre. We are one of the only school Districts to have a medical clinic inside one of our secondary schools.
Our Leadership students’ promoting social activism
The 2019 Spring Out of Hunger Food Drive was a great success! Thank you to everyone that came out to support the Belmont students and our community. Unfortunately, we ran out of volunteer drivers and daylight, so if you want to donate food items, but we were unable to get to your house, please take them to the Goldstream Food Bank (9:30am to 2:30pm) the first three Tuesdays and Wednesdays of each month.
Special thanks to the lead planners: Jon B. and Keagan T., and to MP Alistair MacGregor for coming to support our event.
Thank you to all the students, family, and teachers that came out to collect food and drive volunteers around the area.
Post Secondary news
Gr. 12 students heading to UVic for September: Destination UVic is on May 25 where students will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with an academic advisor, visit the info fair and connect with student services on campus and take an in-depth campus tour. There will also be Reg 101 workshops to attend on campus that day. Students who attend Destination UVic will be eligible to win a tuition credit towards their first year at UVic – one of two $500 prizes and one grand prize of $1000. Students can register to attend online.
Also, any students who are unable to attend this event, we will be hosting a Reg 101 workshop here at Belmont on Wednesday, May 29 during Focus block in room B205.
“Spring It On” Cheerleading Showcase
The first ever Spring It On! Cheerleading showcase was a huge success. Many of our students were on multiple teams, and a huge crowd from the community was there to support them. The Belmont team represented like rock stars, and hit all their stunts.
A special thanks to Jon B. and Savannah S. for helping out with set up and sound.
In mid April Belmont sent two teams to the Provincial Mock Trial competition at the Law Courts in downtown Victoria. In addition to Ms. Davis’s support our team was happy to have volunteer community lawyer coaches Ron Dumonceaux from Dinning Hunter in Langford and Emily Drown from NestLaw in Sooke. A shout to Al B. for being recognized as the “Best Under Pressure” and to Bhreagh J. for being the “Top Witness.”
Fine Arts
The Belmont Dance Department took 75 dancers to compete in the 2nd annual Elements Dance Competition at UVic May 2nd. The dancers competed in a variety of dances including several student choreographed pieces. All the students performed their best and left it all out on the dance floor. They were very supportive of all dancers on stage and were so great at cheering for everyone, Belmont won the School Spirit award, which is given to the school that shows the most spirit for all dances and dancers regardless of what school they come from! Go Belmont!
Athletics
Belmont Ultimate Frisbee
The Belmont Ultimate Dawgs Team played its first two games of the inaugural season of Senior High School Ultimate in the province of BC. Playing at GNS in Victoria on a Friday afternoon (5 April), against the host team and a very strong Oak Bay High team, as well as blustery winds, the 12 team members played with great spirit and energy. Although they came up short on the scoreboard, each and every member of the team and the coaches were very happy and proud with the effort; we were all most impressed with the incredible fortitude of the three lady team members who played every minute of both games. The team’s next games are on Monday, May 15th at Beckwith Park, and will be practicing every Monday and Wednesday through the middle of May … everyone is welcome to join them … come one, come all, and toss a disc!! Go Dawgs!!
Mr. Dudzik, Ms. Christ-Rowling, Mr. Stee and the team!
Girls’ Rugby – The Islands
The girls played two round robin games going undefeated in April and then played Brentwood in the semi finals and won yet again. The girls play kept getting better and better as the day progressed. We faced Shawnigan Lake in the finals and held them to a 12-5 score at half. Unfortunately, Shawnigan kept the pressure on and we eventually gave up a few more scores before the game ended.
The ladies represented Belmont very well, and even missing key components of the team still placed second on the Islands, amazing! We were super impressed with their toughness and unwillingness to quit. The senior girls travelled to North Vancouver to compete in the seven aside rugby Provincials. The girls battled hard and we had enough talent to fight for a repeat championship. Unfortunately, injuries and a lack of experienced depth prevented us from reaching our goal of competing for the final prize. We were so impressed by their grit and determination. Even with the injuries we managed a 10th place finish in the province! Great job ladies!
Congratulations to the 2019 Belmont Rugby Raffle Winners.
1st prize – Janna Lamontagne
2nd prize – Ray Tomana
3rd prize – Sophia Cote
Thanks to all who support Belmont Rugby!
Track & Field
Over the past 5 weeks, the following students made it up to UVIC’s Centennial stadium after school on Wednesdays to compete against local high schools. Huge congratulations to the following athletes!
Julianne S.
3rd in 80m Hurdles, 3rd in 200m, 3rd in 300m Hurdles
Louisa K.
3rd in 100m, 3rd in 200m, 5th in 400m
Macaila M.
13th in 100m
Tanisha V.
16th in 100m
Hailey S.
5th in Discus, 2nd in Shot Put, 5th in Javelin
Isabella W.
2nd in 100m, 5th in Long Jump
Daryana M.
7th in Discus, 4th in Shot Put
Sophia L.
3rd in 1500m Steeplechase
Cole B.
19th in 1500m, 6th in Javelin
Liam S.
7th in Discus, 14th in Shot Put, 3rd in Hammer
Beau L.
14th in 100m
Brayden L.
15th in 100m
Beau N.
6th in 100m
Riley B.
7th in 100m
Josh B.
16th in 100m, 12th in 200m
Jordan R.
17th in 100m
Victor B.
19th in 100m
Please wish all of these athletes luck for the Lower Island Championships on Wednesday, May 8th during the day.
Island Championships will take place on May 15th and 16th. The athletes who make it on to this event will be communicating directly with teachers regarding missed classes.
Rowing
Congrats to Catriona B. and her partner for winning bronze for the Gorge Narrows U-17 Doubles Rowing team at the recent Brentwood International Regatta.
Community Forums
SD62 presents an opportunity for parents, students, and staff to learn more about the health risks associated with vaping, smoking, and drug use.
“The speaker on vaping is from VIHA, Dr. John K. Reid, Site Chief & Division Head Respirology, Island Health, South Island and will be educating parents on youth vaping and the dangers of high nicotine juicing.
The speaker on cannabis, is Dave Hepburn, a national specialist on cannabis research. He will be discussing the dangers of cannabis use in teens with regards to brain development and early usage. He is one of the leading authorities on medicinal cannabis and is a bit of a celebrity in the medical world. He had a show on CBC called “Wisequacks” and has made Oprah appearances and worked with high level athletes throughout his career. Currently….
“One of Canada’s foremost medical cannabis educator of physicians and the scientific and lay communities. He is a member of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians (SCC), International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines (IACM),The International Cannabis Research Society (ICRS), Physicians for Medical Cannabis (PMC) and the American Academy of Cannabinoid Medicine (AACM).”
Constable Don McIntosh from the RCMP will also be present with legal information for parents on both Vaping and Cannabis possession in youth.”
April 12 – 13 – Victoria Music Festival @ Oak Bay High
April 13 – “Spring It On” Westshore Cheerleading Showcase
April 13 – Sarah Beckett Memorial Run @ Belmont
April 16 – Law & Criminology classes visit Victoria Courthouse
April 16 – SPEAC & SD62 present Parenting in the Digital Age 6:30pm
April 17 – Track practice @ UVic 4 – 6pm (leave Belmont at 2:50)
April 17 – Skills Canada Provincial Competition at Tradex Centre in Abbotsford
April 19 – Good Friday (school not in session
April 22 – Easter Monday (school not in session)
April 21 – April 27 – Earth Week
April 24 – Track Practice @ UVic 4-6pm (leave Belmont at 2:50)
April 25 – EN 12 Prov. Exam AM/Comm. 12 Prov. Exam PM (Learning Commons)
April 26 – SD62 PAC Bursaries application deadline
April 27 – Victoria Jazz Festival
April 29 – May 1 – Gr. Victoria Performing Arts Festival (School Dance)
April 30 – May 1 – West Coast Jazz Festival
Celebrating the official opening…
On April 9th, we hosted the official opening for our new culinary program and in addition we celebrated the opening of our new turf field. Members of our SD62 Board of Trustees, Sr. Leadership Team, Aboriginal Ed. Team, City of Langord Council Members, District and City Facilities staff, students and staff took the time to recognize the tremendous generosity of both the City of Langford for our new turf, and to our District for their support in constructing the teaching kitchen for our future chefs. Our students and staff are truly grateful and fortunate for the resources we have access to. Thank You!
Elder Henry, Brother Rick, and Chief Russ Chipps share song, SD62 Board Chair and Belmont Grad Ravi Parmar, Mayor Stu Young and the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Our students with the support of Chef Harvey and Chef Letts have been making & serving great options for students and staff. Here they share a celebration cake!
Provincial Competition – Trades
Veronica A. and Isha C. both won Gold Medals at the Skills Canada Regional Competition and will be moving on to the Provincial Competition at the Tradex Centre in Abbotsford, BC on April 17th. We wish them all the best as they compete with other students across the province.
Careers 10 students
Reminder for Careers 10 students to get in assignments #1-6. Resumes are due by April 26th. Any questions come see the Careers team in room B210 for help. This course is mandatory for graduation.
The Canada Youth Summit Video Challenge is an opportunity for students to share their service stories and enter for a chance to participate in the first-ever Canada Youth Summit. All cost associated with travel, accommodations and hospitality will be covered.
Students are invited to share a 1-minute video on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram using the hashtag #InspireToServe. The video must answer the following question:
What does service mean to you? How has service benefited you personally and professionally, as well as your community?
The Canada Youth Summit Video Challenge will start accepting entries via Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram on April 2, 2019, at 12:00 PM (ET) and will close on April 14, 2019, at 11:59 PM (PT). To be considered for participation in the Canada Youth Summit, students must also complete this Entry Form
The Canada Youth Summit will bring 300 youth from across the country to Ottawa on May 2-3, 2019 to celebrate the launch of Canada’s first youth policy, continue discussions on key issues that matter most to young Canadians, and inspire young Canadians to serve their communities. Four (4) Video Challenge entrants will be selected to attend this event and all costs associated with travel, accommodations, and hospitality will be covered for the duration of the trip.
Check out the Career Centre Webpage for many opportunities for employment, volunteering and career events. Click on the tabs (jobs, volunteering, events) at the top of the webpage http://bsscareercentre.weebly.com/
Langford Fire Rescue
Langford Fire Rescue if offering the opportunity to attend a program, Camp Ignite Mentorship program in the Lower Mainland. The goal is to empower young women and promote the Fire Service. The camp runs from Aug. 8 to 11, 2019 and participants will be staying at Simon Fraser University, but the camp will take place in a number of places across the lower mainland (North Vancouver, Vancouver, Maple Ridge and Port Moody). It’s open to young women entering into Grade 11 or 12 (ages 16 to 18). There is no registration fees and they can help to cover transportation cost to SFU. To complete an application, go to http://campignite.com/ or visit the Career Centre at Belmont for more information. Deadline to register is June 1st, 2019.
France Exchange 2019
Students participating in the France Exchange are home after a very successful month in France. Below is an Instagram post from a European fan!
Athletics – Belmont Golf Team
Belmont Golf team will begin their season at the annual Victoria Police Tournament.
Dates are April 30 and May 1st at Olympic View.
City Championships are May 7th at Highland Pacific.
Any student interested in joining the team, please see Mr. Lowe in the gym.
Girls Rugby
Just before Spring Break, our Sr. Girls Rugby team began the season with the annual SD62 7s Tournament. The picture says it all!
Bali Service Trip – BELMONT GISP
A group of 13 Belmont students participated in a service trip for 2 weeks during spring break in Bali, Indonesia. They attended Green Camp for a 9 day adventure filled experience where they practiced mindfulness, did yoga, learned about the Balinese culture by participating in ceremonies, drumming, dancing and singing. They went on Rice field walks, visited an organic farm, created a garden community, built bamboo railings for the camp, planted coral, discussed sustainability at length, explored mangroves, cleaned up the beaches and streets of trash, taught at a middle school about Canadian culture and so much more.
Huge congratulations to all 13 students who were great ambassadors to Canada and Belmont. (Josie S., Derek D., Anna W., Shae S., Emma B., Kim S., Kyla K., Riley M., Caitlin W., Emily C., Akshay B., Jacob T., Spencer L.)
Please take a look at the pictures showing our many adventures. Please encourage them to share their learning with you as it may suit your course.
April 9 – Welcome Wellness morning offering hot chocolate to Belmont Stude 8:15 – 9:00am
April 10 – Report Cards Published
April 10 – Gr. Victoria Performing Arts Festival (Choir)
April 11 – Early Dismissal Learning Conferences
April 12 – Pro-D (school not in session)
April 12 – 13 – Victoria Music Festival @ Oak Bay High
April 19 – Good Friday (school not in session)
April 22 – Easter Monday (school not in session)
April 21 – April 27 – Earth Week
April 27 – Victoria Jazz Festival
Belmont Bytes advances to the semi-finals at the FIRST Robotics Regionals…
Belmont Bytes with Education Minister Rob Fleming and Premier John Horgan.
Our mighty Belmont Bytes Robotics team advanced to the semi-finals of the FIRST Robotics Regional competition this past weekend at the Save-On Foods Memorial Arena. A shootout to the team for the great work competing against world class international teams from as far away as New Zealand, Hawaii, US.
Congratulations to Angelo B. who was interviewed by “Skills Ready”. Skills Ready supports youth as they explore and prepare for jobs in skilled trades and technologies.
Angelo completed the Welding Foundation Program at Camosun College while he was in Grade 11. Please click on the following link to see his interview.
Commencement, UVIC Ceremony Tickets & Cap & Gown Orders
Grad Quote for yearbook
Scientists in action…
Below are some pictures of Ms. Wilkie’s Science 10 class doing an acid/base lab. Their job was to use HCl (hydrochloric acid) and NaOH (sodium hydroxide – base) as a comparison when testing the pH of household items to determine whether they are acids or bases. Some of the household items they used were: vinegar, buttermilk, tea, CO2, soap, milk of magnesia…etc.
Super cool hands on learning!
CAREER CENTRE NEWS
Congratulations to the following Belmont students who won medals at the Skills Canada Regional Competition on March 8, 2019. Skills Canada promotes and celebrates the skilled trades & technologies in positive hands-on competitions similar to the Olympics. Students compete with other students from Lower Vancouver Island for Gold, Silver and Bronze medal standings. This year Belmont Secondary School won Gold as the most winningest school with a score of 14 points.
Automotive Competition:
Veronica A. – Gold
Morgan T. – Silver
The Automotive competition included a written exam and students were judged at five different stations. Students had to identify various car components, build an electrical lighting circuit, check diagnostic trouble codes and a fault code using ProDemand and Consulab, remove brake caliper, inspect and measure runout, correctly test starting, charging & battery systems and inspect and measure engine block cylinder bores.
Welding Competition:
William M. – Silver
The Welding Competition tested the students ability to read blueprints, interpret welding symbols, have a working knowledge of electrode classification and identification and to demonstrate their skills in welding processes including shielded metal arc, gas metal arc and flux core arc.
Public Speaking:
Isha C. – Gold
Haley H. – Silver
In the Public Speaking Competition, the students must present their thoughts in a clear, coherent and well-constructed format, capture and hold the attention of the audience, speak easily with confidence, use non-verbal skills and be expressive when delivering their topic.
Hairdressing Beginners Competition:
Brenn A. – Gold
Cyanea L. – Silver
Neha B. – Bronze
Students in the Hairdressing Competition had to create a bridal up do with visible, upward movement in the nape and best displays their artistic ability and would be suitable for a “traditional” bride.
Athletics
Congratulations to the Rugby Canada Development Academy who won the Western Championships in Edmonton in February. The team defeated teams from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and BC. Well done on an excellent performance!
Belmont Cheer Team
The Belmont Cheer Team represented Belmont at the annual UVic Island Cheer Showcase this weekend. They did amazing!!! If they are in your class, please congratulate them.
If you’d like to see the performance in person, we are hosting the “Spring It On! Westshore Cheer Showcase” at Belmont on Saturday April 13th (@ 6:30pm). Admission by donation.
BELMONT MUSIC (BMD)
This winter for the BMD has been packed full of fun and excitement! With a few months under our belt, we really hit our stride and started off the holidays with a bang! Our winter concert on December 6th was a huge success, with all of our ensembles taking the stage. It was great to see everyone doing their part to make this year’s concert amazing! Our next performance was our Santa’s Breakfast on the last day of school before Christmas! We had a great time performing and “Santa” even made a special guest appearance! Our Drumline welcomed 2019 by working with expert clinicians on January 26th, coming in on the weekend for a great, musical day! Days later we welcomed grade eight students from all of our feeder schools for a musical performance alongside our drama, film, and dance colleagues! Cabin fever can strike in these winter months, so we packed up the BMD and went on the road! The entire music department performed at both Millstream and David Cameron Elementary Schools where we shared the stage with (hopefully) future Belmont musicians from for the John Stubbs Middle School Band and Grade 5 Choir students at David Cameron Elementary. Those were wonderful moments, as one of our values here in the BMD is an appreciation for the musical work of other music students. A great example of this philosophy come to life took place on Saturday Feb. 23rd at the Second Annual Choral Collaboration. Over 200 choir members from Oak Bay, Reynolds, Mt.Doug and Esquimalt learned from Indigenous guests and clinicians, performed for each other, and were treated to a performance from our guest group Ensemble Laude. A special shout out goes to everyone who made this collaboration amazing! The upcoming few weeks will be very busy! Kicking off the Regional Music Festival season is UVIC Bandfest for Senior Winds and Concert Band 9 (side trip to the Royal BC Museum!). Festivals will follow for Concert Choir, Drumline, Vocal Jazz, and Jazz Band. On Thursday, March 7, we had our Evening of Jazz consisting of our Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Band, and R&B Band, as well as a few student-run combos along with special guest the NADEN Jazz Band!
We’ve had a productive winter, and hope to see you at the first concert of the spring! We are so excited to share our music that we have worked so hard on with the community!
Salish Sea Science Program on Hornby Island – Youth Opportunity
Are you a passionate youth committed to the conservation of aquatic life? If so, we have an opportunity for you to join us on Hornby Island at the Tribune Bay Outdoor Education Centre for the 3-day/2-night Salish Sea Science Program!
Participating youth (30) will learn about the seven ocean literacy principles, the history of the area and traditional knowledge through outdoor activities. Students will then work in teams to develop an online learning resource to be uploaded to Ocean Wise’s online learning environment. The resources will be a reflection of their experience at the Salish Sea program, and will provide teachers with a tool to guide their class through the fundamentals of ocean literacy. To fully engage youth in ocean leadership, participants will challenge themselves in a ropes course, explore the coast in kayaks (weather permitting) and discover intertidal creatures while tide pooling.
Program details: Date: April 26th – 28th 2019 Age: Grade 10 – 12 Cost: $50.00
Drop-off & Pick-up location: Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal OR Departure Bay Ferry Terminal
How to apply:
Please respond to the application questions available on education.ocean.org/youth and email your responses to hailey.renaud@ocean.org before March 15th 2019. All applicants will be notified as to whether they are accepted or not by March 29th.
Information for Parents & Guardians:
Staff from the Ocean Wise education team will supervise youth attending this program. A full schedule, packing list, waivers and transport information will be sent out to successful applicants.
February 1 – Belmont Music Dept. – Elementary School Tour
February 4 – Chinese New Year Party 4-6pm
February 5 – PAC Mtg. 7pm/Dry Grad Mtg. 8pm
February 7 – BMD Middle School Performance
February 9 – Belmont Bulldogs Senior Rugby Bottle Drive Fundraiser
February 13 – Grad Assembly
February 14 – Last Day to order Grad Wear
February 15 – Pro-D Tri-District (students not in session)
February 18 – Family Day (school not in session)
Semester 2 Start Up
As we begin the 2nd semester of the 2018/19 school year, we need to thank all of our students and staff for making the semester change go so smoothly. During the assessment/exam week we successfully provided students with the opportunity to write the Graduation Numeracy Assessment as well as English 12, Francais Langue 12, and Communications 12. A reminder we will be acknowledging students efforts through our honour roll as this is tabulated at the end of the course. This past week we began our Grade 8 transition by hosting a Middle Schools Fine Arts Performance and a Grade 8 Parent Night on January 30. Thanks to all of the students and staff for making the first formal introduction so memorable and positive for our future Bulldogs and their families.
Currently our AbEd staff are also hosting WEXES Wellness Week: Belmont is very excited to be partnering with First Nations Health Authority through their Wellness Grant and also thrilled to be working alongside Island Health, Camosun College, Saanich Native Plants, One Love Consulting and WZ Latin Party Fitness and, most of all, our amazing Role Models and Elders.We are celebrating Wellness by connecting with WEXES the moon of the frog (February to March). In the SENĆOŦEN calendar the WEXES moon is the time when Mother Earth warms up and the hibernating frogs wake from their winter sleep to announce the coming of spring. It is a time of rebirth and rejuvenation. WEXES (frog) is a witness and a messenger.
1st Semester Final Report Cards
A reminder to all families that as of November 2018, we electronically publish report cards through the MyEd BC student portal and in addition will complete the upcoming 2019/20 course selection process using the same student portal. Instructions can be found on our website or through our school App under information. The 1st semester final report card will be available (published) on February 1st at 12pm.
Your feedback is wanted: Draft SD62 calendars for 2019-2022 The school district has posted draft calendars for the next three years. Please provide any feedback you might have to info@sd62.bc.ca. Feedback will be open until Friday, February 22, 2019. The SD62 Board of Education must submit a Board-approved calendar to the government by the end of March. Check out the calendars here: http://www.sd62.bc.ca/schools/calendar/
Red River Carts come alive…
In December before the holiday, Ms. Bronson’s SS9 class participated in an awesome project where her students created “Red River” carts out of items such as Popsicle sticks, small wooden dowels, glue, and other such materials. Not only were the students challenged to create these historical replicas, but Ms. Bronson and her husband spent hours working out every detail with blueprints, creating detailed instructions, and actually drilling the holes that each spoke of the wheel would need to go into.
ISP Farewell Party
Congratulations to one of our grade 10 students Thomas C., who was awarded Top Male Biathlete in the Vancouver Island Zone Biathlon Competition, held at Mount Washington on January 13. He is the only South Island Biathlete who will be competing at the Provincial Cadet Winter Biathlon Competition on Feb. 9 & 10th. Please see link from the Sooke Mirror https://www.sookenewsmirror.com/sports/langford-cadets-top-podium-in-regional-biathlon-competition/.
The Belmont Bytes prepare for another season of Robotics competition!
Belmont Bytes Robotics team competed on January 18/19 at Oak Bay High School and finished 2nd.
Team members in the photos are: Sierra I., Manon M., Veronica C., Antonio L. and Coaches Mr. & Ms. Samousevitch.
University of King’s College Information Session The University of King’s College has an Information Session in Victoria on Tuesday, February 5th. The session will take place from 7-8 p.m. at the Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort (in the Cowichan Room) – 100 Harbour Rd., Victoria B.C. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.). This event is a great opportunity to learn about King’s programs, campus life, clubs, societies, athletics programs, and living in coastal Halifax. Grade 12 students who attend the event are entitled to a free application to King’s in the month of February. Students can learn more or RSVP online.
VMUN – Vancouver Model UN Belmont sent five students to VMUN, the preeminent annual Model UN conference for high school students, with 1400 students from around North America attending this Vancouver event January 25 – 27. William H., Isha C., Keemia A., Cassandra C. and Morgana A. enjoyed great success, with two students even earning recognition awards for their skills in research and diplomacy. Congratulations to Cassandra (the delegate of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the African Union committee) and Morgana (the delegate of the United States in the Security Council) for their awards and to all the students for representing Belmont so well. Any student interested in learning more about Model UN is invited to join us Mondays at lunch in room B205.
Congratulations to Christine C. and Isha C. who participated in the BC Youth Parliament on December 27 to 31, 2018 at the Legislative Chambers in Victoria. Christine and Isha met with 95 other students from across BC to learn about parliamentary process, to debate resolutions pertaining to local, national, and international issues and to plan activities for the coming year.
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Belmont School Salon The Belmont School Salon is open to the public, students and staff. Hours are 9am to 12pm Wednesday to Friday. Rates are posted on the salon door.
Doors Open to Technology (DOT) is a free conference for students who are interested in having the opportunity to go behind the doors of local tech companies. The conference includes tours of tech companies, innovations talks, panel discussions from Vancouver Island tech companies, networking, learning what it takes to get into the tech field and discovering the options for tech careers on the island. When: Tuesday, February 5, 2019Where: St. Ann Academy A bus will leave Cineplex Odeon at WestShore Town Centre at 8:00am and return by 3:45pmPlease see Mrs. Nicholson in the Career Centre for the permission forms. Seats are limited. Lunch will be provided by Subway.
Athletics
Senior’s Night – (L-R) Maddy G., Lina Y., Laya M., Ashanti W., Nafeesa A., Rina H.
Sr. Girls Basketball
On January 22nd this year’s grade 12s were honoured on “Sr Night for their dedication and commitments to our girls basketball program. To make the celebration even more memorable our Sr. Girls came away with a great win over Pacific Christian in league play.
Girls Soccer Girls Soccer is commencing this Spring. We are looking for Junior and Senior girls to join our teams. Sign up with Ms. Gaetz (room B112). Games and practices will be Tuesdays and Thursdays now through the beginning of May. No experience necessary – Come out and have fun! Badminton Attention badminton players! The Belmont competitive badminton team is starting up in the next few weeks. See Mr. Willing in B310 for details. Belmont Ultimate Frisbee General meeting for Jrs. & Srs. on February 4th in room B102 at lunch. Season begins week of February 18th to May 10th. No experience necessary! Learn how to throw some DISCgusting tosses and sky your opponents in a fast-paced sport this Spring.
Lattitude Info Night
Students/parents are asked to register online through the their website.
January 22/23 – Teachers may offer “I” days for students to catch up
January 22/23 – Numeracy Assessment
January 23 – Dance Show Dress Rehearsal
January 24/25 – Provincial Exams
January 25-26 – Dance Show Performance 7:30pm
January 30 – Semester 2 begins ABCD
January 30 – Fine Arts Show for Middle Schools @ Belmont
January 30 – Gr. 8 Parent Night 7pm
Women in Trades & Technology Exploration Event at Camosun
Are you interested in exploring a variety of Trades and Technologies at Camosun? This one day event is free for female students and participants will be able to experience hands-on activities in electrical, carpentry, civil engineering, computer science, sheet metal, automotive, electronics and mechanical engineering. See Mrs. Nicholson in the Career Centre for an application, parent permission form and agenda. Lunch will be provided. Seats are limited. The deadline is February 5, 2019.
Livres par la classe de 10e annee immersion francaise/Books written by the FRAL 10 class. They are children’s stories to be donated to Ecole John Stubbs grades 2 and 3 so little ones can see what the big ones are doing.
Congratulations to Lucas S., Braydon B., Tanner P. and Derek P. who each won a Youth Work in Trades Award valued at $1,000. These students worked in a trade recognized by Industry Training Authority (ITA), completed a minimum of 900 work-based training hours, graduated with a minimum of C+ average in their Grade 12 courses and were registered as an apprentice with ITA.
Yearbook Purchases & Grad Quote Submissions Extended to March 15th/19Grad Blood Drive
Are you 17 or older? If so, you may be eligible to donate for the upcoming Grad Blood Drive. On January 28th, from 3-5pm, take one hour of your day to make a donation that has the potential to save up to three lives. Sign up starts this week at the booth in front of the Learning Commons at lunch, where you can take the test to see if you are eligible and find out more info. All eligible students and staff are welcome! Contact Christine C. or Cassandra C. for more info.
Belmont Dance Presents “Dem Beats!”
January 25th & 26th 7:30pm (Doors open at 7pm)
Entrance will be $2 per person at the door.
Come out and support the dancers in their first show of the year.
Jasmine R., a grade 9 Art student, created this beautiful mural as her final project for her art class. She spent weeks creating a very intricate and elaborate stencil, which she then mounted onto the wall with removable glue. Next, she sprayed the wall and stencil with removable chalk spray paint, waited for it to dry, and repeated this process with multiple stencils and layers. She also applied a mixture of crushed chalk pastels with water to add more detail and adjust the colour tones and intensity. Her piece came to life beautifully, receiving many positive comments from the school community. Through this piece, Jasmine’s message to the world is, “it’s not what the world holds for you; it’s what you bring to it.”
Animal Logic Work Experience
Animal Logic is one of the world’s most creative digital studios, producing award winning, ground breaking animation, visual effects and design. They have made films such as “The Lego Movie 2” and “Peter Rabbit”. Animal Logic is offering 10 successful Grade 11 applicants an opportunity to participate in their Work Experience Week. You will be working in a feature animation studio in Vancouver, BC and learn about the roles related to a career in Animation & Visual Effects workplace.
Work Experience Week will be take place in Spring Break Monday 18th March 2019 to Friday 22nd March 2019 in Vancouver, BC.
The deadline for applications is Monday 4th March 2019 and can be applied for via an online application form on their website – www.animallogic.com
Although it is free to participate with lunches provided, students are responsible for their own travel to and from the Studio in downtown Vancouver and their accommodation.
Please see Mrs. Nicholson for more information.
Congratulations to the winners of the Royal Canadian Legion Poster and Literary Contest.
Anthony B. – Grade 12
Angie S. – Grade 11
Cassandra O. – Grade 10
Bria B. – Grade 9
The students will be honored at an awards ceremony held in the auditorium of the Royal Canadian Legion, Prince Edward Branch #91, 761 Station Avenue on Sunday, January 27th at 11:30 am.
SD62 Youth Work in Trades ProgramIs your Son/Daughter a Hidden Apprentice?
Sooke School District is currently looking for hidden apprentices in our schools. A Hidden Apprentice is any student that is currently working, or has previous work experience, in a recognized Red Seal trade (carpentry, cooking, electrical, baking and many more, see itabc.ca). These students can earn up to 16 school credits and a possible $1000 scholarship.
The Youth Work in Trades program (YWT) is a career program jointly sponsored by the Ministry of education and the Industry Training Authority (ITA). The program is open to any students 14 years + and enables them to receive “time in trade” or apprenticeship hours through practical, hands-on work experience. Students will be registered with the ITA and begin accumulating hours towards a trade certification while in secondary school. Students will also be signed up for Youth Work in Trades courses and gain school credits for work experience. Successful completion of the program earns students 16 credits towards graduation. Some may also qualify for the YWT Scholarship – a $1000 award given to students that complete all four YWT courses, graduate with a C+ average and complete 900 work based training hours by Aug 31st the year the student turns 19.
If you are a high school student already working in a trade, or interested in the program, please contact Mr. John Mennie for more information.
John Mennie
SD62 Youth Work in Trades Coordinator
jmennie@sd62.bc.ca
250-514-7038
Dual Credit Programs – Camosun College South Island Partnership (SIP)
While students are enrolled in high school, they can have their tuition paid by the School District for our partnership programs (SIP) with Camosun College.
Students who meet the requirements can earn high school credits towards graduation, be enrolled as a Camosun College student and earn their first year of college where appropriate.
Students typically go to Camosun in their Grade 12 year but can apply in Grade 11.
Please see Mrs. Nicholson in the Career Centre for more information and to pick up an application.
Tuition Free SIP Partnership Programs:
All these programs take place at Camosun College and range from 16 to 32 high school credits depending on the program. Grade 10 and Grade 11 is the ideal time to plan for a Partnership Program so that prerequisites for the program and credits for graduation are met.
For more detailed information go to: http://camosun.ca/learn/south-island-partnership/Bio 103
Sending compliments to our Biology 103 students who just completed their final university lecture and lab exams and the end of the course before holidays. SUPERB EFFORT! Special acknowledgements to the following students: Silken T. and Susan Y. achieving 100% on their first university lecture exam—wow! Sheryn B., Isha C., Rina H., Kodi J., Layla M. D., Silken and Susan for exemplary final 103 course marks of A+! The rest of the class marks ranged from A- to B+. The 103 experience was appreciated by all in completing a post-secondary lab, learning new lab skills, handling new equipment and models, completing experiments and working in a collaborative setting along with the Camosun instructor, Laura Biggs.
This is one of the Dual Credit courses offered at Belmont during Semester 1, whereby students receive 8 grad credits and a transferable university credit. They become an early registered student at Camosun, were exposed to university style lectures & exams, completed 14 labs (8 at Belmont, 6 at Landsdowne campus) and did NOT have to pay tuition for the course! If you are interested, please see your counsellor or Mrs. Hyde in the Careers Centre or speak to Ms. Choma in room A304.
Camosun Lab for Bio 103
Here are a couple of pictures of our Bio 103 students performing their last lab on Human Anatomy at one of the Camosun laboratory classrooms.
Grad Photos
Once again, the website is ready for grads to go on line and sign up for your Grad photos. Appointments available from January 30 to February 1, 2019 at Belmont School. To book an appointment please go to the link provided www.lifetouch.ca/victoria or call 250-744-4100 if you require assistance.
My Blueprint & Google Classroom
Reminder to all parents: Please be sure to give online consent for your student to have access to My Blueprint and Google Classroom. Both these websites are used for the Career Life Education and Career Life Connections courses that are required to graduate.
Here’s how to do that:
2. Click “allow” or “consent given” for Google APPs for Education (GAFE) and My Blueprint
Belmont Psychology students traveled to the University of Victoria on Friday December 7th to participate in the Pacific Psychology Conference for High School students. Forty students spent the day in lectures and seminars learning about counselling therapy techniques, statistics and research, environmental psychology and the different degree options available to students wishing to continue their education in Psychology at the post-secondary level. It was a tremendous learning experience and an opportunity to hear their first university lectures from pre-eminent experts in psychological research.
Athletics
Belmont Senior Girls Volleyball – 2018 season summary
After graduating 7 players who had helped lead the team to two consecutive AAAA B.C. championships this year the Senior Girls Volleyball Team “re-tooled” and almost immediately climbed back to the top the provincial rankings. They compiled a record of 61-4 for the year, winning several big tournaments including the prestigious Red Serge Tournament hosted by the RCMP in Coquitlam. After capturing the City League Championship, the Lower Island Championship and the Island Championship the girls headed to the B.C. Championships in Penticton with the #1 ranking. After winning their pool and three straight play-off wins the team made their third consecutive provincial championship final, but this time were denied by a very strong Kelowna team. It was another stellar year in which the school was not only represented extremely well on the court, but also off the court where the team was noted for its comradery and love of the game.
Belmont Bulldogs TC10km team
Set out your New Year’s Resolutions yet? Why not consider running or walking the TC 10km this year?
Where? Downtown Victoria
When? Sunday, April 28th, 2019
Race starts at 8am so best to be downtown around 7:15 – 7:30 as parking and getting to the start line can be challenging at times.
How to register?
Go to https://raceroster.com/registration/20153/9eqpf3dhyyc5q5xz/registrant/1
Register as a “registrant” and make sure to add that you are part of team Belmont Bulldogs!
Have fun training!
