Clothing Drive

Our English 10 class is organizing a clothing drive for our local Surrey Urban Mission.

This community organization offers support to neighbourhood kids, single moms, elderly and disabled residents, people who are homeless or vulnerably housed, and those battling addiction and mental illness.

Please send your spare clothing: shoes, socks, sweaters, pants, blankets, jackets, toques, gloves and scarves. House hold and children's items are also welcome. You can send all items to Ms. Bertrand's class as we gather all we can to help those struggling in our community. Thank you for your support

Supporting Your Child's Learning

The more you actively engage in supporting your children during the academic year, the greater are their chances of success. So here are some recommended recent articles and supports to help as you support your child in their learning endeavours:

Read what piques your interest now and bookmark others for later. I guarantee you’ll find some meaningful food for thought here – and you’ll also meet some great people who support children’s positive growth and well-being.

Happy reading!

• Boys and Girls Learn Differently: by Patti Ghezzi at SchoolFamily. Get insights on how to help your son or daughter at home and in the classroom.
• 7 Ways to Encourage Reluctant Readers: by Steve Reifman, M.Ed.  A teacher’s strategies can turn your child from a reluctant to a willing reader. Try them out!
• It Isn't Easy Being a Parent...: by the Search Institute. Nine strategies every parent should know based on fostering developmental assets in children.
• Two Questions Heard Around the World: by Steve Constantino, Ed.D., at ParentNet Unplugged. When your children come home from school, replace the most common two questions asked by parents with a few well-placed statements!
• Keep Your Middle Schooler Organized: by Nancy Darling, Ph.D., at Psychology Today. How to help kids develop organizational skills and relieve the homework struggle.
• Parenting: Who Is More Powerful? Technology or Parents?: by Jim Jaylor, Ph.D., at Psychology Today. How are you flexing your parenting muscles against the strength of today’s media?  

Humanities Co-op Team Building

The Humanities Co-op students came together for some fun and team building before breaking off to their own work experience placements. The link below is a video of some of the students' competition/collaboration. Enjoy!

Humanities Co-op Team Building Activity Video

They are making Matheson proud all over the Lower Mainland working everywhere from animal rescue facilities to Community outreach programs, from Grade 1 classrooms to Surrey Crime Prevention Voluntary Policing.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

This Thursday October. 25th L.A. Matheson is hosting its first Parent-Teacher Conferences of the school year.

Students are receiving their first report cards during homeroom at the end of the day. Following the distribution of report cards Parent-Teacher Conferences are being held.

Where: Large Gym and Cafeteria

When: 2:15-5pm

Please join us for opportunities to discuss your child's progress, and what we can do to support their learning and assist in their achievement goals.

Students are encouraged to join their parents so that it is a true conversation with all involved.

For students the block order of the day is:

Period 4: 8:30 - 9:40 am

Period 3: 9:45 - 10:55 am

Lunch: 10:55 - 11:40 am

Period 2: 11:40 - 12:45 pm

Period 1: 12:50 - 1:55 pm

Parent-Teacher Conferences: 2:15 - 5pm

Looking forward to seeing you all there

Grade 12 Parent's Night Next Week

Next Thursday, October. 4th is the Grade 12 Parent Night.

When: 6:30pm

Where: L.A. Matheson

Why: It's a great opportunity to hear important and specific information regarding your grade 12 child's final school year. Included will be information about graduation, provincial exam prep, scholarship opportunities and an open forum to inquire about any questions you may have.

Please come join us for an informative evening in support of your child's path to graduation.

Reading Our Way to a Better Life

As I work with the students to instill a love and devotion to reading I came across a few like-minded supporters. If you're having any troubles encouraging the kids to follow through with their learning, even when it's hard, here's some support:

1.) Lifehacker: Want to Be a Great Leader? Read

2.) LifeDev: 8 Benefits of Reading (Or Ways Reading Makes You Better at Life)

3.) Personal Development: Importance of Good Reading and Writing Skills (In the Real World, In Your World)

4.) Styleblazer: 10 Smarty Pants Celebs: Did You Know They Went to College?

Meet the Teacher Night!

All parents and students are invited this Wednesday, September. 19th to meet the L.A. Matheson staff and to meet their children's teachers.

When: 5:15pm-7:15pm, September. 19th.

There will be an opportunity to meet all of your children's teachers, find out about the classes, expectations and support systems. There's information on how to best support your child, and opportunities to meet and talk about questions, ideas and inquiries you may have about your child's education. Please come and join us for an informative and important evening together!

Below is a copy of pertinent information for my classes if you are unable to attend: Meet the Teacher Night Information Handout

Creative Writing Contests and Opportunities

Your children are so creative, and there's many opportunities for them to share their voice. To all of the aspiring authors, budding poets, check out the English Department display wall with student entry forms and information, or talk to me (Ms. Bertrand) for more information on the creative writing opportunities coming up quickly.

****The 7th Annual National Student Poetry and Short-Story Contest is underway with cash prizes and submission deadlines coming up in November****

Explore their site, the rules, the prizes, the opportunities: Polar Expressions Writing Contests

The Future We're Preparing Learners For