Your Child's Course Selection: Important Decisions

Counselors are beginning to come to your child's classes to talk to them about their options for next year, but it's a great opportunity to talk about the future and consider many significant options you may not have been aware of. As a family think long-term, what inspires your child, what they want to learn more about, what they want to experience, and what they will need for their future.

* Here's a link to L.A. Matheson's courses available to them for the choosing
* Connect with the Career Centre! Explore your options beyond the classroom:
* Through the Career Centre students can try on different careers and venture into the world in experiences of their choice while still completing all of their classes. Also, through the Surrey school district there are over 30 apprenticeship opportunities in a wide variety of trades, as well as learning partnership opportunities with BCIT, Emily Carr University of Art & Design, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Nicola Valley Institute of Technology and Vancouver Community College. Your child has opportunities for post-secondary learning experiences and credit provided free through their high school education
* I know you may only be in grade 10, and graduation seems far away, but here's important information of what you need to do for yourself starting now: Grade 10 College Planning Timeline

Explore the information, have these conversations with your son or daughter, contact the school with any questions, and together we can ensure that your child has the best experiences and opportunities available to them.

Welcome to Semester 2

It's hard to believe that it's already February, but that means a new semester, a fresh start, and hopefully, some more sunshine in "Rain City."

I look forward to working with you all in any way I can to support your children in their learning and growth. It is going to be a wonderful semester. For full information about the school schedule of events including meet the teacher night, parent-teacher conferences, report cards, concerts, art shows and more visit L.A. Matheson's school website

EHow offers some tips and links on how to best help your children get ready for this new semester and how to support them as they work towards their success.

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.