Dear MGCI Parents/Guardians/Caregivers/Students:
From all of us to all of you, we wish you the happiest of holidays! We will be sending our next newsletter on January 12 as we also take this holiday time with our friends and family.
Gillian Evans, Principal
- School Nutrition Program Donations
Looking for a worthy donation in lieu of holiday gifts this year? Please consider supporting our Student Nutrition Program - we feed thousands of meals (breakfast, snacks and lunches) every month to the student community. Tax receipts available: Donate to Marc Garneau CI
- Youth in Policing Summer Job Program
The Toronto Police Service’s Youth in Policing Initiative program is currently hiring for the 2024 Summer program.
This program enhances the link between the police and the neighbourhoods we serve. This initiative gives young people an opportunity to develop job skills while fostering positive partnerships with the Toronto Police Service. Youth ages 15 to 18 who reside in the city of Toronto are employed through the summer and throughout the year, working alongside police officers and civilian staff in a wide range of roles. The program is not unique to Toronto, as it was created and funded by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, and is now used throughout the province. Our applications close on January 21st, 2024.
Job Posting: Youth In Policing Initiative-Toronto Police Service (tps.ca)
- Opting-Out of the e-Learning Graduation Requirement
Last year, the Ministry of Education introduced a mandatory e-learning credit requirement for graduation. But - students may withdraw from the online e-Learning requirement at any time. A parent/caregiver/guardian or student (18 years of age or older or 16 or 17 years of age and withdrawn from parental control) may withdraw by submitting the TDSB Opt Out/Withdrawal Form to their school. No explanation or reason is needed to opt out/withdraw. Opting out does not prevent you from taking an e-Learning course in the future.
If you are not ready to make a decision with regard to participating in e-Learning, there will be future opportunities to participate in e-Learning courses or withdraw from the graduation requirement. A final decision is not required at this time. If you have decided now to withdraw from the graduation requirement, please complete the TDSB Opt Out/Withdrawal Form and return it to your school.
- TDSB Winter Wellbeing Guide
The 2023-2024 Winter Well-Being Guide is filled with activities, games, wellness tips, identity affirming resources and community agencies to support wellness for all students, caregivers/guardians, families, and school communities over the winter months!
Created by Professional Support Services Staff who are part of the Mental Health and Well-Being Committee, the TDSB Mental Health Leads and the System Leader for Mental Health and Professional Support Services, this Guide provides accessible resources and has been translated into the top 20 TDSB spoken languages. This Guide can be accessed here: 2023-2024 Winter Well-Being Guide
- Canadian Senior and Intermediate Math Contests
Congratulations to the MGCI team for scoring 5th in all of Canada. What a wonderful accomplishment for the students!
- Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (Plar) 2023/2024
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) is the formal evaluation and credit-granting process whereby students may obtain credits for prior learning. Prior learning includes the knowledge and skills that students have acquired, in both formal and informal ways, outside secondary school. Students may have their knowledge and skills evaluated against the expectations outlined in provincial curriculum policy documents in order to earn credits towards the secondary school diploma.
The 2023/2024 PLAR Challenge process will kick off with a Virtual PLAR Information Session for Families on January 17, 2024 from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
- Chinese Heritage Month at the TDSB: Chinese Canadian Memory Minute Challenge
Chinese Heritage Month is proudly recognized by the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) in February. For this month, we invite all students and staff to submit a 1-minute video that answers one (or more) of the following guiding questions posed. Videos can be created individually or in pairs.
Guiding Questions:
- What does being a Chinese Canadian mean to you?
- What aspect of the lunar new year is most important or meaningful to you?
- What does the dragon symbolize for you?
- How has identifying as Chinese impacted you in your school and/or your community?
Eligibility:
- Open to all TDSB students and staff.
- Students must complete a Media Release Form (available on the submission google form - see attached).
Deadline: All entries must be received by Friday, January 29, 2024, by 4:00 pm
Please see the attached for full details which includes submission information, video requirements, prize, and recognition facts.
- Worth Repeating - 2023-2024 Semester 1 Exam Schedule
The Semester 1 Exam Schedule can be found here. Students will receive more detailed information about their exams in the New Year.
- Worth Repeating - Marc Garneau’s Grad Photos
To all prospective graduates of the 2023/2024 year, the time has finally come to prepare for your Graduation Photos!!! Graduation Photo Days will begin on February 20th, 2024. Please use the Graduation Photo Day Link provided to book an appointment. A few reminders can be found below:
Each student is required to pay $35 to the photographer on the Photo Day. This fee includes digital proofs as well as an 11” X 14” composite of the Graduating Class.
Your digital proofs will be sent to the email address used to register for your appointment.
The recommendation is that you wear a white collared shirt for the best results. (You may also wear a tie if you choose.)
Appointment changes or cancellations can be made by emailing studio@brightpics.ca.
Remember to SMILE – graduating is an incredible accomplishment.
- Worth Repeating - Suicide Prevention Helpline 9-8-8
On November 30, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) through the Canadian Radio and Television Corporation (CRTC) announced a national three digit Mental Health and Suicide Prevention hotline number, 988. In the face of increased demand for crisis services, 9-8-8 provides:
- A number that’s easy to remember in a crisis situation.
- Support in English and in French, by phone and text.
- Quick access to support from trained responders, available 24/7/365.
- High quality, evidence-based, equitable suicide prevention and crisis support for everyone in Canada.
For more information about 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline, visit https://988.ca. More information is also available at 9-8-8 | CAMH and 9-8-8 number for mental health and suicide prevention | CRTC.
You are not alone. You deserve help - call or text 9-8-8 any time for free, confidential support without judgement.
- Worth Repeating - Culminating Activity Evaluations and Exams
Moratorium is a period of four days prior to the scheduled final exam days. During this time, students will be working on final culminating projects or reviewing for their exams with their teachers.
Final exams run from Wednesday, January 24th - Tuesday, January 30th. The exam schedule will be shared with students and the community before we break for the winter holiday.
Please be reminded of our policy for absences during Culminating Assignments and Final Exams:
Absence from a Culminating Activity Evaluation: Culminating activities are completed toward the end of a course and are part of the student’s 30% final evaluation. Culminating activities and examinations carry the same importance and the same attendance requirement. Thus, attendance during culminating activities is mandatory. Some courses have culminating activities that take place over several days.
If a student misses a culminating activity, the student will receive a mark of “0”. In the event that a student is too ill to complete a culminating activity, the parent/guardian must provide medical documentation of the illness. The parent/guardian is asked to contact the school before the culminating activity due date. The parent/guardian will be given a ‘Missed Evaluation’ Form to be completed by a medical doctor and submitted within two days of the missed culminating activity. Family vacations or trips are not considered excused absences and as such, students are expected to be in class for all culminating activities.
If satisfactory documentation of the illness is provided on the Missed Evaluation Form, the culminating activity may be rescheduled. Otherwise, the student will receive a mark of “0”. There are no exemptions.
Absence from a Final Examination: Exam dates and times for all courses are set out in the exam schedule which will be distributed to students and parents/guardians. We are not able to accommodate any changes to the Exam Schedule or requests to write an exam at a date/time other than the scheduled date/time shown.
Students are urged to check their exam schedule carefully. If a student misses an exam because of misreading the schedule, the student will receive a mark of “0”.
In the event that a student is too ill to write a final exam, the parent/guardian must provide documentation of the illness. The parent/guardian is asked to contact the school before the Exam is written. The parent/guardian will be given a ‘Missed Evaluation’ form to be completed by a medical doctor and submitted within two days of the missed exam.
Family vacations and trips are not considered excused absences and as such, students are expected to be in attendance for all examinations.
If satisfactory documentation of the illness is provided on the missed evaluation form, an alternative evaluation may be scheduled. Students granted an alternative evaluation will receive a mark of “0” until they complete the alternative examination. There are no exemptions from writing an exam.
Late Arrivals During an Exam: Each student will be given a copy of the Exam Schedule at least two weeks before the examination. Punctuality is expected. Students who arrive late will be admitted to the exam up to one hour after the exam begins, but will not receive extra time.
Plagiarism/Cheating: Any student found copying from someone and/or in possession of notes or materials not permitted in the Exam Room will be deemed cheating. Electronic devices are not permitted in the exam room unless permission has been granted from the Vice-Principal (ie. electronic translation devices).
Students using electronic devices during Exams to download or share information will be deemed to be cheating. Cheating is a serious offence and may lead to a mark of “0”.
- Worth Repeating - Course Selection
MGCI aims to prepare all students for the next steps in their journey. The courses students select help lay the foundation as they look to university, college, apprenticeships, trades or the workplace. Many post-secondary programs have specific admission requirements, therefore it is extremely important that students take the time to do some planning and research in order to carefully select those courses in high school. Some of the courses in grades 11 and 12 also require a prerequisite course, therefore the need for careful planning needs to happen throughout all the years in high school.
As students are reviewing and choosing courses for the next school year, they should consult with parents/guardians, their guidance counsellor, and their teachers to discuss options and set goals consistent with their future aspirations.
Selecting their courses in My Blueprint by the assigned due date will allow students the opportunity to get the courses they are requesting. If students are not able to complete and submit their course selection by this deadline, courses will be selected for them based on what courses they require to graduate and what courses are still available. Please encourage your child to complete their course selection as soon as course selection open in February in order to get their desired courses and in order to facilitate a successful academic year for 2024-2025.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR COURSE SELECTION 2024-2025:
- School Council Update
The next School Council meeting will be held on January 25, 2024. More information will be shared in upcoming newsletters.
Land Acknowledgement: We, the students and staff of Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute, acknowledge that we are hosted on the lands of the Mississaugas of the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Wendat. We also recognize the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis, and the Inuit peoples.