Kingston Secondary School

Monday December 14th

Turn around Day

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

• We’d like to begin our first announcements in KSS history with a warm welcome from your 2020-2021 Student’s Association! Welcome, Blackbears, to a beautiful new beginning at Kingston Secondary School. KSS history is going in the books and you’ve got the pen to write it. Please connect with your grade reps to let them know how you’re liking KSS - that’s Namirah Quadir in Grade 12, Emily Hesp in Grade 11, Samuel Zhang and David Lai in Grade 10, and Seham Kettaneh and Ailsa Kerr in Grade 9 AND follow our accounts on Instagram - namely @kssbears.

• We hope that everyone is enjoying our very first “Blue, Black & White” day! The winners of each grade will be determined by period C, and will receive their awards later in the day. In case you’ve forgotten, tomorrow is “Back of the Closet” day. Wear an outfit that you usually wouldn’t wear to school. You could even wear something from a family members closet, get creative! 

• Teachers are reminded to review the Fire Exits with their students.

• There will be a Virtual GSA meeting at 4:00 pm today.  Scan the QR codes on the posters or see Ms. Chambers in Room 159.  

Thursday, December 17, 2020

• If your class hasn’t won yet, don't worry, you have one more chance to win a sweet treat tomorrow on pajama day. Wear a pair of comfy or festive pajamas to school for our final day before winter break.

• Good morning Bears!  Course selections for the next school year will be opening over the holidays.  As of Monday December 21st, students can start planning and submitting course requests on my blueprint.  The student services team will share more information and connect about options when we return in January.

• Good Morning Harmony Teams!  Just a reminder that we have a meeting today at 3:30 on Microsoft Teams.  This is our LAST meeting before the break!  We’re so excited to see you all and hear your fantastic ideas.

• Hey KSS!  Do you have a talent you want to express?  Grab your Mic, musical instrument, juggling balls, unicycle, magic tricks or anything else cause KSS will be having it’s first virtual Talent Show in January!  If you are interested in showcasing your talent listen up!  Video submissions can be sent toKCVIbluebear@gmail.com they must be 3 minutes or less and school appropriate (that includes music, background, etc) Video submissions must be in by January 8th 2021.  So KSS are you ready to finesse?

Friday, December 18, 2020

• Good morning Bears!  Course selections for the next school year will be opening over the holidays.  As of Monday December 21st, students can start planning and submitting course requests on my blueprint.  The student services team will share more information and connect about options when we return in January.

• Hey KSS!  Do you have a talent you want to express?  Grab your Mic, musical instrument, juggling balls, unicycle, magic tricks or anything else cause KSS will be having it’s first virtual Talent Show in January!  If you are interested in showcasing your talent listen up!  Video submissions can be sent to KCVIbluebear@gmail.com they must be 3 minutes or less and school appropriate (that includes music, background, etc) Video submissions must be in by January 8th 2021.  So KSS are you ready to finesse?

• We have now reached the end of our very first spirit week of KSS! Congrats to all our winners this week - you truly blew us away! Especially with your philosophical explanations of why your dog counts for 3%.

• Check your emails, social media and the SA’s KSS website (which will be up soon) for info and updates about the baking contest for staff AND students during the second week of the break!
• And now we'd like to recognize a few holidays happening over the break: 

• December 21st is Yuletide. The celebration of Yuletide has dated back for centuries as a way to commemorate the winter solstice which is the shortest day and longest night of the year! The Yuletide is a celebration of family and giving gifts to friends and loved ones. The Yule log is another age-old tradition representing the passing of an old year to a new one with the promise of love, joy, and everlasting happiness!
• Christmas is a religious and cultural celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25th. Around the world, people have many different Christmas traditions, such as hanging mistletoe, giving gifts, decorating evergreen trees, and church services. Common foods eaten at Christmas are turkey, Christmas pudding, apples, fried carp or chicken, candy canes, eggnog, rice pudding, and gingerbread. Merry Christmas! 
• Kwanzaa is on the 26th. Kwanzaa spans over a 7 day period with each day representing a different principle, these include: unity, self-determination , giving , purpose , responsibility , creativity , and faith ! A common symbol of Kwanzaa is the kinara with three red candles on the right, a black candle in the center, and three green candles to the left. During each day of Kwanzaa, a candle corresponding to the day's principle is lit. Happy Kwanzaa!