Dear Centennial High School Community, Today our Spirit Week wraps up, and it is “Dress Like A Student” (or “Dress Like A Teacher”) day. Stereotypes abound! It has been a fun (and busy) week at Centennial, led by our fantastic Leadership program! This morning our Grade 12 students had a virtual assembly with our Guidance Team and Grad Committee. They went through an “Are You Ready to Graduate” process – looking at credits, marks, and what they need to successfully complete high school. They also provided their heights – for the purpose of us ordering the appropriate Grad Gown size for them. Can you believe we are already at that stage of their high school careers?! Parents/Guardians of Grade 12 students, look for a School Messenger with information pertaining to Grad early next week. While the Class of 2025 was doing their thing, I hosted a Virtual Town Hall with our Grades 10 and 11 students, sharing some celebrations (more on those below), areas we as a community need to continue to work on (#1 is student loitering in washrooms), and answering questions students posed. Nearly one hundred Grade 10 students also participated in a survey facilitated by Planet Youth, sharing important perspectives on the experiences and needs of teens. It has been a busy day, week, and month – it’s that time of year! Please read on for several updates. The Play that Goes Wrong – Next Week! - Please join us in the Centennial Theatre for The Play that Goes Wrong
- Performances are next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, December 9 – 11 (7pm showtime)
- Tickets at the Den or the Door ($10 for adults; $5 for students & seniors)
Music Winter Concert – Next Thursday! - Our Annual Winter Concert is Thursday, December 12 at 7pm
- Please join us in the Gymnasium for a fabulous evening of music and holiday cheer!
From the Guidance Department: Post-Secondary Update - Mount Royal University will be hosting online Bridge the Gap sessions for any prospective students who have an IPP
- Students are invited to sign up for a one hour overview of self-advocacy coaching sessions
- Please visit the D2L CHS Student Services 2024/25 D2L shell for more information
So Many Celebrations! - Yesterday I sent an email to the staff of Centennial High School expressing appreciation for the incredible things they do providing opportunities for students, and celebrating the incredible contributions and experiences of our Coyotes
- Below is a sampling of what Centennial High School has been up to this week – this is not an exhaustive list, and doesn’t include our Culinary students participating in the Global Calgary Cookie Sale as part of The Magic of Christmas fundraising initiatives, our 2025 Europe Trip students engaging in team-building activities, or our Astronomy students enjoying a field trip to the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory west of the city (all those things happened just last Thursday!)
- Tuesday: our Swim Team competed at the City Meet, while our basketball teams looked to be in mid-season form on the court and our Cosmetology program continued to welcome happy clients after school!
- Wednesday: outstanding representatives of our SWAT (Student Wellness Action Team) attend the CBE Wellness Symposium downtown, representing our school community splendidly!
- Also Wednesday: our Culinary Arts students catered a phenomenal, festive dinner for the residents of Sundance on the Green (seniors complex just east of our football/rugby/soccer field); prior to the meal our Choir sang Christmas Carols for the residents, and afterwards Centennial Drama students provided some outstanding entertainment
- Two staff members at Sundance on the Green shared with me that visits from Centennial High School were the highlight for residents there – they adore our students; it was a beautiful evening
- Still on Wednesday, we hosted a Wrestling Quad Meet (Coyote wrestlers had terrific results), and following that meet we also hosted a Junior High Wrestling Meet – the gym was bustling
- Yesterday we welcomed students from Fish Creek and Chaparral Elementary Schools, as they were treated to an advance showing of The Play that Goes Wrong
- Chatting with several of the little ones after the show, they expressed excitement at one day coming to this school that one boy said, “Reminds me of a mall!”
- I was asked if they could take a course here to help them create beautiful artwork like what our incredible Fine Arts students have displayed throughout our school by (we can, I assured them)
- I was asked if they can learn to cook here (you can, I said)
- They also asked if they can one day be in a play here too (also, absolutely yes!)
- One girl told me that the cast of the show gave them all high fives, and exclaimed, “I am NEVER washing this hand again!” (clearly The Play that Goes Wrong was very well received by our guests!)
- Also yesterday, several teachers had their legs waxed for charity (ouch!), with proceeds going to our Brown Bag program (providing healthy food for CHS students experiencing food insecurity)
- Today we welcome Junior High Feeder schools to watch The Play that Goes Wrong – I am curious if these students will cherish the high fives as much as their younger counterparts did yesterday!
- And also today, the November/December edition of The Centennial Crier has hit our newsstands, full of exceptional journalism and poignant articles written by our very own students
There is so much to celebrate, and yes – still much work to do. All that being said, I am very grateful for the students and staff of this school, and for the support of parents, guardians, and our larger school community. Have a great weekend. Joe Sturgeon
Principal Centennial High School |
