Dear Parents, Guardians, Caregivers, and Students
We are excited to begin the month of November today with a homeroom. I was able to unload some left-over Halloween candy with my homeroom today. Last night the final group of Halloweeners that arrived at my house was around 9pm. Of course, they were older teenagers and not in any costumes. I asked what they were and one of them said "Candy Thieves" made me laugh so they all got a handful of candy (legally).
This week in homeroom, our focus at Central Memorial High School has been on promoting responsible digital citizenship among our students. Today we discussed the importance of maintaining a healthy relationship with technology and really thinking about what they post and say online. Being aware of the impact on our student's holistic well-being reminded me of something I read in Leonard Sax's book, The Collapse of Parenting: How We Hurt Our Kids When We Treat Them Like Grown-Ups. Sax highlights the presence of digital devices in youth's bedrooms as a significant factor in issues like sleep deprivation, which often stems from late-night device use. This kind of unsupervised screen time can lead to poor decision-making and other social media-related challenges. I shared with a parent earlier this morning that when my nephew was living with me for his grade 10-12 high school years. I shut down all digital device access at 10pm and he had to be in his room. And trust me, it wasn't always easy, but I was firm, and it paid off. I filled his room with a variety of books, and it was amazing how many he wound up reading over those three years. He is still an avid reader into his 30s.
As part of our school-wide effort, students today in homeroom reviewed the 2024-2025 Digital Citizenship Plan, which is accessible on the CMHS website. The plan outlines two primary goals:
- Learners will demonstrate respectful and inclusive behaviour while using digital tools.
- Learners will understand appropriate times and situations to use technology and how to use it responsibly.
Students also examined the Responsible Use of Technology Agreement to reinforce these concepts.
During homeroom we encouraged students to reflect on how they present themselves on social media. We discussed: "Is the you, that people see online, the real you?" We explored the differences between their authentic selves and their online personas. We talked about how their online experiences affect their self-image and decisions.
The goal was to empower our students to think critically about the time they spend on their devices, when they spend time on their devices, and their digital interactions. We would hope that their online presence reflects their true selves while supporting their well-being.
As always, we appreciate your continued partnership in fostering responsible technology habits.
Have a wonderful weekend and don't forget to set those clocks back this weekend for daylight savings time!
Anne Kromm Principal
Important Dates to Remember
Tuesday November 5 - Tuesdays with Teamy at Lunch in the Cafeteria
Thursday November 7 - Last Day of Classes before Fall Break
Thursday November 7 - Remembrance Day Ceremony AM
Friday November 8 - Non-Instruction Day NO SCHOOL
Thursday November 14 - Classes Resume
Friday November 15 - Unique Pathways Applications Due
Wednesday November 20 - Jacket Racket Donations (Oct 9 - Nov 20)
Tuesday November 19 - Tuesday December 3 - Grad Photos
Thursday November 24 - Purdy’s Chocolate Fundraiser Orders Due
Thursday November 28 - Yearbook Artist Entry Deadline
Friday November 29 - Non-Instruction Day NO SCHOOL
Yearbook Purchase Deadline - BEFORE Sunday April 27
CMHS Sports
Monday November 4 - Jr Girls Volleyball Quarterfinals 5:00 at CM
Tuesday November 5 - Sr Boys Volleyball Quarterfinals 6:30 at CH or RT
Tuesday November 5 - Sr Girls Volleyball Quarterfinals 5:00 at EPS
Wednesday November 6 - Jr Football City Championships 4:30 at Hellard
Wednesday November 6 - Jr Girls Volleyball Semifinals 5:00 at CM
Wednesday November 6 - Jr Boys Volleyball Semifinals 5:00
Thursday November 7 - Sr Football City Championships 7:30 at Hellard
Thursday November 7 - Sr Girls Volleyball Semifinals 6:30
Thursday November 7 - Sr Boys Volleyball Semifinals 5:00
GO RAMS GO!
Future School Events
Friday November 15 - CMHS Dance Team Auditions 2:00 - 4:00
Tuesday November 26 - Saturday November 30 - Wedgie Performance
Thursday November 21 - PVA Open House 6:30 - 9:00
Thursday November 28 - COS Late Night Customer Service 4:00 - 7:00
Tuesday December 3 - Music Concert 7:00 Jubilee Auditorium
Wednesday December 11 (lunch) Thursday Dec 12 (lunch & pm) - Ram Collective ‘24
Wednesday February 19 - Career Fair at CMHS 6:00 - 8:30pm