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Gunalchéesh hàt yìy.adi and Welcome to our school website.
Our website is under construction in many areas, and we invite you to continue to return to see the ongoing changes. We also do daily to nearly daily updates on the home page.We encourage parents/guardians to mark our Home page to stay up to date with information, notifications, events and photos. Ghùch Tlâ Community School is located in the community of Carcross, which is situated in the Southern Lakes region of Yukon, about a 45-minute drive from Whitehorse. Our school population tends to fluctuate slightly; right now we have 45 students in full time attendance. The majority of our students (92%) are Carcross/Tagish First Nation and come from the community of Carcross and the surrounding area. Our teaching staff consists of seven teachers (including Tlingit Native Language teacher), four educational assistants, one CDC worker, C/TFN ESW and a part time librarian. For such a small school we continually strive to not only have BIG ideas, but to make those ideas happen!! |
Welcome to a New School Year
Although summer is almost over, we still have some nice days ahead and there is plenty of time to enjoy the coming fall sun. Welcome back to a new school year, we are very much looking forward to being back with the returning students, and the new faces joining us.
This fall we are fortunate to have all our staff returning, including a new member for the Alternative Program. In the spring we said farewell to Ms. Louise Baker and wished her well as she embarks on her retirement, but don't worry, we will be calling her to come give us a hand.
Although summer is almost over, we still have some nice days ahead and there is plenty of time to enjoy the coming fall sun. Welcome back to a new school year, we are very much looking forward to being back with the returning students, and the new faces joining us.
This fall we are fortunate to have all our staff returning, including a new member for the Alternative Program. In the spring we said farewell to Ms. Louise Baker and wished her well as she embarks on her retirement, but don't worry, we will be calling her to come give us a hand.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM or ILC
We will be having an Alternative Program running this school year to support our students from grades 10-12 out of the Youth space at the Capacity building. The new teacher is Matthew Friessen or "Matteo" coming to us from the Sunshine Coast in BC. The Alt Program will not begin until October. This year we are not limiting it to grades 10-12 as we have youth in Grade 9 who are in a tough transition between GTC and High School in Whitehorse. Our purpose is for these youth to have the right access to education that is meeting many of their needs; we are listening and want to support this confusing time. We also need a different name for this learning space and program so we don't cause confusion or comparison with the Whitehorse ILC and are looking for suggestions. We are unique, we are strong and we will forge our own path towards success.
To register your youth for the GTC Alternative Program, please come and register at the school with the office. Paperwork is required to be filled out if the student has not been attending school either in Yukon or other areas. If the student is being moved from a school within Yukon, they will transfer to us or be cross registered.
Registration is the responsibility of the parent, guardian or legal caregiver; not the C/TFN Education Department.
We will be having an Alternative Program running this school year to support our students from grades 10-12 out of the Youth space at the Capacity building. The new teacher is Matthew Friessen or "Matteo" coming to us from the Sunshine Coast in BC. The Alt Program will not begin until October. This year we are not limiting it to grades 10-12 as we have youth in Grade 9 who are in a tough transition between GTC and High School in Whitehorse. Our purpose is for these youth to have the right access to education that is meeting many of their needs; we are listening and want to support this confusing time. We also need a different name for this learning space and program so we don't cause confusion or comparison with the Whitehorse ILC and are looking for suggestions. We are unique, we are strong and we will forge our own path towards success.
To register your youth for the GTC Alternative Program, please come and register at the school with the office. Paperwork is required to be filled out if the student has not been attending school either in Yukon or other areas. If the student is being moved from a school within Yukon, they will transfer to us or be cross registered.
Registration is the responsibility of the parent, guardian or legal caregiver; not the C/TFN Education Department.
Selflessness...let's think on this and what it means to us and our school family.
-Jack Pine Culture Camp-
Tuesday, September 17th to Thursday, September 19th, 2019.
Grades 5-9
The staff and students are out at camp this week with C/TFN. This is a three day, 2 night stay at Jack Pine Point camp. They travelled out by boat and are out to have a relaxing time of learning and togetherness. Many months of planning went into this camp and it is fantastic that our school has this opportunity.
-Skookies Culture Camp and Arts Canada Circle-
Tuesday, September 24 to Thursday, September 26, 2019.
Grades K4-6 (those who did not go to the overnight camp)
This is a day camp for our students. Students will travel between activities at the school with Arts Canada and then travel to Skookies for activities there.
Gunalchéesh, Gratitude and Thank You's
Many thanks to the hard work, planning, hauling and all the other little (sometimes really time consuming) additional things that Leona Bryden has done to make this happen. Thanks to Robin, Susannah from Capacity and C/TFN for facilitating and partner funding these camps. Thanks to FNPP at Yukon Education for partner funding for these camps.
Leona Bryden has been sharing some photos on the C/TFN Community page and we will have a full slide show of all the fun in the photos page very soon.
Tuesday, September 17th to Thursday, September 19th, 2019.
Grades 5-9
The staff and students are out at camp this week with C/TFN. This is a three day, 2 night stay at Jack Pine Point camp. They travelled out by boat and are out to have a relaxing time of learning and togetherness. Many months of planning went into this camp and it is fantastic that our school has this opportunity.
-Skookies Culture Camp and Arts Canada Circle-
Tuesday, September 24 to Thursday, September 26, 2019.
Grades K4-6 (those who did not go to the overnight camp)
This is a day camp for our students. Students will travel between activities at the school with Arts Canada and then travel to Skookies for activities there.
Gunalchéesh, Gratitude and Thank You's
Many thanks to the hard work, planning, hauling and all the other little (sometimes really time consuming) additional things that Leona Bryden has done to make this happen. Thanks to Robin, Susannah from Capacity and C/TFN for facilitating and partner funding these camps. Thanks to FNPP at Yukon Education for partner funding for these camps.
Leona Bryden has been sharing some photos on the C/TFN Community page and we will have a full slide show of all the fun in the photos page very soon.
TLINGIT LANGUAGE PRACTICE
Let's start our conversations with each other in Tlingit. Let's greet each other in Tlingit.
I have presented a challenge to the staff and students to "give it a go" and greet all in both Tlingit and English so we can cement the language in our brains and make it just like breathing. I encourage parents and guardians to take on this challenge, and start our conversations using Tlingit. I ask for speakers to be patient as we learn, and I accept feedback on pronunciation, this is constructive and will help me teach my mouth and tongue to do correct sounds. Gunalchéesh ax eey_ ilatóowu, thank you for teaching me.
Yeke'e tsoo taught! Good Morning! or Yeke'e yagi! Good Afternoon!
Ye'keéyi ts'ootaat i jee yéi natí. Have a good morning.
Yek'éiyi yagee i jee yéi natí. Have a good day.
Wáa sá iyatee? How are you?
Xat yek' ée. I am fine. (sorry I cannot get a line under the X; I am working on the text)
We.é dée? And you?
Xát tsú xat yek'ée. Me too, I'm fine.
A big Gunalchéesh to Marlene, Sean and Gary for helping me get the proper spelling and dialect for words; it is a joint effort between the school and C/TFN Language department. Please be patient and remember this is a work in progress with positive results...that we have begun the conversation.
Let's start our conversations with each other in Tlingit. Let's greet each other in Tlingit.
I have presented a challenge to the staff and students to "give it a go" and greet all in both Tlingit and English so we can cement the language in our brains and make it just like breathing. I encourage parents and guardians to take on this challenge, and start our conversations using Tlingit. I ask for speakers to be patient as we learn, and I accept feedback on pronunciation, this is constructive and will help me teach my mouth and tongue to do correct sounds. Gunalchéesh ax eey_ ilatóowu, thank you for teaching me.
Yeke'e tsoo taught! Good Morning! or Yeke'e yagi! Good Afternoon!
Ye'keéyi ts'ootaat i jee yéi natí. Have a good morning.
Yek'éiyi yagee i jee yéi natí. Have a good day.
Wáa sá iyatee? How are you?
Xat yek' ée. I am fine. (sorry I cannot get a line under the X; I am working on the text)
We.é dée? And you?
Xát tsú xat yek'ée. Me too, I'm fine.
A big Gunalchéesh to Marlene, Sean and Gary for helping me get the proper spelling and dialect for words; it is a joint effort between the school and C/TFN Language department. Please be patient and remember this is a work in progress with positive results...that we have begun the conversation.
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"When you keep criticizing your kids, they don't stop loving you, they stop loving themselves. Let that sink in". -Spiritual Warriors.
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You're braver than you believe,
and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. |
K4 and Kindergarten
Kindergarten is in the mornings. The students will stay and have their second recess at 12:00 to 12:20pm followed by lunch. Lunch will be provided by the school. K4 and Kindergarten students can be picked up at 12:40pm by their approved adults or grab the van to the Daycare. Mrs. Freeman would like to remind parents, guardians or the approved adult dropping the kiddo "off", to fill in the "Where do they go" sheet just outside of the Kindie room and check the monthly calendar.
Kindergarten is in the mornings. The students will stay and have their second recess at 12:00 to 12:20pm followed by lunch. Lunch will be provided by the school. K4 and Kindergarten students can be picked up at 12:40pm by their approved adults or grab the van to the Daycare. Mrs. Freeman would like to remind parents, guardians or the approved adult dropping the kiddo "off", to fill in the "Where do they go" sheet just outside of the Kindie room and check the monthly calendar.
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LIBRARY
The library in Carcross is a wonderful place for young people to go to read and use the computers when they are open. The school day goes to 3:27pm each day and students attending school can go to the library after the school day ends. For a student to be at the library during school hours, they must be accompanied by their parent or guardian. If a student was not in school during the day, for whatever reason, they should not be at the library during school hours. We need to have them in their learning environment to support their learning. If a student does not come to school for whatever reason they also should not be at Yukon College unless attending a workshop that the College and GTC have agreed upon. |
Literacy Camp Update
The summer literacy camp was well attended and truly a fun time. Many thanks to Shirley McKay, Judy Leamon, Robin Lord and many other hands that made the camp a great success. We will have a wonderful picture show of the many things the children did very soon in the slideshow tab. |
PHONE BOOK COLLECTIONS
We are again collecting phone books to raise funds for the students. We will take you phone books throughout the school year as you find them. This will help out for the spring collection in 2020. We have three hides in our freezer and wish to plan a full week intensive workshop and learning opportunity for all students to work with the hides.
We are looking for some experienced community members who have ways of handling the hides. "Three Hides done Three Ways" If you are interested in helping with this activity, please contact Leona with your interest. The students will video and take pictures as they participate to show what it takes to honour and work with hides in order to document and create presentations in different ways. Little books, mini videos, slideshows, how to books, and presentations that support Tlingit Language...and many other ideas. What an entry for the Heritage or Science Fair for any student. |
MARIJUANA/Cannabis:
Although Cannabis is now legalized in Canada and Yukon, it is not legal in our school. Our school is a totally and completely "NO CANNABIS" zone. NO VAPING: Vapes are not to be brought to school. If a vape is spotted it will be taken and returned only to the parent/guardian of the student. FH Collins has a new vaping policy, please take time to check it out on their website. 
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School Council:
We are now looking for 2 School Council members. If you are interested please contact Ruby Simmons or Robin Lord. Next meeting Wednesday, October 2, 2019. 6pm in the school's library. SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING
School Council is always looking for more parents and guardians to become more involved. If you are interested, please come and join our monthly meetings, usually the first Wednesday of each month 6pm in the school's library. Last year we passed a resolution that if quorum is not reached after 20 minutes, the meeting will end until the next time. Please respect the School Council members, school staff, department guests and community members time and be there for a quick start. |
ORANGE SHIRT DAY
On September 30, 2019 Northern communities will join thousands across Canada in bringing awareness to the experiences of the residential school system by wearing an orange shirt. Keep checking here for more information of what our school will be doing to acknowledge Orange Shirt Day. We are asking students to wear their shirt they received as a gift from C/TFN last year. 
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Students and Staff of Ghùch Tlâ Community School on Orange Shirt Day 2018.
Integrity...Patience...Accountability...
BUS Please let the school know by 2:30 pm if there is a change to where you child goes after school. The Admin Assistant is not here after 2:30 pm. With all the activities happening after school, we really need to know what your child is doing after the bell rings. To C/TFN Youth Night, Pottery, Daycare, Pick Up or Home. HOT LUNCH THE TRUTH!!!!!!! We have the best free hot lunch program in the territory !!!!! Our hot lunch program is back in action providing lunches for all students daily. If you child does not like what is on the menu for that day, please provide them with a lunch from home. Snacks are to be provided and packed from home. We have oranges, apples and some bananas available. We are so fortunate to have the financial support of C/TFN to help feed our children. We also provide breakfast starting at 8:30 am, thank you to President Choice Children's Charity and Breakfast for Learning. We may make some adjustments to the lunch calendar based on what we can get at the grocery store. We do our best to stick to it, but it can be subject to change. We ask that you either have your child eat what is made or provide a packed lunch from home. Please try not to purchase food/lunch from Montana's and deliver to the school. Students should not be calling home before or at lunch demanding parents/adults buy them lunch. Only the grade 6/7/8/9 students have the privilege on their lunch hour to walk over to Montana's, with signed Parental/Guardian permission. We ask you to support us in this request. Time, effort and money goes into the hot lunch program and we need to show respect to the program and those who provide for our students. We have applied for funding with Jordan's Principle to continue providing lunch for our students, this lunch program is not a guarantee year after year. We would love to receive letters from home in support of the lunch program to put forth to Jordan's Principle or ideas for corporate sponsorship. Our staff gives of their time to prepare and serve the food to our students, each Wednesday I dedicate as the Principal to making grilled cheese sandwiches with real cheddar cheese; with a flip of love. It costs around $1.50 a day to feed one student, let's make it $2, thats 2 bucks a day. With one student in school for 180 days, it costs $360.00 a year to feed one student a lunch to learn on. Now multiply that by 49 students...that's $17, 640.00 to feed all our students both breakfast, lunch, and fresh fruit for one school year. We also like to host community to break bread with us, and that comes from cooking from scratch and trying to stay away from pre-made, processed foods. We also have left over day, and use what we have. Our scraps go to feed the pigs so the cycle of life can continue. September Menu (for this week)
Tuesday, September 17- Chicken and rice Wednesday, September 18-Grilled Cheese Thursday, September 19-Mac and Cheese Friday, September 20-Leftovers Cell phones in school/technology or electronic devices
Students are not to be using personal electronic devices during instructional time. The older students in the Grade 7/8/9 class have the right to access their devices during their break times, but must give their device over and put it in the black box in their class after their breaks. Blue-tooth devices that connect to their wearable technology or music speakers must be turned off during instructional time. Grade 4/5/6 and the 1/2/3 students should not bring their personal electronic devices to school, if they do to use it on the bus ride, they need to drop the device off to the office for the day and will get it back at bus time. Field trips are the exception for this group, only if the teacher has made that part of the trip itinerary. This expectation has been in place for several years now, and accountability to follow this expectation is with the students. The students are given ample opportunity to follow this expectation (and wait time to make the right choice) knowing what the consequences of not following the Personal Electronic Device Policy/Rule; that they each signed. If a device (cell phone, ipad, etc) is being used during instructional time which is not part of the instruction, and the student refuses to either put it in the black box/hand over to the office, this will be communicated immediately with home, the phone then can be held all day by the office and only given back to the students parent or guardian. The process of accountability is fully transparent and discussed with the students regularly, there are no surprises. If a parent or guardian needs to communicate with their child, please do so through the teacher contact or the office directly. Please help support the students to make the correct choices and not put them in a conflict position with the Personal Electronic Device Policy. Gunalshéesh. |
Fire and Smudging Ceremony at C/TFN Learning Center.
Safe School:
Students coming to school under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be asked to leave the school immediately and their parents/guardians will be notified. NO SCHOOL
awww not until October?!? R U serious? Yup, not until Friday, October 11th, PD for teachers and then Monday, October 14th for gobble, gobble...Thanksgiving. BEVERAGES AT SCHOOL
The school is promoting healthy beverage choices during school hours and we encourage students to have a water bottle and ask that students do not bring to school;
CELL Phones/Electronic Devices
It seems that almost everyone has a cell phone. This is a fact. And for those who do not have one, others wonder "what is wrong with them?" Nothing is wrong with not owning or using a cell phone. I remember when we had to only use a land line to call people, or walk over and speak face to face. We wrote letters to let friends and family know how we were doing, and we waited patiently to hear back. We participated in more "face to face" time, being with others, having a cup of tea and a conversation, now..it seems different and is different. We go for a cup of coffee with a friend and our faces look to the screen and not the others face. We text and expect immediate responses and lose patience. We swipe left and delete things and people from our lives. I encourage anyone who has a cell phone to look at the amount of screen time they do in a week, and track that information. I encourage those who have a cell phone to turn it off at dinner time, and talk with those around the table or room. I encourage those who have cell phones to take technology breaks during the week. To get away from those screens and turn to the faces around you and make a connection of a human kind. Nothing Can Replace the Influence of Unconditional Love in the Life of a Child. -Fred Rogers-
Go and Love your children exactly as they are. And then, watch them become the truest most wonderful version of themselves. All they need... All anyone really needs... is to feel loved and appreciated for exactly who they are. |
"For you to realize your value and worth, your environment has to mirror it back to you ." -Gabor Mate-
Student Pictures
Picture's have been taken. Photo packages will be delivered soon. Robert Postma will return to catch any students that were not at school on photo day and take a whole school photo.
Picture's have been taken. Photo packages will be delivered soon. Robert Postma will return to catch any students that were not at school on photo day and take a whole school photo.
Self Love: Don't Compare Yourself, Note the Things You're Proud of, Let Go of Past Mistakes, Say Yes to Things You Love, Speak Kindly to Yourself, Let Yourself Rest.
The School Year Begins
Last year we put stars up the hall for all students will perfect or missed one day on the wall. Each one of those stars was a ballot for a big ticket draw at the end of the school year. The stars from the 2018-2019 are still up there to be viewed, soon to be replaced with new stars for the 2019-2020 school year.
Clothing Donations
If you have any winter or warm gear for children or youth kicking around your home, we would love to receive them at the school to keep our students warm throughout the winter season. Winter Outer Wear and Boots. We are limited to wear and what parents can purchase for their kids. Many times there are multiple same coats and boots for our students. Please remember to put your child's name inside the items so we know who belongs to what item. It is amazing how jackets, hoodies and other items just vanish. |
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Ghùch Tlâ Community School with the students from Klukwan School, Haines, Alaska. Oct 2018.
It was wonderful having a quick visit from the students, staff and chaperones from Klukwan School in Haines, Alaska. The students and staff of Ghùch Tlâ Community School would like to say thanks to the following people for helping us "shine" as a school, community and First Nation. A huge thank you to C/TFN for supporting this visit and making quick plans for our guests. Thank you to Robin Lord for helping to organize a Carcross Itinerary, C/TFN Executive Council meeting our guests and gifting them with Swag bags, Keith Smarch for their visit to the carving shed, the staff of the Learning Center and Gary Johnson as our Cultural Liason/Ambassador. Thank you Gary for jumping in to help welcome our guests, singing them in and leading Ghùch Tlâ students in dance and song, and taking Klukwan School on a tour with the senior boys around Carcross. If we missed anyone to thank, it is not because we are not thankful, just forgetful of names. To all who helped on the spur of the moment, many blessed thanks. This visit we hope is only the beginning of a growing relationship and exchange with Klukwan School. Wouldn't it be grand if we could go visit them in Alaska in the spring? Hmmm something to think about indeed.
Gunalchéesh!
It was wonderful having a quick visit from the students, staff and chaperones from Klukwan School in Haines, Alaska. The students and staff of Ghùch Tlâ Community School would like to say thanks to the following people for helping us "shine" as a school, community and First Nation. A huge thank you to C/TFN for supporting this visit and making quick plans for our guests. Thank you to Robin Lord for helping to organize a Carcross Itinerary, C/TFN Executive Council meeting our guests and gifting them with Swag bags, Keith Smarch for their visit to the carving shed, the staff of the Learning Center and Gary Johnson as our Cultural Liason/Ambassador. Thank you Gary for jumping in to help welcome our guests, singing them in and leading Ghùch Tlâ students in dance and song, and taking Klukwan School on a tour with the senior boys around Carcross. If we missed anyone to thank, it is not because we are not thankful, just forgetful of names. To all who helped on the spur of the moment, many blessed thanks. This visit we hope is only the beginning of a growing relationship and exchange with Klukwan School. Wouldn't it be grand if we could go visit them in Alaska in the spring? Hmmm something to think about indeed.
Gunalchéesh!
Kindness, Perseverance, Honesty
Bullying
The definition of Bullying varies but here are two examples:
Is when an individual or a group of people with more power repeatedly and intentionally cause hurt or harm to another person or group of people who feel helpless to respond.
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Repeated, persistent and aggressive behaviour intended to cause fear, distress, or harm to another person's body, emotions, self-esteem or reputation.
What Bullying In NOT:
Here at Ghùch Tlâ Community School we have taken on the goal to "Hold Each Other Up", and be "Accountable" for our behaviour and will address bullying as it happens: within the school (children to children), coming into the school (adults to adults), outside of the school (lateral violence). We have a Kindness campaign going on for the school, and using positive posters to address "kindness", a compliment box and working to take back the word; "bully". Let's make the change together and fill this world with kind words, thoughts, actions and express our "love" for all of the Creators creations, big and small.
We need to work together to support and communicate collaboratively to make the change and bring positive Restorative Practices into our daily lives.
The definition of Bullying varies but here are two examples:
Is when an individual or a group of people with more power repeatedly and intentionally cause hurt or harm to another person or group of people who feel helpless to respond.
-or-
Repeated, persistent and aggressive behaviour intended to cause fear, distress, or harm to another person's body, emotions, self-esteem or reputation.
What Bullying In NOT:
- Single episodes of social rejection or dislike
- single episode acts of nastiness or spite
- random acts of aggression or intimidation
- Mutual arguments, disagreements or fights
Here at Ghùch Tlâ Community School we have taken on the goal to "Hold Each Other Up", and be "Accountable" for our behaviour and will address bullying as it happens: within the school (children to children), coming into the school (adults to adults), outside of the school (lateral violence). We have a Kindness campaign going on for the school, and using positive posters to address "kindness", a compliment box and working to take back the word; "bully". Let's make the change together and fill this world with kind words, thoughts, actions and express our "love" for all of the Creators creations, big and small.
We need to work together to support and communicate collaboratively to make the change and bring positive Restorative Practices into our daily lives.
For those habituated to high levels of internal stress since early childhood, it is the absence of stress that creates unease, evoking boredom and a sense of meaningless. People may become addicted to their own stress hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, Hans Selye observed. To such persons stress feels desirable, while the absence of it feels like something to be avoided. -Gabor Mate M.D.-