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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!! |
MARCH BREAK is over
This is a School Council mandated "ONE" week school break is done for another school year.
Classes have commenced today on Monday, March 18th, 2019.
Have a great break and enjoy the sunshine.
This is a School Council mandated "ONE" week school break is done for another school year.
Classes have commenced today on Monday, March 18th, 2019.
Have a great break and enjoy the sunshine.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
KINDNESS: ..."kindness needs practice. Just as a tree doesn't strengthen its roots the night of the storm, you can't develop kindness overnight; you'll have to practice it in the littlest experiences-to the moth visiting your home, the telemarketer who trespasses into your peace, and the airline agent who botches your flight booking. With practice, you'll become instinctively kind; kindness will become effortless and will require not active thought." Amit Sood
Please check out these videos on YouTube "How to Stop Bullying: Show Your Kindness" on the NCSA Video Channel.
Please check out these videos on YouTube "How to Stop Bullying: Show Your Kindness" on the NCSA Video Channel.
nationalonlinesafety.com/resources/platform-guides/momo-online-safety-guide-for-parents/
ONLINE SAFETY
There has been a great deal of attention and concern in the press about the "MOMO Challenge". I encourage parents and guardians to monitor what children are doing online especially in the area of YouTube.
https://nationalonlinesafety.com/resources/platform-guides/momo-online-safety-guide-for-parents/
The National Online Safety site has a guide to help parents with the many issues concerning the internet and online safety. I encourage parents or guardians to take time to check out this website and learn more about how they can better understand what is going on for children as they search and exist with the Internet.
ONLINE SAFETY
There has been a great deal of attention and concern in the press about the "MOMO Challenge". I encourage parents and guardians to monitor what children are doing online especially in the area of YouTube.
https://nationalonlinesafety.com/resources/platform-guides/momo-online-safety-guide-for-parents/
The National Online Safety site has a guide to help parents with the many issues concerning the internet and online safety. I encourage parents or guardians to take time to check out this website and learn more about how they can better understand what is going on for children as they search and exist with the Internet.
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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INTERIM REPORTS
It has been noticed that the traditional "term report card" didn't go home before Christmas. The reason for this is that Yukon Education has moved to a one-term or full year formal reporting system with 6 informal reports/communications with home. The Student-Led conferences being one type of communication. The Interim Reports will be sent home Friday, January 25th, 2019. Our second Student-Led Conferences will be the first week of March. Any questions please contact the school or your child's teacher. |
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NHL Indigenous Hockey Tour
CYFN is bringing the NHL Tour back for a second year to the Yukon and they are coming to Carcross. On Tuesday, March 5th, 2019 the players are coming to visit the Learning Center and the school. This is the draft agenda of what the day may look like:
10am-players arrive in Carcross...visit C/TFN
11am-Players arrive at Ghùch Tlâ Community School
Noon-lunch with the students-Boston Pizza (fingers crossed)
1pm-ice hockey/floor hockey with Players
Players:
Brian Trottier
Reggie Leach
Jamie Leach
Aaron Asham
Blair Atcheynum
John Chabot
Ric Nattress
JS Aubin
We look forward to see all the players and we are so happy to be a stop on their tour.
CYFN is bringing the NHL Tour back for a second year to the Yukon and they are coming to Carcross. On Tuesday, March 5th, 2019 the players are coming to visit the Learning Center and the school. This is the draft agenda of what the day may look like:
10am-players arrive in Carcross...visit C/TFN
11am-Players arrive at Ghùch Tlâ Community School
Noon-lunch with the students-Boston Pizza (fingers crossed)
1pm-ice hockey/floor hockey with Players
Players:
Brian Trottier
Reggie Leach
Jamie Leach
Aaron Asham
Blair Atcheynum
John Chabot
Ric Nattress
JS Aubin
We look forward to see all the players and we are so happy to be a stop on their tour.
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Student-Led Conferences:
Than you to all those parents who came for our Student-Led conferences. And here are the winners of the door-prize draws. Tackle Box - Rita Johns Car Safety Kit -Lenora Toewes Ratchet Tie Down Kit -Megan Swanson Folding Cargo Bag for car - Mike Baerg Screwdriver Set - Wesley Barrett Jerry Can - Michael Smarch Flashlight-Bert Bellencourt Coffee or Spice Grinder- Nesta Hager Cast Iron Pan - Mary Charlie Sm Bubba Mug- Natasha Smith Med Bubba Mug -Nadine James Large Bubba Mug - Barb Smith Congratulations to all those who won! You can come pick up your item Monday, March 18th at the school. (because we are not in school next week) |
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. |
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School Council:
We are still looking for 1 School Council members. If you are interested please contact Ruby Simmons or Robin Lord. SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING
The regularly scheduled meeting is on March 6th, 2019 at 6pm sharp in the Library of the school. |
ORANGE SHIRT DAY
On September 30, 2018 Northern communities will join thousands across Canada in bringing awareness to the experiences of the residential school system by wearing an orange shirt.Orange Shirt day began in British Columbia in 2013, when residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad, shared her story of having her shiny new orange shirt taken away on the first day at a residential school. Since then, Orange Shirt Day has become an opportunity for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit governments, schools and communities to come together in the spirit of reconciliation, and in support of Youth, adopting the phrase “Every Child Matters”.2018 Orange Shirt Day falls on Sunday, September 30. On Wednesday, September 26, Ghùch Tlâ Community school and C/TFN will show their support in creating a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment and promoting reconciliation by wearing an orange shirt, a gift to all students from C/TFN. Local Inland Tlingit Artist Megan Jensen has been chosen to design this years’ Orange Shirt Day design with proceeds to benefit Yukon’s Our Voices youth organization. A series of tragic losses across the North spurred this group of emerging young leaders to join hands and initiate a dialogue on how to support northern youth and how to prevent future tragedies by investing and providing experiential learning, training, and development opportunities for young emerging leaders in the Yukon. Designed by local Inland Tlingit Artist Megan Jensen, the theme embodies the resilience of Indigenous communities all over turtle island. The circle represents the continuity of culture and unity of all things. The mountain represents the north west coast of Canada and the Yukon. The Tlingit style hand is to honour all the families that have been impacted by the dark history of the Residential School System. We hold up our hands to send our love and strength to all the children that were taken, the children who never returned home, and for the intergenerational trauma that still terrorizes our communities. The eye symbolizes the life of our people and the gift of knowledge…we are strong, and resilient while we educate others to ‘See’ the legacy of genocide in this country. |
Students and Staff of Ghùch Tlâ Community School on Orange Shirt Day 2018.
Afternoon Indian Bingo.
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. HOT LUNCH 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 would like to welcome Liz Baker who is now our new "lunch lady". We thank her for helping to feed our children. 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
Friday, February 22nd, 2019-Heritage Day Monday, February 25th, 2019-Staff PD day Monday, March 11th to Friday, March 15th, 2019- March Break 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. |
Student-Led Conferences
Thank you to all the Parents and Guardians and Grandparents who came to Celebrate the Learning of their children. These are not "interviews" like the old traditional way of sit with the teacher and get talked at; the students walk their adults through their learning, what they have been doing and the goals they have set for themselves. This is totally "Student-Led" with the teacher available as support. We look forward to having higher participation in future Student-Led Conferences at the school.
Our Next Student-Led Conference will be the first week of March.
Thank you to all the Parents and Guardians and Grandparents who came to Celebrate the Learning of their children. These are not "interviews" like the old traditional way of sit with the teacher and get talked at; the students walk their adults through their learning, what they have been doing and the goals they have set for themselves. This is totally "Student-Led" with the teacher available as support. We look forward to having higher participation in future Student-Led Conferences at the school.
Our Next Student-Led Conference will be the first week of March.
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.
WINTER WEATHER
It is that time of year again: time for Winter Clothing and Gear. Please make sure your child or children come to school with the appropriate winter gear: snow pants, jacket, hat, mitts and boots. If it is possible, have your child's name inside their items, especially boots and snow pants, as sometimes these items get mixed up. If you drive your child or children to school, they still need to have their winter gear as students go outside for recess and they ride on the bus.
It is that time of year again: time for Winter Clothing and Gear. Please make sure your child or children come to school with the appropriate winter gear: snow pants, jacket, hat, mitts and boots. If it is possible, have your child's name inside their items, especially boots and snow pants, as sometimes these items get mixed up. If you drive your child or children to school, they still need to have their winter gear as students go outside for recess and they ride on the bus.
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Upcoming Events
Feb 21st, 2019 Culture Day 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. |
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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!
The Grade 7/8/9 class created using glow sticks; "light art". This "Mere Loup" translates from French to English as "Wolf Mother", or Ghùch Tlâ for us in Tlingit.
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.