Middle School Update

Halloween festivities in Middle School!

• Get creative in our door decorating contest! Each core group will decorate a MS classroom door starting next week (Oct 21&22 morning recess). Judging will take place on October 31 and prizes will be awarded! Students are encouraged to bring in decorations to contribute to their classes’ success!

• Guess the candy in the jar! Starting next week during morning recesses students can pay $1 or redeem a Veritas point to make a guess. Money earned will be donated to Dans la Rue (when they visit for our 24 hours for the Unhoused in November). The winner will take home the jar of candy on Oct 30.

• On Tuesday, October 31, students are encouraged to wear costumes to school in place of the school uniform. Activities and costume contest will take place at lunch hour. The school theme this year is Star Wars, and students are invited to join that theme or dress in any costume of their choice. Props and weapons are NOT permitted (light sabers are an exception) and Halloween masks may only be worn during the costume competition.

• As Halloween approaches we invite you to have a conversation with your children about the intention of Halloween costumes to help guide them in their choice of costumes. David A. Robertson, in a 2019 CBC article about Halloween costumes, aptly states, “It’s difficult to see one another on a human level when one dresses up as the other in a way that perpetuates stereotypes we need to start seeing through.” To this end, we invite students to consider the following questions when selecting their costumes: Is my costume making fun of or putting down a person and/or identity? Does my costume choice align with the principles of Veritas and represent myself in the way I want to be seen?

• Calling all pumpkin carvers, artists, and Star Wars lovers: join the Star Wars Halloween Pumpkin Carving Activity! Students are encouraged to carve a pumpkin at home using any idea or theme from Star Wars, and students will earn points for their house by contributing a pumpkin. Pumpkins should be brought to school on Oct. 30 and will be displayed in Coristine Hall as we turn the dining hall into a far away galaxy for Halloween on Oct. 31. Think about your ideas and sign up to participate via this Google Form.

Robotics Club: Join Ms. MacNeil in the Lucas Seminar Room Tuesdays from 2:50- 3:50 pm starting October 22. Students will gain hands-on experience with LEGO robotics components. First, they will build their own robots, and then they will learn to code and program these robots to perform specific tasks, ranging from basic movements to more complex challenges. The club will emphasize collaborative projects, encouraging teamwork and creativity. Interested students can speak to Ms. MacNeil (macneill@selwyn.ca) and complete the Google Form that was emailed to students.

School Photo Retakes: If your son was absent when the photos were taken, he can participate in Photo Retake Day on Thursday, November 14 at 8:30am. If your son wishes to have his photo retaken, please inform Ms. Beech so she can ensure that he doesn’t miss the photo retake session!

Re-enrollment Form for 2025-26: To secure your son's enrollment for the 2025-2026 academic year, please sign (electronically) and submit the online form by Friday, November 1. We emailed families on Tuesday, October 15, with a mySelwyn link to complete the form. We are requesting this information now for planning purposes, as we have a waitlist for most grades. You can find the form in mySelwyn by clicking on the "Form to Review" notice that has been added at the top of the page. If you need assistance logging into mySelwyn, please email Ms. Kelli Poulin at poulink@selwyn.ca. No payment is required at this time.

Mid-Term Break Camp: Due to insufficient interest, we can not offer a mid-term break camp this year. We thank those that did respond, and we appreciate your support and engagement in all of our programs. We will continue to explore new opportunities and activities for our students, including other camp options in the future.

• Visit our MS Update page for news and action items you may have missed, such as:

  • Clubs, Tutorials and Activities for Middle School Students - descriptions and calendar

  • Des ressources pour devenir un griffon francophile - L'édition pour le mois d'octobre

PVA (Parent Volunteer Association) News:

• Halloween is just around the corner! In a galaxy far, far away (the Macaulay building, to be exact), the Senior School Prefects voted and it's unanimous - Selwyn is bringing the Star Wars theme to this year's Halloween festivities! As we all know, the Force is strong here at Selwyn, and we'd love to get your help in bringing this theme to life. Signups for Advance Halloween Decorating on October 25, Halloween Animating on October 31 and Halloween Clean Up Crew - check it out! Thanks so much for your support!

• PVA Invitation ~ Selwyn Parent Walk: The PVA (Parent Volunteer Association) invites all SHS parents to join them on Friday, October 18 @ 8:45am for a walk around Mount Royal. Meeting at Maison Smith, Mount Royal where coffee will be served followed by a walk. Dogs are welcome.

• PVA Invitation ~ Get Ready to Sweep, Slide, and Slice! Have you ever wanted to try curling but thought you needed to be an Olympic athlete? Think again! The PVA is hosting an epic evening of curling and pizza on Saturday, October 19, and trust us—you won’t want to miss this! We’ll provide the ice, brooms, and hot pizza to fuel your victory (or just your appetite)! Instruction available for beginners! Cash bar on site. Sign up now before spots melt away!