Dear Families
It's been a while since you've had an update from me so this one might be a little lengthy.
Since returning from spring break it's been a busy place. We are excited to welcome back our facility operator, and excited that after school curricular activities can resume as previously scheduled. The following are updates:
Off Campus at Lunch
Last year we started restricting the ability to go off campus for grade 7 and 8 students due to concerns in the community, and behavioural concerns of students who went out into the community. I'm proud to report that the amount of significant issues at lunch time has reduced by almost 90%. Students proudly report that they feel the school, and school property are significantly safer. Of cours there is always work to do to improve the student experience at Higgins. The move to keeping students on campus has been supported by increasing the amount of school activities at lunch, including clubs, homework centres, quiet places for students to be, open gym, and a student love for being on the sport court. The cafeteria at lunch has adapted to student tastes while maintaing healthy standards, and halal appropriate foods. We usually have no food left over at the end of lunch.
Thank you for supporting our off campus policy. It will continue into the next school year.
Grade 6 Tours and Grade 6 Open House
On Tuesday, April 15 grade 6 students from Cecil Swanson, Rundle, Keeler, Guy Weadick, and Annie Foote will come to Dr. Gordon Higgins school in the afternoon to explore options they will get in their option wheel and to discover what it's like to be at a junior high school. We are excited to have them.
In the evening, starting at 6pm and ending at 7pm we are inviting grade 6 students and their families to come to Higgins to explore the school, hear the Principal talk, hear the band play and get to know the school where their children will be attending.
In addition to the tours and open house, myself and our student services learning leader will be visiting all grade 6 students at their schools to talk with them what school looks like in junior high.
Upcoming Field Trips
April 17: 50 grade 9 students will be attending the "City Project", a project our students have been involved in since the beginning of the year. They will be visiting several sites downtown, accompanied by the City of Calgary, who are seeking student input in different modes of transportation.
April 30: This is an outdoor education field trip for grade 9 students who have taken outdoor education in both semester I and 2. Students will be going to Kamp Kiwanis for the day.
School Council
Our next school council meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 8 at 6:30pm in the school learning commons. We look forward to seeing you there.
Athletics
It's Badminton Season!!!!
Tryouts have been happening this week. Starting next week the following schedule will apply:
Mondays: Grade 7 Badminton starting at 2:45pm and ending at 4pm.
Tuesdays: Grade 8 Badminton starting at 2:45pm and ending at 4pm
Wednesdays: Grade 9 Badminton starting at 2:45pm and ending at 4pm
Thursday, April 10: Grade 8 Badminton
Thursday, April 17: Grade 9 Badminton
Thursday, April 24: Grade 7 Badminton
Celebrating the Northeast
We have a lot to celebrate. Several guest speakers have been to Higgins, and they are as follows:
Rukhsar Amiri
This week's speaker for the Higgins Speaker Series was Rukhsar Amiri, a proud Dr. Gordon Higgins alumnus from the class of 2019. As the youngest speaker in the series, the students were very inspired by the fact that age is just a number on this journey of success. Rukhsar shared with the class her many academic and athletic successes while attending Higgins and talked about how our school was a launching pad for her future successes.
Rukhsar is currently a student at SAIT pursuing her Bachelor of Business Administration - Accounting Major. However, the most impressive endeavour in her life was opening Rukhsar Amiri Haute Couture, which features stunning custom dresses representing her family roots, culture, and energy. The students were impressed by her following her passion and being a young, successful entrepreneur with Rukhsar Amiri Haute Couture.
The class ended with her guiding our students to design a promotional poster for her business, which ties directly into Mr. Brar's Marketing unit in Business class. The students worked diligently and were very focused as Rukshar and her trusted assistant, Lulya, walked around the class to connect with all the business students.
Rukshar left the class with the final words of wisdom: "Pursue what catches your heart, not what catches your eyes."
We wish her continued success in her journey!
Student Feedback
"She made me realize that following your heart is better than following what others tell you. It's better to do what you are passionate about, and we also benefit from challenges, and we shouldn't give up."
"As an Afghan Ismaili woman, I could really relate to her, from her parents coming to Canada to the diversity and playing on the sports team. Additionally, I also went to Rundle Elementary, just like her! Just listening to her made me very happy!"
"This guest speaker inspires me to never give up on my dreams, no matter what. Always try your best and make your dreams come true. Additionally, a business always starts from a small business; YOU are the one who has to make the business big with all your efforts and focus. Lastly, to open a business, you need to know the skill of budgeting, which is the first unit in our business class."
When Rukshar said, "Work hard in private but celebrate in public." Amazing!
Orin McCusker
He was our guest speaker this week in the Higgins Speaker Series and has done unbelievable work representing Northeast Calgary his entire life. Growing up across the street from our very own Mr. Brar in the community of Pineridge, both friends would build their bond over their passion for basketball. Orin would be a student-athlete at St. Rose of Lima School located in Rundle and would later attend Father Lacombe High School, which would result in Orin leading his basketball teams to two City Championships during his three-year High School career. The culmination of all his hard work in basketball resulted in Orin becoming a member of the Mount Royal College – Men’s Basketball Team.
The lessons he learned through his academic and athletic successes have translated into his professional career as a film and television actor. He understood he had a deep passion for acting, so he enrolled in the acting program at Mount Royal College and has seen incredible success over his 10-year career.
Some of his most prominent roles were in various TV series, including Ride (2023), Billy the Kid (2022), and Wynonna Earp (2021).
He has also been featured in numerous movie productions, including Come True (2020), Miracle in East Texas (2019) and the short film Gold (2017), where Orin played the role of Paul Baker, in which the film would be a finalist at the Miami Beach Film Festival.
His speech to our Leadership Class reminded the students of the importance of focusing on the process and being dedicated to having huge success in life. He reminded the students that when you focus on those two pillars, process and dedication, you will find success in anything you do.
At the conclusion of his speech, Orin connected with all the students in the class with a meet-and-greet. Orin took the time to shake hands with all the students and get to know each student’s dreams and aspirations in life. He concluded the meet-and-greet by autographing a personalized Higgins Speaker Series poster for every Leadership student.
Student Feedback
“He’s so down to earth, humble, and genuine. He inspired me to give acting a real push when I get older and not let the thoughts of being a person of colour hold me back. I have met my fair share of actors/actresses, but Orin gave us the best experience I have had when meeting someone from the acting scene. Outside of my love for movies and acting, I needed this level of inspiration because of my life lately. Thank you, Orin!”
“Orin McCusker is not only an experienced actor, but he is also a very great public speaker. He gives great advice and says you must work hard to reach your goals. He was inspirational and has come very far, and I’m grateful to have met him.”
“He has a perfect sense of articulation and voice projection, which only heightened his knowledge of acting and life. He inspired me with the consistent reminder to stay determined and focused while emphasizing how trial and error always leads to success and pays off. This makes me want to try harder, keep setting higher goals, and work towards them.”
“Orin inspired me by his speech at the beginning of the class, where he spoke a lot about how to focus on your goals. He reminded us that pretending to be something you’re not won’t last. Being yourself will get you many places! He was just so positive, and I will always remember his inspiring words! He motivated me to follow my dreams and just be myself! Thanks Orin!”
Naithen Regupathy-Gnanavel
This week, Naithen Regupathy-Gnanavel, a former Dr. Gordon Higgins Student, was our guest speaker. Naithen is no stranger to success in our building as he was the Higgins Student of the Year in his Grade 8 year and Grade 9 year. He would follow the same successful journey at Lester B. Pearson High School, where he would receive the Outstanding Student of the Year in his final Grade 12 year (2020-2021). Currently, Naithen is a University of Calgary Student pursuing a degree for a Natural Science Degree.
In his talk with our Business students, Naithen discussed how vital goal setting is in life's journey. If you do not define where you want to be, you will end up in a spot you do not want to be. He mentioned that writing goals down has been crucial to his success.
Over the past two years, Naithen has excelled in his summer job as a Painting Franchise Owner. At the end of each summer, his company selected him as the most profitable owner and awarded him a trip to Mexico. He reminded the class that high standards produce high results in the classroom or in painting a home.
As a full-time University student, everyone from Higgins would like to thank Naithen for making the time to chat with our students this week. It is extraordinary when a young person has achieved great success in our building and wants the same for the next generation. As a gift to the entire class, Naithen gifted a journal and pen, where he asked each student to write down three goals they want to achieve as they leave Grade 9 and write a personal letter to themselves to reflect on as they enter high school.
Student Feedback
"I liked how he's always trying to get better. He could be the best in the world, and he would still try to get better."
"Naithen inspired me to use criticism to grow and set up our mindset to improve. Understanding we must always challenge ourselves because we can do better than we already do."
"He has never let negative energy impact his life and always pushed all his energy to further his studies to be the best. Our current generation needs to understand negative energy is just an opportunity for us to grow."
Sincerely,
Colin McCracken
Principal