Photo Day - Semester 2
2023-02-15 08:50 - 15:00 (America/New_York)

Course Selections for 2023-2024
2023-02-17 - 2023-03-02
The process for choosing courses for next year will begin in homeroom classes starting Friday February 17th.
Guidance counsellors will be working with students to assist in the process. This process will be completed by March 2nd.
We encourage guardians to discuss the course choices with your student. Please refer to the option sheet below and the course descriptions here to help guide you.
Choices are made on Xello, accessed through the hub, and parents are encouraged to review the choices that have been made.

Option Sheet 2023-2024 BCSS

Family Day - No School Today
2023-02-20

PA Day - No school today for students
2023-03-03

Vaccine Clinic at BCSS
2023-03-09
Public Health is running a vaccine clinic at BCSS on this day in the Community Room (1020) for BCSS students only. Nurses will be able to assess your student’s immunization records and offer any overdue or missed vaccinations. Please refer to the link below for further information on the vaccination clinic.
Vaccine Clinic Information

March Break
2023-03-13 - 2023-03-17

Parent/Guardian Night
2023-03-23 17:00 - 19:00
By appointment only through Parent Interview. Link will go live on March 10.
We will be holding Family-Teacher Interviews at the school on Thursday, March 23rd from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.
This semester, you will be able to schedule your Family-Teacher Interviews online. If you wish to schedule a meeting with any of your child’s teachers, please follow the instructions printed further down the page. (You will be able to schedule appointments until March 22nd at 11:00 pm. )
Instructions
1. Prepare a list with the names of each teacher you would like to meet
2. Go to the Bernie Custis scheduling website at https://parentinterview.com/s/berniecustis (live March 10-March 22)
3. Enter your child’s student number that can be found on any report card and/or student ID card or by calling the school and click “Sign In”
4. Fill in your contact information and click “Continue to Make Appointments”
5. Click on the name of a teacher with whom you wish to schedule an appointment
6. Click on an “Available” time at which you wish to meet with that teacher
7. Repeat Steps 5 and 6 until you have scheduled all the teachers you wish to see
8. Click on “My Schedule” (top left of the page)
9. Print out, email or copy down your schedule

If you experience any difficulty using the service, please email support@parentinterview.com
We look forward to speaking with you!

OSSLT - Session A (Gr. 11/12 only)
2023-03-28
Grade 11 & 12 students who have not passed the Literacy Test or fulfilled the requirement through the Literacy Course will write this week. Students will write Session A on Tuesday March 28 and Session B on Thursday March 30. Both sessions must be done to be considered complete. Students will write in the cafeteria unless they have already made arrangements with Learning Resource to write in the Library.

Students observing Ramadan can arrange to write at the end of April.

If you have questions or concerns please contact the VP Mr Grover (mgrover@hwdsb.on.ca) or Ms Samad (msamad@hwdsb.on.ca)

OSSLT – Session B (Gr. 11/12 only)
2023-03-30

Holiday - No school today
2023-04-07, 2023-04-10

Grad Photos
2023-04-11 - 2023-04-14
Dates have been extended if you have not yet booked you can now book for Monday, April 17th or Tuesday, April 18th.

Will be by appointment.
Please sign up at bookmygrad.ca – enter school code IPT
Enter your student ID number (found on student ID card, Report Cards) or call the school 905 296 2504

Grade 10 Literacy Test - Session A
2023-04-12 10:15 - 11:30
All grade 10 students will be writing the literacy test over the course of two days, Wednesday April 12 (Session A) and Friday April 14 (Session B) in their homeroom classes from 10:15am – 11:30am.
*If students do not have a homeroom, they are to write in the cafetorium.
**If students have an IEP, they are to write in the LLC if they have arranged with their learning resource teacher.
*** You have one hour to write the test but can have more time if needed.
What you need? Come to school with a FULLY CHARGED SCHOOL-ISSUED DEVICE (iPad or laptop). You need to have the Safe Exam Browser (SEB ) installed.
Accommodations? If you need to write at a later date – due to Ramadan or another religious observance, or a medical appointment, please contact your teacher.
The OSSLT is a graduation requirement. Students who are successful in Grade 10 will not need to write the test again. Students who are unsuccessful will have another chance next year.

Grade 10 Literacy Test - Session B
2023-04-14 10:15 - 11:30

Inclusion Speaker Series Event #1 - for Students
2023-04-25 13:55 - 15:10

Inclusion Speaker Series Event #1 - for Families
2023-04-25 18:00 - 19:30

Semi-Formal
2023-04-27 19:00 - 22:00 | leander boat club, 50 Leander Drive, Hamilton, Ontario, L8L 8L1, Canada

Report Cards Sent Home
2023-04-28

Heat Alerts
2023-05-12 08:00 - 17:00
Dear families,

This communication is to inform you that as we approach the summer and temperatures continue to increase, there may be some school or classroom closures that may impact your child(ren) while here at Bernie Custis. Every measure will be taken to maintain cool, comfortable temperatures in classrooms and schools, however, in the case of a heat event, classrooms/schools may be closed to ensure student and staff safety. A heat warning is issued when there are two or more consecutive days forecast with daytime highs equal or greater to 31 degrees Celsius during the day and nighttime lows equal or greater to 20 degrees Celsius. An extended heat warning follows the same regulations, except it is in the case of three or more consecutive days of these temperatures.
Once HWDSB has been notified of a potential heat event, the information we have obtained will be posted on our website and the following precautionary steps will be taken: – Limiting outdoor physical activities – Ensuring access to water – Closing of drapes and blinds (if applicable) – Moving students to cooler areas of the school and – Monitoring students for symptoms of heat stress. Starting this year, there will be a board provided and installed device in each learning space or classroom without cooling that principals will use to measure the heat and humidity in the area. As a fully air-conditioned school, Bernie Custis will be equipped with a portable device that can be used in any room in which the air conditioning might not be fully functioning during a heat event.
Families will be notified with as much time as possible if a school/classroom is closed. In the event of a classroom closing, students may still attend school, and they will receive instruction in a different area of the building. If a school is closed, please do not send your child(ren) to that location. If you have any questions, please contact me at the school.

Sincerely,

Timothy Powell
Principal”

Grad Breakfast
2023-05-12 09:00 - 23:00
Attention Grade 12 Students!
Grade 12 students are cordially invited to the BCSS Grad Breakfast on May 12 from 9 – 11 am in the Cafetorium. A light breakfast will be served as students celebrate this wonderful event. The graduating class of 2023 will be able to vote at this time for their valedictorian who will speak for them at the June 8 commencement ceremony.

Inclusion Speaker Series Event #2 - History of Two Spirit People
2023-05-16 17:30 - 18:30
Please use this link in case you cannot access the QR code:
https://forms.office.com/r/6TWTJKriKu

Vaccine Clinic at BCSS
2023-05-19
Public Health is running a vaccine clinic at BCSS on this day in the Staff Lunch Room (2020) for BCSS students only. Nurses will be able to assess your student’s immunization records and offer any overdue or missed vaccinations. Please refer to the link below for further information on the vaccination clinic.
Vaccine Clinic Information

Prom
2023-06-01
Thanks to a positive response this week, prom is moving ahead with a lot of excitement. We are looking forward to a great evening!

Last instructional day of semester 2
2023-06-20

Exam/Evaluation Day (Period 1 Classes)
2023-06-21 08:50 - 10:05

Exam/Evaluation Day (Period 2 Classes)
2023-06-22 08:50 - 10:05

Exam/Evaluation Day (Period 3 Classes)
2023-06-23 08:50 - 10:05

Exam/Evaluation Day (Period 4 Classes)
2023-06-26 08:50 - 10:05

Exam Makeup Day
2023-06-27 08:50 - 10:05
Note if there is a school cancellation, students will make up the missed evaluation on this day at 8:50am.

June 28 & 29 PA Days - June 30 Board Holiday
2023-06-28 - 2023-06-29
NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
