ST. Marguerite d'Youville S.S.
Green Force/Eco Team
2014-15!!!!!!
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JANUARY 2015
Green Force/Eco Team
St. Marguerite d’Youville S.S.
· The month of January shifts its focus towards the Eco Review deadline (January 31) and our commitment to address all of the criteria of certification.
· Our goal for Platinum certification involves among other things; visible evidence beyond our school walls, an energy conservation plan (getting students to understand it, etc.), lesson plans that have already been done from every department, and School-wide Biodiversity which exist on our grounds, etc.
· We continue to promote the Green Days of the Week, (Mondays are WASTE LESS LUNCHES, Tuesdays are RECYCLING DAYS, Wednesdays are WATER BOTTLE WEDNESDAYS, Thursdays are NATURAL LIGHT DAYS, Fridays are FUN FACT FRIDAY. (We would like students to work towards bringing these days to life with either small skits that are shown on dYTV in an in-class drama production)
· We are also in the planning stages of some upcoming events like; BUY NOTHING DAY, THE GREAT GULP, NATIONAL SWEATER DAY, FEEDER SCHOOL PRESENTATION in the SPRING and EARTH WEEK.
· We are also updating our Eco Schools page on the school website.
· Green Force and the Eco Team continue to invite teachers to submit their eco lessons for certification. WE NEED 2 more!!! (Thank-you to Mr. McGuire, Mr. Roach, Mr. Finaldi, Mr. Ciummelli, Ms. Iannuzziello). If there is anybody who has done an Eco lesson around areas of Biodiversity, Energy Conservation or Waste Management, please let me know.
· Students in Michael Finaldi’s class have been working on designs and submissions for a potential St. Marguerite d’Youville Outdoor Sacred Space. Four groups have produced, presented and submitted designs. They are phenomenal!!! Students will be developing a questionnaire to see of staff would even entertain the possibility of taking their classes for an outdoor lesson.
· Green Force students will begin to further our discussion of a potential outdoor sacred space/classroom for the future. We want to collate resources and activities that teachers could do when they take their classes outside. The focus is around being one with nature, even if an actual outdoor sacred space does not exist as of yet. Science classes, geography classes, religion classes will be the main audience for this Green Force’s initiative. This could include Green Force visiting classes and/or teachers to promote the use of the outdoor space, coming up with questions to see if staff will actually use the space or even providing resources to department heads for them to pass on to their teachers as potential lessons.
St. Marguerite d'Youville S.S. Eco Team 2013-14
Earth Hour 2014 will take place on SATURDAY MARCH 29, 2014 at 8:30PM.
We encourage ALL families to participate in Earth Hour on March 29th and to sign-up at
http://www.wwf.ca/events/earthhour/?utm_source=Homepage&utm_medium=TOPLINK&utm_content=EH&utm_campaign=Toplink
Going for GOLD this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The d'Youville Green Force and Eco Team continues to raise awareness about environmental issues.
Among some of our initiatives this year;
THREE RESUABLE WATER BOTTLE FOUNTAINS FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS
EXTENSIVE RECYLING PROGRAM
POWERDOWN FRIDAYS
TONER AND PRINTER RECYLCING
ECO CERTIFICATION
SCHOOL GREENING (FALL AND SPRING)
EARTH HOUR/WEEK CELEBRATIONS
and much more to come!!!!!!
Eco Team
J. McMullan, teacher
N. Sbrocchi, teacher
M. Solozarno, teacher
A. Marcellino, Vice-Principal
N. Bahadir, Lead Hand
J. Patel, Building Operator
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CONGRATULATIONS
d'YOUVILLE.....WE HAVE GOLD!!!
I would like to take this opportunity to announce that St. Marguerite d’Youville has achieved Gold Eco Certification for a second straight year in a row.
A very special thanks to Stephanie Abbatangelo and Karen Fraser for leading the Eco Committee this year;
Also, special thanks to the following for their contributions;
Barb Ruszkowski (outdoor greening, green force bulletin board and photos of student of the month, watering with pipsters + 2nd ecoSchool waste audit)
Scott McMullen (outdoor greening)
Matt Annibale (lesson plan, grade 9 recycling, + 1st ecoSchools waste audit)
Jen Chlebowski (grade 9 recycling + 2nd ecoSchools waste audit)
Pat McAllister (grade 9 recycling + 2nd ecoSchools waste audit)
Alana Marshall (lesson plan)
Aaron Khalid (lesson plan)
Jasmine Kisic (grade 9 recycling)
Marijana Manzo (grade 9 recycling)
As well as……
Kevin Greco for all of his support and leadership
Nihal Bahadir and the Custodial Staff
Jay Patel for his assistance
Tony Whelan for his recycling campaign in the Cafeteria
A special thanks also go out to our very own PIP students, and their teachers who enthusiastically recycle the offices, the chapel, the library, and even some classrooms... on a weekly basis. They were even celebrated as Green Students of the Month. They were the originators of recycling here at d'Youville, ordering the bins and carts from the Region of Peel and our Eco GOLD certification would not have been possible without them.
And the entire staff for their ongoing support, ideas and commitment to the cause. Well done d’Y and let’s make it three years in a row in 2013-14!!!
The 2012-13 School Year at d'Youville....
THE ROAD TO GOLD. WHAT HAS d'YOUVILLE DONE THIS YEAR??? SCHOOL GREENING (CHECK), ECO LESSON PLANS (CHECK), GREEN STUDENTS OF THE MONTH (CHECK), UPDATED WEBSITE (CHECK), ECO THEMED DAYS (CHECK), AN EXTENSIVE RECYLCING PROGRAM (CHECK), WASTE REDUCTION (CHECK), G.O.O.S.E. PAPER (CHECK), NEW RECYLCERS IN THE CAFETERIA (CHECK), A NEW WATER BOTTLE RE-FILL FAUCET FOR STUDENTS (CHECK), A STRONG ECO COMMITTEE (CHECK), A STRONG GREEN FORCE TEAM (CHECK), RECOGNITION FROM THE WORLD WILDLIFE FUND (CHECK), A DEDICATED STAFF AND STUDENT BODY(CHECK), A REDUCED ECOLOGICAL PAWPRINT!!!! (CHECK). Well done d'Youville.
As part of our ongoing commitment to reducing waste and raising awareness on environmental issues, (uncluding the use of plastic water bottles), we have installed a new glass filler at the water fountain just outside of the phys.ed office.
We encourage staff and students to use stainless steel containers or reusable bottles at this location.
Our Eco Committee will launch an aggressive marketing campaign in September to promote the use of this water fountain. Hopefully, more of them could be installed next year throughout the school.
Thank-you for supporting our ongoing efforts to reduce our collective ecological PAWPRINT!
l lights for one hour!
The results: raise awareness about the need to take action on climate change and reduce energy usage….So on Friday, at the start of period 4, for one hour we participated in our own "d'Y Earth Hour".
The EcoSchool Team asked that ALL CLASSROOMS shut off all lights/computers/TVs etc. in your classrooms during this time to help support and encourage students to do the same tomorrow. Teachers that are off during period 4 are asked to shut off lights and computers in their offices.
Also, the entire MATRIX and portions of the Cafeteria went DARK!!!!!!
Together we can raise awareness and make a change.
“Together, we can all turn the inspiration
of one hour, into the actions of every hour…”
The current school year continues to promote a DAILY FOCUS from now until June 2013...
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Mondays - LITTERless Lunches
Tuesdays - Use more G.O.O.S.E. Paper
Wednesdays - Recycling Day
Thursdays - POWERdown in the classrooms as much as possible.
Fridays - WATER BOTTLE free days.
Let's Duplicate GOLD ECO Certification this year.
Go Green or the Green will Go!!!
Green Students of the Month
“Listen up d’Y, Green Force and the entire d’Youville community wish to acknowledge GREEN students each month who demonstrate a deep commitment to our schools’s ongoing Eco Schools Initiatives. As we strive to achieve GOLD certification for a second straight year in a row, we want to take this opportunity to acknowledge your support and care for the environment and for our planets’ precious and valuable resources. With that in mind, we wish to recognize our first GREEN STUDENT of the school year, DORI JAMES!!! Dori waters the plants on the prayer table in the Resource room every Friday morning. She is very responsible and extremely proud of bringing some life and beauty into the school and of being a steward of it!
We are very proud of her contribution and we wish to celebrate Dori James as September’s dY GREEN STUDENT of the MONTH. Congratulations!
“Victoria Gosine. She is one of Mrs. Marshall’s homeroom recycling reps. She takes the initiative each week to empty the recycle bin without any direction from her teacher, even on days when her teacher is absent. The d'Youville community is proud of the ongoing work that she is doing and we are honoured to recognize VICTORIA GOSINE as October's Green Student of the Month." Congratulations!
dYouville wishes to recognize the following GREEN STUDENTS for the Month of November for caring about our planet’s precious resources and our school’s commitment to the environment. This month, we recognize the following ECO LEADERS of our school!!!!!!!
To Nikhil Sidhu who reminds students to recyle all the time and without being asked. Nikhil empties his room’s recycling bin every single week. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!
To…Nehjean Murray He was not an initial class recycling rep, but ultimately volunteered to become the key representative for his class. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!
To…Daniel Galicia from Period 1 Math class. He is their recycling rep and is very committed to that position. He ALWAYS reminds the teacher on Tuesdays after announcements that the recycling bin needs to be emptied and never forgets to bring a new clear bag to replace the old one. It is a pleasure to have a responsible student that is dedicated to supporting the recycling program at our school. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!
And finally, to…Mrs. Fraser’s 3AC Geography class who is always enthusiastic and excited to take part in weekly recycling. They are quite sad when it is not their week to recycle!! They truly are ALL "green students" and they are ALL Green Students for the month of November!!!!!
To.....THALIYAH PHILIPS. Thaliyah will always eagerly make sure that the recycling bag is in the bin before the end of the period –even when she has just completed a test or an assignment. She faithfully volunteers to be the class rep. and she takes on the responsibility of managing the classroom bin herself. We would also like to recognize Ms. Abbatangelo’s entire4th period Geography class. They enthusiastically go around to each classroom to collect the recycling, especially when many reps forget to bring their bins down. We are very proud of their commitments to our Eco Program, our quest for GOLD and our preservation of the planets’ precious resources and we wish to acknowledge THALIYAH PHILIPS and Ms. Abbatangelo’s 4th period class as December’s Green Students of the month.
dY's Green Force and the Eco Committee and would like to recognize Robyn Burrell as December's Green Student of the Month who jumped at the chance to be the "recycling rep" and is eager to empty the bin every Tuesday.
dY's Green Force and the Eco Committee wish to recognize Michelle Lim and Nathaniel Ablacksingh as January's Green Student of the Month.
Green Force and the d’Y community also wish to acknowledge Harjinder Deewrawho agreed to cut up old projects from last semester and recycle them. He was also asked by his teacher to make a little sign of what can go into the box, and further assist all students in recycling. Finally, he enthusiastically takes the box out for recycling without being asked. Congratulations!!! Both Robyn and Harjinder are February's Green Students of the Month.
We wish to acknowledge Damian Darko as March's Green Student of the Month. Damian is enthusiastic about recycling and an excellent example of how we need to be active and responsible about recycling and our environment. Congratulations Damian Darko
Green Force and the entire d’Youville community wish to acknowledge Madelyn Leandro. She always uses GOOSE paper to complete all of her assignments. GOOSE PAPER is GOOD ON ONE SIDE EVERYDAY paper that you may see all throughout the school. These sheets are recycled from old assignments and handouts and Madelyn is committed to using them.
We would also like to recognize Crystal Leadbeater.She is always conscious of ensuring that the recycling bins are emptied in the theatre and never fails to lend a helping hand when it comes to keeping the room green!
Once again, we congratulate Madelyn Leandro and Crystal Leadbeater as APRIL’s Green Students of the month.
Saturday, March 23rd 2013, from 8:30-9:30 is Earth Hour!! Earth Hour is organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and their goal is to seek support and encourage people to take action on climate change.
The task is simple: turn off all non-essentia
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WE HAVE GOLD!!!!!!!!!
Our school celebrates the achievement of GOLD certification for 2011-12.
Take a bow d'Youville, be proud...and thank-you!!!!
THE d'Y ECO PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY 2011-12
GREEN FORCE/ECO SCHOOLS COMMITTEE
Prayer for the Environmental Common Good
By: Jane Deren
As we breathe the very air which sustains us,
We remember your love, God,
which gives us life.
Fill us with your compassion for Creation.
Empty us of apathy, selfishness and fear,
of all pessimism and hesitation.
Breathe into us solidarity
with all who suffer now
and the future generations who will suffer
because of our environmental irresponsibility.
Move us into action
to save our earth
and to build your sustainable Kingdom.
Amen.
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As part of our school greening initiative and to help reach GOLD as an EcoSchool, GreenForce will be planting perennials in the tree boxes around the building. So we are kindly asking all staff if you have any hearty perennials (i.e. hostas, iris, purple dragons etc.) that you would like to donate from your own gardens to this cause, we would really appreciate it!!
Please let us know! Perennials must be received by Friday April 20th, in order to meet our EcoSchool deadline.
PLEASE CALL: Karen Fraser Extension 79332
Rebecca Kitto Extension 79328/9
Barbera Ruskowski Extension 79105
Anthony Marcellino Extension 79003
THINK GREEN PARTNERSHIP TOUR 2011/12!!!!
On Tuesday March 6th, 2012, three Green Force students (Nick Baldassara, Vince Reis, and Nicole De Soysa), launched the THINK GREEN PARTNERSHIP 2011/12 by presenting the Grade 7 and 8 students of Father Clair Tipping Catholic Elementary School. They delivered a powerful and inspiring discussion, complete with Powerpoint visuals, a Recycling game and Questions and Answers.
THE PARTNERSHIP TOUR will stop at Michael McGivney Catholic Elementary on Tuesday April 10th 2012 and Our Lady of Providence in MAY 2012!!! Way to go Panthers!!!
CONGATULATIONS d'Y
In our continued effort to become an eco-friendly school our quarterly newsletters will be going online. We currently have hard copy newsletters available in the main office, guidance and library for any student, teacher or parent that would like one. We will phase down the number of newsletters gradually until we go completely online as of September 2012. Our new issue can also be found on our website right now!!! GREAT JOB d'Y!!!!!!!
A GOOSE Paper box has been placed in all photocopy rooms. GREEN FORCE is asking ALL STAFF MEMBERS to place any Good On One Side Everyday paper in these boxes.
As a school, our goal is to reduce waste as well as unnecessary recycling. By doing your part and reusing paper that is "good on one side" we will be one step closer to GOLD certification! Small changes have a huge impact!!
d'Y2011-12...REDUCING OUR CARBON
PAWPRINT ONE STEP AT A TIME!!!
On Wednesday November 23, 2011, the student leaders of GREEN FORCE organized and put on an energetic and informative presentation for the Grade 9 Students of St. Marguerite d'Youville S.S. This was the first inititiative of the THINK GREEN PARTNERSHIP of 2011/12. The students listened and participated in a dynamic Power Point Presentation, created by Green Force and it had awesome visuals and information....They even invited two students up on stage for a riveting Recyling game!!!!
It was an incredible display of our school's commitment to go for GOLD in this year's Eco Schools certification. Way to go d'Y and remember to GO GREEN or the GREEN WILL Go!!!!!!!!
The presentation ended with a powerful video 'EARTH SONG' by Michael Jackson and students returned to class completely transformed with Green knolwedge as the cafeteria pulsated the song EMERGENCY ON PLANET EARTH!!!!!!
Stay committed d'Youville as we work towards making our school the Best ECO SCHOOL in Dufferin-Peel!!!!!!!!
BE PROUD OF EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE DOING AND CELEBRATE THE d'Y WAY!!!!!!!!!
Green Force and Eco Schools
D’Y Cartridges and Toner Recycling Program
In the staff room we have 2 labeled boxes; cartridges and toners. We have asked ALL STAFF to please bring the old cartridges (from printers) and toners (from photocopiers) to the staff room and place them in their respective boxes. They will then be RECYCLED as part of our Eco program here at d'Y.
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G.O.O.S.E. - GOOD ON ONE SIDE EVERDAY - Recycling Books.....
goose paper folder.pdf
d'Y is proud to bring you our extensive Recycling Program for the 2011-12 school year. Students are eager to recycle bins from every classroom and empty them every week into larger recycling bins! Students also empty ALL FOUR of the large bins in our cafeteria. We clean the bins thoroughly and educate the entire school community about the importance of Recycling....
On Wednesday November 23, 2011, during Period 2, our Green Force Students will be presenting to Grade 9s and invite them to ask questions and participate in a fun interactive recycling game! This presentation is part of our school's THINK GREEN PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE 2011/2012 which connects our vibrant school community to our feeder schools, family of schools, and ultimately...the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board. Using scriptures, references to the Virtues Program and the gospel's value of perserving the beauty and sacredness of God's creation, d'Y is in full force to GO GREEN OR THE GREEN WILL GO!!!!!
d'Y GREEN STUDENTS of THEMONTH as nominated by the following department.....
Month | Department(s) |
November | Social Sciences, ARD |
December | Religion |
January | Science |
February | Phys-Ed, Coop. Alt Ed |
March | English, Moderns |
April | Math |
May | Comm. Tech, Business |
June | Art, Drama, Music, Technology |
***Congratulations to...
Nicole de Soysa
Steven Baldassarra
Nick Baldassarra
Paul James
The are June 2012's GREEN STUDENTS of the Month!!!
***Congratulations to....
Nicholas Baldassarra
Nicole de Soysa
Steven Baldassarra
Paul James
Jesgwin Swaminathan. They are May 2012's GREEN STUDENTS of the Month!!!
***Congratulations to...
The entire student body of St. Marguerite d'Youville S.S.They are April 2012's GREEN STUDENTS of the Month!!!
***Congratulations to...
Melissa Boodoo
Daljeet Cheema. They are March 2012's GREEN STUDENT of the Month!!!
***Congratulations to...
Ashley Ribeiro. She is February 2012's GREEN STUDENT of the Month!!!
***Congratulations to...
Carmen Bracho
Delling Owusu- Ansah. They are January 2012's GREEN STUDENTS of the Month!!!
***Congratulations to...
Juliet Agyei
Michael Marusa. They are December 2011' s GREEN STUDENTS of the Month!!!!!
***Congratulations to...
Daniella Sousa
Shinedale Sia
Natalie Leanage
Christopher Hakim. They are NOVEMBER 2011's GREEN STUDENTS of the Month!!!!!
***Congratulations to;
Marsha McKenzie,
Nick.R.Baldassarra
Steven Baldassarra
Jeshwin Swaminathan
Paul James
Nicole de Soysa
Juliette Aguei
Natalie Doumar
Adriana Rodrigues
Allison Hamilton. They are Ocotober 2011's GREEN STUDENTS of the Month!!!
Eco School Update...
We did it again d'Youville!!! As part of our ongoing efforts to raise eco awareness throughout Dufferin-Peel and continue our journey as an Eco School, all SIX of our changerooms will have a Motion Sensor in them which will signicantly reduce the use of electricity in those rooms....just another example of how St. Marguerite d'Youville treasures our planet and the reduction of waste. WAY TO GO d'Y as we kick off another school year!!! (September 2011)
The d'Youville Executive Student Council of 2011-12 has a new MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT who also is a member of Green Force.
Her name is Marsha McKenzie. Congratulations!!!
d'Youville will be having a WASTE AUDIT on Tuesday September 27, 2011 where Green Force students will be collecting trash from all three floors and the cafeteria during Period 4 and weigh them to determine just how good our school is doing. STAY TUNED FOR THE RESULTS!!!!
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WE HAVE SILVER
Amazing work St. Marguerite d’Youville S.S. It is great to see so much representation on the ECO TEAM; dedicated staff and students, Lead Hand, Building Operator, Administration. Great ongoing effort in monitoring energy conservation. Extensive tracking of garbage and recycling. The peace garden and greening initiatives are very impressive. Very rich and well developed curriculum submissions. Our environmental stewardship actions are all great ways to engage students and staff. Weekly earth hours are great! Paper reduction is excellent! GOOSE notebooks are very well done. Congratulations on an excellent first year with the Eco Schools program.
Total Points: 74.50!!!
A Final Prayer for Reflection........
Fragile earth
God by whom our fragile earth is blessed,
make us servants of your creation,
respecting and protecting all that you have made.
Teach us the joy of field and flower,
the splendour of forest and tree,
the grandeur of ocean and river.
Make us yearn for a world where all may flourish.
Show us how to walk gently on the earth and
hold all in trust for future generations.
Amen.
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2010-11...WHAT A YEAR!!!
On the Road to Gold – d’Y becoming an Eco-School
During this school year a committee of teachers, students, and administrators have been brought together to develop an eco-schools program in St. Marguerite d’Youville. The Eco-schools program is recognized throughout the province of Ontario. The program focuses on elementary and high schools so that they may become more environmentally friendly. Over the last few years d’Youville has been working hard to lower our ecological footprint and contribute to a healthier environment. With the implementation of the eco-school program, d’Youville is taking a big step to reach our goal of becoming an eco-school.
Since September 2010 the eco-schools committee has been working diligently to devise an action plan to educate students about the environment, to minimize waste, conserve energy, and how to make the school greener. The team has been meeting monthly and have come up with creative strategies to cover these four strands.
We have been planning and have started to implement the following actions:
Energy Conservation
· Reminders in each classroom to turn off lights, monitors, and televisions when not in use
· Reminders to pull the window blinds down at the end of the school day
· Install motion sensors to control lights in all change rooms
· Replace older motion sensors
· Install energy efficient light bulbs in various areas of the school
· Reminders to turn lights off during DYTV episodes
· Begin a weekly Earth Hour in February
Waste Management
· Collect GOOS “Good On One Side” paper in each classroom
· Continue with waste audits to educate recycling expectations
· Recycle photocopier toner bottles
· Initiate a “waste free” lunch
· Increase electronic communication to parents and the community
Committee members will monitor the value of these steps by collecting data to ensure that our school in achieving significant improvement in working toward an eco-friendly environment.
At the end of the school year, d’Youville will take part in an environmental audit. This audit is run by the School Board and our school will be assessed based on the creative action plan and the implementation of the plan throughout the school year. At the end of the audit the school can be given a bronze, silver, or gold certification based on our success. Although this year is d’Youville’s first year participating in this program, our goal is to achieve the gold certification. The d’Youville community has always strived to be the best in all of its endeavours so it is no surprise that we are taking the initiative to go for GOLD! With the support of the school community, we are confident that this challenging task can be met.
After achieving our goal for gold we at d’Youville hope to continue earning the gold certification in up-coming years, in hopes of becoming a consistent gold certified eco-school. The d’Youville students are encouraged to listen for announcements and tune into DYTV to be informed about the new eco-school program. We will need plenty of commitment from everyone in our community so get ready and goodluck!
St. Marguerite d'Youville S.S.
....Go with the Green or the Green will go!!!!
EARTH HOUR 2011....D'Y Goes DARK!On Friday March 25, 2011, the d'Youville community celebrated this year's earth hour by turning off the lights during our prayer and Earth Hour promotion. Classrooms and hallways went dark for 5 minutes as we vowed to honour our planet earth. Thank-you to the community of d'Y and the Eco Team for our ongoing dedication to our ECO program!!!
d’Y Earth Week Department Contest -due April 26, 2011
Teacher: | |
Department: | |
Course: | |
Lesson Description: | Length: |
|
Assessment: |
How is student learning being assessed? ü Include a copy of student assessment (checklist/ rubric) ü Include a copy of 1 student’s work |
Curriculum Connection: |
[please check which apply and explain below] ð In the environment (outdoors) ð For the environment (active citizenship skills to protect the environment) ð About the environment (dynamics of natural and human systems) |
Reflection: |
ð Copy included ð Permission to read during morning reflection ð Student recommended to read the reflection (optional)? ______________________ (Print full name) |
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