Hammarskjold Highlights March 2015 PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE Welcome to our second school newsletter of the year. Since our last newsletter, we have been busy with finishing semester 1 and the startup of semester 2. It is a pretty intense turnaround, but we have made it into semester 2 with some positive momentum. And now, March break, which is March 16-20, is right around the corner. At this time, much of the concentration of staff with grade 10 students is preparing them for the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). The test will be written during the morning of Thursday March 26, 2015. Only those students writing the OSSLT are required to attend school in the morning. After a lunch break, periods 4 and 5 will run in the afternoon, but they will be shortened to allow for a 3:00 dismissal to allow teachers to get ready for parent-teacher interviews that evening. (Please see the attached letter for more information). Deeds not Words Facta non Verba On Thursday February 12, 2015, we held our Grade 8 Open House, which was very successful. Many students and parents attended the information session in the Lecture Theatre, and then spent the rest of the evening touring the displays that were set up in the halls around the office area and cafeteria. All departments and clubs and organizations within the school, including school council, and various community partners had displays set up and provided information to all the students and parents. The staff and some students from our special needs class offered popcorn and other refreshments to the attendees. I would like to extend many thanks to all those staff and students who worked very hard to make this night a great success. Parent-Teacher Interviews will be held on the evening of Thursday March 26, 2015 from 4:00 – 7:30. Information about the event and forms to sign up for interviews will be distributed to students on Monday March 23, 2015. On Monday April 13, 2015 Hammarskjold High School will have its District Review. A number of administrators, program staff, Ministry of Education staff, and other representatives will visit our classes, talk to students, and provide us with feedback based on what they observe during their time here. This feedback will help inform our school improvement process. There will be a System PD day on Friday April 24, 2015. We will be working with staff in the morning on professional development activities concentrating on descriptive feedback, and in the afternoon, staff will work in their professional learning communities, looking at ways to meet the needs of learners in their classrooms. Winter sports have almost wrapped up, and once again Hammarskjold athletes have done themselves proud. Our student athletes were competitive in both boys basketball and girls volleyball, wrestling, curling, and Nordic skiing. Congratulations to our girls curling team who won the SSSAA championship, and one of our boys teams who was the runner up. At this point some of our athletes are still competing. The Hammarskjold family suffered a great loss with the recent passing of Don Sutherland. Don was a teacher at Hammarskjold for many years, and upon his retirement continued to coach many of our sports teams. This year Don was co-coach of our SSSAA champion senior varsity girls basketball team. Almost every game I attended in any sport, I was sure to see Don there. Our thoughts and condolences go out to Don’s family. He will be deeply missed. This school year is progressing very well and before we know it will quickly come to an end. On behalf of Vice Principal Ms. Donna Flasza, and all of our staff I would like to thank you for working with us to ensure all of our students have a safe, caring and enriching environment in which to learn, grow, and develop into fine productive members of society. We look forward to continue to ensure the remainder of this school year is safe, fulfilling and successful. Charles Bishop, Principal Hammarskjold Highlights SPRING IS COMING Last year was our first full growing season with two new gardens that were planted by the students at Hammarskjold High School. The new gardens were built in the interior courtyard and also in front of the school by students in the Environmental Science and Special Needs classes, with the help of the wonderful folks from Roots to Harvest. The seating area for the garden for the front of the school was built by students from our Construction Technology classes. Our first season saw Foods , Science and Special Needs classes, and our fledgling garden club pull together to grow a variety of edibles and flowers. Roots to Harvest helped with summer support, and our custodial and office staff kept a careful watch as the kale, sunflowers, squash and nasturtiums took over in the front, and delicious beets, potatoes and beans grew in the courtyard. The season ended with harvest soups and kale chips shared with the school – mm delicious! Now that the days are getting longer thoughts are turning to planning for this year’s gardens. Listen for announcements for the garden club and signs of planning in the Science, Foods and Special Needs classes. Let’s Get Growing! ROOTS TO HARVEST We know that young people have good taste - Farm to Caf proves this again and again. Roots to Harvest, in partnership with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit and Lakehead Public Schools, facilitates the Farm to Cafeteria Thunder Bay initiative with the Lakehead Public School Board cafeterias. Bringing together community organizations, producers, distributors, decision makers, teachers, students, chefs and good food, Farm to Caf Thunder Bay aims to produce local, tasteful, healthy and fresh meals to high school students. Nutritious lunch available for $5.00 March - Beef Stew, Lemon-Herb Green Beans, Biscuits April - Pulled Pork, Coleslaw, Roasted Potatoes, Buns May - Shepherd’s Pie, Squash Apple Soup June - Hamburger, Fresh Green Salad, Local Fries, Buns Since 2007, Hammarskjold has been running a Trivia Contest where students can win a cool prize package. A new question will be posted every two weeks and to qualify, students must enter their response in the gold box in the Main Office up to 12:30 p.m. on the Friday of that week. Over the past eight years, items such as t-shirts, CD’s, backpacks, DVD’s, lanyards and pens, healthy snacks and beverages, and much more have been awarded to a lucky student with the correct response. According to Mr. Watral the teacher who runs the contest, it began as a strategy to get students to read the marquee t.v. and stay informed about school activities, events and school protocols. With the support and encouragement of the school’s administration and office staff, the Trivia Contest is something to which many students and staff members look forward to. It is fun and educational trying to find the correct answer. Just ask the many students who have won some neat stuff over the past seven years. Hammarskjold Highlights SECONDARY SCHOOL ART SHOW Organized by the Thunder Bay Art Gallery and the Secondary School Art Teachers of Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario. Every spring, the Gallery, in collaboration with secondary school teachers in the city and region, organizes an exhibition featuring art by Northwestern Ontario secondary students. Students use a variety of media, reflecting their interests and ideas. The result is an impressive variety of artwork by these talented young artists. Hammarskjold High School along with many other schools will be participating this year. Opening Reception: Thursday May 28 @ 7:30 p.m. and will run until June 14. Come out and support our very talented students. For more information go to the Thunder Bay Art Gallery website: http://theag.ca S.A.C NEWS Your Hammarskjold S.A.C. has been incredibly busy since the fall and has many exciting updates to share with our Viking family! First of all we would like to extend a huge thank you to the students, staff and parents of Hammarskjold for your constant support because without you, our events would not be possible! To kick us off in November, S.A.C. was working incredibly hard with the annual United Way High School Challenge, which we are pleased to announce our second place finish! To get us to the podium we put on several events such as the very popular Jail’n’Bail, Silver Wars and a movie buy-out. As we came in second place we are one of two schools who has earned ourselves a free dance. We are planning the dance for late April so that all Vikings can celebrate the victory! December was full of holiday surprises and warm wishes leading up to the last day of school before the Christmas break. We held a holiday week with unique events that brought the whole school together such as Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, Free Hot Chocolate Day and the always crowd pleasing Christmas Assembly. At this year’s assembly we were very enthusiastic about showcasing some local Viking talent with guitarists, singers, an unforgettable teacher performance and many more breath taking acts. With the exam season over and a fresh start to a new semester, S.A.C. stepped into high gear for February bringing some brand new Valentine’s Day activities to our peers. The halls of Hammarskjold were full of love with Candy Grams being handed out and the chance of meeting new friends with the first ever blind dating show, Hammarskjold’s Most Eligible Bachelor/Bachelorette that put smiles on everyone’s faces. In addition we attended the Grade 8 Open House and welcomed the newest Vikings with open arms and answered any questions they had. But the fun certainly does not end there. March means the much anticipated dodgeball and floor hockey tournaments with all proceeds going towards Pro Kids. To wrap things up, we are keeping busy and having a blast bringing new and thrilling events to the Hammarskjold community! So stay tuned for more Viking fun! Check out Hammarnet our student run website http://www.lakeheadschools.ca/hammarnet/ Hammarskjold Highlights INTERNATIONAL STUDENT EXCHANGE ONTARIO, a registered not-for-profit corporation, offers to Ontario students a variety of educational programs through the school year and during the summer. Please visit: HOMEWORK HUB It’s back! Every day at lunch in Student Services, grade 9 and 10 students can take advantage of a homework support program offered by a qualified teacher. Students are invited to drop in on an as-need basis. www.iseontario.on.ca and/or contact ISE Ontario at: For more information contact the Student Services department. Tel. (705) 722-9440 or Fax (705) 722-9441, or E-mail [email protected] Through their involvement with the non-profit International Student Exchange (ISE) – Ontario, three of our Hammarskjold students are now living an experience of a lifetime which most teenagers can only dream about. The following grade 11 students are newly arrived in various European destinations where they will live for three months with the families of their partners: Heather Edmunds in Switzerland; and Rylee Mose and Emma Himmelman in France. The European adventure for our students is also an opportunity to renew established friendships. The application process for the 2015-2016 program is well under way, with other adventurous Hammarskjold students looking forward to an experience of a lifetime. Besides the threemonth French language exchange for France, Switzerland, and Quebec, there are also threemonth international exchanges to Spain and Italy. Other ISE initiatives include three or four week reciprocal summer exchanges to Switzerland, France, and Quebec. If you are interested in an exchange program, please contact the school coordinator, Mrs. Grassia. CHOICES PROGRAM After a very successful pilot session in semester one, we are pleased to announce that Hammarskjold will be running a second CHOICES session starting after March break. CHOICES is a 10 week program which encourages youth to think and act positively, build self-esteem and learn valuable life skills in a safe environment. Call Student Services for more information. SCHOOL COUNCIL School Councils play a vital role in the education system in Ontario. They provide a forum through which parents and other members of school communities can contribute to improving student achievement and school performance. School Council makes recommendations to their principals and school boards on any matter. Principals and school boards in turn, must consult with school councils on a variety of matters that affect student learning. New parents are welcome to join school council. 2014-2015 School Council Meeting Dates in library @ 6:30 p.m. Thursday March 5, 2015 Thursday May 7, 2015 Hammarskjold Highlights YEARBOOK NEWS! UPDATE - This year’s Yearbook Staff have been busy creating what may become the finest Yearbook Hammarskjold has ever seen! Taking photos at events and planning for interesting new sections are a few of the duties of a Yearbook staff member. NEW THIS YEAR! – Beginning this year, we are moving our Yearbook to a FULL September to June publication. In the past, the yearbook would be finalized and put into production at the beginning of May, missing two months of important events, pictures, and happenings around Hammarskjold - No Longer! The Yearbook Committee has decided that we will create the Yearbook ALL YEAR LONG and deliver it to students at the beginning of September 2015 so it truly encapsulates the full 2014-15 school year. Don’t worry about the “signatures” page, if you purchased a Yearbook, you will be given an “Autographs Page” that can be glued and inserted into your book once you get it. The “Autographs Pages” will be given out in the last few weeks of this school year so you won’t miss that part of the memories. Look for the new “We are the RED and GOLD” pages, the “Game Day Protocol” section, and the new “Special Co-Op Showcase” Section! If you haven’t - ORDER YOURS TODAY! COME OUT – The Yearbook is both a rewarding and fun part of High School and we are always recruiting for more Students! It doesn’t matter what grade you are in, there is a place for you on this Committee! We meet every Thursday after school for a couple of hours and, because of the internet, you can work from home on special projects and page assignments! Stay tuned next year, we are going to offer a CREDIT class for the Yearbook. SEMI FORMAL 2015 What an amazing night!! It was held at the Italian Hall on February 19th with a dazzling Winter Wonderland theme. The venue was decorated by the Semi Formal Committee with sparkly, silver trees, twinkling lights, snow capped branches, pinecones, snowflakes and chocolate! It was a dark, chilly night but the party was bright and lively. 230 students attended, producing the best turn out in Hammarskjold history! Guests enjoyed taking pictures with the lovely backdrop, making funny faces in the photo booth, eating a delicious dinner with friends and dancing ... and dancing ... and hydrating! Awesome music was provided by 2-Tone Music Productions. A Big thank you goes out to Ms. Murphy, Ms. Hardisty, Mr. Bishop, Ms. Flaza and Mr. Timko! Hammarskjold Highlights Specialist High Skills Major – The Environment Program This semester, students enrolled in the Specialist High Skills Major Environment Program participated in a number of activities toward their “Red Seal” Diploma. At the end of this school year, 3 students will graduate and earn the SHSM Designation on their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Specialist High Skills Major is a ministry-approved specialized program that allows students to focus their learning on a specific economic “SECTOR” while meeting the requirements for the OSSD. At Hammarskjold, we offer three different Specialist High Skills Majors. The SHSM’s offered include The Environment, Construction, and Justice, Community Safety, and Emergency Services. The SHSM – The Environment happens in a students’ grade 11 and 12 year and combines inclass learning with outdoor experiential and an environmental focused learning. Hammarskjold’s SHSM Environment Program helps foster relationships between the interested student of today and the active, ecologically literate citizen of tomorrow. In the spring, The SHSM Environment “crew” (grade 11’s and 12’s) will again return to the Kingfisher Lake Outdoor Centre for a certification based overnighter trip. We will focus mainly on the GPS Certification and Map and Compass Training. Also, our Hills Greenhouse “Reach Ahead” experience last semester will come “full circle” as we will again (4th year running) plant some of the trees at Kingfisher that we helped pack in the fall time. And, around the bonfires, while enjoying s’mores, we will continue to focus and discuss Environmental Issues. Hammarskjold High School would like to thank the teachers at the Kingfisher Lake Outdoor Centre for their continued support of the SHSM – The Environment Program and the fine, collaborative work they do. Coming up in April and May, Students in the Environmental Specialist Group, together with the Construction SHSM Students will complete the rest of their required Certifications including Standard First Aid and Chainsaw Safety! Also, in the upcoming months, the Grade 12 Environmental Specialist Students will be certified in WHIMIS. When all the snow is finally gone and the weather improves, the SHSM Environmental Major Students will joining forces with ECO Superior, and participate in our 12th Annual Spring Up to Clean Up initiative in our surrounding neighborhood. Look for us with our bright orange vests, garbage bags, and RECYCLING bags doing our part in the Community! GRADE 10 LITERACY TEST On Thursday March 26, 2015, all students in Ontario who entered grade 9 last year (2013-2014) and who are working toward a secondary school diploma will be writing the provincially mandated grade 10 Literacy Test (OSSLT). This is a test of students’ reading and writing skills up to the end of Grade 9. This will also include those students in Grades 11 and 12 who need to attempt or rewrite the test. For more information contact the school at 767-1631 Hammarskjold Highlights PARENT PORTAL The Parent Portal is a powerful web based tool which will allow you to manage and monitor your child’s attendance and review important announcements. Through the Parent Portal you can also manage your communication preferences, including phone calls, emails and texts. If your email address is already on file with your child’s school, you should have already received an email message containing instructions to login to the Parent Portal and authenticate your account. A step-by-step instructional video on how to use the parent portal can be viewed on our website: www.lakeheadschools.ca/portalvideo Support is also available via email at: [email protected] You can also report your child’s absences 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling our toll free number or logging into the Parent Portal website at http://parents.lakeheadschools.ca. An absence can be reported through the Parent Portal or the roll-free number up to the morning bell time on the day of the absence. HAMMARSKJOLD TECHNOLOGY Semester 2 is well underway in the Hammarskjold Technology Department with grade 9 students sampling their technology options through Grade 9 Exploring Technology and Grade 10, 11 and 12 students taking a variety of courses in personal services (Cosmetology), Construction/Woodworking, Manufacturing and Transportation classes. The Hammarskjold Technology Staff saw some changes this semester as we welcomed Mr. Wickman as our new Grade 9 Exploring Technology Teacher and Mr. Watts as our Transportation Technology Teacher. They, along with Ms. Nowgesic, Mr. Kok and Mr. Kamerman continue to look forward to working alongside your Vikings as we explore the endless and rewarding possibilities that careers in the trades provide. Hammarskjold Highlights Québec City Highlights!!! In May, when Hammarskjold students travel to Québec, we will be introduced to Québec’s charming Old City, the 17th-century heart of this French-influenced province. As we stroll down rue Petit-Champlain, the oldest street in North America, note that Québec is the only walled city north of Mexico. We will see old buildings and proud monuments line winding streets and picturesque places such as: the Château Frontenac, Dufferin Terrace, Notre-Dame-de-Québec basilica and Place Royale, the cradle of French civilization in North America. Steeped in Canadian history, the Plains of Abraham was the site of a battle that shaped Canada’s destiny. In 1759, British General Wolfe defeated French troops under the command of General Montcalm. Though the British defeated the French, both Generals were mortally wounded during the battle. Hammarskjold students will have a chance to participate in a reenactment of the battle, with some playing the role of French soldiers and others as British troops. Our guided tour will also take us through La Citadelle, telling the story of its construction as it relates to history and the garrison's place as a military site in Quebec City. We will also join a festive visit to the Sugar Shack, where we will dine in the hearty manner of early FrenchCanadian loggers. Set deep in the pine forests of rural Canada, the Sugar Shack offers a memorable evening of traditional feasting, songs, games and dancing. Taking a drive along the Côte-de-Beaupré, we will explore Avenue Royale, Canada’s oldest road. This is where the first farmers of the New France colony settled. Still today, you can see the land and ancestral houses that confirm the agrarian past of the region. At Canyon Ste-Anne we will get to experience the thrill of crossing a 60 meter bridge above the canyon. There are also 3 suspension bridges to offer the best views of the 74 meter waterfall and many other scenic panoramas. Continuing on to Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré we will visit the town’s majestic double-spired basilica there, which has been rebuilt on this spot many times. Although the present basilica was consecrated only 30 years ago, worshippers here have credited the shrine with miraculous cures since it was first built in 1658, and 17thcentury sailors believed that St. Anne protected them from shipwrecks. J'adore Have I mentioned the Evening Disco Cruise yet? Come and see what that is all about! We are sure to have a lot of fun!!! la ville de Québec Hammarskjold Highlights Student Proficiency Pilot Project at Hammarskjold High School French as a Second Language (FSL) Since 2008, The Lakehead Public School Board has been involved in adopting the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) as a Teaching, Assessment and Learning tool for French as a second language. The CEFR provides a comprehensive overview of competencies that French language learners need to develop in order to communicate and interact effectively. It presents levels of language proficiency, ranging from beginners (A1) to very advanced language users (C2). There are 6 proficiency levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) and our school board is working towards enabling our students to successfully pass the B1 (Core French) and B2 (French Immersion) exam by the end of Grade 12. Lakehead Public Schools is one of the school boards in Ontario chosen to participate in a province- wide pilot project aiming at assessing current language proficiency in French as a Second Language. In the spring of 2015, Hammarskjold Grade 12 FSL students will have the opportunity to complete the DELF French language proficiency exam (Diplôme d'études en langue française). Upon successful completion, the students will receive an internationally recognized and life-long certification, issued by the French Ministry of National Education. This is very significant as many European countries for example, require the DELF certification as part of their job application. Certified DELF correctors from our board will administer and correct the DELF exam this spring. The data will be forwarded to the Ontario government where the data will be analysed. PARENT INTERVIEWS Thursday March 26, 2015 4:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (early dismissal at 3:00) Homeroom teachers will distribute an appointment form to all students on Monday, March 23rd for students to bring home to their parents. Students will carry appointment sheets to classes on Tuesday, March 24th to allow teachers to make appointments with parents they may wish to see, and to allow students to book appointments for parents. For more information contact the school at 767-1631. GRADE 12 CONVOCATION GRAD DINNER and DANCE Tuesday June 9, 2015 7:00 p.m. June 25, 2015 At the Community Auditorium Everyone is welcome to attend! At the Italian Cultural Centre -listen to the morning announcements Hammarskjold Highlights HAMMARSKJOLD COMPETITIVE CHEERLEADING The 2014-2015 Competitive Cheerleading team consists of 29 new and returning dedicated and enthusiastic girls representing grades 9-12. They train at gruelling two-hour practices three times per week with additional practices as competitions approach. Thank you to parents and guardians for their patience, support and rides to early morning and weekend practices. The team is thriving with the support of returning community coaches Kelsey Raynard, Katelyn Stejskal, Jordyn Comeau and Katie Groombridge. The coaches are certified with the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA) and bring extensive experience, compassion and an unwavering determination to succeed. Hammarskjold graduates Reegan Bushby and Lauren MacGillivray have also returned to provide much appreciated support to the team. The team and school thank the coaches for giving so much of their time, and sharing their expertise to provide a positive and rewarding experience for the cheerleaders. The team will be competing three times this year. The Ontario Cheerleading Federation Northwestern Ontario Regional competition will take place on Sunday, March 8 at Superior High School. The SSSAA City Championships are on Thursday, April 30 at the Lakehead University Fieldhouse. The team looks forward to seeing their supporters in the stands at these local events. Finally, the team will be representing Hammarskjold High School at Cheer Evolution’s “Red Carpet” provincial championships on May 10 at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. This will be the culmination of the athletes’ hard work and commitment to the team. They are looking forward to this adventure. The team would like to thank everyone who has supported these opportunities through the Mom’s Pantry, Steeped Tea and basket fundraisers. Thank you to the coaches and all of the girls on the team for their commitment to the Viking values of Integrity, Acceptance, Empathy, Respect and Responsibility. HAMMARSKJOLD CONTINUES ITS WINNING WAYS. Four students from Hammarskjold were regional winners in the prestigious OSSTF Student Achievement Awards in honour of Marion Drysdale. Our four regional winners are Autumn Ziebarth, Prose and Poetry, Grades 9-10, Academic; Haneen Ismail, Visual Arts, Grade 9-10; Amber Ziebarth, Prose and Poetry, Grades 11-12, University; and Alena Albertson-Kok, Visual Arts, Grades 11-12. All four students were short listed at the Provincial Level. They will be honoured at the District 6A Excellence in Education banquet, on April 25 at Superior CVI. Hammarskjold Highlights HAMMARSKJOLD MUSIC NOTES Music students are traveling near and far this semester! At the beginning of May, the Senior Band and Jazz Band will travel to Duluth, Minnesota to perform at Lowell Elementary School, a music magnet school for K – 6 students. Along with this performance, we will provide a workshop for our younger peers. The group will then travel to Des Moines, Iowa to attend a performance of the musical The Lion King. In late May, the Grade 10 Band and Grade 10 Strings will travel to our “musical partner” school in Atikokan for a day trip to perform at St. Patrick Elementary School. This has become a spring tradition for our grade 10’s, who have enjoyed this short “road trip” for the past three years. For adventures closer to home, the Senior Strings and Jazz Band will be performing in our family of elementary schools as well as Seniors’ Home in town this spring. The Jazz Band will also perform at the O.S.S.T.F. Student Awards of Excellence celebration in late April. All classes will then perform at our Semester-End Evaluation concert for parents and friends in mid June. DRAMA The Grade 10 Drama class will be performing ‘Robin Hood’ in June. Check the calendar on our website to find out more information about this and other performances. Hammarskjold invites students, parents/guardians, & teachers to explore Career Cruising to implement the Individual Pathways Plan (IPP). Need help getting started? Contact your child’s Counsellor/Facilitator in Student Services. Use ccPathfinder to discover: Who am I? What are my opportunities? Who do I want to become? What is “My Plan”? Implementing the IPP through Career Cruising will allow you to gain access to more than 70 different reports and tracking tools that enable you to monitor the progress of any given student at any point in time. With the Parent Portal, parents and guardians can stay on top of their child’s progress, 24/7, anywhere they have access to a computer. Getting Started: www.careercruising.com/parent Click “Register Now” Hammarskjold Highlights BIKING VIKINGS - It’s all about the Mud! Spring has yet to come, but the Hammarskjold Mountain Bike Team is gearing up for another successful season. With lots of snow to melt, it means only one thing . . . mud! With all of the SSSAA Cycling competitions taking place at Centennial Park, riders will be sure to be coming home “dirty”, but smiling. The team is always looking for new members. A mechanically sound bicycle and a helmet are required. Our first meeting will be after the March Break. Listen for announcements. If you are interested in joining, please contact Mr. Kamerman, Mrs. Lacosse or Mr. Alexander. Practices will begin in April on Tuesdays and Thursdays with races beginning in early May. Check out the SSSAA web site for more scheduling details. Persistence can change failure into extraordinary achievement. -Marv Levy www.sssaa.com Hammarskjold High School 80 S. Clarkson Street Thunder Bay, ON P7B 4W8 (Phone) 807-767-1631 (Fax) 807-767-0395 www.lakeheadschools.ca/Hammarskjold/
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