Introducing
our
Newest
past &present
Alumni
A mAgAzine for the CresCent sChool Community
fAll 2015
> INTRODUCING OUR STRATEGIC PLAN 2015 - 2020
Class of 2015
Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: CresCent sChool 2365 Bayview Avenue toronto, on M2l 1A2
MeN of CharaCter froM Boys of ProMise
40018682
STRATEGIC PLAN 2015 - 2020
OUR MISSION: MEN OF CHARACTER FROM BOYS OF PROMISE
our Vision: Our vision is to provide our Boys of Promise with the support they need to become outstanding, courageous young Men of Character. Men who have the strength of character and love of knowledge to be successful lifelong learners who will make a positive impact on this ever-changing world.
ALUMNI INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
How will we accomplish this? By maintaining our unwavering belief that each boy is unique and incorporating this into all we do. Our exceptional staff of learners and leaders will nurture the intellectual, moral and social development of each of our boys; and our inclusive community of alumni, parents and friends will continue to be fully engaged, supporting a diverse and rigorous learning environment.
our Core VAlues: These are the principles that guide our behaviour and action, reflecting our ongoing commitment to being the very best possible school for boys.
resPeCt
Honour the community and those within it.
resPonsiBility
Own your own decisions.
honesty
Think and act in truth.
ComPAssion
Treat others the way they would like to be treated.
our PillArs:
Men of character
for hire.
Gain access to an outstanding pool of Crescent School Alumni for summer internship positions in your company.
To learn more and to register your company, contact:
Includes Students, Faculty and Staff and our Community.
When you hire a Crescent alumnus, you add confidence, character and creativity to your team.
Kathryn Foster Manager of Alumni Relations kfoster@crescentschool.org
PillAr 2: our PlACe
The Crescent School Alumni Internship Program partners with leading firms in the financial, law, engineering, technology sectors and more. Add your company to the list.
There are two pillars that support our Mission, Vision and Core Values:
PillAr 1: our PeoPle
Includes our Facility and our Technology.
read more at strategicplan.crescentschool.org Past and Present
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ALUMNI iii
past &present A MAGAZINE FOR THE CRESCENT SCHOOL COMMUNITY
MEN OF CHARACTER FROM BOYS OF PROMISE
FALL 2015
> INTRODUCING OUR STRATEGIC PLAN 2015 - 2020
on the cover Let us know what you think of our new cover design!
Past and Present is Crescent School’s official magazine, published twice a year for the entire Crescent community. Produced by Crescent School’s External Relations Department
Crescent School 2365 Bayview Avenue Toronto, ON M2L 1A2 416-449-2556 info@crescentschool.org crescentschool.org Stay connected with Crescent School throughout the year: facebook.com/ crescentschool1913 twitter.com/ Crescent_School
Contents Message from the Headmaster................2
A Roadmap for Crescent’s Future..........18
Showing Our Character............................4
Building a Culture of Wellbeing.............20
Staff & Faculty News ...............................6
Student Financial Aid.............................22
Learnings from South Africa.....................7
Message from the Chair of the Alumni Executive.........................23
Faculty Profile: David Grant.....................8 Community Day Highlights......................9 Message from the Chair of the Board of Governors.....................10 New Board Members.............................11 Message from the President of the CPA..............................................12
Design Chris Simeon September Creative Communications Printer Printing Ltd.2015 • Fall PastHarmony and Present
Back on Campus....................................24 From the Archives..................................26 Alumnus of the Year: Peter Lalor ’92........................................28 Alumni Events.........................................29 Life After Crescent.................................32
Student Leadership 2015/2016..............14
In Memoriam..........................................34
Head Boy Profile: Cooper Midroni........15
Where the Class of 2015 is Now............35
Athletic Achievements...........................16
Lowndes’ Last Word...............................36 1
Message from the Headmaster
Over the past year I have learned that, as Headmaster, I hold a very important responsibility within our educational community: to steward our School’s core purpose. However, I neither can nor should do this work in isolation. That is why I hope you have taken the time to read and reflect on our new Strategic Plan 2015-2020. I was privileged to initiate the strategic planning process with the Board of Governors and School leadership last year. Our Strategic Plan is the result of a 12-month process of institutional discernment that touched on every facet of the Crescent community. The Strategic Plan is bold and ambitious. It positions Crescent in stark contrast to our provincial public school counterparts and further differentiates us from our closest independent school competitors. It is fully optimistic about boys and those who serve their growth and development. 2
Our mission to develop Men of Character from Boys of Promise remains securely intact, orienting our vision of boys who have the strength of character and love of knowledge to effect positive change in an ever-changing world. Our values of respect, responsibility, honesty and compassion continue to underpin our choices and actions in everything we do. Our Strategic Plan articulates the path we will take to deliver and achieve our mission and vision. Our Strategic Plan identifies Crescent’s strongest assets that need further investment: our people and our place. First, our students require an academic program that blends rigour, relationship and relevance – a program that encompasses all student learning both inside and outside the traditional classroom. This requires an even greater commitment to student wellbeing – physical, socio-emotional and intellectual – from admission through to graduation.
Furthermore, we will have a clearly defined portrait of the Crescent graduate – what we expect each of our boys to have developed, cognitively and noncognitively, over their years at Crescent School in preparation for life at and beyond university. I strongly believe that the schools with the best teachers and staff win. To this end, our second goal is to foster a culture of peak performance rooted in professional growth and mastery. We want to be a destination employer that values and supports a wide variety of talents for the benefit of our boys. This requires an even greater investment in our people so that they can deliver the vision we hold for our graduates. Third, Crescent must be more reflective of the Toronto of today. Such a stance helps to safeguard the future of a Crescent education and also highlights our moral and pedagogical commitment Crescent School
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to our country and to our boys. Canada is home to a wide tapestry of beliefs, talents and backgrounds – so too must our School be with our students, faculty, staff, and Board of Governors. Moreover, our boys will serve a world that is more diverse than it is now and must be prepared to embrace this reality. Fourth, our facility must continue to serve the needs of our boys and our staff, not vice versa. One of the first questions I was asked by our Board was “What does Crescent look like in 2050?” It is a good governance question. To answer this with confidence and clarity, we need to engage in an ambitious long-term master campus plan – a plan with an arc of 50-plus years – that is not inhibited by what Crescent looks like today. Finally, Crescent requires an ecosystem for learning that is supported by the best and most current technology. As a close colleague reminded me recently,
“It is our boys who will benefit most from this renewed strategy.” technology is eating everything. Think of how banking, shopping and travelling options have changed in the past decade. Education is no different. The means by which we can deepen student engagement, foster collaboration and promote critical thinking have never been greater; however, we must ensure these means do not replace the ends we hold for our graduates. Our Strategic Plan is a living document. We will review and update it constantly as our School continues to evolve, to reflect our most pressing needs while leveraging unique opportunities that support our long-term vision. Your questions and ideas are most welcome as our work together continues. After all, it is our boys who will benefit most from this renewed strategy. In truth we stand and grow. Michael Fellin P’24 Headmaster
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Showing Our Character Robotics Team Travels to China Our award-winning robotics team continues to go places! In November, 10 boys from Crescent’s Team 610 are travelling to China for the 2015 World Robotics Conference. Team 610 is one of only six international teams invited to participate in the conference by Semia, the Chinese partner for FIRST Robotics. The Crescent boys will demonstrate “Taz,” Crescent’s winning robot from the 2013 FIRST Robotics World Championships.
BEAR Week Tradition Continues
Learning Empathy from a Baby There’s a brand new teacher in the Lower School: baby Charlie Kovacs. Little Charlie is the son of Head of Upper School Nick Kovacs. He’s visiting regularly for Roots of Empathy, a program for Crescent’s Grade 5 and 6 boys. The internationally recognized Roots of Empathy program helps children develop compassion and respect by observing and interacting with a baby. “The boys learn that babies come the way they are, and we all come the way we are,” says Lower School faculty member Peg Evans. “The baby is the perfect teacher.”
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An annual September tradition, BEAR Week has grown into one of Crescent’s signature character and leadership programs. Named in honour of former Head of Lower School Ross “Bear” MacDonald, BEAR also stands for "Be Engaged, Active and Responsible." This year, special activities designed for each grade gave the boys meaningful opportunities to bond with their classmates, expand their comfort zones and achieve a sense of personal growth. And of course, they had fun too!
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Books for Haiti Crescent’s Lower School boys are sharing their love of reading with children in Haiti. A donation of French storybooks was arranged through Scholastic Canada and the Rubicon Educational Foundation. The boys carefully inscribed each book with a message of friendship for the young readers who received the donated books.
Creating Young Leaders In September, 13 Crescent boys in Grades 7 and 8 joined students from independent schools across Canada for the CAIS Leadership Camp. The activities included a social innovation boot camp and opportunities for self-reflection. The boys returned with stronger confidence and leadership skills, ready to make a difference in the world.
Spreading the Word – By Bus! When you’re proud of what you do, you want people to know about it. This fall, we’re raising awareness about Crescent School with an ad campaign that includes major newspapers and TTC buses.
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Staff and Faculty News W
e know that learning never stops at Crescent School. In fact, professional growth is a goal of the new Strategic Plan. Here’s how some faculty and staff enriched their professional practice over the summer months.
CAIS Leadership Institute (Victoria, B.C.) This program for Canadian Accredited Independent Schools members included seminars on brain research, school accreditation, leadership and governance. “The brain research seminar was fascinating. It helped me understand how our boys think and what struggles they face, especially with regards to literacy.” Aaron Dion, Head of Middle School
“It was a fantastic opportunity to learn from some of the best leaders and heads of schools in independent education. Sharing ideas with educators from across Canada was such a valuable experience for me. I learned so much, particularly in preparation for the accreditation process that Crescent is undertaking this year.” Ryan Bell ’98, Assistant Head of Lower School
NAIS Leadership Institute (Alexandria, Virginia) This National Association of Independent Schools program included an in-depth analysis of the participants’ leadership styles. “The personal leadership evaluation from my peers was very beneficial. It reinforced the things I’m doing well and helped identify areas for improvement. You can always be better. Learning never stops.” Rob Cranston, Assistant Head of Middle School
“I was inspired by the sincere feedback given to me by my colleagues. I learned a great deal about the way my leadership style is received. Specifically, how important it is to be guided by vision, and as leaders, how crucial it is for us to share that vision.” Rob Costanzo, Assistant Head of Upper School
Klingenstein Summer Institute (Columbia University Teachers College) Only 75 teachers from around the world are chosen to participate in this intensive two-week program. “If I had to choose one thing that I learned at the Klingenstein Summer Institute, it is the importance of effective feedback. Choosing to be a reflective teacher who is open to and welcomes feedback allows me to continue to develop my practice. Modelling a reflective practice demonstrates to students how to be open to feedback and the importance of a growth mindset.” Isabelle Moore, Lower School French teacher
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Learnings from South Africa S
ix Crescent staff members participated in the International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) annual conference in Cape Town in July. More than 600 delegates from 146 schools attended the conference, called Lessons from Madiba (the traditional name of Nelson Mandela). They shared research, explored ideas and were inspired by outstanding speakers. Here are highlights from the Crescent delegates.
Faculty members Carson McGregor and Martha Miller shared a poster presentation about their research on how incorporating reflection into Grade 9 technology projects deepened the boys’ learning.
“You could have heard a pin drop in the room of 600 people as Dr. Verwoerd shared his story about meeting Nelson Mandela soon after his grandfather died,” says Lynch. “Wanting to let him know he was aligned with Mandela’s vision for South Africa, Dr. Verwoerd immediately launched into his story. Mandela held up his hand, silencing Dr. Verwoerd’s apology. Mandela looked at Verwoerd and asked, ‘How is your grandmother?’ Remarkable!”
“We realized that boys were only doing the work as a means to a grade and we wanted to shift the focus from the grade onto the process of learning,” says Miller. “The research we did changed my teaching as I now incorporate peer evaluations into all of the projects that I assign.” McGregor was inspired by conference speaker Khalil Osiris, an American educator who served 20 years in prison. “He turned his cell into a classroom and his prison into a university, and graduated after his sentence with a master’s degree,” says McGregor. “I now make it my goal to challenge each of my students to take responsibility over their own destiny and not let any self-imposed limitations stop them from achieving greatness.” For John Lynch P’16, ’18, Executive Director, External Relations, a speech by Dr. Wilhelm Verwoerd epitomized the conference’s theme. Verwoerd, whose grandfather was an Apartheid-era prime minister of South Africa, spoke about his personal journey to becoming a peace activist. Past and Present
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Trish Cislak P’17, Head of Libraries and Information Literacy at Crescent, advises an IBSC Action Research team of 10 educators from Canada, the U.S., Spain, South Africa and India.
toward global water sustainability. Murray says meeting other researchers at the conference was a powerful moment. “I looked at the room filled with extremely busy people and realized that taking on an action research project with all my other responsibilities was a task that could be accomplished and could bring great results,” says Murray. “It was really great listening to the advice of the teachers who had given a year of their life to their research and were happy to be presenting.” Headmaster Michael Fellin P’24 co-presented a talk about relational learning in boys’ schools. His co-presenters included Dr. Michael Reichert, Executive Director of the Center of Boys’ and Girls’ Lives at the University of Pennsylvania. Headmaster Fellin says the power of relational learning was underscored by the traditional African wisdom that was shared at the conference. “Among other things at the conference, we learned about the concept of Ubuntu – that a person is a person through other people,” says Fellin. “We all returned home humbled by the people we met and more committed to the mission we serve.”
“The face-to-face and online connections at the conference allow us to have no boundaries and be one in our pursuit of offering the best education for our boys,” says Cislak. “Working with fellow teachers from the IBSC continually raises our own standards and allows us to be reflective practitioners.” Faculty member Sheryl Murray is preparing a research project examining how cross-cultural, peer-to-peer experiences affect Grade 8 boys’ attitudes 7
Faculty Profile David Grant, Dean of Studies “I’m excited by the opportunity to contribute to Crescent in a different capacity and have a positive impact on the education of all the boys,” he says. Grant knows first-hand about the pressure parents can feel about their sons’ education. He is the proud father of two boys. Jordan graduated in Crescent’s Class of 2014 and is now studying at the University of Waterloo. Ryan is attending St. Lawrence University, where he is a top player on the varsity soccer team. Positive encouragement is the key to helping boys succeed, says Grant. “Your son is a completely unique individual and will follow his own path,” says Grant. “Try not to worry, just enjoy and support. He will be fine. Your son is in a good place.” While many things have changed since Grant first began teaching at Crescent, he says one thing remains constant. As Crescent School’s new Dean of Studies, David Grant P’14 has inherited the centrally located office that Head of Academics James Wright occupied before his retirement. He enjoys his new office, but another room holds a special place in his heart: the original location of Crescent’s technology lab. It was in the tech lab (Room 252, now the site of the Margaret Donnelly Library), that Grant saw that the hands-on work of designing, building and testing robotics devices engaged Crescent boys in a powerful way. He became a passionate advocate for the potential of robotics in education.
Lego League Ontario, he helped create competitions that led to school robotics programs across Canada. From just three teams in 2000, there are now 160 FIRST Robotics teams and more than 700 FIRST Lego League teams across Canada. “I will always take pride in my contribution to the robotics program,” says Grant. “It has enriched the lives of many students over the years.”
Grant joined Crescent’s science and technology department in 1992, after teaching in his native U.K. for 10 years. With the support of Crescent’s leadership and his colleagues, he launched Crescent’s robotics program and initiated the technological design program.
Robotics is now firmly embedded at Crescent, both as a signature part of the curriculum and as a popular co-curricular activity. Crescent’s Team 610 won the FIRST Robotics World Championship in 2013 and continues to rank high in international standings. Grant has earned a welldeserved reputation as a master teacher. Last April, he was the keynote speaker at the “Boys as Makers” conference hosted by the International Boys’ Schools Coalition in Cleveland.
Grant also fostered the popularity of robotics competitions in Canada. As a founding board member of FIRST Robotics Canada and a director of FIRST
Now, as Dean of Studies, Grant is responsible for the Upper School academic program. There is much to learn in his new role, says Grant.
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“Despite the incredible advances in educational technology and resources, the student-teacher relationship is at the heart of good education,” says Grant. “The care and professionalism we apply to our work are crucial to the boy, parents and school, and ultimately to the society at large.”
David Grant with robotics team in 1999
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Community Day Highlights Fun for everyone!
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ur second annual Community Day on September 27 was enjoyed by more than 600 Crescent students, parents, friends, alumni and staff. Thank you to everyone who helped make this day a success. It began with a welcome breakfast for families of new Crescent boys, hosted by the CPA. The fun continued with soccer and volleyball matches, carnival games, market treats, a BBQ lunch, robotics demonstrations and the student-teacher floor hockey tournament. A special highlight was the annual parent-staff soccer match played in memory of Duane Livingstone P’19, ’15, who set an example of sportsmanship that inspires everyone at Crescent School.
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Message from the Chair of the Board of Governors Ensuring Crescent continues to be Canada's best boys' school
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f all the Board’s responsibilities, developing Crescent School’s Strategic Plan is the most important. Each and every member of our Board understands this priority. Being fiscally responsible is a huge responsibility; we know that. Our tuition must cover our costs. We do that. We set strategy, adapt as needed, and make sure Crescent stays relevant. But Priority One is the Strategic Plan. Period. It is woven so tightly into the fabric of the School that our Headmaster’s goals are directly measured against this plan.
Plans such as this aren’t simply a cutand-paste from past plans, like a “Best of Crescent” Greatest Hits album. Our 2015-2020 plan started with a blank page. First we confirmed our Mission Statement: Men of Character from Boys of Promise. If you think that was a fiveminute exercise, you’re wrong. It was a lengthy, detailed – and necessary – discussion. Without a belief in our 10
mission, the Board could not begin to develop a credible, believable and executable Strategic Plan. Over many months of meetings with countless people all having varied opinions, as well as pouring through vast quantities of research and history, we developed and approved our Plan. This was not easy work or necessarily exciting work. However, it is why we are here. We need this Plan to ensure Crescent continues to be Canada’s best school for boys’ education. That’s what we are. We are not aspiring to be the best. We are not challenging to be the best. We are the best. Character education matters. Relational learning matters. The research shows that what we are doing, and what our Strategic Plan will guide us to do over the next five years, is what is right for our boys. On behalf of the Board of Governors, I would like to extend a heartfelt thankyou to Michael Fellin, his Leadership
Team and the more than 140 brilliant and dedicated faculty and staff who make being a Governor of this School such a privilege. They are what makes Crescent unique. I’m sure everyone reading this has a story that supports this statement, so the next time you see one of our ever-sospecial people, thank them for choosing to bring their expertise to Crescent. In addition, I’d like to thank all the members of the Board. The quality of our 18 Governors, their experience, and their willingness to devote countless hours to Crescent continues to impress and humble me. I am honoured to work with such a talented and wise group who share a common vision. I’ll end with a sentence from my message last year that still holds true today: We should all be very proud to be part of this very special place. Bryan Kerdman P’14 Chair of the Board of Governors
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New Board Members Lori Fisher
Nicole Swales Lori Fisher, mother of Jake ’14, Charlie ’18 and Maggie (Havergal ’16), is President of the Crescent Parent Association (CPA). She has served on the CPA Executive for the past three years as Vice President, Grade Parent Chair and Middle School Liaison.
Fisher earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Queen’s University and is a CFA charterholder. After a two-year stint in marketing at General Motors, she moved to the financial industry. During her 15-year career, she held positions in fixed income derivatives trading at Bank of Montreal (where she met her husband Mike) and Bank of America. Since retiring, Fisher’s community involvement has including serving as President of the Allenby Parents’ Association, and with People For Education and the Havergal College Parent Association.
Linda Mantia Linda Mantia, mother of Lucas Schmid ’23, is the Executive Vice President of Digital, Payments and Cards for RBC. She joined RBC in 2003, and her experience there includes serving as the Chief Operating Officer of Global Private Banking and as the Head of Enterprise Services and Chief Procurement Officer. Mantia is Chair of the Board of Directors for Moneris Solutions and serves on the VISA Advisory Board. She was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Network in 2013 and 2014. She was also named one of the Most Influential Women in Payments and was awarded the Women in Payments Award for Leadership in 2014. Prior to joining RBC, Mantia was an Associate Principal for McKinsey & Company and a partner at Davies, Ward & Beck specializing in corporate and securities law. Her community involvement includes leading various initiatives for Women Against Multiple Sclerosis (WAMS).
David Williamson David Williamson, father of Scott ’19 and Jack ’16, is Senior Executive Vice-President and Group Head, Retail and Business Banking, at CIBC, a position he has held since 2001. He joined CIBC as Chief Financial Officer in 2008. Prior to joining CIBC, Williamson was President and CEO of two publicly listed companies in addition to holding senior executive positions with other financial services institutions. He has served on the boards of several public and private companies, on the Board of Governors of McMaster University, and chaired the Canadian Bankers Association. He is a Chartered Accountant and earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McMaster University.
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Nicole Swales, mother of Nikolas Swales ’19, Lukas Swales ’21 and Alexa Swales (Havergal ’22), has been an active Crescent School volunteer since joining the community in 2009. Most recently, she served as the Treasurer for the Crescent Parent Association and on the Finance Committee of the Board of Governors. A CFA charterholder, Swales is an Investment Counsellor at Mawer Investment Management. She earned her MBA at the Rotman School of Business and a graduate diploma in Business Studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her undergraduate degree is from the Economics and French program at the University of Western Ontario. Swales is an alumna of Havergal College. She volunteered with SickKids Hospital and the Toronto Toy Tea.
Board of Governors 2015/2016 Chair Bryan Kerdman P’14 Vice Chair Barry Gordon ’87, P’21 Board Members Dr. Eileen de Villa P’19, ’21 Sam Duboc P’19 Lori Fisher P’14, ’18 May Lee P’17, ’24 Doris Loo P’18 Linda Mantia P’23 Peter Osborne P’14, ’19 Stuart Raftus P’17, ’18, ’23 Glenn Shyba P’16 Paul Spafford P’18, ’22 Nicole Swales P’19, ’21 Paul Tompkins P’10, ’12, ’13 Rob Watt ’85, P’14 Dr. Greg Wells ’89 David Williamson P’16, ’19 Dr. Charlotte Youngson P’14, ’17
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Message from the President of the CPA Connecting Crescent Parents
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ast year, the Crescent Parent Association (CPA) enjoyed an amazing year under the excellent leadership of President Lynn Porter Zechner and her team of dedicated volunteers. They worked tirelessly to achieve the CPA’s mission: to work in partnership with the School to build Crescent’s unique sense of community through social, fundraising and outreach initiatives. On every level, success was achieved. Our grade parent socials, Coffee In The Courtyard, Lower School Halloween Party, Holiday Sale Cocktail Party and Annual Parent Luncheon were all wonderful opportunities for parents to connect. Our Holiday Sale, Garage Sale and Coyote’s Den volunteers did the same while also achieving amazing financial results. Our School & Community committee provided volunteer support for Community Day and hosted a lovely Staff Appreciation event. They also gathered carloads of warm clothing donations for Firgrove and Willow Park Schools. Many others participated as ambassadors, grade
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parents and library support workers. Our Buy-a-Book Program offered parents an opportunity to provide new reading resources for our boys. I offer my sincere thanks to the many, many Crescent parents whose efforts contributed to these successes. Your willingness to do so is what characterizes the generous nature of our Crescent community. Since 2012, all proceeds from CPA fundraising events and ongoing initiatives such as the Coyote’s Den have been directed towards fulfilling our five-year pledge of $600,000 to the Great Boys campaign. I am very pleased to report that to date, we have contributed $592,500 in support of naming the new Ampitheatre. In addition, the CPA Centennial Scholarship Endowment Fund, established in 2007 with a commitment of $700,000, is supporting a worthy recipient in the Upper School. Finally, the CPA Community Outreach
Endowment Fund provides funding for locally based community service programs. While there is much to celebrate from the past year, there is also much to anticipate in the upcoming year. We are fortunate to have a very enthusiastic and dedicated group of volunteers, many of whom are new to the CPA. I look forward to the new ideas and enthusiasm they will bring to our initiatives and I encourage others to join our team. Lori Fisher P’14, ’18 CPA President 2015/2016
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CPA Committee 2015/2016 Leadership Team President.........................................................................................................Lori Fisher P’14, ’18 Vice President.......................................................................................... Sheila Centner P’16, ’19 Past President........................................................................... Lynn Porter Zechner P’08, ’10, ’16 Secretary........................................................................................... Samantha Rakusin P’18, ’21 Treasurer.................................................................................................... Dianne Armstrong P’23 Communications..................................................................................................... Ann Karon P’20 Holiday Sale Chairs.................................................................. Beth Foley P’21 & Alison Reid P’21 Coyote’s Den Chair........................................................................................ Fran Brown P’17, ’20 Garage Sale Chair........................................................................Carol Lloyd-Pinnington P’15, ’17 Parent Ambassador Program Chair.............................................................Pam Yoannou P’16, ’20 School & Community Programs Chair................................................................... Lisa Davies P’19 Lower School Halloween Party..........................................................................Tina Gnat-Gray P’23 Lower School Grade Parent Chair.......................................................Natasha Rockandel P’18, ’23 Middle School Grade Parent Chair..................................................................Tori Newall P’20, ’22 Upper School Grade Parent Chairs.........................Caroline Lillico P’17 & Carol Port P’16, ’19, ’21 Coordinators Garage Sale Vice-Chair...........................................................................................Beth Watt P’20 School & Community Vice-Chair............................................. Cynthia Ferguson de Groot P’16, ’19 Parent Ambassador Vice-Chair........................................................... Matilda Sos-Mavroudis P’18 Buy-A-Book Convener............................................................................................ Mary Louie P’22 Coffee In The Courtyard...............................................................................Jennifer Hirshfeld P’21 Lower School Halloween Party Vice-Chair.................................................................Lily Uster P’24 Shop & Support........................................................................................................Lisa Dale P’16 Past Parent Representative..........................................................................Nancy Baker P’14, ’18 Annual Parent Luncheon...................................... Helen Lerberg P’18, ’19 & Sara Marino P’22, ’23 Library Volunteer Coordinator.....................................................................Domenica Ganguli P’16 Lower School Athletics Coordinator............................................................Carol Port P’16, ’19, ’21
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Student Leadership 2015/2016 Head Boy Cooper Midroni
Portfolio Prefects Arts Omar Elmor Assembly Colsen Centner and Michael Palma
House Captains Cartier Devan Hunter Christian Metivier
Mackenzie Matthew Kasperavicius Jonathan Ng
Simcoe Sam Charlton Jake Erdman
Hudson Ryan Boyd Eric Cislak
Massey Andrew Cook Vasilije Vukmanovic
Wolfe Christopher Overvelde Andrew Youngson
Communications Ryley Mehta Grad Class/Alumni Liaison Brett Balcom Lower School Liaison Jordan Abramsky Middle School Liaison Charlie Chettleburgh Social Brad Ashby Sports Deen Choudhury Upper School Liaison/Student Life C.J. Yoannou
House Prefects Cartier Jack Zechner Hudson Stewart Kirkconnell Mackenzie Tom Graham Massey Jeffrey So Simcoe Jack Evans-Krstajic Wolfe Spencer Blackwell
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Head Boy Cooper Midroni Appreciating all that Crescent has to offer they show for family and I never get tired of hearing stories about their past.
What is your favourite sport? My favourite sport is tied between rugby and running. Rugby is such an amazing team sport, and you can’t help but feel the brotherhood on the team. Running, an individual sport, feels freeing and fulfilling.
What is your personal motto? It’s more of a belief or principle: your life is like a story. You can fill its pages with the events of each day. And so I live my life in an effort to write the best story possible.
What is your favourite place on campus?
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ooper Midroni first came to Crescent School in Grade 9. He remembers feeling overwhelmed by meeting so many new people on the first day but also comforted by the welcome he received. Now, as Head Boy, Cooper wants every boy at Crescent to make the most of the supportive community that surrounds him. This intention is reflected in the motto the Grade 12 Grads chose for their year: Be Humble, Be Hungry.
“Now is one of the best times in your lives to take chances,” said Cooper in his speech at Crescent’s opening assembly in September. “We want to challenge every member of the Crescent community to display their humility and their drive. This year should be a year of appreciation for all that this school provides. This should also be a year of ambition, where we adopt the willpower to endlessly pursue our goals. Through humility and hunger, we not only have the ability to succeed but to display the highest degree of character for which Crescent is known.” Getting to know Cooper:
What is your most treasured possession?
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
My most treasured possession is a paddle from a canoe trip. This was no normal canoe trip. It was an infamously named “push trip” – my friends and I travelled 120km in just 36 hours. The paddle reminds me of the challenges and mental hurdles I had to overcome.
To me, perfect happiness is being surrounded by friends or family with no need or pressure to do anything but enjoy being in the moment.
What is your favourite thing to do on the weekend? On the weekends, I love going out with friends and sharing new experiences together.
My greatest extravagance is probably food. I’m a sucker for a good meal.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Who are your heroes?
I’ve always been in awe of people who can play the violin.
My heroes are probably my grandparents. I admire how much love
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What are you excited about for this year? I’m excited to see how Crescent will grow and change in the coming year and to be given an opportunity to make this year as amazing as possible for every individual here.
If you could give one sentence of advice to the Grade 3s, what would you say? One of my favourite movies is Yes Man. Its message is to always be open to the many wonders of life. To the Grade 3s I would say: Keep your eyes and your mind open to all the opportunities in front of you, and experience as much of life’s wonders as you can in these formative years.
What do you want to be “when you grow up”? I don’t exactly know what I want to be at this point in my life, but I know that I want to find a career that combines my passions for the sciences and the environment, as well as public speaking and management.
What is your greatest extravagance?
My favourite place on campus is the Latifi Family Commons. It is the perfect place to relax with friends and even work in odd times of productivity.
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Athletic Achievements OFSAA Silver Medallists Senior Golf
OFSAA Consolation Champs Senior Rugby
CISAA Champions U13 Rugby Junior Rugby U14 Badminton Junior Badminton U14 D1 Softball Senior Golf
Showing Their Strength After winning the CISAA championship last spring, Crescent’s Senior golf team brought home the silver medal from the OFSAA provincial championships in October. “It was a great finish to a strong year,” says Gavin Muranaka, who coached the team with Don Morrison. “To win at CISAA and then qualify for OFSAA for the second year in a row made for an exciting year. It’s a tribute to the strength of the team.”
CISAA Silver Medallists Senior Tennis D1 Ultimate Frisbee U11 Track and Field Junior Golf
CISAA Bronze Medallists U14 Rugby U14 Tennis Junior Tennis U10 Track and Field Midget Track and Field
CISAA Semi-Finalists U12 Softball D2 Ultimate Frisbee
Focus Under Pressure Crescent’s U14 D1 softball team placed first in the CISAA championships, against stiff competition. “It was the most dedicated and driven team I’ve ever coached in softball,” says Aaron Dion, who coached the team alongside Stephen Verzyden. “They were extremely focused under pressure, especially during the final tournament.”
Triumphant Again For the fourth year running, Crescent’s U13 Rugby team won the CISAA championship. “Our success relies on everyone pitching in,” says Gord Wotherspoon, who coached the team with Jeff Barton ’91. “No one player can do everything. You have to rely on each other.” He says the U13 boys learned a lot from training alongside their Grade 8 “big brothers” on the U14 team.
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Playing With Character Crescent’s Senior rugby team showed their character on and off the field at the OFSAA provincial championships. After sustaining major injuries at the CAIS championships, they went on to finish their season as the OFSAA Consolation Champions. “They went into the OFSAA tournament as the lowest seeded team, knowing they could only go up,” says coach Don Haag ’86. “Everybody played for each other and gave the team their full support.” The team’s resilience and character earned them the OFSAA Team Sportsmanship Award, in a unanimous vote by the tournament committee.
True Commitment It was a sweet victory when Crescent’s Junior rugby team played the final game on Innes Field to win the CISAA championships. “As the undefeated team, we had the X on our back the whole way and everyone wanted to beat us,” says coach Ian Fisher. “They were tough games. Every player was committed to attending every practice, playing in the positions where they were needed, and giving it 100% on the field.”
Still Undefeated Crescent boys remain undefeated in the U14 and Junior badminton courts. The Junior team won its second straight CISAA championship, while the U14 team held onto the CISAA championship berth for a third year. While badminton is an individual sport, the sum of the players’ wins and losses determines the winning team. “Some players won individual CISAA medals,” says Junior team coach James Mason, “and the team won the year-end tournament based on the results from all the matches.” The U14 team didn’t rest on its laurels either, says its coach, Pierre-Etienne Lambert. “I think this team has been better than ever before going undefeated all season.”
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A Roadmap for Crescent’s Future The new Strategic Plan 2015-2020
With these ingredients, Crescent School’s new Strategic Plan 2015-2020 truly reflects the School’s culture. “It represents the passion of what the School leadership thinks Crescent can be,” says Barry Gordon ’87 P’21, who is Vice Chair of the Board of Governors and served as Vice Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. “The Strategic Plan links Crescent’s past, present and future together in one broad plan that guides our School’s direction.” At its heart, the new Strategic Plan affirms and celebrates Crescent’s mission, Men of Character from Boys of Promise, and its core values: respect, responsibility, honesty and compassion. It articulates Crescent’s objectives for strengthening two pillars – Our People and Our Place – that support the mission and core values. Every area of focus in the Strategic Plan – students, faculty and staff and the wider Crescent community, and Crescent’s facility and technology – serves Crescent’s vision for boys’ education. “The Strategic Plan is purposefully expansive and flexible in its interpretation,” says Gordon. “As a living, breathing plan, it demands selfreflection and change.” The Strategic Plan was developed over 12 months by a 15-person committee that included members of the Board of Governors, faculty and staff, as well as experts from outside Crescent. It was crucial for the Strategic Plan to reflect a variety of perspectives, says Board of Governors Chair Bryan Kerdman P’14. “It couldn’t be, in my mind, just the Board,” says Kerdman. “You want people who have a background in education, in process, and who possess certain skill sets, such as HR. And I felt it 18
was important to have representatives of our School involved, because they’re the educators.” The Strategic Plan also incorporates knowledge gathered through schoolwide surveys, focus group findings and individual meetings with students, parents, alumni and staff.
Mission Men of Character from Boys of Promise.
The challenge in any strategic plan, says Gordon, is to synthesize diverse views. “We were very successful, in my opinion,” he says. “I have a deep appreciation and respect for the intellect and scope of thinking that everybody brought to the table,” says Gordon. “It was a very impressive group and I learned a lot through the process.” Dr. Sandra Boyes, Head of the Lower School, was a member of the Strategic Planning Committee. “The most invigorating part was working on behalf of the School with a group that reflected every facet of the Crescent community,” says Boyes. Gordon wants every member of the Crescent community to take time to reflect on the Strategic Plan. “I hope it energizes them and makes them ask questions,” Gordon says. “Questions and dialogue will help make the Strategic Plan come to fruition. It’s an opportunity for people to get involved in Crescent’s future.”
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mart, dedicated committee members. A thoughtful, collaborative process. Deep respect for Crescent’s traditions and enthusiasm for Crescent’s future. And above all, a commitment to excellence in boys’ education.
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The next challenge, says Gordon, is putting the Strategic Plan into action. Some initiatives, such as the Health and Wellbeing Program, are already underway at Crescent. Others, such as a long-term master campus plan, will be rolled out in the next few years.
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Although the Strategic Plan is focused on the next five years, the committee members knew that its impact would reach far beyond that.
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As Boyes says, “You’re really thinking 50 years out, not just five years out.” Crescent School
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Core Values Respect Responsibility Honesty Compassion
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Vision To provide our Boys of Promise with the support they need to become outstanding, courageous young Men of Character.
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Building a Culture of Wellbeing Laying a healthy foundation for active minds
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eachers know that healthy students learn better. That’s why Crescent has launched its Health and Wellbeing Program: to encourage the good nutrition, sleep, exercise and mental outlooks that are essential for active minds. The Wellbeing Project is led by Crescent alumnus Dr. Greg Wells ’89, who also serves on the Board of Governors. Wells is an assistant professor of kinesiology at the University of Toronto and has spent 20 years working with some of the world’s best athletes as an exercise physiologist and sport scientist. Wells is applying the same principles he’s used with Olympic athletes to the academic world. 20
“We believe that by making small improvements in the physical and mental performance of faculty, staff and students at Crescent that we can have a powerful impact on health, wellbeing and ultimately academic results,” says Wells. To build a culture of wellness at Crescent, the Health and Wellbeing Program is being implemented over two years. This year, Wells is working with faculty and staff to help them improve their health. A series of presentations, podcasts, email messages and working groups encourage faculty and staff to set goals and develop habits that will set a good example for the students.
In addition, some school-wide wellbeing activities benefit students as well as faculty and staff (see sidebar). Next year, the Health and Wellbeing Program will offer activities and messages that are tailored specifically for the students. “There has been a very positive response to this initiative,” says Nick Kovacs, Head of the Upper School. “Our Crescent families and our staff recognize the importance of the essential elements of wellness – proper sleep, effective nutrition, and regular exercise – and they are keen to learn more about how to commit to positive change in these areas. We are very fortunate to have Dr. Wells support us with this important work.” Crescent School
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Health and wellbeing can be the foundation for better academic results in the present and the future. Research shows that individuals’ mental and physical health can be dramatically improved by focusing on the key factors of sleep, nutrition, exercise and psychology – and that doing so can also improve academic performance. During the program at Crescent, data will be collected on the participant’s
nutrition, sleep, exercise and stress. This data will be compiled by Dr. Wells’ team at the University of Toronto for a larger research study on the impact of health education programs in schools. The goal is to provide the Crescent community with the latest scientific information on how to sleep soundly, eat smarter, move more and think clearly, which all work together to optimize health and wellbeing.
Signs of Health and Wellbeing at Crescent • Colour-coded menus in the Dining Hall encourage healthy food choices • Lunch menus emphasize high fibre, lean protein, fresh fruit and vegetables, while limiting sugary and salty foods • A walking club encourages faculty and staff to enjoy fresh air and exercise on campus • New after-school soccer games offer a fun way to get active for faculty, staff and Upper School boys
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Student Financial Aid Supporting excellence at Crescent School
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ach year, the Crescent community is enriched by the presence of exceptional and deserving Boys of Promise whose education here is made possible through Student Financial Aid. By putting Crescent within reach of outstanding boys, the generous donors to the Student Financial Aid program are also investing in Crescent’s future.
By making Crescent affordable for more deserving boys, the Student Financial Aid program helps the School better reflect the Toronto of today. This builds a community of excellence that benefits all Crescent boys, with a richer educational experience that includes diverse perspectives and experiences. Supporters of Student Financial Aid know that the program makes a lifechanging difference for the boys who receive it. “I wish every donor could see families’ faces light up when they find out a Crescent education is available to them,” says David Shaw, Director of Enrolment and Financial Aid at Crescent School. “These boys have tremendous potential and they don’t take their opportunities for granted.” Recognizing how important it is to make Crescent accessible to exceptional boys who could not afford it otherwise, the School has identified the expansion of Student Financial Aid as an objective in the new Strategic Plan. If you have questions about Student Financial Aid eligibility, contact David Shaw, Director, Enrolment and Financial Aid, at dshaw@crescentschool.org or 416-449-2556 ext. 228. To support the Student Financial Aid program, contact Jill Cannon P’23, ’25, Director of Advancement, at jcannon@crescentschool.org or 416-449-2556 ext. 276.
BY ALUMNI
Making a Difference Here's what some Student Financial Aid recipients have told us: “Thank you for believing that I can do well at Crescent. I am thankful that you see the potential in me that many did not see. I will do my very best to make you and Crescent proud of me.” “Thank you for your generous donation that has allowed me to attend Crescent School over the past five years. I am so lucky to have been able to attend such an outstanding school and I do not ever take it for granted. I will continue to be diligent in my efforts to be deserving of your support.” “I feel honoured to be the recipient of your bursary and will work hard to be deserving of this support. Thank you for giving me a Crescent education. It is changing my life.”
FOR ALUMNI
Share the Crescent experience and support personal growth You know how important Crescent School was to you. It nurtured your growth into the Man of Character you are today. Now you can help more boys grow into their best selves. Your donation to By Alumni For Alumni will provide needs-based financial aid to extraordinary boys, with a preference for sons of alumni.
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Donate today: crescentschool.org/alumnigiving
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Message from the Chair of the Alumni Executive The strong bonds of the alumni brotherhood
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s alumni, we know that the benefits of a Crescent education last far beyond graduation. The Crescent brotherhood is an active, supportive community that is there for us throughout our lives. Our Crescent alumni mission states our purpose clearly: to foster sustained and meaningful relationships for alumni with Crescent School and their fellow graduates through events, giving back and continuing education. We offer specific programs that are tailored to engage alumni at key points in their careers. I’m very proud of how many alumni are sharing their experience through our professional mentoring program and offering opportunities to young alumni through the Alumni Internship Program.
I’m also proud of our new University Mentoring Program, which supports our youngest alumni at one of the most pivotal periods of their lives. It pairs new Crescent grads with alumni at university to help ease the transition to life after Crescent. This program got off to a successful start this summer. Our goal is to have over half of the Class of 2016 paired with a mentor by next May. Past and Present
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It’s particularly exciting to see our alumni at university step up to mentor their younger Crescent brothers. It’s a great leadership opportunity for these young men, as well as a beneficial service for the new Crescent grads. Many thanks to all the mentors involved so far, to our partners in Crescent’s University Counselling Office, and to Robbie Mitchnick ’09 who is the Chair of the Mentoring Program. Robbie is one of the four new members on the Alumni Executive. He is joined by George Gleeson ’08, Chris van de Water ’99 and Chris Hunt ’95, P’25. Their new ideas and energy are already having an impact, taking us further along the road that previous Alumni Executive members mapped out.
Two Alumni Executive members have reached the end of their terms. We say good-bye to Jason Steel ’93 and Hessam Ghadaki ’99. Thank you both for sharing your enthusiasm and expertise with us. When you read Crescent School’s new Strategic Plan, you’ll see that one of its objectives is to engage more alumni in the School’s good works by strengthening existing alumni programs and adding new initiatives. I think you’ll agree that we are already off to a good start. I encourage you to continue to get involved so that our Crescent brotherhood can continue to enrich your life and the lives of other alumni. Rob Watt ’85, P’14 Chair, Crescent Alumni Executive
Crescent Alumni Executive 2015/2016 Chair Rob Watt ’85, P’14
Board Members Ryan Bell ’98 Bruce Burgess ’57 Jamie Coulter ’87, P’21 Andrew Day ’80 George Gleeson ’08
Chris Hunt ’95, P’25 Jamie Lougheed ’87, P’18 Jay Mansoor ’92 Robbie Mitchnick ’09 Myles Slocombe ’92
Tim Usher-Jones ’01 Chris van de Water ’99 Tim Watson ’01
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Back on Campus Some alumni still come to Crescent School every day – as teachers
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rescent School proudly counts five alumni among its faculty. We asked Don Haag ’86, Jeff Barton ’91, Ryan Bell ’98, Charlie Mills ’99 and Tim Martin ’07 what’s changed and what hasn’t since they were Boys of Promise.
Who was your favourite teacher when you were a student? “I loved Bill Pedoe’s passion for English and his attempt to get adolescent boys excited about poetry by listening to music and seeing poetry in song lyrics. Also Steve Davies. I still have the notes from his World Religions class and he was my hockey coach too. I remember him throwing a baseball around with me at lunch when I was a new kid in Grade 9.” — Don Haag
“Ross MacDonald and Doug Smith were like fathers to me. Also Hugh Walters, my phys-ed teacher. He taught me a lot about life.” Tim Martin ’07, Middle School Faculty; Charlie Mills ’99, Middle School Faculty; Ryan Bell ’98, Assistant Head of Lower School; Jeff Barton ’91, Lower School Faculty; Don Haag ’86, Director of University Counselling
What is the best thing about teaching at Crescent School? “Great faculty, great facilities and great students I have enjoyed working with over the past 15 years.” — Don Haag
“The kids – their love of learning and enthusiasm. And it’s great to be able see your former students doing well when they move up to the Middle and Upper Schools.”
— Ryan Bell
“Being part of a great team of supportive teachers and students.”
“The best thing for me is the great colleagues that I get to work with. They are all committed to helping the boys to be their best and they are incredibly supportive of both the students and their fellow teachers.”
— Tim Martin
— Charlie Mills
— Jeff Barton
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“Being able to work with so many great students, teachers, parents and friends is what makes working at Crescent one of my favourite things in life. The relationships are what fuel this strong community and differentiate Crescent from a lot of other places of work.”
— Jeff Barton
“So many teachers showed that they cared in so many ways. I had too many good teachers to choose just one. (Also, I still work with many of them so I don’t want them to throw anything at me in the lunchroom.)” — Ryan Bell
“I had so many great teachers that it is difficult to pick one. In the Lower School, Doug Smith had a huge impact on me. He was tough at times but I always knew that he had my back and was looking out for me.” — Charlie Mills
“Tough to say. There were many at various stages including Paul Craig, Rob Cranston, John Nicolucci, Graham Steele and many others.” — Tim Martin
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What has changed the most since you were a student? “The obvious changes in technology. I remember working on a Commodore Pet 64 with big 5-inch floppy disks.”
— Don Haag
“The improved facilities. Also, the number of female faculty. There was only one woman on the teaching staff when I was a student.”
— Jeff Barton
Don Haag ’86
Jeff Barton ’91
“The facilities were already fantastic, but they are now out of this world. Since my graduating year, the Science and Tech Wing, Centre for Creative Learning, Lau Family Wing, Field House, Margaret Donnelly Library, Innes Field, Latifi Family Commons and the new Middle and Upper School Library have all been added to this great site.”
“The number of facilities available to the students has grown to a great extent since I graduated. There are almost too many additions to list. It is quite impressive.” — Charlie Mills
“So many new buildings!”
— Tim Martin
— Ryan Bell
Ryan Bell ’98
What hasn’t changed? “The camaraderie in the student body, the caring faculty, the strong school leadership and the close connection between staff and students.”
— Don Haag
Charlie Mills ’99
Tim Martin ’07
At age 15, what would you have said if someone told you that you’d be teaching at Crescent someday? “Not a chance! Becoming a teacher wasn’t on my radar screen until much later.” — Don Haag
“The sense of brotherhood and the pride in the green. The strong sense of family too. Everyone cares about everyone here.”
— Jeff Barton
“Although the site and facilities have changed, people continue to be the cornerstone by which all things Crescent are supported. The relationships and sense of community are the essence of this place.”
— Ryan Bell
“Crescent still has really great teachers who are willing to support the students. Some of the teachers I had are still here and it is really amazing to walk the halls with them as a colleague. I think that the feeling of community is quite the same, and the relationships between the teachers and students are the key to this.”
— Charlie Mills
“The supportive teachers.”
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“No, I was going to be a cop. Then I got a job as a camp counsellor and by age 17 I knew I wanted to be a teacher.” — Jeff Barton
“Not a chance. I was obviously going to be on TV playing in the NHL. Right? But I always had a burning desire to work in education and affect the lives of young people. I’m so glad that I found my way back to Crescent in this capacity.” — Ryan Bell
“When I was 15 I didn’t know what I would be doing in six months, let alone 18 years down the road. Looking back, I probably would have said that anything is possible.” — Charlie Mills
“Nope! I might be teaching in Nunavut though.” — Tim Martin
— Tim Martin
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From the Archives
1989: Dave Budden observes a long jump
1956 Sports Day
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ommunity Day, Coyote Kickoff, Sports Day – while the name has changed, Crescent’s tradition of building character through athletics has endured. Crescent boys have enjoyed an annual celebration of athletics and camaraderie for more than 100 years.
1954: Doug Kennedy ’57
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1950s: Jamie Smart
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1980s Sports Day
1963: Chair of the Board Hugh Lumsden and his son Neil Lumsden ’71
We are always happy to discover more Crescent memorabilia. Contact us at alumni@crescentschool.org or 416-449-2556 ext. 260 if you have vintage Crescent photos and keepsakes you’d like to donate to our archives.
1989: Sports Day
Past and Present
1970s: Christopher Gordon with student
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Alumnus of the Year: Peter Lalor ’92
Alumni
Profile
“The young men who come to Blue Rock to work will experience some of the diversity I found when I moved to Toronto, and that will make them more rounded in life,” says Lalor. “I feel a great sense of satisfaction that I can give back in this way.” Lalor became a Crescent boy in Grade 9, after his family emigrated from Australia. “Crescent really made me the man I am today,” says Lalor. “I was new in the country and to be quite honest, very lost. Everyone at Crescent really made me feel welcome. It wasn’t long before I felt like an honorary Canadian.” After returning to Australia after graduation, Lalor earned a commerce degree from the University of Melbourne. He worked at PwC and Grant Thornton before co-founding Blue Rock Group in 2008. Peter Lalor '92 (second from right) with three young alumni at Blue Rock: Chris Galt '09, Matt Berger '13 and Stefan Losberg '13.
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he Alumnus of the Year Award is given to alumni of whom Crescent is particularly proud. The award honours alumni for their exceptional personal and professional accomplishments and volunteer service to Crescent School.
As the 2015 Alumnus of the Year, Peter Lalor ’92 proves that the bonds of the Crescent brotherhood stretch far. In his case, they stretch all the way to Australia. Through the Alumni Internship Program, Lalor has provided work experience to five young Crescent alumni at Blue Rock Group, the professional services firm
he co-founded in Melbourne. One of them, Chris Galt ’09, made such a great impression at Blue Rock that he was hired there full time. The value of an internship in a different country extends beyond work experience, says Lalor.
“The most rewarding part of my job is helping business owners be successful,” says Lalor. “The biggest challenge I face is growth. The business is growing quickly and we’re striving to keep the culture that made the firm so much fun when we started.” In addition to Blue Rock Group, Lalor runs a large hospitality business and a fast food chain called Mr. Burger. Lalor balances the demands of his work with his family life. He and his wife Jantina have four young boys (including twins).
Crescent Memories “One of the first things I noticed was that the French classes were entirely in French. This was obviously very difficult for an Aussie! I had some wonderful times at Crescent including the rugby tour of Wales and England with all my schoolmates and Dr. Atkinson. And I thoroughly enjoyed English and history classes with Mr. Pedoe and Mr. Roberts.” — Peter Lalor ’92
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Alumni Events Dentonia Luncheon It is always a privilege to host our most venerable Men of Character as part of the annual Alumni Weekend. On May 8, we welcomed 23 alumni who attended Crescent between 1938 and 1975, when it was located at Dentonia Park.
Standing L-R: David Kirkland ’75, Dick Howard (retired faculty), Robert Vogel ’79, Peter Corolis ’75, Bruce Burgess ’57, Bruce Boyle ’61, Hugh Thom ’58, Robin Beamish ’61, Adam Hermant ’61, Richard Wise ’41, John Cernik ’54, Cameron Anspach ’59, Doug Kennedy ’57, Gordon Pritchard ’53, John Porter ’54. Seated L-R: George Gardiner ’64, William Greer ’37, Fred Gaby ’75, David Young ’64, Thomas Symons ’39, Marc Joliat ’52, Fred May ’53, Edward Saunders ’37.
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Alumni Leadership Dinner More than 20 past Head Boys and Alumni Executive chairs joined current Alumni Executive members on May 6 for the annual Alumni Leadership Dinner. Headmaster Michael Fellin P’24 and Alumni Executive Chair Rob Watt ’85, P’14 welcomed the alumni back to campus and thanked them for their leadership.
New York City Branch Reception Men of Character in New York City gathered on May 14 for a reception hosted by Brit Osler ’81. The 2014 Alumnus of the Year Award was presented to Dave Thom ’92 at the event by Headmaster Michael Fellin P’24.
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Canadian University Lunch & Learn Some young alumni were at Crescent School on October 9 to share their university advice with Upper School boys (who were showing their Blue Jays spirit for a special casual day). The mentoring event was arranged by Crescent’s University Counselling and Alumni Relations offices. A similar lunch event with alumni studying at American colleges takes place in November.
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Halifax Branch Reception Young alumni studying at Dalhousie and King’s College got together on October 15 at the second annual Halifax Branch Reception. Headmaster Michael Fellin P’24 and staff members Don Haag ’86, John Lynch P’16, ’18 and Kathryn Foster enjoyed reconnecting with the alumni who attended.
Alumni Reunion Events Friday, May 6, 2016
ALUMNI
• Grade 12 ‘Welcome to the Alumni’ Breakfast 7:30 - 8:15 a.m. • Dentonia Luncheon
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
• Friday Night Lights: Rugby
AT CRESCENT SCHOOL
Saturday, May 7, 2016
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Crescent D1 vs Appleby College 7 p.m.
• Class of 1991 25th Reunion Celebration
6 - 7 p.m.
• Alumni Reunion
7 - 9 p.m.
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7 TO 9 P.M. HONOURING THE CLASSES OF
1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011
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Life After Crescent 1980s Body Team 12, a RYOT Films documentary about the Ebola outbreak co-produced by Gareth Seltzer ’80, won the “Best Documentary Short” prize at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival. Donald Wright ’84 has published Donald Creighton: A Life in History. Published by the University of Toronto Press, it is a biography of the eminent and influential Canadian historian. Don Wright lives in Fredericton where he teaches at the University of New Brunswick. Peter Aceto ’87, P’21, ’23, President and CEO of Tangerine Bank, shares his strategies for people-first business success in his new book, Weology.
1990s On June 9, 2015, Patrick Osler ’96 and his wife Erin welcomed their second son, Frederick William Osler (Freddie), a brother for Burke. It’s been a busy summer at the Osler household, but everyone is happy, healthy and sleeping a little bit. 1
2 Hlynur Georgsson ’96 married Ipek Sanal in his homeland of Reykjavik, Iceland in August 2015. Hlynur is a doctor in Washington, D.C. Fellow Crescent alumni Tom Vandewater ’97,
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Andrew Por ’96 and Paul Bryant ’96 attended his wedding. 3 Wow! Chris van de Water ’99 successfully completed Ironman Mont Tremblant in August 2015, finishing in an extraordinary nine hours and 15 minutes (52-minute swim, five-hour bike, 3.25-hour marathon). This qualified him for the Kona Ironman Championships in October.
2000s 4 Rob Shih ’02 married Ling Chen in August 2015 in the Formal Garden at Crescent School. Fellow Crescent alumni Graham Markham ’02, Mike Fong ’02, Cory Tanaka ’02 and Ron Shih ’95 were in attendance. 5 There were lots of Crescent faces at the Team Innes fundraiser for the Ride to Conquer Cancer fundraiser at the Miller Tavern in May 2015. Among the alumni, families and staff were former Headmaster Geoff Roberts and (now retired) executive assistant Carmela Casuccio.
Jay Wong ’04 is nearing the end of his surgical residency in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at McMaster University. He hopes to spend some time visiting medical electives in various parts of the world to broaden his horizons in the near future.
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6 Jeff Hong ’05 recently graduated from the Yale School of Management with an MBA. He served in a variety of mentorship and leadership positions at Yale, including admissions, the media and entertainment club, and as the head graduate affiliate for one of Yale’s undergraduate colleges. He and Stan Nikiforov '05 started a company called Bite (getabite.co) and he is funded by the Yale Entrepreneurial Institute.
Ted Livingston ’05 spoke at the University of Waterloo’s Velocity event in October 2015. He told the story of how he grew Kik, a messaging app for smart phones, into a billion-dollar company. His audience included Jordan Grant ’14, Nick Haughton ’14 and Max Liu ’15, as well as Crescent faculty members Shawn Lim and David Grant. 7
Nick Warwick ’06 earned a BA (Honours) in economics from Queen’s University in 2010. He then spent four years at TD Securities while completing all three levels of the CFA program. This summer, between his first and second year of the Rotman MBA program, he worked at TD Asset Management – but the highlight of his summer was when the love of his life, Stephanie Morris, said “yes” to his marriage proposal. They plan to get married next summer.
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Jonathon Ward ’07 graduated from the University of Calgary’s law school in 2015 and is now articling at DLA Piper LLP in Calgary. He wants to practise in the areas of bankruptcy and insolvency and general commercial litigation. This fall, Jonathon went on exchange to Graz, Austria, which he recommends highly to anyone in their post-secondary studies.
2010s Rafi Husain ’10 graduated with a medical degree (MBBCh) from the University of Sheffield, England in July 2015. Rafi is currently doing a House Job (first year residency) in trauma surgery at the Royal London Hospital, which is part of the St. Barthlomew Trust. 8
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Chris Pitfield ’12 spent another summer working for David Thom ’92 at LeFrak in New York City. Chris secured the position through the Alumni Internship Program. Austin Stein ’13 is studying abroad at Bog˘aziçi University in Istanbul, as part the concurrent education program at Queen’s University. Austin hopes to gain new historical perspectives during his exchange and experience everything that makes the school and Turkish culture unique. Jake Fisher ’14 and Taran Ravindran ’14 are working as mechatronics engineering interns at Voxel8, a 3D-printing startup in Boston. This is their second job placement as part of the University of Waterloo co-op program. When they graduate, Jake hopes to continue working in the robotics field and Taran wants to work in product design.
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Stay Connected Send us an update on your life after Crescent! Email Kathryn Foster at kfoster@crescentschool.org Share your stories on Facebook and Twitter! facebook.com/CrescentSchoolAlumni
@CrescentAlums
Keep in touch with alumni news! Update your contact information at alumni.crescentschool.org
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In Memoriam Frederick W. Thompson P’79 The Crescent community was saddened to learn of the passing of Crescent past parent, grandparent and generous benefactor Frederick W. Thompson on August 25, 2015, at age 89. He was the proud father of alumnus Chuck Thompson ’79 and grandfather of David ’00 and Michael ’00. A successful businessman and generous philanthropist, Mr. Thompson’s passion for life included golf, the stock market and watching sports. His extraordinary generosity touched many lives, not only his family but the numerous individuals who crossed his path. We were very fortunate to have had Mr. Thompson as a member of the Crescent community, as a parent, grandparent and a significant supporter of Student Financial Aid. The Frederick W. Thompson Family Bursary is a lasting legacy of his philanthropy and dedication to deserving Boys of Promise who, without needs-based financial aid, would not be able to experience a Crescent School education. Mr. Thompson’s most important legacy is his family. By all accounts, he lived his life to the fullest and he will always serve as an outstanding example of a Crescent parent and grandparent. Crescent School is honoured to be associated with Frederick W. Thompson’s name and memory. Crescent extends its condolences and profound thanks to the entire Thompson family for his philanthropic leadership to the students in our community.
David Lash ’85
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We were saddened to learn of the passing of Crescent alumnus David Lash ’85 and his father and past parent Tony Lash on July 11, 2015 in Muskoka. David was last at Crescent School for the Alumni Reunion Weekend in May 2015 where he, along with the fellow members of the Class of 1985, celebrated their 30th high school reunion. David remained close to many of his Class of 1985 classmates and it came as a great shock to the alumni community to hear of his death. Dave had a wide array of close friends, whether from Toronto, Muskoka or Collingwood. An avid fisherman, hunter, golfer and skier, Dave will be remembered as a kind and generous friend to all who loved him. He was a compassionate listener, a prolific storyteller, and always the first to laugh…even at himself. His greatest joy in life was his daughter, Samantha, who he adored and of whom he was immensely proud. He took enormous pleasure in all of her many accomplishments, be it on the ski hill or in the classroom. Crescent was lucky to have a great Man of Character like David as a part of the close alumni community. The School extends its deepest condolences to David’s family and all of his friends. 34
Crescent School
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Since 1913
Where the Class of 2015 is Now The future is filled with possibility for our 86 newest Men of Character
Geomatics Arts / Social Science
3
1 2
Dentistry Film Studies
1 1
Computer Science Gap Year
24
8
4
Veterinary Medicine
Kinesiology
Music
1
Business
19 Fashion Design
7
10
1 Architecture
1
Science
3
Pre-Med Programs
Engineering
Canada Acadia University Dalhousie University Guelph University McGill University Queen’s University University of King's College University of Toronto University of Victoria University of Waterloo Western University Wilfrid Laurier University York University (Glendon College) Past and Present
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Fall 2015
United States Berklee School of Music Brown University Carnegie Mellon University Danton Junior College Parsons School of Design Pratt Institute University of Miami University of Pennsylvania University of Santa Clara University of Southern California
Ireland and United Kingdom London School of Economics Queen Mary University of London Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland University of Glasgow University of St. Andrew’s 35
Lowndes’ Last Word Professional Growth: From Novice to Mastery
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s many of you will know, I’m very proud of our teachers. I’m engaged by their work and I’m curious to hear how they think about their craft. I’ve been asking some pointed questions over the past few weeks. A sample response: “Teachers who consciously choose to stay in the classroom for their careers, and I think that covers most of us at Crescent, need to be highly self-motivated people. Each year, I look for ways to do things a little differently and, I hope, better. I know that I’m a better teacher now than I was a couple of years ago.” In this instance, I was talking with a colleague, a “mid-career” teacher – recognized by peers, boys and parents as excellent – about how he saw himself at this point in his career at Crescent. I asked him to be specific: “Well, I’ve been talking to a colleague and I’m trying to use some of her practice in my subject. Now, instead of putting all my energy into my classroom performance, I put in the energy around the classroom, setting up the circumstances, so that, as she puts it, I can get out of the way as much as possible during the actual class time and let the boys learn.” I’m especially curious about how teachers continue to grow, and a couple of things interest me particularly in this conversation: first and most basic is the simple restlessness, the itch to do it differently. Second is the importance of curiosity and collaboration, of teachers sharing ideas about their craft. And third is the willingness to take risks, to try something different, even though they’re already recognized for being very good at what they do.
Supporting our teachers’ desire to be great It’s clear from my conversations, though not surprising, that our teachers think hard about their practice and continually 36
strive to get better. They see themselves as lifelong learners; it’s why they sought out a career in education. As I said, I’ve been having these conversations a lot since the start of term, my interest rekindled by some provocative new research: an IBSC (International Boys’ Schools Coalition) sponsored report in which Crescent participated. The project examines mastery in teaching in boys’ schools in North America, Australia and the U.K. over two years, and has just been released in draft form. The authors assert that there is no “secret sauce” or “magic bullet,” no list of best practices that will automatically give rise to mastery. Rather, the paper positions relational teaching as a foundational condition for developing mastery and makes the claim for the continual honing of situational judgment, which is “the capacity to make good choices about what to do and how to
proceed in the midst of challenging circumstances,” as being at the heart of mastery of practice in teaching. The report is compelling and builds on a great deal of previous work in the field. We are committed to supporting our teachers’ desire to be great. Our task is to provide the most effective structure and appropriate resources to support their thirst for continual growth. We need to design a purposeful continuum throughout the stages of their career journey from novice to mastery, as they continually hone their situational judgment. How can we encourage, enrich and, if possible, accelerate their progress toward mastery of practice? This question will serve as the focus for our work over the coming months and years. I find the work inspiring; I know my colleagues share my exhilaration and commitment. — Colin Lowndes Deputy Headmaster
Crescent School
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Since 1913