The
ELMWOOD EMBLEM Winter 2014 | Volume 6 | Issue 2
IN THIS ISSUE:
Winterim
Giving Back
Teaching the International Baccalaureate Programme By Meagan Enticknap-Smith People often ask, “What is the difference between being a teacher at an IB school versus teaching in a school that doesn’t have the IB?” Answering this question without using too many acronyms or drowning people in educational jargon can be difficult. This statement from a book called, “Learning in the Global Era” captures the role that teachers in an IB school like Elmwood play: “Preparing students to thrive as members of world societies calls for teachers who view themselves as brokers between children and their rapidly changing environments—not mere conveyors of certified information.” (Boix Mansilla and Gardner, 2007.) If teachers view themselves simply as conveyers of information—delivering a set of learning objectives that have been given to them by the governing body of the school—then at best it can be hoped that students will progress in their understanding of those
particular learning objectives and demonstrate proficiency at appropriate times. Not to say that this is a simple feat though—it involves a great deal of work on behalf of both the teacher and the student. The teacher to plan and deliver the curriculum, and the student to learn and demonstrate understanding of this ‘certified information.’ However, if teachers also recognise their role in the classroom as being an intermediary between the student and their rapidly changing environment, then the learning environment becomes a much more dynamic place. A place where the student has voice and agency, where horizontal connections between knowledge and different subject areas are made, where questions are asked and where learning skills, such as critical and creative thinking, are developed. In an IB classroom errors are welcomed—learning can only oc-
Cissy, Igone and Alicia portray their “Power of One” subjects.
cur when there is an “unknown”— that is, something to be learned. Teachers at Elmwood create environments where mistakes are welcomed and are a vital part of the learning process. The exploration of genuine questions brings about debate that leads to real-life situations and authentic problem solving. This allows students to make meaningful, personal connections to the learning. It is now accepted that emotion, motivation, emotion and cognition are inextricably intertwined (The Nature of Learning, Using Research to Inspire Practice, OECD, 2010) and all IB teachers aim to build social significance and personal connections into their lessons. IB teachers recognise that
Sports Updates
From the Editor The first half of the 2013 – 2014 school year has been fantastic! We hope you enjoy seeing the events, activities, achievements and inspiring stories from the past few months. We welcome your comments and feedback on our newsletter, so please feel free to email your thoughts to tstirling@elmwood.ca. they are more than conveyors of information—they are preparing students to have the capacity to continuously learn and apply new knowledge and skills in meaningful ways—these are truly the competencies and habits of mind that are essential for success.
The Power of One By Jenika Adolph The first Unit of Inquiry in the Grade 3 Primary Years Programme was entitled “The Power of One.” The central idea of this unit was that individuals can make many different contributions to society, which have a long-lasting impact. Students learned about people who have made a difference in our own communities and around the world. They were inspired by people who fought for equality like Malala Yousafzai. They were motivated by athletes such as Jennifer Heil, and encouraged by scientists like Frederick Banting. As a culminating task, students chose their own individual to research. They found evidence to show how their person had made a impact on society and created a slideshow to
present their findings to an audience. The Grade 3 girls were very moved by these “Power of One” individuals. They thought about ways that they could make a difference in their own home, school, community and world. They shared these inspirations in a creative piece entitled “The Power in Me.” Since the Unit, many girls have taken on leadership roles in organizing activities, clubs and fundraisers around the Elmwood community. Students across all grade levels have raised money for Free The Children, the Humane Society of Ottawa and CHEO. Taking action is a crucial part of the learning process and the Grade 3 girls are certainly finding their own unique ways to make a difference.
Another Wonderful Winterim! Now in its third year, Elmwood’s two-day experiential education program—better known as Winterim—saw students and faculty coming together for exciting and enriching activities that went beyond the boundaries of our traditional curriculum. During Winterim, each student from Grade 3 to 12 was challenged to explore her creative, intellectual, physical or leadership potential, and from all reports, had a fantastic time doing so. Read on for a small sampling of programmes on offer this year.
Dining with the Gods II By Beth Ellison From Farm to Table By Alyson Bartlett Experiencing the ancient Roman world through its cooking was the goal of this Winterim offering. Students were excited to use ancient recipes, taken from Roman chefs like Apicius, to create a delicious feast! We began by learning about the ingredients Romans had access to in their daily cooking, and how the Roman diet was incredibly healthy. Then it was time to roll up our sleeves and start cooking! The first dish the girls prepared was Tyrotarichum (Roman egg pie, rather like quiche), which, instead of having a pastry crust, was cooked in grape leaves (making it very low-carb!). They went on to make Pullus Parthiorum (Parthian Chicken), blending spices into a tangy sauce in which the poultry was slowly baked. Next, they made Piscis et Olera—salmon baked in a sauce of spices, balsamic vinegar and clams. The vegetable dish was Carotae Pastinacaeque, where root vegetables were cooked in a broth with parsley, raisins and balsamic vinegar. The dessert was Dulces Oplontis in Placenta, dried fruits prepared in yogurt, soft cheese and honey served wrapped in a sweet pastry. The highlight of the meal was the authentic Roman bread, cooked with spelt flower in round pans, just as the Romans did! While the dishes cooked throughout the afternoon, the students worked to make pottery, following shapes and styles popular in ancient Rome. On the second day, they created a Roman dining space, or triclinium, where the diners could recline while they ate. And no Roman feast would be complete without authentic ancient costumes (loaned by the Classics Club, whose students hand-made each one)! The students created a wonderful Roman banquet and were able to take samples home to their families. In the process, they learned about nutrition, as well as similarities between ancient and modern food tastes. It was an excellent experience for all of us to be a part of, and we were very proud of the tasty results! Leah prepares the Tyrotarichum.
Camille, Addison and Saskia warm up by the fire after a cold winter hike.
The Winterim activity From Farm to Table was a magical experience. Ms. Chun, 15 students (Grades 6 to 9) and I travelled to Plantagenet, Ontario about an hour east of Ottawa. Farmer Ian greeted us with a big smile. He told us that hot chocolate and sweets were set out for us in the pavilion, but that we needed to eat and drink quickly because Yoga and the farm chores were anxiously waiting. After our snack, Ian split us into two groups. One group went with him to muck out the barn, feed the pigs and spread the hay, while the rest of us went with his partner Suzanne to milk Yoga, the cow. After farm chores and learning about milking a cow, we toured the farm and then enjoyed a farm fresh lunch. After lunch, we learned about making butter and then planted organic micro greens that are presently growing in the sunshine of the Elmwood art room. Day two started in much the same way, but by now we were familiar with the farm and were starting to feel like real farmers. After chores, on this very cold day, we went for a hike to a beautiful cabin in the woods, where we learned about trees, the history of the farm and how to make bannock over an open fire using only sticks and batter. By the time we got back to the pavilion, we were cold and ready for lunch—another great meal! With full stomachs and warmer feet, we spent the afternoon with Suzanne learning all about cheese production. We sampled sheep’s milk, goat’s milk and cow’s milk cheese. Yummiest of all, we learned how to make fresh cheese curds and then got to eat them—an experience for sure! Although not everyone on the trip was convinced to become farmers, I do think we all have a better appreciation for where our food comes from, and the importance of eating locally grown food.
Pop Song School By Russell Martin
Leen, Katherine and Jacqueline get ready to lay down their vocal tracks.
Mr. Gummeson’s music room was transformed. The floor was a spidery mess of cables. Components with a mindboggling array of buttons and knobs perched atop tables and stands. Gigspace studio engineers scurried around expertly placing mics, adjusting levels and offering encouraging words. Headphone clad singers stood nervously in front of microphones waiting for their signal to start. It was an impressive scene. For our two Winterim days in January, Mr. G’s room had become ‘Elmwood School Studios,’ and the home of Elmwood’s first ever Pop Song School! The plan was simple. Guide a group of musically minded students through the steps of creating and recording an original pop song. It would
Carine warms up for her recording session.
be done collaboratively and democratically, and with any luck successfully, while having a whole lot of fun. The twelve participating girls were divided into three groups. These groups chose favourite songs to analyze and then a beat and tempo to emulate. Step two required each group (armed with an iPad and the Garageband app) to work on a 2–4 note bass line. So far all went according to plan. It was during step three that our simple plan took on complexity. Differing creative visions conflicted when the groups were given the task of writing lyrics and a melody line. Our three groups splintered into five and instead of creating one song collectively, five separate projects began to take shape. The girls worked hard writing, refining their melodies and lyrics over the remainder of day one and the first half of day two. What emerged were five unique and impressive works. Carine recorded a beautiful swing jazz cover of “Misty.” Jackie, Charlotte and Aya wrote an upbeat summer party jam. Two groups, one with Jacqueline, Katherine and Leen and the other with Alex, Spruha, Koyuki and Keiren created very catchy rock pop anthems of strength and defiance. And last but not least was Sarah's beautiful acoustic ballad. Elmwood School’s first ever Pop Song School was a resounding success!
Shutterbugs! By Allison Holmes “Wait! Stop! I need your eyeball,” Sophia Avisar shouted, dashing through the school collecting photographs of students’ and teachers’ eyes. It was a startling request that quickly became the Shutterbugs’ defining comment, as it made us laugh and think about the wonders of what we see and how we capture an image in pixels. The Shutterbugs Winterim 2014 activity was designed for the budding photographer who wanted to learn to take a good picture, but also understand how a camera works to capture and freeze a moment in time. Shutterbugs participants eagerly began their first day of Winterim by assembling their own Bigshot cameras. This camera, first designed for children in developing countries, has become a popular addition to many school curriculums that focus on hands-on learning. The Bigshot camera has a battery that can be charged by plugging
Right: The girls assembled their Bigshot cameras from scratch! Below: Jacqueline explores how the morning light through the stained glass makes a great close-up shot.
it into a computer but in a pinch, photographers can also use its hand-crank battery. After carefully fitting gears together and securing the lens wheel and flash, the Shutterbugs were able to take regular, panoramic and even 3D images with their cameras. Students learned about how each of the different lenses work, while at the same time learning to frame and capture a perfect image. Once the cameras were assembled and ready to use, the 13 Shutterbugs could be seen walking Elmwood’s halls looking for people and objects to serve as subjects before returning to upload and edit their images. From the images they produced, it quickly became clear that Elmwood has a team of talented amateur photographers. Ansel Adams once said, “You don't take a photograph, you make it.” At Winterim 2014, 13 students learned how to make excellent photographs.
Mrs. Boughton, Mrs. Marchand, Ms. Walsh and the Grade 10 Civics class deliver the Holiday Hampers to the Rideau-Rockcliffe CRC.
Giving Back By Jen Walsh
Elmwood School is an institution that values community service, both local and international, and we try to encourage our students to seek out opportunities to volunteer in our community. This year, we have developed an ongoing partnership with the local Rockcliffe-Rideau Community Resource Centre. The Centre, which is located on Donald Street, services a large population within our community. They provide various services, including tutoring programs, an
emergency food program, youth programs, a young women’s group, and parent-child drop ins. Throughout the fall, we have partnered with the Centre to run events and collect items for donation. The first major event was the UnFashion Fashion Show, which took place in November. A number of our students, lead by Community Prefect Celina Gilligan, helped in the organization of the show and volunteered on the night of the show. The Centre also had many of its young women and staff present on the evening of the show as well, which lead to more bonds being formed between Elmwood and the Centre. The UnFash-
ion Fashion Show was held at the culmination of our Annual Warm Clothing and Food Drive, where Elmwood girls were able to collect just over 2000 items, which were then donated to the Centre. Our next initiative was Holiday Hampers. This year, the Centre drew names of individuals and families who were in need of a hamper. Homerooms and SLGs from the whole school made up hampers, which were donated to the Centre. Ms. Walsh’s Grade 10 Civics students delivered the hampers in December, and were extremely grateful to be able to see their donations go directly to people in need.
Most recently, we held a toiletries drive. As part of a grade competition, students were encouraged to bring in toiletry items for the Centre. These small things can make a huge difference to someone who needs them. We were able to collect almost 500 items to donate. Elmwood will continue its partnership with Rideau-Rockcliffe. There are many opportunities for students to volunteer and to be involved in various aspects of the Centre, including in the summer. If students are interested, please contact Ms. Walsh, who will be able to put you in touch with the volunteer coordinator.
Mythical Madness
By Madighan Ryan, Grade 4 During the Grade 4’s unit Myths and Legends, we performed short Greek myths called Mythical Madness in front of our parents. We performed in English and in French with our groups. There were nine short plays in total so preparing took several weeks. All the Grade 4s did their best in practices and in the performance by showing leadership, contributing ideas, providing tips to other members of their group and being open-minded to new ideas. To conclude Mythical Madness we sang a song about Greek gods and goddesses. We all had a magnificent time performing on stage. To go along with our acting, we made two of our very own mythical creatures. The first creation we made was done on the computer, using a program called Photoshop. Pictures were taken of our heads and we attached images of real animals on the photos. The second creature we made was constructed from plasticine, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes. This mythical creature could be one that had already been invented, like a mermaid or pegasus, or one constructed totally from our imagination. We all tried our hardest but our teachers are the ones who made everything possible.
Ryleigh, Celia and Grace in the myth “The Trojan Horse.”
Winter Wonderland
By Brooke Mierins, Grade 10 The Grade 10 students had the wonderful opportunity of going dogsledding from January 19–22 for our Duke of Edinburgh Programme silver expedition. We loaded on the bus Sunday morning to begin the four and a half hour drive to North Bay, Ontario. After a few snack stops we arrived at our hotel ready to learn the basics of dogsledding. We had a good night’s sleep to prepare us for the three-day adventure, which was our dogsledding trip. When we arrived at the dog yard there were nearly four hundred dogs to greet us with a chorus of barking. The following three days of dogsledding were difficult, yet extremely enjoyable. There were many highs and lows throughout the process of our adventurous journey. One difficulty we encountered was the incredibly cold temperature, ranging from -25° in the day to -45° at night. Despite the cold, we persevered and learned how to choose wood to burn, take care of the dogs and live with minimal resources. We grew closer as a group, through spending every waking and sleeping hour together. The dogsledding trip was an incredible experience, which taught us many new skills and how to live without the luxuries of home.
Quinn and Tessa are ready to mush!
Questions Asked and Answered By Colin Robertson
The girls return from their snowshoe expedition!
A Cold Canadian Classroom By Bethany Fitch, Grade 7
Recently, our Humanities class went to MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre for an educational and fun-filled trip. We just started our unit in Canadian history and figured a great way to start off the unit was with a field trip. The trip was an amazing experience with great activities that we all enjoyed. We played a fun game outside called the Fur Trader game. In this game, we had to collect furs from “Aboriginal villages” and trade in the furs for supplies that we might need later. The teachers who volunteered to come with us played the role of the coureurs de bois. They would run after you through the deep snow and steal your items throughout the game. The game was very active, and a fun and educational way to learn about the fur trade. To finish off our day, we went on a snowshoe hike through the bush. We found animal tracks, learned about pine trees, and how they were used a long time ago, and we were even lucky enough to see a woodpecker. The trip was such a great experience for all of the Grade Seven girls. Thank you so much to Ms. Tweedie, Mrs. Kilbertus, Mr. Martin, and Ms. Walsh who spent their whole day outside in the cold with us. I know we all had a blast!
How does temperature affect the luminescence of a glow stick?! Why does hot water freeze faster than cold water?! These are just a few questions the Grade 7s investigated for Elmwood’s annual Grade 7 Science Fair! The girls worked hard on their experiments and lab reports since November and were excited to showcase their work at the Science Fair on February 27. The girls are also excited at the prospect of attending the Ottawa Regional Science Fair held in April at Carleton University. Last year, Madeleine Klebanoff O'Brien won 1st prize in the Life Sciences category with her outstanding investigation on the Stroop Effect. This year’s Science Fair showcased a variety of projects from a range of scientific disciplines, including psychology, physics, environmental science, chemistry and food sciences! For example, Veronika and Ava learned how different environmental threats affect aquatic plant growth; Grace and Emily worked to identify which fruit conducts electricity the best. The Science Fair is a meaningful learning opportunity for the girls because it challenges them to design and run their own lab, learn how to use new equipment, and express their findings through a proper lab report. Most importantly, it is also a fun experience that allows the girls to develop their communication and collaboration skills.
Saskia and Ashton investigate how temperature affects the glow of a lightstick.
SPORTS
SPORTS
Sports Shorts By Teresa Stirling Elmwood’s Senior School students have been shooting, spiking, serving and scoring goals like crazy this year! After a couple of years without a team, tennis is back in the Senior School! The Senior Tennis Team had a very successful season with a mix of new and experienced players across Grades 9 to 12. The improvement of all the players was excellent and the energy and commitment levels were also high. Commendations to Danielle Humilde and Yilin Wang for playing in the Division A (highest) level and also to Doubles Team Sarah Jackson and Zoe Auclaire for getting the highest number of points for Elmwood: 27 out of a possible 36. The team will reconvene in the spring in preparation for next year’s competitive season. Congratulations to all the players and their coaches. The Senior Cross-Country Team had a great turn out this year with 14 students on the team, nine who were new. Throughout the season the girls trained three mornings a week—their favourite route was along the Ottawa River with the sunrise. They competed in both the NCSSAA qualifying race and championship. The team members enjoyed training so much that they continued to train for several weeks after their final race and are looking forward to a great season next year. The Field Hockey season saw a fantastic team effort with both new and experienced players making excellent progress with the sport. The team was strongly led by Brynley Hanson Wright and Erica Coady, who both constantly encouraged and motivated players around them. Joa Hozhizaki played tirelessly in the center of the field and Amanda Thoo put in some outstanding performances in goal. Though a tough season, the girls managed to qualify for NCSSAA playoffs but were unfortunately eliminated in the first round. The girls should be very proud of all their efforts and achievements this year. Elmwood’s Senior Volleyball Team started off with a big win in their season opener against Hillcrest. The rest of the season was filled with many close matches, and the team narrowly missed scoring a playoff berth. It was really impressive to see the huge improvements in the team, both in individual skills and as a group. Great job Eagles!
Top: The Senior Volleyball team made huge improvements this season. Bottom: Fumi sets the pace of her pack in the NCSSAA Cross-Country championship.
Junior School Swimmers By Brenda Huggins
The Junior School swimmers are off to a great start!
The Junior Swimming Training programme is well underway every Thursday afternoon. Thirty-three eager students in Grades Three, Four, and Five are working hard to develop their competitive swimming skills. The aim of this programme is to introduce the skills of competitive swimming in the hope of generating interest in a life-long activity that promotes total body fitness. Drills that practise the pull, kick, breathing, and coordination of each stroke are part of every session. There is also an endurance component to every practice, and a skill-building session when the swimmers learn and practice the starts and turns used in a competitive race. At the conclusion of the programme, the girls will participate in a swim meet designed to promote friendly competition among the four Houses. The Junior swim programme also seeks to develop the characteristics of the IB Learner Profile and Attitudes in the girls. Participants in this co-curricular activity gain an understanding of how physical activities, such as swimming, contribute to a balanced lifestyle. They also learn the importance of commitment to developing a skill-set and the value of taking risks as they apply what they have learned in practice to competition, perhaps for the first time. Ms. Adolph, Ms. Iwanowski and I are pleased to be working with such an enthusiastic and motivated group of swimmers this season!
SPORTS
SPORTS
Varsity Basketball By Jordan Small
The Varsity Basketball team fought hard all season long.
Winter Sports Extravaganza! By Nadine Kilbertus
With the start of a New Year, the Middle School winter sport season is in full swing with a number of tryouts, games and tournaments in three different sports. The first team to participate in a tournament on January 29 against teams within the OCSB was the 7/8 Futsal team. In the past three years of tournaments, Elmwood has only scored a total of 3 goals. However, this year's team was able to score a total of 8 goals and fought tooth and nail right to the final whistle in each game. “The team showed exceptional ball movement and positioning on the court,” said their coach, Mr. Gummeson. Scores of the day included 4-3 loss to Immaculata, a 3-3 tie against St. Pat’s and a hard fought 3-2 loss to Frank Ryan. The 7/8 Badminton team has been practicing since the beginning of January and played in the first of two tournaments on February 18. Girls played in the Grade 7 singles and doubles categories, as well as the Grade 8 singles and doubles. Their season will start up again in March with a new set of players, playing in the second tournament on April 22. The Grade 5/6 and Grade 7/8 Basketball teams continue working hard on their dribbling, passing and shooting skills. The 5/6 Basketball team won the OISAA tournament held at Turnbull on February 24. The 7/8 Basketball Team began their season in December, with over 25 girls trying out for the team—the highest participation in years. Their coach, Mr. Small commented on the beginning of their season, “We had some excellent opening games against OCS and OJCS, as the girls played against tough zone defenses and were forced to adapt quickly on offense. Each team we have played
Basketball is a sport that requires not only a high degree of fitness but also great mental fortitude. This year Elmwood’s Senior School team exemplified the gritty, courageous spirit of what it means to be a basketball team. On and off the court, our girls always had smiles on their faces and determination in their hearts. This was a young team, comprised mostly of Grade 9 and 10 players, who focused keen attention on building skills and improving their understanding of the sport. Our captain Alycia McIntosh and assistant captains Lauren Rapp and Alex Watson were always there to provide support and guidance throughout the season. Three times a week the sound of shoes hitting the floor and the shouts of teammates communicating with one another filled the Elmwood gym. The girls never left a practice without having worked to their full potential. This translated directly into games, as our team never gave an inch on defense, working hard until the final buzzer of each quarter. There were always smiles on the bench and sweat on the floor. Every girl played an important role in the success of this building year for the team. Some players began the season without a great deal of knowledge for the game and ended the season playing a large amount of minutes on the court. Our Grade 9 point guard never backed down as she matched up against Grade 12 girls from larger Ottawa high schools. Meanwhile our trio of seniors led by example, diving to the floor to grab a loose ball or sinking a clutch buzzer beater to take a tournament game into overtime. We transitioned from hard working match up defenses into zone defenses that relied upon team communication. No matter the challenge the Elmwood team stepped up and played their hardest. Looking ahead to next season, we will miss our Grade 12 players dearly, but will use all we have worked so hard for this season to take us to new heights. has offered a unique challenge, which the girls have met head on.” The team finished their season with a tournament on February 26 at Ashbury, where they won the consolation final. With the winter sport season almost at an end, the coaches and athletes all have these things in common: rising confidence, improved skills and an abundance of school pride!
Leen looks for an opening for a pass.
We’ve Got Spirit!
By Aashna Uppal, Grade 12
Top: Sophia leads a group in song. Inset: The Ottawa Zaffeh Group performs a traditional Lebanese folkloric dance.
International Cultures Night By Jenna Moledina, Grade 11
In late November, one of the most memorable nights at Elmwood School took place. International Cultures Night was an evening where the different cultures represented at Elmwood were shared and celebrated. The night was a tremendous success. It was the planning and preparations prior to the evening that made everything possible. There was a multitude of tasks that needed to be completed, from choosing the music to play during the fashion show, to organizing the different performers that would be present during the evening. The club members and staff supervisors worked remarkably hard from the first meeting at beginning of the school year to make the night one to remember. During the night, there were amazing performances that were done by not only Elmwood students, but also performances by a variety of acts from the Ottawa area. Elmwood students from numerous grades performed extraordinary acts, such as a Bollywood dance, a Martial Arts routine, African drumming and International Fashion Show. During the evening, there were also very entertaining performances by the Ottawa Zaffeh Group, and famous Canadian singer Claudia Salguero. The food was a grand slam, with an assortment of delicious delicacies from around the globe. International Cultures Night 2013 could not have been more of a success!
Coffee House
By Alycia McIntosh, Grade 12 What’s that one night before the winter break that Senior School students look forward to? That’s right! Elmwood’s annual Coffee House. While everyone was getting back into the routine of school in September, the 2014 grad committee was hard at work planning, making posters and filling the school with flyers for a night filled with great music and great memories. On the evening of December 6th, students arrived at Elmwood with friends in tow to see their classmates and peers showcasing their talents along with local Ottawa talent like Keek, Lynne Hanson and Edge to Edge. The auditorium was turned into a winter wonderland and the atrium filled with snacks. There was a great turnout this year and at the end of the night everyone parted ways after an awesome time creating new memories that will surely last a lifetime. (Originally published in the Elmwood Chronicle, Elmwood's student newspaper.)
From Music Monday to Flashforward Friday, Elmwood students displayed their quirky and spirited sense of style the week of January 27. It’s not everyday that you get to see Bob Marley and Sherlock Holmes walking down our school’s halls together. Spirit week has been able to bring out the excitement in the girls during this cold winter. Following the week of Winterim, the students were able to find a creative escape at the beginning of Term 2. Each day’s theme was fairly open ended, so it was interesting to see how the girls interpreted the spirit costumes. We had everything from babies and dinosaurs to 20’s flapper girls on Throwback Thursday, and everything from aliens and robots to zombies on Flashforward Friday. The prefects got the chance to take pictures of each day’s fashions during lunch and admire the creativity of every student. All in all, Spirit Week was phenomenal! We certainly do hope the girls and the faculty have had a splendid time dressing up in ridiculous outfits and temporarily being out of the norm.
Top: Hannah, Natalia and Allison won “Best Overall Group Costume.” Middle: Ms. Fraser channels her inner rock star. Bottom: Miwa keeps her focus through her new neon locks.
“The Snow Queen” By Megan Sweeney, Grade 10 It’s always fascinating to watch Elmwood’s Middle School students display their best acting and singing ability, and this year was no exception. The Snow Queen was an intriguing production, filled with swirling dancers, impressive singers, and remarkable acting talent. A story of a queen with an ice-cold soul and equally frozen appearance, The Snow Queen was originally written as a fairytale in 1845 by Hans Christian Anderson. Multiple theatrical adaptations have been produced, some having appeared as early as 1860. The director of this year’s Elmwood Middle School production, Tracy Noon, tailored the story by incorporating modern ballads from Canadian artist Sarah McLachlan. Devon Sweeney, playing the Snow Queen, embodied the coldhearted empress effortlessly while singing beautiful songs. Isabella Bruinsma played Kai, the curious and naïve boy who falls into the Snow Queen’s icy grasp. Isabella’s singing ability proved to be outstanding, captivating the audience with crystal clear notes. Kai’s friend, Gerda (Ava Mierins), was the brave heroine of the tale, on a mission to rescue her beloved playmate while meeting some interesting people along the way. One of those characters was the Old Lady, played by Sophia Avisar, who easily characterized the woman into a humorous oddity, providing comic relief to the shady storyline. Leen Zaghloul played the kindly grandmother, teaching Kai and Gerda the story of the Snow Queen. The hostile Snowflake Children were charming and saddening at the same time, being victims of the Queen’s wrath. Their dancing skills were evident as they performed several challenging routines. Choreography created by Emily Bangsboll and Dania Rida was also well done, with all the dancers appearing rehearsed and synchronized. The stage was excellently managed by Justine Beaule, Keerut Saran,
and Sijyl Fasih, and the noteworthy lighting design was done by Michaela Kainz-Potter and Louisa James-Beswick. The remarkable use of iPads and other multimedia effects done by Ras-Jeevan Obhi and Brooke Mierins further emphasized the story of the frozen Queen, as they displayed videos of her past and the letters to solve the freezing clue. Overall, Elmwood’s Middle School production of The Snow Queen was a beautifully done musical, through elegant dancers and creative characters, set against a backdrop of white and blue, mirroring the Queen’s cold soul. (Originally published in the Elmwood Chronicle.)
Devon as the Snow Queen, and Isabella as Kai.
Our Supportive Community By Elise Aylen and Teresa Stirling Elmwood is so lucky to have such a supportive Parents’ Association! They have been very busy this winter, planning events and helping out around the school. One of the highlights of the year for many of us who work at Elmwood is the Staff Appreciation Breakfast! One morning in November the staff rooms were filled with delicious dishes and tantalizing treats. Many thanks to Chair Raquelle Dupuis and her army of cooks and bakers for supplying such a feast! The Holly Tea was an old and popular Elmwood tradition that was revived this past December by the Parents Association. Over 120 of our Old Girls, students, families, neighbours and staff enjoyed holiday music by Mr. Gummeson and Mr. Kall, and the Dartmouth Subtleties, while our students served tea and Christmas goodies. Our guests had a chance to reminisce with the Old Girls and choose from a wonderful selection of holly and poinsettias. Thank you to Liana Ladki and her organizing committee for planning such a successful event. Thank you also to our corporate sponsors for their support. On January 31, Elmwood held its Chinese New Year Celebration. There were activities and performances to entertain all ages, including the Lion Dance and the Japanese Drummers. Our 160 guests sampled food from Festival Japan Restaurant and our own Bistro. Eve Reynolds and her organizing committee worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the event—thank you to all who were involved! Be sure to mark your calendars for two upcoming events—the Elmwood Gala and the Father Daughter Dinner Dance. This year’s Father Daughter will be held at the Hampton Inn on Saturday, April 5. The Gala is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a “Silver” theme, and will be held on Saturday, April 26. Tickets for both events are on sale now and both are supported by our Corporate Partners and organized by the Parents’ Association.
The Lion Dance thrilled audiences of all ages at the Chinese New Year Celebration!
A DVA N C E M E N T N E WS
E L L E N E W E RT, D I R ECTO R O F A DVA N C E M E N T
2013 – 2014 Annual Campaign Success It has been heartwarming to see Elmwood’s Annual Campaign grow significantly each year and this would not have been possible without the support of our many donors—almost 400 this year—including parents, past parents, faculty and staff, alumnae, grandparents and friends of the School. This year’s goal is $325,000 and we have already reached $305,000 and we are certain that we’ll reach our final goal before the end of the school year. Elmwood’s faculty and staff continue to generously support the Annual Campaign and this year reached 90% participation—a new record! Our Elmwood parents rose to the challenge of our special $100,000 challenge gift and we are looking forward to determining the most impactful way of benefitting from this amazing contribution. The Board of Governors led the way again with 100% participa-
tion and contributions representing 20% of our financial goal. The Annual Campaign has an immediate impact as it supplements the School’s operating budget. Our success benefits all of our classrooms, facilities, students and faculty. Many people don’t realize that Elmwood is incorporated as a not-for-profit registered charity and philanthropy has always played a crucial role in maintaining and enhancing our buildings, providing financial aid, recruiting and retaining the best faculty and providing the many “extras” that make our students’ education so meaningful. A very special thank you to Catherine McLaughlin, Chair of the Annual Campaign, and the team of parents who helped make the parent campaign such a success: Peter Hudson, Kim Doran, Ann Marie Hume, Kris McGinn, Whitney Fox, Pat Coady, Christine Murray, Catherine Coulter, Dan Goldberg, Denise Carruthers and Cindy Tomlinson Keon.
Every Contribution Really Does Have an Impact! Elmwood’s 2010 – 2015 Strategic Plan identified “building a culture of philanthropy” as one of its objectives and this meant encouraging as many of our stakeholders as possible to participate in our Annual Campaign. The key word is “participation” and contributions of any amount—small or large—are appreciated. Sometimes donors feel that their more modest contribution will not make a difference but this is absolutely not the case. For example, over half of our contributions this year were less than $250 yet represented over $20,000 in combined contributions. This will allow us to purchase new sports equipment, musical instruments, science equipment and help to fund a bursary student.
A Special Scholarship Benefit Performance For the seventh year in a row, Janet Uren ’68 of Linden House Theatre Company, dedicated the proceeds of her Theatre Production preview performance to the Elmwood School Old Girls’ Association Scholarship Endowment Fund. The fund now totals more than $65,000 and Janet’s play has raised over $12,000 towards this. Last year, for the first time, an Elmwood student was able to benefit from this “needs-based” scholarship. There was a great turnout of alumnae in October for the pre-performance reception followed by this year’s play Lloyd George Knew My Father, by William Douglas-Home. Linden House Theatre Company, once again, entertained us all with this very funny play.
Clockwise from top: Rita Browning ’62 and former staff Sarah McCabe, former staff Nancy Chance and Vicki Sainsbury ’67, former staff Annette Bellamy and Wendy Dennys.
Meet Barbara Whitley ’36 I recently had the pleasure of meeting Barbara Whitley ’36 at her home in Montreal. Barbara, a native of Montreal, attended Elmwood School as a boarder in 1935 and 1936 and then obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University in 1940. She fondly remembers the friends she made at Elmwood. In fact, after enquiring about a couple of her former classmates, I was able to put them in touch with each other after many years of having lost contact. Barbara has been a dedicated volunteer for many organizations and in many different capacities. In 2004 she was given the Caring Canadian Award from the then Governor General of Canada, Adrienne Clarkson, in recognition of her six decades of volunteerism. Just this past year Barbara was honoured to receive the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and also the “Builder’s Award” from The Study.
Saumya Krishna, Class of 2009, Rhodes Scholar
Saumya Krishna ’09
Ellen Ewert, Director of Advancement, and Barbara Whitley ’36.
Save the Date – Farewell Reception Alumnae, mark your calendars for the evening of Wednesday, March 26. Liz Heatherington ’63 has graciously offered to host a reception at her home in recognition of our current Old Girls Association Co-Chair, Susan Senn ’77, who will be moving to Calgary this spring. It is a chance for alumnae, former and current staff to gather to show appreciation to Susan for all she has done for the School, to wish her well on her move West and to catch up with old friends. Watch your inbox for the official invitation!
Susan Senn ’77 (right) with her mother Judy (Nesbitt) Reid ’50.
We are thrilled to share the news that Elmwood Alumna Saumya Krishna '09 (Saxena while at Elmwood) has been selected as one of the 11 Canadian members of the 2014 class of Rhodes Scholars. She is Elmwood’s first, and one of only three female recipients this year. The Rhodes Scholarship is the world’s most prestigious graduate award, and will allow Saumya two years of all-expenses-paid postgraduate study at Oxford University. The Rhodes’ 110-year tradition includes three Nobel Prize winners, as well as former Canadian Prime Minister John Turner and former U.S. President Bill Clinton. “To be part of such a warm and dynamic community of scholars and change-makers is what excites me most,” she told The Globe and Mail. “Moreover, the opportunity to study at the oldest university in the English-speaking world feels truly magical. It is a tremendous gift. “The world is changing at an unprecedented pace, and, I believe, we need to nurture leaders who can navigate through complexity and analyze issues from myriad perspectives. Whereas our education system tends to emphasize specialization and depth, I feel that breadth and exposure to a variety of fields is important.” Saumya attended Elmwood on a partial scholarship, made possible through generous donations to the School's fundraising campaigns. She was an outstanding student during her time at Elmwood, graduating as an Ontario Scholar with an IB certificate in SL Spanish. She was the recipient of nine awards at graduation, including the Governor General’s Academic Medal, the University of Toronto National Book Award and the Grade 12 Overall Academic Excellence Award. She accepted a prestigious President’s Scholarship at the University of Western Ontario where she has now completed a degree in Health Science along with the Scholar's Electives programme. In her Elmwood yearbook, Saumya reflected: “It is an exhilarating feeling to reflect upon my time at Elmwood and recognize the growth, the learning, the friendships and the opportunities that have infinitely enriched my experience. Within these special memories lies the love and support of so many individuals, to whom I am forever grateful. […] I am thankful to my inspiring teachers for generously sharing their passions and knowledge, and for nurturing my abilities, feeding my curiosity, and challenging me to grow.” We are so proud of Saumya's continued academic success and commitment to social improvement. From all of us here at Elmwood, congratulations!
Thank you to our Corporate Partners! Elmwood’s Corporate Partners have committed a total of $240,000 over the next several years to support the mission of Elmwood School. We were pleased to recognize and promote our Corporate Partners at the Holly Tea and will also do so at the upcoming Gala and Father Daughter Dance. Thank you to David and Debra Wu (The Athletic Club), Gary Zed (Ernst & Young), Jeff Mierins (Star Motors), Terry and Catherine McLaughlin (Terlin Construction Ltd.), Jacob and Jeannie Polisuk (Vista Credit) and Jim and Pam Skippen (WiLAN).
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Our Corporate Partners are delighted to be associated with events such as our Holly Tea.
New Zealand Exchange By Alex Kall This year’s student exchange brought New Zealanders Mikayla Howie and Michaela King to Canada to experience life as Elmwood Girls, hosted by Quinn Fincham and Sonia Siddiqui. Looking back before she left, Mikayla explained, “I love how small the school and classes are at Elmwood. It lets you have close relationships with everyone.” Michaela added, “I’ve learned a lot about being myself here. It easy when everyone is so open and welcoming!"
Fun and Friendship at Elmwood Camps! With themes like Summer Science, What’s Cookin’ Good Lookin’ and Art Attack, girls from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6 will experience unique challenges, develop new skills and make friends at Elmwood’s safe, active and fun camps! Camps run weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost is $290 per week and includes lunch, excursion or special guest, and a camp T-shirt. Visit camp.elmwood.ca or call (613) 749-6761 for details and registration.
Summer Camps Weekly from June 16 – August 22
More info and registration at camp.elmwood.ca L-R: Quinn, Mikayla (NZ), Sonia and Michaela (NZ).
261 Buena Vista Road, Ottawa, ON K1M 0V9 | t 613.749.6761 | f 613.741.8210 | www.elmwood.ca