2004 Talon Newsletters

The Talon Meadowridge Alumni Newsletter Issue 3

January 2004

Greetings Alumni from all of your friends at Meadowridge School.

We hope that you are well and enjoying your chosen path in life. Please take the time to let us know what you are up to so that we can share it with the Meadowridge School community. Births, marriages, graduations, travels, or just a friendly update are all welcome. Of course even better than that, why don’t you drop in and see us the next time you are in Maple Ridge.

Student Leaders Make it Happen This year’s student leadership has taken the school by storm. Under the guidance of Staff Facilitator, Jim Davies, this year’s council has taken on a number of traditional functions (dances, Autumn Harvest Dinner, Terry Fox Run) as well as some new leadership initiatives. They have completed a constitution, particpated in a leadership conference in Newfoundland, and are helping plan a national conference in Abbotsford this year.

Jocelyn Shih, President

Above:The Student Council were hosted by Headmaster, Hugh Burke.

Jenny Hsieh, Vice President

W her e ar e here are T he y No w? hey Now? (An Excerpt from Lindsay Ferguson 10/9/03) Here’s a little story of my life this summer. So my plan for a year off of school to play in the mountains has officially backfired. I worked too hard and I played too much. It was the norm to work six days a week and have 12 hour days with no breaks. I loved it though. I served in a fine dining restaurant at a high end hotel in the remote national park (Waterton Lakes).

I served great people from all over the world, worked with a fantastic crew, and made more money than I could ever imagine. On my days off I got into the habit of climbing and scrambling, and I managed to peak a few mountains and cliff faces in this summer. A few of us even managed to find a brilliant waterfall that hasn’t ever seen a human face. It was great. I was tanned, healthy, rich and literally (on my days off) sitting on top of the world, or at least 9,000ft of the way there.

Keep fit and have fun, Lindsay Ferguson If you have an adventure to share with fellow alumni, please send it to agraveson@meadowridge.bc.ca

Above: Lifer, Matt Magowan and graduate Ashley Ross celebrate their graduation.

Scholarship Offers to the class of 2003 to date: Maple Ridge Athletic Ass. UVIC Entrance Scholarship SFU Entrance Scholarship Carleton Entrance Scholarship Greg Moore Scholarship Alumni Scholarship Passport to Education Scholar’s Advantage Calgary Scholar’s Advantage Calgary Academic Excellence Alberta Academic Excellence Alberta Academic Excellence Alberta Academic Excellence Alberta Faculty Scholarship Alberta

$1000 $2000 $3000 $2300 $5000 $500 $1100 $1000 $1000 $1500 $2000 $2000 $2500 $1000

Faculty Scholarship Alberta Entrance Scholarship Alberta Provincial Scholarship Provincial Scholarship Provincial Scholarship SFU Entrance Scholarship SFU Entrance Scholarship UBC Entrance Scholarship Guelph Entrance Scholarship Western Entrance Scholarship Carelton Entrance Scholarship York Entrance Scholarship Carleton Entrance Ottawa Entrance Total

$1500 $2500 $1000 $1000 $1000 $3500 $3500 $2500 $2500 $1000 $500 $4000 $1500 $1500

$53,400

Left: Gryphons, Lauren English and Mehtaab Uppal question Minister of Advanced Education, Shirley Bond, at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon. The Gryphons, Faculty and Board Members also attended a talk by the Minister of Education, the Honourable Christie Clarke.

Junior Girls, ISA Volleyball Champs and District Winners The Junior Girls’ team and their coach, Rhys Clarke, left for Victoria in a downpour. Missing our reservation for the ferry, we were not able to officiate one of the games.

This did not stop us from playing an excellent match against Saint Margaret’s School in our first game. We were a little nervous at the beginning, but by the end of the game we were victorious! We were lucky to have a bit of a break before our next game to collect our thoughts about the previous game and how to improve our play.

When we played against Collingwood, again we played with skill and came out with a win. This team did not scare us as much as the next team. Crofton House was probably our toughest opponent in the tournament. When we played against them we proved ourselves to be true Gryphons. It was a game of skill vs. skill. Although we did not come out with a victory, the die was cast. After this game, almost everyone was exhausted. We ordered pizza and headed off to our hotel, the Travelodge Inn. We had strict orders from Mr. Clarke to get a good night’s sleep so that we were prepared for tomorrow’s games.

We had an early morning as our game was at 8:45. We had to win in order to make it to the finals and we proved ourselves. We beat Brentwood and they didn’t even know what hit them. We were ranked second in our pool. We were now moving on to the semi finals. This match made us nervous because if we lost we would have to go home and no one was ready to take that long boring ferry without a fight. Southridge was in the way and they put up a great fight but Meadowridge prevailed in three games and we were off to the semi-finals playing against the York House Tigers. This game displayed the talented players on both teams as many fantastic rallies were played. In the end it was Gryphons 2 – Tigers 0! The excitement was reaching a fever pitch as we prepared for our gold medal match versus Crofton House. The Golden Gryphons dug in and overpowered their opponents and then ran around the gym in jubilation. We left the tournament as champions, Aya Tomioka as MVP and Danielle Cheyne and Kathleen Cloutier as All Stars.

Above: Team members were: Molly Sprague, Danielle Cheyne, Kathleen Cloutier, Grace Miao, Azzaria Janmohamed, Aya Tomioka, Morgan Barber, Katherine Drasic, Andrea Walters

District Champs

In addition to its ISA title, Meadowridge made a clean sweep of the Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows district champioships.

The team would like to thank Mr. Davies and Corinne Cheyne for chaperoning the team and being our biggest fans. Good luck to next year’s junior squad as they return Grade 8 Boys to defend the championship. Remember girls, “Olé, Olé,Before Grade 8 Girls Olé, Olé!”

Big Props, Danielle and Molly

Junior Boys Junior Girls

Congratulations

After Above: Delighted Coach Rhys Clarke celebrates ISA victory.

Meadowridge School Exceeds Expectations at all Levels The Foundation Skills Assessment Reports are out for 2003. These are for the students that are currently in Grade 11. This is the last year that the Grade 10s will be writing these assessments because according to the new Graduation Requirements, students in Grade 10, starting next year, will be required to write a comprehensive examination. All eligible students in Grade 10 will write examinations in Science, Math and English.

Each exam will be worth 20% of their final school mark. The other 80% will come from their in school work.

In looking at the results, we compare favourably. However, it is not good enough. Meadowridge should have 100% of the students in all categories meeting or exceeding expectations: this is our goal. S. Olah Above: Samantha Fenton recently graduated from SFU with a degree in biology. Samantha is hoping now to go on to earn a degree in medicine.

35% 30% 25% Provincial 20%

I heard it through the grapevine

Independent School District #42

15%

School District #43 Meadowridge

10% 5% 0% 1 Reading

2 Writing

3 Numeracy

• • •

• The FSA is written by students across the province in grades 4, 7 and 10 to measure achievement in reading, writing and numeracy. Over 150,000 students took part, and the results from this assessment are compared to provincially set standards. The aim of the FSA program is to measure change over time so that schools and districts can identify whether changes in practices are having any effect.

We are pleased that our students performed well on the three components that comprise the test: Reading Comprehension, Writing and Numeracy.

We are proud of our students for their hard work, determination and willingness to learn new concepts and skills each day. Indeed we are Before pleased with our results from the FSA, but at the same time, we need to keep this in perspective. We cannot be content with merely maintaining our students’ present skill level in reading, writing and numeracy.

Consequently, we need to continue working together so that we can help our children reach new heights. T. Jung

• • • • •

Keri-Ann Blok had a baby.

Andrea Duprat got married this summer.

Mike Matthews is a Latin American scholar of some renown.

Joy Axmith got married this summer.

Rauvin Manhas is in his third year of a BA program at SFU. Barb Otava is Head of Math at St. Thomas Moore.

Bianca Sprague is doing aid work in Africa.

Soraiya Campbell is pursuing her music career in Scotland.

Carolina Kern is living in London and loving it.

Left: The Percentage of Meadowridge scores which Exceed Expectations averaged across Grades show us way ahead of the competition.

Les Belles et Les Beaux du Balle Holly Ball 2003 $100,000 Raised

Meadowridge School Sets it Site on the Web Meadowridge School is currently entering into a contract negotiation to have a new web-site for the school. By the end of January 2004 we hope to have a site that is current, interactive, and informative. Look for pictures of the events happening around the school, check out the flash presentations, take a campus tour, and get in touch with other alumni. This exciting project will put a gateway to Meadowridge School right at your fingertips.

Look for it in the New Year.

Above: Krystina Bojanowski’s literate Gryphon.

Planning for the Future of Meadowridge School The Board, Administration, Staff, and Families of Meadowridge School have been busy planning various aspects of the school’s future. Currently, the Board is reviewing the findings of a Capital Campaign study to see if there is support for moving ahead in the near future with an additional wing to the school. Related to that is the partnering with the municpality in the development of our playing fields. At the same time, the Board is reviewing our current debt structure and making a series of proposals that will relieve some of the debt servicing costs in the short term, while providing long term stability to the school. This is indeed a transformational time in the history of the school.

Above: With a little vision and some help from Microsoft Paint, we added a field, a new wing, and a parking lot.

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

                                                    

      

 





The Door is Always Open

    

             

                                                        

                                                                           

                                                                             



                                                                            

                                                            

     

                                                

i

EDUCATIONAL INNOVATION AT MEADOWRIDGE

                                                                                                               

The Talon Meadowridge School’s Alumni Newsletter Celebrating 19 years of quality education for children.

Issue 5

Fall 2004

Meadowridge School Launches New Website Meadowridge School launched its new website in June 2004. The website – www. meadowridge.bc.ca, has the purpose of supplying information to those who are in the process of looking for a school, to those that are currently attending Meadowridge and to those that have graduated from Meadowridge and wish to keep in touch.

The website has over a hundred pages of information which includes sections on our programs and curriculum, our school, our students and staff, our fundraising programs and our admissions processes.

scription of the event.

The News Feature can be viewed by clicking on “What’s New” on the title menu bar.

New events are posted on a weekly basis and all articles printed in the Mini Gryphon are available online as well. Several photographs can be posted along with each article. News sections include, Announcements, Sports, Council’s Corner, Arts, Sports, Kudo’s and Thank you’s.

Class Pages - Several teachers have, or are in the processes of uploading their subject course outlines, assignments and subThe website has several components which ject resources onto the website. Students are of importance to our school students are required to login, using their school and their families: provided UserID and password in order to have access to their class pages. Students The Online Calendar is updated on a week- and parents may access these pages by ly basis and can be viewed by clicking on clicking on Class Pages on the menu bar Events on the title menu bar. Click on the on the left side of the home page. calendared event itself to view a full de-

Web-Mail – All secondary students have access to their Meadowridge e-mail accounts both at school or at home. Students are required to login, using their school provided UserID and password in order to have access to their web-mail. Secondary students may access their e-mail by clicking on Web-mail on the menu bar on the left side of the home page.

Please sign up on the website by clicking on the “Join Us” button on the homepage – After 24 hours your website permissions will be upgraded to “Parents”, which will allow you to view restricted pages and resources. Similarly, Alumni can view restricted pages after signing on to th ewebsite. Contact Lyn Tyler if you have any questions or concerns at ext. 139 or lyn.tyler@meadowridge.bc.ca.

Do You Know Where Your Kindergarten Buddy is Now? One of the great things about a junior kindergarten to grade 12 school is that the older students can interact with the younger ones. This relationship has been core to the CAPP 12 program for the past four years with no end in sight. The kindergarten students look forward to spending time with their big buddies. Likewise, the enthusiasm and energy of the younger children pick up the spirits of the grads and remind them

that there is more to life than preparing for the next exam.

Zimone steals a precious moment with Emily.

Daniel LePage gathers fall leaves with Buddy, Michael

Folio Society Books Into Meadowridge One morning, a week or so ago, a truck delivered a pallet to the school containing 42 cartons filled with books – and not just any books! These were from the most prestigious book society in the world, the Folio Society of London, England, donated to the school through the generosity of the Society’s Director, Joe Whitlock-Blundell.

I am passionately (some would say ‘maniacally’!) concerned with expanding the school library’s collection. As a long-time member of the Folio Society, I had written to Mr. Whitlock-Blundell to ask whether there might be some returned or slightly damaged books which might be donated to the school library. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained!” I thought.

Ms. Pitzy and Ms. Jamieson consider the possibilities presented by over $20,000 worth of high quality books donated to the school by the Folio Society.

Hans Christian Andersen, and Perrault, to C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, the four Winnie the Pooh books (in facsimiles of the The response was stunning: there were original first editions), the six best of Roald four pallets of returned books in a wareDahl’s novels, The Wind in the Willows, The house in Pickering, Ontario, I was told, and Railway Children, and Anne of Green Gaif I could get there, I could choose whatever bles.

I liked for the library. It happened that I was going to Ontario for another reason, It is a fine coincidence that October 25 is so I spent a day there diving into enormous National School Libraries Day. The arrival crates of beautiful books and set aside over of these books helps to reinforce the impor300 volumes to be shipped to the school. tance of libraries to schools at a time when I felt like a child in a sweet shop. It was school libraries in Canada are under attack. heaven.

A recent report entitled “The Crisis in Canada’s School Libraries: This is no small gift. These books have The Case for Reform and a total value of between $15,000 and Re-Investment” by Dr. $20,000. Moreover, they provide a ‘spine’ Ken Haycock, former to the library collection, particularly in the Director of the School humanities. Many of them are classics of of Library, Archival literature or of history, and as such they will and Information form a base from which the collection may Studies at U.B.C., grow. All of them are beautifully designed makes frightening and bound, and superbly illustrated. reading for those of us concerned with There are over 100 volumes of history literacy and the qualalone – of mediaeval and modern Europe, ity of education. Dr. classical Greece and Rome, India, China, Haycock points out that Latin America, and much more – including across the country many Sir Winston Churchill’s major historical writ- teacher-librarians are being ings. cut or re-assigned, budget cuts are depleting library collections, and There are classics of fiction, including the in some schools libraries are actually being complete novels of Austen and Orwell, closed. We are all aware that this trend novels by Greene, Conrad, Trollope, T.H. has recently become an issue in B.C. White, Muriel Spark, and Sir Walter Scott, a lovely edition of the Tolkien trilogy, with The Yet, at the same time, other countries like Hobbit and The Silmarillion, and short stothe United States, Great Britain, and the ries by O. Henry, Joyce, Roald Dahl, G.K. European Union, supported by such bodChesterton, and Katherine Mansfield. ies as the World Bank, East Asia Bank, and the International Development Agency, are There are books on philosophy, social hisaggressively re-investing and increasing tory, travel (Cook’s Voyages and Sir Richinvestment in school libraries. Why? Beard Burton’s Secret Pilgrimage to Mecca cause mounting evidence shows a powerful and Medina, among others), biography, link “between student achievement and the memoirs, books on fine arts, collections presence of well-stocked, properly funded of myths from Greece, Iceland, India, and and professionally developed school lithe Middle East, and a 6-volume complete brary programs and services.” In schools Arabian Nights. which have such libraries, one can expect Finally, there is a wonderful selection of to find “capable and avid readers” and to children’s books, ranging from gorgeously see scores 10 to 20 per cent higher than in illustrated editions of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, schools without them.

In the face of these facts, the Folio Society’s donation of more than 300 core books to Meadowridge School Library takes on added significance. At the Gala in November, some of these books will be on display, and we will be encouraging families to join the Folio Society as a way both to build their own libraries at home, and to thank the Society for what it has done for the school. In the mean time, we hope that parents will take the time to visit the library and look at some of these beautiful books, and that you

might also consider directing donations to the purchase of more books for the library, acting on the inspiration of this gift.

That inspiration, in fact, has already begun to work its magic: RDP Fulfillment Corporation, the company which shipped the books to us, declined to bill the school for the shipping charges. They were so impressed with the Folio Society’s generosity, they said, that they wanted to pay for the shipping themselves, as their own contribution to Meadowridge School Library.

To make your own contribution to the Meadowridge School Library, contact Colette Roussy at 604 467-4444 about our Gift Book Program.

Top Athletics Last year was the most successful year for school athletics in Meadowridge history. Meadowridge won the Junior Girls ISA Volleyball Championship, the Junior Girls GVISAA (Greater Vancouver Independent Schools’ Athletic Association) Basketball Championship, and swept all four volleyball titles in District 42 (Maple Ridge / Pitt Meadows) including Gr.8 Boys and Girls and Junior Boys and Girls. In addition, the Gr.7 Boys basketball team won the Consolation Final of the prestigious and highly competitive CAIS U-13 Boys Basketball Championship.

Meadowridge’s athletic program continues to grow. For the first time in school history, we will field a high school girls volleyball team at the Single A level. As our program expands, so too does our need for coaches. If you would like to volunteer to coach a school team, or are curious to find out what is involved in coaching, please contact Mr. MacIntyre at 604-467-4444 *110, or at gordon.macintyre@meadowridge.bc.ca.

Senior Girls Volleyball 2004: Top Row Mr. Barkhouse, Molly Sprague, Kathleen Cloutier, Grace Miao, Andrea Walters, Mr. Clelland Bottom Row Shauna Wilson, Morgan Barber, Aya Tomioka, Sapana Thakore, Shannon McLeod

G. MacIntyre

Is University More Difficult than Highschool?

On September 28th, the Grade 12 class took a trip to the University of British Columbia. We left the bus and entered Brock Hall, where we met our tour guides. They were very helpful and answered any and all questions we had. They showed us the main portions of the university. We saw the clock tower, the library, the arts building, the science building, and the residences.

Classes were in session, so there were a large number of students going from place to place. The trip showed us what university is all about. The university grounds were clean and the people were very friendly.

After the tour, we looked around the university on our own and ate lunch at some of the many eateries. The best part of the trip was when Guy got lost, ended up losing his lunch money, and had to beg for cash from the university students. We left the university with a good impression of what they had to offer. The free stickers were a nice touch.

Nicholas Bojanowski, Student

The graduating class of 2005 takes a tour of the UBC campus and residences as part of their post-secondary planning. Want to help orient a Meadowridge alumni/a to your campus? agraveson@meadowridge.bc.ca

Tragedy Strikes Former Meadowridge Student

West Vancouver police yesterday identified a mother and daughter killed in a logging-truck accident on the Upper Levels Highway Thursday. Farida Manji, 53, and her 26-year old daughter Shaireen, both of West Vancouver, were driving east near the Capilano Bridge when a westbound Chalwood Forest Products logging truck lost its load -- a half-dozen giant western red cedar logs. The logs tumbled over the concrete highway divider and into eastbound traffic, crushing the grey sedan in which the two women were driving. They were pronounced dead at the scene. It took rescue crews more than three hours to extricate their bodies. Both were Ismaili and a service will be held for them tomorrow morning at the Lions Gate Jamathkhana. The logs also struck four other vehicles. Three women and one man were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. One was released from Lions Gate Hospital Friday. Chalwood truck driver Perry Pellitier, of Port Alberni, had 17 years of experience and a clean record.

He is undergoing counselling.The Chalwood mill was closed on the weekend out of respect for the victims. Police are still investigating whether speed was a factor. The limit is 80 km/h. No charges have been laid. The Shaireen Manji was a student at Meadowridge from 1991B.C. Commercial Safety and Enforcement Department is investigating.

1994. She had completed her BA degree at McGill UniverThe Province, November 15, 2004 sity and had plans to open a pharmacy with her mother.

Meadowridge Alumni Ten Year Reunion Meadowridge School had its first grade 12 graduating class in the spring of 1995.

Sixteen students blazed the academic path for generations of Meadowridge School graduates. Once again these founding pupils are forging new ground in becoming the first alumni to be celebrating a 10 year reunion. This spring we will reunite the following students in a celebration of the past, present, and future.

Congraulations on your 10 year reunion.

Keri-Ann Blok Andrea Duprat Leah Gamache Deborah Kim Sean Lind Jennifer McKeever Josh Park Vanessa Payne Graeme Raadsheer Seena Shah Farah Sunderji Aiyana Volney Josh Walker Jeanne Warneboldt Charlie Wilson

A Queens Reunion.

Lindsay welcomes newest Meadowridge alumni Cassandra, Curtis, and Sofia.

Chris and Woojin Cho paid a visit to Meadowridge School on December 3rd.

Woo Jin is currently studying interactive design at SFU surrey campus and Chris is in the Science Faculty at SFU Burnaby campus. It is always a pleasure to see former students; if you are in the area be sure to stop in and say Hello.

The Sopranos

Kurtis and Sabine

Alex and Meryl

Meadowridge Alumni Welcome to New Alums

The Graduating Class of 2004 celebrated the end of exams, the end of their high school careers, and the beginning of their post-secondary life with their formal dinner at Westwood Plateau in June. Meadowridge School is proud of the efforts of all graduates and wishes them well in their chosen careers. As is customary for our graduates, all were accepted to postsecondary institutions and many were offered scholarships. We hope that the class of 2004 will continue their association with Meadowridge School.

Back Row: Constence Hsu, Jordan Babrber, SoďŹ a Hirji, Alex Pajtas, Jessica Price, Curtis Wright, Matt Coady, Thea Nolitt Second Row: Jenny Hsieh, Curtis Warren, Jocelyn Shih, Meagan Durrance, Laila Rana, Sarah Orser, Trevor Brandrick, Cassandra Brown, Alison Jones Kneeling: Billy Yu, Jesal Patidar.

Alan and Jessica

Daphne and Jocelyn

Ashley and Cassandra

Meadowridge lifers 1993-2004

Trevor Brandrick

Jocelyn Shih

Thea Nolitt

y r e all

G f taf

S

Births Hey there weren’t even this many students when the school first started!

Candids

Births

Marriages

Terry Jung

Cindy Hops

Ira and Tony with sons, Gabe and Cole.

Chad and Anita Permanand

Notes from Way Out There Mr. Casher retrains for new career.

David Noble

James Clelland

Margaret Whieldon and Sheila Singh.

Hello Mr Olah, I thought you would like to know how I’ve been since I left Canada!

Well, I had a hard time getting back in the German school system and catching up what I missed, this resulted in a quite bad mark in my math and physics test! Well it was the first test, then I remembered the studying in Canada and the time at Meadowridge, it helped a lot! This year im in grade 13, and im actually graduating, on Thursday I well get 3 marks, one is from the 300 minute math test, another 300 minute test in physics and the mark from a 240 minutes test in political science! Those were my major classes in our school system and it was pretty tough, but the way I learned in Canada helped me a lot and I have quite a good feeling! I also had an oral exam in English, I got 13 out of 15 points, what equals an A in Canada! So in October I will go to University and start studying engineering! Luckily the Army didn’t want me because of a work accident that I had last year!

One thing is for sure, I will never forget the year at Meadowridge, because of the students, the teachers and you and your wife!

Thank you so much for the year I was allowed to be a part of the Meadowridge community, I will always remember this time, and hopefully I will manage to come over next year in my second semester break!

Sincerely Marc Schmechel p.s.: Say hello and thank you to your wife for me please!

Alan Graveson vs Jada MacGregor

Kalie Whitaker and son Cam

Have you earned a degree, taken an interesting trip, got married, or had a child? We want to hear the latest news from Meadowridge Alumni. Contact Alan Graveson to share your news with the Meadowridge School Community. alan.graveson@meadowridge.bc.ca