Rundle Academy April Newsletter

V o l u m e 8 , I s s ue 7 April 15, 2011

ROCKIES RUMBLINGS M E S S A G E F R O M T H E P R I N C I PA L April usually signals the start of Spring and the slowly improving weather would imply we are almost there. Students returned from Spring Break with their batteries re-charged and wearing summer uniforms. We hope everyone had an enjoyable and restful break and are ready for the final three months.

“WE MOVE MOUNTAINS”

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Message from the Principal Moves Mountains Breakfast

1

Message from the Headmaster Society News

2

Counsellor’s Notes Academy Speaker Series

3

Fine Arts

4

Calgary Learning Centre

5

Kids for Kids Club Musical Notes

6

Guatemala Trip

7

Guatemala Trip Continued

8

Guatemala Trip Continued

9

Honor Roll - Elementary

10

Honor Roll - Junior High

11

Moves Mountains Awards Citizenship Awards

12

Extra Curricular Awards

13

Activities for the Month

14

RUNDLE ACADEMY 4330 16 Street SW Calgary, AB T2T 4H9 Ph: 250-2965 / Fax: 250-2914 www.rundleacademy.ab.ca

Mr. Rogers, Ms. Caines and the Heads of Years are busy with pre-admission interviews and have already enrolled several new students.

Our enrollment for 2010/2011 will be 210 with availability for approximately 30 new students.

We have already enrolled 200 students for the Fall with both Elementary and Junior High at capacity and only limited availability at the High School level.

cluding the Elementary and Junior High will be dismissed at 12:00 P.M. Our next Newsletter will not arrive until Monday, May 9th, as our Annual Intramural Track and Field Meet will be on Thursday, May 5th, at Glenmore Track (9:00 th A.M. to 3:00 P.M.) and May 6 is our Professional Development Day. Lastly, I am pleased to announce a new student recognition program we will be initiating. The program will recognize students in grades 4 to 12 who have overcome significant obstacles to achieve their personal best, thereby exemplifying the Academy motto. The “Moves Mountains” Breakfast will be held in the Elementary Gym at 8:00 A.M. on May 12th, with more details to follow.

High School report cards will be sent home on April 19th, with Parent/Teacher Interviews scheduled for April 21st, from 1:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. All students, in-

M O V E S M O U N TA I N S B R E A K FA S T Rundle Academy’s First Annual Moves Mountains Breakfast Rundle Academy will be hosting the first annual “Moves Mountains Breakfast” on May 12th, to celebrate students who have demonstrated exemplary qualities in compassion, leadership, citizenship, determination, or personal integrity. Each teacher has chosen a student to receive this recognition award. These students achieved their personal best despite obstacles that may have been in their way. What makes this tribute unique is that it goes beyond the academic or extracurricular endeavours that are more often recognized. Invitations to the award recipients and two guests will be mailed this month.

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MESSAGE

Volume 8, Issue 7

FROM THE

HEADMASTER

Rundle College Community: Let’s Communicate Message from Headmaster and Superintendent Mr. Dave Hauk As the landscape of independent education in Calgary changes, it becomes increasingly important for an organization to determine what makes it unique and then create ways to protect and celebrate that uniqueness.

I have been asked on several occasions to summarize what makes Rundle unique, and for over 25 years the message has not changed: small class sizes. It’s not a secret formula, but one that has allowed Rundle to continue to provide individual attention to our students, giving them the best chance possible at success. Along with small class sizes, Rundle has extraordinary teachers dedicated to shaping the minds of tomorrow’s leaders.

As Rundle has grown, so have our programs. We are also unique in that we have four distinct campuses providing all levels of exceptional education in a small school environment. This unique quality does have its challenges, and at the heart of that challenge is communication within our community. Rundle is fortunate to have a rich and diverse community that includes alumni, parents, past and present, students, faculty and staff that believe in Rundle and support its mission. We understand the need to provide consistent communication between our separate campuses; we are motivated to bring our thriving communities together, from our primary students and families to each year’s grade 12 graduating classes, of the College and the Academy.

We want all our students and families to feel part of the entire Rundle community. We understand the importance of our senior students acting as role models for the younger ones and the excitement of graduating on to the next school. While we work to create a plan that will see our programs come together in the near future, we are proud of the cross-campus programs that our administrators have created to encourage a sense of unity amongst our schools: a spirited game of floor hockey between the College and Academy Elementary; shadow day for the

Elementary school grade 4’s at the High School; numerous leadership presentations; joint athletic programs and humanitarian travel trips with the Academy and College; and the most recent Safari Under the Stars fundraiser event. This recent evening saw students from our primary through to high school join together for a very special night to raise funds for orphans in Kenya; your Principals and faculty are making great efforts to bring our communities together.

We are making great strides to create a strong sense of community for our students; we need to ensure that you as parents feel that as well. As a first step, I would encourage families to visit our individual program websites and browse through the newsletters. This is a great place to find out what our Rundle students are doing and share in their success. Join your school’s PAC and work with your Principal to develop opportunities for cross-campus involvement. Understand and celebrate each of our unique programs and the diverse educational opportunities available.

If you are looking for more information, see the administration team at your school. If they are unable to assist you, please contact me. If you have ideas on ways to increase our Rundle community communication, please email Leslie Tecklenburg, our Director of Development for Rundle College Society, at tecklenburg@rundle.ab.ca and we will work together to address all suggestions.

Rundle will continue to evolve and grow without losing sight of what makes us unique. We will maintain the high standards of excellence in education for our students.

We will celebrate our success and address our challenges. Together we can create the school that you envision for your son or daughter.

Thank you for your continued support.

SOCIETY NEWS Uniform Store Hours October 2010 to May 2011 Tuesdays and Thursdays only 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 P.M. (store closed daily)

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Volume 8, Issue 7

COUNSELLOR’S NOTES Understanding Confidentiality in School Counselling Confidentiality is one of the main ethical considerations for school counsellors. How do we maintain students' trust, but still do what we can to keep students safe and parents informed? How do laws and ethics co-exist? Here are some basic questions and answers on this topic for school counselors.

1. What exactly is confidentiality?

According to the Journal of Professional School Counseling: “Confidentiality is a professional’s promise or contract to respect clients’ privacy by not disclosing anything revealed during counseling, except under agreed upon conditions.”

2. Does a minor student have a right to confidentiality?

No. In Alberta, a parent has the right to information gathered about their child in counselling. However, the counsellor and parent may agree ahead of time that certain aspects of service will remain confidential. The counsellor will only disclose information to a custodial parent upon request, or if it is in the best interest of the student.

3. Can a school counsellor see a minor student without parental consent?

Yes. Guidance and counselling services are considered an integral part of the school program. Consequently, parental consent is not required. However, consent is required for formal psychoeducational testing.

4. Who is actually the school counselor’s “client?” The minor student, or the parents?

From an ethical standpoint, the school counsellor’s client is the student. The parents’ needs are considered, but the needs of the students come first, above all others.

Please feel free to contact me at 403-250-2965 (Ext. 103) or caines@rundle.ab.ca if you have questions regarding counselling services at Rundle Academy.

Ms. Jana-Lynn Caines, B.Ed., M.C. Registered Provisional Psychologist School Counsellor

SPEAKER SERIES We are very excited to be hosting another Speaker Series event on April 28th at 7:00 p.m. (this date has been changed from the initial posting of April 14th).

What:

Post Secondary Transitions Panel – A conversation about the realities of university life for students with Learning Disabilities

Where: Rundle Academy Fine Arts Center (old Elementary Gym) When: Thursday, April 28th from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Who:

Presenters include a University Professor, a University Accommodations Director, four Rundle Alumni who either attend or have degrees from the University of Calgary, Mount Royal University or Acadia University.

All parents and students of Rundle Academy are welcome. We strongly encourage our Grade 11 and 12 students and parents to attend, as this presentation will provide an accurate perception of what they will encounter in the very near future.

If you plan to attend, please RSVP by e-mail (rogers@rundle.ab.ca). We look forward to seeing you on the 28th.

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Volume 8, Issue 7

FINE ARTS

The Rundle Academy Drama Club Proudly Presents

May 17 – 20 , 2011 Tickets available May 6, 2011 th

th

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Volume 8, Issue 7

C A L G A RY L E A R N I N G C E N T R E The CanLearn Centre/Calgary Learning Centre is pleased to offer the following student and parent workshops.

Study Skills and Exam Prep for Junior and Senior High School: Student and Parent Workshop Final exams are coming up quickly and they often make the end of the school year a time of increased stress and anxiety. This workshop will introduce a variety of key study strategies to help participants to prepare for their final exams more effectively.

managing time



creating a study plan



engaging in active studying



memory strategies



Feel overwhelmed while studying for tests or exams?

Experience tension or an upset stomach as an exam approaches? Distracted with worry that you cannot focus on your test? Have trouble remembering information you studied for the exam?

It is natural to feel some anxiety when preparing for a test. However, when anxiety is too high, it can interfere with your ability to learn and remember. Anxiety can make it difficult to show what you know during a test.

This student and parent workshop will provide practical help for students experiencing test anxiety.

Topics to be addressed include… 

Coping with Test Anxiety: What You Need to Succeed

In this workshop, participants will learn why we experience anxiety and how to reduce test anxiety through… 

lifestyle factors



test preparation and practice



relaxation strategies



modifying thoughts and perfectionism

test-taking skills

Participants will have the opportunity to practice strategies.

May 18, 2011 6.30 p.m. - 8.00 p.m.

CanLearn/Calgary Learning Centre 3930 20 Street SW $40 for student and parent $20 per additional student and per additional parent

This workshop is facilitated by Amelie Doucet, Registered Provisional Psychologist at the CanLearn Centre/Calgary Learning Centre. She has a Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Psychology from Concordia University in Montreal. Amelie provides assessment and consultation in the areas of learning and attention. She also helps clients with anxiety, mood and behavioural concerns.

Thursday, May 26, 2011 6.30 p.m. - 8.00 p.m.

CanLearn/Calgary Learning Centre 3930 20 Street SW $40 for student and parent $20 per additional student and per additional parent

Financial assistance may be available through generous community donations.

For more information and to register contact the CanLearn Centre/Calgary Learning Centre 403-686-9300 or workshop@calgarylearningcentre.com Register online! www.calgarylearningcentre.com

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KIDS

Volume 8, Issue 7

FOR

KIDS CLUB This month, Kids for Kids is having an S&D Foundation bracelet sale. All proceeds of the sale will go to the Dirty Wall Project (www.dirtywallproject.com) and Girls Inc., which is a group that is serving girls in at-risk communities who most need positive, supportive afterschool environments. The bracelets are made with dyed jade beads in an array of either turquoise or pinks.

The turquoise bracelets have a silver S&D Foundation coin, a signature dot charm and a briolette stone. The pink bracelets have the same charms in gold. The bracelets come in both women’s and girls’ sizes. They are a great idea for Mother’s Day! Please see Ms. Kapitza if you have any questions or would like to see and try on a bracelet for sizing.

In addition to the bracelet sale, Kids for Kids is also going to take a group to Calgary Brown Bagging Society to make sandwiches for students who are less fortunate. Other upcoming events to look out for are a Special Lunch and Justice Film Festival over the lunch hour; in May there will be a used uniform sale and a Gallery event showcasing the beautiful works of Kane Ryan (Mr. Dirty Wall Project, himself). There are many events to look forward to, brought to you by Kids for Kids.

Keep up to date with future Kids for Kids events by checking out their blog here: http://iforge.ca/kids4kids/

MUSICAL NOTES Rundle's Got Talent Rundle sure does have a lot of talent! On Friday March 18th, students and staff were treated to a talent show that was combined with our monthly rally. There were many musical acts, dance routines and choreography. The teachers even surprised the students with a spoof skit based on "Glee," complete with flashy lip-syncing numbers and eye-catching costumes! Congratulations to all of the participants. You all did a fantastic job!

Ms. O’Brien, Music Teacher

First Place: Andrew Morrison, Piano Solo - Chopin's "Nocturne in C Minor, Op.27, No.1" Second Place: Amy Cottingham, Dance Performance - "Rock Star" Third Place: Troy Brintnell, Original Song - "Ultimate Showdown - Rundle Academy Version"

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Volume 8, Issue 7

G UA T E M A L A T R I P Grade 12 Students Volunteer in Guatemala For two weeks during Spring Break, eight Grade 12 students from Rundle Academy joined Rundle College and Hearts and Hands (www.heartshands.ca) on a trip to Guatemala to volunteer their time to help improve the lives of Guatemalan people. During this ‘volun-tourism’ trip, our students had the opportunity to help build stoves for the villagers of the Uspantan region of Guatemala. The experience was truly life changing.

Some of the highlights were:  In teams of 3, building 4 stoves a day for villagers (as a group we built more than 150 stoves in 7 days).  Going to local schools to work with kids.  Meeting the Mayor of Uspantan.  Climbing a volcano.  Participating in multiple cultural ceremonies.  Shopping and bartering in local markets.  Travelling by boat across Lake Atitlan.  Participating in a Rally Day with students from a local school.  Playing soccer and basketball with school children.  Eating many exotic foods.  Riding in tuk tuks, chicken busses, planes, boats and backs of trucks.

Needless to say, each subtopic is worthy of its own paragraph.

Here is what some of the students had to say: “My trip to Guatemala was AMAZING! I am so glad that I was able to take part in this trip and be able to give something back. I would definitely like to do this trip again.” Anya “My favourite part about Guatemala was having the opportunity to improve people’s lives by building them a stove. The smiles on their faces made the entire trip worthwhile.” Ryan “The most memorable part of our trip to Guatemala were the children and the families. To see people with so little be so happy is a completely new experience after coming from such a materialistic society. They were always smiling and were never ungrateful.”

Collin “My favourite part was in Uspantan working with the people that show more appreciation than any Canadian I have ever met. The people that have absolutely nothing, just a tin roof over their head, and still give you a little bit of food and Pepsi which meant a lot. I loved Guatemala and I definitely want to go back. The

most interesting part of my trip was when helping build a stove, one Guatemalan mother decided that I would be a great husband for one of her daughters. They said I was adorable and had the ‘eyes of a doll.’ They asked me if I would stay and live there. My parents were happy to see that I declined the offer and chose to return to Calgary and finish high school.” Chris “The thing I enjoyed most about Guatemala was all the people. To meet all the people in the communities, going into their homes, and seeing how they live. All the people were so welcoming and grateful. They really made me feel amazing about the work we were doing. It was a life changing experience and I am glad I was given the opportunity to go!” Kayley “My favourite part of the Guatemala trip was definitely the time spent in Uspantan during the work week.

Getting to know the staff and spending time with the families in the villages and town was a great and humbling experience. I will never forget all the smiles I encountered throughout my time spent there.” Gabrielle

As a group, we would like to thank all the people who made this trip possible. We could not have had this experience if it wasn’t for the people who donated to our stove building, for the Hearts and Hands staff and for all our parents support.

For more detail on the trip, feel free to visit our blog at http://www.rundlecollegeinguatemala.blogspot.com Jason Rogers, Assistant Principal

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G UA T E M A L A T R I P C O N T I N U E D

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G UA T E M A L A T R I P C O N T I N U E D

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HONOR ROLL - REPORT 2 - 2010/2011 ELEMENTARY Excellence (90% - 100%) Miller, Adam (Gr. 6)

Gold (85% - 89%) Barter, Evan (Gr. 4) Bouma, Bram (Gr. 5)

Hansen, Julia (Gr. 5) Petti, Dominic (Gr. 6)

Silver (80% - 84%) Bruyn, Juliana (Gr. 4) Colwell, Taya (Gr. 4) Nakamura, Ryan (Gr. 4) Adamow-Boudreau, Sierra (Gr. 6) Collins, Jack (Gr. 5) Petti, Oliver (Gr. 5) Cottingham, Amy (Gr. 6) Geiger, Ross (Gr. 6)

Larmour, Nick (Gr. 6) Loughlin, Brandon (Gr. 6) Reeder, Sarah (Gr. 6) Robertson, Tyler (Gr. 6) Smith, Lara (Gr. 6)

Bronze (75% - 79%) Fischer-Essar, Jared (Gr. 4) Hadford, Adam (Gr. 5) Kloss, Mitchell (Gr. 5) Petropoulos, Cassandra (Gr. 5) Retzer, Nathan (Gr. 5) Bradley, Soren (Gr. 6) Brobbel, Jeremy (Gr. 6) Cronin, Liam (Gr. 6) Davis, Aia (Gr. 6)

Howe, Jackson (Gr. 6) Millions, Quintin (Gr. 6) Smith, Emily (Gr. 6) Yadav, Sneh (Gr. 6)

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Volume 8, Issue 7

HONOR ROLL - REPORT 2 - 2010/2011 JUNIOR HIGH Gold (85% - 89%) Graham, Dylan (Gr. 7) Smith, Max (Gr. 7) Stephen, Alix (Gr. 7) Berloni, Mia (Gr. 8) Hansen, Nicholas (Gr. 8)

Holloway, Curtis (Gr. 8) Olson, Cameron (Gr. 8) Halwas, Darian (Gr. 9) Scott, Ryan (Gr. 9)

Silver (80% - 84%) Brodylo, Robyn (Gr. 7) Budd, Payton (Gr. 7) Bridges, Jack (Gr. 7) Hillstead, Madison (Gr. 7) Hallson, Eric (Gr. 7) Huntley, Kennedy (Gr. 7) Tecklenburg, Cal (Gr. 7) Abdel-Keriem, Ramy (Gr. 8) Almond, Sydney (Gr. 8) Bhullar, Rajan (Gr. 8) Block, Nick (Gr. 8) Clarke, Sean (Gr. 8) Gaetz, Jaxon (Gr. 8)

Geskin, Auria (Gr. 8) Quantz, Taylor (Gr. 8) Read, Jeffrey (Gr. 8) Ramage, Colin (Gr. 8) Adams, Sam (Gr. 9) Dean, Jake (Gr. 9) Gardner, Doug (Gr. 9) Hardock, Jonathan (Gr. 9) Jones, Charlotte (Gr. 9) Maybee, Tristan (Gr. 9) Rasch, Conner (Gr. 9) Street, Emily (Gr. 9)

Bronze (75% - 79%) Champagne, Cali (Gr. 7) de Paiva, Max (Gr. 7) Hollohan, Brad (Gr. 7) Maxwell, Davis (Gr. 7) Rehill, J.T. (Gr. 7) Shields-Knutson, Madison (Gr. 7) Smith, Garrett (Gr. 7) Eichler, Oscar (Gr. 8) Farmer, Carmen (Gr. 8) Kaluznick, Georgia (Gr. 8)

McNeill, Denyn (Gr. 8) Rinehart, Liam (Gr. 8) Yee, Ashley (Gr. 8) Duus, Nic (Gr. 9) De Jager, Bailey (Gr. 9) Fox, Luke (Gr. 9) Heaton, Natalie (Gr. 9) Patel, Miraan (Gr. 9) Tempel, Oliver (Gr. 9)

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Volume 8, Issue 7

M O V E S M O U N TA I N S A W A R D S Awarded to students who overcome challenges academically or personally while displaying appropriate and positive behaviour.

Tal Preston Grade 6

Lucas Sampson Grade 9

Jordane Rood Grade 12

CITIZENSHIP AWARDS Awarded to students who display an aptitude in leadership, contribute to positive school climate and have a genuine concern for the well-being of others.

Oliver Petti Grade 5

Annette Berry Grade 5

Bram Bouma Grade 5

Sneh Yadav Grade 6

Sarah Reeder Grade 6

Emily Smith Grade 6

Will Berry Grade 6

Madison Shields-Knutson Grade 7

Ramy Abdel-Keriem Grade 8

Alex Moumdjian Grade 8

Lauren Reynolds Grade 9

Ryan Scott Grade 9

Jordane Rood Grade 12

Chandra Horth Grade 12

Tayton Harbaruk Grade 12

Lidia Jones Grade 12

Anya Curtis Grade 12

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Volume 8, Issue 7

EXTRA CURRICULAR AWARDS Awarded to students who exemplify the values of sportsmanship, participation, cooperation and team work.

Cal Tecklenburg Grade 7

Madison Shields-Knutson Grade 7

Mitchell Brons Grade 8

Curtis Holloway Grade 8

Rajan Bhullar Grade 8

Sean Clarke Grade 8

Alexis John Grade 10

Stefanie Mudry Grade 11

Danielle Vanderbeek Grade 11

Sarah Dowling Grade 11

Collin Levesque Grade 12

Emily Wood Grade 12

Cole Hendry Grade 12

Anya Curtis Grade 12

Tayton Harbaruk Grade 12

Olivia Adams Grade 12

Taylor Reich Grade 12

Chandra Horth Grade 12

Chris Huband Grade 12

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Volume 8, Issue 7

ACTIVITIES

FOR

APRIL

April 18

PAC Meeting (7:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.)

April 19

High School Report Cards Home

April 21

High School P/T Interviews (1:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M.) All students dismissed at 12:00 P.M.

April 22

Good Friday (No Classes)

April 28

Speaker Series – Secondary Transition Planning (7:00 P.M.)

May 5

Intramural Track and Field Meet (Glenmore Track)

May 6

Professional Development Day (No Classes)

May 12

Moves Mountains Breakfast (8:00 A.M.)

May 17

High School Track and Field Meet (Glenmore Track)

May 18

Grade 6 ELA Achievement Test – Part A

May 19

Grade 9 ELA Achievement Test – Part A

May 23

Victoria Day (No Classes)

REMINDER TO ALL PARENTS Senior High parents please call or email Ms. Pumphrey (250-2965 or pumphrey@rundle.ab.ca to book Parent/Teacher Interviews.

Look for morning announcements posted on the website www.rundleacademy.ab.ca Our Classroom Moodle Pages and our Division Portals sites are accessible from our homepage (www.rundleacademy.ab.ca).