December Newsletter

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December ~ 2010

J R / S R

H I G H

N E W S L E T T E R

Athletics, SH Citizens, Student Features

Arts, Charity & Volunteering

J unior H igh C itizens , A thletes , D ebate & S peech

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pages 4-5

page 6

Student Services page 7

Christmas Gala Stage West before the show began and a wide range of talents were showcased to bring in the spirit of the season.

This

year’s Gala, held on December 6, was a great success.

The audience of over 360 was entertained by the 28 acts presented by our senior high students.

People enjoyed the tasty buffet at

Thanks to all the Rundle families and staff who supported this wonderful event.

not only organized the entire fundraiser but also shaved her head for cancer. 25 other teachers and students also participated in shaving their lid for a kid. This event was a huge success. It takes $1 200 to send one child with cancer to camp. The money raised can send at least 35 kids to camp!

CHANCE Fundraiser

“Cancer”

is the scariest six-letter word in the dictionary because there are so many

unknowns. Cancer affects people of any race, gender, or age; 1 in 4 people will be diagnosed with cancer and 1 in 3 will die from it.

Rundle raised over $40 000 for the Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta. The money will be going to cancer research, hospital programs, funding for kids with cancer to

go to camp, and scholarships for cancer survivors. This fundraiser was the brainchild of grade 10 student Samantha Sirianni, who

Everyone has a cancer story because everyone is affected by it. Hopefully one day cancer will be a thing of the past.

December ~ 2010

Athletics update

The Rundle Football Cobras took the ing the cial

field in September as reignprovincial champions and left field November 27 as provinchampions again. The team

overcame some early-season adversity as QB Andrew Buckley went down with a broken collarbone. The Cobras won their last 7 games of the season, outscoring their opponents 321-77, and defeated firstranked Willow Creek in the South Final, matching them up against Holy Rosary from Lloydminister in the final. Led by seniors Andrew Buckley, Daniel Broodo, Emmett Tims, Thomas Moult and Travis Jozwiak, the Cobras jumped out to an early 21-0 first quarter lead and never looked back. Congratulations to all players and coaches!

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he grade 9 boys’ volleyball team completed their season on an extremely positive note, playing their best to defeat Calgary Christian School in the Alberta South Central Zone Championship final. The boys worked hard all season to prepare, and it was great to see it pay off.

Thank you to an outstanding group of parents for all their support and dedication over the course of the

season, and to the boys for their fantastic playing.

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he grade 8 boys’ volleyball team also had a very successful season.

Highlights include: the AVA volleyball clinic; U of C Dinos volleyball game; 2nd place finish at the Volleydome tournament; top 6 finish at the Rally Pointe tournament; 3rd place finish at the CISAA final league tournament. Mrs. Kowal and Mrs. Laidlaw would like to thank the boys for a fantastic season, and the parents, staff and students for their support.

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ones were held at Rundle on November 20. After losing to Strathmore in round robin play, the grade 9 girls’ volleyball team won their first game to Trinity Christian School after being down 11-0! They moved on to the bronze medal match and played an outstanding game. The team placed third at zones after beating Strathmore. This exceptional group of young athletes proved that they have talent, drive and determination and should be proud of their accomplishments!

Champs staged an impressive comeback to lay claim to the 4 on 4 intramural volleyball championship title.

Team members Nicole Gellner, Andrew Thomas, Adam Wasyliw and Jeremy Chan played an excellent season and were very deserving of the win.

Thank you to all teams, teachers and students who came out to play.

Dodgeball is now going on at lunch hour.

The senior boys’ basketball team has been finalized and the team has a great season ahead. They will be playing in four tournaments this month. Come out and see them play at Rundle on December 15.

The grade 9 girls’ basketball team was picked on November 23 after two tryouts. The girls have a busy schedule over the next few months, competing in four different tournaments, including our home tournament on January 14-15.

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he high school wrestlers compete in their first tournament of the year in the Wrestling Classic on November 27 in both novice and elite. Gold medalists were Duncan Warltier, Michila Scherger and Natasha Mitha, while Patrick Tapuska captured a silver.

On December 4, we had three tournaments. It was a busy but successful day for Rundle Grapplers. At the U of C Junior Olympics, gold medalists were Mitchell Besplug, Meghan Lim and Bohdan Winnicki; silver went to Jolene Wong, and bronze to Rhys Kramer and Jack Price. At the Western Rookie Tournament gold medalists were Emily Buchanan, Natasha Mitha and Brittney Giacchetta, while

B a s ke t b a l l r o s t e r s m a y b e fo u n d o n t h e next page.

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The grade 7 girls ’ vo l l e y b a l l t e a m h a d an undefeated seas o n , w i n n i n g t h e I S A A League Ch a m p i o n s h i p s .

M e t o We I n s e r v i c e

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undle hosted a Me to We Inservice on Monday, November 29. There were approximately 100 staff and students in attendance from 18 schools in Alberta. We had 5 students (Claudia, Madison, Gabby, Jake and Thomas) and 3 staff (Ms Ross, Ms Dunsford and Ms Baird) attend. The team of six from Vancouver, along with Spencer

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grand total of 5 medals! Mitchell Besplug, who remains undefeated this season, won the gold; Lauren Kruger brought home a silver, and bronze medals went to Daniel Krayzel, Jack Price, and Meghan Lim. We are looking forward to hosting our championship on December 8 at Rundle.

West, a motivational speaker, spent the day facilitating workshops that would help staff and students promote civic engagement and social responsibility. The highlight was

ongratulations to the junior high wrestlers, who have had many successes over the past few weeks. The team competed at the Tom Baines tournament and brought home a Spencer’s keynote address on overcoming daily challenges, finding strength from within, and encouraging everyone to take action on issues they are passionate about and the opportunity to share with likeminded people. Once again, our students were excellent ambassadors for Rundle.

Amanda Lambie captured the silver medal. Lastly, at the King of the Mat Elite tournament gold medalists were Michila Scherger and Duncan Warltier with Justin So and Patrick Tapuska taking home the silver. Duncan now represents Alberta in a national competition to try to gain a spot on Team Canada and go on a tour to Japan, while Justin and Patrick will be the alternates for Team Alberta.

The Rundle

Cobras Rugby website will soon be up and running. It will detail news, player bios, results, tour information and more!

December ~ 2010

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Senior High Citizens of the Month Andrew Edy displays a positive attitude and a willingness to help make Rundle a better place. Andrew is a member of the football team and was a participant in the head shave to raise money for the Kids Cancer Care Foundation. He has put a lot of his own time and effort into helping with the fundraising effort, and his contributions and enthusiasm have helped Rundle exceed its goal.

An attentive and diligent student, Andrea Sanchez-Ponton will go out of her way to help those in need, students and teachers alike.

Her positive nature is always on display, awarding those around her the warmth of her smile. Her thoughtfulness and generosity are appreciated.

David Fennell was a dominant player on the football team throughout the season, taking a leadership role as one of the captains. David has balanced a rigorous athletic schedule with his academic responsibilities. His quiet sense of humour and encouragement of others help to make Rundle a great place to be!

Chevonne Codd is full of character and always smiling. She was recently involved in the Baskets of Hope fundraiser and took it upon herself to recruit other travel club members to help. She has been actively involved in Peer Support. She has a great attitude and can balance having fun and getting down to business.

Ja s m a n B o p a r a i & W I S E S T

All my life I have wanted to do something that would make both me and my parents proud. At seventeen, I have realized that I have the opportunity to explore different careers available in science and technology; it becomes overwhelming to make the right choice.

With the help of the WISEST program, I have had the opportunity of placing myself in a new situation, which at the end was the best decision of my life.

I was really nervous to live in Edmonton for six weeks, but towards the end I was able to walk downtown with confidence. This program has transformed me into a mature and outgoing adult, which would not have happened if I sat at home all summer. I consider myself lucky that I got to experience university before my classmates.

My project for the summer focused on

oil sands tailings water. Tailings ponds are made to hold wet waste that is collected during the process of extracting oil. There are many toxic organic wastes produced; however, the most concerning by-products are naphthenic acids. Petroleum coke has been proposed to help remove naphthenic acids.

To prove this we performed adsorption equilibrium tests. I used and calibrated both pH and electrical conductivity probes, as well as performed extractions on treated tailings pond water for FT-IR spectrometry. I used new instruments like a fluorescence spectrometer, UV-VIS spectrometer, microtox, centrifuge and agitator. I also chemically activated petroleum coke to increase its surface area and porosity. This gave me a chance to use new chemicals that I have never seen or heard of before. Throughout my research, the most valuable skill that I developed was

Dan Broodo is being recognized for his contributions on and off the football field. On the field, he has been a key cog in a provincial championship team. Off the field, his hard work, positive attitude and infectious smile make him a pleasure to teach, popular amongst his peers and a great role model.

Stephanie Horner is a proud Rundle student, and nowhere is it more evident than when she is leading the cheers for Rundle’s football team. Her dynamic personality is contagious, and she is very involved in peer support, where she helped with the bullying prevention week, and is also planning a senior high volunteer day. She is willing to step out of her comfort zone and has grown tremendously as a student. patience. I had to sit for hours in one place to wait for one test to be done, but it was worth it.

WISEST has helped me open my eyes to a career in research. I am leaving the program with my head held high, knowing that I am not alone in trying to find the right career. One of the most valuable pieces of information I took from this program was that I need to find a career that fits into the kind of person I am. If I make the wrong choice, there is always time to change directions.

I would like to thank the WISEST staff for their outstanding work in making this program run as smoothly as possible, and the sponsors for their continued support. I would also like to thank Christina Small and Dr. Hashisho for allowing me to work in their labs this summer. Without these amazing people I would never have had this great experience.

a s k e t ba l l

Senior Varsity Boys Brandon Giacchetta Michael Walls Nick Fowler Joel Lindsay Brendan Stewart Daniel Broodo Dylan Amirault Sam Sawchuk Sam Dawson Abhi Toor Garrett Copp Grade 9 Girls Chella Thornton Rachel Sartor Hunter Sykes Jordan Ng Megan Beitel Danielle Fung Megan Mackie Erin Osler Madison Bridal Jessie Losch Meg Buchanan Morgan Gregg Alyssa Barry Grade 8 Girls Ellie Maclennan Alexa Chin Kathleen Seto Aliya McTavish Mackenzie Gellner Morgan Saunders Kelsea Gorzo Saige Andreychuck Chelsea Hamming Jane Moult Annika Naylor Robyn Fiell Emily Allen Grade 7 Girls Alexandra Greenslade Hallie Brown Christiana Bellusci Jenna Magus Natalie McVicar Megan Williams Erin Seto Mackenzie Munro Elise Buck Natalie Terriff Anna Watt Brianna Caldwell Navreen Kahlon

This year’s senior spring production is Arthur Miller’s classic The Crucible. Set in 1692 Salem but inspired by the McCarthy era, the play is based on real people during the “witch” hunts. Auditions are open to any student in grade nine to twelve and will be held from

B r e a k fa s t T e l e v i s i o n

Senior spring production

December ~ 2010

January 4 to 18. There are 30 acting roles available and an additional 30 technical positions. Pick up an “Audition Package” from the stage, then sign up for an audition time on the stage door. Rehearsals begin in February, tickets are available in March and the performances are scheduled for May 4 to 6. This

popular Broadway play will sell out, so be sure to get your tickets ahead of time!

If there are any parents interested in helping sew some simple costumes for the large cast, please email snowden@rundle.ab.ca.

Ms. Snowden

O n N ove m b e r 1 6 , H a n n a h C aw s ey, Ta y l o r We l s h a n d M s L eve s q u e w e r e g u e s t s o n B r e a k fa s t Te l ev i s i o n , h o s t e d

Photography Club

by Jill Belland at Cardell Place. The students, who were participating in the

and creative ability in his photos.

Hannah’s unique perspective shows the feeling and emotion that goes into taking a photograph. The bold images created by Alifia stand apart as she explores her creative side.

C a r d e l l A r t - A - T h o n , w e r e i n t e r v i ew e d b y J i l l r ega r d i n g t h e i r a r t . T h e c o n t e s t is open to all high school students in C a l ga r y, g iv i n g s t u d e n t s t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o s h owc a s e t h e i r t a l e n t s a n d p o s s ibly win part of a scholarship purse of $ 6 7 0 0 . T h e t h e m e f o r t h e a r t wo r k s h o u l d

Photography

students meet on Thursdays at lunch to explore the world through a lens. They share their images based on a common theme or topic discussing the basic art concepts and how they relate to the image.

Taryn brings diversity though her worldly images, while Duncan shows technical understanding

Photography club is a great break from the status quo and academic life at Rundle.

ing opportunities for summer 2011?

If you are, check out the leadership booklet for conferences and camps being held throughout Canada and the US. Whether your interests are in arts, science, outdoor education, politics, sports, or in developing basic leadership skills, there is sure to be an opportunity for you. Please

p i l l a r s o f w e l l n e s s – s o c i a l , p hy s i c a l , intellectual, emotional or spiritual. The s t u d e n t s wo r ke d o u t s i d e o f r eg u l a r c l a s s time to complete their pieces.

several lined up. If you are aware of any organizations that could use volunteers on May 5, please contact Ms. Baird.

Vo l u n t e e r i n g & l e a d e r s h i p

Students, are you looking for excit-

b e r e p r e s e n t a t ive o f c o m m u n i t y, s p o r t , r e c r e a t i o n , e t h n i c d ive r s i t y, o r t h e five

get a copy of the booklet from Ms Baird or check on the website under Parent Resources.

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uatemala travelers are very busy planning their first fundraiser, a Winter Carnival, which will be held on Wednesday, December 15, during both the junior and senior lunch hours. There will be carnival games,

activities, treats and an opportunity to dress up in the winter carnival theme. Please support our activity as we raise money for scholarships for Guatemalan students.

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arents, we need your help! A committee of prefects and Peer Support leaders are planning a volunteer afternoon for the senior high in the spring. We are looking for volunteer placements for 250 students.

We have contacted all the major organizations in Calgary and have

R u n d l e s t u d e n t s a t t e n d W E D a y i n Va n c o u v e r

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articipating in WE Day was a life-changing experience. Not only

did it bring together thousands of kids who have the desire to make a change in the world, but it brought unity to the idea that “we’re all in this together”. With the help of many inspirational and experienced speakers such as Al

Gore, Jesse Jackson, Martin Sheen, Rick Hansen and Spencer West, the

The peer tutoring program is up and running. Senior high students will be matched up with junior high students to work on their academic subjects. Tutors will also be able to assist junior high students with organization, study skills, test taking skills and time management.

They will meet for half an hour a week up until midterms at the end of January. If you are interested, please talk to Ms. Dunsford before winter break. whole crowd left the building knowing that our generation can create a new revolution of change. With the performances of Colbie Caillat, Hedley and Barenaked Ladies, this day was also a really inspiring concert! Being part of this international conference made us feel so fortunate.

Tegan Powell & Abby Collyer

December ~ 2010

Rundle and HANDS give warmth to Nepal

The

junior high students were very busy gathering used and new winter clothing to send over to remote regions in Nepal through H.A.N.D.S (Helping Across Nepal Development Society). As part of the grade 7 science curriculum, the students have been studying how heat is generated, transferred and maintained, as well as how heat technology can help in our daily lives. This inquiry inspired the students and teachers to assemble over 48 ‘warmth bags’ for our Nepalese friends this winter!

Dance Shoes for Cuban Soles

Last year, the Rundle senior band and senior girls’ basketball team visited Cuba. While we were there, we met dancers from the Escuela de Danza and talked about sending over dance shoes from Canada for their studio.

Please bring in any gently used pairs that you may have and we will send them to Cuba for their dancers.

Bamfield Trip The Science 10 Honours trip to the Bamfield Marine Science Center is quickly approaching! Students will be departing on Friday, January 28, and returning on Tuesday, February 1.

A parent meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, January 11, at 6:30 pm in the multipurpose room. The meeting will review important trip details, packing and equipment requirements and allergy/medical information. Students are more than welcome to attend.

I would ask that all parents of students on the trip RSVP, whether or not they are attending the meeting, no later than January 3. I look forward to seeing you there!

Melissa Mann

Ms. Woods would like to thank the students and parents who purchased a Nepalese necklace to help offset the shipping costs of these warmth bags.

Over $1 400 was collected and these

their time, support and organization;

funds will go directly to shipping costs and the purchasing of school supplies for children in the remote villages of Daya, Mangalson, Rale, and Biraltali. Your help will raise awareness of the social issues surrounding the importance of heat, literacy and education to the future of the young residents of this region.

The H.A.N.D.S team left for Nepal on November 20 and will return in December with reports and pictures of their experiences to share with our students.

- Scenic Acres Dental Centre (Drs Donlevy and Metha) for their generous donation of over 200 toothbrushes (www.scenicsmiles.com);

Ms. Woods would also like to thank the following people:

If you would like to get an information brochure, help build schools in Nepal, donate, or purchase a handcrafted necklace, please contact Ms. Woods.

- The grade 7 science teachers for

- Rundle parents who sewed the beautiful cozy fleece neck warmers; - Rundle families, friends and staff who donated many winter goods; - All of the students who purchased handcrafted Nepalese necklaces to pay for the shipping cost of the bags.

Ju n i o r h i g h vo l u n t e e r i n g

Rundle College “adopted” ten seniors through Santa’s Secret Service this year.

Several classrooms took this project on as a homeroom mission to help others, and our very generous office staff also got involved. The gift bags were just beautiful and full of things that will help lonely seniors know that people still care about them. Thanks to all of you who made this possible.

the direct recipient of proceeds from the tree sales.

Customers were very complimentary of our students’ manners and helpful enthusiasm. They are now expert tree finders in case anyone needs some advice.

We

still have lots of positions open for our Rundle Family Food Bank Day on Saturday, January 8.

There are both morning and afternoon shifts available. Please visit our volunteer website to learn more about this fun family volunteering day, and to sign up for the event.

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Members

of the Community Service team were out for two nights working at the IKEA tree lot. These eager young volunteers braved the cold to help the Calgary Food Bank,

they played a very important role in ensuring that needy children have gifts from Santa this year.

We had our first family volunteer experience of the year in helping the Salvation Army fill Christmas wish lists from needy Calgary families. Family members became “elf ” teams, running through the warehouse and selecting the perfect gifts for the children on their list. It was great to see so many of our families volunteering together, and

s. Ross was asked to be on the planning committee responsible for setting up the educational programming for the new Klein Environmental Park. This is going to be a “state of the art” wetlands education destination for all students and will add another valuable opportunity to get our classes out into the natural world.

Ju n i o r H i g h C i t i z e n s o f t h e M o n t h

December ~ 2010

Courtney Bashnick is an impeccable student and a wonderful person.

In class, she is diligent, hardworking and absolutely committed to success. Her charming, kind and respectful demeanor as well as her wonderful zest for life are among Courtney’s most beautiful qualities.

Thaddeus Chong is a very positive and energetic individual. Thaddeus is involved in many different activities, including volunteer club, art club and newspaper; he also excels in the classroom, working extremely hard to earn outstanding marks.

Thaddeus is an amazing artist and has a natural talent for making presentations. He is respected by all his peers and gets along very well with his classmates.

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Mitchell Besplug (7)

9 parents are invited to the Evening of the Academics & Open House dealing with grade 9 academic preparations for Rundle senior high, as well as high school in general. The meeting will be held on January 6, at 6:30 p.m. at the Jr./Sr. High. An invitation will be mailed to all grade 9 parents the second week of December outlining the agenda for the evening.

Maxime Behrman (8)

n Tuesday, November 16, three Rundle debate teams competed at the Calgary Science School Tournament: Jenice Ma & Sophie Thornton Ben MacGillivray & Ian Morris Megan Beitel & Jane MacGillivray

Paula Rooney (9)

Dylan Morrow (9)

All three teams competed with great skill. Special mention to Sophie and Jenice for their 6th place finish out of 27 teams. Sophie and Ben also scored very well as individual speakers, placing 5th and 7th respectively out of 54 competitors.

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Alex Spurgeon (FA)

What can one say about Sadie Tims? She is energetic, dramatic, enthusiastic about everything, hardworking, helpful, sweet, kind, and one of the most talented young ladies around. Her work with the junior high drama production was stellar and she is well deserving of this award. Congratulations, Sadie!

Pa r e n t m e e t i n g , d eb a t e , s p e e ch & s c i e n c e

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Ellie Maclennan (8)

of the Renaissance individual at Rundle. She is involved in the school play and achieved Honours with Distinction in the first reporting period; she is a member of the cross country team, as well as the grade 9 girls’ volleyball and basketball teams. Meg is a kind, caring individual who works hard and is a leader among her peers.

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Grade

Elise Buck (7)

Meg Buchanan is an example

Jack Evans (FA)

n November 30, the debate club hosted its second annual tourna-

James Bouchard started grade 9 with a noticeable desire to have an outstanding year. The grade 9 boys’ volleyball team and WEB leaders have benefited from his involvement thus far. In the classroom his positive attitude, sense of humour and enthusiasm have made him a leader.

He demonstrates perseverance and an undaunted spirit that have been an example to all.

Hannah Magus is a true role model to her peers. She is a kind and caring person who was very active in the recent Shave Your Lid For A Kid fundraiser. Hannah is a “quiet hero” who is always looking for ways to help others. She has an amazingly positive outlook and is passionate about making her school and her community a better place. generous financial donation to help fund this event.

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ment. Ten schools from around the city, with a total of 108 debaters, competed that evening. About 100 Rundle student, parent, and staff volunteers helped to make this event a success. The 10 Rundle debate teams were as follows:

he Rundle Speech Club competed at Lester B. Pearson on Friday, November 19. A big ‘well done’ to Cayley Wreggitt, who competed in Solo Acting; Sam Sirianni, competing in Original Oratory; and Christina Welch, Michila Scherger, and Nicholas Welch for Impromptu.

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Megan Beitel & Jane MacGillivray Odelle Ma & Chella Thornton Madison Bridal & Lisha Yu Danielle Chang & Safira Keshavjee Jenice Ma & Sophie Thornton Ben MacGillivray & Ian Morris Matt Beitel & Nick Welch Jolene Wong & Omar Razavi Hayden Munn & Elise Buck Anna Watt & Megan Williams

wo teams of hardy science buccaneers accepted the challenge to design and build a cardboard boat and then race it across the swimming pool at SAIT as part of the Skills Canada annual competition.

The design and building went well, but the boats were not very seaworthy and they didn’t manage to make it from one end to the other.

However, our students had a lot of fun, learned about teamwork, and are now anxious to take what they learned and design a better boat for next year’s race.

Special congratulations to Danielle and Safira for their bronze medal in a pool of 28 teams.

The cast and crew of “24 Reasons Not To Be In A Play” had a successful run on November 23 and 24! We had so much fun and sincerely appreciate everyone who came out to support us.

Until next year...

Thank you to the Welch family and McDaniel and Associates for their

STUDENT SERVICES Post Secondary Newsletter December 2010

Diploma Exam Preparation: With January diploma exams fast approaching, several educational institutions offer diploma preparation courses. These are: Chinook Learning Services offers the Power Week & Power Weekend with over 15 hours of instruction each.

The ELA 30-1 Reboot course offers 40 hours of instruction. www.chinooklearning.services.com.

Abacus Exam Prep offers two days of review per subject. Register online at www.AbacusReview.com.

Renert Tutoring Centre offers tutoring, as well as Diploma Review Courses. www.RenertOnline.com.

Scholarships:

US College Admission Tests

U of Calgary Prestige Awards have an application deadline of December 15, 2010. The website to research these scholarships is http://wcmprod2.ucalgary.ca/awards/awards.

ACT The next test date is February 12th with a registration deadline of January 7th, 2011. Go to www.act.org to register and view locations in Alberta to write.

Toyota Earth Day Scholarship Program helps cultivate and nurture this environmental leadership.

The value of these 15 awards is $5000 each annually.

The application can be found online at www.earthday.ca/scholarship/application.php.

The deadline is January 31, 2011.

SAT The next SAT testing date is on May 7th with a registration deadline of April 8th, 2011. Visit www.collegeboard.com to register. Test writing center is Bishop Carroll High School.

U of Alberta Entrance Scholastic Distinction Scholarship recognizes the top academic students with 95% or above in grades 10-12. Deadline: Feb 15, 201 U of A Online Chat session: Students are invited to join university and faculty representatives for the following "Explore the U of A" online Chat session on December 14 - 7pm to 9pm.

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Ms. Sarah Dunsford, Director of Student Services 403-250-7180 ~ dunsford@rundle.ab.ca