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November ~ 2010
J R / S R Athletics Update page 2
H I G H
N E W S L E T T E R
Senior High Citizens, Graduation & Student Focus
J unior H igh C itizens & G eneral I nformation
Special Student Activities & Senior High Trips
page 3
page 4
page 7
office hours
Christmas Gala
Preparations are already underway for the Christmas Gala on Monday, December 6! This annual event brings the community together for a wonderful evening of fantastic food and student entertainment. The Stage West doors open at six and dinner will be served until 7:45. From 8 to 9:30, senior high students will participate in the Christmas show they have put together based on the theme of “family”. Both the dinner seating and entertainment can be currently booked
through the office for $42 per person. Please note that all dinner arrangements must be booked no later than November 30 at the front office. Performers are also expected to purchase their seat in advance. An acknowledgement of risk form will be brought home with participants and must be returned to the office by Monday, November 29. Put on some Christmas finery and come on out for a great night of food, fun, entertainment and Rundle spirit. It’s a great way to begin the season!
Front Office Monday-Friday 7:45 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Thank-you to Mrs. Belt and Mrs. Cram for the costume donations to the drama department. If you have any costumes, hangers or bins that you would like to donate, please email Ms. Snowden.
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A number of Rundle students attended leadership conferences over the summer. Please see pages 8-12 for a special feature about them.
Senior High Office Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Friday 7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Student Attend ance Please contact the office with your child’s absence at 403-250-7180 or email to: Junior High School - Mrs. Laidlaw (laidlaw@rundle.ab.ca.) Senior High School - Ms. Moodie (moodie@rundle.ab.ca) Parents will be contacted if any student is absent without parent/ guardian permission.
Speech tournament achievements
The speech club has had a wonderful start. The first tournament was at Strathcona Tweedsmuir. In the senior category, Duncan Warltier got a silver in poetry, Christina Welch took the silver in Impromptu, and Sam Sirianni was awarded a silver in Original Oratory. Jaclyn Hiebert scored 4th in Prose on her first time out. Cayley won a Bronze in Poetry, as did Michila Scherger
in Impromptu. For the juniors, Chelsea Hamming took the bronze in Original Oratory, Annika Naylor took 4th in Poetry, Nicholas Welch took 4th in Impromptu, and Michael Broodo scored 4th in Prose. All the juniors were trying it for the first time! Our second tournament was only two weeks after the first, and
was held at Diefenbaker. For the seniors, Michila took the gold in Impromptu, while Jaclyn scored a bronze in Poetry. Cayley took 4th in Prose. For the juniors, Nick won a silver in Impromptu. Well done, everyone, and thanks to all our judges: Mrs. Scherger, Mrs. Shaw, Mr. Welch, and Mrs. Hiebert. Our next tournament will be November 19 at Pearson.
November ~ 2010
Athletics update
T he
grade 7 girls’ volleyball team cleaned up at their home tournament on Friday, October 8. They remained undefeated throughout the day and were proud to take home gold medals for their efforts. Thanks to the parents for organizing all the food, and to Coach Montgomery for organizing the tournament.
The team completed their league play undefeated, beating Webber Academy in the final regular season match. The boys traveled to Brooks to compete in the Brooks Junior High School Invitational tournament on October 23, which resulted in defeating Crowther Memorial from Strathmore in two straight sets to win the gold medal match. The boys will be working very hard in the final three weeks of their season to prepare for the Alberta South Central Zones, which we will be hosting on November 20.
Grade 7 boys’ volleyball – We’ve
The grade 9 girls’ volleyball team
had an excellent season so far! The boys are working hard to improve their skills and are showing dedication and teamwork. Special thanks to Coach Shauna Denney for her commitment to the team this year.
The grade 9 boys’ volleyball team continued to play well in October.
finished fourth in the Red Deer Lake tournament and third in the Rally Pointe tournament. The team is in third position and training hard for league and zone finals in November. Rundle will host the South Central Zone Finals on November 20!
The senior boys’ varsity volleyball
Biology 30 honours activities
On
Wednesday, October 6, the Biology 30 honours class welcomed Dr. Rick Buckley, who shared his experiences as an orthopaedic trauma surgeon with the students. The case studies he shared and the examples of tools used in surgery and reconstruction definitely made for an atypical class. Jasman Boparai enjoyed the wrist cast made by Dr. Buckley, assisted by Michelle Chang. The cast was safely removed by the saw held in position by Justin Ma under the strict supervision of Dr. Buckley.
On Friday, October 15, Mrs. Belt’s Biology 30 honours class attended the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Discovery Day in Health Sciences at the University of Calgary Health
Sciences Centre (Foothills campus). Jasman Boparai’s experience: There are many careers available in the field of medicine. In one of the workshops that I attended, we had the chance to see cadavers. One thing that surprised me about one of the cadavers was that their body was formed completely opposite of an ideal “normal body.” Their heart was on the right side; their liver was on the left side. It was amazing that this person lived a normal life. It allowed me to see that one individual is not the same as another. Through this program, I was able to reconsider medicine as an option. I was also able to talk to students in med school and get their opinion on it. I suggest this program
team began the year in Canmore at the Mountain Volley Invitational Tournament. The boys sailed through round robin play, winning 4 of 5 matches. In the quarterfinals they came up against a tough Canmore side and were defeated in a close match. They followed up that tournament with strong performances at the Cobra Cup and the Super South Classic where they defeated both Lethbridge teams and came together as a team. The squad is led by returning power hitter and all-star Evan Morrow, and the versatile all-round play of Andrew Thomas. The team should be in contention to challenge for a spot at provincials come mid-November. Until then, they have tournaments in Edson and at Bishop O’Byrne. Volleyball team listings are on the next page.
The
football program has continued its success in the Big Sky Conference this year, going 5-1 and to other students that would like to know what kinds of things doctors and university students have to face every day. Jennifer Cozzi’s experience: We had the opportunity to listen to a speech by a neurologist, a career panel by various professionals, as well as attend two workshops. My first workshop was by far the most fun, as we were able to learn how to suture wounds (on a pig’s foot), intubate and breathe for a person, and perform a procedure where a tube is placed from the nose to a patient’s stomach (with the help of plastic mannequins). It was surprising how long many of the speakers had gone to school. Some were still attending classes to further their medical knowledge after fifteen years. It was a great experience, and it helped me gain a better understanding of what a career in the medical field would really be like.
securing a first-place finish in league play. The football team starts its playoff run this Saturday at Shouldice field against Innisfail. The team has been led by veteran players Andrew Buckley, Daniel Broodo, Emmett Tims and Thomas Moult. Two grade 11 standouts have been David Fennell and Josh Muruve. In addition to our league games, the Cobras played the Foothills Falcons, last year’s Tier II Provincial Champions, in an exhibition game on October 7. Although we led at half-time, the game finished 45-30 in favour of the Falcons. Best of luck to the team as they head into the final leg of the season!
It has been an excellent and hardfought intramural flag football season, with the favorite teams being upset by Mr. Forman’s Quarks and Mr. Goettel’s Etruscan Pottery Makers. In the final championship game, the Etruscan Pottery Makers made use of all-star QB Andrew Buckley to defeat the hardworking Quarks, laying claim to the coveted Cobra Cup. After a fierce see-saw battle in the sunny month of October, the Etruscan Pottery Makers emerged victorious with 44-31 margin in the final. They then
gained the right to play the junior high all-stars in a game for football supremacy. The senior high team again emerged victorious to cap off a perfect season. Congratulations to the following members of the Etruscan Pottery Makers: Mr. Goettel, Andrew Buckley, Garrett Copp, Stephen Neveu, Joel Lindsay, Jake McKenna, Andrew Miles, Bijaan Lalani and Nico Scarcello. Intramural volleyball is now underway.
November ~ 2010
V
Senior High Citizens of the Month Samantha Sirianni is an enthusias-
Jenna Westaway is a positive and
tic student who is making a positive contribution to Rundle. She not only excels in the classroom and in the speech club, but Samantha has put her energy into raising money and awareness for the Kids Cancer Care Foundation by participating in the upcoming Shave Your Lid For A Kid campaign. Keep up the good work, Sam!
active member of the school community. She maintains high grades and is a valued leader on the prefect team; she has already been instrumental in organizing the Rundle Olympics and the Halloween activities. She also finds time to compete in cross-country.
Joel Lindsay is a very deserving recipient. Since the beginning of the school year, he has displayed his maturity in starting high school. Joel is very kind and respectful to teachers and to his peers. He is a very conscientious student and looks for ways to keep involved in the school.
Gabriel Lo is being honored as a citizen of the month because of his great work ethic and continuous appreciation for learning. He is a fantastic role model and peer, as I [Mr Blum] have observed many times from the help that he provides to those around him. Way to go, Gabe!
Student focus: Hannah Magus
On September 25, Hannah Magus
was part of the Kids Helping Kids Celebration at the Children’s Hospital. Along with many other children, Hannah was honoured for giving back to the hospital in the form of a donation. On May 6, 2009, Hannah was diagnosed with osteosarcoma of the right femur – the same bone cancer Terry Fox had. She endured ten weeks of chemotherapy and then had nineteen centimetres of her femur removed and replaced with a metal endoprosthesis that also included a full knee replacement. During this time a friend of Hannah’s family had yellow silicone bracelets made for her that said “Hope For Hannah”. Almost $10 000 was raised for the Children’s Hospital and the Oncology Unit. This amount included the CN Miracle Match in September 2009. Hannah was
interviewed by Gord Gilles at the Kids Helping Kids Celebration and stressed the importance of giving back and that anyone – young or old – can make a difference. Hannah continues to be involved
with fundraisers and is very thankful for the support she received from her friends and family. On December 2, Rundle will be hosting the Shave Your Lid For A Kid fundraiser; proceeds will go to the Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta.
Duncan Warltier extends his leadership from the wrestling mat to the classroom and beyond. He has a genuine desire to learn, setting high standards for himself and encouraging others to strive for excellence. He has a passion for literature and photography, but does not shy away from new things, accepting challenges with positive determination.
Sarah Lewanski continues to shine. She is a positive member of the graduating class, working hard to make the most of her final year at Rundle. Sarah has an outgoing personality, is helpful and always eager to learn. She also volunteers at school, in the community and participates in both art and fitness clubs. Great job, Sarah.
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Ongoing Activity: Cobra Convoy Details: Calendar of all Rundle events, activities and sports games posted on the main floor in order to encourage students to go and support one another. November-December Activity: Peer tutoring Details: Students from senior high tutor junior high students at weekly sessions. October-December Activity: Volunteer opportunities board Details: Promote opportunities in community and track hours so that students can be recognized for their volunteer work. November 17 Activity: Bullying prevention pre sentations Details: Members will present to grade 7 students in PE classes about bullying.
o ll e y b all
Grade 7 Girls Emily Graham Natalie Terriff Neve Russell Brianna Caldwell Mathea Johannson Mackenzie Munro Emily Bodell Anna Watt Casidy Cain Hallie Brown Sophie Thornton Elise Buck Senior Varsity Boys Andrew Thomas Clay Wearmouth Jared Reinhart Brandon Giachetta Jake McKenna Thomas Singleton Evan Morrow Steven Neveu Robert Pearce Liam Pattemore
Graduation If you are a parent of a grade 12 child, please mark the following dates on your calendar: June 8 – Graduation Ceremonies June 10 – Graduation Dinner and Dance Plans for the class of 2011 graduation are well underway, with dates already secured for grad photos (early March) and grad rings. A representative from Jostens will be at RC on Tuesday, November 23 (lunch hour) to assist students who wish to purchase a grad ring. Expect more info to be emailed home in early November; students will also be given a Jostens ring catalogue. Should you have any questions about graduation, please do not hesitate to contact Ms Baird, the graduation coordinator.
November ~ 2010
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 Meghan Lim is an outstanding Allison Chan is a model of efficiency and consistency. Day after day, she comes to school with the same positive attitude, desire to succeed and wonderful work ethic. She is a kind, polite and respectful individual who has earned and fully deserves the respect of her peers and teachers.
Sophie Thornton has impressed her teachers and fellow students with her academics, athletics and citizenship. She is keen to learn and works hard to maintain a very high academic standard. Sophie is an eager participant in any athletic event and has demonstrated leadership qualities in all her classes.
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Robyn Fiell (8)
Max Scarcello (7)
Dylan White (8)
like to remind parents of the grade 8 Edgewater parent meeting on Tuesday, November 9, at 7:00 pm in the multipurpose room. A presentation will also be made to the students on Monday, November 8 in their PE classes. A letter outlining details of both the trip and the meeting should be emailed home in early November. If you have any questions about the meeting or trip, do not hesitate to contact Ms. Hews.
On
October 20, the junior high debate season began with the Langevin School Debate Tournament. Rundle was represented very well by five teams:
Chella Thornton (9)
Aaron Lim (9)
Kathryn Anderson (FA) Riley McVeigh (FA)
Dana Will exhibits the characteristics of a Rundle citizen, as she is a respectful, sincere, and positive individual. In class, she is a hardworking student that is willing to help her classmates. On the grade 8 girls’ volleyball team, Dana is a team player, always supporting and encouraging her teammates.
E d g e w a t e r, d e b a t e & v o l u n t e e r i n g
t u d e n t s
Ms. Hews and Mr. Eremko would
Brianna Caldwell (7)
example of the Rundle College spirit. She is an excellent academic student who is an active participant in the athletics program. At the grade eight student volunteering outing at Camp Kindle, Meghan was a consistent worker on the trails and displayed her pioneering spirit by outworking all of the other students. Her hard work was truly exemplary.
Sophie Thornton and Jenice Ma Ben MacGillivray and Ian Morris Matt Beitel and Nick Welch Omar Razavi and Kaan Yilmaz Elise Buck and Hayden Munn All the debaters showed great enthusiasm and gained a lot of valuable experience for the upcoming season. Special congratulations go
out to Ben MacGillivray and Ian Morris for their second-place finish
Catherine Fuller is known for her considerate and generous attitude. She is thoughtful, inclusive and always willing to go out of her way to help those around her, including when she helped create this year’s house banner. She is a sincere role model and exceptional citizen who is very deserving of recognition.
Tori Powell’s motivation to succeed is second to none. She is a strong academic student who works very hard and always remains humble and modest about her ability. She is a kind and inclusive individual who works well with everyone. Tori is also an active member of the Rundle WEB leaders.
very excited to be hosting and hoping to have many Rundle teams competing at this event. Parent judges as well as senior high and junior high volunteers will be needed to help run this tournament. If you have questions or would like to volunteer, please contact Mrs. Kim.
The out of 32 teams as well as Sophie Thornton and Jenice Ma, who placed fourth. Ben also placed third in the individual speaker category. Sophie, Ian, and Omar also placed in the top 10 – this is a truly commendable feat amongst 64 debaters. Congratulations to all!
Rundle
will once again host a junior high impromptu debate tournament. The date is set for Tuesday, November 30. The debate club is
The cast and crew of “24 Reasons Not To Be In A Play” have been working hard and are excited about the upcoming performances on November 23 & 24. Tickets, $10 each, are now on sale at the main office. Get your tickets early so you won’t be disappointed!
Community Service Team volunteered at Pumphouse Theatre this month, handing out programs, seating guests and taking tickets. The staff at the theatre were very complimentary of our students’ work ethic and manners.
Upcoming
family volunteer opp-
tunities: • Assembling Christmas hampers for Salvation Army (Dec. 8, 6-9 pm) • Rundle College Food Bank Day (Saturday, Jan. 8, morning and afternoon shifts) • Feed the Hungry dinner (TBA sometime in the spring) We are in the process of putting the sign up lists on our volunteer website. In the meantime, please mark these dates on your calendar if you are interested, and an e-mail will come home letting you know when the sign-up lists are available.
STUDENT SERVICES Post Secondary Newsletter November 2010
University Visits to Rundle College Institution
Location
Time
th
MP Room
2:07-3:00
Mt. Royal University
Thursday, November 25
th
MP Room
2:07-3:00
University of British Columbia
Wednesday, December 1st
MP Room
11:12-12:00
Queen’s University
Date Thursday, November 18
Scholarships: A monetary award given to a student
University Open House Information:
for a number of reasons, including their academic
U of Calgary: Nov. 6th 10-3:00 pm in MacEwan Hall
standing.
Post Secondary Institutions support students Mt. Royal University: Nov. 14th financially with their education by providing scholarships. These may require a separate application 10-4:00 pm at the Roderick Mah Centre or may not require one at all (i.e. automatic entrance U of Lethbridge: Nov. 13th scholarships). 10-2:00 pm U of Calgary Prestige Awards have an application deadline of December 15, 2010. These include the Chancellor’s Club Scholarship and the Seymour Schulich School of Engineering Scholarships. The website to research these scholarships is http://wcmprod2.ucalgary.ca/awards/awards. Business or Community Groups also support students with scholarships. Toyota Earth Day Scholarship Program to help 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.
US College Admission Tests ACT The next test date is February 12th with a registration deadline of January 7th, 2011. Go to www.act.org to register. SAT The next SAT testing date is on May 7th with a registration deadline of April 8th, 2011. Visit www.collegeboard.com for more information or to register online.
Ms. Sarah Dunsford, Director of Student Services 403-250-7180 ~ dunsford@rundle.ab.ca
Image Share
Get your pictures in the yearbook! The Yearbook Staff invites students and parents to submit photos for the yearbook. If you’ve got great photos of school and community events or you and your friends just having fun, we’d like to see them. Our photographers can’t be everywhere. Help us get as many photos as possible to create a terrific book everyone will want to have.
Here is how you can submit photos online – Log on to: images.jostens.com Enter Login ID: Password:
400052410
cobras
• Browse to select the photo(s) you wish to upload, click on “Image Share”. • Enter information about the photo and provide contact information in case the staff needs additional information. • Click “Save Details”.
It’s that easy! Submit your photos today! The last day to submit photos is
June 15/2011
The Yearbook Staff will review all photos and determine final yearbook content. We cannot guarantee that all submissions can be used in the book.
© 2007 Jostens, Inc. 07-0572 (1489)
Rundle students learn from voices of experience
In
late September, students in the Social Studies 10 and 20 Honours programs were fortunate enough to learn about Canada’s involvement in peace-
keeping and peacemaking missions around the world by attending a special symposium held at the Military Museums.
The day-long event featured speakers on topics such as Rwanda, Cyprus and the history of peacekeeping. Each speaker was an expert in their field and was either a university professor or a member of the armed forces with experience in the locations they addressed. Alberta’s Lieutenant-Governor, His Honour Donald Ethell, a retired soldier himself, addressed the students just prior to lunch and discussed the importance and impact of Canadian participation in overseas activities.
The day gave students in both grades a great deal to think about with regard to Canadian involvement overseas. Students took away a variety of facts and
stories that will stay with them for a very long time, making this an invaluable field trip for both students and staff.
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On October 26, Rundle students from grades nine to twelve were treated to a day of artistic adventures. Students and staff participated in three sessions during the day from presenters in the areas of drama, dance, m usic and visual arts. The artists shared their passion and expertise in their area of studies. It was an exciting and memorable event. Contact Ms. Levesque if you have not yet seen the student-produced video.
S p e c i a l p r e s e n t a t i o n f r o m Ja n e G o o d a l l
On October 24, Jane Goodall spoke at the Jubilee Auditorium in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of her arrival in Gombe, where she had most famously studied the chimpanzees. Some biology 30 students and I had the incredible opportunity to see Jane Goodall there and not only learn more about chimpanzees
and their behaviours, but also hear Goodall’s message on environmentalism and conservation. While at the presentation, an interesting fact we discovered was that chimpanzees are actually more genetically similar to humans than to gorillas! Goodall also shared with us various programs and movements she start-
During spring break, 21 grade 12 students from both the college and the academy, along with four teachers, will be going on a “voluntourism” trip to Guatemala. Working with the Hearts and
Hands Foundation will allow the participants the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Mayan culture and work with the Mayan people in the areas of health and education. While in Guatemala they will spend one week in the highlands with the
ed such as Roots & Shoots and the Jane Goodall Institute – both aimed at supporting wildlife research, conservation, and education on these issues throughout the world. Overall, Jane Goodall’s message on hope for a better future with the help of the youth was very empowering. By Sheena Bridal
Guatemala & Kenya local Mayans building stoves in their homes. Students have been busy individually fundraising as each participant is responsible for raising the funds to build five stoves. The students are also fundraising as a group to provide scholarships for local Mayan children who would not otherwise receive an education. Our goal is to sponsor three children and provide for their secondary education. We also hope to meet these students when we partici-
pate in a cultural exchange with a local school.
to students and parents about the trip.
The Guatemalan group has planned two major in-school fundraisers, a winter carnival and an entertainment extravaganza. We will keep students and parents posted on our progress and hope we can count on Rundle families for support.
The first of two fundraising initiatives for Mully Children’s Family Charitable Foundation will be a Lottery Gift Basket Raffle. Students in each class will choose a theme for a gift basket and collect items for that basket. The gift baskets will then be raffled off at the Christmas Gala on December 6.
The
Kenya travellers will attend a meeting on Tuesday, November 16. At this meeting, students will focus their efforts on planning fundraising activities. For the latter half of the meeting, a representative from Georgia Hardy Tours, our tour company, will be here to speak
Tickets will be sold for $5 each or 3 for $10. The first opportunity to buy tickets will be at parentteacher interviews on November 18 and 19. Ticket sales will run until the night of the Christmas Gala. Thank you in advance for your support!
student leadership initiatives conferences/trips of summer 2010 the gold star on a resume - numerous companies consider Shad alumni to be among their preferred hires for summer, co-op and full-time roles. Acceptance is a competitive process and applications are available through your school or online. The first of two application intake dates is December 8, 2010. The second is January 19, 2011. Learn to lead among leaders and take part in the Shad Valley experience. Visit www. shad.ca/apply for more details! Rundle student testimonials follow.
Justin Ma
Shad Valley If you are a high achiever in grade 10, 11 or 12 and are looking to unleash your potential, Shad Valley would like to meet you. A science, engineering, entrepreneurship and leadership enrichment program, Shad Valley offers the pre-university experience of a lifetime. Spend four intense and exciting weeks experiencing campus life at a top Canadian university. • Benefit from the opportunity to work in state-of-the-art facilities. • Network and make friends with likeminded students from across the country.
• Live in residence, attend exciting lectures, listen to renowned guest speakers, share ideas in workshops and labs, take on a new challenge, explore a different part of Canada, make lifelong friends, network with professors and business professionals... have fun! Shad Valley is recognized by universities across Canada and is considered for university admissions and scholarship decisions. Through Shad’s summer and alumni internship programs, alumni have access to excellent employment opportunities in diverse industries. Shad is seen as
My name is Justin Ma and I’m a grade twelve student who was privileged enough to have had the chance to attend an enrichment program in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Sleeping into the afternoon, hanging with familiar friends, participating in the normal summer activities; up until now, those words basically summarize the relaxed continued on next
page summers I’ve had for as long as I can remember. However, that all changed in 2010 when I had one of the most influential summers of my life. I participated in a program named Shad Valley which is basically a summer enrichment program designed to develop students in the field of business, entrepreneurship, science, and mathematics. There are ten Canadian university campuses hosting Shad Valley, and I attended Memorial University. In the end, after all of the lectures, field trips, workshops, recreation, and other countless activities, what has stuck to me the most is, as corny as it sounds, the people. Spending one month with forty-seven brilliant students from across Canada means you have established life-long friends that I’m sure will play a major role in my future. Every weekday, we would have two lectures in the morning. These lectures were always different and they ranged from robotics, to leadership, to the environment, and even to Mt. Everest. The professors giving the lectures were all specialists in a certain field so they could be geologists, have a PhD, or simply be an inspirational speaker. After the lectures, we would get to do extremely interactive workshops. Once again, there was a large variety of workshops to choose from. One of my favourite workshops involved a ton of physics experiments such as making superconductors with liquid nitrogen, literally calculating the speed of light, and making holograms. Usually in the afternoon we would have “house” time where we worked in specific groups to create a product that satisfies a theme. This year, it was to come up with an entire business plan supporting “the aging population”. Finally, during the weekend, we would often have large field trips around Newfoundland. The main fieldtrip we had was going to a small island just off the coast of Newfoundland named Fogo Island. While we were there we experienced native Newfoundland cuisine, saw
amazing sights of the Atlantic Ocean, and hiked through the lush terrain. From what I’ve described of Shad, it’s pretty apparent that I loved almost every aspect of it... well, maybe not some of the lectures. The sights, the workshops, the activities, and of course the other Shads all played a gigantic role in making Shad Valley fun, inspirational, and enriching. I feel that I’ve grown academically given the fact that I’ve learned heaps about business, math, and science, but I have also grown socially because I’ve learned to adapt and befriend people I’ve never met. After experiencing the Shad Valley program, it has not only given me fortyseven more Facebook friends, but I hope that it has created memories, friendships, and experiences that will last a lifetime.
Michelle Chang Do you want to go into business or engineering? Do you enjoy math or science? Then Shad Valley is for you. This amazing month-long summer program targets current grade 11s and 12s, empowering their leadership, enterprising, and business skills. This summer I attended UBC for Shad Valley, one of ten Canadian university campuses in the program. The experiences and relationships created between all of us resulted in an incredible and unforgettable time. This experience empowered innovative thinking through entrepreneurship and engineering, while motivating me to make a difference in my community. There were many different presentations given by university professors, doctors, past alumni and even Ca-
nadian astronauts. There were also chances to compete and create new products that could be used to solve real world problems. Last summer, the Shad project theme was to create a product or service to help the aging population. All ten campuses are at Shad Cup this fall, to find out which product is the best. From this experience I learned to be an innovative thinker and to accept challenges while experiencing life in a university setting. Throughout Shad, I got a handle on how residence works and what it feels like – while also eating on a student meal plan which is comforting to be acquainted with before going into university. Despite how it sounds, this wasn’t just a giant nerd camp. Though the experiences differ between campuses, there are lots of memorable summer expeditions. At UBC specifically, some activities included: climbing Garibaldi, rappelling, camping, playing capture the flag, swimming in cool mountain rivers, viewing the Olympic torch and the steam clock, watching fireworks, and caving. Shad Valley was a fantastic program; great for thinking outside the box, experiencing university life, and creating lasting relationships. This was truly a once in a lifetime trip.
People to People Stephanie Horner During summer break, I was lucky enough to be part of the People to People Leadership Summit in Washington D.C. People to People engages students for success in a globalized world through workshops, and positive life-changing experiences. The programs help youth build selfesteem, establish lasting friendships, and develop a greater understanding of people and cultures from around the world. 18 countries were represented at this conference and I had the huge task of representing Canada. Students from grades 7 to 12 attended this summit and created community service projects that would be taken back to one’s own community to make a positive change. In such a short period of time, I believe that with the workshops and team building exercises, I’ve truly created friendships and connections that will last a lifetime. This experience has given me the ability to create a positive change with a small act. I would recommend being part of any People to People Summit to anyone who wishes to create a change in this world. For more information, please visit People to People’s website: www.peopletopeople.com or talk to me.
Emily Buchanan From August 8-14, I attended a leadership conference hosted by People to People Leadership Summits at Stanford University. The highlight of the summit for me was meeting a bunch of students my age from all over the world.
thoroughly enjoyed his speech. Some of the sights I took in were the Golden Gate bridge, Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf, Twin Peaks, and the San Francisco Bay on an afternoon lunch cruise. In conclusion, the number of different people I was able to meet and
The summit had a packed itinerary. Some hands-on activities we did over the course of the week were: A teambuilding ropes course, learning about the uses of technology at the interactive Tech Museum of Innovation, and helping out the community around the Stanford Campus in a community service beach clean-up. We also participated in a full day workshop called 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens where we learned about the ideas and tips talked about in Sean Covey’s book. It was a fun, interactive workshop that, in my opinion, was very worthwhile. In addition to daily activities, we also gathered every evening to listen to a guest speaker. The most informational and impactful speaker was the motivational speaker on the first night, Eric Bostick. Eric’s speech was captivating; he involved the audience and incorporated music and prizes into his overall message. The title of his speech was “You Are A-W-E-S-O-ME”: A-accept yourself, W-who are you going to be today, E-envision what you want, S-set goals, O-optimism, M-make a plan, E-everyone wins. He was very relatable and realistic; I
become close friends with in only a short week was incredible. When I signed up I hadn’t intended to come back feeling changed or different, but participating in this experience was well worth it. I feel I grew as a student, leader, and simply a person. The Summit was an incredible experience that I would do over and over again and recommend to anyone interested.
Brielle Cram This July I attended the People to People Leadership Summit at Harvard University. It was an amazing experience that will stand out in my memory forever. I learned a lot about being a leader, not just through speakers and work-
shops, but by having opportunities to lead. I learned about the kind of leader I am and how I can use my skills to build a strong team. I learned about the importance of really getting continued on next page
involved, encouraging and inspiring others, taking the initiative, and truly listening to others. I met students from all over the world – England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, China, Japan, Jordan, and South America, as well as the United States and Canada. Now I have friendships all over the world, and I have gained a greater understanding of different cultures and important world issues just by talking with others. The summit was hard work, but also lots of fun. I heard expert speakers talk about leadership. I attended a ropes course, which was great for bonding as a group. I participated in an environmental community service project that involved clearing water chestnuts from a lake. I also got to tour Boston. I learned how to identify a community need and how to formulate a plan to address that need. I hope to be able to implement the plan I developed at the school in the near future. Finally, I learned that I can go away on my own to a new city, live with 200 new students, work hard, have fun, and take care of myself. It was really an honour to be there and represent my school.
Carolyn Dunk During summer break, I participated in a People to People Leadership Summit called Rebuilding New Orleans: Remembering Hurricane Katrina. At this summit, which I
attended in late June through early July, nearly 500 student leaders from grade 8 to university from all around the world ventured to New Orleans to help with the restoration of the city, five years after the tragic storm hit. Throughout the summit I was able to meet new friends, participate in volunteer projects, experience the culture of New Orleans, and listen to advice on leadership from distinguished speakers. In addition to touring the French quarter of
New Orleans on foot, we also rode a boat down the bayou to watch the alligators, traveled back in time on a plantation visit and toured the city by bus, seeing all of the storm damage that has yet to be repaired. Because the main purpose of this summit was putting our volunteer skills to use, my group also put in many hours of hard work. We helped build and paint a fence at a community horse stable, assisted in cleaning cages, feeding and walking dogs at a local animal shelter, and gave up two days to help rebuild the
lives of a family whose house had taken in 13 feet of water during the hurricane. In addition to all these
activities, most nights we had guest speakers dispense their knowledge. Some of these speakers included Tom Piazza (author of Why New Orleans Matters), Jim Reed (storm chaser), Condoleezza Rice (Former U.S. Secretary of State), Spike Lee (director), Peyton and Eli Manning (NFL quarterbacks) and, perhaps the most inspirational of the lot, 4 New Orleans natives, who shared their personal survival stories during and after the horrific storm. This was an incredibly rewarding experience for me because I was able to rebuild the lives of a few people in New Orleans. The spirit of the people who lived through Katrina and still struggle to get by was unbelievably infallible and inspiring. Because of the volunteer work I was fortunate enough to participate in, and the renowned speakers that took their time to spread their wisdom, this trip was a once in a lifetime experience, and I believe it helped me become a better leader.
Other Conferences Lauran Cole There are lots of things to see and experience in Washington, D.C. This summer, I attended the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) with a focus on Medicine and Health Care. I stayed on the University of Maryland campus – TERPS territory – which dates back to the 1850s and has the nation’s oldest public medical school.
My trip highlights would have to include experiencing leadership activities, ‘rez life’ with students from all over the world and learning how to suture from a plastic surgeon who has worked on many of Hollywood’s stars. Our days would start with very interactive medical sessions at the National Institute of Health, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, or the Walter Reed Medical Center. We discussed
medical ethics, solved CSI mysteries, and dissected a pig’s heart. Ms. Hayman’s lessons about the heart really made this experience stand out. The other part of continued on next page
the program included leadership sessions. We figured out each other’s personality traits, practiced solving conflicts, and learned different communication techniques. The conference combined a lot of these activities with sightseeing. Washington has a lot of monuments and museums to check out, especially the White House and Capitol Hill.
where we traveled across a lake and camped on the other side.
skills and meeting new people from across Canada.
One of the leadership activities that I participated in was called the spider
We participated in many different activities, such as making a flag that represented our support groups. We also participated in a variety of clubs. We were in the newspaper club, which worked for an hour each day to make a newspaper that was mailed
I most enjoyed making new friend-
ships with kids from Beijing, Hong Kong, and all over the U.S.A. We were able to discover where we all lived; sadly, no one was from Canada. It was great to work together trying to solve medical issues and problems. We all learned a bit more about leaders with different personalities and different cultures.
Safira Keshavjee This year I attended a leadership camp called YLCC, also known as Youth Leadership Camps Canada. It was a two-week camp located just outside of Orillia, Ontario, in a wooded area. One of the highlights of the camp was the three-day canoe trip
web. This was where we would all have to get through small openings in a web made of string. The catch was that only one person could get through one opening at a time. This tested how well we could work as a group and our logic in solving how to get through the web. I didn’t participate in any workshops, but each morning we would go to a small peace building where we would have morning reflection. At that time we would listen to the founder of the camp, Stu Saunders, talk. Stu would talk about different topics that he would base on topics he found on Twitter. Afterword he would give us a question of the day that we would write in our journals, such as: “How can I improve the world?” or “What will I start doing today?”
to each member of the conference. On the second night of the conference we had motivational speaker Stu Sanders. For those of you who were at Rundle last year, Stu Sanders does the same thing as Ian Tyson. He spoke about how to become a leader and apply it to your daily lives. He also talked about public speaking and good techniques to help you come farther out of your “shell”. Because of the schedule we had, there
My favourite part of the camp was the campfires that we had twice a week. At the campfire the counsellors and the campers would be able to perform. They would tell stories, do skits, perform music, and even do weird tricks. This program taught me to believe in myself and taught me how to be a better leader. I grew as a student because this camp taught me how to set goals and how to keep them for a better future.
Taylor Caldwell & Davis Wong We attended NYLC (National Young Leaders Conference) in Mississauga, Ontario, from July 2-5. We both agreed that the highlights of the conference were learning new leadership
was no time to go see places around Mississauga. It didn’t really matter, because we were occupied with other fun activities all day long. The best part of the conference was working with other kids across the country. We also enjoyed all the hands-on activities, and the food was delicious! This helped us enhance and improve our leadership skills and how to apply them to our everyday lives. As students, this conference helped us gain the ability to spread leadership throughout the school.