College Alumni Return

2019–2020

Olivia Awad ‘09 (right) helping with costume design for drama production

Annual band brunch

Evan Beck ‘12 returns to present to our grade 8s

Basketball alumni at Provincials fundraising event

Staff/student hockey game

Ravinder Minhas ‘00 speaks to our Ascent Leadership group

Joey Hubbard ‘12 Skypes in from South Korea to talk to our grade 4s

Sahil Gaur ‘16 and Jenna Gregg ‘19 volunteer at Open House

Brandon Chiew ‘19, Jenna Gregg ‘19 and Rayff McMahon ‘17 – Open House

Alumni Bowling Night November 2019

Michael Klassen ‘09 2019 Distinguished Alumni award recipient

Herman Johal ‘01 2019 Graduation guest speaker

Calgary Alumni Networking Reception May 2019

Alumni Reality Check 2019

Stephen Yeung ‘19, Ishan Vermani ‘19, & Matt Mehra ‘19 — helping with robotics

Victoria, B.C. Alumni Reception November 2019

Alumni volunteering at Samaritin’s Purse December 2019

Christina Welch ‘11 and Taylor Caldwell ‘13 volunteering with Toy Angels

HoHoHoHomecoming 2019

Sam Patton ‘19 and Adam Walters ‘19 return to help coach wrestling

HoHoHoHomecoming 2019

The local community was full of interesting characters confident, respectful, hard-working individuals. that kept us on our toes. As an illustration, one morning I had come into school early, and as I Fast forward to our current 17 Avenue campus location approached the back entrance I heard some noise and the question begs to be asked, “what has and saw some movement in the dumpster outside the changed?” In my mind, it can be likened to “Rocky 3 doors. Slowly, I looked inside revealing an individual and Rocky 4”. We have taken a step up–consistently going through the garbage. I asked, “Sir, what are you recognized as one of the top schools in the province, doing?” he emphatically replied “I’ve hit the jackpot, if not the country. People have taken notice — there it’s a goldmine in here!” He was referring to all the has been a refinement of sorts. We are fortunate to pop cans, juice boxes and bottles he was retrieving. I reside in a first-class facility with a top-rated program. gave him a big smile and politely asked him to leave Buildings are larger but equally beautiful, bearing the as we had students coming to school shortly and that names and embodiment of the indelible character he could come back later that evening to fill up his of our visionary founding fathers, Dr. Collett and Dr. cart with “the goods.” He was a friendly and happy Conklin. Our facilities are located in a setting where individual, but we had to put a recycling program into we can see the magnificent Rocky Mountains on the effect from that day onward. horizon that truly embodies the name Rundle College. Many of my fondest memories over my 24 years involve staff, students, and of course, athletics and wrestling (in particular.) One such memory from this time was the wrestling and weightroom in the concrete dungeon of the Junior High School. It was There was a sense of pride and character that was embedded in the heart and souls of everyone who trained in that historic room. “ “ We have a larger student population, more teachers and staff, a band room, two gymnasiums, a separate wrestling and weight room with a first-class field that has been appropriately named Hauk Field. A true honour for Mr. Dave Hauk, whose influence has been foundational for Rundle. “decorated” with metal screens on The local community is equally the windows, a multitude of all-too-close pipes off of intriguing, though it comes in a different form being the ceiling that were more fitting for the seven dwarfs closer to nature. It is not uncommon for staff and than jr. high students, who already towered over me. students to be held indoors because there is a black A room housing wrestling, weight-training and some bear in the area or be told to “be on alert” as a moose historic and unforgettable “Stuntnastic” routines. “The has been sited nearby. To have a doe and her fawn Dungeon” was a place of training like you see in walk through the school grounds curious about what is the early Rocky movies. There was a sense of pride going on and then leisurely bound back into the mini and character that was embedded in the hearts and forest is a special treat. souls of everyone who trained in that historic room. It was a place and program that, to this day, has Location and buildings change, but what has been produced individuals of strong character with many a constant with Rundle, is that today, we are still city, provincial, and national wrestling medalists and essentially a small, close-knit school community of champions. students, staff, parents, and alumni.

Thinking globally, the entire Dr. Carl Safran building was a metaphor of the early “Rocky” movies. We were small, underrated, and teaching in an older building in need of many resources. The pride and perseverance of students and staff produced incredible results and it was a place where boys and girls emerged as Continued on page 28

The year 2020 will always be remembered for the COVID-19 global pandemic and the impact it had on every facet of our lives. In particular, this year the leadership, staff, parents, and students of Rundle’s community were impacted directly through their educational experience.

On March 15, the Alberta Government closed schools due to the risk of exposure to COVID-19. Our school responded by launching REEDS Rundle’s Excellence in Education through Distance-Delivery System. Remarkably, our students only missed one day of class and were back in “virtual school” on March 17.

We developed three key values for REEDS to help us remain focused and true to our educational journey at Rundle. These values are “stay connected, stay positive, and stay learning”.

STAY CONNECTED As a result of REEDS, we saw dozens of examples of student, teacher, and parent connectivity that we had never seen or experienced before. From virtual Grade 12 lounges to alumni career sessions, and to primary school rallies — our whole community found ways to stay connected. We also saw heartwarming examples of teachers arriving at the doorsteps of students' homes to deliver everything from cinnamon buns for the Moves Mountains Breakfast to corsages for graduating band members.

STAY POSITIVE Our teachers and students did an amazing job of staying positive throughout the countless challenges that come with attending school from home. It was inspirational to see students take the initiative to create posters that adorned our schools’ fences to celebrate the frontline workers who were keeping us all safe during these dangerous times. Students focused on staying positive by engaging in cocurricular activities such as yoga, cooking with Ms. Gallo, and art lessons from Ms. Baldwin.

STAY LEARNING As you already know, Rundle has the best teachers on the planet. However, these teachers are well known for teaching in a classroom environment, not the online space. We were all so impressed as our teachers moved quickly and confidently into a virtual teaching space. Every teacher, from K-12, including specialist areas, provided synchronous and asynchronous lessons to our students. The creativity, compassion and enthusiasm that our teachers put into helping our students continue to learn was unparalleled.

We hope that 2020 will be the only year we ever need to utilize REEDS, but if it is not, we are more confident than ever that our whole community will continue to stay connected, stay positive, and stay learning.