Au Courant
Winter 2016
THE MAGAZINE OF WEST ISLAND COLLEGE Winter 2016
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Au Courant Magazine 26 30 Years of Exemplary Service: Malcolm Rennie
10 Outstanding Young Leaders
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Do we have a deal? Wolves Den returns with Alumna Manjit Minhas
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This Issue 04 06 08 09 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 29 30 34 36 37
Creativity and Innovation The Leadership Challenge WIC’s Spirit of Community Connect, Create and Build Confidence: Friday Mornings at WIC Outstanding Young Leaders The Harvard University Experience Experiential Creativity Once a Wolf, Always a Wolf Our Next Bold Steps: Launching an Advancement Program We are all WIC Ambassadors Lest We Forget Wolves Den with Alumna Manjit Minhas Thirty Years of Exemplary Service Congratulations Coach Bridal All the best, Mr. McManus Our Community Cinderella: WIC’s Fall Production Class Notes WIC events
Editor-in-Chief Ms. Hodgins, Director of Communications and Strategy
Our Community
WIC Copy Editors Ms. Webb-Briscoe, Information Officer Ms. Ryder, Executive Assistant Ms. Huhn, Manager of Corporate and Human Resource Services
Graphic Designer Mr. Sengaus
Photographers Edward Ross (Edward Ross Photography) WIC Yearbook Club Members Ms. Meckelborg, Director of Grade 7 Studies
The Au Courant is published twice a year for WIC parents, alumni and friends of West Island College. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: West Island College, 7410 Blackfoot Trail SE, Calgary AB T2H 1M5
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West Island College is proud to be associated with:
WICelebrates
2016 Please join us for an evening in honour of West Island College’s 2016 Alumni Achievement Award Recipients & Honourary Alumnus Mr. Malcolm Rennie
Wine and cheese reception Wednesday, April 13, 2016 West Island College - Hall of Nations 7410 Blackfoot Trail SE, Calgary 7 to 9 p.m. Please RSVP by calling 403.255.5300 or by email at celebrate@mywic.ca with your name, contact information, and the year you graduated from WIC (if alumni). WIC Alumni is also on social media. Connect with us! West Island College Alumni @WICAlumni @wicalumni West Island College Alumni
Creativity and Innovation Carol Grant-Watt
HEAD OF SCHOOL AND CEO Over the coming months, I will spend time articulating our commitments in the new Strategic Plan. The plan states our Purpose (“We unleash the potential of passionate and creative problem solvers, ready to contribute to a better world”) and our Promise (“We challenge, inspire and support one another as we imagine and create our best futures”). However, here I want to focus on our first commitment, Creativity: “Together WIC students and faculty build a powerful culture of creativity that is without boundaries. We are critical thinkers who challenge ideas, pave new paths and encourage inventiveness whenever possible.” Driving to British Columbia I was listening to an interview with Steve Blank, author of The Startup Owner’s Manual. He discussed the concept of “entrepreneurial clusters.” Reflecting on and digesting what he was saying, I considered what, if any, connection there was to what we are trying to develop and create at WIC. My mind went immediately to our Creativity commitment and the more I listened, the more excited I became for the potential of what could be. Knowing we are already doing great things, his discussion convinced me that there are no limits to what we can achieve. I also know, beyond a doubt, that what we are doing and what we can do will make the world a better place. The essence of Blank’s discussion is related to business innovation and the important role of the entrepreneurial spirit in a diverse economy. Citing the evolution of Silicon Valley as the classic example, his premise is that this type of thinking and
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approach to business and diversification ensured that these areas would stay relevant and have fewer booms and busts in the economic cycle. It was a different way of approaching the traditional model and it piqued my interest. What could I, as your Head of School, learn and apply from his thesis? Blank’s use of the words “innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, problem-solving and creativity” jumped out for me as they are at the core of our new Strategic Plan. Are schools not an essential component of this culture? I realized that this is not just a business concept but indeed a way of understanding the changes that are taking place in a larger context and why it is exciting. In an MIT Technology Review article (July 1, 2013) Antonio Regalado summarized the critical mass needed for creating this entrepreneurial culture as a “web of intertwined companies, resources, advantages, ideas, talent, opportunity, and serendipity that defines a technology cluster.” Our CAIS network provides such an opportunity, both locally and nationally, in our communities. Strategic partnerships, always a part of the WIC way, are key. Maybe we have been on to something here! It became clear to me that (taking the liberty of expanding on Blank’s definition) WIC is indeed an “innovation outpost” in the educational setting. I would be so bold to say that it always has been, and this is one of the things that makes it such a great place to work and learn. As we prepared the Strategic Plan, the concept of failure as the key to innovation really spoke to our team: it is in the discomfort of failure or in the inability to complete something
that we begin to innovate or “build a better mousetrap.” Or create something entirely different whereby the “mousetrap” ceases to be necessary. The rate of change today is so pronounced that the evolution of systems, processes, thinking and the “way we do things” changes dramatically in a very short span. In the article Design Thinking Comes of Age (Harvard Business Review, September 2015), Jon Kolko states, “A design culture is nurturing. It doesn’t encourage failure, but the iterative nature of the design process recognizes that it’s rare to get things right the first time. Apple is celebrated for its success, but a little digging uncovers the Newton tablet, the Pippin gaming system, and the Copland operating system – products that didn’t fare so well. (Pippin and Copland were discontinued after only two years.) The company leverages failure as learning, viewing it as part of the cost of innovation.” Buckminster Fuller created what he called the “Knowledge Doubling Curve” (IndustryTap.com) which posits that, until 1900, knowledge doubled every century. By the end of World War II knowledge was doubling every 25 years. Today, not surprisingly, it is difficult to measure, but on average, human knowledge is doubling every 12 months. According to IBM, the build out of the “Internet of things” will lead to the doubling of knowledge – incredibly – every 12 hours. How is one supposed to stay abreast? The short answer is, it is impossible! The golden age when the encyclopedia contained most of what one would need to know is indeed ancient history. Things have become phenomenally more complex and dynamic, and the way we view education, the way we teach, interact and learn is and will continue to be different.
educate our children. Your children’s school is not the school you went to – nor should it be! While this has always been somewhat true, it is a vastly different society that we prepare our students for. I know our team understands this and the priorities in the Strategic Plan are there to ensure we are successful in meeting our commitments, achieving our goals and serving our community. It is our work to ensure our students have the skills and confidence to navigate this landscape. As I return to the concept of entrepreneurial clusters, it seems to me that schools need to be part of the process. Rick Spence in the Financial Post (Sept. 14, 2015) states: “Today, innovation arises everywhere, and we all collaborate over digital networks.” As I come back to our commitments in the Plan, I feel confident our WIC students will be well prepared for today and for the future. The words on the wall in the Great Hall say it all: “Learners … Leaders … World Changers: WIC Alumni.” I look forward to sharing more with you in the coming months, and to demonstrating our commitment to our community and the future of this school. Please take time to enjoy the articles in this edition of the Au Courant. Thank you for your continued support of the school and our students.
The development of artificial intelligence and high level software, coupled with the Internet and our increasing understanding of the human brain, is changing every aspect of our lives, including how we
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The Leadership Challenge Dr. Patricia Doyle-Baker CHAIR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS Being in the Moment The opportunity to contribute a Board article to the Au Courant provides a chance to slow down, be in the moment and reflect on some of the key practices of leadership as published by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner (1987). They are: model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act and encourage the heart. I will share a few highlights from WIC as examples of these practices because, as an educator, I am constantly reminded that learning and leadership can take place anytime and anywhere. Over the years I have observed that leadership practices are found equally amongst faculty and students. Modeling the Way On Sept. 3, 2015, WIC began the school year by recognizing students’ achievements. It is a celebratory atmosphere because so many of our students are honoured. These academic awards and participatory successes come from athletics, arts, drama, languages, music, etc. During this ceremony and other events that I observe at WIC, I realize that it is our students who are modeling the way. Inspiring a Shared Vision In October 2015, I attended the Canadian Accredited Independent School (CAIS) Head and Board Chair Conference in Halifax with Mrs. Grant-Watt. This annual conference is a requirement of our accreditation membership and includes a special session for Board Chairs to network and learn about current trends. The conference helped inform me of the many opportunities and challenges that will face independent schools in the future. I also attended a few sessions that featured leaders in business and technology.
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Cautiously, I participated in a design thinking session and fortuitously was paired with Calgary’s River Valley Head of School, Ms. Erin Corbett. Design thinking – as I found out – is a highly iterative process. Erin (aka artist extraordinaire) started our answer to the posed question with a sketch. In that moment of trying to draw I was reminded that putting ourselves in the role of learners influences our ability to critically reflect. Despite my limited artistic skill I saw the value in how drawing can verify what we want to do and build. I left the conference inspired by the shared vision that is in independent education. Challenge the Process I am familiar with curriculum trends, and recently the undergrad focus in universities has been moving towards competency-based outcomes and student centered learning. WIC, interestingly, has already embraced this evolving blueprint of education and has found innovative ways to help students achieve their full potential. The WIC Institute model began with Business, which was followed by Institutes of Health Sciences and Engineering. The model was designed to prepare students for specific educational insights and today it speaks directly to the concept of high quality, relevant, responsive curriculum. In April 2015, I organized with Mr. Bennett the 2nd Annual Health Sciences Case Competition, with participating students from WIC, Rundle College and Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School. The Richard Ivey School of Business supplied the case and the example was from the public health sector. Teams had about three hours to analyze, prep and
develop recommendations before they presented their results. One of the many benefits of a case competition is that it is competitive yet creates a collaborative team environment not unlike workplace settings. One team - a WIC team - challenged the process within the case. The judges did not score them the highest but those students earned the accolade of “thought leaders.” In speaking with the judges post competition they stated that this group stood out as being on the “edge of disruption.” Perhaps, in that moment, I should have reminded the judges (all WIC alumni) that encouraging the heart is a key practice of leadership and innovation.
In closing, our fast changing world and equally fast changing political climate in Alberta may make it difficult to stay in the moment. We can, however, be assured that our WIC community is leading the way to “make extraordinary things happen.” (Kouzes & Posner 2013).
“I am constantly reminded that learning and leadership can take place
anytime and anywhere. Over the years I have observed that leadership practices are found equally amongst faculty and students.”
Enable Others to Act Our new strategic plan and vision speaks to students, such as those above, who are willing to embrace being bold. The Webster Dictionary states that a simple definition of bold is composed of three parts: being not afraid of danger or difficult situations; showing or needing confidence or lack of fear; and being very confident in a way that may seem rude or foolish. It is reassuring to know that, as our students reach the higher grades, they exhibit at least one of these qualities of boldness and these attributes result in them enabling their peers (younger or older) to act as leaders. I believe we have a model strategic plan, which is being implemented through the right projects in the right order with supportive resources. A brand that has strong reach to students will produce successful change and a competitive advantage. The plan speaks to the comprehensiveness of the College and the Board’s commitment to enhance the student learning experience.
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Spirit of Community Gord Goodwin DEPUTY HEAD OF SCHOOL Spend some time in the WIC community and you’re likely to hear the words “Spirit of Community,” but what exactly does this mean? Spirit is defined as “those qualities regarded as forming the definitive or typical elements in the character of a person, nation, or group” and community is often regarded as “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.” At WIC, we strive to share a common attitude and a special fellowship with our students, staff, parents and alumni. This is the core of our “Spirit of Community,” and there are dozens of examples that bring this concept to life. This “spirit” begins early in the school year. Approximately 85 Grade 7 students come together for a full week of orientation activities that start them on their journey to being part of the WIC family. These events are followed by our first community builders: Junior Days and the Senior High Outdoor Education trips. During Junior Days, students learn relevant skills and take part in curricular enrichments with their grade level peers; and on the Senior High Outdoor Education trips students meet challenges together, learn from one another and bond as a cohort. Throughout the year there are many and varied experiences that connect the WIC World with the greater community, further cementing that spirit of community. Our students are determined to make a
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difference in their world. For example, on Remembrance Day our student body and staff raised $1300 for Vets’ Angels. We also have a special connection with our alumni: members of our alumni are coaches for some of our teams (read more on page 16), and in the University 101 program, alumni present to and mentor current students about the transition from high school to the post-secondary world. During our annual International Studies trips, students and teachers connect with an even wider world, bringing their time and energy and sense of wonder, engaging in humanitarian efforts as they learn about different cultures. Let us not forget the numerous examples of the spirit of community within the classroom. For example, this year our Phys. Ed. 10 classes are working with the Boys and Girls Club of Calgary, giving their time and their friendship to disadvantaged children in the Calgary community. A keen reminder of the “Spirit of Community” is displayed in every email from Mrs. Grant-Watt where our Head of School quotes Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” As I write this article, the spirit of the season is upon us and there is evidence throughout the school of the community such as the Adopt a Family and Poinsettia campaigns, but at West Island College that spirit of community is an ever present feeling that pervades the entire year: a close knit group of people who come together to make a difference in the world.
Connect, Create and Build Confidence: Friday Mornings Tracy Armitage HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL Have you ever wondered why the Friday timetable looks quite different from the rest of the week? What may seem like a “random” scheduling choice is actually the result of a calculated decision to benefit all WIC students. A few years ago, WIC tweaked the school’s Friday morning timetable to allow our highly competitive athletes and musicians additional hours in the day for practice and competitions, and to create time for teachers to work within their Professional Learning Communities. Serendipitously we discovered this change benefited those students who require extra sleep and those families who may need to get away for the weekend. What I find exciting is the multiplicity of activities taking place on Friday mornings. Walk through the hallways prior to 9 a.m. and you will see students and teachers congregated in engaged, focused groups. Room 1 is always buzzing with Junior High students and a handful of Seniors eager to learn about investing in stocks and building their own portfolios. The Investment Club has also been greatly enriched by the investment expertise provided by WIC alumni Everett Knight, Nathan Palin and Michael McLean. In the club, students learn the four pillars of investing as they create their own or group portfolios with a $100,000 simulated cash flow. “It is a bit stressful when your portfolio drops but it’s fun to see your results: you get a real sense of accomplishment,” says one WIC student.
New this year are specialized sports clinics for our Junior High volleyball and basketball teams. Outside coaching professionals such as HITT Volleyball and CYDC Basketball have come to work with our athletes. Mr. Larsen, WIC’s Head of Experiential Learning, comments, “It is truly amazing to see so many of our students willing to arrive at school for a 7:30 a.m. clinic.” You can also hear the delightful sound of music floating through the Fine Arts wing; Friday mornings are extra special as our ears are treated to the talents of approximately 20 musicians in the Jazz Band. Working with Music Director Ms. Snow, the musicians are given the opportunity to play together in a smaller ensemble. The school’s Peer Tutoring program occupies the majority of our Learning Commons (upstairs, above Admissions) on Friday mornings where students get one-on-one tutoring on a drop in basis; its true success is derived from the regular personal connections that the tutors make with the younger students. “I like to help, watch the younger students grow, we often get caught up in our own world and don’t always take time for others,” says one WIC peer tutor. Regardless of where our students spend their time, WIC’s Friday morning activities are one more venue to practice their skills, express their creativity and build their self confidence.
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Outstanding Young Leaders Rolly Chalifoux HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL For the past few years West Island College has provided an opportunity for some of our Senior High students to participate in the annual Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS) National Student Leadership Conference. This five-day event features 120-150 student delegates from across Canada who congregate to participate in a series of leadership workshops, to engage in humanitarian endeavours, to be inspired by prominent guest speakers, and to interact in a variety of activities. In April 2015 Chaz S., Kaya P., Lauren M. and Zach J., four of our current Grade 12 students, travelled to Montreal, Quebec, where they took part in the 2015 CAIS Student Leadership conference. This cohort of students was so inspired by the experience there that, when the call came out at the conclusion of the conference for potential hosts for the 2016 conference, these four young leaders volunteered to have WIC host it. Soon after their return to Calgary, these energetic students were eagerly bending Mrs. Grant-Watt’s ear hoping to garner her support to apply to be the
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hosts of next year’s conference. With the College’s approval in hand, it was now time to follow protocol and produce a promotional video as part of the application process. This video had to explain why WIC would be a great place to host the 2016 conference; indeed, why we would be the best hosts! The process reminded me of the application by a city to host the Olympics, although on a much smaller scale, of course. The students produced a phenomenal video, highlighting Calgary and its surroundings and providing a sneak peak of our western heritage. You can see the video at www.cais.ca/page.cfm?p=797 Successfully winning the bid, WIC is excited to be hosting the 2016 CAIS Senior Student Leadership Conference which will be held on April 27-May 1, 2016. With the guidance of their faculty advisor, Mr. Davidson, the four conference directors, Chaz, Kaya, Lauren and Zach, have already started the planning for this huge undertaking. Naturally, an event of this magnitude will require many other students and volunteers and the four directors are seeking the support from the WIC village.
The theme for the conference is Seek Your Summit: Elevate your Ability, Elevate your Understanding, Elevate your Purpose. Their mission is “to have the delegates leave the conference with a deeper understanding of what it means to be a leader, and to be inspired to bring about positive change in their own communities.” They aim to accomplish this by guiding the delegates through carefully planned workshops and team building activities that showcase our school culture and the beautiful surroundings of our city and province. In addition to this, the conference will include incredible speakers such as: Amanda Lindhout, a Canadian humanitarian, public speaker and journalist who was kidnapped by Islamist insurgents in southern Somalia; Laval St. Germain, the first Canadian to summit and descend from Mount Everest without the use of oxygen; Olympic Speed Skating legend Catriona LeMay Doan; Randy Boissonnault, Rhodes Scholar and first openly gay Member of Parliament to be elected in Alberta; and our very own alumnus, Rameez Virji (Class of 2011) who was a feature speaker at last year’s We Day event. The delegates will experience our incredible landscapes by taking part in a scavenger hunt in Banff followed by an extraordinary dinner at one of Banff’s acclaimed restaurants. The delegates will also be provided the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of local Calgarians through their involvement in a variety of humanitarian initiatives, an integral aspect of every CAIS Student Leadership Conference. As a visit to Calgary would certainly not be complete without experiencing some local western hospitality, the delegates will round out their stay with an authentic Stampede style dinner and dance.
initiative is inspiring, to say the least; and it is comforting to see that the future is in the hands of individuals such as these fine young ambassadors. I cannot wait to see this event come to fruition. I am confident that it will be an outstanding event for all involved.
CAIS 2016
Student Leadership Conference The Student Leadership Conference is designed for students by students. Every spring, approximately 130 Canadian independent school student leaders come together to develop their leadership skills, complete a service project, and get to know other like-minded leaders from Canada’s top schools. With direction from a staff advisor, students from a host school develop programming, schedule speakers and organize trips to showcase their area of the country for the week of the Conference. The 2016 Senior Student Leadership conference “Elevate your Ability, Elevate your Understanding, Elevate your Purpose” is being hosted by West Island College in Calgary, AB from April 27 to May 1! The Conference is Now Full!
The 2016 Student Leadership Conference is shaping up to be an extraordinary experience. Chaz, Kaya, Lauren and Zach have taken their leadership to a high level. Their vision and perseverance with this
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The Harvard University Experience Angela Hodgins
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNCATIONS AND STRATEGY West Island College is proud to congratulate our Head of Student Services, Mrs. Allen, on being selected to participate in the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s (HGSE) Institute for New School Leaders. Last fall, Mrs. Allen made the trip to Cambridge, Massachusetts to reverse roles and become the student. Here are her observations upon her return: WIC: This was such an incredible opportunity. How did it come about? Mrs. Allen: I’m currently completing my final term of my M.Ed. degree through Acadia University and one of my professors suggested that I apply to the Institute at HGSE. I was fortunate to have the support of Mrs. Grant-Watt, our Head of School, to take advantage of this opportunity. WIC: I’m sure the experience was very interesting and enlightening. What material and experiences will be especially beneficial to your work at WIC? Mrs. Allen: The work we did at the Institute was beneficial to both my work as a school leader as well as to my graduate program as the focus of my M.Ed. work is educational leadership. As a member of WIC’s Senior Leadership Team it was wonderful to spend time with other administrators from across
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North America and around the world, exploring topics such as adaptive leadership, school culture, leading for inclusion and leading educational change. WIC: Is there a highlight or favourite part of your experience that you could share with us? Mrs. Allen: To be honest, the entire experience was a professional and personal highlight, but I think one of my favorite parts of the week was our small group discussions in our learning cohorts. Once or twice a day we were able to spend time reflecting, sharing and applying what we were learning to our own everyday reality. Our cohort was made up of educators from public, independent and charter schools who came from such diverse places as Mexico, New York City, rural Texas, the US Virgin Islands and suburban Washington D.C. Our discussions never failed to be animated, probing, supportive and, most of all, fun. As administrators at an independent school we often find that our opportunities for this type of professional learning can be limited so the chance to spend this time with other educators was invaluable. WIC: Now the tough part: have you started putting your new knowledge into practice? Mrs. Allen: As Head of Student Services, both school culture and an inclusive educational environment are matters that are always at the forefront of my work
with faculty and students. My work at the HGSE Institute has expanded both practice and approach to these aspects of leading positive change for our WIC students. WIC: As someone who educates for a living, why do you feel it is important that you yourself continue to participate in lifelong learning? Mrs. Allen: Lifelong learning is an essential part of growing and improving ourselves in whatever we do. I think that, as educators, we need to be able to “walk the walk” with our students and model a love of learning and knowledge. It is a good reminder to put ourselves in our students’ shoes and see the world again from the other side of the classroom experience. One of my favourite outcomes of being able to participate in the HGSE Institute was the chance to share it with my Grade 9 students when I returned to WIC: it was great to have them share in the experience and understand that we continue to learn long after we finish our formal education (plus they liked the Harvard pens I brought them!)
Strategic Plan 2015-2018 Priority #2 WIC’s newly developed 2015–2018 Strategic Plan addresses five priorities for the next three years. Priority 2 outlines that WIC will “empower our team of master teachers and professional staff to deliver on our vision; part of this highlights the commitment to support and celebrate excellence in teaching as we will ensure teachers are supported through a comprehensive and integrated professional development plan. The teacher and staff evaluation model will include mentorship, coaching and support. We will provide the team with enhanced resources to focus on student success. Faculty excellence will be recognized in terms of remuneration, professional development and time.”
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Experiential Creativity Scott Bennett
HEAD OF STRATEGIC PLANNING AND INITIATIVES
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.” – Albert Einstein In WIC’s recently completed Strategic Plan, it is evident that imagination is at the heart of it all. The College, with significant input from community members, set three commitments in the plan: Creativity, Connection and Confidence. Focusing on creativity, we will see it is the College’s intention to encourage creativity and imagination by linking it to our teaching and learning with real world experiences. Sir Ken Robinson, an internationally recognized leader in the development of creativity, innovation and human resources in education and business, raises a number of great points regarding creativity in his 2006 Ted Talks video, “Do Schools Kill Creativity?” Robinson believes creativity is as important as literacy and should be treated with the same respect.
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If students are uncomfortable with being wrong or making mistakes, they will never come up with anything original. Robinson suggests that by the time students become adults, most have lost the capacity to take those risks. One of my favourite aspects of working with the Business Institute is the exploration of failure and resiliency. Our guest speakers often share inspiring stories regarding their entrepreneurial journeys, and most highlight that they did not get it right the first time around – or even the second! This is an incredibly important message for our students to hear. In the Institutes program, we provide opportunities for students to risk making mistakes, to think outside the box, to fail, then try, try, try again! We have the unique opportunity to offer project-based activities where they can explore that creativity. One such project occurs in the Engineering Institute, which connects with the Airdrie company, Alta Injection Molding (AIM), working on design projects for a used coffee filter removal device or a dog bone catapult. Dr. Avis Glaze, an international leader in the field of education, and president of Edu-Quest International in Canada, has suggested that, while schools are good at promoting the acquisition of information, “the focus now has to shift quickly to knowledge creation and breakthrough thinking, which support a culture of ingenuity and creativity.” She goes on to suggest that occasionally students are punished – or at least not rewarded – for thinking outside the box or for being overly creative (21 Trends for 21st Century Learning, page 109). At WIC we are working
to change that model, to encourage creativity and thinking outside the box. The Business Institute offers a variety of real learning experiences that incorporate creativity. Students are involved in Case club and Case competitions, which develop key skill sets: problem solving, critical thinking, team work and time management. A group of students recently presented their research to a Calgary Farmers Market vendor regarding social media and the possibility of venturing into the food truck market. WIC Alumni work alongside current students in the Investment Club trading virtual money on the TSE, NASDAQ and NYSE. This semester Business & Technology 9 students worked with Robots and Pencils team members to design some creative apps using the software PencilCase: an app to find luggage; an app to help babysitters track schedules and payments; an air hockey app. An article by Virginia Galt in the Globe and Mail made reference to “career crawls,” suggesting that students should job shadow at workplaces. Participating employers also provide help to students by holding mock interviews and mentoring sessions. WIC’s Health Sciences Institute offers many such “career crawl” opportunities. Students may job shadow health care professionals at the Copeman Clinic and at the Total Cardiology Rehabilitation (located in the Talisman Centre). Students may participate in a Patient X Case where they analyze an individual’s current health condition and decide upon the appropriate treatment and medications. Under the supervision of the medical team at the
Rockyview Ophthalmology Clinic, students may perform cataract surgery on a pig eyeball, or participate in a laparoscopic surgery extracting a pumpkin seed from a pumpkin at the Rockyview Hospital Operating Room Open House visit. Witnessing a live knee surgery via Skype at the Telus Spark Science Centre or participating in an anatomy wet lab at the Foothills Hospital are other great experiential learning opportunities. Recently, WIC alumnus Doug Doyle-Baker (Class of 2011) gave a workshop session to students on how to do a journal analysis with proper referencing for the medical article “Spina Bifida before and after Folic Acid Fortification in Canada,” another great example of mentoring. Sir Ken Robinson posits that we don’t grow into creativity, we grow out of it. However, at WIC we are trying to change that paradigm. WIC’s Institutes offer real world experiences which encourage and sustain creativity, support thinking outside the box and risk taking, and provide career crawling experiences, thus preparing students for potential career paths, many of which have yet to emerge in this dynamically changing world.
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Once a Wolf, Always A Wolf Todd Larsen
With much gratitude to the following alumni:
HEAD OF ATHLETICS AND EXPERENTIAL LEARNING
WIC’s renowned supportive and close-knit community is a hallmark of who we are as a school. The close connections that WIC is able to maintain with our alumni speaks volumes to our priorities of community, connections and support. In particular, our athletics program has benefited over the years from the generosity of alumni giving back, but this year has been exceptional: half of this year’s basketball teams are being supported by WIC alumni. Our alumni bring not only energy, enthusiasm and expertise to their coaching, but have a keen understanding of the importance of supporting our athletes in a busy, academically rigorous environment.
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Ashley Smith (2002-2004) During her years here, Ashley was a keen participant in WIC athletics and is a former winner of the Calgary Independent Schools Junior Athlete of the Year. After attending Arizona State University on a golf scholarship, Ashley has moved back to Calgary and plans to attend the U of C education program. Ashley is coaching our Grade 7/8 Girls team, alongside Mr. Goulet. However, she is not the first member of the Smith family to coach basketball at WIC: Ashley’s mom, Jane Anne Smith, successfully coached our Grade 8/9 Girls basketball team while Ashley was attending WIC. Jake Woods (Class of 2014) Throughout his WIC career, Jake was a major contributor to WIC athletics and a member of the Senior Boys basketball city championship team in his Grade 12 year. Jake was also introduced to rugby at WIC and quickly fell in love with the game. Jake is currently attending U of C in the Haskayne School of Business and has returned to WIC for his second year of coaching, taking on the role of head coach for the Grade 7/8 Boys basketball team.
Jake Woods Ashley Smith ‘04 ‘14
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Connor Kitchen (Class of 2012) Since leaving WIC Connor has been enrolled at Queen’s University where he is studying commerce, but he never lost his love of sports. During his time at WIC Connor was a multisport athlete and holds the elite bragging rights of representing WIC at the golf, volleyball and basketball provincial championships. Connor is assisting Mr. Grewal to coach our provincially ranked Senior Boys basketball team. Sam Stucken (Class of 2014) Sam is currently enrolled in the Haskayne School of Business at U of C and has made time in his busy schedule to assist with the Grade 7 Boys basketball team. Sam was a member of WIC’s 2012 ASAA provincial championship team and is doing a great job instilling in our Grade 7s the connection between hard work and success. The same skills that made Sam an excellent student leader at WIC are making him an equally confident coach. The common threads among these alumni are their fond memories of WIC athletics and the satisfaction that they get in trying to set up the next generations of Wolves for the same positive experience. On behalf of the entire WIC community, I would like to thank Sam, Connor, Ashley and Jake for their time, energy and enthusiasm in promoting WIC athletics.
Sam Stucken Connor ‘14 Kitchen ‘12
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Our Next Bold Steps: Launching an Advancement Program Debra Klippenstein
new fund development program and preserve the elements of the WIC culture that we hold dear.
Hello West Island College! I have had the pleasure of meeting many of you, but for those I have yet to meet let me take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Debra Klippenstein, WIC’s Executive Director of Advancement. I began my new position here at the College on Aug. 31, 2015, Registration Day, an appropriate day to start as it was a great opportunity to meet our students and their families.
This process did not happen overnight: the ground work for a formalized Advancement Program for the College began in 2013. WIC engaged Ross W. Marsh Consulting Group to conduct a Readiness Review to assess the capabilities and readiness of the College to embark upon a high-performance, sustainable fund development program and to outline strategic level considerations for implementation, along with the resources, structures, systems and activities required.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT
What an exciting time to be at WIC! Our focus, first and foremost, is serving our students, parents, alumni, donors and community partners in an engaging and responsible way, and we look toward creating a bright future for our College. As a result of extensive consultation with key stakeholders, Mrs. Grant-Watt (our Head of School), along with our Board of Directors, we have developed a facilities and infrastructure Campus Master Plan, and an Operations Plan, and have recently launched a new Strategic Plan (2015-2018) to meet the evolving needs of the College. Each of these plans will ensure that the College has adequate resources for our students, and for improving, expanding and building new facilities to enhance our learning and academic support spaces that are paramount for the future. With our Purpose, Promise and Commitments guiding our future, we will focus on five strategic priorities over the next three years. The world of advancement fits into Priority 5 in which we are dedicated to ensuring a sustainable future for the College. Our vision for WIC necessitates adopting a formal approach to advancement, philanthropy and the process of securing funds for our future. As we build on a strong foundation of tradition and excellence, we will be respectful of the launch of this
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Some of the recommendations in the Final Report include: •
Establishing an Advancement Committee of the Board to assist the College to implement and govern fund development, alumni affairs and related activities.
• WIC’s Advancement and Admissions departments working closely to the ultimate benefit of both areas, and to WIC overall. •
The Advancement Office taking the lead on all fund development activities including developing a comprehensive and robust Annual Fund Program that includes activities in the areas of donor acquisition, direct response, alumni relations and events. This includes one signature special event annually.
•
Ensuring that donor and volunteer opportunities exist for as broad as possible a segment of the WIC community. Volunteers and donors are a precious institutional asset and should be treated as such.
WIC is ready to respond in this constantly changing environment and transformations are already being made. Along with my recent appointment to Executive Director of Advancement, an Advancement Committee has been established with three new members: Tim Kitchen, Ward Mallabone and Michelle Screpnechuk. A signature event is in the early planning stages and an event committee has been formed that includes: Tina Butz, Mona Hunter, Karen McNeill, Simone Schroeder, Michelle Screpnechuk and Pam Valk. The date of our inaugural event is Friday, Oct. 21, 2016 at the Calgary Golf & Country Club. Stay tuned for details and mark your calendars! WIC’s library is also in the early phases of evolving into a greater Learning Commons, our Performance Centre now boasts over 257 new theatre seats, and the Jack A. Grant building now welcomes the Admissions, Advancement and Marketing & Communications departments working collaboratively in one space. The vision for WIC is to eventually expand our facility into a true educational campus within a secondary school environment. The WIC campus will focus on exceptional and unparalleled teaching and learning. Through this we, as a collaborative educational community, will provide extraordinary opportunities and experiences that spark curiosity and prepare our students for the world beyond WIC.
ways in their own learning. WIC is a place where we can develop the best in each of us. The funding WIC receives from the government, student tuition, programs and other funding sources only covers basic instruction and operation costs. Funds required for capital building, facility upgrades, new equipment, and bursaries and awards requires the generosity of WIC families (parents and grandparents), alumni and the larger community. There have been many generous donors to the College over its 33-year history and we appreciate every gift of time and financial resources. Every dollar donated, past and future, makes a difference in the lives of our learners. There are many opportunities to invest in our next generation of leaders, including these three priority areas: •
Annual Fund (unrestricted, area of greatest need) Capital Improvements Bursaries and Awards
• • This is just the beginning of WIC’s incredible journey to launching a comprehensive Advancement Program. With your support the future of our students is limitless. I look forward to getting to know you over the coming months. To make a donation to the future of West Island College or to learn more about the Advancement Program please contact me directly at debraklippenstein@mywic.ca.
The College is boldly carving out a bright future for its students, current and yet to come. WIC is a place where teachers truly care about students, where parents are involved in all aspects of their child’s education, and where students are engaged in tangible
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We are all WIC Ambassadors Jim Rieder
HEAD OF ADMISSIONS Why did you choose WIC as your child’s school? Was it because we achieve great academic results? Foster a safe environment? Employ dedicated teachers who emphasize academic quality? Educate the whole child? Develop student character? Cultivate leadership skills? Enjoy a great reputation? Motivate and support our students? Innovate with the Institute model? Offer international travel experiences? Embrace a remarkable athletics program? Promote an incredible fine arts program? It was probably many of these reasons – if not all – that determined WIC was the perfect choice for your family. But how did you find out about the great things that happen here? Some people find it surprising that over 80 per cent of our new students learn about WIC through their outside social networks. Parents often make a decision early in their children’s educational careers to explore various schools around Calgary. However, word of mouth is a major factor in their ultimate decision regarding their most important assets: their children. There are three key stages that families go through in the process for choosing a new school. The first is the pre-inquiry to visit stage, which occurs before families view our website, gather hard copy information, or attend our annual Open House. It is no surprise that this stage is heavily influenced by our community. We are fortunate to have an amazing network of parent ambassadors who feel the same passion and enthusiasm about the educational experience we offer here at WIC, and a large part of our ongoing success comes from parental support. For families new to WIC there are many ways to “spread the WIC
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word.” Perhaps you know of families who have been looking for schooling options. Or you think that a friend’s child could benefit from the programming offered here. Whatever the reason, we are always happy to meet and chat with family members and friends of our community about their educational needs. Learning about various schools is a good exercise for every family, regardless of whether they ultimately choose to enrol. Being equipped with the right information means parents are able to select the specific school program that meets their child’s educational need, which ultimately leads to higher success for that child. We appreciate your ongoing support and enthusiasm for WIC. In fact, this enthusiasm ensures our success each year. We are honoured to have incredible parent ambassadors who direct more great families our way. Thank you! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at jimrieder@mywic.ca.
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Lest We Forget... Remembrance Day at WIC This year’s Remembrance Day ceremony at West Island College acknowledged a number of important milestones: the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII and the Holocaust, as well as the 100th anniversary of the battle of Beaumont Hamel, a WWI disaster that has had a significant impact on the identity of Canadians. On July 1 of each year, in addition to Canada Day, Newfoundland gathers to commemorate Memorial Day to recognize the immense losses they suffered in WWI at the Battle of Beaumont-Hamel, considered to be the bloodiest battle of WWI. At the WIC ceremony candles were lit to recognize Canadians who continue to be peacekeepers by providing aid in conflicts across the globe; in memory of all Canadians who have been enlisted for war; in memory of all families who are impacted by genocide; and in hope of continued peace. The WIC band played It is Well with My Soul, by Horatio Spattford, as guests reflected on the impact that conflict has had and continues to have on our world. WIC faculty member Sergeant Kevin Fensom shared his impactful, first-hand experience with conflict. Sergeant Fensom has been a member of Canadian
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Forces as a reservist since 1999 and continues to be active with the King’s Own Calgary Regiment, where he is currently employed as a reconnaissance patrol commander. He has had two deployments to Afghanistan, one in 2006 and the other in 2008. Sergeant Fensom teaches Senior High Social Studies and Economics at WIC. This year, after WIC’s Cailin McNeely played The Last Post, three wreaths were presented: the Dallaire family placed a wreath in memory of their son, Kevin, whose plaque of remembrance hangs proudly in our Hall of Nations; Sergeant Fensom placed a wreath for all the men and women currently serving our country and those who have recently fallen; and visiting representatives from Vet’s Angels, Mrs. Alderman, Mr. Cameron and Corporal Retired Les Archibald (a WWII Canadian Air Force Veteran) placed the third wreath in recognition and memory of all families and community impacted by conflict. Head Boy Chaz S. and Head Girl Kaya P. presented Vets’ Angels representative, Mrs. Alderman with $1,300 donated by the WIC community to make a positive difference to our local veterans.
Sergeant Kevin Fensom
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Do We Have a Deal? WIC Wolves’ Den returns with alumna Manjit Minhas Angela Hodgins
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNCATION AND STRATEGY At a special event in November 2015 WIC proudly presented alumna and board member Manjit Minhas, co-founder and co-owner of Calgary’s Minhas Micro Brewery, and panelist of the hit CBC television series Dragons’ Den. WIC Business Institute students kicked-off the evening by participating in a Wolves’ Den simulation where groups pitched their business ideas to Minhas, as well as WIC board member Jennifer Cioffi and Dr. Lucy Miller, President and CEO, United Way Calgary. Minhas then shared her extensive entrepreneurial knowledge with the WIC community, their families and friends.
Team 1: Wolfpacks This Junior Achievement company was founded by four WIC students and produces quality drawstring bags for gym apparel for members of the WIC community. With startup capital from a variety of shareholders, these unique drawstring bags feature the WIC Wolves logo and have enough space for a variety of gym items. Wolfpacks plans to donate 30 per cent of its profits to Right to Play, a non-profit organization dedicated to giving underprivileged kids an opportunity to get involved in organized sport.
The groups had worked tirelessly to perfect their pitches to the judges and did an excellent job of their respective presentations.
Team 2: Baby Cakes This Junior Achievement company is focused on helping children using the business behind cake pops to help children. Comprised of five Grade 11 students, this company is passionate about making and selling a quality baked product for all to enjoy. Baby Cakes are homemade cake pops that are baked, rolled and sculpted to perfection, available in both chocolate and vanilla. Baby Cakes supports the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, which inspires our community to invest in excellence in child health, research and family centered care.
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The Panel Mrs. Manjit K. Minhas, WIC alumna (Class of 1998) Co-founder and co-owner, Minhas Breweries www.ManjitMinhas.com CBC’s newest Dragon on the hit TV show Dragons’ Den, Manjit Minhas, 35, was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta and is the co-founder and co-owner of the Minhas Breweries and Distillery. This petroleum engineering student turned beer baroness started her companies at the ripe age of 19 in Alberta with her partner and brother, Ravinder Minhas. Currently, Minhas Breweries has over 90 brands of beers, spirits, liqueurs and wines which are sold across Canada, as well as in 43 states throughout the USA and 16 other countries in Europe, Asia and South America. Last year Minhas’ companies had revenues in excess of $155 million. Minhas has been nominated for, and won, several business industry awards. A few of them are listed below: • • • • • • • • • • •
Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs in Canada “Top Growth Entrepreneur” award, PROFIT magazine, Toronto Young Achiever Award from the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce Alberta Centennial Medallion Canada’s Women Executive Network Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 Business in Calgary’s “Leaders of Tomorrow” India Abroad’s “The Power List” Award Famous 5 Foundation Leader Award Global TV Woman of Vision Award Chatelaine Magazine’s Top Entrepreneur Woman of The Year
Ms. Jennifer Cioffi,
WIC parent and board member Principal, Jennifer Cioffi Consulting Jennifer Cioffi is a senior marketing and brand strategist who started her career in the technology industry, and gained valuable experience in product strategy, marketing and customer service during her 10 years at Microsoft’s global headquarters in Redmond, Washington. Cioffi has direct experience working with a “Dragon” having worked for Arlene Dickinson at Venture Communications, one of Canada’s largest independent marketing agencies. Over her 8 year career with Venture, Cioffi drove strategy and account services for clients in a variety of industries, ultimately taking on the role of president, overseeing the operations of both the Calgary and Toronto offices of the firm. In 2013, Cioffi started her own consulting practice, and now works as an independent strategist offering support in brand strategy, communications strategy and marketing measurement. She also serves as the Planning Committee Chair on the WIC Board of Directors.
Dr. Lucy Miller
President and CEO, United Way of Calgary and Area Dr. Lucy Miller has been President and CEO of United Way of Calgary and Area since March 2012. She is known for her relational style and her commitment to shared responsibility for the success of the City of Calgary. Miller is very active in the broader community, serving on the Boards of the Calgary Homeless Foundation, the Safe Communities Opportunity and Resource Centre (SORCe), and the Haskayne School of Business Advisory Committee; she is also a member of the Premier’s Council on Alberta’s Promise. Miller has been recognized with the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence, the Women of Distinction Award, the Lieutenant Governor’s Leadership Award and the Papal Benemerenti Medal of Excellence; she was named one of Alberta’s 50 Most Influential People and one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women.
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30 Years of Exemplary Service: Malcolm Rennie Steve Smith
DIRECTOR OF POST-SECONDARY PLACEMENT with
Philippa Webb-Briscoe
INFORMATION OFFICER In our society, we tend to measure a school’s success by its published academic results, by the number of its graduates who attain scholarships and attend prestigious universities, and by the accomplishments of its alumni. West Island College is indisputably successful: in its 33 years in the Calgary community the College has established itself as a centre of excellence in education, encouraging and challenging its students. Its graduates routinely achieve high exam results and garner scholarships across the country and around the world. Among its over 1,000 alumni there are many exceptional individuals who contribute positively and significantly to their local and global communities. However, what has always been at the core of West Island College is its strong sense of community. And while students inhabit the building for, at most, six years, many staff members remain for much longer. Each year in November the College celebrates the contributions of its long serving teachers and support staff and, as of the start of this year, 26 members of staff were celebrated for their 10 years or more of service to the school. This high staff retention rate speaks to the standards of excellence at the College and the positive environment in which we study and work. At this year’s annual Staff Service Awards, Mr. Smith, who himself has been at the College for over 20 years, had the daunting task of “roasting” Mr. Rennie: “It would not be an overstatement to say that, over his 30 years of service, his exploits have become legendary. His time at WIC is so intertwined with the College’s history that they almost seem one and the same.” Mr. Rennie is undeniably a conscientious, dedicated and intelligent teacher, a humble and professional colleague, and a regular font of knowledge: “When it comes to anything post-secondary,” Mr. Smith admits, “I don’t Google things, I just turn my head towards the other desk in my office and ‘Malcolm’ them!” Mr. Rennie started at WIC in September 1985, and most students would remember him as
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their Social Studies teacher. However, throughout his long and illustrious career at WIC he has taught students in Grades 7 through 12, teaching “Social 30, 20, 10, European History AP, Comparative Government and Politics AP, Western World History 30, International Politics 30, Anthropology 30, Law 20/30, Micro and Macro Economics 30, World Religions 30, Computer Science Grades 7-11, Literature 21 … and probably some others I have forgotten about!” He also taught on Class Afloat in 1990-91 (when it was still affiliated with WIC) travelling from Copenhagen to Cape Town, and chaperoned WIC International Studies trips to Thailand, China, and Europe. He recently accompanied Grade 12s on a university tour of Nova Scotia, and has attended NACAC (National Association of College Admission Counselling) conferences in Denver, New Orleans, Toronto and San Diego. Furthermore, he was the Senior Boys Floor Hockey coach for many of WIC’s early years and for several ISAA championships (the trophy proudly displayed in his office has about six or so nearly consecutive WIC championships recorded on it), supervised the Guitar Club, and was the Model United Nations club advisor for the past few decades. Mr. Rennie is truly gifted at and committed to his vocation. In the words of some of his students: “Mr. Rennie is incredibly engaging and knowledgeable … He really understands his students and is amazing at his work ... He cares greatly about the success of all his students ... He creates a comfortable and fun learning environment through different activities and simulations … He has given me many opportunities; I could never have come this far without him. Given his “unique” personality, students and staff alike have wonderful – and wonderfully funny – stories about Mr. Rennie’s tenure at the College. •
“Generations of graduates from WIC will tell you that he has an uncanny knack of walking out of the classroom mid-sentence, only to return a minute later with a handout or book he had left in his office, and continue his original train of thought without a moment’s hesitation.”
•
“He is a capitalist’s worst nightmare, a terrible non-consumer. His rejection of materialism is legendary. However, he does have a 20-year collection of (free) pens and pencils from various post-secondary institutions, although during his office move this year he managed to trim his collection down to around 100.”
•
“He was a serious hockey card collector as an adult, running a league, complete with stats.”
•
“Along with some of his friends he has made remakes of many of his favourite movies (on location, of course) and then each year produced a mini version of the Oscars, complete with little statuettes.”
Mr. Rennie has contributed so much to WIC but he never seeks out accolades; in fact, he usually tries to avoid them. He was, deservedly, WIC’s very first recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award. He has an incredible knack for helping our students find the perfect post-secondary program and the path required to be accepted into it. He never lets his ego get in the way of his teaching, counselling or friendships, and truly shows what it means to be a teacher, a mentor, a colleague and a friend. As Mr. Smith said at the conclusion of his roast, “I’d like to say that, while it’s unlikely Malcolm will serve WIC for another 30 years, I have a hard time imagining the place without him.” Thankfully, we do not have to do that just yet!
“It would not be an overstatement to say that, over his 30 years of service, his exploits have become legendary. His time at WIC is so intertwined with the College’s history that they almost seem one and the same.” Winter 2016
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Congratulations, Coach Bridal! The 2015 Alberta School’s Athletic Association Zone Award of Merit Recipient The WIC family is proud to announce the conferring of the 2015 Zone Award of Merit from the Alberta School’s Athletic Association (ASAA) to long serving faculty member Mr. Bridal. The Zone Award of Merit is awarded annually to a single recipient from each ASAA zone who has, during his or her teaching career, made outstanding contributions to coaching and the development of athletics in Alberta. At WIC Mr. Bridal’s coaching focus is on basketball and track and field; however, he has been involved in volleyball, football, basketball, badminton, and track and field throughout his long teaching career. Since coming to WIC he started and developed track and field into the extensive and thriving program it is today. Mr. Bridal makes a point of building strong relationships with students and motivates them to succeed, whether in the classroom, on the court, on the track, or in the field. WIC’s Head of Athletics and Experiential Learning, Mr. Larsen, observes that “Mr. Bridal has an excellent vision for success and is able to develop high performing teams while working with all his players.”
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One of his students, Kaya P. (Grade 12), concurs: “Whether it was on the basketball court or on the track field, Mr. Bridal continuously pushed me to challenge myself. I like to think I was born with some degree of athletic ability and I never realized that I was not reaching my full potential because of my complacency. When Mr. Bridal started coaching me he pointed that out and gave me the tools to go beyond and exceed my own expectations. His insightful knowledge helped me to succeed in athletics. He is truly passionate about what he does.”
Congratulations, Mr. Bridal, on this well-deserved award.
Best Wishes to Newly-Retired Mr. McManus As many of you are undoubtably aware Mr. Chris McManus, long time Chemistry guru and cross-country enthusiast, retired from West Island College at the end of last semester. Mr. McManus’ illustrious teaching career spanned 38 years, many of which occurred within the Calgary Board of Education schools. However, over the last decade he has been an integral part of the outstanding success WIC has experienced in its Chemistry program.
Congratulations, Mr. McManus! From all of us at West Island College, we wish you all the best in your future endeavours!
Mr. McManus is a quiet and thoughtful teacher with a searingly dry wit notwithstanding his gentle demeanour! He was always generous with his time and energy, working tirelessly with his students to help them achieve their best, and mentoring his younger colleagues. He was also a stalwart supporter of our extra-curricular teams, following his passion with the Cross-Country Running Team. Mr. McManus joins his wife, a retired preschool teacher, who has been patiently waiting for him to retire and join her on planned travel adventures. We are sad to say au revoir to Mr. McManus, but we certainly wish him all the very best in his well-deserved retirement.
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Our Community Welcome Back BBQ
Chemainus Artist Retreat
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Grade 7 Sleepover
Halloween
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Movember
Outdoor Ed
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Talent Show
University Tour
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Cinderella: WIC’s Fall Production Grade 12 student and veteran of the last few years’ Drama Productions, Sarah Nearing, played the endearingly comedic Charlotte, the self centred, loudmouthed, socially awkward step-sister in the fall production of the musical, Cinderella. She not only did an outstanding job in her acting role, but also directed one of the scenes. Furthermore, she coordinated and ran rehearsals for the chorus parts of the musical score. She was invaluable in helping many of the soloists with their singing, giving of her time unselfishly and with great patience. We asked Sarah to reflect on the experience of being involved in WIC’s Cinderella. Sarah Nearing Senior Cast Member The feeling one gets after the final time the lights go down on a show is bittersweet. Suddenly, you have free time, and when you leave school you actually get a glimpse of the sun. However, the end of any show is also the end of a family. When you spend countless hours with the same people, you form bonds. People you formerly passed in the hallways have inexplicably become some of your best friends. A quote from the show will put you and your new friends in stitches because of memories from rehearsals. The end of this show means that we all have more time to focus on our academics; it also means that we don’t get to spend every day after school with the same amazing people. Being in a show such as Cinderella isn’t easy, but then, nothing worth doing ever is. With only two months to put together a full-length musical, it was a stressful process. The score was written for
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Broadway professionals, so weekly rehearsals were necessary to ensure that everyone knew their music. As music director, I could not be more proud of the entire cast. They worked incredibly hard on difficult pieces, and the results were amazing. The chorus absolutely wowed me with their commitment and their ability to learn harmonies and music cues, and all of them were so positive to work with. Our leads were incredible: Matt Lutz and Chris Dalton, the two leading men who have never been vocally trained, did a phenomenal job. Kenzie Vaandering, our astonishing (and admittedly terrifying) stepmother, managed to hold her own in the complex harmonies despite having never taken a vocal lesson in her life. Cameron Bailey and Onyi Chukueke both fairly new to drama, played their characters well, with wonderful line delivery and comedic timing. Megan Switzer, our fairy godmother, took on a difficult role and proved that she was more than capable of handling it. Lauren McMahon and Amelia Srajer (Gabrielle and Cinderella, respectively) not only displayed their impressive vocal and acting chops, but demonstrated their leadership and ability to perform under pressure. Unfortunately, both fell seriously ill during performances, but they still managed brilliant performances. The entire cast came together when disaster seemed imminent, displaying impressive improvisation skills to save the show, managing to cover up errors so that the audience had no idea a mistake had been made. Now that’s what I call team work!
The tech and set crews deserve mention: the show would not have been what it was without the hard work of the ninjas who spent hours perfecting set changes. Our tech crews had the difficult task of ensuring mics were on when they needed to be, keeping track of lighting cues, and knowing what lines coincided with lighting cues. “Smichie” Lang, our stage manager, kept everything in order. I did not envy her job, and I am extremely grateful for what she did. The costumes were also a highlight: kudos to Michelle Keay for designing and building the Cinderella “transformation” dress and to Anne-Marie Plan as costume manager. They dealt with costume emergencies with grace, and dedicated long hours to helping us look the part. Finally, we cannot say enough to thank Ms. Irvine and Mr. Ackerman. From set painting and building, to costumes, to tech, to stage managing, to filling in for missing actors in rehearsals, the commitment and generosity of these two individuals is what made Cinderella amazing. Being in a Drama Production is the experience of a lifetime: you build skills and resilience; you discover things about yourself you never knew; and you create friendships and memories that will last much longer than the exhaustion you feel during rehearsals or the elation you feel after the curtain goes down. And the sense of family, of belonging to this special group, will pervade your high school experience. I encourage everyone – even if you have no experience and think you have no talent – to try out for next year’s production. I guarantee you won’t regret it!
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ALUMNI Class Notes Do you have a notice you would like to include in WIC Alumni Class Notes? Please send it to alumni@mywic.ca along with a photo, if possible. We’d love to share your news! Taylor Clark (Class of 2011) As a fifth-year UBC Okanagan Geography student, alumnus Taylor Clark has discovered “snow-science.” Clark currently works at the UBC Centre for Environmental Assessment Research (CEAR) on a project focusing on gap analyses of avalanche research in Canada along transportation corridors. The research group is interested in avalanche costs and infrastructure needs for transportation routes. We look forward to hearing more about this unique area of study. Samantha Kolias (Class of 2005) Samantha Kolias wed Jon Gunn at Spruce Meadows. Here is a peek at the couple’s breathtaking wedding. Along with her siblings Hugh (Class of 2008), Vanessa (Class of 2011) and Bella (Class of 2012), and parents Melissa and Sam (Chair of the Board 2006 and 2007), we would like to congratulate Samantha and Jon!
Samantha Kolias wedding
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Dr. Raeanne Miller (Class of 2001) Marine ecologist and WIC alumna Dr. Raeanne Miller has been selected as one of only 78 women from around the world for the Australian-led Homeward Bound international three-week long outreach trip. Homeward Bound is a world-class leadership and strategy program for women scientists that will build a global collaboration and empower women to redress the gender imbalance. The program is run as an expedition to Antarctica and will form part of a documentary series exploring the role of women in our world. Miller works with the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) at Dunstaffnage, Scotland’s largest and oldest marine science organization. Congratulations, Dr. Miller. We are very proud of your accomplishments! Brian Ross (Class of 2001) Brian currently resides in Calgary with his wife, Haley Ross, and children Miles, Molly and Emmy. He is the chair of the Alumni Committee and a member of the West Island College Board of Directors. He spends his days working as an Employee Benefits Consultant with Lane Quinn Benefit Consultants Ltd. and his evenings coaching hockey and playing Barbie’s.
Brian Ross and family
WIC’s Upcoming Events 2015/2016 School Year Grade 8 Science Fair
Graduation Dinner and Dance
Annual Student Art Exhibition
Spring Concert & Graduate Art Show
WICelebrates
WIC Classic Golf Tournament
West Island College February 24
West Island College March 2 – 3
West Island College April 13
Hotel Arts June 3
West Island College June 7
Calgary Elks Club June 23
Senior Drama Production West Island College April 20 – 22
CAIS Youth Leadership Conference West Island College April 27 – 30
Grade 12 Commencement Ceremony Jack Singer Concert Hall May 31
WICAA Breakfast
West Island College June 2
Grade 9 Celebration, 2015
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West Island College has gone social ... Connect with us!
West Island College Calgary
@WICYYC
West Island College Calgary
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Grades 7 to 12 Know of a family looking for a great school? Invite them to join us for a tour so they can experience our community of passionate and creative problem solvers, ready to contribute to a better world. Enrolment space is limited.
BE BOLD. BE BRAVE. BE READY.
French Immersion & French or Spanish as a Second Language
SOYEZ AUDACIEUX. SOYEZ COURAGEUX. SOYEZ PRĂŠTS. westislandcollege.ab.ca admissions@mywic.ca
Health Sciences Business & Engineering Institutes Advanced Placement Fine Arts Leadership International Studies
403.255.5300 7410 Blackfoot Trail S.E.
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Summer 2016
7410 Blackfoot Trail S.E. 403.255.5300 www.westislandcollege.ab.ca