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Distinction recipient Kyle Munns at Primrose Donkey Sanctuary during Week Without Walls 2019 LtoR: Silver service award recipient Ava Becker with Pat Moss Society Award winner Natasha Pinto helping Northumberland Humane Society in 2018

Distinction recipient Kaylie Tsang takes a break from volunteering as Trina the mascot Distinction recipient Zoe Fingas visits with a resident at a local seniors’ residence during Week Without Walls 2019

Service Learning Awards

THIS YEAR, our students poured their hearts into the School’s service learning programs, with awards recipients amassing nearly 8,500 cumulative hours of service. While the service mandate at TCS extends beyond the Ontario curriculum expectation of 40 hours, 67 students earned at least double that standard, with 32 Bronze (80+ hours of service), 23 Silver (120+ hours) and 12 Gold or Distinction (200+ hours) awards presented during the virtual Co-curricular Awards ceremony in May. Six students earned Gold awards this year: first-time recipients Zoe Fingas, Kyle Munns and Kaylie Tsang; and repeat recipients Aya Al-Ali, Grace Lu and Aishwarya Rajesh Krishnan. Students holding stewardships, in some cases in multiple areas at the School, were recognized for their commitment, with 13 students earning their steward tie for the first time, and five students recognized as repeat recipients. And our peer mentors for each Senior School house were also honoured. The service learning portion of the ceremony also included two special awards: the Armour Memorial Prize for yearbook editor went to Sam Bliemel; and the Pat Moss Society Award, which signifies a student who embodies the mission of “youth helping youth,” was presented to Natasha Pinto. Ms. Kim Vojnov, director of service learning

Pink Shirt Day Pet Crafts Club

MasterKey Chapel

Earth Day clean-up

LtoR: Savanna Barker and TianTian Dong show off their reusable Scott House mugs Wright House takes part in an environmental Kahoot game during a house meeting

Sustainability

Environmental sustainability at TCS is seen in our collective awareness and action towards a “greener” future. A future where the Earth is restored, climate change is stopped, and all life on the land and in the water that we depend on is healthy. Sustainability is seen in our habits every time someone chooses reusables over disposables, chooses to recycle instead of creating landfill, or grow some of their own food instead of purchasing it in packaging from far away.

SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS

The Sustainability Awards recognize the student leaders who, through Trinity Environmental Action Club (TEAC), as a house green rep, or as a sustainability steward, contribute to the building of this awareness and action for a better future. The Sustainability Awards recognize the leaders of our MOGO movement. Doing “more good” instead of just “less bad.” Students who commit to environmental leadership and service for one year receive the TCS sustainability tie with its chains of green leaves. The following students were recognized for a full year of MOGO leadership. Congratulations to Bolu Abiola, Emma Aitchison-Madill, Morad Aref, Chloe Chen, Carter Davis, Tea Efovi, Sanne Healy, Kristie Lam, Matteo Mascarin, Eadyn Meier, Sydney Mueller, Emma Olazabal Salgado, Nadia Simmonds, Allie Vahramian, Megan Zammit and Yarik Zhyliaiev. Students who engage in a second full year of environmental leadership and service receive the sustainability pin, in the shape of a leaf. Congratulations to Aya Al-Ali, Jade Barnard, Sarah Deleeuw, Aaliyah Garland and Karina Lee.

GREEN CUP

The Green Cup Challenge runs all year long with green reps enacting campaigns in their house to reduce our cumulative footprint, learn more about environmental problems and solutions and take action to restore our Earth. One boarding house and one day house are awarded the trophy, with the points going towards the Langmuir Cup. With 293 points and 239 points respectively, this year’s winners are: Scott House and Wright House! Congratulations on all your MOGO, and a dedicated effort all year to make TCS greener.

ECOSCHOOLS CERTIFICATION

TCS was proud to re-certify at the platinum level of EcoSchools Canada in spite of the numerous challenges presented by COVID-19 protocols and restrictions. TEAC, the Senior School green reps, the sustainability office team, and so many students and staff continued to prioritize doing MOGO for a healthier planet. We were able to acquire 163 points by logging actions and campaigns in 29 different categories related to energy use, waste management, biodiversity, environmental education and more; this was way beyond the 101 points required to achieve platinum level. Our platinum level means we are also receiving Green Flag designation from the Foundation for Environmental Education’s global network. Congratulations, everyone! Ms. Alison Elliott, environmental coordinator

Hearts and Minds Projects

OUR GRADE 8 students have worked hard on their Hearts and Minds projects over the past six months, demonstrating perseverance and commitment in finding ways to be a positive force in their communities. Designed as a culminating experience of the Junior School, with a focus on the TCS habits of the heart and mind, this project combines inquiry, community and service. Students work collaboratively in groups to support a community of their choice, based on a personal interest. This, the second year of the project, has been particularly challenging as the students have had to adjust, re-think and re-plan in response to the ever changing impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on their personal, social and school lives. There is no “class” for this project, with much of the work done outside of school hours, encouraging students to develop important communication, time-management and organization skills along the way. They really needed to channel those TCS habits of the heart and mind, not only to care for themselves, but to discover ways to support others in a year like no other! This is a project that encourages independence and personal growth, with opportunities for reflection at key intervals. Each project is unique in its focus, plan and presentation. As much as the work is now complete, it is hoped that the students use their learning to continue to find ways to contribute to their communities. The TCS habits of the heart and mind shine through in each and every project, not just in the final presentation but in the journey each student took over the six months of this project. A huge thank you to all the mentors, who guided, motivated and inspired their students to recognize and value these habits in themselves and in the people around them. Here is a sample of this year’s Grade 8 Hearts and Mind projects: • Translating the school prayer into American Sign Language • Building a bat box and chimney sweep house to protect endangered species • Volunteering at a local food bank • Collecting funds to support local children to play sports • Making animal toys and treats for a local humane society • Teaching a lesson to the entire Junior School about the importance of Black Lives Matter • Collecting donations of hygiene products to support people in need • Organizing a weekly online book club for all Junior School students • Teaching Grade 5/6 classes a lesson on upcycling and sustainable fashion • Raising awareness of therapeutic horseback riding • Positivity podcasts • Photo book essay documenting life in Boulden House during this historic school year • Proposing new outdoor play equipment for the Junior School Congratulations to all Grade 8 students for the compassion, open-mindedness, and courage they showed over the course of this extended, year-long project. You have indeed made your communities a better place for all. Ms. Sarah Torrible, teacher librarian

Hearts and Minds logo by Atticus Hodges

Therapeutic horseback riding infographic created by Grade 8 students Shanen McFadden and Grace Mayer