Past & Present Fall 2014

Crescent School • Fall 2014

Charting the course for our second century: introducing Crescent’s 10th Headmaster, Michael Fellin

Upcoming Events NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

FEBRUARY

MARCH

Thursday 20

Alumni Downtown Networking Event

Tuesday 25

CPA Holiday Sale Cocktail Party

Wednesday 26

Holiday Sale (open to public)

Thursday 27

Alumni Breakfast Series featuring Headmaster Michael Fellin

Thursday 4 – Saturday 6

Upper School Drama Performance

Tuesday 9

Lower School Winter Celebration

Thursday 11

Middle School and Upper School Winter Celebration

Thursday 18

Bidiak Basketball Tournament and Alumni Holiday Reception

Monday 22 – Friday, January 2

Winter Break

Wednesday 4

Middle School Drama Performance

Friday 6

Alumni Reception – Hong Kong Branch

Tuesday 10

CPA Parent Luncheon

Friday 13 – Monday 16

Midterm Break

Monday 9 – Friday 20

March Break

For more Community Day photos, see page 43.

Past and Present is published twice a year for the entire Crescent School community.

Produced by Crescent School’s External Relations Department: John Lynch P’16, ’18 Executive Director, External Relations Jill Cannon Director of Advancement Chris White P’18 Director of Admission and Financial Aid Betty-Ann Armstrong Webmaster / Photographer Angela Barbieri Manager, Major Gifts and Stewardship Leigh Bowser Marketing and Communications Coordinator Christa Hancock Events and Scheduling Coordinator Peggy McBean Advancement Services and Database Manager Kathryn Rutherford Alumni Relations Officer Alanna Sanderson Admissions Coordinator

CRESCENT SCHOOL 2365 Bayview Avenue Toronto, ON M2L 1A2 416-449-2556 info@crescentschool.org crescentschool.org

Contents Message from the Headmaster ...............2

News From Advancement .....................25

Tooting Our Horn....................................4

Message from the Chair of the Crescent Alumni Executive .............26

Staff and Faculty News ............................6 CONNECT WITH CRESCENT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR facebook.com/ crescentschool1913 twitter.com/ Crescent_School

Message from the Chair of the Board of Governors ......................8 New Board Members ..............................9 CPA Report............................................10 Michael Fellin: A Story of Character .....12 School Leaders ......................................15 Retirements ...........................................16 Prize Day................................................18

DESIGN Chris Simeon September Creative Communications PRINTER • Fall Printing Ltd.2014 PastHarmony and Present

Reflecting Crescent Alumni Pride .........27

By Alumni, For Alumni ..........................28 Remembering Walter Massey ’39 .........29 Alumnus of the Year ..............................30 Crescent Alumni Bookshelf ...................31 Mentorship is a Two-Way Street ...........32 Alumni Events........................................33

Athletic Awards .....................................21

Life After Crescent.................................38

Athletic Achievements...........................22

University Placements............................42

Creating a Buzz: TEDxCrescentSchool .....23

Crescent Community Day 2014 ............43

Head Boy Naveen Gupta ......................24

Lowndes’ Last Word ..............................44 1

Message from the Headmaster

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efore arriving at Crescent School, I was a teacher and administrator at an urban Catholic school working to raise student achievement, enhance faculty engagement, and broaden the range of post-secondary options for boys. Like many educators within our dual public school system who were pursuing similar school improvement goals at the time, my colleagues and I often imagined our work as being in response to the new R’s in education: rigour, relevance, and relationships. It was some of the most rewarding work in my professional career. I learned that boys need adults to provide support, empowerment, clear boundaries and high expectations, and opportunities for them to use their time well. I learned that for boys to become thriving and contributing adults, they must be given opportunities to lead through strengthening commitments of authoritative communities as a whole – school, home, and congregation. I also learned that for boys to develop a broad range of positive outcomes, such as 2

improved sense of agency, belonging, and competence, they must experience transformative relationships with caring adults, teachers, and mentors.

As I think back on what we achieved during those years, most of our work focused on the first two of these important R’s. We increased rigour by raising standards and expectations of students and staff. We strengthened relevance by working in partnership with the larger community and connecting boys to meaningful work in their school. However, I have since realized that we talked about relationships more than we acted on them. Not that we didn’t care about the interactions between adults and students, or between students and their peers. We knew they were essential. But because it was difficult to speak scientifically about relationships, we didn’t try hard enough to understand, measure, and develop them with each other as a staff or with our boys.

Instead, we focused our attention on what was easiest to measure: the rigour and relevance of our curricular and co-curricular

program, our assessment and evaluation methods, and our overall school success compared to others around us.

Little did I know how much similarity existed between my former school and Crescent School when I first arrived on campus four years ago. Both schools had made significant progress in improving student outcomes and pathways to postsecondary education. Both schools had grown in size and stature over a storied history. Both schools had a long tradition of educating boys well. However, both schools were underestimating the impact of relationships on teaching and learning.

What we know today from the best research about boys’ engagement in learning is that relationships are central.

In his most recent book, I Can Learn From You: Boys as Relational Learners, Dr. Michael Reichert affirms that boys are uniquely relational – they learn their subjects through the relationships with their teachers. In fact, successful lessons with boys flow out of well-crafted Crescent School

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relational gestures used by the teacher to evoke and provoke learning. Recently, the largest study of its kind on highperforming boys’ schools, conducted by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research, concluded that the most successful approaches to engage boys in learning and high achievement were those that were relationship-driven. In addition, Search Institute, the world’s leading social-scientific research-topractice organization, has adopted the term “developmental relationships” to describe the close connection between a young person and an adult or between a young person and a peer that powerfully and positively shapes the young person’s social competence and personal identity and helps the young person develop a thriving mindset. Its research points

to the fact that boys, as compared to girls, require the development of these characteristics and qualities throughout early and mid-adolescence.

This year, I have named “relationships” as the core focus of the School. In fact, it is my strong belief that relationships are the gateway to our mission: Men of Character from Boys of Promise. While I am confident that this work is part of Crescent’s past and present, I am motivated to make it a more intentional keystone of Crescent’s future. What is it about the relationships our teachers form with students that motivate our boys to work hard and persevere through difficulty? What is it about the relationships our mentors, coaches, and program leaders form with their students that help our boys learn positive values and social skills? What is it

about the relationships our boys form with each other that deepen their pride in the School? What is it about the relationships our parents nurture with their sons that help our boys develop resilience and a strong work ethic? I think we have just scratched the surface at understanding the power of relationships to drive our boys’ moral orientation and self-determination.

We must seek to learn and grow in our relational practices as a School so that we can commit as an authoritative community to the ongoing growth and formation of our young men.

I invite you to join us in this work, to provide feedback, and support those engaged in charting what is Crescent School’s second century.

— Michael Fellin P’24, Headmaster

“ It is my strong belief that relationships are the gateway to our mission: Men of Character from Boys of Promise.”

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Tooting Our Horn Over the moon Upper School faculty member Jeff Lee spoke at NASA’s Johnson Space Center’s Innovation Lecture Series in August. He also served as an advisor to the NASA Blue Ribbon Panel investigating research conducted at the Center’s Eagleworks Breakthrough Propulsion Laboratory.

Mr. Lee has been appointed as an Adjunct Assistant Professor for Astrophysics, Space Physics and Engineering Research at Baylor University in Texas.

Computing Champions Grade 11 students Matthew Riley, Aidan Oldershaw and Jonathan Pearce achieved perfect scores in the Junior Division of the 2014 Canadian Computing Competition. Hosted by the Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing at the University of Waterloo, the competition included 1,800 of the world’s top computer science students. As a result of their performance, they were crowned Metro Toronto Champions.

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From Crescent School to Hollywood Middle School student Michael Levinson’s professional acting career is off to a strong start. He appears in the feature film Algonquin, starring Nicholas Campbell and Sheila McCarthy, which was released this summer. Watch for it on iTunes and Google Play.

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Photo: Patrick Doyle

National Certificate of Excellence award for Sylvia Duckworth

Crescent’s app wins people’s choice award Crescent’s team won the CIBC People’s Choice category in the 2013 MasterCard NXT Developer Challenge. Upper School students Adam Murai, Max Liu, Nick Haughton, Ian Lo and Jeffery Seto created an app called “NIMJA” that makes it easier for people to pay their restaurant bills. Their integrated app can add tips, display the receipt, split bills and even add rewards for customer loyalty.

Lower School faculty member Sylvia Duckworth (French) was one of just 10 teachers across Canada who received the national Certificate of Excellence.

Presented by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Ottawa on October 7, the award honours outstanding teachers who instil a love of learning in their students, and who use information and communications technologies to better equip their students to excel.

Australian rugby star coaches at Crescent Australian rugby star Matt Burke shared his coaching talent with Crescent School’s junior and senior rugby teams in May. Burke played 81 games, a national record, as a fullback for Australia from 1993-2004 and is the country’s second-highest scoring fullback of all time.

Retired Canadian rugby players Al Charron and Gareth Rees assisted Burke at the team practices, and also ran the Grade 5 gym classes that day.

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Staff and Faculty News Air Guitar Championships Middle School faculty member Ari “Red Thor” Hunter (English) won 2nd place in the Canadian Air Guitar Championships in August. Air guitar talent runs deep at Crescent.

Middle School faculty member Tim Evans (drama) was the 2007 national air guitar champion.

He organized the 2014 championship, a fundraiser for the children’s charity Right To Play.

Breakfast Television promoted the event in a live broadcast from Crescent School in June.

Jennifer Ferguson Middle School learning coach Jennifer Ferguson (mathematics) earned a new qualification during her summer vacation: her official gorilla-tracking certificate, endorsed by the United Nations and the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Jenn’s African adventure also included a safari in Kenya, visits to genocide memorial sites in Rwanda, and to schools and orphanages in Uganda.

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Michael Jansen Upper School faculty member Michael Jansen (chemistry) presented at two conferences this summer. The Canadian Chemistry Conference in Vancouver broadly covered all disciplines of chemistry. The IUPAC International Conference on Chemistry Education in Toronto featured members of the academic community who are putting effective pedagogy into practice.

Shawn Lim Upper School faculty member Shawn Lim (mathematics, physics & robotics) has been reappointed to the Board of FIRST Robotics Canada. This organization oversees the robotics and Lego league competitions involving school teams across Canada, including Crescent’s own award-winning team.

Alex Pintilie Upper School faculty member Alex Pintilie (mathematics) is one of the Ontario teachers and university professors contributing to a new online learning platform being created by the Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing (CEMC).

The platform includes interactive content to promote in-depth learning of concepts from Grade 12 Advanced Functions (PreCalculus) and Grade 12 Calculus and Vectors. The free platform is scheduled to launch in late 2014.

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Message from the Chair of the Board of Governors Our Board of Governors is just one part of what makes us special. We are an 18-member group whose sole responsibility is to ensure Crescent is managed responsibly within the context of our mission. Our talented volunteers come from all areas of the Crescent community and all possess the four core values of Crescent: Respect, Responsibility, Honesty and Compassion.

Our job is not to run the School, but to guide it and set its strategic direction while being mindful that we must always operate within a balanced budget. At each and every Board or committee meeting, our members are aware of our role and take it very, very seriously.

The School’s ambitions and goals would never be accomplished without the people who work day-to-day with our boys. More than 140 dedicated faculty and staff work long days as well as many nights to make our brand so unique and the envy of our peers. On behalf of the 2014/2015 Board, I would like to thank them for choosing Crescent as their place to make a difference to 700 boys year in and year out. Each one of these well-trained and talented individuals could hone their craft just about anywhere, but they chose us. Thank you.

It makes all the difference in the world.

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haracter and Promise. These are the key words of our mission statement which so accurately describes what Crescent School stands for. We live and breathe this mission every day. For more than 100 years, we have been delivering on our promise to work with parents and the community at large to develop tomorrow’s leaders. Our Boys of Promise 8

grow and flourish in an environment that has made us Canada’s leader in boys’ education. Our stellar reputation and ever-increasing application numbers clearly show that we take our responsibility seriously and that we are unwavering in our dedication to our goals. We should all be very proud to be part of this very special place.

A final thought on a never-ending theme: our School must continue to improve and grow. This year we welcome our 10th Headmaster, Michael Fellin P’24, who has, through both internal promotions and newly acquired talent, strengthened and expanded the Leadership Team. Our facilities have grown as well. We just opened the Latifi Family Commons and will very shortly open our new Library. We have formed a superb committee to develop our next strategic plan which will guide us through the year 2020 and beyond.

Our leadership position in character education continues to be the model to which others aspire. We clearly aren’t standing still. This is a busy place.

— Bryan kerdMan P’14, BOard chair

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New Board Members Dr. Eileen de Villa Dr. Eileen de Villa, wife of Dr. Richard Choi and mother of Aidan ’19 and Nicholas ’21 and Ryan (in Grade 4 at another independent school) joins the Board this year. She participated last year on the Headmaster Search Committee and looks forward to being an active contributor to the Board of Governors.

After completing her B.Sc. at McGill University, Eileen continued her studies at the University of Toronto where she completed her Master of Health Science, her MD and specialty training in Public Health and Preventive Medicine. During her residency training, she practised family medicine in Toronto and completed her MBA. Since 2004, Eileen has worked for the Region of Peel where she is currently the Acting Medical Officer of Health.

Eileen is an alumna of Havergal College and enjoys connecting with fellow “Old Girls” at various Crescent events. She and her family are avid travellers and are looking forward to their fourth Crescent Choir trip this November.

Lynn Porter Zechner Lynn Porter Zechner is the mother of Crescent graduates Scott Zechner ’08, James Zechner ’10 and current student Jack Zechner ’16, as well as daughter Katherine Zechner (Havergal ’12). She has been an active Crescent School volunteer since her family joined the community in 2004, and is proud to assume the position of President of the Crescent Parent Association this year.

Lynn is a graduate of the English and Drama program of the University of Western Ontario.

Following graduation, she worked for several companies in both Ottawa and Toronto in sales promotion and marketing before arriving at the national offices of Holt Renfrew, where she worked until retiring to raise her family in 1990. Since that time, Lynn has owned and operated a retail antiques and home furnishings business in Collingwood, as well as managing her family’s real estate holdings on the Maryland shore. She has also been an active volunteer fundraiser with such organizations as the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, North York General Hospital, Operation Herbie and most recently Human Rights Watch Canada. Lynn, her husband John Zechner and their children are all avid travellers who enjoy spending time at their cottage in the summer and winter weekends skiing in Collingwood.

BOARD OF GOVERNORS 2014/2015 Bryan Kerdman P’14, Chair Dr. Eileen de Villa P’19, ’21 Sam Duboc P’19 Barry Gordon ’87, P’21 May Lee P’17, ’24 Kate Lisus P’14, P’16

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Doris Loo P’18 Peter Osborne P’14, ’19 Lynn Porter Zechner P’08, ’10, ’16 Stuart Raftus P’17, ’18, ’23 Glenn Shyba P’16 Paul Spafford P’18, ’22

Paul Tompkins P’10, ’12, ’13 Amanda Walton P’13 Rob Watt ’85, P’14 Dr. Greg Wells ’89 Andrew Williams ’83, P’13 Charlotte Youngson P’14, ’17

Dr. Greg Wells ’89 As a coach, scientist and physiologist, Dr. Greg Wells has amassed more than 20 years of world-class experience with the extremes of human health and performance. Greg is an Assistant Professor in Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto. He is also an Associate Scientist in Physiology and Experimental Medicine at The Hospital for Sick Children. Previously, Greg served as the Director of Sport Science at the Canadian Sport Centre, taught elite sport coaches at the National Coaching Institute, and worked with the Royal Canadian Golf Association as its Exercise Physiologist.

Greg has coached, trained and inspired dozens of elite athletes to win medals at the Commonwealth Games, World Championships and the Olympics. He makes regular appearances on national television and radio as a health and performance expert, writes articles and research papers for numerous magazines and scientific journals, and is a highdemand speaker around the world.

In his free time, Greg practises what he preaches. Once an internationallevel competitive swimmer, he has also competed in three marathons including the Nanisivik Marathon, one of the world’s toughest marathons 600 miles north of the Arctic Circle; and an Ironman triathlon and the Tour D’Afrique, which at 11,000 km is the longest bike race in the world.

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CPA Report 2013/2014

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he Crescent Parent Association (CPA) enjoyed a truly wonderful year last year under the thoughtful stewardship of President Tara Borg P’18 and her dedicated team of Committee members and parent volunteers. The CPA’s mission is to work in partnership with the School to build Crescent’s unique sense of community through social, fundraising and outreach initiatives.

Inherent in that mandate is the requirement of significant parental support and involvement, and Crescent’s parent community has never failed to rise to that challenge. Every year, hundreds of Crescent parents raise their hands to volunteer in a wide variety of ways, through the donation of their time, their energy, their talents, and their imagination. They participate as Grade Parents, ambassadors, library support workers, event planners and fundraisers, just to name a few. Their willingness to do so is what characterizes the vibrant, generous nature of the Crescent family.

Last year, the opportunities to express this generosity came in many forms. In the social calendar, our annual Coffee in the Courtyard began the year with an opportunity to meet with old and new friends after the summer break. The Lower School Halloween Party was a huge success with record numbers of boys and their family members thrilling to the “creatures of the night” theme. The Holiday Sale cocktail party, sponsored by the CPA, continued to be a popular and extremely well-attended event. In February, the Annual Parent Luncheon at the Granite Club inspired guests with the fascinating life story of Spencer West and his challenge to “redefine possible.” Throughout the year, our dedicated Grade Parent team organized a series of social gatherings which further strengthened the bonds within the parent group at all levels of the School. The School and Community team promoted various outreach initiatives such as our annual Coat and Boot Drive, which last year delivered several carloads of warm outerwear to the Firgrove and Willow Park schools. In addition, this same team organized one of our most important events of the year: Staff Appreciation Day. This very special day gave parents an opportunity to offer up a heartfelt thank you to the entire Crescent staff. Prospective new parents to Crescent were given a window into our unique sense of spirit when they were greeted by a Parent Ambassador at an Open House. Similarly, we reached out to parents of our alumni via our Past Parent program which offers a user-friendly means to maintain ties to the School if they so choose via quarterly newsletters. This has happily resulted in a number of past parents returning to Crescent in order to volunteer at the Garage Sale or as Holiday Sale bakers long after their sons have graduated – an extraordinary testament to the uncommonly generous nature of Crescent parents.

Last year’s CPA fundraising initiatives bore impressive results.

The loyal and hardworking Coyote’s Den volunteers not only provide a valuable service to the boys and their families but are a crucial part of our fundraising efforts. Equally so are the

CPA COMMITTEE 2014/2015 President ...................................... Lynn Porter Zechner P’08, ’10, ’16 Vice President.....................................................Lori Fisher P’14, ’18 Past President ............................................................Tara Borg P’18 Secretary .......................................................... Marianne Eaves P’16 Treasurer .......................................................Nicole Swales P’19, ’21 Communications..................................................... Laurie Foote P’17 Lower School Halloween Party Chair ........ Samantha Rakusin P’18, ’21 Holiday Sale Chair .......................................................Tina Carl P’20 Coyote’s Den Chair ........................................... Fran Brown P’17, ’20 Garage Sale Chair ................................... Vivian Greenberg P’16, ’18 Parent Ambassador Program Chair ........ Florence Chapman P’13, ’15 School & Community Programs Chair ................. Sue Sundaram P’20 Grade Parent Program Chair ...............................Lori Fisher P’14, ’18 Lower School Grade Parent Chair ................... Joelle Corona P’19, ’23 Middle School Grade Parent Chair .....................Tori Newall P’20, ’22 Upper School Grade Parent Chair................. Carol Port P’16, ’19, ’21 Upper School Grade Parent Chair................ Ritu Gupta P’11, ’12, ’15

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two largest single event-style fundraisers on the CPA calendar: Holiday Sale and Garage Sale. As they continue to evolve and grow, so too do the number and range of volunteers and participants that they attract. “Shop and Support” is a new fundraising initiative promoted on the CPA’s Green Room pages. By partnering with companies that provide magazine subscriptions, clothing labels and other goods, “Shop and Support” combines access to useful products with an easy means of supporting the School financially. Watch for new products to be added as opportunities arise. Finally, the former Birthday Book program was relaunched as the “Buy-a-Book” program. Buy-a-Book helps to stack Crescent’s library shelves by asking parents to donate to the library in honour of their son – particularly relevant now as we move closer to the completion of the beautiful new Library this fall.

The CPA is in its fourth year of a five-year pledge of $600,000 to the Great Boys campaign in support the new Library and Amphitheatre. Since 2012, all proceeds from CPA fundraising events and ongoing initiatives such as the Coyote’s Den have been directed towards fulfilling this pledge. We are very pleased to report that we are right on track, with $404,500 raised to date.

With the ongoing support of our parent community, we will achieve our goal within our planned time frame. Prior to our Great Boys campaign commitment, the CPA created the Centennial Scholarship Endowment Fund in the amount of $700,000, which currently supports a worthy recipient in the Upper School, as well as a Local Outreach Endowment Fund, which funds locally based community service programs such as Firgrove Summer Camp.

Looking forward, we have much to anticipate and indeed already have much to celebrate. At the new Crescent Community Day, the CPA proudly hosted the first-ever New Families Breakfast, helping to fulfill our mission of welcoming, engaging and celebrating our parent community – from the most seasoned veteran parents of Crescent “Survivors”, to those who have only just joined the Crescent fold. This year’s CPA Committee is a happy balance Past and Present

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of experienced and new members, affording us the luxury of both invaluable expertise and fresh ideas. We warmly welcome everyone’s involvement, participation and assistance in the months ahead. I wish you a wonderful year at Crescent School.

— Lynn Porter Zechner, P’08, ’10, ’16, CPA President 2014/2015

CPA COORDINATORS 2014/2015 Lower School Halloween Party Vice-Chair........................................Tina Gray P’23 Holiday Sale Vice-Chair...................................................Lisa Gnat Buck P’18, ’20 Garage Sale Vice-Chair.......................................Carol Lloyd-Pinnington P’15, ’17 School & Community Vice-Chair.................................................. Lisa Davies P’19 Parent Ambassador Program Vice-Chair................................... Pam Yoannou P’16 Coffee In The Courtyard Coordinator....................................Susan Silma P’15, ’18 Buy-A-Book Coordinator.......................................................... Caroline Lillico P’17 Lower School Library Coordinator.......................................Domenica Ganguli P’16 Annual Parent Luncheon Coordinator................................... Sherrie Berdusco P’16 Shop & Support Coordinator............................................................Lisa Dale P’16 Past Parent Program Coordinator.............................. Florence Chapman P’13, ’15

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Michael Fellin: A Story of Character

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“ said, if it happens again, find someone else to pick you up,” laughs Heather Fellin, repeating what she told her husband Michael about future staffstudent games at school. Heather is recounting an incident that illustrates how far the new Headmaster of Crescent will go to fulfill his commitments.

“During a mentor group dodgeball game, Michael hurt his ankle,” Heather explains. “He didn’t want to let the team down, so he kept playing. Afterward, he completed his work day and then drove to a meeting for our son’s hockey team. By the time he got home, he could hardly walk because his ankle was the size of an elephant’s. It turned out it was broken.”

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Commitment is one of several qualities that led to Michael being appointed as the 10th Headmaster in Crescent’s history. So much so, that when he challenges the boys to think about character as a set of learned competencies such as grit, resilience and self-discipline, he can back up the research and pedagogy with ample experience from his own life.

That learning included stocking shelves at age 13 in the new Loblaws Supercentre where his father was an area manager. “The store was so big, the price checkers wore roller skates,” laughs Michael. “I loved that job. I would line up the glass pop bottles so all of the labels faced forward. They looked like toy soldiers. I learned a lot about responsibility and customer service.”

“My two younger brothers and I grew up not far from here,” Michael recalls, “but my upbringing was fairly different from most of our students. My parents were immigrants from Ireland and Italy who built their life from next to nothing. They taught me about the importance of hard work and perseverance.”

When he was entering Grade 9, Michael’s parents sent him to St. Michael’s College where he met lifelong friend John Di Vizio. Now a high school vice principal, John most remembers Michael for his attention to relationships at St. Mike’s. “Mike was pretty quiet and introspective,” says John, “but he had Crescent School

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a knack for bringing different groups of people together.”

What comes to mind most for Michael about those years was the challenge. “I was a successful athlete in elementary school, but I didn’t make a single team in my first year at St. Mike’s. That’s when I really started to see failure as feedback

who is in Grade 3 at Crescent, Kara, who is in senior kindergarten, and Ava, who started junior kindergarten this fall.

“Michael is an amazing dad. He’s always present with the kids no matter how busy he is,” says Heather.

in elementary schools in Regent Park before

Soon after they met, Heather attended teachers’ college at OISE and then worked

point, 50 per cent of its Grade 9 students

beginning an extended leave after Fionn arrived. Meanwhile, Michael took a job at Neil McNeil, an all-boys high school in Toronto’s east end that was in the bottom quarter of the provincial rankings. At that were failing at least one credit each year.

“More than anything else, I want us to do what’s right for the boys. We have to make their needs our number one priority.” – Michael Fellin – you have to learn from it.” Michael believes that his initial setback motivated him to earn a spot on future teams, including a career as a left-winger at the hockey-mad school.

After high school, Michael enrolled in the Concurrent Education program at York University’s Glendon College, allowing him to keep working at the Loblaws head office to pay the bills. He then pursued a Master’s in Divinity because he was considering joining the ministry.

Throughout, he was involved in youth activities, including going to Paris and Rome for World Youth Day and helping to host that event in Toronto in 2002.

These interests led Michael to meet Heather, a Queen’s grad who spent two years working at Covenant House in New York City before joining the Catholic Children’s Aid Society in Toronto. “A friend of Michael’s arranged a meeting about programs but was an hour late,” Heather recalls. “While waiting, we talked about ideas. There was a natural synergy between us. We just got it.”

In the months that followed, the pair kept finding reasons to meet under the guise of work. “I think Michael figured out what was happening before I did,” Heather recalls. They were married in 2003 and have three children: Fionn, Past and Present

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“I remember one of my first classes,” Michael says with a smile. “It was Grade 11 open business English, which is a level below the applied level. Two colleagues on staff took turns sitting in class as backup.

It was challenging and exhausting work, and it was the best thing that could have happened at that point in my career.”

It was then that Michael discovered his calling: working with boys. “I began to see how complicated a boy’s life can be, and I wanted to guide them in developing a positive sense of identity. I felt like I could help.”

Over his 10 years at McNeil, his passion for boys’ education grew and drove several new projects. He initiated work with the Search Institute, an American organization specializing in understanding student success, and he led McNeil to become the first public school in the International Boys’ School Coalition. He headed the development of a leadership program that won the Premier’s Award for Teaching Excellence in 2009, and he was a key player in the school rising to the top 10 per cent of the provincial rankings.

Michael’s interest in boys’ education was also a key factor in his career decisions.

When the school board promoted him to vice principal, he insisted that he be posted at McNeil. Later, when it was suggested that Michael was hurting his career by working exclusively with boys, he knew it was time to go. “They wanted me to move to a co-ed or girls’ setting.

That’s when I took an interest in working at Crescent,” Michael remembers.

Michael joined Crescent’s staff as Assistant Head of the Upper School in 2011.

Immediately, Crescent was a great fit. “It was life-giving for Michael,” remembers Heather. “He loved the strong sense of community and the people. And the commitment to innovation and creativity was very freeing for him.”

Don Haag ’86, Director of University Counselling at Crescent, recalls Michael’s arrival. “Mike was really interested in getting to know people. He made a point of being with the guys in the halls and on the sidelines. He’s also really respectful of the School’s traditions and gets input from everyone, including the students, when changes are being considered.”

Don also remembers a moment last year when Michael’s style was on full display.

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It was early in the senior hockey season, a team that they coached together, and Michael was speaking to the boys before a game, trying to convey that they needed more “jam” – a term used in sports for tenacity and toughness.

“He explained that they didn’t have to be nasty about it, but they needed to be harder to play against,” recalls Don. “And then, right near the end of his speech, when the room was silent, he pulled a jar of strawberry jam out of his pocket. The guys went wild. For the rest of the season, we gave the ‘Jam Award’ to a player after every game.”

Michael’s approach – a blend of support, high expectations and fun – is familiar to the students and staff of the Upper School.

So much so, that there was widespread enthusiasm when news of his new role as Headmaster was announced. When informed at a meeting, the staff erupted into a standing ovation. When the student body heard at assembly, the senior students chanted “Fellin! Fellin! Fellin!”

The positive reaction is no surprise to Board member Barry Gordon ’87, P’21.

“Michael doesn’t just talk the talk,” says Barry, whose father was Headmaster of Crescent from 1970 to 1982. “He has a stellar résumé and knowledge of all the research, but most of all, it’s his approach that energizes the community. When

we look back in 15 years, I think we will see that something pretty special has happened under Michael’s leadership.”

Barry also remembers a particular moment in the interview process that wowed the Selection Committee. “When Michael talked about working his way up from stock boy, it sent a shiver through everyone. He is an incredible role model for the students.”

Supporting the development of the young men at Crescent is Michael’s primary concern. “More than anything else, I want us to do what’s right for the boys,” he says. “We have to make their needs our number one priority.” It is a priority he emphasizes whenever he can and maintains no matter how busy life gets.

One such moment occurred on a Wednesday afternoon in late September outside the Drawing Room. Michael only had five minutes to grab some lunch and hurry back to his office for a meeting when he encountered an anxious student trying to find his team bus. Michael stopped, listened, made a few suggestions and then said quietly, “It’s okay. You can do it.”

It was a perfect Crescent moment: an adult helping a boy to solve a problem on his own. And it was an expression of how Michael intends to bring Crescent School’s mission to life – in the same way that lessons about relationships, resilience and commitment have played out in his own.

Crescent School

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Since 1913

School Leaders 2014/2015 Head Boy Naveen Gupta

Portfolio Prefects Arts Ian Lo Assembly Aidan Oldershaw

House Captains Cartier Brad Ashby Tyler Hull

Mackenzie Jeremy Geisler Cooper Midroni

Simcoe Aidan Mayne CJ Yoannou

Hudson Stewart Kirkconnell Ryley Mehta

Massey Charlie Chettleburgh Ryan Harris

Wolfe Jordan Abramsky Brett Balcom

Assembly Lucas Verde Communications Jonathan Pearce Grad Class/Alumni Liaison Brad Carlin Lower School Liaison Dean Perlman Middle School Liaison Michael Jaunkalns Social Aidan Potts Sports Jack Hutton Upper School Liaison/Student Life Alex Coburn

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Recipients 2014 Gold:

Bronze:

Michael Hatsios

Nathaniel Diakun

Daniel Shane

Brandon Chan

House Prefects Cartier Daniel Shane

Mackenzie Michael West

Simcoe Ryley Henderson

Hudson Will Higgs

Massey Ethan Birbrager

Wolfe David Phung

Alastair Lewis Jason Liebovitz

Silver:

Thomas Lieou

Jordan Abramsky

Charles Lit

Matthew Allion Abhishek Chandaria Naveen Gupta Andrew Kung

Gorav Menon Andrew Pham Miles Di Prata Ryan Tam

Rick Martell

Benjamin Tse

Hugh McCauley

Bryan Wong

Tyler Rose

Andrew Youngson

Past and Present

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Fall 2014

15

Retirements Geoff Roberts Headmaster Geoff Roberts retired after a 36-year career in education. He began teaching at Crescent School in 1978, and served as Headmaster since 2000. The Chair of Crescent’s Board of Governors, Bryan Kerdman P’14, spoke at Mr. Roberts’ retirement party. Here is an excerpt from his remarks.

Men of Character from Boys of Promise.

This is Crescent School’s mission statement. Geoff helped craft what has become more than a tagline, motto, slogan or any other synonym you care to use. It is the essence of Crescent. Geoff’s roots as an English teacher helped take a myriad of ideas and shape them into this statement that is lived and breathed on a daily basis. These words speak volumes as to what Crescent School stands for, and summarize our commitment to each boy who joins the Crescent family.

Geoff, Crescent is so very fortunate to have had you call Crescent your second family. I might hazard a guess that is

precisely why so many people have joined us here tonight to celebrate your career and wish you well. Thank you.

Attempting to sum up Geoff’s many accomplishments over the last 36 years is virtually impossible. He’s touched the lives of thousands of alumni and students, helping them learn how to kick that perfect goal in soccer, recite Macbeth with passion and conviction, and be the best that they can be each and every day while at Crescent and outside of these hallowed walls.

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Crescent School

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Since 1913

Graham Steele Graham Steele, Assistant Head of Lower School, retired after a long teaching career, including 29 years at Crescent School. Here is an excerpt from the speech given by Stuart Cumner, Head of Science, at Mr. Steele’s retirement party.

Graham, you are a person that I have always been able to count on. I’ve seen firsthand the inspiration you give to your students in the science classroom. Thank you for passing on your passion to our future scientists.

You have provided guidance to many colleagues over the years. As a mentor to fellow teachers you are second to none, providing a listening ear, calm support and a wealth of experience that you gladly share. I have enjoyed learning from you on the soccer field, as a player and from when we coached together, and as a person in the way you conduct yourself.

You have given so much to your students and to your colleagues over the years. Thank you, Graham, for all the contributions you have made to the School over the years as a teacher, mentor, coach, administrator, colleague and friend. On behalf of the staff, students and alumni of Crescent School, we wish you much happiness in your retirement!

John Nicolucci John Nicolucci, Head of Geography, retired after 37 years of teaching, 18 of them at Crescent. Here is an excerpt from the speech given at his retirement party by Anjelien Slater, Upper School Director of Student Services and member of the Geography faculty.

John has passion – passion that inspires.

He carefully builds his relationship with the boys throughout the year and

Past and Present

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Fall 2014

inspires in the boys a love of geography, a love for learning.

Recently John said to me, “You know, the biggest secret is the knack of knowing when the kids are bored. When they don’t give a hoot, make it real.”

That’s when John turns it on. He uses his quick wit, humour, gaming tricks, console debates, personal stories, jokes, movie quotes, analogies – making it real and

connecting with the boys. No one needs to look far for a successful example of “relational teaching.”

John, you have been my mentor for so many years. You are the epitome of true loyalty and genuine love for family. You inspire in all of us a love for teaching and learning. Most of all, we all thank you for showing us how to let our guards down, laugh, and find the joy in life.

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Prize Day Lower School Awards 2014 ★

★

★

★

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Sheila Barber Citizenship Awards Grade 3 Luca Alagheband Grade 4 Max Gross Tucker Wilson Grade 5 Jonathan Voutsas Nicholas de Villa-Choi Noah Maunder Grade 6 Matthew Bisset Aidan Maunder Michael Farkouh Character Pin Awards Emerald Character Pins: Aidan Maunder Drew Pilkington Lower School Spirit Awards Grade 3 Sean Conroy Grade 4 RJ Levitt Oscar Aylward Grade 5 Connor Colfer Will Matthews Oliver Simpson Grade 6 Curtis Boothe Alex Ramsay Charlie Newall CPA Effort Prizes Grade 3 Jaden Rana Grade 4 Luke Devlin Mattias Kim Grade 5 Lukas Swales Simon Malone Ryan Rakusin Grade 6 James Conlin Caleb Oravecz Carter Morrison

★

House Captains’ Award Duncan Armstrong

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House Captain’s Cup Hudson House

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Art Prize Jackson Partridge

★

★

Drama Award Cameron Overvelde

Colonel J.B. Rogers Trophy Hudson House

★

★

French Prize Derin Uzumeri

Lamp of Knowledge Wolfe House

★

★

Health and Physical Education Award Adam Berry

Dean Voutsas House Cup Wolfe House

★

J. Sean Buckley Awards Grade 3 John Raftus Grade 4 Will Newall Grade 5 Fionn Lay Grade 6 Jack Bunker

★

Board of Governors’ Boy of Promise Award Grade 3 Michael Demiglio Grade 4 Jack Hetherington Grade 5 Thomas Bellamy Grade 6 Farrell Fitzpatrick

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David Heaney Character Education Award Evan Ibbitson

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Coyote Award Duncan Armstrong

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Philip Ambrose Award Jack Silverman

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William Burridge Award Jack Wallace

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J.W. James Award Ian Devlin

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Language Arts Prize Zack Erdman

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Mathematics Prize Terence Cheung

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Music Awards Choral Logan Hersen Liam Engel Band Matthew Carl Ekansh Chandaria

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Science Prize Justin Metivier

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Social Studies Award Ted Ferris

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Proficiency Prizes Grade 3 Windsor Soo Neil Zhou Grade 4 Jacob Davidson Andrew Guo Grade 5 Andrew Oprescu-Havriliuc Christopher Law Ryan Paikin Grade 6 Sean O’Rourke Andrew Ng Ekansh Chandaria

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Valedictorian Ian Devlin

Crescent School

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Since 1913

Prize Day Middle School Awards 2014 ★

★

★

★

★

CPA Effort Prizes Grade 7 Will Webster Grade 8 Jared Horwood

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Sheila Barber Citizenship Awards Grade 7 Nick Turnbull Grade 8 Jackson Bere

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Middle School Spirit Awards Grade 7 Brock Mutic Grade 8 Andrew McBurney Anniversary Ties Visual Art Aedan Forkan Drama Henry James Music Max Bennett

★

★

John Tansey Award Charlie Fisher

Past and Present

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Fall 2014

Art Prizes Grade 7 Andre Corona Grade 8 Jackson Bere

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Drama Prizes Grade 7 Michael Levinson Grade 8 Christian Gnam

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Public Speaking Prizes Grade 7 Jack Duboc Grade 8 Christian Gnam English Prizes Grade 7 Kyle Chang Grade 8 James Engel French Prizes Grade 7 Kyle Chang Grade 8 Max Bennett History Prizes Grade 7 Coulson Wiggan Grade 8 Chris Witte

★

★

★

Mathematics Prize Grade 7 Harrison (Haotian) Wang Grade 8 Ryan Cheng Mathematics Contest Prizes Grade 7 Kyle Chang Grade 8 Bret Hodgkinson Health and Physical Education Award Grade 7 Jackson Margach Grade 8 Matt Jenkins Science and Geography Prizes Grade 7 Andre Corona Grade 8 Andy Mavroudis Creativity and Innovation in Science and Geography Prizes Grade 7 Aidan de Villa-Choi Grade 8 Alex Ker

★

House Captain’s Cup Massey House

★

Lamp of Knowledge Wolfe House

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Colonel J.B. Rogers Trophy Hudson House

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Dean Voutsas House Cup Wolfe House

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Valedictorian Charlie Fisher

★

Middle School Liaison Award Jake Fisher

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Ronald Memorial Award Nicholas Rockandel

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Music Award Alex Kim confirm

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Director of Admission’s Award Ben Allen

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Denise Manikas Crescent Spirit Commemorative Award Max Bennett

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Proficiency Prizes Grade 7 Andre Corona Cory Gill Grade 8 Christian Gnam

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C.B. Gordon Award Kyle Chang

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Pat McDonnell Award Max Bennett Andy Mavroudis

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Bronze Medal of Knowledge Kyle Chang

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Board of Governors’ Boy of Promise Awards Grade 7 Cory Gill Grade 8 Charlie Fisher

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J. Sean Buckley Awards Grade 7 Grayson Arnott Grade 8 Justin Chan

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William L. Scandrett Award Andy Mavroudis

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Prize Day Upper School Awards 2014 ACADEMIC AWARDS ★ Business Studies Prize Sam Davison ★

Symons Canadian Studies Award Jordan Abramsky

★

Civilizations in History Prize Matthew Tory

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John Grenfell Wright MC Prize in History Eric Noble-Marks

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CPA Effort Prizes Grade 9 Jake Erdman Matthew Kasperavicius Bryan Wong Grade 10 Jordan Abramsky Alex Johnston Jack Williamson Grade 11 Dean Perlman Jason Spevack Michael West

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World Politics Prize Griffin Baker

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Jerry Friedman Award Andrew Youngson

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Philosophy Prize Sam Dobbin

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The Burgess Award Ronald Chow

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James Ballard Memorial Award/French Sword Jamie Rose

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Grade 11 Academic Award Matthew Riley

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Spanish Prize Tim Melis Cole Rosenberg

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Silver Medal of Knowledge Matthew Riley

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Governor General’s Medal Tyler Kerdman

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Computer Studies Award Adam Leung

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Geography Prize Mark Besse Tyler Kerdman

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Mathematics Prize Jake Fisher

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Man Family Mathematics Prize Junior Ronald Chow Senior Jonathan Pearce Ian Lo

★

★

★

★

★

★

★

Health and Physical Education Award Jack Hutton Science Prize Jamie Rose University of Toronto Book Prize Jake Fisher Hatch Scholarship Jamie Rose Vladen Milic/Ontario Association of Architects Award Thomas Bell George S. Blodgett Memorial Prize Eric Noble-Marks Creative Writing Prize Eric Noble-Marks

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Jason Sauntry Alp Turkmen Elwyn Zhang Grade 9 Visual Arts Devin Mutic Grade 10 Music Spencer Dale Daniel Fridman Wilbert Guo Jack Zechner Grade 10 Robotics Galen Frostad Grade 10 Visual Arts Charlie Chettleburgh Cole Greenberg Noah Harkness Sean Malone Grade 11 Community Service Jordan Abramsky Ryan Newman Daniel Shane Grade 11 Drama Keenan Livingstone Alex Nikiforov Connor Ward Grade 11 Student Technology Advisory Club Jonathan Libby Grade 11 Music Sean Lai Tyler Rose Matthew Tang Grade 11 Robotics Aidan Oldershaw Matthew Tory Grade 12 Business Club Will Strang Grade 12 Community Service Sean Chung Anthony Guillon Cole Halbert Nicholas Leung Grade 12 Drama Tyler May Steven Shi Grade 12 Robotics Baron Alloway Grade 12 Music Jack Watt

UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER AWARDS ★ Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award Naveen Gupta ★

★

★

Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award in Humanities and Social Sciences Tyler Rose George Eastman Young Leaders Award Alex Coburn Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology Ian Lo

ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY AWARDS ★ Anniversary Ties Grade 9 Music Brandon Chan Sam Eplett Farid Ghods Matthew Kasperavicius Chris Overvelde Timmy Seto Benjamin Tse Andrew Youngson Grade 9 Drama Christian Metivier Grade 9 Robotics Avram Kachura Walter Raftus Richard Robinson

★

Art Prize Adam Leung

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Appoggiatura/Music Prize Eric Noble-Marks Michael Venier

Dentonia Scholarships Marlon Palmer Dante Smith

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Ronald Memorial Upper School Music Award Scott McFarland

Ron Bertram/Quill and Quire Award Ryan Tam

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Headmaster’s Medal Jonah Mandel

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Founders Award Neal Ganguli

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Graduating Class Trophy Simon Mikre

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G. H. Corolis Crescent Spirit Commemorative Award Tim Melis Ryan McCabe

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Drama Award Sam Davison

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★

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Norris Family Robotics and Technology Award Ryan Tam

HOUSE AWARDS ★ House Captains’ Cup Cartier House ★

Colonel J.B. Rogers Trophy Hudson House

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The Lamp of Knowledge Wolfe House

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W.R.E. Williams Award Alex Karayannopoulos

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Dean Voutsas House Cup Wolfe House

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The Osler Trophy Peter Milazzo

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Thom Family Award Jordan Grant Tyler Kerdman

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Susan Denton Massey Award Alex Reid

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Old Boys Watch Alex Karayannopoulos

★

Board of Governors’ Medal Alex Karayannopoulos

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS ★ Ian Roberts Community Service Award Andrew Kung ★

★

Lieutenant Governor’s Community Volunteer Award Cole Halbert Bruce M. Hicks Public Service Award Chris Lam

CHARACTER AND LEADERSHIP AWARDS ★ Environmental Leadership Award Jamie Rose Matthew Cheung ★

Board of Governors’ Awards Grade 9 Christian Metivier Andrew Youngson Grade 10 Ronald Chow Ryley Mehta Grade 11 Dean Perlman Daniel Shane

GRADUATION DAY AWARDS ★ Board of Governors’ Award Jake Fisher ★

Connor Bevans and Adam Scott Award Asher Weiss

★

Effort Award Adam Leung Cole Rosenberg

★

Crestissimus Crescentium (Improvement Award) Thomas Chapman

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Valedictorian Alex MacNicol

Crescent School

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Since 1913

Athletic Awards Spring Term 2014 sPOrt BADMINTON

teaM

distinctiOns

Senior:

MVP – Jonathan Pearce Coaches Choice – Ryan Tam MVP – Ronald Chow MIP – Tyler Ferguson MVP – Ivan Cheng Heart Trophy – Christopher Howard Coaches Choice – Andrew Allen and Asher Weiss Commitment Award – Andrew Pham MVP – Christopher Overvelde Team Spirit Award – Blake Shyba MVP – Zach Erdman MIP – Troy Pinkney MVP – CJ Yoannou Leadership and Commitment Award – Mark Besse MVP – Keith McRae MIP – Ryan Fredrickson MVP – Ross Hilliard MIP – Vlas Chekhovtsov MVP – Peter Milazzo Rookie of the Year – Alex Reid Dave LaForest Memorial Award – Peter Milazzo Leadership Award – Barrett Geisler and Trevor Noskiewicz Most Valuable Forward – Andy Binns Most Valuable Back – Devan Hunter MIP – Jack Zechner MIP – Aedan Forkan Leadership Award – Owen Cumming Game Changer Award – Justin Zhang Heart Award – Peter Youngson Ruck Over Award – Mitchell Buck Heart Award – Campbell Hunter MIP – Duncan Reucassel Game Changer Award – Ian Dilay Most Dedicated – Ben Allen MVP – Will Leak Coaches Choice – Nicolas Corbett MVP – Tyler Hull Coaches Choice – Jeffrey So MVP – Liam Haggarty MIP – Alex Kim MVP – Simon Malone Coaches Choice – Charlie Newall and Carter Morrison MVP – Jason Kattan MVP – Deen Choudhury and Ryley Mehta MIP – Omar Elmor MVP – Matthew Lu Coaches Choice – Christian Metivier MVP – Andy Mavroudis MIP – Craig Meerkamper and Brock Mutic Coaches Choice – Liam Livingstone MVP – Rhys Holman and Matt Lampard Coaches Choice – Jack Bunker MVP – Owen Coulter and Matthew Pirie Coaches Choice – Thomas Bellamy and Jack Wallace MVP – Jacob Davidson and Jordan Corbett Coaches Choice – Mattias Kim

Junior: U14: TENNIS

Senior: Junior: U14:

BASEBALL

Senior:

ULTIMATE FRISBEE

D1: D2:

RUGBY

Senior:

Junior: U14:

U13:

GOLF

Senior: Junior:

SOFTBALL

U14: U12:

TRACK & FIELD Senior: Junior: Midget: MS: U12: U11: U10:

Past and Present

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Fall 2014

Athlete of the Year Awards uPPer schOOl

Lawson Award for Athlete of the Year

Peter Milazzo and Cole Rosenberg

Fitzpatrick Award Barrett Geisler

Middle schOOl

Athlete of the Year

Jackson Bere and Max Montgomery

Lachowicz Award Daniel Solomos

lOWer schOOl

Duane Livingstone Trophy Rhys Holman

Wylie Coyote Award Matthew Lampard

The Geoff Roberts Award Trevor Noskiewicz

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Athletic Achievements Spring Term 2014

Rugby U13 – CISAA Champions U14 – CISAA Silver Medallists Junior – CISAA Quarter Finalists Senior – CISAA Silver Medallists

Tennis U14 – 2nd Place, CISAA Junior – CISAA Champions Senior – 6th Place, CISAA

Badminton U14 – CISAA Champions Junior – CISAA Champions Senior – 5th Place, CISAA

Baseball 3rd Place, East

Softball U12 – CISAA Semi-Finalists U14 D1 – CISAA Semi-Finalists

Ultimate Frisbee D1 – CISAA Champions D2 – CISAA Semi-Finalists

Track & Field U10 – 2nd Place, CISAA U11 – 2nd Place, CISAA U12 – CISAA Champions U13 – 8th Place, CISAA U14 – 7th Place, CISAA Midget – 7th Place, CISAA Junior – 3rd Place, CISAA Senior – 11th Place, CISAA

Golf Junior – 4th Place, CISAA Senior – 2nd Place, CISAA

Spring Highlights Track & field

OFSAA Track & Field Junior Deen Choudhury – 5th Place at OFSAA Provincials, Triple Jump; 8th Place at OFSAA, Long Jump Ryley Mehta – 14th Place at OFSAA Midget Matthew Lu – 18th Place at OFSAA

CISAA Championships U10 Jacob Frankfort – 1st Place, Discus Jordan Corbett – 3rd Place, Long Jump; 4th Place, 200m Jack Silverman – 4th Place, Shot Put Aidan Walters – 4th Place, High Jump Jack Lambert – 5th Place, Discus U11 Owen Coulter – 1st Place, 100m; 2nd Place, Long Jump Matthew Pirie – 1st Place, Long Jump; 3rd Place, 200m; 3rd Place, 400m Ben Osborne – 2nd Place, Javelin Will Matthews – 2nd Place, Discus Connor Colfer – 3rd Place, Shot Put Jack Wallace – 4th Place, 400m; 5th Place, 800m U12 Matthew Lampard – 1st Place, 500m; 2nd Place, 800m Rhys Holman – 1st Place, 800m; 3rd Place, 400m Scott Robertson – 1st Place, Long Jump; 4th Place, High Jump Caleb Oravesv – 2nd Place, 1500m; 4th Place, Long Jump Jack Bunker – 2nd Place, 400m; 3rd Place, 200m Matthew Bisset – 2nd Place, Long Jump; 5th Place, 200m Ian McBurney – 4th Place, High Jump Ian Devlin – 5th Place, 800m U14 Andy Mavroudis – 2nd Place, Javelin Jackson Bere – 4th Place, Long Jump; 4th Place, Triple Jump

22

Midget Matthew Lu – 1st Place, Shot Put; 2nd Place, Discus Erik Rimer – 5th Place, Shot Put Junior Ryley Mehta – 1st Place, Pole Vault; 2nd Place, 800m; 3rd Place, 1500m Deen Choudhury – 1st Place, Triple Jump; 2nd Place, Long Jump; 3rd Place, 100m Abhinav Dhar – 3rd Place, 400m Omar Elmor – 5th Place, Triple Jump Brad Ashby – 3rd Place, Javelin; 5th Place, Discus Trevor Reeson – 5th Place, Javelin Senior Jason Kattan – 1st Place, Shot Put Badminton

U14 Ivan Cheng – 1st Place, Singles Nathan Mills and Brendon Lai – 1st Place, Doubles Chris Howard – 2nd Place, Singles Andre Corona – 2nd Place, Singles Marcel Lui and Ben Morin – 2nd Place, Doubles Junior Ronald Chow – 1st Place, Singles Tyler Ferguson – 1st Place, Singles Wilbert Guo – 2nd Place, Singles Benjamin Tse and Austin Xing – 2nd Place, Doubles Charles Lit and Charles Ju – 3rd Place, Doubles Tennis

Junior Chris Overvelde – 1st Place, First Singles Jack Garrett – 1st Place, Second Singles Jake Erdman and Colsen Centner – 1st Place, First Doubles Senior Andrew Allen and Thomas Chapman – 3rd Place, First Doubles Asher Weiss – 4th Place, Second Singles Jason Liebovitz – 5th Place, Third Singles Crescent School

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Since 1913

Creating a Buzz: TEDxCrescentSchool Crescent School’s premiere TEDx event showcased the School’s strengths

O

n June 20, Crescent School’s campus buzzed with inspiring speakers, new ideas and stimulating conversations.

TEDxCrescentSchool was in full swing.

TEDx events are locally organized conferences reflecting the principles of TED, a non-profit organization that shares “ideas worth spreading” by leading thinkers worldwide. This was Crescent School’s first-ever TEDx. By all accounts, the sold-out event was a tremendous success.

Open to the public, TEDxCrescentSchool reached beyond the School community, attracting people from across Toronto.

The event introduced and showcased Crescent’s strengths to a wide audience.

to been seen as a school that wants to engage the larger community in critical conversation and reflection.”

Martin Ritchie ’92, who attended with Myles, says TEDxCrescentSchool’s speakers were completely engaging.

TEDxCrescentSchool’s theme was “Sankofa” – a West African Akan word meaning “to return, to go, to look, to seek and take.” Each of the 13 speakers explored this theme in their talks. The speakers included CBC journalist Susan Ormiston, spoken word artist Eytan Millstone, mayoral candidate John Tory, sports commentator and mental health advocate Michael Landsberg, and child psychologist Dr. Alex Russell.

“Myles and I sat in the front row – which we never did as students – and we hung on every word,” says Martin. “It was an exciting ambience, and the level of understanding sunk deep.”

Journalist and Crescent alumnus Evan Solomon ’87 was also a presenter. His talk paid tribute to “the greatest leader I’ve ever known”: Crescent’s former Headmaster, Geoff Roberts. Directly after that, Mr. Roberts’ own talk explored his philosophy of education.

TEDxCrescentSchool was spearheaded by incoming Headmaster Michael Fellin.

After attending a TEDxToronto conference, he saw the potential of hosting a similar event at Crescent. By offering a day filled with thought-provoking speakers, Crescent could share diverse perspectives that reflect the School’s commitment to promoting insight and learning.

Together, these talks provided one of the most moving experiences of the day, says Myles Slocombe ’92, who was in the audience. “It was a very fitting way for Mr. Roberts to cap his career at Crescent.”

“To me, the spirit of TED is about ideas and conversation and shifting mindsets,” says Headmaster Fellin. “It’s good for us

“I was really proud of Crescent,” says Myles.

“I was proud to be there as an alumnus, because they did a really fantastic job.”

Evan Solomon ’87 and former Headmaster Geoff Roberts on stage at TEDxCrescentSchool last June.

Organizing TEDxCrescentSchool was an 18-month endeavour. Crescent’s planning team attended a TED training conference in California and consulted with other local TEDx hosts.

The TEDxCrescentSchool budget was separate from the School’s operating budget and completely covered by sponsorship funding.

Chris White, Crescent’s Director of Admission and Financial Aid, was a member of the TEDx planning team. He says everyone involved should feel very proud of what they accomplished together.

“We took on something way bigger and way riskier than we ever had before,” says Chris. “The School showed that we can pull off something really big.”

“It was a very charging thing for our community,” says another planning team member, David Young, who is Crescent’s Deputy Headmaster, Teaching and Learning. “I think we were all quite proud that we could do it to that level.”

In the end, reviews from the participants show the hard work and attention to detail paid off.

“I think it was a brilliant move to bring TEDx in,” says Martin. “It’s a big, risktaking move that went brilliantly.”

“TEDxCrescentSchool was world-class, in my opinion,” says Myles. “The event really confirmed for me what incredible facilities Crescent has, and what committed staff Crescent has to put something like this together.”

You can watch videos of Crescent’s TEDx speakers at tedxcrescentschool.com.

Past and Present

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Fall 2014

23

Head Boy Naveen Gupta Committed to strengthening the Crescent brotherhood

A

s the younger brother of Crescent students Vijay ’12 and Vinit ’11, Naveen Gupta ’15, was part of the Crescent family even before he enrolled.

He remembers the warm welcome and feeling of belonging on his first day in Grade 3 at Crescent. Now, as Head Boy, Naveen wants all Crescent boys to share his sense of brotherhood and pride.

“I have two brothers, but my brothers at Crescent are truly the same as the ones at home,” said Naveen in his speech to the School’s First Assembly in September. “Trust your brothers, share your experiences with them, cheer them on, learn from them and appreciate the relationships you build with them, because the relationships you build will last you a lifetime.”

Getting to know Naveen:

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Any time spent with family and/or friends.

What is your favourite thing to do on the weekend?

I love watching movies. I end up almost always watching at least one movie on the weekends. To be quite honest, I’m a bit of a geek when it comes to movies.

What is your most treasured possession?

My 25-year-old car that my parents passed down to me. It has a broken radio, broken gas tank cap, etc. but it still runs. I grew up with it, and so I love it.

be where I am today, or who I am today, if it wasn’t for them. The amount of support they provide is impossible to put into words, and I am truly so thankful for them.

I know it’s cheesy, but it really is true.

What do you want to be “when you grow up”?

What is your favourite sport?

What is your greatest extravagance?

A man of character.

What is your motto?

Movie memorabilia. Like I said, I’m a bit of a geek when it comes to that stuff

Who are your heroes?

Work hard, play hard.

As clichéd as it might be, I really believe my heroes are my parents. They do so much for me, and I really think I would not

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Which talent would you most like to have?

To play the cello.

Hockey. Period.

The love of my life would not actually be an entity, but a feeling. The feeling you get when you step on the ice, when you step on stage, when you play your instrument, etc., where for the moment, nothing else is in your mind. That you are so concentrated, so involved, that you are able to forget everything that is around you. That feeling is the love of my life, that feeling is what I live every day trying to achieve.

What is your goal for this year?

To ensure each student feels that they are surrounded by their brothers.

If you could give one sentence of advice to your Grade 3 self, what would you say?

Naveen Gupta, front row on right, on his first day at Crescent School

24

Don’t be in a hurry to “grow up” – take your time and enjoy every second.

Crescent School

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Since 1913

News from Advancement Ming Wai Lau ’97 welcomed back to Crescent

C

rescent School proudly welcomed alumnus Ming Wai Lau ’97 back to campus on October 10, showing him the incredible learning spaces that his family’s generosity made possible.

Ming Wai lives in Hong Kong, and this was his first visit back to Crescent since May 2010. That time, he participated in a sod-turning ceremony and announced his family’s transformational $5 million commitment to kick off the Great Boys campaign. The Lau Family Wing was named in honour of their extraordinary generosity.

There was no sod-turning required at Ming Wai’s recent visit. Instead, Ming Wai reconnected with two of his former teachers, Steve Davies and Dave Budden, and met current faculty, staff and students, including Headmaster Michael Fellin.

As a token of appreciation for his family’s generosity, the Middle School presented Ming Wai with a gift of artwork – a replica of a piece created by faculty member Harriet Wynne-Jones.

The original piece was placed in the School’s Centennial Time Capsule, located in the Lau Family Wing, which is sealed until 2048.

The October visit was Ming Wai’s first opportunity to see the completed Lau Family Wing. His tour was given by four confident and articulate Middle School boys: Alex Kim, Cory Gill, Brock Mutic and Matthew Hutchison. They proudly guided Ming Wai through the Lau Family Wing, explaining why they “love it so much.” The bright areas for individual,

group and classroom learning give the boys space to stretch out and walk around, encouraging their creativity and productivity. In the Upper School areas, oval-shaped Harkness tables support collaborative learning and mentoring in a university seminar format. Throughout the Lau Family Wing, large windows let natural light pour in and reveal beautiful views of Crescent’s campus.

Ming Wai’s tour also introduced him to other spaces and programs that opened since his 2010 visit. He visited the Margaret Donnelly Lower School Library, named in memory of the librarian that he remembers fondly from his student days.

He also saw a robotics demonstration, donned a hard hat to see the construction of the new Library, and toured the beautiful new Latifi Family Commons.

Ming Wai Lau ’97 reconnected with former teachers Steve Davies (left) and Dave Budden (right).

Past and Present

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Fall 2014

“You have done a tremendous job in constructing the beautiful facilities you have shown me today,” said Ming Wai during his visit. “But most importantly, you have assembled an amazing team of teachers, librarians and staff to work with the students to bring these great facilities to life. I congratulate you and it makes me very proud to be part of this effort.”

25

Message from the Chair of the Crescent Alumni Executive R

elationships – the theme that Headmaster Michael Fellin has set for this academic year – is at the core of the Alumni Executive’s work. It’s simply what we do. As the Chair of the Alumni Executive, I’m proud that our mission is to foster meaningful relationships for Crescent School alumni. We’ve structured our programming around opportunities and events that encourage all alumni to get involved, get connected and give back.

Our newest initiative, By Alumni, For Alumni, is particularly exciting. We have refocused our annual giving program, encouraging alumni to support needs-based student financial aid, with a preference for sons of alumni.

As this initiative builds over the next year, we hope that the By Alumni, For Alumni, tagline will broaden and begin to encompass everything we are doing for our alumni.

Our programs, including the Alumni Internship Program, Alumni Mentoring Program and our social and networking events, function because of the Crescent

our community for an internship opportunity. I’m humbled too by the popularity of our events, such as the recent reunion that welcomed 140 alumni back to campus.

My son, Jack, graduated with the Class of 2014. I’m confident that as Jack and his peers begin to navigate the world beyond Crescent, they will be fully supported by their fellow alumni in whatever paths they choose.

At the end of the day, our alumni network exists because of the friendships and bonds that have formed, not only within Crescent School, but beyond its walls.

With the common thread of Crescent binding us all together, I look forward to working with the Alumni Executive and our community to build more relationships among our alumni, with one another, with the School and with the current students.

brotherhood that exists among the alumni. I’m always humbled by the positive response when we ask one our alumni mentors to work with a recent Crescent graduate, or when we canvas

We are fortunate to have Mike at the helm, steering Crescent School. I look forward to working closely with him, as we continue to build strong relationships among our alumni community.

— ROB WATT ’85, P’14, CHAIR, CRESCENT ALUMNI EXECUTIVE

CRESCENT ALUMNI EXECUTIVE 2014/2015 Chair Board Members

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Rob Watt ’85, P’14 Ryan Bell ’98 (School Representative) Bruce Burgess ’57 (Dentonia Representative) Jamie Coulter ’87, P’21 (Co-Chair, Alumni Internship Program) Andrew Day ’80 Hessam Ghadaki ’99 (Chair, Activities Committee) Jamie Lougheed ’87, P’18 (Chair, Class Representative Program) Jay Mansoor ’92 (Co-Chair, Alumni Internship Program) Myles Slocombe ’92 (Chair, Marketing & Communications Committee) Jason Steel ’93 (Chair, Alumni Mentoring Program) Tim Usher-Jones ’01 (Chair, Fundraising Program) Tim Watson ’01 (Chair, Governance & Nomination Committee)

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Reflecting Crescent Alumni Pride Introducing our new mission statement and logo

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o be a Crescent School alumnus is a privilege, and we want our alumni’s experience to be as enriching as possible.

The Alumni Executive conducted a thorough review of all alumni programs over the past year to ensure that the services we provide effectively support the pride we all feel in Crescent.

The review was undertaken by the Alumni Executive’s Marketing and Branding Committee, led by then Chair Chris Candy ’02. Former Headmaster Geoff Roberts and new Headmaster Michael Fellin provided input on the logo redesign. Many thanks to all involved for their hard work and dedication.

As a result of the review, we have refocused our work on our essential

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ALUMNI purpose: connecting alumni with each other and with the School. We facilitate these connections in many ways, primarily through social and networking events. These include our annual Alumni Reunion and Downtown Networking event, fundraising through the By Alumni, For Alumni program, and through our two signature programs: the Alumni Internship Program and the Alumni Mentoring Program.

Our new mission statement reflects this updated focus: Our mission is to foster sustained and meaningful relationships for alumni with Crescent School and their fellow graduates through events, giving back and continuing education.

Incorporating the Crescent School crest, the classic design of our new logo reflects Crescent’s traditions and its confident future. You will soon see this logo on all Alumni materials.

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By Alumni, For Alumni Helping more sons of alumni share the Crescent experience

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he success stories of our alumni are great testimonials to the exceptional education these men received at Crescent.

Many of our alumni wish for their sons to have the same Crescent experience they had. However, increased educational costs, family expenses and other financial constraints too often hinder some alumni from considering Crescent for their sons.

To fulfill this parental aspiration and expand our current parent community with alumni, Crescent is very pleased to launch the By Alumni, For Alumni annual giving program.

With the launch of By Alumni, For Alumni, the Crescent Alumni Executive, along with the Class Representatives, will lead and educate their fellow Crescent brothers on what it means to give back, the benefits of supporting Student Financial Aid, and making a difference in the lives of great young men. One of the

key findings of the 2013 alumni survey was our alumni’s desire to support and increase financial aid with the preference given for the sons of alumni. It is our hope that this initiative will help sons of alumni benefit from the Crescent experience and bring more alumni back to the campus as dads.

The By Alumni, For Alumni program aims to • raise funds for needs-based student financial aid with the preference for the sons of alumni; • increase the percentage of alumni whose sons attend Crescent School; and • increase our alumni’s financial contributions to the School.

Alumni charitable giving is a very successful tradition at Crescent. Many classes have established class fund bursaries, which they

have been supporting since graduation.

These classes will continue to support their established funds through the By Alumni, For Alumni program. Alumni who are not involved in a class fund are encouraged to give directly to the By Alumni, For Alumni bursary. The School can start drawing from this bursary immediately to offer financial assistance to current and prospective families, while promoting the Crescent brotherhood as a legacy to a new generation of boys.

Crescent School deeply appreciates the generous support of our dedicated alumni.

There are several easy, tax-advantageous ways to make gifts to the By Alumni, For Alumni program. For more information about this exciting initiative, please contact Kathryn Rutherford, Alumni Relations Officer, at krutherford@crescentschool.org or 416-449-2556 ext. 260.

Help share the Crescent experience

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% of If Crescent alumni pledged

$10

per month

you would provide significant financial aid for 1 to 2 legacy students

a gift of

$20 per month

you would provide significant financial aid for 2 to 4 legacy students You know how important Crescent School was to your life.

Now you can help more boys benefit from the Crescent experience, and bring more alumni back to the campus as dads.

Your pledge will provide needs-based student financial aid with a preference for sons of alumni.

Donate today at greenroom.crescentschool.org/alumnigiving 28

Crescent School

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Remembering Walter Massey ’39

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he Crescent School community was saddened by the death of alumnus Walter Massey ’39 at age 85 on August 4.

Born in 1928, Walter Massey attended Crescent School until Grade 8 in 1939. (Crescent School did not offer higher grades until the 1970s.) He later attended the University of Western Ontario and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Although he held a degree in mechanical engineering, he focused his career – with great success – in the theatre.

As an actor, Mr. Massey performed hundreds of roles in movies, television and live theatre. Most recently, he was the voice of Principal Haney in the children’s television show Arthur. He

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was instrumental in founding several theatres and helped launch the Montreal Playwrights Workshop. For 20 years, he served on the executive committee of the Canadian Actors Equity Association.

Mr. Massey’s family had strong ties with Crescent School. He was one of six cousins who attended Crescent. His grandmother’s estate, Dentonia Park, was the School’s home from 1933 until Crescent moved to its current site on Bayview Avenue in 1975. The pillars currently located in Crescent’s Formal Garden are from the Dentonia Park house.

We extend our sympathies to Walter Massey’s wife, Sharman Yarnell, and to his extended family.

Alumnus Walter Massey is shown here with Deputy Headmaster Colin Lowndes on a visit to Crescent School in 2012. The pillars in the Formal Garden are from Mr. Massey’s grandmother’s Dentonia Park estate, which was the School’s previous home.

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Alumnus of the Year: David Thom ’92 The Alumnus of the Year Award is given to Crescent alumni of whom the School is particularly proud. This award honours alumni for their exceptional personal and professional accomplishments and volunteer service to Crescent School.

Alumni

Profile

attended Crescent School back in the Dentonia campus days. His father later served as Chairman from 1998 to 2000.

Dave’s younger brother, Matthew, also attended Crescent School and graduated with the Class of 1995.

Although Dave lives in New York with his wife, Melissa, and their sons, Aden (age 6) and Christopher (age 4), he does everything he can to support Crescent School. He’s been a tremendous advocate of Crescent’s Alumni Internship Program since it launched four years ago. Four young alumni have benefitted from internships at LeFrak through the program, and he has committed to hosting another young alumnus this summer.

Dave says the Alumni Internship Program allows him to stay connected with Crescent in a meaningful way.

“Education does not stop after Grade 12, or even after university,” says Dave. “There is much that the alumni can do to help illustrate what their workplace experience is like and what skills will be needed to succeed. Crescent’s Alumni Internship Program can play a big part in this.”

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avid Thom ’92 was named the 2014 Alumnus of the Year for his outstanding commitment to the Alumni Internship Program, and for his tremendous success as Vice President for Design and Development at LeFrak Organization, a real estate and development firm in New York City.

“Giving back helps Crescent to improve its opportunities for learning and discovery for all,” says Dave. “As any alumnus will realize the moment he steps foot in a modern classroom, education is constantly expanding and changing, and giving back either in the form of 30

donating time or funds helps the School to better meet its mission.”

The Thom Family Award, established in 1994 and presented annually to an Upper School student who demonstrates character and leadership, reflects Crescent’s deep roots in Dave’s family.

Dave’s grandfather, William Thom, was Chairman of the Board of Governors from 1960-1964, overseeing Crescent’s purchase of the School’s current Bayview campus. Dave’s father, Hugh Thom ’58, along with Hugh’s four brothers,

Dave credits Alumni Internship Program founder Jay Mansoor ’92 for ensuring that the program provides valuable experiences for both the young alumni and the employers who hire them. At LeFrak, the interns work on a wide variety of architectural design and development projects.

“Jay has done an outstanding job of providing terrific candidates every year, and I can honestly say that each has contributed in real terms at a very high level,” says Dave. “I could not have asked for better interns.”

To get involved in Crescent’s Alumni Internship Program, visit alumni.crescentschool.org/AIP. Crescent School

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Crescent memories “I remember forming strong bonds with my classmates as we laughed at assembly at BJ Reinblatt’s Coyote skits, participated in House events, rebelled against our French teachers, sold pizza squares to the Lower School during recess breaks, manned the booths in the wonderful annual carnival, yelled at Mr. Davies during floor hockey games, and stood proud on Prize Day. It was a great place for a boy to grow up.”

— david thOM ’92 Crescent School has had deep roots in the Thom family for three generations.

Crescent Alumni Bookshelf Looking for a great read? Or a great gift? Here are some recent titles written by and about Crescent School alumni.

Master the markets

For children

Quantitative Trading and Algorithmic Trading

Nathaniel McDaniel and the Magic Attic

winning financial strategies

by Ernest Chan ’84

a charming series for young readers

by Evan Solomon ’87 Dads and hockey

For university students

I Wish I Had Known

They’ll also enjoy

The Balloon is Doomed

A Father’s Son

practical advice for post-secondary education and beyond

by Blair Livingston ’07

by Christopher Eyton ’84, P’13

a heartbreaking coming-of-age story

by Richard Harris ’92

A study in leadership

For navy enthusiasts

A provocative thriller

Tom Symons: A Canadian Life

Ellesmere Pickup

Crossing the Distance

the many accomplishments of Tom Symons ’39, human rights champion and founder of Trent University (edited by Ralph Heintzman)

a gripping novel about Canada’s naval reserves during the Cold War

by Fraser McKee ’38

an edgy tale about modern media, eco-terrorism and family ties

by Evan Solomon ’87

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Mentorship is a Two-Way Street, says Ross Kerr ’91 R

oss Kerr ’91, a management consultant at Deloitte, leads a busy life in Toronto with his wife, Sarah, and their three children. Despite his full schedule, he also plays an integral role in Crescent’s Alumni Mentoring Program.

By sharing his time and perspective with young alumni, he helps them navigate the early stages of their careers.

“As a Crescent graduate, I value the opportunity to speak with other alumni and parents of alumni who have interesting careers,” he says. “They’ve helped me focus my post-Crescent education and work pursuits, and shaped my career. I’m delighted to be able to stay connected with Crescent and to help others in the same way.”

Although he often plays the role of mentor now, Ross knows what it’s like to be the one seeking advice. Early in his career, a friend’s father who worked at the Bank of Montreal introduced Ross to a colleague at the bank. That connection sparked Ross’s interest in human resources management.

“I’ve since moved into management consulting,” says Ross, “but the lessons I learned from my roles in HR have helped shape my consulting practice today.”

Ross says mentoring is a two-way street.

“While I might be helpful in shaping the career path of one alumnus, they could equally play a role in shaping my own career path…To be quite

honest, conversations with more recent graduates help me broaden my own perspective on where I might end up next!”

There are many paths on the journey to a successful and fulfilling career, says Ross.

“My advice to others would be to make choices based on what energizes you to get up in the morning. If you aren’t excited to get up in the morning to face another day of whatever you’re doing, then it might be time to consider making a change for the better.”

To get involved in Crescent’s Alumni Mentoring Program, visit alumni.crescentschool.org/ AlumniMentoringProgram.

ALUMNI ALUMNI Alumni Alumni Reunion Reunion Weekend Weekend Friday, Friday, May May 8, 2015 8, 2015 • Dentonia • Dentonia Luncheon Luncheon 11 11 a.m. a.m.

- 2 -p.m.

2 p.m.

• Friday • Friday Night Night Lights: Lights: Rugby Rugby Crescent Crescent D1 D1 vs. vs.

St. St. Michael’s Michael’s College College School School 7 p.m.

7 p.m.

Saturday, Saturday, May May 9, 2015 9, 2015 • Class • Class of 1990 of 1990 25th 25th Reunion Reunion Reception Reception 6 p.m.

6 p.m.

- 7 -p.m.

7 p.m.

• Alumni • Alumni Reunion Reunion 7 p.m.

7 p.m.

- 9 -p.m.

9 p.m.

StayStay tuned tuned for for more more details details on the on the Alumni Alumni Reunion Reunion Weekend Weekend

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AT ATCRESCENT CRESCENTSCHOOL SCHOOL

9 9 2015 2015 HONOURING HONOURING THE THE CLASSES CLASSES OFOF

1975, 1975, 1980, 1980, 1985, 1985, 1990, 1990, 1995, 1995, 2000, 2000, 2005, 2005, 2010 2010

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Alumni Events Crescent and Bishop Strachan Networking Event On June 25, Crescent School and The Bishop Strachan School hosted a young alumni panel and networking event at Norton Rose Fulbright. The theme was Always be Innovating. Crescent School alumnus David Suydam ’93, CEO & Founder of Architech, was the moderator. Andre Charoo ’99, Vice President, New Markets at Hired and Mike McDerment ’94, CEO & Co-Founder of FreshBooks, sat on the panel with BSS alumnae Jennifer Kaiser ’05 and Kate Whitelaw ’04.

Dentonia Luncheon Held on May 9, the annual Dentonia Luncheon welcomed 33 alumni from the Classes of 1938 to 1975. They attended Crescent School when it was located at Dentonia Park.

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2014 Alumni Reunion Crescent welcomed 140 alumni back to campus on September 20 for their reunion, honouring the Classes of 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004 and 2009. We were delighted that 23 members of the Class of ’89 attended for the special celebration of their 25th Anniversary Reunion.

Western University Branch Reception More than 30 alumni at Western University got together at the Lone Star Texas Grill on October 3. The alumni, from the Class of 2011 onward, enjoyed reconnecting with Headmaster Michael Fellin P’24 and other Crescent faculty: Don Haag ’86, Vince Volpe, Gavin Muranaka, David Grant P’14, Harriet Wynne-Jones and Greg Michalski.

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New York City Branch Reception On April 24, 20 Crescent alumni in New York met to wish Headmaster Geoff Roberts good luck in his retirement, and to meet new Headmaster, Michael Fellin. Many thanks to Michael Donnelly ’88 and Kitty Donnelly for generously hosting this event in their home.

London, UK Branch Reception Crescent alumni living abroad gathered on May 15 for a special reception that was generously hosted by Basil Demeroutis ’87 and Jon Tredgett ’89. Retiring Headmaster Geoff Roberts was a special guest. The group presented him with a personalized Liverpool Football Club jersey as a farewell gift.

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Alumni Leadership Dinner The Alumni Leadership Dinner on May 7 gave former Head Boys, current Alumni Executive members and past Alumni Executive Chairs the opportunity to thank retiring Headmaster Geoff Roberts for his service to Crescent School. The 14 Head Boys who served during Geoff’s tenure presented him with a signed Brazuca soccer ball, the official soccer ball for the 2014 World Cup.

Crescent joins national research project measuring alumni’s university experience C

rescent School has joined the National Tracking Project, a research initiative by Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS) involving 42 independent schools. The project collects and analyzes data on young alumni in university, measuring their engagement in school activities, course selections, grades and graduating averages. This snapshot of alumni’s university experience will help Crescent enhance its programs to ensure boys receive the best possible educational, emotional and social support at Crescent, and are properly prepared for life after graduation.

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This snapshot of alumni’s university experience will help Crescent enhance its programs to ensure boys receive the best possible educational, emotional and social support Crescent’s participation in the National Tracking Project is led by Crescent’s University Counselling Team. The project was introduced at Crescent’s Welcome to the Grad BBQ in June, to a very positive response.

For more information about the National Tracking Project, contact Don Haag ’86, Director of University Counselling, at dhaag@crescentschool.org or 416-449-2556 ext. 275.

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Andr i a&JohnCoppa,P’ 22

Life After Crescent David Blodgett ’78 has been living and working in Regina, Saskatchewan since 2012.

Christopher Eyton ’84, P’13 was back at Crescent School for his 30-year reunion on September 20. He recently wrote and published The Balloon is Doomed, and generously donated a copy to Crescent’s Margaret Donnelly Library. The book is his first children’s story book, featuring a young boy and his hatred of balloons and how he overcomes it. It has been beautifully illustrated by Amanda Mundt.

Chris now lives in Caledon and Toronto.

The Balloon is Doomed is available for purchase through Amazon.com

After being named a finalist in 2013 for Canada’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers, Jason Leung ’90 opened his own law firm, Leung Law PC, which focuses on business and intellectual property law. He lives in Toronto with his wife Jennifer and their two daughters, Rachel (age 6) and Abigail (age 3).

five-star review on Goodreads.com from the site’s top reviewer, Aditi Saha, who called A Father’s Son a “very heart-touching story that will grasp you from the very beginning of the son’s painful journey.” In the fall of 2013, Richard spoke to Crescent’s Middle School students about life as a writer. To learn more about Richard, A Father’s Son, and his other literary efforts, you can visit his website at harrisrichard.com and follow him on Twitter: @harrisrh88.

s Richard Harris ’92 currently lives and

s Patrick Blott ’87 and his wife Seema

works in Toronto as a writer, editor and translator. The author of two non-fiction books and four short stories, Richard published his first novel, A Father’s Son, in 2013. It received a Toronto Arts Council literary grant in 2012 and was a quarterfinalist for the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. In June 2014, it received a

s Sevag Yeghoyan ’92 and his wife Roubina welcomed their son, Tomas, into the world on September 10. Tomas weighed in at 7 pounds, 8 ounces. Threeyear-old Josephine is a proud big sister!

welcomed their baby girl, Ainsley Bala Catherine Blott, at 2:19 p.m. on June 3, 2014.

s Scott Cowan ’89 and his wife Tracey have four kids and currently live in Las Vegas. Scott has fully immersed himself in the golf business and is now working as the Director of Golf at DragonRidge Country Club, and as Regional Manager of Business Development for the parent company, Pacific Links.

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s On August 22, a large group from the Class of 1996 gathered at the Miller Tavern for an unofficial 18-year reunion. In attendance were Patrick Osler, Michael Warner, David Cuthbert, Brendan Howe, Wallace Cheng, Derrick Lee-Shanok, Greg Athaide, Sacha Tehranchi, Ron Elfer, Edwin Fong, Ted Takounseun, Salmaan Alvi, Gabriel Lau, Aleem Janmohamed, Ed Tam, and David Hudson. A great time was had by all – proof that the Coyote Spirit still burns bright after long these many years.

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Thomas Chenoweth ’95, former Senior Producer/Director at MTV, is creating a ​ TV series for the Olympic Consortium, has ​directed The Bachelor Canada, and has​run and w ​ ritten a number of other TV series for CityTV, OLN, Oprah’s OWN Network, CBC, and W. Thomas lives in Toronto with his wife and their ninemonth-old daughter, Monroe.

Clarence Yap ’97 and his wife Michelle are living in San Francisco with their son Ethan and daughter Amanda. Clarence is the Director of Product Development at BioMarin Pharmaceutical and is currently working on developing a new drug for achondroplasia, which is the most common form of dwarfism. Clarence and his family were back in Toronto in April and stopped by the School to catch up with past teachers, including Mr. Wright, Mr. Jansen, Mr. Grant, Mr. Roberts and Mr. Cumner.

In September, Charlie Mills ’99 joined Crescent School as a Middle School teacher of History and Science/ Geography. Charlie has been teaching for the past four years as a homeroom teacher at Market Lane, Dundas, Bruce and Lord Dufferin Public Schools (all TDSB Inner-City Model Schools). Charlie joins fellow Crescent alumni Don Haag ’86, Ryan Bell ’98, Jeff Barton ’91 and Tim Martin ’07 as a member of the faculty.

When not teaching, Charlie has been working on his music. He released his most recent album Work In Progress last spring and has been playing shows with his band around Toronto. The song “Lakes and Bays” was one of the 10 finalists for the nationwide 2013 CBC Indie Song of the Summer contest. His music can be found on iTunes and at http://charliemills.bandcamp.com.

s Scott Hurst ’01 has spent the past 10 years working in the broadcast industry as a reporter and anchor. He has worked at four Olympic games, including the most recent Winter Olympics in Sochi, as well as covered many of the top stories in North America over the past decade. He lived and worked in California for seven years before moving back to Canada in 2012. He is now on air at CTV Vancouver.

s Ben Sokolowski ’02 and his wife Aviva welcomed their first son, Jerry Kent, on June 16. When he is not on parent duty, Ben is starting his third season as a writer/producer on the show Arrow, which can be watched on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on CTV. Ben is also writing Green Arrow for DC COMICS. His first issue went on sale October 1.

Do you want to be included in Life After Crescent?

Send us an update, and tell us your news!

Email Kathryn Rutherford at krutherford@crescentschool.org.

And please keep in touch!

Update your contact information at alumni.crescentschool.org.

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s On July 5, D.J. Lynde ’03 married Jenna Harild at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.

His groomsmen were his brothers and fellow Crescent alumni Andrew Lynde ’99, Eddie Lynde ’00 and Jamie Lynde ’02.

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Stephen Wyprsky ’04 moved to London, UK in August 2014 to pursue his MBA at London Business School. His goal is to live in London post-graduation and continue to work in the private equity sector, ideally with a growth equity fund focused on investing globally, including taking risks in emerging markets. Since completing his HBA from Richard Ivey School of Business, Stephen has been on the move. He lived in New York City for three years where he worked for Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. as an Investment Banking Analyst in the Global Industrial Group. In 2011, he moved to Boston to work for TA Associates Management, L.P. as a Private Equity Associate in the fund’s Business Services investment team where he stayed for three years. This past summer, Stephen left TA Associates and spent the summer traveling in South America, which included exploring the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile, skiing in the Andes at Ski Portillo and catching two World Cup quarterfinal matches in Brazil (France vs Germany and Argentina vs Belgium).

Fellow Crescent School alumni Justin Manikas ’04 and Adam Wyprsky ’06 joined Stephen for part of this adventure.

s This past spring, George Tory ’06 graduated with a JD from the Western University Faculty of Law. At convocation, George had the privilege of speaking on behalf of his classmates as valedictorian.

While at Western Law, he was an active 40

member of the community, chairing the Alumni Committee as well as being a dedicated volunteer caseworker at Community Legal Services and Pro Bono Students Canada, providing free legal advice and representation to those in need in the London area. This experience allowed him to independently conduct hearings and criminal trials.

After moving back to Toronto, George began articling at Gardiner Roberts LLP in August, where he hopes to gain more litigation experience and pick up as little dry-cleaning for senior partners as possible. When not working at the law firm, George enjoys spending his time golfing, helping out on his Dad’s mayoral campaign and volunteering for Toronto East General Hospital.

Upon graduation from Crescent, Adam Kagan ’07 pursued a four-year Bachelor of Commerce degree with a Specialist in Accounting and a Major in Economics at the University of Toronto along with completing his CPA, CA designation. In 2009, he founded Deluge Water, a local brand of Natural Spring Water in which company proceeds are donated to local charities. Deluge Water has helped raise over $25,000 for the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation and has donated to other local charities, such as the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Movember Foundation and the Welcome Friends Association.

This past spring, Robbie Mitchnick ’09 became a Partner in a start-up craft brewery called the Gananoque Brewing Company. The company’s flagship product, Naughty Otter Lager, became an instant success and was recently picked up by the LCBO, with the Beer Store next on the horizon. Robbie continues to work in his full-time job at the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board within its Public Markets Division. He remains an active member of the Crescent community, serving as a member of the Headmaster Selection Committee responsible for the appointment of Michael Fellin this past year. He was recently back on campus on September 20 for his five-year reunion with the rest of his Class of 2009 peers.

Lincoln Mak ’10 just completed his undergrad at Western University with a degree in Finance and Economics. Lincoln had the opportunity to work with Crescent School parents Jeff & Tara Borg P’18 at Summitt Energy as an Operations Assistant, a position he obtained through the Alumni Internship Program. His position requires him to support the day to day operations for both Canadian and US subsidiaries primarily dealing with electronic contract processing and process flow analysis. This internship has allowed Lincoln to gain exposure to a professional work environment and has allowed him to gain a better understanding of how an energy company operates.

s Daniel Lee ’09 graduated from McMaster University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Health Sciences. He is currently studying medicine at the University of Toronto and was working as a research student in the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at University Health Network this past summer. In addition to his work, Daniel was able to attend a cancer care conference in Miami and not only learn a substantial amount from experts, but also enjoy the weather and scenery, thanks to the support and mentorship from Dr. Edward Chow P’16. He is planning to pursue a career in a surgical specialty in the future and looks forward to meeting a lot of Crescent alumni in the medical field!

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through the Alumni Internship Program.

His position required him to assist clients with the preparation of financial reports and forecasts.

Michael Poy ’10 recently graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with an Economics major. He is now attending Hult International Business School to pursue a Master’s in International Business in London, England.

undergrad at the University of Toronto with a degree in accounting and finance.

Ronny spent the summer working in Melbourne, Australia at The Blue Rock Group, an accounting firm co-founded

by Crescent alumnus Peter Lalor ’92.

Ronny obtained this summer position

s Will Christodoulou ’13 is in his second year at Western University studying engineering, with a plan to attend the Richard Ivey School of Business. Will has continued to pursue his interest in track and field and had some incredible success over the summer, winning the javelin at the Ontario Junior Provincials and at the Junior Nationals. Will was an active coach’s assistant last spring for Crescent’s Upper School Track and Field team.

s

s Ronny Ng ’10 completed his

Benjamin Ger ’12 is currently in his second year at McGill University. Ben had the opportunity to work with Crescent School parents Jeff & Tara Borg P’18 at Summitt Energy, a summer employment position he obtained through the Alumni Internship Program. As one of the two marketing interns, Ben has been assigned to help with the expansion of Summitt’s quickly growing US presence. From studying contracts, researching energy production, exploring green initiatives, and culminating with an earned presentation in front of the executive board on his research, Ben truly excelled in the unbelievable internship Summitt has provided.

Mitchell Golosky ’13 is in his second year at Western University studying Health Sciences. Mitchell had the opportunity to work with Dr. Greg Wells ’89 in his exercise physiology research lab at The University of Toronto Athletic Centre, a summer employment position he obtained through the Alumni Internship Program.

s Jonathan Szwec ’10 finished his last year of the Ivey HBA undergraduate business program and spent two months during the summer travelling to Southeast Asia and writing the GMAT before commencing his full-time job at CIBC World Markets as an investment banking analyst in Toronto in August. Jonathan and Gaby Weitz ’10, who also just graduated from Ivey and is now working at Manulife Financial, have remained close friends.

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Scott So ’13 is in his second year at Waterloo University studying Computer Science. Scott had the opportunity to work with Alex Mihailidi ’92 at the IATSL lab at the University of Toronto, a summer employment position he obtained through the Alumni Internship Program. His position requires him to work alongside the research team to create a smart home environment for the elderly and to work with robots designed to help people with dementia. Scott has learned a lot during this internship.

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University Placements Where the 90 graduates of the Class of 2014 are now

Gap year McGill University, QC 9 Concordia University, QC Queen’s University, ON

1

Bishop’s University, QC

1

King’s College Halifax, NS Dalhousie University, NS

3 3

Boston University, MA

Denison College, OH

1 1 1 1 1

Duke University, NC

1

University of Miami, FL

1

22

University of Toronto, ON

2

University of Guelph, ON

1

University of British Columbia, BC

Canada 1

6 25

University of Waterloo, ON Western University, ON

1

McMaster University, ON

University of Rochester, NY New York University, NY

5

Claremont McKenna College, CA

American University, DC

1

United States

University of Southern California, CA 1

United Kingdom University of St Andrews, SCO

1

Stay Connected

After graduation!

Share your stories and follow the latest Crescent Alumni happenings facebook.com/CrescentSchoolAlumni @CrescentAlums

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Crescent School

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Since 1913

Crescent Community Day 2014 We were thrilled to see more than 600 parents, students, faculty, alumni and friends at Crescent’s first annual Community Day on September 20. Thanks to everyone involved in making this event a success!

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Lowndes’ Last Word Character at Crescent: The Deed’s Creature

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s we re-engage our work on character this fall, I’ve necessarily been thinking a lot about it, professionally and personally. It’s invigorating work and calls me back to the reason why I first came to Crescent.

I’ve also been reminding myself again of the humility required to understand that it’s a lifetime journey and despite our very best efforts, we will not graduate our boys as fully fledged men of character. What is critical is that we engage them in the work and make it important to them; it needs to be work that they’re motivated to hold close and continue long after they leave our care.

This in turn has caused me to reflect on my own character journey. I have to admit that, on some days, I feel closer to being a man of character than on others (and I’ve been at it a little longer than our boys). The two powerful influences on my life were my father, from whom I learned almost everything important that I understand about character, responsibility and honour; and English literature, which provided so many rich and complex illustrations of character being forged and tested through crisis, disappointment and triumph.

In fact, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about some lines from a 17th century play called The Changeling, that haunting masterpiece written just a few years after Shakespeare’s death. I hope this isn’t too surprising; I was an English teacher for many years and I remain a devoted student of English literature.

To oversimplify, the play deals with the dilemma faced by a noblewoman, Beatrice, who is being forced into an arranged marriage. In order to marry the man she loves, she plots with a servant, De Flores, to kill her husband to be. He successfully completes the job, and afterwards there is a defining confrontation between the servant, De Flores, and Beatrice, the noblewoman.

She tries to wriggle out of responsibility for the murder by pointing out that it was his hands that actually performed the deed, and by reminding him of her 44

station in society in contrast to his. In response, he tells her:

gemstone; you don’t get the diamond without the pressure.

...fly not to your birth, but settle you In what the act has made you; y’are no more now. …

You’re the deed’s creature...

Crescent is a school that takes matters of character seriously. It’s why I’m here. It’s why I love it almost as much as English literature.

At Crescent, we understand the importance of choices and actions and how they contribute to defining who we are. We also understand that we all make mistakes; one mistake does not define anyone. Rather, what’s most important is not the mistake, but the quality of your response to it. Own what you’ve done without excuse; take your lumps like a man; do what you can to make it right; learn from it so that it doesn’t become a defining pattern. Do not allow the act to define you. Do not become the deed’s creature.

You are the deed’s creature. You are defined by the choices you make. Your character is the sum total of your deeds.

This is a very old-fashioned notion. (As I’ve said, The Changeling was written in 1622.) It’s as old-fashioned as notions of honour, of discipline, of personal responsibility, and of moral courage, all of which were so important to my Dad. Doing the right thing is rarely easy, or without cost. If it were, we would all do the right thing all the time. Doing the right thing in sports can cost you a victory, perhaps a championship. Doing the right thing in business can cost you a deal or a client; doing the right thing at Crescent can also mean a difficult choice and unpleasant consequences.

Character is a little like a precious

At the end of the day, there is only one reason that I know of for doing the right thing: so that when, at the end of your day, you look into that face looking back at you from the mirror, you see someone you can still respect.

This, I remind myself, is why our work together to make character matter to our boys is so important.

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