Past & Present Summer2015

Crescent School • Summer 2015

Enjoying our new Library: a space designed to support boys’ learning

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THANK YOU! Our Crescent School Golf Tournament hosted by the Alumni on May 30, 2015 was a success thanks to the support of the entire Crescent community. Your enthusiastic participation helped raise over $18,000 for Student Financial Aid – putting a Crescent education within reach of more exceptional Boys of Promise.

Thank you to all our wonderful sponsors:

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

Breakfast Sponsor: Eagles Nest Contest Sponsors: McAlpine Ford Lincoln, National Bank Financial, Sisley Honda, Steam Whistle Hole Sponsors: Canadian Insurance Brokers Inc, Daniel et Daniel, DMS Property Management, The Goldman Group, Lynde Institute for Dermatology, Camp Onondaga, Quinn Digital Asset Management, Steel Fire Equipment Ltd.

on the cover Crescent's new library is a hit with students.

Story on page 20.

Past and Present is Crescent School’s official magazine, published twice a year for the entire Crescent community.

Produced by Crescent School’s External Relations Department

Crescent School 2365 Bayview Avenue Toronto, ON M2L 1A2 416-449-2556 info@crescentschool.org crescentschool.org Stay connected with Crescent School throughout the year: facebook.com/ crescentschool1913 twitter.com/ Crescent_School

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

Crescent Travels Around the Globe......18

Showing Our Character............................4

Library and Latifi Family Commons........20

Artists Under Wraps: Showcasing Crescent Talent........................................6

Sharing the Strengths of the Alumni Brotherhood...........................................22

Staff and Faculty News.............................7

Need Some New Tunes?.......................23

Saying Farewell to Retiring Staff..............8

Alumni Profile: John Fust ’89.................24

Crescent Garage Sale: 25 Years of Fun........................................9 Crescent Parents: Fostering Lasting Friendships................10 Design Chris Simeon September Creative Communications Printer Printing Ltd. • Summer PastHarmony and Present 2015

When I Was 18, I Wish I’d Known That............................................26 Alumni Events.........................................29 Life After Crescent.................................32

Athletic Awards......................................12

In Memoriam..........................................35

Athletic Achievements...........................14

Lowndes’ Last Word...............................36

Relational Learning.................................16

Alumni Reunion Weekend 2015............37 1

Message from the Headmaster

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hat a privilege it has been to serve Crescent School in my first year as Headmaster. You will see from the photos and stories here that it truly has been an amazing year. From Community Day through to the Alumni Reunion, I have focused my energy on deepening my relationships with staff, students, parents and alumni.

Part of my transition work has been to figure out what the School’s direction must be to support our mission. This has been the central work of Crescent’s Board of Governors and my predecessors through various strategic plans. As the Centennial Strategic Plan (2008-2013) came to an end, the Board delegated the task of creating a new strategic direction

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to a small working committee. For the first time, the Board took a bold but important step to blend the committee with governors and school leaders, as well as industry experts from outside Crescent.

This decision demonstrated a real desire for collaboration and consultation.

kind, the enemy of good is great. I might extend his idea by suggesting that what is worse is the illusion of being great. Like the false idols projected as shadows in Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, we must be careful about what we look for and interpret for our School’s success.

The ongoing feedback and dialogue received through many months of strategic planning – including school-wide surveys, focus group discussions, and individual meetings – provided the committee with a balanced perspective on the School’s needs and challenges. Personally, this process has enriched and inspired my dedication to lead the School forward.

Business consultant and author Jim Collins argues that within organizations of any

Crescent’s two greatest assets: our people and our place As we near the culmination of our planning process, I am motivated by a commitment to our two greatest assets: our people and our place. We do not take these basic elements of our community for granted but rather Crescent School

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“ There is nothing more important to me as Headmaster than our boys and the quality of their learning experience.” use them as a springboard for ongoing growth and improvement. This fall, we will launch the first iteration of our new strategic plan. I trust you will find in it both comfort and clarity, as it will be our roadmap for the future. Our plan will highlight some of the most important and challenging work ever undertaken by the School. I can’t wait.

While this year began with many new faces, it will end with us saying farewell to some of our most cherished ones: James Wright, Mark Suckling, Jamie MacRae, Brian Crone, Ken Barnard, Carmela Casuccio, Cathy Macdonald, David Young, Alli Birtwhistle, Anjelien Slater and Chris White. These people left their mark on the community through their gift of Past and Present

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service. It has been a privilege to work alongside each of them. I know there are generations of boys who have grown to be better men because of them.

Our boys need Crescent more than ever The work of a truly great school begins and ends with its students. There is nothing more important to me as Headmaster than our boys and the quality of their learning experience. Every decision, dollar and detail must account for the net effect on our boys’ lives. This year, I chose to “get close” to how our boys experience the School and are using this experience for success in life. I

enjoyed visiting classes in each division, having lunch with every grad, travelling to major Canadian universities to meet with our young alumni, and speaking broadly within the larger and well-established alumni network. There is a thread to my commitment here. If we are bold enough to call ourselves great – and I think we should be – let’s do so humbly but with a posture in support of our boys. It is our boys who need us more than ever, because the world needs them more than ever. In fact, our greatest dividend is the ability of our mission to form and foster positive relationships as a gateway to developing our boys’ character.

— Michael Fellin P’24 Headmaster

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Showing Our Character Welcoming New Boys of Promise Imagine waking up to find a giant Crescent School tie attached to your front door. That’s what many Boys of Promise experienced on February 24. Crescent volunteers had attached six-foot ties to the doors of all GTA-area boys accepted to Crescent for September 2015. It was our way of showing the boys and their families just how excited we are about the prospect of them joining our Crescent community and becoming Men of Character.

Crescent Boys in Top 3 for National Kids’ Lit Quiz Congratulations to Craig Meerkamper, Caleb Oravecz, Max Gross and Oliver Simpson, who placed third in Canada at the 2015 Kids’ Lit Quiz national finals in February.

Kids’ Lit Quiz encourages a love of reading through fun competitions for children ages 10 to 13 around the world.

Crescent Student’s Android Video Game App is a Hit Crescent student Matthew Tory’s Grade 12 computer science project is now a video game for Android devices called Stranded Survival. It’s been purchased more than 1,000 times! You can find the game on Google Play.

Innovation Award for Crescent Boys’ Robotics Device Three Grade 9 students – Maaran Murugathas, Grant Chesney and Eric Song – competed against university students and professional engineers at a robotics “hackathon” in November. The challenge: to design a robot to help people think. The result: the boys created a wearable device to help people with dementia remain independent as long as possible. Their outstanding work earned them the special innovation award, a $5,000 paid internship at the Intelligent Assistive Technology and Systems Lab (IATSL) at the University of Toronto.

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Crescent Business Students are DECA Champions Crescent’s Upper School business students competed against 6,300 students from across Ontario at the DECA provincial finals in February.

Eight of our students finished in the top 10, including Danny Liu and Joseph Sumabat who placed first overall and qualified for the DECA international competition in Florida.

Soccer For All at Crescent School

Photos by Allan Moore

Crescent hosted Soccer For All on March 27, raising awareness for two international charities: the Gulu United FC Youth Academy and The Olive Branch for Children.

Young soccer players from across Toronto enjoyed workshops and a 4x4 tournament. They also tested their skills at a version of soccer for the visually impaired, which will be played at the ParaPan Am Games this summer.

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Artists Under Wraps: Showcasing Crescent Talent T

here’s a lot of talent in the Crescent community! Artists Under Wraps, Crescent’s first community art show, featured more than 100 works of art – each 12 inches square – by students, parents, alumni and staff. The artwork was displayed for sale in the Centre for Creative Learning, causing quite a buzz at the show’s opening night reception on April 16. The art sale proceeds were split 50-50 between the artists and one of Crescent’s local outreach partners.

Thank you to everyone who participated. Together we raised $5,000 for the Willow Park Junior Public School art program!

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Staff and Faculty News Beautiful Babies!

Lower School faculty member Nicole Whitlam and her husband Adam welcomed Ella Nicole Whitlam to their family on November 19, 2014.

Camilla Maksimowska was born to Head of English Aggie Maksimowska and her husband Alex on September 27, 2014. Sabina is thrilled to be a big sister.

Brielle Félicia Bigaignon was born to Andrea Schrauwers and Sébastien Bigaignon, who teach French in the Middle and Upper Schools, on February 9, 2015.

Keynote Speech by David Grant at International Conference

Lower School faculty member Jo-Anne Kuchmak and Matthew Steele welcomed their son Bennett Clarke Walter Steele to the world on April 23, 2014.

Head of Upper School Nick Kovacs and his wife Ashleigh Kovacs welcomed their son Charles Hagen on June 1, 2015.

Queen’s Alumni Award for Tim Evans Middle School faculty member Tim Evans, along with other members of Queen’s Players Toronto, received the Queen’s University Alumni Humanitarian Award in March. The award recognizes Queen’s Alumni whose distinguished work or volunteer service has made a difference to the well-being of others.

Newly appointed Dean of Academics David Grant was the keynote speaker at the International Boys’ Schools Coalition conference in Ohio in April. He shared his experience with developing Crescent’s award-winning robotics program. The conference theme, “Boys as Makers,” explored the benefits of hands-on learning for boys’ education.

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Saying Farewell to Retiring Staff C

rescent is saying farewell to seven staff members who are retiring at the end of the school year: Ken Barnard, Carmela Casuccio, Brian Crone, Cathy Macdonald, Jamie MacRae, Mark Suckling and James Wright. Together they have contributed more than 130 years of service to Crescent School and each played a significant role in the experience of thousands of boys.

While they will be greatly missed, we wish them all the best for a long, happy and healthy retirement!

Ken Barnard

Carmela Casuccio

Brian Crone

Ken is retiring after seven years as Chief Financial Officer.

His calm, cool and collected approach helped develop Crescent’s reputation as a fiscally stable and responsible educational institution.

After serving Crescent for 15 years as executive assistant to the Headmaster, Carmela is trading her desktop computer for an art brush as a professional artist.

Retiring after 12 years of service as the Head of Music, Brian will be especially remembered for his restless energy, enthusiasm and sheer love of music.

Cathy Macdonald

Jamie MacRae

Mark Suckling

James Wright

As the Coyote’s Den manager since 2009, Cathy has been unswervingly dedicated to Crescent boys. She was also an active parent volunteer, serving as CPA President in 2004/2005.

Our Head of Art has served Crescent School for 27 years.

Jamie was foundational in the development and expansion of Crescent’s international Outreach program and was also a driving force in our vibrant arts program.

For 29 years, Mark has served Crescent as a teacher, mentor and coach, especially with his work as a mathematics specialist. As Coach Suckling, he was instrumental in guiding track and field, X-country and basketball teams to excellence.

As our longest-serving faculty member, James has nurtured Crescent’s growing young minds for 42 years. He is trading his post as Head of Academics for a new role at his farm, where he will nurture a different type of growth.

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Crescent Garage Sale: 25 Years of Fun T

he Crescent Garage Sale has been a highlight of the school calendar for an amazing 25 years. Each year, the fantastic flea market draws bargain-seekers from across the city. (The Garage Sale this April attracted more than 1,300 shoppers!) The event is popular with volunteers too, with many returning year after year. Thank you to everyone who has shared their time and energy over the past quarter-century to make this Crescent tradition a success!

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Crescent Parents: Fostering Lasting Friendships T

he friendships Crescent parents develop often last long beyond their sons’ school days. The annual CPA Parent Luncheon is one of many events that foster friendships in the Crescent community. This year’s luncheon, held February 10 at The Estates at Sunnybrook, featured figure skating champion Kurt Browning as the special guest speaker. He spoke thoughtfully about the need to challenge yourself and the importance of being proud of the person you see in the mirror.

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Athletic Awards FALL SPORT TEAM DISTINCTIONS Soccer U10 Green

Most Valuable Goalkeeper – Sean Conroy Most Valuable Teammate – Roan Braun

U10 White

Most Valuable Teammate– Cole Jackson Coaches’ Choice – Brendan Lawson

U10 Grey

MIP – Neil Zhou Coaches’ Choice – Aidan Liszauer

U11 MVP – Jordan Corbett

MIP – Will Newall

U12 D2 Green

Sportsmanship Award – Harrison Kaiman MVP – Steven Vasilakos

U12 D2 White

MVP – Matthew Peesker Coaches’ Choice – Cameron Webster

U12 D1

Offensive MVP – Armeen Seyedmakki Defensive MVP – Jonathan Voutsas

U13 D1

MVP – Rhys Holman MVP – Caleb Oravecz

U14 D2

MVP – Micah Jonker Coaches’ Choice – Andrew McKay

U14 D1

MVP – Campbell Hunter MIP – Jack Duboc Coaches’ Choice – Adam Vanderwood

Junior Head of Steel – Andrew Youngson

Best Defensive Player – Zack Johns

Senior D3

MVP – Jack Naylor MIP – Conrad Kim

Senior D1

MVP – Ryley Henderson MIP – Asher Lisus

Volleyball U14 D1

MVP - Marcel Lui MIP - Farrell Fitzpatrick, Edward Morneau

U14 D2

MVP – Matthew Hutchison Coaches’ Choice – Scott Pardy

Junior MVP – Jackson Bere

Tough Guy – Reyhan Choudhury Senior MVP – Deen Choudhury

MIP – Michael Jaunkalns X-Country

Lower School

Tireless Coyote – Fionn Lay & Micah Schneider

U10 Most Valuable Runner – Matthew Overvelde

Players’ Choice Teammate – Roan Braun, Aidan Reed U11 Most Valuable Runner – RJ Levitt

Players’ Choice Teammate – Christopher Keyworth, Alexander Topos-Loucadellis U12 Most Valuable Runner – Jack Wallace

Players’ Choice Teammate – Oliver Simpson, Ryan Rakusin U14 MVP – Matthew Lampard

Most Dedicated Player – Ryan Turnbull Midget MVP – Christian Gnam

MIP – Cole Baker Junior MVP – Matthew Kasperavicius

Most Valuable Teammate – Christian Metivier Senior MVP – Ryley Mehta

Mr. Everything – Charlie Chettleburgh

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WINTER SPORT TEAM DISTINCTIONS Basketball U10 Green

Most Valuable Teammate – Babak Mesgarzadeh MIP – Aidan Reed

Coaches’ Choice – Luke Hilborn, Aidan Liszauer

U10 White

U11 MVP – Harrison Kaiman, Tucker Wilson

U12 D2 Green

MVP – Jack Murnaghan Leadership Award – Aryan Rabiei

U12 D2 White

Most Valuable Teammate – Hunter Skurka Heart & Hustle – Max Gross

U12 D1

MVP – Connor Colfer, Owen Knapp Dick Most Valuable Defensive Player – Will Christodoulis

U13 D2

MVP – Absiye Sahardid Coaches’ Choice – Ethan Krakower

U13 D1

MVP – Sebastian Campbell Coaches’ Choice – Rhys Holman

MVP – Jackson Bowes

U14 D3

U14 D1

MVP – Ryan McKay Mr. Consistency – Rives Reucassel

Junior MVP – Reyhan Choudhury

Coaches’ Choice – Andrew Youngson

Senior D2

MVP – Jordan Abramsky MIP – Farid Ghods

Senior D1

MVP – Simon Mikre Leadership Award – Ryley Henderson, Aidan Potts

Hockey U12

MVP – Ryan Paikin Best Defenceman – Jack Wallace

U14 Go To Player – Brian Keddie

Grinder Award – Campbell Hunter

Big Heart – Jack Bunker Junior MVP – Eric Cislak

Coaches’ Choice – Jeff Liebovitz Senior MVP – Eric Cheng

Four-Year Plaque – Dean Perlman

Calder Trophy – Erik Rimer Squash U14

MVP – Edward Morneau MIP – Michael Farkouh, Christopher Hughes Dedication Award – Jack Ferguson

Junior Most Valuable Teammate – Miles Di Prata

Sportsmanship Award – Brian Hudson Senior MVP – Alex Collins, Alex Spafford Swimming LS

MVP – Yanbo Cheng

MS Coaches’ Choice – Mark Xiao

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Athletic Achievements OFSAA Silver Medallists Senior D1 Basketball

CAIS National Champions U13 D1 Basketball

CAIS National Silver Medallists Senior D1 Basketball U13 Soccer

CISAA Champions U10 White Basketball U13 D1 Basketball U10 White Soccer U10 Grey Soccer U14 Squash Junior Squash U10-U14 X-Country

CISAA Season Champions Junior Hockey

CISAA Silver Medallists U11 U10 U12 U12 U13

Motivated by a Marathon Motivated by their goal to run a cumulative 42km (the length of a marathon), boys on the X-Country teams put extra effort into their training this year. The motivation paid off: the U10-U14 X-Country teams won the overall boys’ CISAA Championship.

Solidarity Leads to Success A sense of solidarity helped Crescent’s squash teams achieve a strong showing this year. Our U14 boys won their fourth straight CISAA Championship.

Our Junior team won the CISAA Championship for the second year in a row. And our Senior team captured bronze in a very competitive field.

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Basketball Green Soccer D2 Green Soccer D1 Soccer Soccer

CISAA Bronze Medallists U10 Green Basketball U12 D1 Basketball U11 Soccer Senior Squash U10 X-Country U11 X-Country

CISAA Semi-Finalists U12 D2 White Basketball Senior D1 Basketball U12 Hockey Senior D2 Hockey U12 D2 White Soccer U14 D1 Soccer U14 D1 Volleyball Junior Volleyball Senior Volleyball

League Tournament Champions Grade 3 Basketball

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Grit and Determination Crescent’s U13 D1 basketball team won the national championships at the CAIS tournament in February, beating the defending champions.

“The boys showed a lot of grit and determination,” says Head Coach Mark Suckling. “This was an amazing achievement for a fine group of talented athletes.”

It was also a wonderful cap on Coach Suckling’s teaching and coaching career. He was celebrated at the closing ceremony for his longstanding involvement in the tournament.

Heart and Pride After finishing with the silver medal in the CAIS National Senior Boys tournament, Crescent’s Senior D1 Basketball team brought silver medals home from the OFSAA “AA” Provincials in March. They also earned the tournament’s Sportsmanship Award and were voted Most Sportsmanlike Team. “I’m proud of my boys,” said Head Coach Ari Hunter. “We did what we set out to do, and we played with heart and pride all the way.”

Playing to a Higher Level Crescent’s Junior Hockey team ended the season at the top of their league, surpassing expectations for the team of mostly rookies. Strong leadership by the top line inspired the entire team to play to a higher level, treating each game like the playoffs.

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The Next Generation of Crescent Basketball Champs Our U10 Green Basketball team won their first basketball tournament in January. A sign of great things to come!

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Relational Learning Crescent’s intentional approach to relational learning will help every boy succeed

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ou probably remember the teachers who inspired you to learn – the ones who took a sincere interest in you and motivated you to reach further.

That positive relationship between you, your teacher and your learning is called “relational learning.” Relational learning is a research-based approach that emphasizes the important role that positive relationships play in students’ willingness to learn. It has been shown to have a particularly strong effect on boys’ learning.

Over the last seven years, Crescent has participated in a global study of relational learning for boys, led by Dr. Michael Reichert at the Center for the Study of Boys’ and Girls’ Lives. Through thousands of interviews with students and teachers, the study revealed that the number one factor in boys’ learning is their relationship with their teacher.

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“At Crescent, we view the work of relational learning as a vital part of our commitment to character development and boys’ education,” says Headmaster Michael Fellin. “In addition to supporting their academic achievement, relational learning equips boys to develop their social and emotional competencies such as being self-aware, making responsible decisions, and managing their relationships with peers, parents and teachers.”

He gave a special presentation for Crescent parents and alumni and worked with the faculty in small professional development groups.

“We want every single boy at Crescent School to be successful,” says Lower School faculty member Ian Fisher. “The idea of bringing Dr. Reichert in is to become more intentional, more aware of what we are already doing well and to identify things that we need to do better.”

The challenge is making sure that every student benefits from a strong, positive relationship with his teachers – not just the students who are already eager to learn. That is why Crescent is implementing an intentional approach to relational learning in every grade.

Ongoing peer-to-peer coaching and professional learning groups for faculty continue to build on the work done with Dr. Reichert. A supportive, team-based approach gives all teachers opportunities to consult and advise each other about the best ways to connect with each individual boy to help him learn.

Crescent’s commitment to relational learning was underscored when Dr. Reichert visited the school in February.

“This sort of conversation is really productive in terms of being a lot more open with our teaching practice and Crescent School

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being able to help each other – creating a much stronger community,” says Upper School faculty member Geoff Green.

Crescent is now exploring ways to embed relational learning more directly into everything students experience.

This will help boys learn to proactively manage their own relationships with peers and teachers – a crucial skill for success in the “real world.”

While the intentional approach to relational learning is new, it builds on Crescent’s existing culture which has always celebrated relationships and community.

“One of the things I love about Crescent School is that we all work together to teach the boys,” says Lower School French teacher Isabelle Moore. “Relational learning comes naturally to us.”

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Crescent Travels Around the Globe Crescent School students enjoy a wealth of opportunities to travel the world, expanding their horizons and broadening their perspectives.

Here’s where Crescent boys could be found this year:

Hawaii After celebrating their

Texas On an outreach trip

Missouri Soon after competing in Hawaii, Crescent’s Team 610 headed to St. Louis, Missouri for the FIRST Robotics World Championships. Team 610 made it as far as the quarter-finals in this tough competition against 600 of the world’s best robotics teams.

The team members are justly proud of producing one of their most successful seasons yet.

Wyoming Jackson Hole is called the Serengeti of North America. In its remote, wild ecosystem, Upper School students expanded their understanding of nature’s fragility on an outreach trip in March.

success as part of the winning alliance at the First Canada Robotics competition in Toronto, Crescent’s Team 610 competed in the First Robotics Hawaii Regional competition in March. Although their Skyhawk robot was defeated in the finals by the defending champions, Team 610 established themselves as one of the competition’s leading teams in terms of strategy and robot design.

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to Texas in March, six Upper School students attended specialized astrophysics lectures at Baylor University, visited the SpaceX rocket launch facility, saw aircraft being modified for military and private use at the U.S. defense contractor L3, received a VIP tour of the Johnson Space Center, had a private audience with former astronaut Ken Cameron and saw a wormhole simulation at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Austin.

Bermuda Our D1 soccer team travelled to Bermuda for the CAIS National Soccer Tournament in October.

Unfortunately, their trip was cut short by Hurricane Fay. Fortunately, everyone made it home safely!

France, Netherlands and Belgium History

came alive for the Crescent School Boys Choir on their performance tour to Belgium, Holland and Vimy Ridge in November. The tour commemorated the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I.

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China Students on the

Upper School outreach trip to China in March saw the country’s geographic and economic diversity up close.

They visited urban Shanghai and rural Lincang, trekked through the rainforest of Yunnan Province, travelled to the Great Wall, and toured the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

India In March, Upper

School students volunteered with NGOs to understand the issues of street children and women’s rights on the outreach trip to Rajasthan and Delhi.

Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic Our Senior

Hockey team’s European tour in November included castles, mountains and a salt mine, and of course a lot of hockey rinks too.

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South Africa Upper School

students took their mentoring experience to the Vela School in Mthatha, South Africa as part of an outreach trip in March. The Crescent boys partnered with Vela School students in the school’s literacy program and also took part in local community development projects.

Cambodia From famous

temples to dusty backroads, Upper School students explored Cambodian history and culture by bicycle on the outreach trip in March.

They met with social entrepreneurs, community leaders and NGOs, learning first-hand about international development issues.

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Library and Latifi Family Commons Crescent’s newest academic spaces are designed to support boys’ learning

The Library’s spacious design accommodates class lessons, mentor groups, individual studying and quiet reading – so more boys can benefit from the Library’s resources at the same time.

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t’s easy to see why Crescent School’s newest academic spaces – the Latifi Family Commons and the Library – are a hit with students.

Art sketches, study notes and math equations are just some of the ways the boys use the whiteboards in the Library’s breakout rooms.

Natural light pours through the windows.

Comfortable furniture encourages relaxed conversations. Open spaces host visiting authors, university representatives and guest lecturers – and even student yoga classes.

Attractive displays promote recommended books and upcoming events.

And everywhere you look, boys are reading, researching, studying and collaborating. They are actively engaged in learning.

The new Library, which opened to students this January, is modelled on modern university libraries to help Middle and Upper School students 20

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The Latifi Family Commons is a popular place for the Upper School boys to gather – and it also improves their access to Crescent Student Services and University Counselling.

transition to post-secondary academic environments. It’s also designed with the needs of boys’ education in mind.

Teachers bring their classes to the Library, partnering with the Library staff to teach research methods and studying strategies. The boys can adjust the seating arrangements for specific activities, such as mentor groups, study sessions and quiet reading.

“It’s not a static space at all,” says Trish Cislak, Head of Libraries and Information Technology at Crescent. “That makes for a very good learning environment for the boys.”

The Latifi Family Commons, which opened

on the first day of school, also offers a flexible “main street” feel that makes it a popular gathering place for Upper School boys. Crescent’s student services and university counselling programs are also benefitting from being more accessible.

“The increased flow of traffic brings more students into my office to work with or to chat,” says Anjelien Slater, head of Crescent Student Services. “I know this will enhance our ability to connect with and support students on their journey through Crescent School.”

“We are twice as busy as before,” says Don Haag ’86, Director of University Counselling. “The boys drop in to chat and we inevitably start talking about

Board games are a popular activity in the Library, giving boys an opportunity to de-stress.

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university options. These informal conversations are very beneficial, and our new location in the Latifi Family Commons is allowing this to happen.”

“I think the students feel lucky to have these spaces,” says Cislak.

That was evident at the official celebration of the new spaces on March 4, when Prefect Alex Coburn spoke on behalf of all Crescent students: “Thank you to the donors who have made it possible for us to learn, investigate and research in such a tremendous academic space. I thank all of you for your support of Crescent and for helping to make it a better school, each and every day, for me and my Crescent brothers.”

The Library’s furniture was tested by the boys before it was purchased, to make sure it would be comfortable as well as durable.

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Sharing the Strengths of the Alumni Brotherhood Message from the Chair of the Alumni Executive

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he conversation is never dull when Crescent alumni get together. If you were at the recent Alumni Reunion, you know this is true!

Crescent alumni have interesting conversations because we have stories from almost every profession imaginable. We are journalists, business leaders, physicians, lawyers, scientists, musicians, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, teachers, realtors, athletes, engineers, video game designers – whatever you can think of, a Man of Character is probably doing it.

This rich diversity of experience is one of the strengths of our alumni brotherhood. Crescent Alumni are willing to help each other, building on the strong relationships developed during our school years. These strengths are at the heart of two very successful initiatives: our Alumni Mentoring Program and our Alumni Internship Program.

Our Alumni Mentoring Program plays a crucial role in helping new alumni navigate the early stages of their lives after Crescent. Advice from our roster of over 200 alumni mentors can ease the pressure that young alumni face when choosing their career paths. Many of our mentors find that they benefit from the program too. As Ross Kerr ’91 told us, conversations with younger alumni helped broaden his perspective. When Ross coached a university undergraduate through a decision, he discovered that mentorship is a two-way street that benefits both people involved. In his words, “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.”

Our Alumni Internship Program (AIP) also provides valuable career connections for young alumni. Our AIP committee co-chairs and members of the Alumni Executive work with the alumni and parent communities to facilitate summer job opportunities for alumni at university. More than 42 alumni have gained essential work experience through this program so far, with six of these internships leading to full-time jobs. Lincoln Mak ’10 is one of our alumni who credits AIP with helping him secure his first job. While at Western University, our AIP program worked with Lincoln to secure an internship at Summitt Energy, a company co-founded by Crescent parent Jeff Borg P’18.

After the internship, Summitt Energy offered Lincoln a full-time position as an operations analyst.

The growth of our mentoring and internship initiatives demonstrates the importance of our Crescent alumni mission: to foster sustained and meaningful relationships for alumni with Crescent School and their fellow graduates through events, giving back and continuing education.

Wherever you are, and whatever you’re doing, I encourage you to be part of this mission. Get involved, share your experience, and let your Crescent brotherhood continue to enrich your life.

— Rob Watt ’85, P’14 Chair, Crescent Alumni Executive

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Need Some New Tunes?

Consider adding these musicians from the Crescent brotherhood to your playlist

Urban folk by the Birds of Bellwoods with Stevie Joffe ’09 on mandolin and lead vocals

Canadiana folk rock by Charlie Mills ’99

charliemills.bandcamp.com Soundtrack composer Christophe Beck ’87

christophebeck.com

birdsofbellwoods.bandcamp.com

Chamber music meets pop with pianist Chilly Gonzales aka Jason Beck ’89

Traditional folk by Juno Award winner Chris “Old Man” Luedecke ’94

oldmanluedecke.ca

Electronica by James Coholan ’12

chillygonzales.com

soundcloud.com/jamescoholan

Classic rock and blues by Rustin Falconer, with Jeff Sceviour ’99 on bass, guitar and vocals

rustinfalconer.com

Lyrical electronica by Daniel Oh ’12

ohitsdoh.com

Indie rock by Fleece, with Jonathan Bell ’13 on vocals, guitar and saxophone

fleecemusic.bandcamp.com

Help share the Crescent experience

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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 Past and Present

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John Fust ’89

W

hen the Swiss team took to the ice at the recent World Juniors Hockey Tournament, there was a Man of Character behind them.

“Crescent hockey was some of the most fun I ever had,” says Fust, who played for Crescent’s U16 and senior hockey teams, coached by Steve Davies.

At the recent World Juniors Hockey Tournament, one Man of Character wasn’t cheering for the Canadians. Alumnus John Fust ’89 had his hopes on a different team.

“I remember being at Don Mills Arena at 6:30 a.m. for team practice,” says Fust.

“Mr. Davies put on his gloves so I could practise my shooting. I would shoot high slapshots that he could catch. I was so nervous. I didn’t want to miss and hurt him. What other teacher-coach would do that for his players?”

“The World Juniors is very intense,” says Fust, who is Head Coach of the Under20 Swiss National Team. “My favourite moment was the first game at the Air Canada Centre. Seeing the Swiss flag raised after a 5-2 win versus the Czechs was very special. We felt like we made a big statement for Swiss hockey.”

Fust’s love for the game began during his childhood in Montreal and continued after he moved to Toronto and enrolled at Crescent in Grade 8.

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Davies remembers Fust as “our very own Stevie Yzerman.” While at Crescent, Fust also played for the Wexford Raiders, a Canadian Junior A team. As demanding as that commitment was, “John always made playing for Crescent a priority,” says Davies. “He was our captain and team leader in every sense of the word.

Alumni

Profile

The boys on our team admired and respected him immensely.”

From Crescent, Fust was recruited to play for the Princeton University team. After graduating, he played in the Swiss A League for 12 years. (Fust’s grandparents are Swiss, qualifying him to play for Switzerland.)

When his playing career ended in 2006, Fust returned to Canada and made plans for a very different career with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

But then he was offered a coaching job in a professional Swiss hockey league, and Fust’s life swung back to hockey again.

Fust and his family – his wife, Rosalind, their two sons and their daughter – now live in Switzerland for about eight months of the year.

Crescent School

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Crescent Memories “Every teacher I had at Crescent had an influence on me. The passion they had for their profession was clearly evident. They cared about their work, but also about developing us as students. This Crescent spirit among the staff is a trademark that makes the school special.”

– John Fust ’89 “My wife is really a partner in my coaching career,” says Fust. “I discuss everything with Rosalind and she allows me to see things from a different perspective.”

Photo by Andre Ringuette / HHOF-IIHF Images

When the hockey season ends, Fust and his family move back to the Ottawa region, where the children finish their school year.

But “there is no off-season in pro hockey,” says Fust. “Player acquisition, media requests and GM meetings keep me pretty busy during the summer.”

Fust says his work today is influenced by what he learned as a student at Crescent.

“A positive learning environment is crucial for success and for growing as a person and professionally,” says Fust.

“The Crescent spirit is something I always refer back to as a model when building a team: strong leadership and a commitment to excellence.”

Past and Present

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When I was 18,

I wish I’d known that…

“...I should bring my passion to work while searching for that elusive passion that hadn’t presented itself yet. That I should not sweat the small stuff and never miss an opportunity to go for a coffee with a friend that I hadn’t seen in a while.

Lastly, I wish I hadn’t been so concerned with what I would do and been content with who I am.​” – Jay Mansoor ’92​

“...success only comes when you are willing to step outside of your comfort zone and take a risk. Don’t restrict yourself to doing what you think you know; rather, push yourself to try something new. Is there a high chance of failure? Sure is. But there is also a higher chance of happiness; happiness gained from trying, learning, and thriving.” – Philip Lloyd ’09

“ ...it can take time to find your true passion.”

“...there is enormous satisfaction that comes with being a good person. My message is not only that you are who you hang with – so hang with great people – it is also that to be exceptional and to have an exceptional life, hang with people who see the greatness in you. That extra step is the key to a rewarding and fearless life.”

– Gareth Seltzer ’80 “...shared laughter is medicine, shared silence is underrated, and both can be achieved while out in the woods.”

– Tim Martin ’07 “...it’s OK to not know what you want to do. Following your passions will sort that out for you.” – Andrew Norris ’03

“ What I wanted to accomplish and undertake in my lifetime was within my control.” “...leaving university to work, study or travel abroad for a semester doesn’t mean you miss out on anything back at home. I regret not taking advantage of an opportunity to study or work abroad because I thought I’d miss out on experiencing university with the friends I had made. Years later, after travelling abroad, I realized that I didn’t miss the things I thought I would while I was away. Had I known how important it would have been to my personal growth, I would have taken a semester to study abroad or taken a summer internship in another country.” – Jason Steel ’93 26

“ Nothing can ever stay the same forever, and embracing new challenges and opportunities is a vital component of remaining happy.”

Crescent School

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…

We asked the Crescent Alumni what they wish they’d known when they were 18 years old, so they could share their hard-won wisdom with Crescent’s graduating Class of 2015. Here are some of their responses.

“ ...it’s OK to have uncertainty and not know what the future has in store.”

“ ...success only comes when you are willing to step outside of your comfort zone and take a risk.” “...it’s all right to not know what you want to do professionally. Over my short career, I have gained diverse experiences in the sport industry and I am still not sure what I want to do within the industry long term.

I am not worried though, because I am enjoying the ride.” – Jonathan Prinsell ’06 Past and Present

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Summer 2015

“ ...shared laughter is medicine, shared silence is underrated, and both can be achieved while out in the woods.”

“I remember feeling at times very stressed about my future when I was 18 years old and in the years that followed. I wish I had known then that if you keep trying, never give up and apply yourself, you will have success. So stop worrying about your future.

It will come in time.” – Peter Aceto ’87

“You don’t need to grow up too fast. You do not need to know what you are going to do with your life. It will come to you. Travel abroad, take time to find your passion and live the experiences. You don’t always get the chance to go back and to experience things.” – Jeff Barton ’91 27

“ ...leaving university to “ ...there is work, study or travel enormous abroad for a semester satisfaction doesn’t mean you miss out that comes on anything back at home.” with being a good person.”

“In the coming years, there will be many pressures on your time – a pull to build your own professional identity and your ego. Do not neglect attention and love to those around you in this process. Instead, actively try to cultivate the relationships that matter by earnest support and caring.

You never know when you may be needed or when you will need, yourself, to be helped through the worst feeling in the world.” – David Croitoru ‘07 “...the world would not wait for me to pull up my socks and fully commit to the issues that matter most to me. My grandfather once said to me, ‘Ryan, always look the world in the eyes, never let it look you in the eyes first.’ What I wanted to accomplish and undertake in my lifetime was within my control. Nobody else would ever fully take the reins for me. I wish I had known that at 18!” – Ryan Bell ’98 “You may not yet know what you want to do in your life, but embrace the fact that no matter what you do, you’ll need the following to succeed: 1) Health – eat responsibly and work out regularly, for life; 2) Empathy – relate to what others are experiencing and how you might help them; 3) Accounting and finance skills – because having no money and managing money poorly is not a good place to be.”

– Rob Labatt ’84 28

“ Never miss an opportunity to go for a coffee with a friend...”

“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.” – Ross Kerr ’91 “Carefully consider all the opportunities life presents to you. Seek out opportunities to study or work abroad. Throughout your first year of university, explore the specific area of study that interests you most, and try to match your interest to your academic program. Lastly, of course, stay in touch with Crescent to avail yourself of all opportunities designed for young alumni.” – Rob Watt ’85, P’14 “...it can take time to find your true passion.” – Clark Davis ’02

“I wish I’d known that it’s OK to have uncertainty and not know what the future has in store.” – Henson Tam ’11 “...it was far better to accept change in one’s life and to grow into that change.

It is a futile thing to fight it. Nothing can ever stay the same forever, and embracing new challenges and opportunities is a vital component of remaining happy. Be kind to people, good luck and be someone that you are proud of.” – Charlie Mills ’99 “When I was 18 I wish I’d known how important building relationships and networking are to success. In the hockey business, advancement is mainly based on your networks and the trust you have invested with others.” – John Fust ’89 Crescent School

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Since 1913

Alumni Events Downtown Networking Reception Over 100 alumni attended the annual Downtown Networking Reception on November 20 at the BierMarkt on The Esplanade.

This is becoming one of our most popular alumni events!

Holiday Reception Our alumni holiday reception in the new Latifi Family Commons on December 18 helped to warm up a cold winter. It was great to see so many old and new faces there.

Bidiak Basketball Challenge Congratulations to Team Eby, winner of the Bidiak trophy on December 18. Former faculty member Terry Bidiak was there to present the trophy. Thanks to all the alumni, students and faculty who made it a great event! More than 40 alumni participated in the Bidiak Basketball Challenge this year, making it one of the most successful tournaments yet.

Past and Present

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Queen’s University Branch Reception We welcomed over 40 alumni to the Queen’s University reception on January 23. Crescent staff who made the trip to Kingston included David Grant, Don Haag ’86, John Lynch, Doug Smith, Kathryn Rutherford and Vince Volpe.

Montreal Branch Reception The alumni event in Montreal on January 22 was a great start to 2015! Thanks to all the alumni who dropped by to reconnect with old friends as well as Headmaster Michael Fellin along with Crescent staff members Ryan Bell ’98, Rob Cranston, Don Haag ’86, Jerry Hesse, Ross MacDonald and Kathryn Rutherford.

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Waterloo Branch Reception It was great to reconnect with Crescent alumni in Waterloo on March 5. Alumni from Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo caught up with Headmaster Michael Fellin, David Grant, Don Haag ’86, Gavin Muranaka, Alex Pintilie and Kathryn Rutherford.

Crescent School

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Halifax Alumni Branch Reception The first annual Halifax Branch Reception on March 26 was a tremendous success! Headmaster Michael Fellin, Don Haag ’86 and Kathryn Rutherford enjoyed reconnecting with nearly 20 young alumni who are studying at Dalhousie and King’s.

Hong Kong Branch Reception Headmaster Michael Fellin and John Lynch, Executive Director of External Relations, hosted alumni and guests for the annual Hong Kong Branch Reception on February 6.

London, U.K. Alumni Branch Reception Alumni living and working in the U.K. reconnected at London’s George Club on November 13. Headmaster Michael Fellin and John Lynch, Executive Director of External Relations, were also there.

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Life After Crescent 1980s Gareth Seltzer ’80 refocused his career on social justice and global poverty after visiting Haiti soon after the 2010 earthquake. He is a director and investor in RYOT.org, a news site that encourages people to take action on significant social issues. RYOT also produces awardwinning documentaries, including The Rider in the Storm (about Hurricane Sandy), Mittimetallica (about Nunavut kids who love heavy metal music) and Body Team 12 (about the Ebola crisis).

Alan Diner ’87 was appointed as a judge to the Federal Court in June 2014.

During his induction ceremony speech, Alan cited Crescent School as the place where he met lifelong friends and learned essential skills for success.

Jason “Chilly Gonzales” Beck ’89 returned to Toronto for a live taping of new host Shad’s debut on the CBC Radio program Q in April 2015. He will also be influencing future generations of musicians: a piece from his album, Solo Piano, is included in the latest edition of the Royal Conservatory of Music’s Grade 9 Celebration Series piano syllabus.

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1990s 1 Andrew Blott ‘89, David Suydam ’93 and Bram Belzberg ’98 had the surprise pleasure of being coached by Rex Taylor, a former Crescent faculty member and expert fly fisherman, when they attended a Young Presidents Organization social event hosted at the Franklin Club, a private fly fishing club near Mount Albert, ON, in October 2014.

2 Myles Slocombe ’92 married the love

of his life, Kirstin Fry, on April 4, 2015 in Toronto’s Distillery District. Crescent alumni in attendance included Cam Heaps, Ariel Vinizki, Brett Younge-Ullman, Chris Deratnay, Graydon Joyner, Mark Crane, Mark Heissler, Martin Ritchie, Patrick Lundy, Patrick Nobbs, Sandy Griffiths and Tim Webster (all Class of ’92). The happy couple honeymooned in Italy.

2000s Tim Usher-Jones ’01 and his wife Jessica welcomed first-born son Theodore John on April 13, 2015. Born at Sunnybrook Hospital, baby Theodore weighed eight pounds.

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4 Michael Livingston ’02 and his wife Brieanna welcomed their second child, Marcus, on November 16, 2014. Older sister Emily is thrilled and keen to help out. Michael and Brieanna completed medical school together at Western University. Michael is currently a resident in general surgery, and Brieanna is taking a year off from her training in family medicine to be “Dr. Mom.”

Robert Shih ‘02 became engaged to Ling Chen in November 2014. The couple plans to wed in August 2015 in Crescent School’s Formal Garden.

Evan Lewis ’03 is making strides in diabetes research. His project with his research group from Toronto General Hospital (Neurology), Mount Sinai Hospital (Endocrinology) and the University of Toronto (Nutritional Sciences) was awarded a Canadian Diabetes Association research grant to examine the use of an omega-3 supplement to stop the progression of diabetic neuropathy in Type 1 diabetics.

This is the first project to investigate a non-pharmacological therapeutic intervention for diabetic neuropathy. It is nearly halfway to completion!

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Crescent School

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Since 1913

Willy Chyr ‘05 is releasing his Relativity video game next year on PlayStation 4 and PC. Financial backing from Indie Fund, a game development fund, allowed him to hire two programmers to help complete the project. Willy was also recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as one of their “20 in Their 20s” in May 2015.

Victor Lee ’05 graduated from the University of Waterloo’s Optometry School in 2013 and has recently started to work as an optometrist in Perth, Australia. Victor has been working “down under” for over a year now and says he really enjoys the opportunity to travel to the beach each weekend!

5 Vitali Bourchtein ’07 married Danielle Even on October 19, 2014. His groomsmen included Dmitri Bourchtein ’09 and Adam Kagan ’07. Also in attendance were Charles Rolston, Greg Omand, Matt Cullingham and Jerry Guo (all Class of ’07). Danielle and Vitali met during their freshman year at NYU’s Stern School of Business. This fall they will both pursue their MBAs at Harvard Business School. Vitali is currently an Associate at Irving Place Capital, a New York-based private equity firm.

Michael Goldstein ’08 recently graduated with a BFA from the University of British Columbia. His company, Goldstein Productions, has been making inroads in commercial video work, including projects around Canada and the U.S. for companies such as Red Bull.

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Blake Macdonald ‘08 moved to New York City in May 2015 to pursue a new opportunity as a senior associate within Transaction Services at PwC. Geoff Hewat ’10 moved to Whistler with teammates from the Ontario Mogul Team after graduation. Westward, his web series following a group of Ontario skiers in Whistler, was picked up by the

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Past and Present

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Summer 2015

freeskiing website Newschoolers.com. He also creates films for Whistler Blackcomb that showcase the local terrain and skiing culture. His short film Front Country won the Cold Front film competition in October 2014. Now in his third year in the motion picture arts program at Capilano University, Hewat plans to continue creating sports films while making his way into Vancouver’s film industry.

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2010s Rishi Jairath ’11 begins his studies at the University of Toronto School of Medicine in September 2015.

David Williams ’11, Matthew Geisler ’12 and James Dent ’10 helped the Queen’s University Varsity Rugby Team win the OUA Rugby Champions in 2014. Past Queen’s rugby players and Crescent alumi Matt Wolfe ’08 and George Gleeson ’08 were on the sidelines cheering on the team.

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Ian Ko ’13 is working as the digital marketing coordinator in Wilfrid Laurier University’s MBA Office during his co-op work term in Laurier’s BBA program. This year, he was also co-president of the university’s tech-business association, E-Business Laurier.

Marko Popovic ’12 recently accepted an offer to attend the University of Toronto School of Medicine starting in September 2015.

7 Daniel Oh ’12 was featured in Huffington Post for his self-released EP, Hole in My Sock, which was released in January 2015. In addition to his music, Daniel is in his third year of the Commerce program at the University of Toronto, where he is the director of marketing for the university’s Sports and Business Association.

8 David Ferris ’14 and Jordan Grant ’14, in their first year at the University of Waterloo, recently got matched for jobs.

Jordan accepted a co-op placement with Deloitte in Toronto, while David will be working in Seattle at FiftyThree, the software company that created the charttopping “Paper” app.

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9 Jonathan Bell ’13 is performing in a band called Fleece, which recently released its first studio album, Scavenger, and two music videos, including Gabe’s Song.

Stay Connected Send us an update on your life after Crescent!

Email Kathryn Foster at kfoster@crescentschool.org Share your stories on Facebook and Twitter! facebook.com/CrescentSchoolAlumni @CrescentAlums

Keep in touch with alumni news!

Update your contact information at alumni.crescentschool.org

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Crescent School

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Since 1913

In Memoriam

R

Ronald (Ron) Bertram P’79, ’81

Ron Bertram passed away on April 29, 2014 after a lengthy illness. Ron was a dedicated Crescent School volunteer, serving on the Board of Governors from 1975 to 1988, as Chair from 1983 to 1985, and Chair of Crescent School’s Senate from 2006 to 2009. He was also the proud father of two alumni, Jay ’79 and Ronald (Ron) Jr. ’81.

“Our father loved Crescent School because Crescent epitomized what Dad believed was important in one’s life: family, hard work, and giving back. Crescent School was a tremendous source of joy and pride for the ‘Big Guy.’ The Bertram family will be forever grateful to Crescent School.” – Jay Bertram ’79 A fervent supporter of Crescent School, Ron and his wife Elizabeth (Betsy) were regular attendees at the annual Board of Governors Dinner, and Ron hosted the annual Senate Dinner for past Chairs of the Board of Governors.

Upon his retirement as Chair of the Senate, Crescent School presented Ron with a wooden gavel with a brass plaque reading: Ronald Bertram P ‘79, ’81 Chairman, Board of Governors 1983-85 Chairman, Senate 2006-09 In grateful appreciation of his dedicated leadership and service to Crescent School April 14, 2009 A beloved member of the Crescent family, Ron is remembered for his gregarious personality and dedication to Crescent. A gifted and passionate athlete throughout his life, he opened every Senate Dinner with a friendly and direct question of the Headmaster: “When is Crescent getting its own hockey rink?” The Quill and Quire Award, which is awarded annually at Prize Day, is in honour of Ron’s tireless commitment to Crescent. The Crescent community has lost a treasured friend. To his widow Betsy, his children Jay, Ron, and Susan and the rest of the Bertram family, Crescent extends its condolences and thanks for a life well lived.

Past and Present

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Summer 2015

Alexander Sandy Stuart ’37 Alexander “Sandy” Stuart ’37, an alumnus of Crescent School’s Dentonia Park era, passed away peacefully in his 91st year in December 2014. He has a place on Crescent’s Alumni Wall of Honour.

A brilliant and accomplished man ahead of his time, Sandy was a leader in the drive toward the worldwide implementation of clean energy in the form of hydrogen fuel. A well-known and respected businessman and entrepreneur, he founded, was President and then Chair of the Electrolyser Corporation (later Stuart Energy Systems).

In 2008, celebrating his 70th reunion year, Crescent School presented Sandy with an honorary high school diploma for his continued dedication to Crescent. Other institutions also proudly counted Sandy as an exemplary member. He was inducted into the University of Toronto Engineering Alumnae Hall of Distinction. He was also a Member of the Order of Canada in recognition of his work in support of the export trade, the environment and hydrogen energy.

Sandy served as a Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II, and he loved the sea.

A consummate outdoorsman, he was passionate about wildlife, championing environmental causes long before it was fashionable. Some of his happiest times were spent at his farm near Thornbury and fishing in Georgian Bay at his treasured Tadenac Hunting and Fishing Club.

A cherished family man, Sandy was known affectionately as “Papa” by his grandchildren. He and his late wife Mary Alice Stuart had four children, nine grandchildren and a great granddaughter who was born in April 2014. Two of his grandsons, Kyle Stuart ’04 and William Stuart ’08, are also Crescent alumni.

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Lowndes’ Last Word Character at Crescent, Part 2 Character is a lifelong project. Our job is not to get our boys to the destination, but to make this journey central to their lives.

So how, exactly, do we go about this?

Crescent’s Centennial Strategic Plan identified four Character-in-Action Programs: Athletics, Performing Arts, Robotics and Outreach. It affirmed what we have always known: at Crescent, we don’t play sports just because they’re fun; we believe that, done right, sports are a powerful tool for building character.

Similarly with the other three programs.

Being more purposeful about developing character

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began this school year musing in Past and Present about character, in anticipation of our re-engagement with our work on the mission as we develop Crescent’s new strategic plan. The full plan is on schedule to be released in the fall; in the meantime, I’d like to share how our thoughts about character at Crescent are evolving.

We have focused for the past 10 years on moral character, which must be the bedrock.

Without a firm foundation in strong, positive values, everything else is futile and possibly even detrimental. We can all think of examples of individuals (maybe even ourselves) who have hung on tenaciously to a wrong idea or even to a harmful concept or pursuit. At Crescent, our foundation of moral character is firmly in place. One metric: last year, in their comments for graduation, a third of our grads specifically referred to the mission and/or the core values as one of the most meaningful aspects of their Crescent experience, without prompting. The number would be even higher had we counted more general and implicit references.

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Becoming a Man of Character is a lifelong project However, current research clearly demonstrates that there are three other important character domains: intellectual, performance and relational.

Intellectual character has to do with the deployment of knowledge and judgment – what we commonly refer to as wisdom. Performance character deals with the cluster of attributes that enable us to achieve our goals: resilience, selfdiscipline and curiosity, for instance.

Relational or civic character refers to those habits of engagement through which one offers one’s best self in service to the broader community.

Therefore the ideal Crescent graduate – a Man of Character – will be principled, wise, resilient and engaged. This is certainly a lot to expect of a 17-yearold; however, our goals need to be aspirational. As I said in my first installment last fall, becoming a Man of

The work that remains in front of us is: First, to expand the list of Characterin-Action programs; the number of programs engaged in this important work has expanded over the past five years. Second, to coordinate the work among the programs more closely. No matter where their interests and passions lead them, boys should hear the same vocabulary and face similar challenges related to character. The courage required on the rugby pitch is similar to that required in the jazz ensemble to stand up and solo; the commitment and loyalty to a group larger than you is the same in robotics as it is on an outreach trip. Finally, the classroom needs to be the nexus for this important work, the place where persistence in the face of challenge is developed, where respect for others is nurtured, where commitment to the group project of understanding is celebrated.

We are in an enviable place at Crescent in that character permeates all that we do. We now need to be even more purposeful; we need to work toward greater clarity and coherence as our focus broadens and sharpens.

— Colin Lowndes Deputy Headmaster, School Life and Operations

Crescent School

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Since 1913

Alumni Reunion Weekend 2015 M

ore than 400 Men of Character were back on campus for an amazing Alumni Reunion Weekend in May. We celebrated our esteemed alumni from the Dentonia era and welcomed the almost-alumni from the Class of 2015. The entire Crescent community cheered at the Friday Night Lights Rugby game. Alumni who graduated in 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010 celebrated their reunions, with special 30th and 25th anniversary receptions for the Classes of 1985 and 1990. We can’t wait to do it again next spring!

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Save the date!

Community Day Saturday, September 26, 2015

Fun for the entire Crescent Community

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Crescent School 2365 Bayview Avenue Toronto, ON M2L 1A2

40018682