CONNECTS March/ April 2014
CARNAVAL IN QUEBEC EASTERN EUROPEAN TRIP SERVICE IN INDIA
COLLINGWOOD SCHOOL
The Girl’s skiing team competed successfully at Provincials in March.
March/April 2014
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Spring is slowly arriving and our students are busy completing their year. With so much going on at Collingwood School, take some time to catch up within the pages of this month’s Connects. Enjoy!
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wright on....the pros at wentworth
Peter Davison of class 4D at Wentworth and one of his students, Henry.
wright on
I think the vast majority of our parents are impressed and grateful for Collingwood’s teachers. They see the lovely, productive relationships that our teachers forge with students and appreciate how their skilled instruction and care so beautifully develop the minds and characters of their children. While this quality of teaching is expected and hopefully delivered at Collingwood, sustaining it takes focused and deliberate attention on teachers’ professional practices. Last Friday at 7:15 am in the Learning Commons, I saw our Pros at Wentworth doing exactly that.
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This was the monthly meeting of Wentworth’s Learning Leaders – 12 teachers representing all the grades and subject specialists who are tasked with working closely with their colleagues to deepen and extend the learning of our students. This meeting began with a report back from 2 teachers who had just completed an intensive 3 day workshop in Understanding by Design (UBD) led by Jay McTighe and Grant Wiggans , two internationally renowned educational thinkers from the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), who have authored extensive teacher resources in this area. UBD integrates well with the curriculum mapping and renewal process we are currently
undergoing at Wentworth as one of the Wentworth Learning Goals reported earlier this year in Ian Kennedy’s Blog. The discussion quickly moved to a brain storming session on how best to use the full faculty meeting next week to advance curriculum mapping and deepen the teachers collective knowledge in the area of “Essential Questions” and “Enduring Understandings”. This was an example of “textbook” teachers’ learning and sharing and is so indicative of the exceptional professional community that we have at Wentworth. Although regular attention to the very latest and best professional practices is something that is hard wired at Collingwood, I wanted parents to know that the devoted teachers you see every day at curb side are also professional development machines continually looking for ways to better reach and challenge your children. Cheers to the Pros at Wentworth. Rodger Wright, Headmaster
w e n t w o r t h
CIENCE S
EXPO may 20TH-23RD
Come and celebrate Science at Wentworth grade 6/7 rocket launches submarine competition finals earthquake simulations
india service project
Front Row (R to L): Jennifer Hobson, Angela X., Veranika K., Brooke M., Grace K., Siobhan P., Brynn D., Thor E., Zoe S., Robert G. Back Row (R to L): Spencer M., Karman S., Chloe W., Matthew D., Sean G.
The India Service Trip 2014 was an eye-opening and exciting experience for everyone involved. From working on the build site, to learning the history of the Udaipur area, to playing with the children and petting injured animals, there was never a dull minute on this exhilarating and incredible trip. The work the students completed in Barind will help build up the area and keep students invested in their education. It is a valuable addition to the community that will be with the children and their families for generations. The knowledge and experience the students gained from this trip is a priceless gift, that I know we will all treasure for the rest of our lives.
service
Karman S.
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student experiences
the riches of the six cities
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From top left: Students in St. Mary’s Church in Krakow, Peter Z. and Jeremy A. walking through Holocaust Memorial in Berlin, last day in Dubrovnik, sightseeing at night in Prague
Journeying through Eastern Europe in two weeks was no relaxing vacation in Hawaii; however, with an enriched knowledge of the history and cultures of the Eastern European world, newly formed friendships, and six more stamps on my passport, I have become a more open-minded and cosmopolitan individual through this trip. It is definitely hard to pick one highlight of the trip– within two weeks, the group travelled from the top of the breathtakingly beautiful city wall in Dubrovnik, the lively oriental marketplace in Sarajevo, the majestic Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna, the 327-meter deep salt mine in Krakow, the indescribable Auschwitz concentration camp in Oswiecim, and the magical Charles Bridge in Prague, to the historical Reichstag building in Berlin. Nonetheless, as a girl who loves indulging in well-made pastries, extravagantly ornate Baroque architecture, countless hours of shopping, and stunning night views, I found myself not wanting to leave Vienna after our two-night stay. Although the trip was short, we certainly did not miss out on relishing the riches of the six cities and discovering the joys and wonders of traveling. Laura K.
Wentworth students in Quebec for the Carnaval.
carnaval de quebec In February, 50 Wentworth students from Grades 6 and 7 travelled to Québec City to experience the joy of winter and francophone culture at the Carnaval de Québec- the world’s largest winter carnival. They were accompanied by Mme. Wiese, Mme. Couture, Ms. Mackinnon, Ms. Stevens, Mr. Truscott and Mr. Soril. On their trip, students enjoyed a myriad of winter activities such as outdoor skating, dog-sledding, and snowshoeing which were new experiences for many. At the Carnaval, students saw first-hand how ice sculptures are constructed, marveled at the ice palace, enjoyed the night parade, and a few lucky students met Bonhomme himself! They also experienced the sights and sounds of Vieux Québec, with its historic charm and architecture.
of Everest at the Valcartier tubing park. Most importantly, students experienced first-hand an authentic French-speaking environment. They got to try their hand at communicating in French with the locals in restaurants, at the shopping center, and at the cinema, to name a few. We commend all those who participated for their fine effort and positive spirit which helped make the trip so memorable!
Outside the city, students visited the Sainte-Anne de Beaupré Basilica and Montmorency Falls, tasted maple taffy on snow at the cabane à sucre (sugar shack), and learned a traditional dance. They toured the famous Ice Hotel and learned what it would be like to sleep on a bed made of ice. Sliding became the “sport du jour”, whether it was careening down the Terrasse Dufferin ice slides on a wooden toboggan or conquering the summit
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alpine team takes
provincials
This year’s provincial tournament marked the accomplishment of a very important goal - the capture of the elusive provincial banner. Five years ago, the coaching staff set this goal and, this year, our students accomplished it with flying colours. Led by an inspired performance by Peter K. (3rd place overall in the province, 1st in the Terrain GS, 3rd in GS), the senior boys team (Peter, Edward and Alec C., Alex W. and Danny K.) placed first in the province, defeating perennial juggernaut St George’s handily. In addition to the boys, Collingwood also had a banner year qualifying girl’s skiing, girl’s snowboarding, and boy’s snowboarding teams, marking one of the largest provincial contingents Collingwood has ever sent. These teams all finished in the top half of the province and featured athletes, such as Natalie W. (10th overall) enjoying a great deal of success. We are very proud of our athletes and their efforts and look forward to defending our title in Boy’s Skiing next season and, perhaps, adding titles in other categories as well! Braden O’Donnell, Alpine Team Coach
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student life
over $50,500 in scholarships
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Students in Mme Mofazali’s French 12 and AP French 12 classes participated in the National French Essay contest. This is the third year that Collingwood have participated in this contest and we have won every year, but this year the aforementioned students won a combined total of over $50,500 in scholarships through the French for the Future National Research Essay contest. Students wrote 700-word research papers on the question, “What is passion, and how can it have an impact on your life?” French teacher Mme Mahasti Mofazali was very pleased with the results. “It shows our program is strong. For the past 3 years one of our departmental goals has been to improve student writing through peer and self assessments. With these results, we can say without a doubt that we are reaching this goal and the students are developing their language skills,” Mme Mofazali said. She is extremely proud of her students.
students present at regional science fair
From top left: William B., Hailey S., Rachel S., Willa P., Leon L., and Lauren J. some of the participants from Collingwood who presented at the Greater Vancouver Science Fair.
Twelve students from Collingwood presented their projects at the Greater Vancouver Regional Science Fair this year.
shoppers to calculate the cost of their groceries while shopping and then check out automatically.
Jason L. and Josh P. presented their invention of ‘A batteryless mouse’. Joy H. and Heidi T. collected data about ‘Microscopic Music’. Lauren J. investigated ‘The engineering of a fully functional epidermis from integumentary skin cells’. Nicole T. and Monique T. invented an ‘iMicro camera’.
William B. investigated the physics of curling, applying advanced statistics to his measurements. William was awarded a gold medal, the UBC School of Population and Public Health Senior Statistics award, a UBC Science entrance scholarship for physics and chemistry as well as an invitation to attend the Canada Wide Science Fair as part of the British Columbia team.
Willa P. was awarded a silver medal for demonstrating the use of ‘Quinine as a light source’ (hide the tonic water). Leon L. received an honorable mention as well as the 2nd place UBC engineering physics award for his investigation of the physics of ‘The Perfect Harmonica.’ Hailey S. and Rachel S. earned a silver medal for their ‘$ZYPO’ invention, an efficient shopping cart with a RFID scanner to enable
Congratulations to all of these students and best of luck to William as he moves on to participate in the Canada Wide Science Fair in Ontario in May. For more information about the Greater Vancouver Science Fair, click here. Shirley Frykberg, Head of Science
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shake, rattle & roll- band & choir in la Street Promenade in Santa Monica. And finally, thrilled students and teachers at Pacifica Christian High. In between performances, the students enjoyed superb Californian experiences like Six Flags Magic Mountain, the Getty Museum, shopping, visiting the pier in Santa Monica, and not to forget waking up to a 4.4 earthquake. By far, the highlights of the trip were an amazing Wynton Marsalis concert and an LA Kings game where the group was brought onto the Staple Center ice for a photo before the fierce match against the Ducks.
Thirty-three students arrived at LAX carting instruments, sound systems, mics, speakers and their excitement to perform in California for five days. The performances began at our host school, Westmark, where our students received standing ovations. Next, they blew away locals and tourists alike on the 3rd
music
music heals
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The Grade 6/7 jazz choir has been collecting used ipods to donate to Music Heals. Their goal is to collect 250 ipods from Wentworth and Morven. Music Heals is a not-for-profit organization that supports a wide range of music therapy services to communities in BC and across Canada. Music Heals collects used ipods, cleans them up and donates them to music therapists to help with their patients. The students chose to partner with Music Heals, because they are music lovers who believe in music’s ability to provide comfort. Over the last month, the students spent their lunch hours making posters and learning the song “Let it Be” which they performed at assembly as part of their enrollment. If you want to help them achieve their goal of 250 ipods, feel free to bring your used ipod into the school; headphones aren’t necessary, but chargers are great, if you have them. For more information, visit www.musicheals.ca.
Westmark families, who were thrilled by our personable and polite students, were wonderful hosts and the students were great ambassadors of Collingwood School and made their chaperones proud. A special thank you goes to Westmark’s Headmaster and amazing host, Mr. Muir Meredith, his staff member who so capably took care of all the Collingwood arrangements – Ms. Sarah Hamilton, and lastly all his staff, parents, and families- our new American friends, for a fun and memorable experience.
competing at Harvard university On April 3rd, four students, along with Mrs. Karcz and Mr. Shirkoff traveled to Cambridge, Massachusetts for the annual Harvard Pre-Collegiate Economics Challenge (HPEC). The day after our arrival at Cambridge, we toured the campus of MIT in the morning. Afterwards, we took the subway to Harvard University for a presentation and guided tour. The presentation was very informative but I enjoyed the tour the most for it was led by a Harvard undergraduate student who shared intriguing historical facts regarding the university and her own experience as a student there. On Saturday, we returned to Harvard for the competition. Sitting at breakfast, I remember we were all somewhat nervous but more so excited. The written exam and the quiz bowl rounds challenged our knowledge gained inside and outside the classroom. In addition to the competition, we listened to enlightening lectures from two highly respected economics professors – Jeffery Miron and N. Gregory Mankiw. Overall, the trip, although short, was rewarding and enjoyable. Lucy L. ‘14 From left: Walentyna Karcz with her team of Economics students.
Join us for Grandparent’s Day May 16, 2014 Wentworth Campus
making their community better The Senior Destination Imagination team at Morven is made up of 10 creative and dynamic Grade 10 girls who were given the task to solve a service issue in their community. For those unfamiliar with Destination Imagination, it is a non-profit volunteer-led educational organization that gives students the chance to learn and experience the creative process from imagination to innovation.
For this project, the girls volunteered at Inglewood, a retirement home in West Vancouver, while spending time with their new friends they noticed that many of the people they visited rarely received guests. After their time with the seniors at Inglewood, the girls created a witty, unique and creative presentation solving their issue of loneliness and presented to a panel of judges on Saturday, April 12th. Their presentation wowed the judges who were so impressed by this group that they encouraged other groups to stay and watch them at work. Using their imagination to spark a change that positively effects their community, the members of this team inspire others to reach out and solve problems in creative and new ways. Congratulations to Emily k., Annalise W., Julia R., and Shaquinna P. who were successful in qualifying for Globals in Knoxville, Tennessee next month! Alana Green
From left: William B., Hailey S., Rachel S., Willa P., Leon L., and Lauren J. some of the participants from Collingwood who presented at the Greater Vancouver Science Fair.
community
samuel gives back
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Thursday, April 24th is BC Children’s Hospital Jeans Day, on this day, people across BC wear their favourite pair of jeans and the money raised goes towards supporting the important work that happens at this great hospital. Samuel H. a Grade 4 student at Wentworth spent April 24th fundraising downtown Vancouver serving meals to raise money for the hospital. While at the hand specialist, he decided to ask permission to do this service time due to the fact that his surgeon said that anyone that comes here really needs special doctors. Service is one of the four strands at Collingwood and our community thrives when students like Samuel take service to heart. Left: Samuel H. serves meals downtown Vancouver to raise money for BC Children’s Hospital.
end of year concert dates at Wentworth Campus May 6, 5:15pm- Kindergarten May 7, 5:15pm- Grade 1 May 6, 6:30pm- Grade 2
May 7, 6:30pm- Grade 3 June 3, 7:00pm- Grades 4- 5 June 4, 7:00pm- Grades 6-7
upcoming DATES/events • • • • • •
5/6 - Kindergarten & Gr.2 Spring Concerts 5/7 - Gr.1 & Gr.3 Spring Concert 5/16 - Grandparents’ Day 5/19 - Victoria Day, School Closed 5/20- 5/23 - Wentworth Science Expo 5/27 - Gr.8-12 End of Year Concerts at Kay Meek
at Kay Meek Centre, $10 May 27, 7:00pm- Grades 8- 9 May 28, 7:00pm- Grades 10- 12
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