School NEWS
A paragon of teaching excellence, Roman Pylat retires after 35 years
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hen retired Senior English Teacher Pat Shannon received the Speirs Medal in 2018, he singled out Roman Pylat as his example of excellence in teaching at Selwyn House. Roman’s excellent 35-year career at the school came to an end when he retired in June of this year. Roman started teaching at Selwyn House in 1985. “I was hired to teach Grade 4 Homeroom, Grade 6 English, and Grade 8 History,” he recalls. “I had a degree in History from McGill, as well as a degree in Education. At Selwyn House, I have taught Grades 1, 3, and 4 as a Homeroom teacher. I have taught as an English specialist in Grades 5 and 6, and as a History specialist in Grade 8. In addition, I enjoyed a memorable year teaching part of the English program in Kindergarten at the same time that I was teaching Grade 1. “My favourite years to teach were Grade 1, because I taught students how to read, and Grade 4, because the students learn with such joy and enthusiasm, and they laugh at my jokes.” The school had gone through enormous changes since Roman started teaching. “When I started, the school consisted of the Lucas Building only,” he says. “Everyone shared the one building. I saw the Macaulay Building added to the school, and the high school move into it, and the construction of the Speirs Building, which was quite an engineering feat. “Selwyn House has expanded not only its facilities, but its programs to give the students a rich and varied experience. It has been very exciting to watch the curriculum and programs change and develop over the years in such inspiring ways.” Asked to name something that Selwyn House students take with them when they graduate, Roman points to the camaraderie among Selwyn House Old
Boys. “In my conversations with former students who are graduates and alumni, I am always struck by the fact that their closest friends very often continue to be those they met at Selwyn House. I also think students gain a wonderful selfconfidence in their years at the school. They learn to trust themselves and to do their best, because they believe in themselves, and in their own personal talents and abilities.” But the students are not the only ones who have gained confidence from their Selwyn House experience, he says. “I am happy to say that I gained confirmation and validation for my initial, long-ago choice to become a teacher. I enjoy being engaged in the process of teaching and learning. I really enjoy seeing an idea or a new understanding dawn in the eyes of a student as they learn, and the wonder, the amazement, the sense of achievement, and the self-confidence, that come with that new understanding. “To my way of thinking, we encounter challenges at every stage of our careers. I believe you find the answers, and the skills and strategies that you need, as you solve problems along the way. Self-reflection,
and learning from your mistakes, is what we all do. I am glad that I had so many great opportunities to learn how to improve my teaching in my career. “When I retire, I look forward to spending time with my family and friends, to helping in the community, and to continuing my studies in history and literature. Reading and storytelling are my passion, and I hope to find creative ways to continue to bring children and good books, and good stories, together.”
For the past couple of months, every Saturday, various Old Boys, staff, and Headmaster and drummer Hal Hannaford have been jamming at the school, and also playing charity gigs. The band is called “Six Feet Apart,” and on May 30 featured, from left: Angus Scott 2018 on bass, Alexandre Jansen 2018 on guitar, Hal Hannaford on drums, Jonathan Milner 2019 on keyboard, and Aria Khiabani 2018 on guitar and vocals.
Veritas, page 31
