Spirit Magazine - Spring 2017

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SOUTHRIDGE SCHOOL SPRING 2017

Meet Sal!

Southridge welcomes our first official mascot.

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SPRING 2017

Editor Erin Labbé Director, Communications & Marketing

Assistant Editor Rebecca James Coordinator, Communications & Marketing Writers Erin Labbé Rebecca James Christiane Hodson Jasmine Boyes William Lauzon Drew Stephens Dr. Kevin Bespflug Hannah Penner Photography Tyler Garnham Photography Colin Morris Chris Mitchell William Lauzon Photography Alan McInnes Rebecca James Matthew Murnaghan, Hockey Canada Images Design Indalma Creative

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WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE? GOAL CHASER A hockey star walks our halls CITIZENS OF SOUTHRIDGE A student-led initiative WELCOME SAL! Our first official school mascot FULL CIRCLE Welcoming the second generation of Southridge students A ROAD LESS TRAVELLED Alexander Liang, ‘06, shares his personal journey PARTNERS IN SERVICE Celebrating 10 years with the Surrey Urban Mission I PROMISE YOU THIS An interview with Lori Dams LIVE ON STAGE! The value of arts education A LIFE REMEMBERED Matthew Sinitsin, ‘10 AS ONE CHAPTER ENDS ANOTHER BEGINS Farewell, Mrs. Schaub!

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MORGAN MUNCEY-BUCKLEY, GRADE 10

ONE

s�irit

CAN INSPIRE

OTHERS TO

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EMILY HE, GRADE 4

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MEET JESSIE SANGHE

At Southridge, we are proud to have an incredible number of passionate, driven and talented young people in our midst – students who regularly inspire us with the things they are achieving both in, and outside of the classroom – students whose ‘spirits are soaring’.

And while we don’t have a hockey program here at Southridge, you might be surprised to know that we do have one of the best young female hockey players in Canada walking our halls!

REBECCA JAMES COORDINATOR, COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING 6

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PHOTO CREDIT: HOCKEY CANADA

“Most people AT FIRST GLANCE, YOU look at me and PROBABLY WOULDN’T they’re like, ‘you EXPECT JESSIE TO BE A play hockey?’” Jessie COMPETITIVE HOCKEY laughs, unbothered, PLAYER; IN FACT, “I don’t look like it, YOU LIKELY but on the ice, I’m really WOULDN’T aggressive.”

THINK SHE Hockey came into Jessie’s life at PLAYS an early age. You could say that the HOCKEY sport ‘runs in the family’. Her mom AT ALL. grew up in Ontario playing boys hockey competitively and had Jessie and her siblings out on the ice at only two or three years old.

However, it wasn’t until Jessie’s brother started playing hockey that her interest in the sport really piqued, prompting her to join her first team – she was eight years old.

In hockey terms, this was considered a late start, but with Jessie’s competitive personality, starting behind only fueled her desire to catch up (and eventually, surpass) her teammates in both skill and ability.

“I remember when she joined her first team through the Surrey Female Hockey Association, the Surrey Falcons,” says Jessie’s mom, Alison. “She started playing once a week, but it quickly became clear that she wanted more. I think hockey tapped into Jessie’s competitive side. She has always been really, really competitive, even as a young child. We could see, even then, that she was going to go far.”

Jessie agrees, “When I first joined, I wasn’t very good but I always kept pushing – I always wanted to be the best, to make the top team. I definitely had Team BC in the back of my mind.”

Fast forward to Spring 2016: Jessie’s dreams were about to come true. After a grueling tryout process, in which she suffered a concussion and missed a month of play, Jessie received the news that she had been selected (from a pool of 80) to be one of 20 players who would make up the BC Women’s Under-18 Team.

“It was really suspenseful – they were cutting 25 down to 20.

They moved us around from room to room, and eventually, a big group of us ended up together. Finally, the coaching staff came in and so casually said, ‘Okay…this is Team BC’. My first reaction was to just start crying! I was so overwhelmed with it all.”

In November, Jessie travelled to Regina with Team BC to compete against seven other teams from across Canada in the 2016 National Women’s U-18 Championship. With a 5-3 win over Ontario Blue, the team captured only its second

medal in tournament history, proudly bringing the bronze back to the West Coast.

“Going to Nationals was amazing – being treated like professional players, my whole family flying out to watch, going up against the best in the country, and a full arena of cheering fans – it was exhilarating,” she says, smiling broadly.

Jessie isn’t shy about sharing some of the challenges either, “The whole experience was crazy. I’ve never been so nervous.

We had to have such a mental toughness throughout – knowing we were going to miss two weeks of school, trying to get as much done as we could beforehand, and then, during the Championship, not letting the crowd distract us and staying focused on our game – it’s a lot of pressure. It’s just such a short competition and there’s almost no room for mistakes.”

If you’re wondering how Jessie manages to balance playing such high-level hockey with the demands of Grade 12 at Southridge, she attributes her success to the flexibility of the faculty.

“I’m grateful because the teachers here are super understanding of it all. As long as I tell them in advance, they’ll reschedule tests, or prep things for me to do on the road. They’re always really encouraging.”

Jessie’s mom agrees, “The school has been amazing in supporting Jessie! The teachers are so accommodating – they’ll make special arrangements to work around her hockey schedule, particularly where there’s travel involved.

But they still hold her very much accountable – it’s a balance.

I think it helps that several teachers have played competitive sports themselves, they understand what it’s like.”

Myrna Lew, Jessie’s advisor since Grade 8, provides further insight.

“As a faculty, we always try to be there for Jessie; there are definitely occasions where we need to spend extra time with her outside of class. But, I think she’s always known we’re behind her as a school community. It’s hard to explain, but it’s a quiet support – the very nature of our school, that says, ‘let every spirit soar’ – find what you’re interested in, do your absolute best, and we’ll be there to support you.”

Without a doubt, Jessie’s story is just beginning. She plans to play hockey at the varsity level next year and has already received offers from a number of universities. She also hopes, with a little more experience, to be scouted to join Team Canada one day.

All we can say, is GO JESSIE GO! FOR A GLIMPSE INTO SOME OF THE OTHER REMARKABLE THINGS OUR STUDENTS ARE DOING OUTSIDE OF SOUTHRIDGE, TURN THE PAGE… Southridge 2017

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Citizens of Southridge A STUDENT-LED INITIATIVE

Last May, our incoming Head Boy and Head Girl, William “Will” Lauzon and Georgina “Georgie” Adams, had the opportunity to accompany Mr. Stephens to a leadership conference held at St. George’s School. During the conference, they found themselves connecting with other student leaders in attendance, discussing what they loved most about their schools and what they would like to see change.

“I remember a student from another school mentioning that they did a ‘weekly shout-out’ during assemblies to recognize people doing interesting things off campus,” says Georgie. “We thought it was such a cool idea and it really got us thinking. We have such a strong, supportive community and we’re so good at recognizing academic and athletic achievements, but what are we doing to recognize students accomplishing amazing things outside of school? These students are so humble, they often get overlooked. We wanted to come up with a way to expose and celebrate them.”

After a long car-ride home, throwing around a number of ideas, Georgie and Will decided that the best way to achieve this would be to create a dedicated Instagram page, profiling students as

"Citizens of Southridge".

Nic Wallenburg Nic is a student at Southridge during the school year, but when summer comes around, he is a triathlete. He started competing in triathlons in 2010 and developed a passion for the sport. Nic has an impressive medal collection recognizing his achievements, and his favorite part about being a triathlete is being able to say “Yeah, I can do triathlons!”

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REBECCA JAMES COORDINATOR, COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING PHOTOS BY WILLIAM LAUZON, GRADE 12 STUDENT BIOS BY GEORGINA ADAMS, GRADE 12 Will explains, “We chose to use Instagram because at assembly, people are often really shy about having to stand up and be recognized in front of their peers, but online, they can still maintain that sense of humility. We decided we would feature students by posting an environmental portrait of them, along with a brief description of what they’re doing. With the popularity of social media, we knew it would be easy for students (and others) to access the stories and share them more broadly.”

The Instagram format also worked because it combined Will’s personal interest in photography with Georgie’s unique ability to get anybody talking. And so, they launched the project!

In October, they put out a call for nominations to teachers, advisors, and grade reps, and it wasn’t long before suggestions started pouring in (so much so, they had to create a colour-coded spreadsheet just to stay organized!). They consulted with the School’s Communications & Marketing team to develop the Instagram page and soon after, began arranging interviews and photo shoots with students.

At the time of print, seven students had already been profiled on ‘Citizens of Southridge’ and the page had successfully attracted more than 270 followers!

WE’RE PLEASED TO SHARE SOME OF THE POSTS WITH YOU, HERE… | continued... |

Susan Xiao We have a golf phenomenon here at Southridge! Susan trains everyday, rain or shine, whether it be playing 9 holes or practicing on the driving range. All of her dedication payed off last summer, when she qualified for the US Junior Golf Tournament.

Susan has big hopes for the future but for right now is looking forward to competing in tournaments!

Azra Panjwani For 13 years, Azra has been volunteering at her Mosque. She is a Lieutenant for the children, which involves organizing events and ceremonies, to help younger members of her community understand their religion further.

Whether it be teaching 4-year-olds or leading a prayer, Azra loves giving back to the community that she is so passionate about!

Arman Soheili For the past 4 years, the Cadet Program is where Arman has dedicated time practicing respect and discipline, while also learning about aviation.

He is now mentoring a group of young cadets weekly. Arman loves being part of such a diverse community and he is looking forward to applying for scholarships so he can begin his training to fly an aircraft.

Amadea de Wit Amadea is an awesome example of what it looks like to give back to your community. She, along with her parents organize a program called Special Olympics, where youth with developmental disabilities can join together to create friendships through sport. No matter the activity, being a coach of such a wonderful group, leaves a smile on her face each week!

Jessie Sanghe Jessie joined her first hockey team at the age of eight and it didn’t take long for her to fall in love with the sport. Recently, she has taken her passion to a new level as she was selected to play for Team BC. So hockey fans watch out for Jessie, as she takes the ice at university next year!

Aidan Battley We may have the next big star walking our hallways, as Aidan Battley makes his TV debut. Aidan has been working on set filming a new TV series.

He has played roles such as an audience member and a nightmare monster.

From the creative freedom, to hanging out with his famous cast member Dan Stevens, Aidan is loving the life on set.

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| continued... |

Will and Georgie beam as they discuss how the community has responded to ‘Citizens of Southridge’, and reflect on how it has impacted them personally.

“It’s been awesome watching our following grow. We’re very grateful for the support.” Will smiles, and goes on to say, “I think one of the best things about this initiative, one that we didn’t really expect, is that we’re actually helping to connect students across the Senior School in a small, but meaningful way. In exposing these students doing amazing things outside of Southridge (where, in many cases,

you never would have known), we’re opening up conversations that just wouldn’t have existed before.”

already thinking about how to keep ‘Citizens of Southridge’ going after they graduate.

Georgie adds, “We’re a fairly small school and I think most students know people in their own grade pretty well, but it’s harder to get to know students in other grades. Having uncovered some of these stories, I feel so much more connected now.” She laughs and says, “Even with Nic (referring to Nic Wallenburg in Grade 8), I’ll see him in the hallways and I’ll be like, ‘Hey Nic! How’s your triathalon training going?’”

“This wasn’t a requirement of the curriculum or assigned to us as Head Boy or Head Girl, it was just a genuine thing that we wanted to do,” Will shares, matter-of-factly. “We certainly hope to find a couple of students who are equally as enthusiastic about the project and can continue it on – it’s been our baby, definitely a passion project.”

Not surprisingly, Will and Georgie are

Well, Will and Georgie…we certainly hope so too!

IF YOU HAVEN’T DONE SO ALREADY, MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE @CITIZENSOFSOUTHRIDGE INSTAGRAM PAGE AND CLICK ‘FOLLOW’ TO SEE FUTURE STORIES AS THEY’RE RELEASED. 10

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The Power of Film

to Inspire, Connect and Educate HANNAH PENNER GRADE 10

My

STUPID

Addiction

THE FOLLOWING IS HANNAH’S PERSONAL REFLECTION ON HER EXPERIENCE OF HAVING HER FILM SHOWN AT THE QUEER FILM FESTIVAL: We were immediately recognized by the people taking our tickets as actors in one of the student films, which was bizarre but nice.

The festival played three of the student films before showing a short documentary, Handsome and Majestic, about a Transgender teen named Milan and his family in Prince George. Afterwards, they showed a full-length documentary called Real Boy, which followed a Transgender man named Ben, and his mother’s journey from rejection and confusion to acceptance. Both documentaries were unlike anything I’ve ever seen, and I think everyone who came with me learned so much more about the lives of Transgender individuals. At the end of the

Southridge student, Hannah Penner, created the comedic anti-homophobia PSA, My Stupid Addiction, last spring in Media 9 and entered it into the ‘Out in Schools’ contest for teens. The film was selected to be featured as part of a special youth night at the Vancouver Queer Film Festival in August 2016. Hannah had a great time attending the evening with family and friends and her efforts were applauded by the appreciative crowd.

evening, Milan (from Handsome and Majestic) and his family held a Q&A. It was starting to get late at that point and I figured we’d want to head home. I was surprised when my dad (of all people!) suggested we stick around to listen to the Q&A. The whole event opened my eyes and sparked conversations with my parents about Transgender issues that we wouldn’t have otherwise had.

To recognize that myself and Kylie (my friend and lead actor in my PSA) were attending the festival, the organizers asked us to wave to the audience. Once the films had all played, people came up to us to share their congratulations. Kylie made sure to point out that I had written and directed the entire PSA. One girl thanked me specifically, saying she loved the humour and the message in my film. I later found out from my mom that she was a

local Trans girl who is often in the media due to her efforts to educate others about being Transgender.

It was a very humbling experience to be congratulated by well-known activists in the LGBT+ community.

Watching my film play and hearing the audience reactions made me want to continue making films because eliciting that emotional response from complete strangers is such a wonderful feeling! I can now say that I have a much better understanding of how film can bring different people together. It’s a powerful medium, and I’m looking forward to my Grade 10 filmmaking projects, both in and out of school.

Watch:

MY STUPID ADDICTION: HTTPS://VIMEO.COM/165951717

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Welcome

Sal!

In October 2016, we unveiled our first official school mascot – a splendid creature named Sal who is half orca and half eagle. What many people may not know, however, is that Sal’s journey to Southridge dates back to 2014, and is the result of a completely student-led initiative.

WILLIAM LAUZON, GRADE 12 & ERIN LABBÉ, DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING

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y t i l i b i s s o p e h T

of a Southridge School mascot was proposed by an alumnus, Max Stow, in 2014 when he was in Grade 12. Max introduced the concept of a mascot, presented the idea to the Board of Stewards and conducted some initial research into possible designs and costs. However, as Max was busy completing his graduating year, his work on the project was put on hold. Following Max’s initial efforts, Megan Galbraith and Coleman Alfaro (2015-16 Senior School Head Girl and Head Boy), picked up where Max left off. Megan and Coleman kept the project alive by continuing to develop and refine the concept.

When Coleman’s family unexpectedly moved away, Samir Saincher took his place as Head Boy. Together, Megan and Samir drove the project forward, meeting with members of the Southridge administrative team to present the ideas and research that had been completed. In the spring of 2016, the mascot initiative was approved by the School and it was decided that funds raised through the 2016 Southridge Country Fair would be allocated to the project.

Some may assume that this is where the student involvement ended. But not at Southridge! True to our school’s value of welcoming student voice and participation in school-wide initiatives, our students continued to provide input and leadership in bringing their mascot to life.

In May 2016, a contest was held and students from the Junior and Senior School were invited to submit design ideas for their future mascot. Once designs were collected, the entire student body was invited to vote on the one they liked best. The winning design was a creative fusion of an eagle and an orca, imagined by a group of Grade 5 (now Grade 6) students – Elizabeth Lawson, Bonnie Zhai, Camille Hare, Asya Zenin-Segrc, and Maya Dhami.

The girls conceptualized their design with three priorities in mind: • They wanted the mascot to appear happy and energetic in order to cheer on our athletic teams • They wanted the mascot to embody the Southridge School spirit • They wanted the eagle and the orca to be incorporated to represent our school motto “where every spirit soars”, as well as personify our traditional school crest, which includes both an eagle and an orca After the winning concept was selected, Samir and Megan worked closely with Ms. Labbé, Director of Communications and Marketing, to finalize the design. Through summer 2016, Ms. Labbé coordinated the production of the mascot with the design firm in Toronto that Samir and Megan had proposed when pitching their plans.

Throughout the entire project, everyone involved was mindful that the mascot would not only appear at athletic events, but also at school and spirit events; therefore, in the production phase of designing the mascot, we ensured that two costumes were created: a full school uniform for school assemblies, and a Storm uniform for athletic events.

Once the design and costumes were finalized, everything was sent to the Board of Stewards for final review and approval.

Lastly, our new mascot needed a name! Once again, our students were invited to submit ideas, and from those ideas, one special name was selected: Sal – a deserving combination of “Southridge” and “Alan Brown”, our founding headmaster.

On October 25th, 2016, at our first full school assembly of the 2016-17 school year, Sal was introduced to our students, faculty, staff and parents, and was welcomed with cheers, smiles and open arms by our entire community. Sal even joined our presenters on stage and participated in our school song!

Sal has brought joy and spirit to our assemblies, school events and athletic competitions. This student-led initiative is yet another tangible example of the ways that Southridge empowers our students to make a difference, leave legacies, and directly participate in upholding our connected community.

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Who’s in

there?

One of the most common questions asked whenever Sal makes an appearance is: “Who is wearing that suit?”

MEET SOPHIE WIRCH. Sophie is a Grade 12 student, and from the moment she heard the School was looking for a student to wear the mascot costume, she knew she wanted the position.

“I originally wanted a Spirit Captain position this year, but I didn’t get selected. I was a little disappointed, but I didn’t let that discourage me – I knew another leadership opportunity would come up that would allow me to participate in spreading school spirit. When they announced at the Senior School assembly that they were looking for candidates to wear the mascot suit, I knew this was the job for me!”

It takes a special person to take on the role of mascot. Not only does one need to be tall enough (at least 5’10”, to be specific), but individuals who wear our mascot costume also need to be high-energy, strong and confident.

Sophie fit the bill. A dedicated dancer, Sophie spends most of her time outside of school at the dance studio. She is bursting with school spirit and enjoys bringing smiles to the faces of her peers and others in the Southridge community.

Sophie will graduate this June, leaving the role of Sal open for another enthusiastic student for the 2017-18 school year!

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A CREATIVE FUSION OF AN EAGLE AND AN ORCA

OUR STUDENTS PROVIDED INPUT AND LEADERSHIP IN BRINGING THEIR MASCOT TO LIFE

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FULL �i�c�e

WELCOMING THE SECOND GENERATION OF SOUTHRIDGE STUDENTS

CHRISTIANE HODSON DIRECTOR, ADVANCEMENT 16

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JAS, ANNEKA, PAUL AND JAGDEEP GILL WITH AMRIYA, ONE OF SOUTHRIDGE'S FIRST SECONDGENERATION STUDENTS.

Jas Gill was in Grade 6 and Sarah Wildgrove (nee Parker) was in Grade 8 when Southridge opened its doors in 1995. They both remember Alan Brown vividly, the Great Trek, the bubble gym, and the excitement around being a part of something new and special. Today, they’re both back at Southridge – no longer as keen young learners, but as parents, experiencing Southridge once again – this time, through the eyes of their own children.

second-generation Southridge students was very meaningful to them. Indeed, the Gill family was one of the very first founding school families, and one of only a few IndoCanadian families at the School at that time. As many of the founding parents did, Amrit Paul and Jagdeep Gill, could only dream that Southridge would be a success and that their own grandchildren might attend one day.

Jaspreet ‘Jas’ Gill is a proud Southridge alumnus. After graduating in 2002, he went on to study Urban Land Economics at UBC. Fifteen years later, he is back at the School nearly every day – dropping off his daughter, Amriya, a Kindie, and one of two second-generation alumni children currently attending Southridge.

When Jas and Anneka received their letter of acceptance for Amriya in the spring of 2016, the entire family was both elated and moved.

Jas and his wife, Anneka, always hoped their children would attend Southridge. As a British ex-pat, independent schools were always on Anneka’s mind. After hearing about Southridge from Jas and his family, she knew that they would apply for their own children one day. For them, it was never about Southridge being ‘the best school’. The sense of community, focus on character development, small classes and dedicated teachers – values the school has maintained for more than 20 years – were what they wanted for Amriya.

Knowing that, if accepted, Amriya would be one of the first

“That’s all we ever wanted – for Southridge to be around for the next generation.”

“Everyone wants the best for their children. Of course, we want that too. But we really just want our kids to be happy – for them to find what brings them joy in life. We know Amriya will find that at Southridge.”

Exposure to the arts, outdoor experiences, travel and service opportunities – all help students know themselves and discover their passions. Jas still remembers going to Strathcona like it was yesterday.

“I didn’t love it,” he says with a laugh. “But I am so grateful that we went and that students still go today. On my own, I never would have done anything like that. We weren’t a camping family and still aren’t. Maybe Amriya will love it.

Who knows where her interests and path will take her?” | continued... | Southridge 2017

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CHARLOTTE WILDGROVE, SOUTHRIDGE'S FIRST SECONDGENERATION STUDENT WITH HER PARENTS, IAN AND SARAH WILDGROVE.

| continued... |

Like Jas, Sarah Wildgrove (nee Parker) doesn’t remember Strathcona fondly. But she is equally excited for her own daughter, Charlotte, to go when she is in Grade 8. Charlotte is currently in Mrs. Raber’s Grade 1 class at Southridge and was the School’s very first secondgeneration student when she started in Kindergarten in September 2015.

Sarah graduated from Southridge in 2000 and pursued a Bachelor of Arts at SFU, followed by a Bachelor of Education from UBC. She still remembers her first class on her first day of university. “I stood up when the professor walked in – just like we were expected to do at Southridge,” she says with a laugh. “Of course, I was the only one standing and everyone was looking at me. That was one of the first moments I realized that Southridge had taught me more than just academics.”

Sarah, her husband, Ian, and her parents, Martin and Sally Parker, feel honoured and fortunate that Charlotte has found her place at Southridge.

“Charlotte gets to be herself here.

Her individuality, her creativity and imagination, are embraced and encouraged,” says Sarah. “There are actual tools in Mrs. Raber’s classroom – the kids can use a hammer in the ‘take-apart’ centre. They just love it!”

“I STOOD UP WHEN THE PROFESSOR WALKED IN – JUST LIKE WE WERE EXPECTED TO DO AT SOUTHRIDGE,” SHE SAYS WITH A LAUGH. “OF COURSE, I WAS THE ONLY ONE STANDING AND EVERYONE WAS LOOKING AT ME. THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST MOMENTS I REALIZED THAT SOUTHRIDGE HAD TAUGHT ME MORE THAN JUST ACADEMICS.” 18

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The fact that Charlotte is in Mrs. Raber’s class isn’t lost on the Wildgroves either. They love that she was one of the founding teachers at Southridge – someone who walked the Great Trek with Sarah back in 1995.

“Many of the teachers have been here for a long time, which speaks volumes of the School’s culture and values,” says Sarah.

In fact, when Sarah attended the Open House before enrolling Charlotte, she was immediately recognized by some of the long-standing staff members.

“It was amazing,” says Ian. “Everyone was so excited that Sarah was there, and the possibility of welcoming the first legacy student to the School.”

Ian, who was born and raised in New Westminster, attended a large public school. It wasn’t until meeting several of Sarah’s former Southridge classmates that he considered independent school for Charlotte.

“They were all so respectful, confident and polite. You could tell that they shared similar values – family and community,” he says.

As for Sarah’s parents, they feel incredibly grateful that they get to relive all these wonderful memories through Charlotte. In the true spirit of Southridge, they even volunteer to help with the Sandwich Making Club on Thursdays after school.

“We did what we could for the School back then and will continue to do what we can today as Charlotte’s grandparents. That’s always been the Southridge way,” says Martin.

The sense of community that the Gills and Wildgroves feel now as Southridge parents is very important to them.

“Charlotte is home here. We can’t say enough about her teachers and the strong friendships she has already developed. This community has already been so incredibly supportive of our daughter,” says Sarah. “And her journey at Southridge has only just begun!”

For the Gills, the friendships they’ve formed with other parents has been a wonderful surprise, and a true gift.

Through volunteering for hot lunch and playground supervision, Anneka has met many amazing parents – people with whom she is now building valuable friendships.

“I didn’t realize how much these relationships would mean to me as a parent. I can’t wait for us to watch our kids grow up together. I can only imagine how incredible it will be when we watch them graduate together in thirteen years. This community already means so much to us.”

Ian recalls meeting the Gills as they were touring the School and sharing his excitement for being part of the Southridge community.

“I happened to be in the Junior School Great Hall one day when they arrived for a tour. Jas and Anneka were talking to Mrs. Schaub and asking if they could look around; she pointed them in my direction, informing them that my wife was a Southridge grad and our daughter was in her first year at the School. I gladly showed them around and answered all their questions. In fact, I specifically remember Anneka asking me about what it meant to me to have a secondgeneration child at Southridge. I told her, ‘It’s just incredible.

If you get the opportunity, your kids have to come here.’”

CHARLOTTE WILDGROVE, WEARING HER MOM, SARAH’S, OLD UNIFORM.

And so begins a new generation at Southridge. Just as Jas and Sarah’s parents found a home for their children within our walls, they too have found a home for Amriya and Charlotte here. Their Southridge journeys have come full circle; and today, as parents, they will experience our school from an entirely new perspective.

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Browsing through the beautifully curated pictures on Alexander Liang’s Instagram feed, one might not presume that this fashion-forward young man with the cheeky grin is an alumnus of Southridge.

"

Pick a direction and go for it – you never know where life is going to take you.

ALEXANDER LIANG, CLASS OF 2006

ALEXANDER LIANG AT SEAVIEW PENTECOSTAL, SOUTHRIDGE SCHOOL'S FIRST ‘HOME’, WITH OUR FOUNDING HEADMASTER, ALAN BROWN.

With more than 263K Instagram followers and 109K on Twitter, Alexander is considered one of Canada’s Top Style Influencers, and has been featured across the globe in television and print media for his fashion and style expertise.

FOLLOW ALEXANDER’S JOURNEY: ALEXANDERLIANG.COM

JASMINE BOYES MANAGER, COMMUNITY & ALUMNI RELATIONS 20

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travelled

A ROAD LESS Based in Toronto, Alexander is a personal style and travel blogger, entrepreneur, and personal brand manager. He shares his passion for style, travel and tasteful living through his website alexanderliang.com. It is a decidedly non-traditional career and lifestyle, one that he couldn’t have imagined himself living back in his Southridge days.

“I just knew that I loved fine art and design,” he says of his younger self.

“What that translated to in terms of a career? I didn’t know.”

“What I knew for sure was the lifestyle that I wanted to achieve – but I didn’t necessarily know what path would take me there. I’ve learned that you just never know where life will take you.”

Alexander credits Southridge for helping navigate that journey of selfdiscovery.

“One of the most valuable things for me as a student at Southridge was having access to the resources to explore my passion – which was a love of art and design. I was able to try different things; I had access to canvasses, paints and supplies; and I had a support system that encouraged me not to be afraid to explore different avenues. It was a privilege that I enjoyed, and that I am thankful for.”

Alexander attended Southridge for 11 years, beginning in 1995 when he was in Grade 2. Through those years, he watched the School grow and transform and through that growth, says Liang, Southridge remained a tight-knit community where he developed many important relationships. While he knows he received a first class education, he says the experience was so much more than that.

“My classmates and I saw the School go from a small portable to the size it is now. It was a little community – very tight knit. Because I attended in the early days, I shared a very unique experience with my peers and spent such a long period of my life with them. Those are friendships you keep for your life.”

In addition to the education and friendships that he took with him, Alexander had many important mentors at Southridge that he looks back on fondly today. “Mrs. BaranszkyJob was definitely a teacher who inspired me. Mr. Stephens taught me in Grade 7 and he was a real inspiration for me in my life.” In addition to some special teachers who encouraged him to follow his dreams, Alexander acknowledges that it was the wholeness of his Southridge experience that shaped who he is today.

“I especially realized how much Southridge shaped me when I went to university. There were so many things that were instilled in us outside of academia that prepared me for being in the real world – things like being well-rounded, and being comfortable with public speaking. Those skills come into play in my daily life now, when I am in front of the camera or being interviewed on TV.” Ultimately, it was his passion for fine art and the confidence instilled in him at Southridge that guided Alexander in the direction of fashion.

“After graduating from Southridge, I studied Design and Management at Parsons School of Design in New York.

I knew I wanted to work in the fashion industry, but I didn’t know what exactly I wanted to do. I just knew that I would get the right foundation and figure it

out – plus it was in New York, so that was a bonus!”

During his time in university, Alexander took an internship with a PR agency; from there he pursued an internship with Condé Nast, becoming a fashion editor for a digital online magazine before starting his own magazine. It was at that time that he discovered he liked editorial and started venturing into the world of professional blogging, where he could apply his design and business knowledge.

“I really never expected to go down this path,” he says. “When I was in university, I thought I might start the next fast-fashion brand like H&M or Zara, but I quickly realized that wasn’t the path for me. I pursued the marketing side of the business, but then realized my true passion was in editorial, so I started my blog.”

As Alexander reflects on his life’s journey thus far, he has some thoughtful and inspiring words of wisdom for students who are nearing the end of their Senior School days and looking ahead to life beyond Southridge: “Don’t stress too much about choosing ‘the right’ university or ‘the perfect’ program. Pick a direction and go for it – you never know where life is going to take you.”

“As long as you are moving in a direction, it will become clear to you as you go. You don’t have to know the exact end goal, or even how you’ll get there. And don’t be afraid to change directions or switch paths. In your career and in your life, there is no finite end. The journey and timeline is ongoing.”

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At Southridge, we believe that cultivating an appreciation for the arts is an important part of every student’s growth and development. We encourage students to develop skills and techniques that enable them to communicate authentically, powerfully, and effectively using their

CHLOE DALE-JOHNSON, GRADE 10

KYLA EDELMEIER, GRADE 10

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. e c i o v ���is�ic

LUCA BLANDY, GRADE 3

LEAH GRAY, GRADE 2

Falling Through the Cracks A WATERMELON CALLIGRAM POEM A Sweet; Savoured Slice; Soft Flesh- and suddenly, a seed!

I bring summer songs, swift wind, Sweet sips of sweet drinks – I bring summer, And summer brings bliss; my juice a light, cool kiss.

A moment of divine peace, undefined peace. Soaring.

Summer days are rocket ships; Fly by fast, never forget. These Summer days’ end with the satisfying sound of sweet juice, these days are sand, slip away, sing away these summer days. Swimming through sunlight and the bright blue sky, dive into the haven of the cool.

Crunching, biting, then nibbling, scraping, the bright red fruit a white crust stripped bare.

I bring summer, and summer brings bliss, summer days are rocket ships. Fly by fast, never forget, Swimming through sunlight and the bright blue sky, now fading grey, summer gone Once again, slipping away, fading, soon, going, Gone.

ROBIN LISTER, GRADE 7

Where I’m From Where I’m from is a land of history, With a city that forbids the unacknowledgement of its past, And with protracting, straining, dragon-like walls that defend its future.

Where I’m from is a land of culture, Where each character epitomizes the transformation of times and literature, Where each song hushed generations and generations to sleep, Where each dance performed mimicking the swiftness of their progenitors.

Where I’m from is a land of festivity, Where red lanterns illuminate the smiles of children as they sheltered their ears from the uproar of the fireworks.

Where their innocent waves of laughter warm the hearts of the wistful elders Where I’m from is a land of delicacy, Where chefs chiseled with fire and pans, A taste of Eden at the tip of your tongue, Bringing God’s lost children back into his paradise.

We will rise

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They are standing Unscathed and still People inside, peaceful and placid As the birds outside shrill

is the

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They are coming Flying in skies of death Zooming towards the crying sibling towers Where fearful souls take their last breath The innocent are falling From a streaked sky of ash To their premature deaths As their hopes and dreams crash But we are rising Our voices cannot be drowned We will stand up from the ruins We will rise from the littered ground MADELEINE COWIE, GRADE 7

Where I’m from is a land of love, Where couples starstruck eyes shimmered under the city lights, Where parents arched their backs to lead the first steps of their children, Where husbands kissed their wives ageless grey hairs with their eternal, undying love.

Where I’m from is a land of harmony, Where the little nocturne of the evening cicadas chanted for grandfathers’ chess game, While they cantillate with the blowing willows on a breezy summer night.

Where I’m from is a land of joy, Where I grew up with the sound of merry laughter, Fell asleep with the lullaby of tenderness, And traveled to a dreamland utopia of never ending-enchantment.

Where I’m from is a land of history, culture, festivity, delicacy, love, and harmony.

A land of lingering memories and nostalgia that I will forever cherish.

HATTIE ZHANG, GRADE 10 Southridge 2017

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SERINA ST. JAMES, GRADE 9

AUNNIKA SHORT, GRADE 12

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voice community

ONE

CAN

CONNECT A

SAM FROH, GRADE 12

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Gala 2015

2015-2016 Annual Report Summary THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF OUR FULL ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE 2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR 2015-2016 was yet another successful year of community contribution at Southridge. Our families continue to inspire us with their incredible generosity and willingness to roll up their sleeves, help out and work together towards our collective goal of making Southridge even better.

In addition to the countless volunteer hours, our community has shown their commitment through donations to our annual fundraising events (Country Fair, Gala, Golf Tournament) and our Legacy, Capital and Annual Giving programs. Last year, thanks to the incredible support of our community, we exceeded our goals in all areas. We were able to undertake several much-needed renovations that directly impacted the learning environment of our students; our Facilities team was able to upgrade several pieces of equipment that help ensure our campus is well-groomed and welcoming; we saw the realization of our new School mascot, named Sal; and we had our first student enrolled with the assistance of the Alan Brown Memorial Bursary. What a year – one that we can all be proud of!

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grat·i·tude: [noun: gratitude] the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

Annual Report 2015 – 2016

Southridge is incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated, connected and generous community that continues to believe in the future of our wonderful school.

Thank yoforu your ongoing support!

SOUTHRIDGE SCHOOL DEPENDS ON THE SUPPORT OF OUR GENEROUS DONORS. EACH YEAR, THROUGH THE ANNUAL AND LEGACY GIVING CAMPAIGNS, WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE EXTRAORDINARY CAPITAL PURCHASES FOR OUR STUDENTS, PROGRAMS AND SCHOOL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS.

Our music department purchases a number of new instruments every year. The purchase included a French horn, which was funded through directed donations to the Annual Campaign.

Individual donors directed a total of $70,000 towards our endowment funds, including the Carol E. Levy Memorial Bursary and the Alan Brown Memorial Bursary.

Technology expenditures always make up a large portion of our capital expenses each year. In 2015 – 2016, $236,000 was spent on hardware and software for the School.

Our new playground equipment, and extensive lighting and alarm systems upgrades, accounted for the majority of our school facilities improvements budget.

More than $100,000 was donated in support of our new playground. In total, 52 families contributed towards this remarkable addition to our school.

Legacy Giving Campaign donations are also allocated towards debt repayment. From a peak of $18 million, our debt is now down to $2.94 million.

Donations directed towards Athletics were used to purchase a new scoretable for the Senior School gymnasium.

Golf Tournament 2016

Funds Raised Through Legacy, Capital and Annual Giving Programs $758,111 FISCAL YEAR 2011 – 2012

$725,178 FISCAL YEAR 2012 – 2013

$687,478 FISCAL YEAR 2013 – 2014

$886,053 FISCAL YEAR 2014 – 2015

$787,641 FISCAL YEAR 2015 – 2016

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Country Fair 2016

Endowment Fund Growth SOUTHRIDGE CURRENTLY HAS FIVE ENDOWMENT FUNDS, EACH WITH ITS OWN UNIQUE PURPOSE AND PARAMETERS. THE TOTAL VALUE OF OUR ENDOWMENT FUNDS HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE OUR FIRST NAMED FUND WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2002.

2016* | $2,109,743 2015* | $1,909,078 2014* | $1,587,691 2013* | $1,205,153 2012* | $775,620 *market value as of June 30th of that year

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FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, SOUTHRIDGE HAS HOSTED THREE FUNDRAISING EVENTS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. THE SUCCESS OF THE COUNTRY FAIR, GOLF TOURNAMENT AND GALA IS A RESULT OF THE GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS OF DONORS AND SPONSORS, THE COUNTLESS VOLUNTEER HOURS AND OUR COMMITTED ATTENDEES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THESE EVENTS.

Gala 2015

Funds Raised Through Events $54,000 RAISED IN 2015 – 2016 100% of the Country Fair proceeds were directed to important capital purchases at the School. These included a new lawn mower for our facilities team, several new Smart TV’s for our classrooms, as well as the design and purchase of a school mascot.

SOUTHRIDGE

Golf

$38,000 RAISED IN 2015 – 2016 Golf Tournament proceeds supported several important purchases at Southridge, including a new line painter and goals for each of our fields.

In addition, the tournament allowed us to replace the damaged dividing wall in the Senior School gym with a new curtain which was installed during the summer of 2016.

SOUT H RIDG E

$189,000 RAISED IN 2015 – 2016

Masquerade Ball

2015

The annual Gala supported a number of capital purchases throughout the School including additional weight room equipment in the Senior School gym and branded wall pads for the Junior School gym. Gala proceeds are also earmarked for facilities upgrades. These included a retractable skylight blind and motorized blinds in the Junior School Great Hall as well as gym window covers and energy efficient lighting upgrades in the Senior School. Parent support at the Gala was also directed to the new playground, landscape projects around the School property, as well as cafeteria upgrades which were completed in the summer of 2016.

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FEELING GRATITUDE AND NOT EXPRESSING IT IS LIKE WRAPPING A PRESENT AND NOT GIVING IT.

An Attitude of

Gr��i�ude

ERIN LABBÉ DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING

Last fall, Muskan Virk, Grade 5, brought this quote to life when she shared her recently published book, 365 Days of Gratitude: My Attitude of Gratitude with our Junior School students.

Muskan met with each grade to talk about the inspiration behind her book, and the publishing process. She shared examples of how she expresses gratitude, and led each group through a gratitude exercise. In Muskan’s words, “gratitude is being thankful for what you have instead of what you don’t have.”

Muskan’s inspiration for her book came in a simple, yet profound way.

“One day I came home from school and saw a flyer on our table. I couldn’t read most of it, as it was primarily written in Punjabi. I asked my Mom about the flyer and she told me it was from an organization that was creating awareness about gender equality. She explained that in some parts of the world, women and girls are treated badly just because they are women and girls. I couldn’t believe it, and it made me really sad! I just knew I had to do something to help. So, I organized a fundraiser at school to collect donations for the Malala Fund. After that, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I knew I was destined to do more to give back and be a part of worldwide change. I asked my Mom everyday about what else we could do. My Mom gave me a journal and told me to focus on the good and all the blessings that I’m grateful for. She said that when we think about positive thoughts, they have the power to inspire action for something good. So, I started writing every day about things I’m grateful for. When I ran out of pages (after about a year), I showed the gratitude journal to my Mom and Dad. They encouraged me to share my message with the world and this is how the book came about.”

Practicing gratitude helps to cultivate a deeper awareness and appreciation of the meaning in our lives. It’s about noticing life’s simplicity and reflecting on the bigger ideas that influence us day in and day out. There is much research emerging about how taking notice through gratitude affects our overall sense of well-being and happiness. It can, in fact, literally change our brains.

Muskan’s book, and the message she brought to our community is a powerful reminder of the gift of gratitude, and its incredible transformative power.

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QUEENIE WU, GRADE 12

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Partners in Service CELEBRATING 10 YEARS WITH THE SURREY URBAN MISSION

At Southridge, we’re proud to include service as one of our four defining pillars. Students are provided many opportunities to participate in, and learn from, voluntary service experiences in our school, local community and the world.

One of the organizations we support through this program is the Surrey Urban Mission Society – a volunteer-driven, community kitchen providing meals seven days a week to those in need – located in nearby Whalley.

One community can contribute extraordinarily

REBECCA JAMES COORDINATOR, COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING WE’RE EXCITED TO SHARE THAT THIS SEPTEMBER, WE WILL BE CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF WORKING TOGETHER! It all started back in 2007, when students attending the Leaders Today (now Me to We) Global Leadership Academy had the opportunity to visit the Surrey Urban Mission and serve lunch to its guests. Our Senior Service Steward at the time, Emily Mordhorst (‘08), heard about the experience and suggested that, in order to get all students more genuinely involved in true service, visiting the Mission should become a regular part of the program at Southridge. The following September, it became a reality!

Since that time, Senior School students have dedicated a few hours each Friday to supporting the Surrey Urban Mission. Starting early in the morning, they meet in their advisory to prepare soup and sandwiches, and then, in the afternoon, they travel by bus to the Mission to serve lunch to its guests. Our Junior students do their part too, assembling sandwiches (with the assistance of parent volunteers) on the Thursday afternoon prior to the visit, for the Seniors to bring with them the following day. The initiative is truly a ‘team-effort’ across the School.

Speaking with the Surrey Urban Mission, we learned a lot about what the partnership has meant to them and the people they serve.

“At a very basic level, one of the best aspects of having students come in on Fridays is simply the energy they bring as young people. We don’t often have a lot of youth visiting us, so when we do, it’s a noticeably different dynamic.

They regularly breathe new life into the place,” says Mike Musgrove, the Mission’s Executive Director.

He then adds, “Another great thing

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about partnering with Southridge is the sheer consistency and reliability of service – knowing that we have the volunteers, as well as the soup and sandwiches, coming in every Friday from September to June – that’s almost 30 weeks of support.” Mike smiles, “It goes without saying, but when school’s out, the students are definitely missed!”

And while these are some of the effects the program has had at a basic level, we also discover that there are perhaps more profound impacts resulting from the long-standing partnership we share.

For one, this initiative actually changed how the Mission serves meals to its guests. After a few Southridge visits, it was realized that with more volunteers available (15-18 students per shift), food could be delivered to guests at tables, like at a restaurant, rather than being served from a buffet table.

With this change in service, guests no longer have to stand in long line-ups to receive their meal, giving them more time to socialize or simply continue on with their day, and as a result, feel a greater sense of dignity. Secondly, the

SINCE 2007, SOUTHRIDGE STUDENTS HAVE MADE APPROXIMATELY 10,800 SANDWICHES FOR THE SURREY URBAN MISSION – THAT’S A LOT OF SANDWICHES!

involvement from Southridge has led the way for other schools.

Mike explains, “Southridge really pioneered a model of support that didn’t exist before. It’s been tested now, over the last 10 years, so we know it works. Now, whenever we are approached by other schools, we know what to do with them. I think sometimes getting the model figured out is the hardest part, and we really have Southridge to thank for that.”

He goes on to say, “The support we’ve received from Southridge over the years has made it possible for us to serve more clients, more consistently, in a more dignified way. As a result, we’ve broadened our impact in this community.”

Obviously, this partnership has led to many benefits for the Surrey Urban Mission and the people who use its valuable services. However, the benefits to Southridge students, while less obvious, are possibly even bigger.

Learning takes place at the Mission that simply could not be taught in a classroom. Darren Jones (‘01), Assistant Head of Senior School, explains, “Visiting the Mission can be a pretty intimidating experience for our students – many of them have never been to that part of Surrey before – it’s a real eye-opener.” He pauses, and adds, “It’s extremely humbling too – serving some of the most vulnerable members of our community. I think our students realize pretty quickly that the

Mission’s clients are real people who have just been dealt a different and more difficult hand than them in life.”

It’s through initiatives like this, students start to understand that people are suffering – not only in other parts of the world, but also right here at home – and this often forms the base for a deep and enduring sense of empathy.

In reflecting on their experiences, students also recognize how fortunate they are to belong to a community like Southridge – where they have everything they need and always feel safe and supported – and this instills a lifelong feeling of appreciation and gratitude.

In many cases, our students’ first introduction to hands-on community service is through making sandwiches for, or serving guests at the Mission, and it’s not uncommon that the experience sparks a true and lasting desire to continue making a difference in their local community.

With the 10th anniversary of this partnership nearly upon us, we wish to thank the many students, parents, faculty, and staff who have dedicated countless hours to serving the Mission over the last 10 years. We also thank the Mission, its clients, and staff for always making us feel welcome and for providing such a valuable learning opportunity for our students.

We hope to work together for many more years to come!

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� Promise You Thi�...

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of spending a few minutes with Lori Dams, you’ll know the following to be true: YOU WILL LEAVE FEELING BETTER THAN WHEN YOU ARRIVED. LORI’S POSITIVE ENERGY AND INFECTIOUS PERSONALITY WILL REMIND YOU THAT WHILE LIFE MAY NOT ALWAYS BE PERFECT, THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO BE GRATEFUL FOR. HER APPROACHABILITY AND GENUINE HEART WILL MAKE YOU FEEL ACCEPTED, AND HER SINCERITY AND CANDOUR WILL PUT YOU AT EASE.

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Lori is loving; she is kind, and she is supportive. She is the type of person you immediately feel you can trust.

And yet, beyond Lori’s bubbly and infinitely positive exterior (she fondly calls herself “Pollyanna”), you will also sense that this woman is a force to be reckoned with. Interwoven with her sparkly presence is strength and self-assurance. The twinkle in her eye is matched with depth and wisdom – the type of combination that radiates from people who, despite the struggles of life, have resolved to see the good in the world, and in people, no matter what.

ERIN LABBÉ DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING That’s Lori Dams. And on a cold, rainy day in February, I had the pleasure of sitting down with her as she shared her life story, her family’s journey, and their unwavering commitment to Southridge School.

Lori began her relationship with Southridge in 1997 when her daughters, Halee and Rebecca, were in Grade 5 and Grade 1. At the time, the girls were attending a local public school and Lori was deeply involved in their school’s PAC committee, as well as the District PAC. She had also recently been recruited to run for the Surrey School Board. To say she was embedded in the public school system would be an understatement.

“I was absolutely against private or independent school,” she says with an uncharacteristically straight-face. “I had no intention of sending my girls to (what I believed) was a school full of rich, entitled kids.”

But as naive thoughts tend to do, these firm opinions of Lori’s began to change. The more she wanted to make a difference and create change 36

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in her daughters’ school, the more she realized how difficult that would be to accomplish in the public school system.

“I was frustrated. I saw opportunity everywhere I looked, but it just wasn’t possible to make it happen. I don’t blame anyone or anything for that – it was just the reality.”

Around that same time, her father-inlaw sent her a prospectus for a new independent school called Southridge, which at the time, was nothing more than a small farmhouse and a portable surrounded by farm land.

“To look at the school back then, it wasn’t all that impressive,” says Lori with a laugh. “But their values and beliefs were aligned with ours…and I was curious. Something inside me told me to at least consider it.”

With her typical enthusiasm, Lori set out to learn as much about Southridge as she could.

For the next four months, Lori drove to Southridge every week to pick up a copy of the School’s weekly publication The Southridge Wednesday.

“At that time, The Wednesday was a printed newsletter. They would place a stack of them at the front desk in the little farmhouse. I picked up a copy every week for four months. I wanted to see if this school was truly all they said it was. I wanted to confirm that teachers and families were actually living and breathing all the values they spoke about in their prospectus.”

“And you know what?” she says looking up with a big grin on her face, “They were!”

Lori and her husband, Gordie, made the decision to submit applications for both Halee and Rebecca for the following September.

“We really couldn’t afford it – we had to sacrifice to make Southridge a reality for our girls. But we just knew in our hearts that this was the right place to be – Southridge was special – and we couldn’t wait to be a part of it.”

Lori is emotional as she recalls Rebecca and Halee’s first day at Southridge.

“We pulled up onto this grassy field and the girls got out of the car in their cute little uniforms. They looked so sweet.

Rebecca turned to me with big tears in her eyes, fear written all over her face, and told me she was scared – that she didn’t want to go in.”

“I knelt down and looked my sweet little girl in the eyes, and with all my heart I said, ‘I promise you this – if you can find the courage to go in, within the walls of Southridge there will be limitless potential and possibility for your life.’ ” “That’s a big promise to make to a little girl. Afterwards, I just stood there praying I was right.”

Since that day, Lori has done everything in her power to ensure that the promise she made was true – not just for Halee and Rebecca – but for all students and families who make the choice to attend Southridge.

In the early days, Lori was tangibly involved in everything from helping in the Library, running the front desk, sitting on the Board and setting up volunteer opportunities for other parents.

our current Board of Governors.

“In those days, we did it all – we had to!

We did things like getting trained in the Dewey Decimal System so we could catalogue books in the Library and save money on hiring a Librarian. At that time, the School was so young, we just needed to save money, pay down the debt and do whatever we could to help.”

“This might be my last one,” she muses.

Lori beams when she speaks about her time as Chair of the Country Fair, and the fun she had in bringing Southridge’s annual community event to life. But nothing elicits her joy and pride as much as when she talks about setting up the Volunteer Committee.

“I felt like I was changing the world,” she says. “There was so much satisfaction and such a sense of community in providing opportunities for our parents to contribute and give back. Because everyone can volunteer – everyone can play a role; everyone is important and valuable when they’re volunteering.”

SOUTHRIDGE STUDENTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD; AND I'M HONOURED TO PLAY A SMALL ROLE IN HELPING THEM ACHIEVE THAT.

“Volunteering at Southridge is so special. It brings our community together; families connect and people make lifelong friends through shared experiences.”

Throughout her time, Lori has participated in the development of five Strategic Plans, the most recent being the one currently in development for launch in January 2018.

“I’ll always support the School in some way though. I want to contribute and add value in any way that I can to the Southridge community. This is my way of making a difference in the world.

This school is educating the leaders of the future – the change-makers!

Southridge students make a difference in the world; and I'm honoured to play a small role in helping them achieve that.”

As our time together comes to an end, I ask Lori what her greatest hope for Southridge is.

“Remember that promise I made to my daughter?” she asks. “I promised her that Southridge would provide her with limitless potential and possibility for her life. My greatest hope for Southridge is that the promise I made to my daughter will also hold true for every single student who attends this school – today, and into the future.”

“I believe that as long as we continue to make decisions with the best interests of our kids at the core – with the knowledge that each of them possesses unique gifts that will allow them to make a difference in the world – we cannot go wrong.”

As my time with Lori comes to an end, and I head out into the rainy, dark afternoon, I am reminded of a quote someone once shared with me: “PEOPLE WITH GOOD INTENTIONS MAKE PROMISES; PEOPLE WITH GOOD CHARACTER KEEP THEM.”

It occurs to me that Lori Dams is both.

Lori ran the Volunteer Committee for seven years, in addition to wearing any other hat that Southridge offered her, including sitting on the Board – a position she maintains today as part of Southridge 2017

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Parents Hold the Key to Keeping Kids Safe Online Preparing kids for the “real world” also means preparing them for the online world. But how do we teach our children to benefit from the limitless potential of the digital space, while also keeping them safe from harm? To provide advice and guidance to students and parents, Southridge looked to former law-enforcement officer and internet and social media safety expert, Darren Laur. During three separate presentations in 2016 and 2017, Laur shared insights with Southridge students, parents, teachers and administrators about how youth are using social media, strategies for staying safe online, and the importance of being responsible digital citizens.

Laur addressed many possible situations with our community, covering topics from online predators (which he says are very rare) to sexting and cyberbullying (both much more common). When speaking to students, Laur says he tries to “enlighten and not frighten; I use humour to overcome the scary things we talk about to open their minds.”

In speaking to parents, Laur urged them to take an active role in understanding their children’s online behaviour.

“No question – the most effective way to keep kids safe on the internet, is parental involvement,” says Laur. “Schools can help; teachers play a role; but ultimately, parent involvement and oversight is the key for helping kids learn to navigate the online world safely.”

Laur urges parents to speak candidly with their kids. “Talk to them; have open, honest conversations about their online behaviour. Find out what new Apps they’re learning about, what their friends are using. In many cases, your kids can be your best teacher.”

Laur suggests parents sit down on a weekly basis to talk to kids about their online activity. In cases where a child is unwilling or disinterested in showing their parents the digital ropes, Laur encourages parents to teach themselves.

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ERIN LABBÉ DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING

“Educate yourself. There are many helpful resources available that teach parents how to understand popular social networking platforms and Apps, including Safe, Smart & Social which provides an easy-to-understand guide for parents about the safety of popular social media platforms.”

While Laur does not advocate covert spying – when the child has no idea you are monitoring them – he does support overt monitoring of a child’s online activity where the child is informed that monitoring is taking place and their activities are subject to parental supervision.

In speaking to both students and parents, Laur also stresses the importance of maintaining a good “digital dossier”, or internet record, because everything online is “public, permanent, searchable, exploitable and for sale.”

“Privacy does not exist,” he said when speaking to Southridge Senior students. “Once information is online it can almost never be erased or removed. Think about that. You will become adults; you will apply to universities and for jobs; right now, you have no idea what path your life will take. Your digital dossier never goes away. If it is not an accurate and positive reflection of your character, it could cost you jobs or relationships.”

Another aspect of good digital citizenship is refraining from cyberbullying – or what Laur calls “digital peer aggression.”

This is a sensitive issue for Laur, who does not mince words when discussing the topic.

“Digital peer aggression,” he says, “is a high-tech way to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behaviour by an individual or group that is intended to harm others emotionally, psychologically, and even physically. It is not funny; it is not 'kids being kids'; it is not simply mean or ignorant behaviour. It is emotional, psychological and physical violence, and young people are self-harming and taking their own lives because of it. Enough is enough.”

While dangers are present online, Laur eagerly stresses to parents, teachers, administrators and students that when used safely and responsibly, the benefits from internet and social media use far outweigh the negatives.

“When it comes to the actual ugly stuff, very few kids are doing that,” he said.

“Most kids are doing uber-cool stuff.”

Overall, Laur says the internet and social media provides a great outlet for creativity and connection on a scale not seen before.

“I think the internet and social media are the best things invented by mankind,” he said. “Never before have we been able to connect on as massive a scale as we have with the internet and social media.”

Ultimately, Laur is on a mission to educate students, parents, teachers and administrators that understanding online safety and becoming responsible digital citizens are realities that today’s youth must face. Parents and schools must partner in supporting young people to understand the risks and the opportunities associated with the online world.

Darren Laur, along with his wife, Beth, and son Brandon, own and operate Personal Protection Systems, Inc. They provide proactive internet and social media safety, digital literacy and workplace violence prevention training.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: PERSONALPROTECTIONSYSTEMS.CA

DARREN LAUR’S KEY INGREDIENTS FOR KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE:

1

INGREDIENT #1: Get informed about your child's online activities

A key ingredient for internet and social media safety is parental communication, participation and involvement in a child’s online activities across devices.

Get up to speed about your child’s online activities by educating yourself about the platforms, tools and Apps they use.

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INGREDIENT #2: Find the right balance between effective and excessive online supervision

Kids will be kids, and no matter how much parents prioritize communication, participation and involvement in their children’s digital lives, some will still engage in irresponsible online behaviour. If your child does participate in a concerning activity online, seize the teachable moments and explain to them how they can become a more responsible digital citizen.

An effective way of determining if a child is engaging in problematic online behaviour is by monitoring their activity. Depending on the child’s age, this may be done by following their social profiles, having their messages routed to your smartphone, or even through online monitoring software.

Monitoring should not be done in isolation of other forms of parental communication, participation and involvement. These ingredients are important and go together with creating a safe environment for your

child online. With these ingredients in place, children can demonstrate that they are behaving as good digital citizens. Importantly, youth should be able to earn privacy from their parents.

Once they prove themselves, parents should remove monitoring software from devices while remaining engaged in their child’s digital life.

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INGREDIENT #3: Keep the bedroom an internet-free space

Most unfortunate online incidents take place in the child’s bedroom where access to the internet is unsupervised.

To help your child stay safe, keep their bedroom an internet-free space — this includes all digital devices, ranging from cell phones and tablets to gaming consoles. Instead, have them engage in online activity in open environments, such as the kitchen or family room.

Once you are satisfied that your child has the necessary skills to behave as a responsible digital citizen, you can open a dialogue about using the internet unsupervised in their room.

There will come a point in time where parents need to step aside and grant kids autonomy and freedom when accessing the online world. Having said this, children first need to prove they have the skills and abilities to behave as reasonable and responsible digital citizens.

MOST IMPORTANTLY: Parents have the right to parent — and yes, that means kids are not always going to agree with our decisions.

As always, our priority is keeping our children safe, both on and offline.

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DR. KEVIN BESPFLUG INDEED, IT IS THE TRANSFORMATIVE NATURE OF THE ARTS THAT MAKES THEM SO EMPOWERING FOR STUDENTS AND SO IMPORTANT FOR US HUMAN BEINGS.

DR. KEVIN BESPFLUG, MYP MUSIC AND ENGLISH TEACHER 40

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One of the highlights of the school year for many in the Southridge community are the annual on-stage productions in both the Junior and Senior School. Each February, the Senior School Drama Department presents a play, and each March, the Junior School students share their musical production. This year’s productions were one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Mr. Glen Pope and creatively reimagined by the Senior School students as a pantomime—and a relatively unknown musical, Dear Edwina, enthusiastically brought to life on stage by the MYP students. While these productions are seemingly very different, they share something very similar: the transformative nature of the arts for those involved.

In my 2009 doctoral dissertation, “The elementary school musical as an authentic, integrated performing arts experience,” (available for your reading pleasure in the MacDougall Library!) I had the opportunity to examine performing arts experiences that integrate the various arts through a meaningful process.

My research concluded that there are many benefits to students involved in arts productions such as musicals.

As one might expect, these include the growth of students in their skills as performing artists and their appreciation for the arts, both of which are wonderful achievements in their own right. But my research found that other benefits of being involved with an integrated arts production were a growth in self-confidence by those involved, as well as the building of a caring community. This is the true magic of being a part of a stage production and the power of arts education—the power to transform the individual and the community. Indeed, it is the transformative nature of the arts that makes them so empowering for students and so important for us human beings.

Perhaps it is not surprising that students who have the chance to perform on stage also have the potential to grow, not only as performing artists, but also as confident beings. Learning lines, songs, choreography, and blocking takes time and commitment—but the end result of that focused energy during the process is a pride in the finished product. This is particularly true if selfreflection is encouraged throughout the process, as it is at Southridge.

Grade 10 student, Dilly, who has been involved with productions in both the Junior and Senior School, explains that being involved in the performing arts has helped her learn not only about performing, but also about herself. This self-awareness and a recognition of personal growth is echoed by Grade 7 student, Maddy, who explains that “with each practice, my confidence in myself and my skill grew.” Grade 6 student, Camille, recognizes that a big part of this growth in confidence comes from the enjoyable nature of the rehearsals themselves. She writes: “It is really fun that you get to act and sing with your friends as you learn how

to build up confidence to perform on stage.” As students come to see the importance of their individual roles in making the show come to life, and have fun doing so, it is not surprising that their confidence grows. They begin to understand that the old adage ‘there are no small parts…’ is more than just cliché; they realize that every part matters, including their own.

For more than 15 years at Southridge, my colleague Mrs. Donna Winterburn and I have been involved with many productions, and we have seen time and time again how working collaboratively through the creative process with their peers has allowed those involved to truly see others in a different light. Indeed, it is as if the teamwork and appreciation for the talents of one another has facilitated what philosopher Maxine Greene, in her 2001 book Variations on a Blue Guitar, so beautifully describes as “becoming a friend to someone else’s mind, with the wonderful power to return to that person a sense of wholeness”. It is the long hours of working together through the creative process as a cast and crew that builds this shared sense of understanding.

Grade 11 student, Molly, a lead actor in this year’s Senior School play and a regular performer in Southridge productions, eloquently explains, “Drama requires a lot of trust between actors, to pick up their cues, not to forget lines, or if lines are forgotten for the other people in the scene to improvise their way back to the original script without letting the audience know. We are one big family, and that is all thanks to the rehearsal process.” Grade 7 student, Megan, participating in her first musical, already understands this building of community. She writes: “…I have enjoyed my time as a part of the [Dear Edwina] ‘team.’ Throughout rehearsals, we have learned so many things and made so many memories. It’s been an experience I’ll never forget.”

SENIOR SCHOOL:

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

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When we consider that our MYP musical includes all students in Grades 5 through 7 in some capacity, this transformation of community becomes even more significant—and when we consider the potential for our audiences to also be transformed, the potential for community growth is exponential. This was evident as this year’s Grade 6 and 7 students were invited to attend the Senior School production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In doing so, they were inspired by what Grade 10 student, Amadea, a member of the tech team for this year’s Senior School production, identifies as “a magical experience for the audience,” and they were also invited into the community of actors. These students then had the chance to take the magic that they witnessed onstage and ‘pay it forward’ to their audiences—which included family members, other members of our school community, and our senior citizen friends from Sunnyside Manor. Many of these individuals will have been transformed by the passion, energy, and enthusiasm of the students’ performance, and they will take that joy with them into the broader community.

JUNIOR SCHOOL:

DEAR EDWINA

And so work the transformative ripples of a school play or musical. Students grow as performing artists and as confident young people—and communities grow, both within the walls of schools and beyond. As Grade 8 student, Keith, an actor in both Junior and Senior School productions, so powerfully summarizes: “Being in a play really gets you out of your shell. Not only do you meet lots of new friends, but you can really gain lots of self-confidence too. I would recommend being in a play to everyone!”

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We are fortunate that Southridge includes the Arts as one of our four pillars, and we are equally fortunate that our community values not only high-quality productions, but perhaps more importantly, the meaningful creative process that transforms our students’ lives.

DIDI WANG, GRADE 11

AUNNIKA SHORT, GRADE 12

RACHEL TONG, GRADE 11

SOPHIE MASKALL, GRADE 11

MATTHEW GU, GRADE 9

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Matthew Sinitsin CLASS OF 2010

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A Life Remembered Matt Sinitsin graduated from Southridge in June 2010 after spending 13 years as a student in our community. Very sadly, Matt passed away on February 2nd, at just 24 years of age. It was shocking for those who knew Matt to receive the news of his death, and it caused many of us to pause and reflect.

DREW STEPHENS, HEAD OF SCHOOL MR. STEPHENS SHARED HIS THOUGHTS ABOUT SOUTHRIDGE ALUMNUS, MATT SINITSIN, AT HIS FUNERAL ON FEBRUARY 22, 2017.

“I would like to celebrate Matt’s life in numbers, and being his math teacher in Grade 7, it kind of makes sense that I do so. Before I get to the numbers, I would like to celebrate the kind of person Matt was – both in terms of his character and the way he expressed his spirit. Matt and I came to Southridge in the same year, 1997; he in Kindergarten and I as a Grade 5 teacher. Eventually, I became the Head of the Junior School while Matt finished the first eight years of his journey at Southridge. I was also the Head of School for the final four years of Matt’s high school journey. Matt was a ‘lifer’ at Southridge, a member of one of the first true lifer classes.

Matt was a quiet soul. There is a lyric from a song called All My Days by Alexi Murdoch that says, “I have been quietly standing in the shade, all of my days.” That line reminds me of Matt. As a basketball player, Matt was not interested in the hype, and he didn’t need the flash and the fanfare to motivate him. Standing in the shade was what made him so dependable. In tight game situations on the Senior Boys’ Basketball team, Mr. Anderson says that the emotion of the moment didn’t get to Matt, and he played as though he’d been in the situation before – even when he hadn’t. While most of his teammates got caught up in the excitement and let it affect the way they played, Matt was rock steady and gave much needed ballast to his team.

Steady and dependable, Matt could and would get the job done. He listened, he did what was asked of him and he always did his best – never complaining. When he was in Grade 7, Matt played on the Southridge basketball team that competed with schools from across the country at the CAIS Independent School National Championship Tournament for U13 boys. The tournament was held at St. Andrew’s College in Aurora, Ontario, and was organized in such a way that teams played three full games each day.

Mr. Gallant remembers that Matt was the leader of his team. Alas, he was not feeling well at this tournament.

Nevertheless, Mr. Gallant needed him to be on the court for all three games on the final day and, when called upon to do so, that is exactly what Matt did; he stayed on the court and, despite his sickness, put his team first and led in the best way he knew how – even with tears in his eyes.

Matt demonstrated a character that still resonates with his coaches to this day.

Basketball was how Matt expressed himself and how his spirit came to the surface for all of us to see. We were lucky to have Matt in our lives at Southridge because he shared his passion with us. You may think that expressing your spirit and pursuing your passion is easy but it isn’t. It requires vulnerability. Especially for a quiet person like Matt, it means sharing something deep inside of you, something that you find value in, something that brings you joy (and sorrow), something that causes you to share feelings and sensations that a quiet, private person would be much more comfortable keeping to himself.

THE PART OF MATT’S LIFE THAT I CELEBRATE IN THIS REFLECTION IS THE BEAUTY OF THE EXPERIENCE HE SHARED WITH US. WE WERE PART OF HIS INTIMATE SACRED JOURNEY AND WE BENEFITTED FROM IT BECAUSE IT MOVED US.

That is what made Matt’s time at Southridge beautiful; he shared a part of his soul with us through the expression of his passion. We were witness to, and blessed by, his spirit.

His passion could have been art, it could have been drama, it could have been debate, it could have been outdoor education, it could have been band, it could have been anything, really. For Matt, it was basketball and being with his friends. The part of Matt’s life that I celebrate in this reflection is the beauty of the experience he shared with us. We were part of his intimate sacred journey, and we benefitted from it because it moved us.

Now to the numbers. Matt’s basketball number was 22. Matt took his last breath wearing his Southridge basketball shorts at 11:11 pm (the sum of the first two digits is 2 as is the sum of the final two digits) (22), and he did so on the second day of the second month (22). It is only fitting, therefore, that on February 22 (today), we remember and celebrate Matt’s life.

After all, as Mr. Anderson says, “The kind of character that Matt showed is the kind of person we want at Southridge.”

Matt’s spirit will always be a part of our school community.”

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AS ONE CHAPTER ENDS,

s n i g e B r �nothe BARB SCHAUB BIDS SOUTHRIDGE FAREWELL FOR A NEW ADVENTURE IN LAKE COUNTRY

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying Goodbye so hard."

Winnie the Pooh

It’s a typical busy lunch hour in the Junior School with sounds of student laughter, chatter and the odd highpitched squeal filling the air of the Great Hall. Teachers are buzzing in and out of the main office, photocopying and organizing materials for their afternoon classes; deliveries of supplies are arriving through the front doors; parents are dropping off forgotten-lunches, and arriving for volunteer shifts; and several students are coming to the front desk with assorted ailments and injuries – all of which seem to be magically cured by an ice pack or a band-aid, and a few loving words from Mrs. Schaub.

“I’ll miss the kids the most,” she says. “I look forward to seeing them every day; they’re all so sweet and full of stories.

The most important thing to me is making sure they’re safe and happy while they’re here.”

Barb Schaub began her journey at Southridge in 2000, where her first post was as Receptionist for the Senior School. When the Admissions Department was created in 2003, 46

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she assisted the new Director of Admissions by helping to organize and create systems and procedures to support the admissions process.

Following this, in 2008, she moved to the Junior School where she has held the demanding and esteemed role of Receptionist for nearly nine years.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME IS MAKING SURE THEY’RE SAFE AND HAPPY WHILE THEY’RE HERE.

“Some kids actually think I’m the Principal of the Junior School!” she laughs. “They’re so adorable.”

Between nurturing her wounded flock of students, answering phone calls and responding to all manner of queries from teachers, parents and school visitors, Mrs. Schaub keeps calm and collected, and maintains a bright smile on her face through it all.

“I’ve been so grateful for the

ERIN LABBÉ DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING experiences I’ve had at Southridge. My son, Andrew, graduated from here in 2008 and the opportunities I’ve had to participate in this community, both as a staff member and as a parent, have been wonderful.”

There’s no doubt that Southridge will feel a void without Mrs. Schaub’s devoted and affectionate presence watching over the Junior School Great Hall. But with a new home up in the Okanagan's Lake Country calling her name, she is looking forward to the next chapter in her life’s journey.

“I’m excited to enjoy this time with my family, and for life to slow down a little.

It’s going to be great.”

On behalf of the entire Southridge community, thank you, Mrs. Schaub, for your kind heart, your serving spirit and your commitment to our school. As you move on to your next adventure, know that you will be missed and that our very best wishes and thoughts go with you.

Come visit us often - for this is not goodbye, it's simply farewell!

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THE WORLD

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