Spirit Magazine - Winter 2009 'The Partnerships Beyond Our Walls'

Spirit

h is I nsi de t

Issu e

Winter 09 / Issue 22

ne gazi y Ma t i n u l Comm e Schoo g d i r h t u A So

The Partnerships Beyond Our Walls

As an independent school, Southridge has many choices. Many of our choices have to do with the essence of our educational programme, including aspects of our curriculum, our teaching practices, our programme offerings, our focus on post-secondary preparation and character development, and the policies and procedures that govern our school’s overall direction. An attraction of independent education is that our school is relatively unencumbered by the rules, regulations, and expectations of ‘outside’ organizations.

At the same time, the partnerships that we choose to form immerse our school in communities of like-minded educational associations that help to strengthen, deepen and enrich our chosen focus points. For example, our association with the Independent School Association of British Columbia (ISABC) offers our stu-

dents and teachers opportunities for athletic competitions, arts endeavours, and professional development sessions with students and teachers from twenty one other schools across the province that share similar characteristics in their orientation toward postsecondary education and well-roundedness. Similarly, our memberships in the Canadian Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) allow our students and teachers to connect with school communities throughout our country and the world. And our relationship with the Federation of Independent Schools Association (FISA) in British Columbia helps give us a voice with the Ministry of Education in our province.

Our partnerships help Southridge form connections. A potential risk of independent education is becoming an island in the educational world. Being an island would be risky because our Southridge community would miss important opportunities to develop relationships, grow and learn. As an example, when our Junior School began its investigation into adopting the Primary Years Programme, our administrators and teachers spent considerable time visiting our companion

school communities (both ISABC and CAIS) to get valuable ideas and input that helped shape our implementation plan.

Two schools in particular, StrathconaTweedsmuir School (STS) in Calgary and Branksome Hall in Toronto, spent an incredible amount of time with us answering our questions and accepting us as visitors so we could spend time in their classrooms both observing and interacting with the students at their schools. Just recently Southridge had the opportunity to welcome the Principal of the Middle School from STS for a day as he investigated his implementation options for the IBO’s Middle Years Programme at his school. It was a sincere pleasure to offer our planning and preparation thoughts and ideas back to STS to help facilitate their learning and growth. The reciprocation of educational ideas and administrative suggestions was not only the right thing to do, but it also helped to deepen our connections and strengthen our relationships.

In addition, it offered an opportunity for Southridge to make a difference, which is what our school is all about.

- Drew Stephens

FISA The Federation of Independent School Associations, established in 1966, is an umbrella organization for independent school groups in British Columbia and addresses all issues arising out of policies that impact on the operation of independent schools, from provincial policies on curriculum, funding, teacher certification, and the like, to federal policies on tax issues governing charities.

In the forty two years of its existence the FISA has grown from virtual insignificance to a substantive stakeholder in education in British Columbia. While representing 23,000 students in 120 schools in 1966, it is now the umbrella organization for more than 68,900 students in over 175 schools. It speaks with the voice of schools representing in excess of 10.8% of the independent

school enrollments, a measure of the respect the Federation enjoys in the independent school sector.

Extracts from the FISA website: www.fisabc.ca

Southridge School: Partners within the ISA Community 2

Although we celebrate the privilege of being a member of Southridge community, as a school, we are part of a much broader community of ISA schools here in the Lower Mainland. As a member of FISA and CAIS (Canadian Association of Independent Schools), we have a

events (eg. ISA Public Speaking Competition, professional development); viewing of the hosting campus facilities and networking and establishing professional relationships with one’s counterparts.

This ISA partnership has been very important to Southridge.

Last year, we participated in the collaborative professional development day where we sent faculty of different grade

natural affiliation with the independent schools in British Columbia. The present Director of ISA is Robin Hinnell, a former Southridge Head of Sr. School, whose role and responsibility is to encourage collaboration and communication between ISA schools. Currently, there are two formalized meetings per year for the Junior Heads of ISA schools, alternating between island host schools and mainland host schools. It is a sincere honour to attend these meetings, as they are ‘light-hearted’ meetings of serious purpose. The discussions include items of educational concern; some policies and practices in our respective schools; professional development readings or notes on preselected topics; planning

levels to ISA schools for discussions on topics relevant to their grade level or subject specialty. We also participated in collaborative marking of the FSA testing (Foundation Skills Assessment) with West Point Grey Academy which provided an opportunity for extrinsic validation of our marking, in addition to professional dialogue regarding best practices.

This year we will continue to participate

in the FSA collaborative marking and professional development days that occur over the duration of the year.

As an ISA school, we do share a partnership with a greater community, and we view this as both a privilege and a responsibility. There is much that we can contribute, but in turn, the benefits of this ISA partnership are numerous for our own community. To be part of a greater community provides perspective, friendship, and opportunity for growth and reflection. We appreciate our counterparts, their experience, and their commitment to growth for the collective ‘whole’.

- Laurel Middelaer

CAIS The Canadian Association of Independent Schools was officially established in 1979 and acts as a liaison between member schools, of which there are 79 from across the country and one

school in Switzerland. Member schools offer a curriculum that prepares students for post-secondary education, and must meet a strict series of standards for accreditation, including ethical practices in their operational procedures pertaining to employment, admissions, and fund raising.

CAIS offers opportunities for employees and students from member schools to come together in the spirit of excellence and leadership. As such, CAIS sponsors both academic and athletic tournaments each year for our students and those from other schools, and it hosts a student leadership conference on an annual basis. CAIS also holds several professional development conferences each year for administrators, and it has developed a National Leadership Institute and Best Practices Forum for teachers and administrators alike.

School leadership symposiums that Southridge attends allow our adminis-

tration team to connect with people who hold similar positions at other schools from across the country while endeavoring to increase their professional expertise through their participation in workshops, seminars, and discussion groups. Southridge is happy to be aligned with CAIS and has participated in conferences for our Head of School and Chair of our Board of Governors, our Junior School and Senior School Heads, our Directors of Advancement and Community Relations, our Director of Finance and Administration, and our Director of Admissions. In April 2009, Southridge will act as host school for the CAIS Assistant Heads Conference.

Our partnership with CAIS also allows us to participate in studies to further our understanding of how we fit within our country’s independent school context. Specifically, Southridge is included with benchmarking data analysis studies that take into account a variety of statistical elements from member schools. In addition, our school is currently embarking as a participant in the National Tracking Project that will allow us to track the success of our graduates at university. The data collected from member schools across the country will help to create a broad database on student success in higher education. Southridge will then be in an even better position to look critically at the programmes we offer as we strive to prepare our students for post-secondary educational pursuits.

- Drew Stephens CAIS Assistant Heads Conferences Each April, the Canadian Association of Independent Schools puts on a professional development conference for Senior School Assistant Heads. This national conference is a way for school administrators to get together for some

very unique and practical professional development. Although there are often excellent speakers, the most valuable parts of the conference typically stem from the less formal interactions with colleagues from across the country who do similar work.

Independent schools are very unique and yet we often face the same challenges and benefit from similar opportunities to work with great teachers and students.

Inevitably, one can bring back a few great ideas about how to improve one’s own school, but also just as frequently,

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the good things that are happening at home are often affirmed by others doing similar work.

Mr. Julian and I have the pleasure of hosting the conference in April of 2009 and are looking forward to repaying the hard work of the schools that have hosted before us. The theme is Crucial Connections: Creating Partnerships with Students and Parents, and the event will feature Dr. Michael Thompson and Dr. Gabor Mate as speakers, both of whom have made presentations to Southridge School parents in the past.

- Marc Ayotte

CAIS Partnership

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In the advancement area the partnership we have with organizations such as CAIS manifests through CAISAP (Canadian Association of Independent Schools Advancement Professionals).

Membership comes from schools of various types and sizes that extend from coast to coast. The individual members vary in experience from newcomers to those who have spent a significant portion of their working lives serving independent schools, sometimes beginning as teachers and subsequently becoming involved in the advancement area.

The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) is a membership organization representing approximately 1,300 independent schools and associations in the United States, and affiliates with independent schools abroad as well.

The NAIS mission, to be the national voice of independent schools and the centre for collective action on their behalf, is rooted in the core values of independence, interdependence, inclusivity, and innovation. NAIS believes the

The CAISAP group meets bi-annually at a location that varies as hosting of the gathering moves from one geographical area to another. Because of the greater number of independent schools in central Canada, it is more often located in that region, but in January 2009 will be held in Banff. On the off years for the national gathering there is a regional get-together of CAISAP members. Both types of meetings provide opportunities to hear high level guest speakers and learn from others’ experiences, which serves to support our desire to adopt best practices.

Having spent the majority of my working life as an accountant, when I became involved in the advancement area I was impressed by the generosity of

freedoms derived from independence and self-determination are deserving of preservation, worthy of emulation, and a source of the success of independent schools in preparing students to contribute effectively toward a peaceful, prosperous, just, and equitable world.

NAIS exists to represent and sustain schools that are self-determining in mission and programme, free from government control, and governed by independent boards. NAIS serves independent schools, adjusting focus as emerging issues dictate. NAIS is a hub of resources and expertise on matters relating to schools.

Extracts from the NAIS website: www.nais.org One element of our association with NAIS that we benefit greatly from is the resources that the organization offers.

As the support network for such a large number of member schools, NAIS has a substantial supply of resources that Southridge is able to access. For example, through its research and statistics, NAIS has written a number of publica-

my CAISAP peer group in sharing their expertise and experience in the various aspects of advancement work. Such sharing was not my experience while in the business world. I have come to understand my independent school peer group do not see themselves as competitors and are therefore willing to share with one another. I am appreciative of being supported by this extended community which is connected to our Southridge community.

- Wayne Camire

tions on best practices associated with independent school education that we have used to assist us in developing policies and procedures. Other publications, like Independent School magazine, are excellent sources of thoughtful writings pertaining to educational matters seen through an independent school lens. We have also referenced books published by NAIS to help guide us through elements of our school’s governance model and the essential components of our strategic planning process.

Even though our association with NAIS is somewhat distant in terms of the depth of our relationship, another benefit of membership for Southridge is through professional development opportunities.

We have had the fortune of sending one member of our leadership team to the NAIS national conference every other year, and we have benefitted greatly from the engaging speakers on very topical issues and the thoughtful workshop presentations on a variety of matters pertaining to independent education.

- Drew Stephens

The International Baccalaureate Programme The Southridge Junior School chose to adopt the International Baccalaureate programme due to its close alignment to the overall mission of the school. The faculty felt that the programme would enhance the learning environment and enable our students to be active citizens who will make a difference in the world.

The philosophy and mission statement of the IB embraces the goals and objectives we strive to achieve at Southridge.

Students are encouraged to become independent, inquiring, lifelong learners who will be equipped with the tools to succeed in an ever changing, complex world.

The IB is often described as a worldwide community of schools with similar core values. These values are motivated by a mission to create a better world through education while embracing diversity, valuing high standards, working actively in partnership with all stakeholders, and engaging in innovative educational practices. Southridge is fortunate to be amongst 2,456 schools in 131 countries who share the same mission and commitment to quality international education.

The relationship between Southridge and the IB is interdependent. By being a part of an IB community of learners, our faculty has many unique opportunities for professional development and networking with fellow colleagues worldwide. The IB encourages teachers to be lifelong learners who continually strive to seek knowledge, and reflect on and broaden their best practices.

This objective is met through attendance at conferences and workshops, collaboration with colleagues, ensuring that IB standards and practices are upheld, and keeping abreast of current issues and developments in education.

Since becoming an IB World School, the connections and relationships we have formed globally with other IB schools, teachers, and students have been truly remarkable. Teachers have been able to

dialogue with other colleagues through on-line forums, email exchanges, and school visits. Students have begun to view themselves as members of the global community by conversing with peers at other IB schools, sharing curricular connections, and recognizing commonalities between other cultures and peoples. These vast opportunities contribute to creating an environment here at Southridge in which students and faculty feel confident to take risks in their teaching and learning.

The IB values the participation and involvement of all its stakeholders. Teachers and administrators are encouraged to share their knowledge, experience, and expertise by becoming involved in areas of assessment, curriculum development,

staff members to take advantage of the training opportunities available. A member of our faculty recently participated in an authorization visit that assessed an IB candidate school’s ability to deliver the programme. Experiences such as these are invaluable as they enhance one’s understanding and implementation of the programme, promote intellectual dialogue amongst educators, develop leadership capacity, and enable faculty to form global relationships.

As partners, the IB and Southridge work together to create a community that values quality education and global perspectives, while nurturing an environment that supports and creates lifelong learning. We look forward to further strengthening our partnership by continuing to be active members in the International Baccalaureate community.

- Shanaz Ramji and Alison Graham

and leadership. Interested professionals are invited to participate in curriculum development initiatives and meetings, trial new documents, and assess student work.

Training opportunities at the regional level prepare experienced educators to facilitate workshops and conferences, mentor and consult other IB schools, and assess and evaluate programme standards and practices of IB schools. Southridge has begun to contribute to the IB learning community by encouraging

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In June 1996, with a bubble for a gym and the mere promise of a respectable playing field, Southridge made application to the Surrey Secondary Schools Athletic Association. Maybe out of sympathy or possibly the sense of optimism around the new school, acceptance was granted into the SSSAA. Southridge was now part of a 25 member association, which included all high schools, public and private in the city of Surrey. The SSSAA is divided into two divisions: Grade 8 and Junior (Grs 9 & 10). The league holds championships in ten sports, including volleyball, basketball and rugby.

Perhaps of even greater significance than inclusion the SSSAA was the automatic membership in the Fraser Valley Secondary Schools Athletic Association (FVSSAA). The FVSSAA includes some 120 member schools throughout the Fraser Valley and of particular attraction to a small school like Southridge is the concept of tiering. Southridge would now have the opportunity to compete against schools of a similar population, rather than trying to compete against much larger schools. Also, through successful placing in the Fraser Valley Championships, teams could now qualify for Provincial Championships.

Southridge soccer, field hockey and swimming teams have all participated in Provincial Championships and both the Senior Girls and the Senior Boys Soccer teams have won a provincial title.

Participation in organizations such as the SSSAA and FVSSAA, has allowed the athletics programme at Southridge

to flourish. Aside from the chances to win leagues and championships, there is also the opportunity for integration with student athletes in both the private and public school populations. Many more opportunities for tournament play throughout British Columbia have been afforded to Southridge athletes and in kind, we have had the chance to host schools from every corner of our spectacular province.

- James Porpaczy In the Junior School we primarily play all our sports in the Independent School Elementary Association (ISEA). The ISEA was formed out of a need for independent schools to play sports in a formal setting because of the lack of opportunity to play in other public or private leagues. The ISEA is composed of independent schools from both the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island such as St. Michael’s University School, Glenlyon Norfolk School from Victoria, St. George’s, Crofton House, York House, Collingwood as well as others from the Vancouver Area.

In 2001, Southridge joined its first Canadian Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) tournament. The opportunity arose for Southridge to replace a team at the CAIS U13 Boys Basketball tournament being held at St. George’s School. This is a national tournament held annually throughout Canada. Southridge has participated every year since, travelling to various cities around Canada including Ottawa, Toronto and Calgary and in 2007 Southridge even hosted the tournament.

Southridge has also participated in CAIS tournaments for Gr 6/7 Girls Soccer, winning the title in 2006 and 2007.

In 2007 Southridge entered a team in the CAIS U15 Girls Soccer tournament in Toronto, winning first place, a triumph they repeated in 2008 in Winnipeg.

As we participate in more sports competitions, we will have opportunities to host events, bringing athletes from other independent schools around the country to Southridge.

- Kirby Gallant

Debating

sions for these events, and hosted the tournament as recently as 2005. As members of the Debate and Speech Association of British Columbia, we work in conjunction with many schools throughout our region and the province to provide opportunities for all students to learn and develop the skills of debating and effective public speaking. It is an activity that draws together many different students from a wide range of school populations in an academically competi-

Debating is, of necessity, an activity which demands effective partnerships in order to develop, stage, and enjoy

Debating at Southridge has been an established tradition since the school’s inception, and flourished under the energetic and committed leadership of Mr. Jim Ison. The club currently numbers about 20 students from every grade level.

Students can participate at the internal club level only, or seek to hone their skills in local competitions with other nearby schools such as Elgin Park, Semiahmoo, or Fraser Heights Secondary; a school with which we have forged a particular connection.

We worked with a member of the Fraser Heights faculty, Ms. Val Lees, advising the club on debating styles and structures, and inviting them down to Southridge for an evening of debate. Southridge was instrumental in helping develop this extra-curricular programme, which is now thriving some four years on. Local schools such as Elgin Park and Semiahmoo have also issued invitations to informal ‘pizza’ debates and we are frequently invited to, and have successfully taken part in, the Surrey Schools’ Speech Meet. Our regional coordinator, Mr. Tim Bonnar, is on the faculty of Walnut Grove High School and he keeps us apprised of all events and seminars for students that may take place throughout the year.

We also take part in many competitions organized by our fellow independent

schools such as Shawnigan Lake, Mulgrave, Collingwood, York House, and West Point Grey. The provincial competition is subsidized by the Law Society of BC, and this partnership affords much needed revenue to advance debating and rhetoric within our schools.

Students may also compete in regional and provincial competitions, which are open to both public and private schools.

The Southridge community has provided judges and timekeepers on many occa-

tive environment, and in tournaments reaching across the whole province. The provincials for 2009 will be held in Prince George. Debating is, of necessity, an activity which demands effective partnerships in order to develop, stage, and enjoy this most rigorous and demanding of pursuits.

- Jan Holt

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Teaching ASSOCIATIONS Mr. Stringer and Ms. Mosher work with local school districts covering technologyrelated information as well as the local ISA Technology Committee, SMART Technologies and the local Mathematics Teachers Associations (BCAMT, NCTM). Ms. Mosher was recently nominated as Outstanding New Teacher for the BCAMT. Each year the Canadian Association of Independent Schools, in conjunction with the Canadian Educational Standards Institute, puts on a nationwide Best Practices Institute which showcases the latest and best in education from across the country. Last year the theme was Differentiated Instruction and two Southridge teachers, Mr. Phil Stringer and Ms. Heather Mosher, were asked to present on the Integration of Technology in the Classroom, as Southridge is a leader in this field. Mr. Stringer and Ms. Mosher also presented ‘Using SMARTBoards in the Mathematics Classroom’ at other conferences, including the Northwest

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Mathematics Conference, and have been showcased by SMART Technologies – Mr. Stringer is the showcase teacher for Mathematics in North America.

spring 2008, I saw the science supply company that I got the Motic from and told their representative how much I loved working with this product. Due to laptop troubles she was going to cancel her presentation, but I lent her my laptop and she also convinced me to co-present

Professional Specialists Association Every other year, science educators across the province come together for a science conference called Catalyst.

Catalyst is organized by the BC Science Teachers Association, a Professional Specialists Association that gives science teachers contact with each other through discussion list servers, organizes professional development events, and serves as a centre for many other resources. This conference allows both teachers and other science industry professionals to share new ideas, methods, and resources. Presenters at this conference range from other teachers sharing their strategies, to textbook companies revealing previews and collecting teacher input.

Just as we were nearing the end of our first year of the laptop roll out here at Southridge, I attended a Catalyst that had a couple of sessions featuring a new tool for digital microscopy called Motic and I immediately started to think of all the ways I could incorporate this tool with the laptop programme, enhancing the way I teach. Two years later I had developed a repertoire of lesson ideas and examples. At the next Catalyst in

with her, to give the perspective of a teacher and how I make use of Motic.

The teachers who attended responded very well, and appreciated this perspective. In response to their feedback, I decided to present again, but in a more interactive way. This time, on the provincial professional development day in October, I had the opportunity to share with other teachers my ideas and examples of how this piece of technology has enhanced my lessons, assessment, and classroom management. We also used this time to collectively brainstorm how different classrooms with a variety of resources available could best make use of this tool.

At Southridge, I don’t have a teaching partner in the same subject area that I can collaborate with. Belonging to Professional Specialists Associations, and being able to participate in professional development opportunities that allow us to communicate and share resources along with innovative ideas with each other has been invaluable to me.

- Anna Szymczak

Southridge School and Free The Children share many commonalities. Both are vibrant, dynamic organizations looking to make a difference in the world through the power of youth – and both began in the same year, 1995. Our students’ interactions with their youth leaders motivated our students to take action in the world. Emily MacDougall (04) organized a fashion show in the spring of 2003 that helped build a school in Ecuador. The next year, Angela Wahlroth (04) created the first Africa Night, the proceeds from which went to construct a primary school in Kenya. Then, in May 2005, Taryne Lepp (05) started the great Southridge tradition of TREK (Teens Running for Every Kid), a 5 km fun run, whose proceeds are directed annually to a Free The Children project chosen by Southridge students.

In 2005, Southridge was honoured to become the western Canadian host site of the FTC Global Leadership Academy, in which young people from all over the country spend time together developing leadership skills and raising their social awareness. This

week-long summer camp has grown in popularity and numbers over the past two summers.

In 2007, Southridge students traveled to Ecuador with Leaders Today, FTC’s partner organization, to visit and work in the community of Chiniguayco, for whom we had helped fundraise for the building of an FTC school. In spring 2008 another group of students went to India with Leaders Today, and were excited to start work on the first FTC school in Rajasthan. This March, 17 students and two staff are planning to go to Kenya on a similar school and relationship-building trip.

In the future, Southridge and Free The Children will continue to mature in their relationship, expanding and deepening their partnership through Vancouver’s Me To We Day next fall and return trips to FTC international communities. This rich partnership helps others all over the world, but the transformative experiences and relationships formed by our own students will make them true global citizens for the rest of their lives.

- Daryl Weaver

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Urban Mission

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In the summer of 2007, students attending the Leaders Today (now Me To We) Global Leadership Academy served lunch to a group of homeless and hungry people at Surrey Urban Mission in nearby Whalley. Our senior service steward at the time, Emily Mordhorst (08), heard about the experience and suggested that, in order to get all Southridge students more genuinely involved in true service, each week one advisory group of Senior School students would get the chance to serve lunch there as well.

Southridge parents contributed all new flooring to the multipurpose room used for their summer school programme.

Parents of Southridge alumni contributed a second-hand washer and dryer so that the Mission could wash its own linen instead of sending it out, which was often impractical as well as costly. On several occasions, students and their families gave much needed items, such as blankets and warm clothes (the Mission also acts as a cold-weather shelter).

Since that time, a group of Southridge students have given up their Friday lunch to serve lunch to others at the Mission.

Meanwhile, the Kindergarten classes got involved early by making sandwiches each week with the able assistance of parent volunteers. The regulars who ate at the soup kitchen soon started to look forward to the upbeat and entertaining art that the Kindergarten students included with their weekly sandwich contributions.

Out of their weekly visits, students and staff started to have conversations and form relationships with workers and people who ate at the soup kitchen. Often, these interactions, particularly with the Mission leader, Jonquil, led to more opportunities for other members of the Southridge community to get involved.

anonymous faces, but real humans who have had unfortunate luck. They begin to question the disparity and injustices in our society, and acquire the lifelong habit of looking to effect real change.

These lessons are particularly relevant

This year, both the Senior and Junior School students are getting more involved by taking turns each week to make sandwiches to be served with lunch every Friday at the soup kitchen.

The extra 80 sandwiches are certainly appreciated as patrons often take them away to feed their families later.

Most recently, the service club hosted a fundraising evening called A Night In November to help the Mission with their Christmas programme.

It is obvious that 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, while less obvious, are possibly bigger. Each week, our students come back changed from their experience. They learn so much there that they could never learn in the classroom.

They realize that homeless people aren’t

for young people who will go on to be leaders in a challenging world which will face many crises.

- Daryl Weaver

Semiahmoo House I view the relationship Southridge School has with Semiahmoo House, a society that works with individuals who have developmental disabilities, as a mutually beneficial relationship between two non-profit organizations in the South Surrey/White Rock community. Having worked and taught in a variety of businesses and schools, I can testify that

Southridge’s internal community, made up of students, families, and educational professionals, is the strongest and most positive group of people I have worked with. We do a great job of working together with a common goal in mind: to produce students who are lifelong learners and who will make a positive difference in the world. This goal, however, cannot be met in ‘splendid isolation.’ If our students are to make a difference in the world, they must have opportunities to work with diverse people from local, national, and international communities.

Our partnership with Semiahmoo House Society allows our students to work and create relationships with individuals who may not be part of our day-to-day Southridge life but who are an important part of our local community.

Our relationship with Semiahmoo House began eight years ago. Semiahmoo House was in the process of constructing their current building, the ‘Treehouse,’ and they did not have the facilities necessary to run some major events. We were contacted and asked if Southridge had volunteers and space to help them out. I made a request for volunteers at a morning assembly and was pleasantly

surprised to have over 80 students sign up to help in any way they could. During the first year of our partnership with Semiahmoo House, we put on three dances, a Christmas dinner, and helped with their annual picnic. Since that time, hundreds of Southridge students have helped organize and participated in many more events. Students have attended workshops on the rights of people with disabilities, worked as interns at Semiahmoo House, and run inclusive creative art and writing courses.

One of the highlights of our relationship was the ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2004 by nine Southridge students, teachers, and parents in partnership with Ryan, an individual from Semiahmoo House who has a developmental disability. The successful ascent demonstrated that people with developmental disabilities can achieve remarkable goals and laid the groundwork for the ascent of Kilimanjaro, two years later, by a group of over 80 individuals with developmental and physical disabilities and their support workers. I am very proud that our school played an important part in this successful international endeavour.

The benefits that Southridge students derive from our partnership with Semiahmoo House are many. Students improve their interpersonal skills by interacting with individuals who have developmental disabilities and who may not act in a manner that is considered ‘typical.’

Students come to understand that individuals with developmental disabilities have full personalities, have hopes and dreams, can love and be loved; in short, they learn that intellect is not the most important facet of our humanity. Many students have commented that working with people with developmental dis-

abilities gives them relief from the academic and social stress of their teenage lives. By working with individuals from Semiahmoo House, students become more fully invested in their community.

This is a true partnership because both Southridge and Semiahmoo House participants benefit from the relationship.

I believe that we have a responsibility as human beings to contribute to the betterment of our community. We do this naturally as members of Southridge and this makes us the excellent school community that we are. By reaching out and forming partnerships with members of the larger local and global community, we are, in fact, making the world a better place for ourselves, as well as for others. Our present relationship with Semiahmoo House is the foundation for a future in which Southridge graduates will make our community stronger and more inclusive by welcoming and valuing the contributions of people who have developmental disabilities.

- Doug Tennant

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News A few interested alumni are working to establish the Southridge Alumni Association which endeavours to advance the interests of Southridge School by promoting beneficial relations between the School and its former students, parents, governors, faculty, and staff. Modeled after successful alumni associations at other independent schools we hope to build bridges between alumni, the school and each other. A draft association charter has been prepared and we are seeking the community’s input on its content. You can view the draft charter in the alumni portal: www.southridge.bc.ca by clicking on the “get involved” button on the left hand side drop down menu.

If you are interested in helping form an alumni association please email me at: alumni@southridge.bc.ca.

Ryan Wilson (02) Michael Lee (02) is graduating with a JD from UBC Law and will then article with Sangra Moller LLP commencing in May. Chelsea Lee (05) is graduating with an Arts Degree in English from UBC and has recently received acceptance into the Masters in Management programme in the Sauder School of Business at UBC.

Volunteers Initiative Nepal (VIN ) on their women’s empowerment program which focuses on income generative activities for women and improving health and sanitation in Jitpur.

Jason Choo (06) started dental school at Case Western Reserve University in the fall.

Lindsay Clark (04) graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree and is currently attending UBC Law. James Benoit (04) was invited to Oxford University in June last year as a consultant to the Dept of Psychiatry, to apply his knowledge of game-theoretic modeling of token economies through a commercial software medium to a research project focused on elucidating the behavioural effect of depression on resource management. He is currently collaborating with Prof. Robert Rogers on similar projects, and looking at returning to Oxford for graduate work.

year of Concurrent Education at Queen’s University. She is majoring in Global Development Studies and specializing in primary/junior education. This April she will graduate with her Bachelor of Arts Honours and in April 2010 she will graduate with her Bachelor of Education. In May 2008, Alison completed a teaching practicum at Southridge then she worked at the UN Development Programme’s Executive Office at the UN headquarters in New York. Once she has received her B.Ed., Alison hopes to teach abroad for several years and eventually pursue a Masters degree in Education or International Affairs.

Alison Camire (05) is in her fourth

Andrea Schmelcher (05) is currently in Kathmandu, Nepal working with

For more information about Southridge School, please contact us at:

T. 604.535.5056 F. 604.535.3676 www.southridge.bc.ca

2656 - 160th Street, Surrey, B.C. V3S 0B7

Editor Dorothy Podmore Design Steve Culley, mgdc culleycreative Thanks Contributors Photos Alan McInnes Send us your news at alumninews@southridge.bc.ca