Classically Wayside - Spring 2024

OUR LADY OF THE WAYSIDE SPRING 2024

classically WAYSIDE

MESSAGE FROM THE

HEADMASTER

Afew weeks ago, a contractor came to Wayside to inspect our roof (a minor leak...but that’s another story). As he stood outside the school, a group of our students came by, arm in arm, singing uproariously.

“Well, this sure is a joyful place,” he remarked in amazement.

He’s right, you know.

It’s the same thing everybody notices when they walk through our doors. Students cheerfully greet them in the hallways. Classrooms are filled with confident chatter and laughter. And then there’s the music, whether it’s the piano emanating from Ms. Helferty’s classroom, the four-part harmonies filling the chapel during morning Mass, or the sound of students practicing the fiddle together.

At Wayside, we are convinced that school can and should be a place of joy, excitement, and wonder. It should be a place where children’s native curiosity is fired up and fed; where deep friendships, rooted in healthy play and meaningful conversation, are forged; where hearts and minds are directed towards goodness, truth and beauty; and where a mature faith is fostered in a rich, Catholic culture.

Recently, Wayside hosted a “come and see week.” Eighteen prospective students signed up to experience just how extraordinary an “ordinary” day at Wayside can be. Meanwhile, numerous other interested families have attended recent open houses. All signs suggest that some—possibly even most—of our classes will be full this year. What a great problem to have!

Your support for Wayside has never been more critical than right now. Know that we pray for you, and your intentions, every single morning. Please continue to keep us in your prayers, as we determine how best to serve Our Lord through this apostolate.

Our Lady of the Wayside, pray for us!

Dr. John Jalsevac

(705) 749-3658 headmaster@olwayside.ca

HEADMASTER, BOARD CHAIR

TAKE

POLAR PLUNGE

At the end of November, Wayside’s headmaster vowed that if the school raised $50,000 by December 31, he would jump into Little Lake in Peterborough... in January. Outgoing board chair (and Wayside alumnus) Frank Callaghan agreed to join him in this hare-brained scheme.

Praise God, we hit that first goal in the final hours of New Years Eve! And, true to their word, Dr. Jalsevac and Mr. Callaghan, joined by four brave Wayside high school students, jumped into a frozen Little Lake on January 26 in front of a cheering crowd of Wayside families and supporters.

The polar plunge also garnered significant media coverage for Wayside: Global News, the Peterborough Examiner , The Catholic Register and the Lakefield Herald all ran features on the event.

Thank you to our many supporters who made this possible!

Middle and below- High school students David C., Connor D., John C., and Isaiah J. joined in the plunge!

MEET HIGH SCHOOL HUMANITIES TEACHER

TIM MALONE

Could you tell us a little about yourself?

I originally hail from the land of Hobbits and hairy feet, New Zealand! I met my wife Jacinta (a native of Ontario) while serving with the National Evangelization Teams (N.E.T. Ministries) in Australia. We married in 2010 and have been blessed with eight beautiful children (so far…). We moved to the Peterborough area in August, 2023.

New Zealand is very far away. How did you end up teaching at Wayside?

The Holy Spirit! Once I had completed my Masters (in “Teaching & Learning”) I began to apply for positions in New Zealand, but felt called to discern where the Lord was calling our family. The answer was back to Canada. So I began the process of having my teaching credentials certified in Ontario.

Shortly afterwards, Jacinta, the kids, and I packed everything we could fit into ten suitcases and flew over here (we learnt a lot about detachment from material possessions,

that’s for sure!). A family member had children at Wayside and encouraged me to apply for a teaching position. The rest, as they say, is history!

What’s your favourite thing about teaching at Wayside?

The indigenous people of New Zealand (the Maori) have a proverb which sums it up for me: He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata! (What is the most important thing in the world? It is the people, the people, the people!)

The families, students and staff at Wayside have not only been a pleasure to work alongside, they have warmly welcomed my family into the Wayside community and been a real source of spiritual and practical support during our relocation.

What subject do you like teaching the most, and why?

My background is in the study of history, which is a passion of mine. But during my time at

Wayside I have really enjoyed teaching theology. A big reason for this is the interplay of the Classical model of education we use at Wayside, and the rich and authentic Catholic faith of the students and school. This creates many wonderful opportunities to really live out St. Anselm’s dictum of theology as, “faith seeking understanding,” and to integrate prayer and academic study in a holistic way!

Looking back over your first year here, are there any memories that really stand out?

There have been so many wonderful moments for me this year. What stands out the most for me personally is the absolutely overwhelming show of support my family has received from the Wayside community. Like the weary traveler in the parable of the Good Samaritan, we have literally been housed, fed and clothed! This support was especially evident when we welcomed our eighth child (Evangeline) earlier this year, and had home-cooked meals, diapers and other forms of support from parents and staff, which was just so invaluable to our family. Thank you everyone!

What’s one thing that you think people reading this newsletter should know about Wayside?

As a teacher and Catholic homeschooling parent, I often despaired at the state of the education system—discouraged not only by the decline in academic performance, but also the encroachment of values antithetical to my faith. It seemed to me that finding an affordable school that encouraged academic excellence while supporting me to help my children grow in relationship with Christ was an impossible dream!

At Wayside, I have observed firsthand that the “impossible” is possible. At Wayside, the Lord Jesus and authentic Catholic faith is at the centre of everything we do. And through classical learning, students are given the opportunity to both excel academically and experience the joy of learning for its own sake.

Please pray for Tim as he undertakes this challenging role.

OUR LADY OF THE WAYSIDE

SPRING CHORAL CONCERT

WITH SPECIAL GUEST, ORGANIST SYD BIRRELL

May 31ST at 6:30PM | Murray St. Baptist Church | 175 Murray St, Peterborough

NEWS AROUND WAYSIDE

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Do you love social gatherings? Do you love the game of golf?

Next year, we are planning to relaunch our Spring Gala and hold our first Wayside Golf Tournament!

To make both events a great success, we need donor volunteers on our host committees, to help spread the word and make these two events smash hits!

For the Gala, we are planning an exciting venue with a night full of guest speakers, student entertainment, fun raffles and musical performances, not to mention first class food and drinks. It will be a wonderful evening of meeting fellow donors, parents and older students from the school.

But…we can’t do it without your help!

Volunteers will meet once a month to help with ideas for our event planners and ticket sales. Our kick-off meeting will be in the fall of 2024. It’s never too early to start preparing for these fantastic events.

Please send an email to our fundraising event planner at volunteer@olwayside.ca, letting us know which event you would like to help out with by joining the host committee.

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PODCAST FEATURE

What is Classical Education, Anyway?

Recently, our headmaster, Dr. John Jalsevac, appeared on the Thinking Faith podcast, to discuss the explosion of interest in classical education in North America. In the threepart series, Jalsevac and show host, Dr. Brett Salkeld, dive deep into what distinguishes classical education from other forms of education, and why it is more important now than ever. To listen to the interview, go to olwayside.ca/thinkingfaith.

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MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS A HUGE HIT!

Attendees at this year’s high school play were universally enthusiastic. Many remarked that Murder on the Orient Express was as good as many plays they have seen on the professional stage! The acting was first-rate, with the comedic timing notably on point. The sets were elaborate. So were the costumes, the professional lighting, and the sound effects.

Congratulations to our Chesterton Academy students, and our tireless high school teacher and director, Tom Wigglesworth. Your hard work certainly paid off!

WAYSIDE’S ‘CUTTING EDGE’

BAN ON SMARTPHONES

When students in Quebec recently returned to school from their Christmas break, they found themselves having to abide by a new rule: absolutely no cellphone use during class.

Quebec is merely the latest of a host of jurisdictions that are taking a hard-line stance on phones during class time. B.C. recently implemented such a ban. Nova Scotia is considering doing the same. France, Finland, Spain and Italy are just a few of the countries that have recently banned phones in class.

If this is a new trend, then Wayside was a trendsetter. As long as smartphones have existed, we have banned them (and all internet-connected devices), not just during class, but throughout the school day.

It’s not that Wayside is anti-technology. Far from it. Some of our high school students are currently receiving a crash course in some of the basics of 3D printing, robotics, and electronics. Rather than being anti-technology, Wayside is pro -concentration, pro -learning, pro -friendship, and pro -community.

We recognize that our students will have a lifetime to navigate the complexities of a

world in which nearly every person carries a super-computer in their pocket. However, they have only a few short, precious years in which they have the time and freedom to develop a passion for learning, habits of deep concentration and prayer, and deep friendships.

It’s also true that by banning cellphones, we are helping our students escape some of the myriad negative consequences of constant phone and social media use on developing brains.

In his recently-released bestseller The Anxious Generation, the social psychologist Jonathon Haidt raises the alarm about the catastrophic deterioration of mental health among teens. This includes a staggering 161 percent increase in major depressive episodes in teen boys between 2010 and 2020, and the near tripling of the rate of self-harm among young adolescent girls in the same time frame.

More importantly, Haidt compiles the growing mountain of evidence proving that the negative trends in adolescent mental health are predominantly caused by smartphone and social media use. Based upon his findings, Haidt exhorts schools to ban smartphones.

MEET OUR 2023-2024

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

NANCY DUNK, chair — Recently retired, Nancy spent the past 25 years operating her own company servicing thousands of employers across Canada, specializing in safety, human resources, and organizational development.

TERESA MULLIGAN, vice chair — Teresa is Wayside’s longest-serving current board member. She spent decades working within large retail organizations leading teams in the field of Human Resource Management.

Meanwhile, in his post-pandemic book Reconnect, world-famous educator Doug Lemov strongly reiterates the same main point: smartphones have been catastrophic for school culture, learning outcomes, and mental health, and schools have no choice but to ban them.

While it is encouraging to know that cutting -edge research supports Wayside’s decision to keep smartphones out of school, it also hardly comes as a surprise. For 2500 years, the greatest minds have recognized that one of the most powerful obstacles to a good education, and a generally happy life, is the lure of distraction. While smartphones can be useful, they are also one of the most potent sources of mindless distraction ever devised.

At Wayside, we’re happy with our carefully -built culture of conversation, play, creativity, focus, friendship and prayer. For that reason, our forward-thinking cellphone ban won’t be going anywhere any time soon.

STEFANIE TAN, secretary — Stefanie is an internationally trained physician and public health practitioner, and is currently the Vice President for Research, Innovation and Programs for MedicAlert Foundation Canada, the largest membership-based registered charity in Canada.

DANIEL PEI, treasurer — Daniel is currently retired, but was a management consultant with Deloitte Consulting in Toronto and Asia and a senior executive at AXA Insurance Hong Kong and Asia.

FR. STEPHEN DECARLO — Fr. Stephen is a priest of the Diocese of Peterborough and is currently serving as the Director of Vocations and Formation as well as the Director of the Diocesan Youth Office.

BENJAMIN LAMB — Benjamin is a Senior Consultant for Wellington Advocacy, a national public affairs company. Benjamin manages Government Relations across Ontario, and gives strategic advice to clients from a variety of industries, such as health, labour, and education sectors.

SEMPER ALTIUS

ALWAYS HIGHER

Wayside’s official motto is semper altius, which means “always higher.” It stands for Wayside’s commitment to fostering the pursuit of excellence in every sphere.

Recently, a number of Wayside students put this motto in action at the Royal Canadian Legion’s public speaking contest, where they captured first place in one age group, and second and third place in every other category. Grade 10 student Lauren has since won first

place in three more divisions of the contest, and will soon compete at provincial finals— a major achievement!

Meanwhile, Wayside students recently captured numerous first, second, and third place prizes, as well as various special prizes, at the Peterborough Regional Science Fair, held at the beginning of April at Trent University.

Congratulations to our students! Semper altius!

CONGRATULATIONS 2024 LAKEFIELD LEGION SPEECH WINNERS

Hosanna 2nd Place, 1-3 Grade

Israel 3rd Place, 1-3 Grade

Claire J 3rd Place, 7-9 Grade

Evelyn C 2nd Place, 4-6 Grade

Lauren 1st Place, 10-12 Grade

Grace 3rd Place, 4-6 Grade

Sophie 2nd Place, 10-12 Grade

Evelyn L 2nd Place, 7-9 Grade

Rachel 3rd Place, 10-12 Grade

CONGRATULATIONS 2024 PETERBOROUGH REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR WINNERS

Ella B. 1st Place, Health & Life Sciences

Rachel P. Peterborough Field Naturalists Award

Rachel P. 2nd Place, Health & Environmental Sciences

Claire J. 1st Place, Health & Life Sciences

Pearl M. 2nd Place, Health & Life Sciences

Isaiah J. 3rd Place, Computer & Engineering Sciences

Ella B. Dr. Agnes MoffatMagee Award

Alex S. 2nd Place, Computer & Engineering Sciences

Teresa P. 3rd Place, Physical & Mathematical Sciences

Claire J.

Thomas Howard Award

Robbie M. 2nd Place, Health & Life Sciences

David C. HM, Health & Life Sciences

Joseph L. and Will V. (Group) 1st Place, Physical & Mathematical Sciences

Benjamin V. HM, Physical & Mathematical Sciences

GIVING WEEK!

The next major push in Wayside’s $150,000 matching campaign will take place at the end of May, with Wayside’s first ever “Giving Week”!

Giving Week will kick off on Friday, May 24, the Feast of Our Lady of the Wayside. It will end on Friday, May 31, the Feast of the Visitation, at our end of year choral concert.

The goal of Giving Week is to raise most of the remainder of the matching campaign goal (currently about $75,000) with a short, fun, focused, and intense push. During the week, expect to receive a phone call from one of our amazing volunteers!

On Saturday, May 25, we will host a prayer breakfast at Wayside. All are invited! If you would like to come, please RSVP by e-mailing RSVP@olwayside.ca. Feel free to invite any friends or family who you think might want to learn more about Wayside!

Remember that reaching the $150,000 goal will enable Wayside to provide financial aid to more families, to make much-needed repairs to our building, and to provide the financial breathing room we need to plan confidently for the future.

Throughout Giving Week, Wayside will celebrate joyfully Catholic, classical education through such things as online live streams, prayer events, and more. Stay tuned for more details!

You can make your donation to Giving Week today by filling in the donation card enclosed in this newsletter, and mailing it to: 575 Centre Line, Peterborough, ON, K9J 6X5.